Ashara opened the door to her chambers, closing it quickly behind her. Her breath whooshed out of her lungs as she slid down the wall. Hot tears welled in her eyes. As the heaving sobs made her chest feel small, a pair of arms wrapped around her.

“Oh my lady…” Was all her dark haired handmaid could say, stroking her mistress’ curly hair. Ashara threw her arms around Eolande’s willowy frame, burying her face in her maids neck.

“W-why c-can’t I do anything right?” The words caught in her throat. Soft hands wiped away her tears.

“Ashara, you know that’s not true! These fae-” Eolande looked at the nearly blindingly bright blue wings pinned against the door by Ashara’a back. “Besides you- are very prickly! They don’t like things that are different Than them! It’s been this way since we came here.” Ashara’s sobs had subsided into hiccups and she was nodding. I don’t know why I’m not used to it by now.

Icy waves of shame and revolion filled Ashara, making her pretty square shaped face crumple. Her long, slightly upturned nose scrunched up as another wave of tears streaked down her face like falling stars. Eolande’s hands dabbled away Ashara’s tears once more.

“The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can come back and do something fun!” Eolande’s cheerful voice did little to lift Ashara’s spirits. She’s trying… I should at least make an effort, for her.

Ashara smiled, though it was wobbly and her her eyes stung with tears. She stood. The seven day ceremonies are only a few days away. If I can make it through them, I will be crowned queen of this wretched Summer court… Her stomach knotted with anxiety at the thought of being further trapped.

She took a breath as she stood, allowing Eolande to lead her to her dressing room. Her maid’s pale yellow dress stood out against Ashara’s dark riding clothes. Sometimes I wish It was Eolande who was the princess and I the handmaid. It would make things much easier. No matter how many time Ashara thought about it, she knew she could never subject her childhood friend to such humiliation, no matter how miserable she was.

Ashara took off her leather vest, letting it fall to the floor. She slipped the gold embroidered, dark blue tunic over her head, letting Eolande work on her tan suede riding boots. Maybe I’ll even be able to visit George if I can slip away after dinner. I doubt I’ll have time to during the Ceremonies.

Ashara smiled, loosening the ties on the sides on her pants. She stepped out of them, picking up the soft wool and handing them off to Eolande. Her handmaid turned away, setting the pile of clothes on the soft gold velvet cushion of the round stool, and the boots beside it on the floor.

She’s lucky to have stayed an elf. Being a faerie brings naught but trouble. Ashara watched Eolande’s black hair sway like a waterfall of ink down her back and past her hips as she found a dress she deemed suitable for a meeting with the queen. Her suitor had better treat her kindly once she returns to Stars Hollow. Princess of the Summer court or no, I’ll give him what for if he lays a hand against her!

Ashara let Eolande dress her in a pale gold gown, with purple flowers embroidering the nearly see through fabric over her lenin chemise. As she looked in the mirror, Ashara found she couldn’t hate the dress; Though she’d first come to hate the revealing dresses, Ashara had quickly discovered that her elvish attire did not suit the summer climate.

“I don’t hate it,” Ashara said, not wanting to out right dismiss it. The dress was lovely; A confection of soft organza, sweeping across her collarbone and shoulders and down to the floor in wide skirts. The sleeves were wide and airy, gathered at the wrist with delicate pearl ropes.

Eolande came from behind her, a nervous smile on her face. In her hands she held a wide dark blue velvet belt, pointed in the middle. Ashara dutifully sucked in her stomach, allowing her maid to draw it tight around her waist. Eolande stepped back, admiring her work.

“Oh!” Her face lit in surprise. “Your slippers!” Ashara rolled her eyes as her maid fished a pair of matching slippers with pearls at the top from a shelf at the bottom of the wardrobe. They shared a laugh. Ashara stuffed her feet into the slippers.

A knock came at the door of Ashara’s sitting room, killing their laughter.

“I’ll get it,” Eolande said, the skirts of her dress whipping against her legs. It’s probably Dandelion. He’s dogged me since he got his wings, and he always will.

When Eolande brought her cousin, Dandelion, it was all she could do to bite back her irritation. He offered his hand, smiling like it was a joke at her expense. She took it, sliding her hand up his arm. Ashara looked back at Eolande, watching her fall into step behind her.

Ashara and Dandelion walked arm in arm, the white marble and gold veined halls passed by slowly, elegant roman pillars filled with climbing woodland creatures.

"The faster we go, the sooner you can come back." Ashara said, hoping to placate Dandelion. He rolled his eyes. Ashara walked a bit faster, nerves prickling her arms and legs, Her heart thumped loudly in it’s bone confines. Be quiet, you contemptuous mound of meat! Any louder and the queen will hear you, if she doesn’t already.

The shadows of the shimmering, white marble, gold, and diamond palace loomed over Ashara, making her feel small. Ashara inhaled through her nose, pushing it out through her mouth. She stared as the wind moved through the garden, rippling through flowers and the green grass.

Her heart pounded furiously in her chest. Breathing in deeply once more, she stepped into the light and exhaled. Tatiana sat, unmoving, in the ivory backed chair with it’s finely carved legs, the wine red velvet cushions gold tassels fluttering in the breeze.

The queen of the Seelie court sat, her ruby hair, caught with shades ranging from brown to gold, a slight wave to it, in the chair.

She looked like a painting, serene and lovely in the sparkling sunlight. Her constantly fluttering golden wings being the only thing to mark her as living, breathing flesh. Ashara felt shivers dance along her spine. I could one day end up like her. Another thought rose to the surface, one that stilled the breath in Ashara’s throat and made her feel like shattered glass. What if Tatiana was like me once.

Ashara's slippered feet whispered on the gravel, alerting Tatiana of her presence. The queen didn't move, or give any indication that she was aware of Ashara. I hope she keeps this short. Ashara stepped forward, palms moist. She could feel the sweat gathering. It rolled down her back and between her electric blue wings, making her squirm where she stood.

She looked back at Eolande, her eyes wide and uncertain. The dark haired elf, gave her a small smile, before settling her face into a silent mask, her head down.

I can’t afford to slip up when the seven day Ceremonies are a mere three days away. Ashara sat down, tucking her dress under her. "My queen," she murmured, bowing her head. Dandelion followed suit. “Mother.”

"As both of you know, this summer solstice will be the date that the house of Rollage and Aurelius are joined once more. The start of the Seven Day Ceremonies" Both Ashara and Dandelion stiffened. Knowing something is coming is quite a different thing to having it confirmed.

The queen pressed her pale hand to her berry red mouth, smothering a chuckle. The pair of brunettes slid their eyes towards each other, green and brown caressing. Fear sank like lead in Ashara’s stomach, making her bite her lip. Ashara blushed, feeling the heat wash over her face and into her ears. She cast her eyes down, staring at her clenched hands.

Dandelion spoke.

"Mother, was this all you called us for, as much as the company is lovely?" He said, a frown flashing across his face for a split second. Tatiana smiled, "Dearest Pet, no. I merely called you here so that you may spend more time together before your engagement is announced before the courts." This was not a suggestion. Dandelion gave no outward sign of discontent. Ashara looked at her cousin. His eyes are glowing slightly and his wings are fluttering.

Ashara slowly nodded, casting her eyes downwards. I knew this was coming. She smiled. Gooseflesh crept up her exposed arms at the thought of everything that was to come in three days. Tatiana rose, her white, pearl beaded dress sparkling in the midday sun. The queen's back was met with a bow and a curtsy. As Ashara and Dandelion settled back into their seats, they stared each other down. Doe brown eyes clashed with summer green. Dandelion leveled a glance at Ashara. She pursed her lips. “Neither of us wants to do this, Shar.” The prince leaned back in his chair, settling his riding boots on the ivory and crystalline table top. Ashara shook her head, agreeing.

“I can see why you wouldn’t want to.” Ashara’s voice was soft, but cutting. Dandelion clenched his jaw, a vein in his neck pulsed. He swallowed while he thought of something to fill the growing silence. Perhaps I shouldn’t have said that, no matter how much he deserved to hear it. Ashara coughed, delicately pressing her hand to her mouth. Her eyes soaked in the sight of her cousin’s scowl. Dandelion’s eyes were wide, and his face was still. The sculpted hollows under his high set cheekbones expanded and contracted as he breathed. You have the rest of our lives together to hold things over my head, cousin. Let me have this.

“I understand how you feel. I feel the same.” Ashara felt a flash of indignation. Don’t you dare bring my pet into this! It’s one thing to have another faerie for a lover, but it’s quite another to have a human pet! She stood, smiling sweetly at her cousin. Ashara smoothed out her nearly see through skirts, her hands running over the embroidered flowers and seed pearls that dotted the dress.

“I’m sure you have other more important matters to attend, like the gremlin hiding in your room. I have a dinner to prepare for.” Ashara stood, turning on her heel, the skirts of her dress whipping in a circle and clinging to her front as she walked.

Eolande followed her, making no attempt to smother her laughter.