Something was up. Freya was instantly on guard. The last time that she’d smelled sweet rolls, one of her brothers had signed up to become a Coalition Soldier.

Smelling the delicious smell of Old Gran’s tea, Freya walked into the family dining room. The heat coming off of Old Gran’s special sweet rolls told Freya that today was probably going to be a special day.

“Is Hem coming back?” Freya said.

“No, dearie, I have an old friend coming for lunch,” Old Gran said, busy in the kitchen.

All of a sudden Freya realized that the entire common room was clean, dusted, and looking ready for a party. The cup that Kayli had been sipping out of was completely empty and the mouse herself was nowhere to be found.

“An old friend?” Freya sneaked behind Old Gran to see if she could grab one without her notice. Wondering who could be coming, Freya munched, hiding behind the pantry door. The smells brought her back to earlier times making rolls with Hem. Hem loved making bread almost as much as he loved being a Soldier.

A ringing at the door indicated that someone had arrived.

“Oh do come in,” Old Gran said.

Freya peeked her head up and over the pantry door, smelling the rabbit before she walked in. A beautiful blue dress shimmered as she plodded in. Her brown fur was almost the same color as Old Grans.

“Lady Raina! My old friend, how good of you to come,” Old Gran said.

The two clasped paws.

“Oh, Beatrice, you know that we’re more than friends,” Raina said.

“Sister!” They both giggled.

The rabbit must be one of Old Grans friends, but she had never seen her. Maybe she was one of those city rabbits? Freya suddenly noticed that Old Gran had on her church best. Was she up to something? Freya noticed Kayli trying to sneak around the stairwell.

Oh dear, Freya thought, This had better not end up with me dressing up.

Her normal garb of course in the field was a simple brown tunic over her small clothes. She’d dressed up for festivals in the past, but those dresses were loose and flowing much unlike the high fashion of the society today with tight corsets and tapered skirts.

The two said their greetings and sat down.

“Oh and you’ve written about your granddaughter so much, is she around? I would so love to make her acquaintance,” Lady Raina said, raising her teacup for a sip. “I fear that I have been away for far too long.”

“Well, sister, she is in fact probably skulking around the pantry attempting to stuff her maw with my mother’s sweet roll recipe,” Old Gran said. “Freya, do come join us.”

Freya choked on the sweet roll she had just stolen, frantically trying to finish chewing. Standing up she could see that both sets of eyes were on her, and Lady Raina had both ears pointed in her direction. She knew!

“Come, let us take a look at you child, my my,” Lady Raina said.

Freya stood in front of the two old friends, paws clasped in front of her, praying that Kayli wouldn’t take that moment to embarrass her.

“You said that she had completed her formal schooling, yes?” Lady Raina said, putting her spectacles on. The spectacles were at the end of a long pole that she held in her paws, making her look even older to Freya's eyes.

“She is done, yes, we’ve allowed her to help Woda with his most recent…” Old gran sighed, “Attempt to make money. He wants to raise these beasts to ride.”

“Surely he isn’t serious,” Lady Raina said, putting her spectacles down to take a drink. Her ears folded downwards.

“He is serious! And I’m going to help him!” Freya said far too fast for her own good, “We have a boy and a girl and the boy’s name is Iron Beak and the girl's name is also Freya.”

“Well don’t you know a lot,” Lady Raina said, returning her spectacles to her face. “And such a pretty face.”

Freya blushed, turning beet red underneath her warm brown fur.

“It’s true, it is,” Freya said quietly.

“And am I to expect you at any of the upcoming winter balls?” Lady Raina turned to Old Gran, “Or will you send this one at the very least?”

“She hasn’t been trained to go to balls, and she wouldn’t wear the dress if you paid her,” Old gran laughed, “ I myself grow weary and won’t be attending. I have Kayli and Hem to look after.”

Freya was growing restless standing still with her paws clasped and no invitation to sit. She wandered back to the kitchen to bring the tray of sweet rolls. Eating one, she thought about how delicious it was, how much better than it usually tasted.

“Is that true, dear Freya? You wouldn’t wear a dress?” Lady Raina said, taking a sweet roll.

Freya paused, considering her words. You didn’t just tell off a Lady, but this one had come into her burrow.

“I uh…”

“You’ll miss out on all the dancing and the eligible bachelors, why did you hear that the most eligible bachelor in the coalition will be a part of this winter's festivities? The Baron of Yellowrock will be hosting the final ball of the season, and it is rumored that he will be searching for the finest girl in the coalition to be his baroness.” Lady Raina said.

“You do love dancing,” Old Gran said, “And the Season starts when, sister?”

“The Queen will see all of the debutants and aspirants presented in two weeks. Surely that would be enough time to prepare and turn this country beauty into the belle of the ball,” Lady Raina sighed, “ Oh to be young again, and searching for love.”

“Grandpaw says that love is only found in books and in hard work for the coalition,” Freya said, twitching her whiskers.

“Well he did fall in love with me... the poor mouse,” Old Gran said.

She did love dancing after all, but… Some of the other girls at school had told her how they couldn't wait to be able to vie for the attention of some of the eligible woodlanders who went to the various society gatherings. Her friends Holly and Abigail both were obsessed with the whole idea and talked about it constantly until school ended weeks ago.

Turning to look at the window, Freya saw Kayli zipping around the kitchen pen like a mad mouse. She steeled herself to catch a fur missile.

Freya considered for a moment why Holly and Abigail had gotten roped into this without telling her. They told each other everything! Was there something else going on? She loved to play games and this seemed like a game… and when she played, she won. But she didn’t know that game and hadn’t prepared for it at all.

Catching a fur missile would be her first step. Kayli darted out and Freya ran after her. Kayli squealed with delight and the chase was on.