The room nearly stopped breathing waiting for the queens response. Ashara watched Tatiana slap a hand over her mouth and her shoulders start to shake.

Is she… Laughing? Ashara’s mouth gaped open. Her eyes were wide with shock. I didn’t think she was capable of such a feat. A very unregal snort slipped out from between the queens lips. She doubled over, laughter spilling from her mouth and her red, hip length curls brushing the floor. Tatiana’s gold wings fluttered madly for a few moments, following her shaking shoulders and laughter.

When the queen finally stopped, Ashara breathed a sigh of relief. Tatiana’s face was sharp, a wicked smile on her lips.

“And why ever not?” Tatiana’s face was serious, all humor gone. Ashara stood straight, sucking in a breath. I will have at least this. She will not deny me this. Please let her give me this. Ashara clenched her fists at her side, squaring her shoulders. Eolande put a hand on her shoulder.

“I like the color blue better. Blue with gold and silver are my preferences; And a finer fabric with a bit more than just pleated fabric pinned in place!” Tatiana grinned, laughter spurting out from between her clenched lips. Ashara glared, putting her hands on her hips. Tatiana giggled before smiling serenely at her niece.

“I said the same thing to my grandmother, your great grandmother. the Lady Rollage the day before my handfasting. I remember working hard with my handmaiden to weave the fabric and attach the sapphires.” The queen rolled her eyes, smirking.

“The shoulder pins were difficult to find! And the lapis lazuli belt!” Tatiana walked over to the chair, her skirts fanning out behind her. She picked up the gold silk, laying it over one arm. She turned to Ashara, a gentle smile on her face.

“What do you want your handfasting dress to be? Lady Rollage tried to force me to wear a dress made from stars and the night sky. I told her I didn’t want that. I wanted something that I chose.” Now that sounds lovely. Tatiana tilted her head at Ashara.

“What will you choose?”

I want to see Lady Rollages handfasting dress. Ashara looked at the queen, a smile on her lips and her heart a little less heavy.

“I’d like to see the Lady Rollages handfasting gown.” Tatiana took Ashara’s arm, turning to her handmaidens. “Make yourselves useful and tidy up in here.” The queen walked out of Ashara’s chambers, tugging her along.

“Queen Tatiana, where is the Lady Rollage’s gown?” Tatiana stops, turning to Ashara, her skirts swishing.

“You’ll see when we get there child.” Ashara nodded, her stomach fluttering.

They wove through the halls of the ivory keep, making the short journey to the grand hall before the ornate doors of the throne room, which towered over their heads. Two Mother of pearl armour clad guards stood at attention, the diamond edges of their armour and swords glinting in the early morning light.

Tatiana stopped, spreading her feet from shoulder to shoulder. Her dark gold wings fluttered slightly before stilling. Bright, honey gold, curling marks slowly appeared on the visible parts of her arms, neck, and scrolled onto her cheeks. Tatiana’s Awakening marks. The heavy gold doors of the throne room, carved with larger than life stags standing on their hind legs, reaching towards an eight spiked star at the top of the door, split in the middle of the doors, started glowing the same color as Tatiana’s marks.

I’ve only seen her use her powers once, at my Making ceremony. She’s the only one that is able to create new faeries; Well, her and Lady Rollage. And after my handfasting and the seven day ceremonies, I will know the secrets as well.

Tatiana’s glow faded and the doors followed a moment after. She rose her hand and they opened, creaking slightly. What did she do? Tatiana grabbed Ashara’s arm herding her through the crack in the doors and into the darkness. She closed the door, snuffing out their only light source.

Ashara gasped. Tatiana let out an annoyed sigh. Her honey yellow marks glowed, illuminating the dusty space. Ashara looked around, her mouth agape. Tatiana dragged her around ancient wooden chests, covered paintings, and sparkling artifacts stacked on top of one another. “Hurry, we cannot be gone long.” Ashara tried to stop; Tatiana only dragged her along faster.

“Queen Tatiana, where are we going?” The queen stopped. She turned to roll her eyes at Ashara.

“We are going to retrieve the Lady Rollage’s Founder forsaken dress!” The stone echoed around them, casting back their hurried footsteps. The queen came to a stop in front of an old wooden altar. She moved aside the dark blue velvet, shot through with gold and silver embroidery. It crumpled to the dusty floor with a whisper.

The queen knelt in front of the alter, her head hung in reverence, her hands in front of her.

“I humbly ask to see the artifacts of Lady Rollage.” The alter trembled, before a small door opened, bringing forth a polished black stone bowl. Tatiana brought a finger to her mouth, piercing her finger on a fang before pressing it to the inner rim of the bowl. Ashara leaned in closer, looking at the bowl.

Inlaid on the polished stone were the letters of an alphabet Ashara couldn’t remember ever learning.

“It’s Elfheim and old Gaelic, the languages we used before gaelic. That was Oberon’s choice…” The queen looked down into the bowl; The bottom was coated in silver. Tatiana took her finger out and put in in her mouth. Both of them watched as the bowl withdrew back into the alter, glowing white. The alter started to glow the same brilliant white, the top creaking and popping open.

The gown slowly rose, folded on itself. It came into Tatiana’s outstretched hands. The queen shook it out. It shimmered in the yellow light of her marks. White crystals made up the whole of the bodice and the shoulders. Ashara could see that it wasn’t just white crystals, but shades of blue. As she looked downwards, the crystals became slowly more spaced out and the dark, midnight blue faded into the soft grey of morning at the hem with very few crystals. It’s beautiful… I need this gown. I could have a handfasting in this.

“I want to try it on.”

“There’s more inside the altar. Wait and see.” Ashara turned back to the altar. She only had to wait a moment before three clusters of stars came out of the box; Two of them were the size of her fist, and the other long as the length of her hand. What are those meant to be? Tatiana looked at her, a red brow arched. She sighed, looking exasperated.

“They are star clusters. They will mould to your feet, making slippers. Quite comfortable actually. The third cluster will make a hair ornament.” The queen looked wistful, smiling softly. “Mine was a small crown with little strings and little stars hanging down in little braids.” The queen’s voice was distant, as though she were remembering the day of her handfasting even now.

I wonder what mine will look like… George’s face appeared in her mind’s eye, handsome and smiling. Ashara’s stomach knotted. She looked down at the ground and then back to the still glowing box. I wish it was George I was marrying instead of Dandelion. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I just ran away to the human world. It would have to be far away. An image of the frostbitten wasteland of the winter court, separated from the summer court, and all other seasons, by the border forest, appeared in Ashara’s mind. She shivered.

When she looked back at the box, the glow was fading. Tatiana turned to Ashara. “Come along. We need to see if the gown will fit you.” I don’t know if I’ll be here to wear it tomorrow… Ashara shivered as the queen’s glamour passed over her. The doors opened, revealing fae of all shapes and sizes, moving hither and thither. All of these people, are here for me… I couldn’t disappoint them…

George’s voice rang sharp in Ashar’s mind. “Maybe you deserve to be selfish; If only every once in a while! You spend so much of your energy pleasing other people! What about you? What does Ashara want?” I don’t know what I want, but I know I don’t want to marry Dandelion. Not if It will make me miserable. Ashara followed Tatiana through the crowd of faeries, careful not to bump into any of them lest the illusion of their absence dissolve.

The pair wove around the multi colored faeries and a few elves, breathing a sigh of relief when they reached the end of the wide, cream colored corridor. Tatiana turned to Ashara, giving her a conspiratorial wink. Ashara smiled back, mirroring the queen. They walked up the staircase, following it’s curve right until they reached the next level of the palace. They turned to their left and continued walking, around the corner, up the next set of stairs.

The high ceilings of the summer palace passed overhead, their grand depictions of the battles and wars the people of Summer participated in flowing behind Ashara as she and the queen walked. I wonder if George has ever been in battle. As strong and fit as he it, I wouldn’t doubt it. An image of her brown haired mortal rose in her mine, clad in silver armour and shining sword raised above his head. Ashara blushed, a smile flitting across her face. She looked away, trying to hide her face from the queen.

Tatiana looked at her, a smile curling her red lips.

“I had someone I cared for too. Her name was Maeve. Well, she was a handmaiden…” The queens voice dropped to a near whisper. Is she the reason all of your current handmaidens look the way they do? I’ve seen some of the records in the forbidden section of the library; A name was scratched out. Could it be hers? Is that why I haven’t heard of anyone with that name before? She smiled at Ashara.

“You’ll learn more about that after the Seven Day Ceremony and your formal crowning as princess of the summer court.” Ashara’s stomach sank. She managed a smile and hoped it looked convincing.

They continued walking; Tatiana slipped an arm around Asharas. As they rounded the staircase leading to the fourth floor. Ashara felt her heart leap, seeing the soft gold doors of her chambers. Almost there!  They neared the doors and the guards that stood at attention. Tatiana dropped her glamour.The guards snapped a salute. Tatiana raised a brow, glaring at them.

“Well, it’s not going to open itself, it it?” The guards opened the doors on side. Tatiana and Ashara entered. Ashara smiled at the guards, nodding as they passed.

Tatiana’s handmaidens and Eolande stood at the edge of the cream colored carpet, heads down. Eolande’s head snapped up, hearing the doors open, her black curls flying. Her periwinkle eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

“M-my Lady!” In her trembling hand she held a rumpled, cream letter.