Yay! I did 3 chapters today! Aren't you all proud of me? And it's also the big 1-0! How exciting! To commemorate, you all get ice cream and candy! Yay:passes around big box: Please R&R, I hope you like it:smile:
Chapter 10 – Finery to the Extent of Foolery
Eragon only caught glimpses of Kiatra throughout the day. She was obviously busy, practicing fighting techniques, talking to people and scanning the air on Aseil.
He still felt the tingle on his cheek where she had kissed him.
Arya, who had guessed the events throughout the night, probably because she was in the tent next to them, was ignoring Eragon. Every time he tried to speak with her, she would disappear behind someone or something.
It irked Eragon. He didn't even like Kiatra! As a friend, yes, but he didn't LOVE her. She was like a little kid, almost. She got jealous, angry, sad, scared in the blink of an eye. He couldn't deal with that…
Kiatra's POV
Kiatra had avoided Eragon. She didn't know why she had kissed him, or why she had slapped him. She remembered being terrified, and then calm.
Eragon let me stay with him…
"Kiatra Dragon rider?" Kiatra turned.
"Yes, that is I."
"I am Lady Nasuada, Leader of the Varden."
Kiatra curtsied. Nasuada smiled.
"I am sure you are happier here now?"
"Yes, very much. Thank you for your kindness."
"I have a gift for you, since you are to be serving the Varden."
"Thank you, but I need no gifts."
"I insist."
Kiatra shrugged and smiled shyly. Nasuada lead Kiatra all throughout the maze of tents and temporary wooden shacks.
"Here we are."
It was an average wooden hut, like most of the buildings. Kiatra followed Nasuada inside. The inside was bright, thanks to large windows that let in the sunlight and breeze. On the walls were several outfits, along with shoes, accessories, and weapons.
"Hello, Lio." An old man who was stitching what seemed to be a pair of pants smiled at Nasuada, and lay down his sewing, glancing at Kiatra.
"You are here for your order, Mistress Nasuada?" he croaked, rustling through the clothes on the rack. He found what he needed and pulled it out. Lio held the clothes in one hand and walked over to the other side of the building, where rows of shoes and boots stood arranged in patterns. He gazed over them, shaking his head at each of them until he came to a pair of leather boots. They were calf-length, a soft brown.
He put them into a box, along with the clothes.
"What jewelry do you wear?" he asked Kiatra. His eyes were a vibrant green, almost as startling as Kiatra's.
"Well… um…" Ignoring her stammering, he walked right up to her.
"You have to fine a neck to wear necklaces. Your ears are pierced." he mused, examining her face and neck.
Kiatra blushed. Lio did not notice, he was choosing some jewelry from yet another shelf.
Before Kiatra could see what it was, he had put it into another, smaller box, and put it into the bigger box.
"Here." he put the box into Kiatra's arms. Seeing her bow and quiver, he said, "One more moment." He bustled back to the shelf of jewelry. Lio returned with arm-guards, putting them into the box as well.
Nasuada sniggered. The box was very heavy, and Kiatra swayed trying to keep it upright.
"Reisa!" she commanded in the ancient language. The box lifted itself into the air, leaving Kiatra free to wipe her forehead. Again at her command, the box floated down into her arms.
"Let's go. Thank you Lio." Nasuada said. Lio smiled and waved, having once again returned to his sewing.
"I shall see you at the banquet, I expect." Nasuada said once they were outside.
"Party?" Kiatra asked.
"Yes. See you there. I must go and attend to some matters."
"Wait!" Kiatra called, but Nasuada was gone.
"Great." she grumbled, balancing the box in one hand as she straightened her belt. The rest of the trip was tiring, but it was worth it.
Back in Eragon's tent, Kiatra examined the pile of clothes and other things that Lio had tossed into it. Taking a deep breath, Kiatra pulled all of it on, discarding the old dress.
A deep purple top, with sleeves that came over her shoulders and spaghetti straps. It came down below her navel, ending in a point. A periwinkle skirt, with shorts under it. It was poofy and stuck out like a tutu. She buckled her new belt, which had an amethyst jewel in the center, around her waist.
Noticing it had a strap for her dagger, Kiatra put her dagger there. It fit perfectly. The leather arm-guards that matched the boots in color and texture came next.
The only thing left was the jewelry and the boots. Two large golden hoops glimmered in the corner of the smaller box. She poked them into her ears, wincing as it poked the skin. She had not worn earrings in a while. Four golden armbands, two on each arm gave extra protection from swords and the like. A small circlet, wrought gold and with the symbol of two arrows crossed, carved again from amethyst, went under her bangs.
The boots were hell to lace up. Kiatra pulled them onto her feet and tied the laces into a bow, pulling the edges of the leather over to keep the bow in place.
Conjuring up a temporary mirror from some of Eragon's elven wine, which she found under her bed, she took her first look of herself.
She gasped, moving closer to the mirror.
I'm so pretty… Kiatra touched her face, adjusting the hair around her face. Slowly she gazed at the clothes, the jewelry, and everything all together.
Wow, I must be sure to thank Nasuada for this.
"Aseil!" she yelled, throwing open the flap. Once again, she ran into something warm.
"Kiatra! I haven't seen you all- Wow, Kiatra, you look amazing!" Eragon exclaimed, backing up and looking at her from head to toe.
Kiatra blushed. "Thanks. Nasuada gave it to me for the party tonight."
"Ah. I was just about to go get ready for it myself. Want to go with me?"
"Sure."
Kiatra looks so purdy:smile: I decided that old purple dress wasn't going her way, so I gave her new clothes. Anyway, as a reply to my lovely reviewers…
Massie/SylviaSnickers, I like to update fast. :grin: Why'd you change your name? Now you've got me all confused:sniffles:
Hotarya, let's go throw cake together! Yay! It's red velvet cake, BTW. I love baking that stuff; I have my own secret recipe. :secretive grin:
Please R&R!
-Wolfie