Ice Princess

She lowered her gaze as her father and brother strode by. Reflexively she took half a step back and folded her hands behind her back.

Once the pair were farther down the corridor, she turned and continued in the diretion they had come. She raised her hand and knocked on her mother’s sewing room door. Upon instruction, she entered and gave her best court curtsy.

“Good morning, my daughter,” the woman murmured.

“Greetings, my queen,” the girl replied as she dropped down beside her mother. “You were missed at the morning meal.”

The queen glanced out her window and inclined her head slightly. “I wasn’t hungry. Thank you for your oncern.”

She sighed and shook her head. “As you will, my queen. What have we on the agenda for today?”

“We need to finish our preparations for the midwinter festival,” her mother explained. “There are still several details we need to attend to.”

“Yes, my queen,” stated the dainty princess. “I’ll see to them personally.” She stood and gave another curtsy. At that, she turned and left the room.

Two slender figures fell into step alongside her as she started toward the queen’s audiance chamber.

“How fares the queen mother?” the one on her left questioned.

“I’ll send the royal healer to see to her on our way to speak with the performers,” she explained.

The one on her right fideted with her fan. “Should we be concerned?”

The priness dismissed the comment with a wave of her hand. “I promise, all will be right with our world by the time the midwinter celebration begins.”

At that, the pair let the subject drop. They followed their priness to the queen’s audiance hall where half a dozen performers patiently awaited them. With a slight nod, she made her way to the hair beside the queen’s throne and gracefully lighted on it.

“Greetings, one and all,” the princess beamed.

“Greetings, Priness Anya,” they replied in unison.

“You are all invited to join in the festivities for this year’s midwinter celebration,” Anya declared. “You will be positioned at key loations throughout the city.”

A murmur of surprise and delight rolled through the group.

Anya did not miss the look of concern that flitted between Irina and Demetria. After a moment, she dismissed everyone with a wave of her hand. “I’ll be in touch with each of you about your performance locations.”

With a series of bows and curtsies, the group exited the audiance hall.

“What now, my princess?” Irina asked.

Anya motioned to the page boy near the door. “Send them in,” she instructed.

The boy nodded and swung the doors open wide. Several chefs and bakers strode in. After a moment of hesitation, they approached their princess.

“You are the best in the kingdom,” Anya stated. “We’d like to enlist your services to provide for the citizens of this city during the midwinter festival.”

A murmur rippled through the group. They looked to one another and nodded.

“We would be honored, my lady princess,” stated one of the chefs.

So the day passed. Anya sat next to her mother’s throne and saw to the business of the midwinter festival.

Demetria and Irina came and went.

At one point, Anya noticed her father and brother pass by the door as a group of locals departed.

The sun slipped below the horizon as the royal healer approached the princess. “You mother, the queen is resting comfortably. I gave her a breathing treatment of herbs. The cook has a separate collection of herbs to add to her teas and baked goods to speed along her healing.”

Anya inclined her head. “My thanks to you.”

He swept a bow, turned, and left.

With a heavy sigh, she rested her elbows on the arms of the chair and massaged her temples.

“You should eat, my lady princess,” Demetria stated. “The hour grows late and you have been  busy for the better part of the day.”

At that, the pair guided her to the dining hall.