Lady Knight Keladry or Mindelan stood in front of a floor-length mirror that had been placed in her rooms, looking more like a lady than she had done in her entire life.
Clothed in a strapless floor-length, hot pink dress with flowing skirts, Kel was a picture of elegance.
Her dress was plain apart from the two inch thick border of red roses along the hem and on her right side there was a spilt that reached her knee. Her shoes, also a shade of hot pink, boasted an inch and a half of heel and were attatched to her feet by a couple of silver five millimeter wide straps near the front of her foot and around her ankle (the ankle straps were secured with a small silver buckle) that allowed full view of her rose coloured toe nails.
From the light given off from the candles on the 24 year olds desk you could see that her hair, which had been left to grow until it reached to just above her bosom, was secured in a strict bun that allowed only a few strands to fall down and frame her face perfectly. Her hair, usually a mousy brown, had been dyed with a special hair dye that her friend, Yuki, had gotten shipped over from the Yamani Isles, and had left Kel's hair a deep rosy red, matching her toes. The change of hair colour was not permenant of course, and would eventually wash out, Yuki had promised.
If you could look past her stunning hair, you would notice that above her dreamers hazel eyes, her eyelids bore a slight tinge of pink, as did her cheeks and lips, a reminder of Lalasas efforts to make her former mistress look her best for Lord Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Malories Peak and Buriram Tourakom of the K'miri Hau Ma, Lady Yukimi Noh Diamoru and Sir Nealan of Queenscove's double wedding, at which Kel was to be the Maid of Honor for both parties.
Finally, Kel had a silver belt, one centimeter wide, which was long enough to wrap twice around her slim waist, on which hung her sword, Griffin, in a silver sheath.
Buri and Yuki, marrying into the Goldenlake and Queenscove families, could afford going all-out on their weddings but Kel was sure that those families' coffers were going to be drained for some time, considering what Kel had seen of the decorations and dresses that they had brought. Lalasa had made the dresses for less than she usually would have but she claimed that they were Kels friends and it was the least she could do, but they brides-to-be had tipped her generously and had refused to accept any of it back, saying that her dresses were worth every noble and more, (A/N noble as in money) causing rival seamstresses to go green with envy at the high praise that she received.
Kel was not all too thrilled about dressing up in all the pink finery but did not want to ruin her good friends wedding days. "You look lovely milady," Lalasa murmured, jolting Kel out of her thoughts. "How couldn't I, wearing something made by you?" Kel asked the older girl, smiling.
Lalasa picked up a delicately wrapped packet from Kel's desk. Carefully opening the packet, Lalasa drew out a small silver horse attached to a long chain. Kel gasped. "Don't say a word milady, I want you to have it and I won't accept no coin for it either. Think of it as an early midwinter present if you like." Lalasa said as she fastened the necklace around Kel's neck.
Reaching further into the folds of the tissue paper, Lalasa pulled out two small silver hoops, about four centimeters in diameter and proceeded to fasten them into Kel's ears, which had been pierced earlier that day and finally grabbed some thin silver bangles that soon adorned her left wrist. "Milady is ready to go," Lalasa announced as Kel turned to face her reflection again.
Kel smothered a gasp as she took in the court lady that stood in front of her. I actually look pretty in this dress, Kel thought. Immediately afterwards Kel shook her head at her folly – after all, who couldn't look pretty in a dress made by Lalasa? And no court lady wore a sword on her belt.
"Lalasa, I can't possibly accept all this," Kel protested.
"Nonsense milady, I would not have my dress shop now if it wasn't for you and I wouldn't have work that I love," retorted Lalasa as Kel hugged her. "I must be going now milady, to get a good seat. I'm sure you can make it there on your own," and with a parting smile, Lalasa closed the door behind her.
Kel sat down on her bed carefully, taking care not to spoil the finery that she wore.
A bell tolled in the distance and realizing that she would have to leave now if she were to get to the wedding on time so, sighing, she stood up again and made her way slowly to the door—she would look a right fool if she tripped over in her high heels, even if they were only low ones.