Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. I make no profit from this story.
Wassail
The final feast of Midwinter was well underway. Master Oakbridge was breathing down the necks of the cooks, making sure no one would be sick the following morning (unless they ate or drank too much), and that the King's Cake was perfect. Since Oakbridge was staying in the kitchen, the pages were noticeably less nervous and performed their service flawlessly. Throughout the excellent meal, the attendees cast votes for favorite games to be played.
A sudden uproar of laughter errupted at the Naxens' table. From the looks of things, Raoul had found the bean and would now be the Lord of Misrule. The laughter quickly spread as news of what had happened spread. Poor Raoul. Now he couldn't escape the party.
"Who do you choose as the Lady of Misrule, Raoul?" Jonathan called.
"I choose Lady Cythera of Naxen to help me escape... I mean lead the festivities."
"Raoul, if I see one mark on her..." Gary warned, playfully.
Alanna smiled and finished her slice of exquisite King's Cake, added her ballot to the growing pile in front of Jonathan, and excused herself to feed and otherwise prepare little Aislinn for her first Court appearance. She and Jonathan had agreed that they wanted to do all the work of raising their children when duties permitted, rather than hiring nannies.
"Hello, my precious one," Alanna cooed to her babe, tickling the tiny feet. Aislinn shrieked in laughter, waving adorably pudgy arms at her mother. Alanna spent the next half hour simply enjoying time with her daughter, continually talk to Aislinn or singing throughout feeding and changing her.
Mother and child appeared at the side door to the banquet hall about forty-five minutes after Alanna had left, and saw Jonathan finish recording the game requests. "It's almost time, little one," the Queen whispered, kissing the babe's soft cheek. The hall grew quiet as the King stood, and Alanna moved to join him. When she had reached his side, Jonathan began their announcement.
"Tradition tells us that the best gifts are given the last day of Midwinter and come in tiny packages. This year has proved no different. Her Majesty and I are proud to present to you our daughter, Princess Aislinn."
Aislinn obliging reached for her father as he lifted her out of her mother's arms. He sat her on his arm so all his nobles could see the newborn Princess. A collective "Aw" rose from the room. Everyone charged their glasses to the Princess and her health.
The King's Own and Palace Guard trooped in. "Couldn't this bit have waited, Jonathan?" Alanna whispered, worried the noise would upset little Aislinn.
"I couldn't dissuade them, love," he murmured back, covering the infant's ears.
The twelve collective drummers from both groups led all the knights and soldiers in the hall to present their arms (mostly dress swords) to the Princess. Aislinn leaned back and hid her face in her father's tunic, still scared of all the shiny sharp stick thingies pointed her way. She heard her father whispering comfortingly to her, and knew she was safe.
Jonathan picked up the list of required games for the evening. "Raoul, come re-"chuckles and more "aw"s rose from the audience as Aislinn batted the sheet out of her father's hand. Jonathan kissed the little hand, telling his daughter to behave herself.
"Come receive the list of required games, O Lord of Misrule."
Everyone clapped politely, waiting impatiently for the evening to begin. Raoul, with some, or rather, lots of help from Cythera turned out to be one of the best Lords of Misrule in living memory. The games and dancing extended long into the night.
For a change, it was Jonathan, still carrying his Princess who first suggested sneaking away, and Alanna happily followed, hoping for some quiet family time. "There'll never be another Midwinter like it," Jonathan commented softly, watching Aislinn sleep. "Our perfect little girl and Raoul as Lord of Misrule - who'd've thunk?"
Alanna smiled, watching her family. "Happy Midwinter, Jonathan. I love you."
A/N: Still not sure about this chapter. I suppose that's what I get for writing this at two in the morning.
All of the Twelfth Night traditions (games, King's Cake, the Lord of Misrule) mentioned in the chapter are real traditions, that I have adjusted slightly to suit my purposes.
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