Faithful - Chap 4 - Severance

Twilight blinked her eyes as the bright rays of light roused her from her sleep. Yawning widely, she was not surprised at all to find herself back in her own bed. For some reason that eluded her, she never woke alongside the Princess.

Stretching her small purple hooves as far as they would go, she hopped out of bed. A small silver tray lay before her with a sumptuous breakfast. Twilight never could understand how Merriweather knew when she was about to wake. But the tray was there waiting for her every morning. She really was glad to see it today. She trotted over, feeling suddenly famished.

Pouring a small cup of steaming dandelion tea, she took a thick slice of homemade wheat toast, lathering it thickly with fresh strawberry preserves. She devoured the toast quickly, levitating the teacup obediently behind her as she went to comb her mane and wash.

“Miss?” A knocking came at the door.

Snagging her hair as she started at the sound, Twilight turned towards the door. “Oh, come in Merriweather.”

The orange pony dutifully strode in, taking the cart in hoof. “Are you done with your breakfast, Miss Sparkle?”

“Yes. Thank you, Merriweather, that was just what I needed this morning!”

The servant smiled. “I’m glad.” She started wheeling the cart along the rough stone floor. “Oh, Miss, before I forget. The Princess would like to meet with you early today. At nine o’clock in her study.”

Twilight kept her stare on her vanity mirror, halting her brush in mid stroke. “Did…she sound angry with me?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Merriweather said thoughtfully. “Should she be?”

“No. I suppose not.” Twilight finished combing herself, shaking her silky violet mane in the mirror. “Thank you, Merriweather. I’ll be there at nine then.”

“Miss.” Merriweather grasped her tray in her muzzle, pushing the clattering cart down the hallway.

Twilight frowned at herself in the mirror. Special invitations from her mentor were seldom good news. And after what had happened the previous night, literally anything could happen.


Anypony would normally feel intimidated walking into Celestia’s private study. Outfitted extravagantly to impress visiting dignitaries, nearly every object was selected to exude refinement and wealth. The stone walls rose high above, covered with tremendous white tapestries, displaying the sun motif the Princess used. Fine white velvet chairs and sofas lined walls, made out of dark hardwoods, ornately carved with depictions of alicorns. The princess looked up from her own ebony desk, smiling at the foal as she walked in.

“Good morning, Twilight. You certainly are looking well today.” She said cheerfully. “Did you sleep well? I trust I did not wake you too early for our little meeting.”

“No, Princess. It’s fine, I slept quite well. I suppose I was very tired after…last night.” The purple pony looked down at the stone floor, blushing slightly.

“Very understandable, my student.” Celestia motioned towards a wood chair in front of her desk. “Please, have a seat. Let us talk a bit.”

Twilight sat, finding the Princess’s eyes were focused intently on her. She evidently wanted something, but for now was content simply to study the other pony. The silence was deafening.

“Do you know why I wanted you to meet me here this morning instead of in the classroom?”

“No, Princess.”

Celestia sighed slightly, as if what she was about to say was going to be difficult for the both of them. She crossed her hooves on the desk in front of her. “My dear Twilight, I am simply concerned about yesterday. More specifically, the note you were writing to your brother.”

Twilight looked in fear at her teacher. She stammered slightly. “I…I thought last night…I thought that was my punishment.”

Chuckling slightly, the alicorn grinned. “I am offended, Twilight. I do hope that did not feel like a punishment. To the contrary, I found it to be…exquisite.”

“No, I didn’t mean that.” Twilight was blushing profusely.

“To answer your question, no, that was not your punishment, my faithful student. I have to be honest, I was very hurt by your thoughts. I never have had a student that wished to abandon me, and it cut me very deeply.

“I stayed up very late last night after putting you to bed, thinking on what to do in this situation. And I have concluded, that for me to allow you to further your studies here, and guarantee a distraction free environment, you must not be allowed to visit or correspond with your family from the castle any longer.”

Twilight could barely contain herself. She felt as though something had been ripped from her chest. The small filly choked back tears, not wishing to cry in front of the Princess. “But Princess…”

The Princess narrowed her eyes. “There will be no discussion, my student. Do you wish to continue your studies here?”

The filly nodded pitifully.

“Very well. I will allow you to stay. However, I want you to tell your family in your own words.” The Princess levitated over a fine quill and a thick piece of parchment. “Write them and tell them you no longer wish to see them while you study. That they are a distraction.”

Two small trails of wet tears had forced their way past Twilight’s clenched eyes, creating two dark, damp trails down her muzzle. “Please, don’t make me do this.”

Celestia got up deliberately, stepping slowly over to her student. She placed a warm hoof on her shoulder, stroking her back slowly. She spoke gently into her ear. “It is alright, Twilight. I’ll help you. Here. Take the quill.” Celestia levitated the elegant white quill to the inkpot, filling it generously. She placed it in front of Twilight. Staring intently at the tip, the foal blinked through teary eyes to see the blob of ink welling up at the tip. “Take it.” The Princess cooed as she held it in front of her student’s muzzle.

A glow of violet slowly grasped the writing tool, holding it steadily in place. “Good. Now, let us address the receiving party. What do you usually call your parents in your letters from the palace?”

Twilight choked back a sob, her answer coming squeakily and forced. “I usually just…I just write to my beloved parents…”

“And your brother?”

“To my Big Brother Best Friend Forever…” She closed her eyes and looked down at the table.

Celestia couldn’t resist a small chuckle. “Cute.” She firmly grasped her student on the shoulder. “Now write it down.”

The small purple pony obediently started her first letter, to her parents. The ink blotted on the first word as the blob soaked into the parchment. The Princess stroked her mane gently as she wrote. It certainly wasn’t making things easier.

“Now tell them you cannot see them anymore, my student.” The Princess craned her neck so she could put her muzzle near her student’s neck. “What are you going to write?”

“I’ll tell them something has happened in the palace. That visitors aren’t allowed for now, but that I’ll see them again very…”

“No.” The Princess cut her off. “That will not do. You must show me you wish to stay here with me. That you desire your studies here; that you desire my teachings more than anything else.” She moved her muzzle against Twilight’s freshly combed mane. She playfully rubbed it against her, smelling her student. “You will tell them they were distracting you. That you no longer wish for them to come. It will be your decision.”

Twilight hesitated. Until this very moment, her brief outlet into the outside world had been her visits with her family. The one thing grounding her against what seemed like insanity inside the palace walls. At one point she had dreamt that one time her parents or her brother would realize what was happening; that they would whisk her away to her own room at home, with her old bed and her Smarty Pants doll on the nightstand.

Now with the quill poised above the paper, it was harder to wish for that dream. Some part of her still held that desperate hope. But her sense of logic shouted at her to stay. She had learned so much while at the palace. Twilight thought of the great Canterlot Archives, and how much she still did not know.

‘The Princess is a pony just like any other.’ Twilight thought. ‘She has her hidden desires and needs. This…is just the price a student must pay.’

Celestia jolted her back to reality. “It is your decision, after all, my faithful student.”

Twilight lowered the quill obediently, and began to write. She wrote two letters. Carefully she told her parents how she hadn’t been able to concentrate after their last visit. How she had been distracted in her lessons, and had failed the test the Princess had given her. She told them she still loved them, but she couldn’t see anypony until her training was complete. Twilight hoped they would understand.

She started her letter to her brother. It was much harder for her to pen the words. Twilight was planning on seeing him in just a few weeks, when he would have been stationed in Canterlot, right next to the palace. The foal pictured his face and the kind words he always said to her, how proud he was that she was finally reaching her goal. She smiled as she looked down at the rolled out parchment. A single tear dropped from her muzzle, amber magic catching it and shooing it off the delicate paper.

	To my Big Brother Best Friend Forever

I missed you so much the last time mom and dad came to visit. Although I knew you were busy, I wished so much that you could have come. It is sometimes lonely here, without you. I have come to enjoy it though. After all, I’m learning so very much.

This is why I’m writing to you now. I know that you were looking forward to visiting me this month. And I wanted to see you in your Royal Guard uniform. Just to see how much of a grown up colt you looked like now that you finally were reaching your dream.  But I’m afraid I can’t see you while I’m training. It’s just too important that I concentrate fully on my duties here.

When we were growing up, I know how much you looked over me. You always told me I could do whatever I wanted. You always believed in me. So please, just try to understand why I’m doing this. I need to. I’m going to do whatever I have to do to learn everything I can here.

							Love
							-Twiley

Twilight found it difficult to sign her name. The quill stopped, blobbing up the ink and seeping into the parchment. The Princess reached and grasped her hoof softly. “Here, my student, allow me to help.” Celestia grasped the quill, and finished the signature. Twilight stared down at the paper and instantly felt ashamed and selfish. She sat back in her seat, exhausted from the experience.

The white alicorn strutted over to her seat again, gathering the two letters and curling them up carefully. She heated a lump of wax with her magic and sealed them carefully. “There now Twilight, that was not difficult, was it? And do you not feel better now? As if a weight has been lifted from your chest, now you will have no distractions whilst studying here.” Celestia closed her eyes, and the letters flashed golden for a moment, and then disappeared. Twilight could only assume they had been delivered.

“Mother, Father…Brother…forgive me please.” She whispered.

Celestia smiled warmly. “Now my student, you must be anxious to begin our lessons for the day. We have wasted quite enough time dwelling on last night. We will start on Magic Diffusion theory today. Come along.”

Twilight slumped off the chair, and dutifully followed her Princess.


For the rest of the week, Twilight tried to lose herself in her studies. She found herself yearning for the training sessions, where she could focus all of her being into her magic. Her mind was filled with a purple glow, blotting out her memories. There was only the task at hand.

Even the Princess was surprised at her progress. She had learned all the Diffusion techniques in one week. The purple unicorn had learned how to push the magic from items and render them benign, or even to take her own spells and spread them into large areas. It wasn’t an easy concept to grasp. Most students could not comprehend that magic was not limited by the laws of physics. A powerful spell could be enlarged and enhanced by as much as the pony casting it wanted. The only limitations were the strength of the caster being able to sustain it before it wore down their body and mind.

Twilight left her session on Friday, glad to be done for the week. She felt so exhausted; she could barely keep herself on her hooves. Wobbling back and forth, she carefully walked down the courtyard path, enjoying the cool evening air. She looked at the trees dotting the courtyard, their leaves tinged a subtle red as they blew lazily in the breeze. It would be Fall soon. Had she really been here that long? The passage of time in the castle almost seem surreal at times.

She looked ahead into the inviting light of the dining hall. She could already smell Merriweather’s meal drifting out of the thin stone windows. Smiling happily, she trotted inside. She always enjoyed sharing a meal with the motherly servant pony.

As she entered, the orange mare looked up from her table, offering a little smile to Twilight. As she returned it, the unicorn felt a wave of disorientation flood her vision. Her knees buckled under her, and the young pony toppled to the ground. She could barely feel the cold stone smack her chin as her vision turned black.

“Miss!” Merriweather sprang forward, with a speed that belied her age. She reached out and cradled the purple pony’s muzzle in her hooves, checking her eyes for signs of life. With a hoof to Twilight’s mouth, she sighed, as she felt the pony breathing steadily. She had merely fainted. Nuzzling her head under her small frame, Merriweather carried the pony to a nearby bench, placing her down carefully. Moistening a towel, she dabbed at the foal’s head, brushing her mane off of her face. She smiled to herself. The small pony had spent so much time training that she hadn’t had her mane cut in months. If her mother could see her now…

Twilight awoke a few minutes later. Looking up, she saw a kind face smiling at her. “Mother?” She whispered.

Merriweather grinned. “No, it’s just me Miss.”

“Oh.” Twilight settled back against the bench. “Thanks, Merriweather.” She turned her head and looked into the hall. Her vision was still blurry, but at least she didn’t feel dizzy anymore.

“It’s quite alright. You had a bit of a fainting spell, that’s all.” Merriweather stood up next to her, pulling the towel off the foal’s forehead. “Are you still hungry at all? You really should eat something, Miss.”

Twilight looked up at her, and nodded. She really was hungry. Voraciously so, as a matter of fact. She tried to step off the bench, but her front hoof wobbled, threatening to send her on a short trip to the stone floor again.

Merriweather was ready this time though. She caught the purple pony with her front hoof. “There, there, take it easy, Miss. Let me help you.” Twilight felt her orange hoof grasp her around the neck. It was the first time she had really felt the earth pony against her before. Merriweather felt powerful, but her touch was still gentle. She accepted the help gratefully as they walked to the table and found their seats.

The meal, as always, was simple but delicious. Merriweather knew the little pony didn’t care for the fancier fare that she usually prepared. Tonight it was a sautéed green salad, with roasted nuts and a honeyed dressing, with slices of fresh bread and thick pats of butter. Twilight dug in, forgetting her exhaustion. Glancing over, she even noticed that Merriweather had set out a small decanter of spiced brandy that Twilight liked. Trying to look as nonchalant as possible, she filled a glass with the sweet, warm liquid, and drank deep, her cheeks flushing with color. The servant pony still noticed, lifting an eye at the foal. Twilight blushed slightly. She knew she shouldn’t indulge, but it was just one bad habit she had picked up from her mentor.

Their meal passed silently. The two had little to talk about this week. Twilight had been so tired after her training, and ever since Celestia had made her write the letters, there had been a sullenness in the foal that Merriweather could sense. It had made their usual happy mealtimes together feel strained.

As she was clearing the plates that evening, Merriweather glanced over at the other pony. She still was having trouble walking. She wobbled on her hooves, bracing herself on the table for balance. Sighing, the orange pony trotted over, bracing the pony with her firm body. “Let me help you, Miss.”

Twilight sighed, but still smiled slightly. “Thanks.”

They walked towards the door, but at the last moment, the stronger earth pony led the weak unicorn into the kitchen. “Merriweather?” Twilight protested. But the pony simply nodded and led her inside.

Twilight seldom came inside the kitchen. It was immaculate, as usual, as per Merriweather’s usual housekeeping. The room was stone, but had obviously had various upgrades to make it into a world class room that any chef would have been privileged to work in. The stoves ran on a type of bottled gas, and the counters were a gleaming white marble, ideal for baking. Various pans and pots hung from a large rack on the ceiling.

Merriweather sat her on a small wooden stool, and walked over to a drawer. When she turned, she held a very sharp pair of scissors.

Twilight glanced up at her mane. “Is it really that bad?”

Holding the scissors in her muzzle, Meriweather simply nodded. She started smoothing the dark purple locks down. As she worked, she could feel the young pony relax as small snips of hair fell around her onto the polished floor.

“Merriweather?”

With the scissors in her mouth, the orange pony could only manage an “MmHm?” to answer her.

“You probably know that the Princess made me tell my parents and brother not to visit me anymore.”

There was a slight pause. Afterwards, Merriweather simply kept snipping.

“It’s okay. It really is. I thought about it a lot this week. It’ll be easier this way I think. And I’m glad she still cares enough to keep me here as her pupil. I mean, I haven’t exactly been the best student while I’ve been here.”

Snip, snip, snip.

“Does she do this to everyone though, Merriweather? I feel like I’ve hurt her somehow. She trusted me so very much, to learn all she has to teach me and share all her secrets. When I look into her face now, I only can feel her pain. I keep thinking about her sister, and all the things I’ve done to betray her trust. I really can’t help but feel sad for her. I don’t know what I can do…”

Merriweather finished the purple pony’s bangs, and put the scissors down on the counter. She placed a hoof under Twilight’s muzzle and held her face to hers. “Miss, you must realize one thing about the Princess’s sorrow. None of us will ever understand the suffering she has endured over the last thousand years.

“However, you must promise me, you will never blame yourself. You are a very smart, pretty little pony, and I know you are an exceptional student. While I have been here, I have never seen another work as hard as you have. You should never question your own abilities. Remember that you are still young. No one can place so much weight on a foal and expect them to carry it.”

Merriweather looked at her with a worried expression. “I know that the Princess can have…unusual needs. Some of the things she does with her students, I do not agree with. Just don’t let it change you. It may be true that it will be better if your family doesn’t visit you here. But promise me you won’t forget them. Promise that you won’t stop being you.”

Twilight was shocked. Merriweather had never spoken to her like this before. Their conversations were usually on lofty subjects, such as philosophy or astronomy. But never this…intimate. With wavering eyes, she could only look into the motherly pony’s face and say one thing. “I promise.”

Merriweather smiled at her. “Good. Now then, let’s trim that tail as well.”



Twilight Sparkle awoke the next day feeling rejuvenated. Somehow she felt a great weight had been lifted off of her. As the rays on sunlit shone in through her windows, there was a strange happiness that flowed through her. Even breakfast tasted better, if it were possible.

Saturdays had always been a day of rest for the student. The Princess usually was out of the castle, and it left the little pony free reign of the castle. She had long since exhausted exploring the vast building, and usually spent her days off peacefully reading in the summer air. But this day, as she entered the courtyard, she was surprised to see the Princess waiting, her multicolored mane glistening in the sun. Twilight felt excited somehow. This was very unlike her mentor.

“Good morning, my faithful student.” Celestia said with a broad smile. “I had a Saturday off and thought we might spend a day relaxing. No lessons, no lectures, just the two of us enjoying a late summer day.”

Twilight stammered a bit out of surprise. “I would…like that very much Princess.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Celestia said happily.

The two ponies walked through the spacious courtyard, the mentor and student simply enjoying each other company in silence. A true dog day of summer passed over Canterlot, with a slight cool breeze reminding everypony of the upcoming cooler months. Celestia glanced sideways at the younger pony, playfully nudging her flank with her own. To her surprise the foal rubbed against her, returning the intimate act. The two braced against each other as they walked.

Celestia led them to a large, white gazebo. It was twined with purple morning glories, covering the sides in a thick mesh. As they sat together inside, the sun streamed through in lazy rays. Twilight gazed upon her teacher, watching the sun play off her snow white coat. The Princess caught her wandering eyes. As the foal looked away with a slight blush, Celestia chuckled at her innocence.

“It is so nice to enjoy one of the last days of summer. These are my favorite times of the year. The days are so long. Everypony is enjoying the last days of summer before the toil of fall and the sleep of winter falls upon the land.” Celestia spoke wistfully as she looked through the curtain of flowers.

“I always did like the last days of summer, but it was more because I was going back to school.” Twilight giggled. “I never did like summer very much. I wasn’t good at sports, and I used to get laughed at for reading while the other ponies were out playing.

“But when fall came, the air would start to cool and ponies would stay inside all day. During the cooler months, I felt more normal, I guess. Like everypony was spending all day inside reading.” Twilight sighed and placed her head between her hooves. “Really I was just fooling myself. When I look back now, I was such a naïve pony. I fooled myself that I was missing out on anything.

The purple pony smiled suddenly. “I mean, I remember one time when my brother was…” she droned off, suddenly remembering the letter from yesterday.

Celestia looked thoughtfully at the foal, her purple eyes soft and understanding. This was not the first time she had to be harsh with a student. And she was intimately aware of how it felt to lose a sibling. She could feel the other pony’s sorrow.

“Come here, Twilight.” She spoke quietly, raising her wing slightly. The unicorn obediently trotted to her side, moving close to the white mare, as the huge alicorn wing surrounded her, and pulled her in close. Twilight was surprised by the intimate act. She could scarcely find words to describe the sensation of being cradled by the Princess, with her feathery wing holding her tight against the warm, velvet coat of her ruler. Losing herself, she found all she wanted to do was bury her head into the other mare’s neck, shutting her eyes tightly as tears welled up. She cried silently, dampening Celestia’s neck as she nuzzled it as she would a childhood toy. The Princess leaned down and cradled her head against her neck, comforting the foal. She clenched her even tighter in her winged embrace.

“As I said before, my faithful student, I do not prevent you from seeing your family without good reason. Your brother is now a member of the guards, and your parents are highly respected unicorns. If what you have done…if what we have done ever were discovered, I would have no choice but to send you all away. It is my duty to protect the crown of Equestria. As I did one thousand years ago, when I had to banish my own sister. There is nothing more important to me then defending the reputation of the crown.”

Celestia moved her muzzle against the foal’s, feeling her warm tears bead against her white coat. She reached out her pink tongue, and tasted Twilight’s face, lapping at the tear stained fur, before kissing her gently. “What would the subjects think, if they had discovered their beloved Princess had abused her sister. That she was a foal fiddler. That she had caused the Queen and King to pass away in sorrow?” Twilight had opened her eyes now. She had stopped crying. Celestia cradled her head with a white, manicured hoof. She smoothed the newly cut mane from the foal’s eyes, drying the rest of her tears.

“The weight of the crown is a heavy weight indeed, my student. Could any other pony have made such a difficult choice? Would any other pony have the resolve?” The calm was gone from those purple eyes. Celestia looked at the filly with a sort of far off determination. She was smiling now. “Your price to pay was so very small, Twilight. I knew you would be glad to pay it. Because you believe in the crown. You believe in me. And you know that I have so many things to teach you.”

Celestia darted forward, and caught the surprised foal in a deep kiss. Twilight melted at her touch, welcoming the soft tongue inside her, pushing against the Princess as she felt her warm breath hot against her muzzle. She closed her eyes and lost herself, all of her mind focused on pleasing her Princess, on erasing her sorrow.

Breaking the kiss, Twilight found herself flushing crimson as Celestia looked deeply into her eyes. The foal gave her a sheepish grin, then craned her neck, kissing the ruler’s graceful neck. Her Princess always smelled so good. Some exotic mix of vanilla and mint assailed her nose as she buried herself in the soft fur, trailing down to one of her regal wings. She glanced up at the older mare briefly, as if checking if it was alright to continue. Seeing no opposition, Twilight nibbled gently at the large wing, bringing forth a small shudder as Celestia felt a twinge of pleasure from the sensitive appendage. She kept gently preening the sensitive leading edge of the wing, working down its length. Celestia moved slightly, poising the wingtip against her flank. Twilight looked down and saw the feathery wingtip poised against her mentor’s sex. She felt a heat wash over her, as she continue her oral journey to its destination.


Twilight paused to gently kiss Celestia’s flank, lapping at her sun cutie mark. The white mare sighed slightly, shifting her weight on the bench, spreading her rear legs wider. Her student needed no further encouragement. She poised herself behind the plump plot, staring at the winking sex of the Princess. She had never seen it in such a way before. The pristine white coat framed the perfect pink folds. Unlike her own, the Princess’s clit was swollen and winked in and out, hypnotizing her. A slight trickle of her nectar was already flowing out. Twilight reached forward, finding the smell intoxicating. Her small pink tongue reached for the bottom of the royal snatch, tasting the liquid pooling there. Celestia shuddered as the foal lapped at her juices, tickling her clit with her soft muzzle as she worked, her inexperience making the Princess smile as she focused on the pleasurable sensations.

Becoming more bold, the foal moved upwards, tasting the glistening inner depths of her Princess. She knew the jolts of pleasure that came from the small fleshy nub, and did her best to worship it with her tongue. She found it was large enough she could almost suckle on it. This proved almost too intense for Celestia, as she would buck her body sharply after only a few moments, letting out a slight moan.

Twilight could feel her own thighs become wet as she pleasured her teacher. She ignored it, concentrating completely on her task. Her Princess needed this. She buried her muzzle as deep as she could inside the pink slit, reaching up with a hoof and rubbing the exposed clit gently, stroking it as she had been taught. Celestia gasped, nearing her orgasm. She wordlessly pushed her student further in with her wing, holding her tight as her body spasmed with pleasure.

Celestia gasped, then grunted several times as she silently came, flooding Twilight’s mouth with a fresh wave of marecum. Her student pulled back, breathing heavily as her muzzle glistened with Celestia’s essence. The Princess clenched her eyes, letting the waves of orgasm subside. Her breath came fast as she opened them, trying to catch her breath. She looked back at her student with a grin, smiling wider as the innocent pony blushed, her entire muzzle and neck sticky with her juices.

The alicorn pulled her close with one of her wings. Kissing her passionately, she trailed her tongue down, and started licking her student’s muzzle and neck, cleaning her own cum from the small pony. Twilight gasped at the contact, burying her face in the Princess’s flowing mane. When she was satisfied, Celestia broke away, cradling the unicorn in her wing again, stroking her whole body with her feathers. Rearing up against the welcomed touch, Twilight moaned as her already wet nethers tingled. She practically came when the Princess stroked her gently with a wingtip, tickling her moist snatch with a long pinion. She raised her tail as far as she could, thrusting back against the soft feathers. Her entire mind was lost in a cloud of lust.

The Princess was very skillful with her wing. She stroked the leading feathers gently over the soft folds of the filly. It didn’t take long. Twilight soon was bucking against her wing, letting out little childish moans. Stroking a flight feather hard against her clit, the Princess brought her to orgasm, pushing her body against her student’s, feeling the throes of pure pleasure as she came.

Celestia held her exhausted pupil tight against her until she dozed off, her white wing shielding the foal from the cool breeze as afternoon turned to evening. Not wanting to wake her, she carried the filly from the gazebo, wordlessly past Merriweather. Gently placing her in her bed, she kissed her goodnight.