'Abhorsen!' The maid called cheerfully from the door.
'H-Hello
Mai,' Sabriel said, eyes large white circles. "Is it time to
get up already?" She looked around quickly. 'Can I see my
dress now?'
Mai beamed at her and clapped her hands. 'Oh,
you're going to LOVE it!' she said, turning to a garment bag that
was hanging on the closet door. Whipping the plastic off the dress,
Sabriel gasped in pure delight. The only thing she had seen at the
fittings were the under layer, that way the rest of the dress was as
much a surprise for her as it was for Touchstone. But the
anticipation had been well worth it. The dress was a work of
art.
The bodice
was intricately done. It was completely sleeveless, with a narrow
triangle that started at her throat and stopped at her waist in a
subtle tip made a complex pattern beads, sequins, and pearls. The
rest of the dress was covered in a delicate lace that looked hand
made. The lace split in the front of the skirt at the waist to reveal
the white silk under layer that was once again covered in the sequins
and beads. The lace that had been split was brought up and around to
create a small train that just barely touched the floor. White silk
roses positioned at the small of her back and the apex of the train
completed the exquisite creation.
'Oh it's the most beautiful
dress I've ever seen!' she said
Mai smiled back. 'Now, you need to hop in the bath, and when you're finished, Simi is going to do your makeup while I do your hair.' Mai said, laying the dress out on her bed.'
She
was out in less than twenty minutes, her hair still dripping the back
of her bathrobe. Simi and Mai were waiting for her, armed with their
tools. They set her down on a chair they had brought from somewhere
and got to work on her. It took more than an hour for
them to be satisfied, but in the end, the results were worth it.
They
had gone with a very simple look, to enhance her natural beauty. Her
hair had been left down, with white and blue rose buds twined through
her dark locks. After the undergarments were on, she carefully lifted
the dress and unzipped the back, so Sabriel could step in and pull it
up to her shoulders, where Mai readjusted it and zipped it, carefully
lifting her hair out of the way.
Sabriel
was a nervous wreck. What if Touchstone changed his minds? What if he
was just doing this out of some sort of responsibility? She didn't
even realize she was twisting a tissue she had gotten somewhere to
complete shreds until Mai put his hand on hers, stopping further
torture of the helpless tissue.
'Is something wrong' Mai
asked, releasing her hands.
'Wh-what
if Touchstone decides not to go through with it?' she asked, eyes
wide. 'What if his just marrying me because he thinks he have
to?'
'Sabriel I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my
life!' Mai said, completely serious. 'I've never seen anyone as
much in love with anyone as Touchstone is with you.' She smiled.
'Anyone with eyes in their heads could see that.'
'Are you
sure?' Sabriel asked, once again twisting the defenceless tissue.
Mai frowned and put her hand over her mouth. 'You stop right there.' she said firmly, 'He is completely in love with you, and I don't want you thinking otherwise. ' she smiled. 'Now, I don't want to hear a single word more about any insecurities.' Sabriel nodded with a tremulous smile. 'Good!' she said, peering out the window. 'Because we're here!'
'Will
you PLEASE stop pacing?' Mogget snapped, sitting on the windowsill
of the room they were supposed to stay in until the ceremony. "You're
going to wear a hole in the floor!"
'Shut up!' Touchstone sighed
and ran his hand through his hair. 'What if she decides not to go
through with it?'
'Then I would have come all this way
for nothing then wouldn't I'
'Do
you think she's as nervous as me?
'Oh, I'm sure she's worse.'
Mogget laughed
'How
long until the ceremony?'
'Any time now.'
Mai stuck her
head in the room and smiled at the nervous King. 'It's time.'
She said, throwing the door open wide.
