The Underworld
Chapter 5 ~ New Clothes

A/N: Thanks for all of the positive review guys! It means a lot to me, especially Hyperchick88, Daine, Lady Isabelle, Irene Firebane and my previous reviewers. In your reviews tell me who you think Bryony's parents should be. I'm thinking of something along the lines of nobles who lost their child long ago. Don't worry, Bryony will have *plenty* of obstacles on her path to true happiness. Please R/R!

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Bryony awoke with a contented sigh the next morning. A pale and soft sunbeam shone through the cold air and illuminated frosty dust motes. It started off shining on Bryony's nose then worked its way down to her toes, safely tucked under a quilt and a down duvet and warmed them. But the cold it had just taken away reminded her of how winter was roaring into Corus with a frigid blast. She was lucky she had managed to get off the streets last night.

Rosetta's family were so generous, and she hadn't even had time to tell them anything about herself. She didn't even know their last name! That reminded Bryony, where was her new friend anyway?

She pushed off the heavy blankets and sheets piled on her and padded softly down the stairs into the kitchen of the small apartment. In the night Martha must have come in to check on her and make sure she was warm enough. Bryony mentally reminded herself to call Martha Mum. If it made the kind woman happy, then it was fine with her. She didn't remember ever having a mother. She supposed her own mum must be dead. But she could never be sure...

Entering the kitchen she was given a warm reception by Rosetta and her mum.

"It's about time you woke up sleepyhead!" Rosetta chuckled merrily.

"Goddess only knows you were so tired you needed to sleep for 40 days and nights!" Martha added with mirth.

Bryony yawned lazily. "I can't believe I slept in this late! It's never happened before. What time is it anyway?" She glanced out the tiny window with its clouded panes of glass and saw that the sun was almost overhead. Goodness!

"Why the palace bells just rang out eleven o'clock dearie! You had quite the restful morning. But never mind that, I'm sure it did your poor soul good. Now lets find you some nicer clothes to wear, those ones are ever so shabby. I would be ashamed to let a pretty young thing like yourself leave my doors wearing that!" Martha placed emphasis on the last word, expressing her disgust at Bryony's raggedy garment without saying so aloud.

"We can start sewing you a fine new wardrobe just like a noble lady's!" Rosetta cried out in ecstasy and grabbed Bryony's skinny hands and twirled her around the room. She dropped them abruptly realizing how silly she looked and sat down at the table again to get back to business. "But in the meantime you can explore my closet full of clothes and try to find something suitable. I haven't got much, but I'm always willing to share what I do have."

Before Bryony could argue that she could never accept something like that, Rosetta put a finger on her lips and told her to hush. She pranced up the stairs jovially and beckoned for Bryony to follow. She filled the air with an aura of happiness and good cheer so enticing that even Bryony forgot her troubles and smiled and laughed a little.

The dresses Rosetta pulled out of a miniscule closet tucked into a corner of the small room were plain and simple - all homespun garb, but in Bryony's eyes they were the most luxurious things ever. She had never seen anything fancy and beautiful and had nothing to compare them with.

Brown woolen skirts, grey fleecy dresses, creamy coloured muslin sweaters and teal cotton scarves and tunics. There were no silks or velvet frocks, but everything was pretty in its own way. They had all been made with a loving hand, mended and stitched up flawlessly by an excellent hand at sewing.

Bryony sighed in joy and pure delight and tried on everything Rosetta handed her. They spent a good part of the afternoon giggling, comparing outfits and pondering whether different arrangements of clothes looked well together. But Rosetta didn't have a huge amount of apparel so they ran out of garments after a short time. Bryony chose two sets of skirts, blouses and kerchiefs to last her a while before new clothes were made.

"Now." Rosetta said sternly with a firmness in her unwavering voice. "We need to decide what we'll sew for you to wear. You need more than that!" she said pointing at the small pile resting on the end of the bed.

"Well..." Bryony mumbled undecidely. "You've done too much for me already. I don't want to intrude or take your precious material. Anything we could possibly find would be acceptable."

"Dont' be stupid!" Roseta exclaimed with a hint of anger threating to explode. "Will you please drop it? You don't have to grovel or thank us profusely, you've already done plenty. We want to help you! Besides," she added in a friendlier tone, "it's been a lot of fun discussing clothes!"

"Well, okay. If you insist." Bryony added nervously. "I have a confession to make. I don't know how to sew. Tekla never let us. She said it was a stupid waste of time and we should be out making more money for her then squandering our energy on useless things."

"Well I have news for you. Tekla is a stupid bitch who knows absolutely nothing about what's best for a woman! You don't have to listen to what Tekla said, that part of your life is over. The rest of today we are going to spend teaching YOU how to make clothes!"

They both laughed and eagerly threw themselves into the task at hand with vigour and a determined energy.