"And how long will it last?" Aly asked, as she admired herself in the mirror. As promised her hair was shiny and tangle free.
"A couple of weeks. It might fade before you go back home." Val told her.
"That's too bad." Aly said with a small sigh. She turned around. They were in one of the sitting rooms at Aly's grandparent's house.
"I can give you some of the oil if you want. That way when the effect wears off you can reapply." Val offered.
"That would be fantastic. You should sell this stuff. You'd make a fortune." Aly turned away from the mirror and sank down into an armchair across from Val.
"Yeah, but I don't want to have to make it. It takes a lot of work to get just right. It's too much trouble." Val waved a hand dismissively. "I'd better get going. It's almost dinner."
After walking Val out of the house, Aly went upstairs to change for dinner. Her grandparents had been invited to dine with the King and Queen that night so it would just be her and her brothers. Alan arrived first, looking absolutely exhausted.
"I will be so happy come summer when I don't have to do page training anymore." He said, before he'd even sat down in the dining room.
"Nice to see you too." Aly responded brightly. Alan gave her a dry look. He blinked when he took her in, but said nothing. Not the reaction Aly had been hoping for.
Thom was late, like always. He was nineteen and had more important things to do than eat dinner with his younger siblings. When he did arrive he gave Aly a one armed hug before he sat down. Almost as soon as he was seated the servants brought out the first course.
No one had said anything about her hair. Not one word. Thom and Alan were chatting idly while they ate. About people they both knew, their respective classes. They were halfway through the main course before Aly couldn't take it anymore.
"Why haven't either of you said anything about my hair?" She demanded.
"Did you do something with your hair?" Alan said sarcastically.
"What reaction do you want?" Thom asked mildly.
"Just give me something!"
"Oh my gods! What in Mithros's name have you done to your hair? It's blue!" Alan said.
"Don't mock me." Aly slid down in her chair and crossed her arms.
"I'm just not surprised by anything you do anymore." Alan said, shrugging.
"Just... better not let ma see you like that." Thom advised.