It had been years, it seemed to Kel, as she stood in the dressing room, suffocating under all the clothing Yuki made her try on. She was locked in a stall in the back of Lalasa's shop, struggling with controlling her temper at the endless frippery. Most she had already discarded, but Yuki always found more to add to the pile. With every dress she tried on Kel's patience wore thinner. Finally she tugged a gown on and stepped out for their inspection.

The room went silent, Keladry turned around. Lalasa and Yukimi, along with the many customers in the shop had stopped what they were doing. "Kel," Yukimi gasped, "that's the dress, you're getting that one." She left no room for argument, turning to the people in the store, asking for their agreement. They all nodded, "You look gorgeous." Lalasa said.

She had done nothing with her hair, but it didn't matter. Kel stood in her stocking feet, surround by layers of a deep green. The dress was many shades, refusing to stay one for long. Under different lights, the dress would softly glow and shimmer. There were matching green emeralds along the stitching, catching the light and darker green beads softly swaying together at the hem. The color absorbed the green in her hazel eyes and reflected it out. It had a modest cut and sleeves that opened above her elbows to prevent loss of movement. The top was snugly fit but skirts blossomed out from her thin waist to create a large blossom. Kel looked at herself in the mirror, frowning uncertainly. She knew many people this dress would look good on, but Yuki wouldn't hear of it. She was sure that this was the right one.

"Lalasa," Kel said, suddenly unsure of everyone's silence, "this is your creation, it's the thing that's gorgeous, not me." Watching Lalasa shake her head she continued, "Come on, you take orders from court ladies, even the queen Lalasa, there are tons of people prettier than me."

 Kel continued to argue in vain, but the dress was purchased and Yuki walked with Kel back to the palace just in time for supper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This looks great, I am famished." Kel said as she slid her tray down amongst her friends, her stomach growling in anticipation as they waited for Lord Wyldon to finish the prayer. 

"Well, that's obvious," Merric stated, "you weren't at breakfast, and we missed you at lunch. Where have you been all day?"

"Yuki spent all day convincing me and then made me go out dress shopping for the ball," she muttered darkly. Her friends openly stared. They hadn't seen Kel willingly wear a dress in public since she was a page trying to remind them of her female presence in their midst. "I know," she talked as if they had voiced their confusion, "but I told Yuki the only way I'd go to the ball in a dress was if I had a date, and she somehow threatened Dom to take me." Neal snorted into his pasta, "What's so funny, Meathead?" Kel asked angrily, she took aim and chucked a roll at him. She hit her target directly in the forehead and left a circle of butter to slide into his eyes. No one else dared to make a comment about the upcoming ball for the rest of the meal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, Kel opened the box the contained her dress. She pulled away stiff tissue paper to reveal folds of the elegant outfit. She was glad Yuki had bought it for her, even if Lalasa took almost nothing for the work. She sighed softly as she ran her fingers over the material, wondering if she could have ever been a court lady.

She nearly laughed as an image of herself, prim and petite, flashed in her imagination. 'No,' she thought to herself, putting the lid back on, 'I suppose I never would have been happy unless I was fighting, I wouldn't have settled for the convent-it would have driven me mad.' She did laugh when she remembered Dom's bewildered face when he had been pulled into the room. She was glad it was Dom that Yuki had found, not someone else. 'It's not like I have a crush on Dom or anything, he's just good company.' She assured herself halfheartedly as she changed into her nightshirt and pulled the covers under her chin, 'Well, at least I'll have a good time with my friends. That's what matters, right?' a small smile stayed on Kel's face as she slipped off into sleep.