The rest of the lads won't know what hit them, Marian thought to herself, trying not to laugh.
"I thought that would fit," she said aloud. "You look beautiful, Djaq." She was glad now that she'd never had a chance to wear the dress. Something told her Guy would remember anything she'd worn. This - no one would recognize.
"It will serve the purpose," Djaq said brusquely. Her small brown hands smoothed the golden skirt. For a moment, she looked curiously in the mirror, as if trying to decide whether the stranger she saw there was Djaq or Saffiya or someone new.
Marian cleared her throat. "I ought to do something with your hair. As it is now, you've obviously been living in the forest." With a half-serious smile, she pulled a leaf from the dark curls.
Djaq laughed suddenly. "I am so strange," she announced in her exotic accent. "There are so many different things inside me: Saracen warrior, English outlaw, woman. It is difficult to make all of them fit."
The women laughed together.
"I think you do it well," Marian said, impressed by Djaq's ability to laugh at herself.
While they spoke, she'd twirled and braided strips of silky veil, transforming them into a deep pink and gold rose. The finished product seemed to tie together Djaq's femininity and forest life.
"This is nice," Djaq admitted slowly. "I've ... I've never worn a dress before."
"Never?" Marian tried not to sound too surprised, not knowing how the Saracen woman would respond. "Why not? Did you always dress as a boy?"
She pinned the silk rose into Djaq's hair and tugged a few strips down to dangle over her dark shoulder.
"No."
Marian thought that was all the answer she would get; but, after a brief pause, Djaq continued.
"I did not always dress as a boy." She hesitated again, then added, "Women's clothes are different in my land."
Marian knew from the finality in her voice that the subject was closed.
"Well ... " Again she broke the awkward silence, turning Djaq to the mirror. "I think you're ready now."
Djaq appraised herself a moment and smiled. "Yes. I think I am." Abruptly, she looked over her shoulder at Marian, eyebrows raised in a question. "Are you?"
Marian sighed and nodded, tugging uncomfortably on the plunging neckline of her black dress. "I'll do what I have to."
Djaq seemed satisfied with her answer. "We both will."
That was that.
.0
After the Count lost everything, the lady and the Saracen raced to Marian's rooms. Djaq swept her forest clothes out from under Marian's bed, changed rapidly, and threw on the German robe over all.
Marian gathered the gold dress off the floor and hurried to hang it in her wardrobe, then glanced over her shoulder at Djaq. Her hand paused.
She couldn't wear this dress again, not now that Djaq had been seen in it. Besides, it fit the woman as though it had been made for her. It wouldn't be the same on anyone else.
"Marian?"
Djaq's voice made up her mind.
Marian rolled the dress up and pressed it into Djaq's hands. "Keep it. You may need it again - and, anyway, I can't wear it now."
Djaq looked startled and bewildered. "I - I can't simply walk out of the castle with it in my hands," she stuttered.
A mischievous grin spread over Marian's face. "Then put it in your hat."
For another instant Djaq hesitated, then answered Marian with a smile of her own as she stuffed the dress under her floppy berèt.
"Now let's go."