Slowly, Eadlin's eyes re adjusted to the spring light and she was able to focus on the elderly woman sitting in front of her. She was not, in fact, as old as Eadlin's imagination had made her. She stood from her stool on the hearth in a sprightly fashion, and did not hold her hand to her hips or her back as Eadlin may have expected older people to do. Her spinning remained in her hand and she carefully placed it on the low wooden stool.
"Are you ready to start your lessons little one?" she said after a moment, tilting her head in order to gaze at the young princess.
Eadlin nodded enthusiastically, more out of politeness than any real understanding. The woman had a smiling face, giving her the air of someone who was always slightly amused by any situation, as if she had seen it all before.
"What do you think you need to learn?" she asked, gesturing with her hand to a worn, smooth table and a low bench alongside.
Eadlin paused before taking her place on the bench. "Well...everything, really." she told the top corner of the window.
The old woman smiled and sat herself opposite the girl, placing a large, shallow book on the table between them. Then she reached out for a tin plate at the far end of the table and poured flour onto it from a small sack. Upside down, her fingers traced a capital E" in the flour.
"E!" shouted Eadlin immediately. "I know that, I'm E for Eadlin!"
"You are!" Julienne praised quietly. "But you can learn your letters any time. We need to practise some important things. Things that are just for you."
"Like what?" Eadlin frowned, "The things I will have to do when I am Queen?"
"Yes... if you are Queen." Julienne said and placed both hands on the old book in front of her. It had a green cover and was embossed with a shield, or a crown on the front. The writing looked as if it may once have been gold. Eadlin longed for Julienne to open the book and let her see inside. She knew she couldn't read it all yet, she knew he could only pick out a few letters but it may have some pictures or some of the beautiful illuminated first letters that she had seen on some of her father's books and important documents, or some of the pictures she had dared to touch on her mother's desk.
"We're going to use the book." Julienne smiled brightly and stood up, beckoning to the girl to follow. In a swift movement she had lifted the book and placed it carefully on to her head. Gracefully, she moved around the room, turning her head this was and that, greeting imaginary guests at a party, sweeping low with her arm while the book remained perfectly steady on her head, she took the child's arm and dragged her around, giggling to say hello to Lord and Lady Firefly and Mr and Mrs Earthworm. "Can you do it?" she asked and handed Eadlin the book.
Still laughing, Eadlin shook her head and backed away."Why?" she giggled, "When will I need to carry a book on my head when I am Queen?"
Julienne gently placed the book on her fair head and stepped back, bending her knees slightly to lower herself to the girl's eye level. "You won't," she agreed, "But you may have to wear a crown, and when have you ever seen your mother slouching? She stands up tall and she is proud, she can do that by walking beautifully."
Eadlin started to walk slowly around the room. After 2 or 3 paces the book slid, then tumbled, then bounced to the floor. The lovely pages opened and Eadlin stared at some of the words on the page. There were no beautiful letters, but there were sketches and diagrams. The old woman quickly snatched up the book and placed it back on Eadlin's head. They continued to walk, but each of Eadlin's attempts were short lived. She sighed every time and reluctantly picked up the book again.
After what seemed like a few minutes, she felt the light in the room change and her father was standing in the doorway, watching and laughing. "Well?" he said after a while, "How's my Princess doing?"
"She is working hard Aubrey, very hard." Julienne regained the book and stroked Eadlin's hair flat with bony fingers and a firm touch.
"Well in that case, I think it may be time for the next part of your birthday." Her father smiled and took her by the hand. Waving as she went, she left the cottage and re joined the world of the castle.
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