Adelaide's birth symbolized new beginnings for the entire kingdom, and there was a celebration that would outdo all others for the princess, about a week after her birth.
Draped in white cloth of the finest of make, the crown princess lay, dozing in a cradle before hundreds of people. King Thirsh was too busy making speeches and greeting guests to mingle much with his wife and child, and so Celestia was left to care for the newborn on her own.
No one bothered the new mother, much, as they realized that she was still weak from childbearing. Everyone was very aware how lucky that Celestia was to be alive; most queens of the realm died in childbirth. Delicate breeding in the royal families over the hundreds of years had produced a defect of the women being very fragile.
So, the young queen had not very much company for the evening. Not that she minded, however. She was still very new at being a mother. Celestia's own mother had sent her a long letter of advice, and there was a nursemaid nearby, just in case Celestia had need of someone to care for the child for any length of time.
However, she hadn't needed the maid's services as of yet. Her own wonder at the delicate features and tiny hands of the young princess stunned the queen, and she had decided that she had seen nothing more beautiful.
The rest of the party went well, better than either of the royal parents had expected. There was not a guest that did not bring a gift, and there was quite a ceremony as the royal family opened the gifts. Thankfully, Adelaide slept through most of it.
On top of the thousands of presents received for the babe, several neighboring kingdoms had brought up the prospect of introducing their sons to Adelaide, once she was a little older. It was obvious the royal families saw the prospect of getting their son to rule the kingdom, but many saw the possibility of a great leader rising out of this child.
In any case, the party went well, and for the next few months, things went well. By the time Adelaide was able to do a few things on her own, the neighboring kingdoms had indeed brought their sons for playmates to the child.
So, she began to grow, as most children do, and she began to learn, and she began to change. By the time Adelaide's first birthday rolled around, she was a beautiful child. Her dark hair had melted away to leave a beautiful head of red hair, and stunning violet eyes.
Several months passed, without hinderance, and Celestia had finally given in to letting someone else to take care of her child. She had learned a lesson most mothers learn: children are a lot of work. Adelaide wasn't a hard child to take care of, but she was still only a child, and children will be children, they don't know any better.
However, this year and half year old child was not to be alone. The Queen was suddenly discovered as with child, approximately three months along. Adelaide was to have a sister.
And for the first time in her life that she could remember, Adelaide cried.