Keefe
Chapter 17
matches9524
I would like to thank everyone who encouraged me to get over my ex. I realize now how truly lame he was. I AM VERY SORRY ABOUT HOW LATE THIS IS!
For this story, those who commented were Secretly Dark (I truly appreciate your support. Thank you so much) , Laegreffon D. Laizare (you inspired me ALOT to keep working on this), and Tecna (What can I say? You're one of the best!). Ravenrouge19 (Thanks so much for all your support) StandAloneGirl (Awww thanks so much. I will definitely start working on them some more.) Queen Raven (Thank you very much) Jessica (Yes, I know… LoL… I really did mean to post this on time, but when I sat to write it, I ran out of ideas in the first paragraph L )
If I forgot you, it is because either you commented on a different story and I will get to you in that one or my email decided to delete the comment... It likes to do that sometimes…
Here we go! The first work of art I have written in several months.
RAVEN'S DRESS CAN BE SEEN AT: (remove spaces) www. Davidsbridal. com/ bridalgownsdetail. jsp? stid(equal sign)1210&prodgroup(equal sign) 10
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Keefe woke up the next morning, a cold breeze playing across his bare chest. He rubbed his groggy eyes, removing any sleep boogers that had accumulated during the night. He tilted his head from side to side, cracking the joints in his neck, and then looked over towards the source of the frigid air.
Sitting there, on the wooden windowsill, precariously balanced four inches away from a sheer drop of 1,000 feet to the jungle floor below, was Raven, staring dully off into a beautifully cloudy, overcast morning. Far off in the distance was the roll of thunder, and the wind carried on it the deliciously tart scent of rain.
He sighed, completely at peace as he lounged in the bed. The young man was content just to sit and watch the sorceress dangle off a window ledge.
The soft sound snapped the girl out of her reverie. She looked back over her shoulder, towards the bed, to where her fiancée lay. She smiled at him.
"Morning sleepy head." She crawled back in through the open window and waltzed to the headboard. She flopped down across the pillows and kissed Keefe's forehead, picking off a sleep booger that he had missed in his own grooming.
"Wow. Someone's sure in a good mood this morning," he replied, grinning his little boy smile.
"Who?" she asked, cutely feigning innocence. "Should we hunt them down and maim them beyond recognition?"
"Only if maim is your code word for love."
Raven grimaced. "Okay, that was too icky. Too sweet." Nevertheless, she leaned over and kissed him gently on the mouth.
"Yeah you're right."
There was a bit of an awkward silence, until Raven said, "I have to go see the dressmaker, I'll see you later, okay?" She went to the closet and retrieved a black silk dressing gown that she had custom ordered from her dressmaker yesterday and put it on. She took the headdress out of a gold box she kept it in. Putting it on, she closed her eyes, and a bird-like shadow enveloped her.
When she opened her eyes, she was standing in a rather small room. There was gold damask on the walls, and mahogany furniture crammed everywhere, save for the small area where she stood and a path to the door. There was a little gold bell over the door, and it reflected the light from the dozens of candles placed strategically around the room. Overall, it was a nice little place.
Raven cleared her throat. Nothing happened, nobody appeared. She cleared her throat louder this time. A small, squat woman with a head of curly white hair bustled into the room. She was of an indeterminable age, yet Raven had liked her right away. The old woman reminded her of the woman who ran the bakery back home in Jump City.
"I'm sorry for the delay, miss. I didn't hear the bell ring." Madam Lafayette was a bit breathless and was blushing furiously. She had a slightly gravelly voice, but a beautiful French accent.
"Oh it's quite alright. My own fault, really. I didn't do much to let you know I was here."
"Alright then. Would you like some tea while we discuss your dress?" Because that was why she was here. For her wedding dress.
A pot of earl grey tea practically appeared out of nowhere, along with two teacups and a plate of scones. A proper tea, she thought to herself.
They both sat down in some squashy armchairs, which actually were not too comfortable.
"So, Madame Lafayette, what are wedding dresses typically like here?" Raven said, conversationally, as she bit into a scone. It had clotted cream on it, her favorite.
"Well, milady, in the gentry, they are typically form fitting, silk, and depending on the woman, they can be embellished, embroidered, ruffled, puffed, bowed, buttoned, zipped, anything you can imagine. What did you have in mind?"
"Are they usually white, or what?"
"Most women choose white, but usually Fergeson royalty, like yourself, would choose green. However, purple is also a wonderful choice. One, it is another royal color. Two, it matches beautifully with green, which of course, our Gracious Lord will be wearing."
"Well, I was thinking white silk, with lavender or violet accents?" Madame Lafayette nodded. "Could the dress have corset lacing in the back with lavender ribbon?" Again, the dressmaker nodded. "That's all I can really think of right now."
"Alright dear. Let's get started. Stand up, you know what to do."
Raven stood on the stool in the middle of the furniture clearing. She unhooked the charms from her clothes after taking off her dressing gown, and tossed them all on a chair. Madame Lafayette disappeared into a different room, and came back with about half a dozen white dresses.
"Now, do you want strapless?" The bride-to-be nodded. Madame Lafayette put down one dress. "What about some runching on one side?" She shook her head. The dressmaker dropped another dress. "A belt or sash?" Again, no. She did not want lace either. In the end, they went with a silk A-line dress that had lacing in the back and a sweeping train. The hem was violet silk, as was the lacing in the back. It was a bit long for her short stature, so, after an hour and a half of hemming and being poked with pins, it was the right length. It was a beautiful dress, no doubt about it.
"This is perfect! Thank you Madame Lafayette!" Raven exclaimed as she looked in the floor length mirror.
"Oh it was no trouble, dear. You are beautiful in this dress. Would you like me to give the florist a visit for you?"
"Yes please. Let the florist know that I would just like some lavender, bear grass, fern with a few fiddles, and baby's breath."
"Of course, milady."
"Thank you then. I better get going."
Raven put her clothes back on, and wandered around the castle, getting lost once or twice, before she found her way back. She nodded to Joe and William, and went into her room. It was empty, as she expected. There was a folder on the table though, with her name written in Keefe's handwriting. Opening it, she saw that it was a compilation of all the people working in the castle, along with a map. A bit too late, she thought.
She read until lunch time about the different people who she would be interacting with. Then William knocked on the door and asked if she would care for a salad.
She immediately blew up. "What is that supposed to mean?" She stood in the hallway, yelling at him, poking him in the chest. People passing by stopped and stared at her. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" The charms on her clothes could help her only so far. Vases on tables exploded and Joe's sword melted into a useless blob.
William trembled and fell to his knees. "Please forgive me, milady! I didn't mean anything by it! I just thought you might like a light lunch as to watch your figure until your wedding!" He was sobbing by now. He also said the worst thing he could say.
Raven had always been particular about her weight, since she had been a chunky child. Now she could be a Victoria's Secret model, but she was still very sensitive. Suddenly, things stopped breaking and melting, and she was quiet. Then she said, with a ice-cold, cruel grimace, "Get up." He didn't respond immediately, and she yelled "GET UP!" He did so, slowly.
The sorceress closed her eyes, and cast white hot electricity at him, just as Keefe came around the corner into the corridor.
Perfect place to stop, don't you think? Tell me what you think.