"Stand still Kat!" Jenny mutters under her breath. She's my personal
seamstress and friend. Jenny is the most patient person I know, besides my
Uncle.
"Sorry, but you know I really don't need a new dress, you've already made me four, and I doubt I'll be forced to come back to my rooms to dawn a new one because their imperial majesties don't like my appearance." I state arrogantly in Carthaki (where I grew up for most of my life).
"Milady! Don't be pert! Stop speaking in Carthaki too! Ye should be ashamed, we are in Tortall now, we shall speak Tortillian, and their majesties are not called imperial majesties, they don't rule an empire, they rule a kingdom. Now stand still child, they should of whipped you back at Solarus Tower!" Renee scolds while needle pointing.
"sigh I like this one the best Jenny." I look down at the royal blue fabric and silver lace.
"Well you'll like it more when it's done!" Jenny laughs, taking everything in good humor.
~~~*some hours later*~~~
"There, it's finished." Exclaims Jenny. Renee lets out a gasp while I walk over to the mirrors. Looking down I have to say it was the best work yet by Jenny. The royal blue velvet overlaid a pearl white silk gown that poked through on the outside sleeves and puffed at the elbows, being held under the royal blue velvet by silver threads that crossed over each other. The front of the gown was split from below my chest, also allowing the white silk to show. The edges of the velvet outer layer were embroidered with silver thread in butterfly patterns.
"Now, let's but your makeup on, and do your hair!" Trisha, another of my maids exclaimed while helping me over to a table.
~~*another hour later*~~
"Oh Katalina, you look absolutely fabulous!" exclaimed Renee
"Like an angel!" Jenny whimsically murmurs.
Trisha had decided that my hair should go up in a pony tail and then she twirled the strands into five separate ones, wrapping them in elegant designs and tying them with silver and royal blue ribbons. With the makeup she used a dark blue eye shadow to bring out the color of my eyes and a white liner on the inside of my eyes, plus a darker liner on the outside. This made my eyes look larger and more exquisite.
"Oh, how exciting!" Jenny squeals, "You will be the talk of the nation!"
Cocking an eyebrow at her I shake my head in utter amazement. "Final touches; here is your Shakusan (a razor edged lady's fan)."
"And here is the butterfly clip you received today!" Trisha carefully places it on top of her masterpiece.
With that the evening bell chimed a sweet melody, indicating it was time to make way towards the presentation room.
Taking a deep breath I thank the residing ambassador of Leanness, Aldero; a man in his later years, for escorting me. I remember little of him, but apparently he remembers a lot more of me.
"Ah, ye've grown up too much milady. It almost makes me sad to see what the pressures of regency can do to the young. But I am so proud of ye! Yer parents would be proud too." Aldero exclaims with much emotion showing in his sparkling eyes.
"Thank you Aldero, it means a lot to hear you say that." I look down in remembrance of my parents. They died when I was three, leaving me to the care of my Uncle. I suppose regency does make a person grown up too soon. I went to Solarus Tower to become a mage earlier than most and had graduated just before I left for Tortall. It had taken me 6 years to master what takes many fifteen to twenty years to learn. I commanded my first army battalion by the age of seven; I lead my first naval siege by the age of ten. I am responsible for many peace negotiations with the Carthaki isles and the Bahzirians. I suppose I did grow up too soon.
"Oh cheer up lass, you do us all proud. I can not say I've heard anyone frown upon your name. They all call you their savior, their angel you know?" Aldero lifts my chin up and wipes away a tear. "It'll not do to have our gem enter crying now would it?" he chuckles while I crack a smile. "That's my wildcat." I am intelligent, powerful, and beautiful, I tell myself while we prepare to be announced. I can do this. No problem, everything is fine, you've faced worse. I think.
******REVIEW******(please)
"Sorry, but you know I really don't need a new dress, you've already made me four, and I doubt I'll be forced to come back to my rooms to dawn a new one because their imperial majesties don't like my appearance." I state arrogantly in Carthaki (where I grew up for most of my life).
"Milady! Don't be pert! Stop speaking in Carthaki too! Ye should be ashamed, we are in Tortall now, we shall speak Tortillian, and their majesties are not called imperial majesties, they don't rule an empire, they rule a kingdom. Now stand still child, they should of whipped you back at Solarus Tower!" Renee scolds while needle pointing.
"sigh I like this one the best Jenny." I look down at the royal blue fabric and silver lace.
"Well you'll like it more when it's done!" Jenny laughs, taking everything in good humor.
~~~*some hours later*~~~
"There, it's finished." Exclaims Jenny. Renee lets out a gasp while I walk over to the mirrors. Looking down I have to say it was the best work yet by Jenny. The royal blue velvet overlaid a pearl white silk gown that poked through on the outside sleeves and puffed at the elbows, being held under the royal blue velvet by silver threads that crossed over each other. The front of the gown was split from below my chest, also allowing the white silk to show. The edges of the velvet outer layer were embroidered with silver thread in butterfly patterns.
"Now, let's but your makeup on, and do your hair!" Trisha, another of my maids exclaimed while helping me over to a table.
~~*another hour later*~~
"Oh Katalina, you look absolutely fabulous!" exclaimed Renee
"Like an angel!" Jenny whimsically murmurs.
Trisha had decided that my hair should go up in a pony tail and then she twirled the strands into five separate ones, wrapping them in elegant designs and tying them with silver and royal blue ribbons. With the makeup she used a dark blue eye shadow to bring out the color of my eyes and a white liner on the inside of my eyes, plus a darker liner on the outside. This made my eyes look larger and more exquisite.
"Oh, how exciting!" Jenny squeals, "You will be the talk of the nation!"
Cocking an eyebrow at her I shake my head in utter amazement. "Final touches; here is your Shakusan (a razor edged lady's fan)."
"And here is the butterfly clip you received today!" Trisha carefully places it on top of her masterpiece.
With that the evening bell chimed a sweet melody, indicating it was time to make way towards the presentation room.
Taking a deep breath I thank the residing ambassador of Leanness, Aldero; a man in his later years, for escorting me. I remember little of him, but apparently he remembers a lot more of me.
"Ah, ye've grown up too much milady. It almost makes me sad to see what the pressures of regency can do to the young. But I am so proud of ye! Yer parents would be proud too." Aldero exclaims with much emotion showing in his sparkling eyes.
"Thank you Aldero, it means a lot to hear you say that." I look down in remembrance of my parents. They died when I was three, leaving me to the care of my Uncle. I suppose regency does make a person grown up too soon. I went to Solarus Tower to become a mage earlier than most and had graduated just before I left for Tortall. It had taken me 6 years to master what takes many fifteen to twenty years to learn. I commanded my first army battalion by the age of seven; I lead my first naval siege by the age of ten. I am responsible for many peace negotiations with the Carthaki isles and the Bahzirians. I suppose I did grow up too soon.
"Oh cheer up lass, you do us all proud. I can not say I've heard anyone frown upon your name. They all call you their savior, their angel you know?" Aldero lifts my chin up and wipes away a tear. "It'll not do to have our gem enter crying now would it?" he chuckles while I crack a smile. "That's my wildcat." I am intelligent, powerful, and beautiful, I tell myself while we prepare to be announced. I can do this. No problem, everything is fine, you've faced worse. I think.
******REVIEW******(please)