"Ok. I can do this. Just one more party." There was a knock on the door. "Blast." She took the half ponytail she had and stuck a straight stick in it. She had perfected the chopstick method when her hair got long enough for it, long ago. Now a few of the wet tendrils fell to the small of her back. Half-ready, she opened the door to find Imrah and a girl of about twelve. "Oh! Lord Imrah! Please come in, I assume this is your daughter?" Imrah nodded, the girl blushed and curtseyed. "Yes, this is my daughter, Hallayna." Xlelon regarded the girl expertly. She did not look like a regular noble's daughter, she had intelligence about her. "Are you to be presented tonight?" The girl nodded wordlessly. Xlelon winced in sympathy. "Ouch. Sorry bout that, I was presented the first night." She smiled. "The party isn't all that bad, if you like parties. It's the stairs." Imrah smiled too. "Yes, I have heard that as well. I was wondering, since you have had the experience," he held a hand up, "no matter how small, could you talk to her?" He leaned forward. "She is a bit nervous, her mother could not come." Xlelon nodded, feeling sorry for both the girl and Imrah. The girl because her mother was not here to help with one of the most important times of her life. Imrah because he had to do a job that he had no idea how to do. "Daddy!" Imrah smiled. "I will return for you in a bit Hallayna, I must find my squire." Xlelon snorted, "Check his room, he's been holed up in there since the first night of midwinter." Imrah smiled, he was quite aware of this. and the reason why. "Well, let us see if we can not chase him out of there." Xlelon smiled. "Go for it, and I pity you greatly." Imrah bowed. "Thankyou gracious lady, I am sure that I will return intact." "Yes, because otherwise Neal will be killed by various people, including the two in this room." At this Hallayna cracked the first smile that Xlelon had seen out of her. Imrah thanked her again for her help and walked from the door, closing it behind him. Xlelon let out a whoosh of breath. "Oh gods, I'm still barely ready!" Hallayna watched, amused, as Xlelon ran around her small room, trying desperately to get ready in time. She was a methodical worker, but rather unorgnaized. When she turned around to grab a washrag to wipe her face before applying paint, she remebered that she had a visitor. "Good grief, I'm sorry! I totally forgot about you! Are you nervous?" Hallayna nodded stiffly. Xlelon nodded. "Well, don't be, it isn't so bad, and its kind of hard to look bad going down the stairs. all that red velvet and such." Hallayna suddenly realized that this was no noble she was talking to. "Many say that the stairs are the worst part." Xlelon shrugged. "Don't get me wrong, it is, but once your over that, everything goes fine, and the knights ask you to dance and such." A smiled lit her face as she said this. She then shook her head. "Could you grab my shoes please? I'm so disorganized it's not even funny. They talk about spring cleaning in meditation, but winter cleaning is needed in here!" Xlelon saw Hallayna smile as she quickly brought the shoes over. "My father says that meditation is like spring cleaning for me especially, you don't wish to do it, but you must." Xlelon smiled, it certainly sounded like Imrah. She stood up, wobbled and steadied. She was not used to the shoes yet. Then again, she also wasn't used to the person in the mirror. The dress, blue and silver, was the most elegant that she had, from Linda. She sighed, turned around and fixed her hair again. This time it lay perfect. She smiled, then saw Hallayna's dress. It was just like the little dresses in the Halloween books, gold and white, with a neckalace. She looked away when she realized that she was staring, the girl had looked like a neighbor of hers. She smiled and felt her own neckalace, which she had not taken off since the night that it had been given to her. She had decided to put the dragon side out tonight, and the silver and opal shone in what light she had. A knock on her door woke her up from her waking dream. She opened it. Neal was on the other side, holding a box. He smiled and bowed. "I come for the lady Hallayna, her father wishes to speak with her before she is presented." Xlelon shook her head. "Honestly Neal, has master Oakbridge gotten to you? You haven't spoken normally for days!" He smiled as Hallayna came to the door. "Tis you dear lady! Your very touch makes me drunk with joy!" She sighed, exasperated. "Stick to wine, its most likely better for you." Neal shook his head. "Nay! I am already lost to you!" "As you wish good squire. Pray wait as I seek your midwinter gift." She made an exagerated gesture to find something that actully was not missing. Going to a shelf in her room, she pulled down her gift, a small silver horse rearing on a pedastel of wood. She knew it would suit him, after all, that was where his magic lay, with horses. She went to the door and found a box of green velvet on the threshold with a note. She shook her head, now she would have to find him later. Picking up the box, she opened it to reveal a bracelet of the brightest silver with tiny bells on it. She gasped and smiled, she had always been fond of bells, then put it on without hesitation. She found the note, it read: Happy Midwinter, My sun has already risen. "How sweet." She knew the tales of midwinter, the people prayed for the sun to rise on the longest night of the winter, and for a new-year to begin. Still smiling, she rose, checked her dress, and grabbed her key. Feeling for the kennels, she found Satina. ~Wish me luck.~ She could feel Satina give her a dog grin. ~I know you'll have fun, trust me.~ ~You know I do.~ ~Hurry up and go, they'll complain if you're late.~ Xlelon let Satina go, frowning slightly, why did eveyone seem to know something that she didn't? She shrugged, deciding that it was nothing new. ~^~ HAHA! FORESHADOWING! IT'S A BEATIFUL THANG!!! ::yawns:: ok. I seepy now, nightie night!