Ch.22 Cassandra learns new things.
Cassandra opened her eyes and knew at once she was dreaming, the world around her looked nothing like the sandy wastes she had fallen asleep in. Shartan had kept the wardens, and they had stayed a few extra days to teach the wardens the cure and counter for the blood magic. Cassandra wondered where and when she was, she could not ask Shartan because he was still up working on reports.
{Ma Vhenan, are you planning to get ready soon?} Cassandra whirled at her soulmate's voice, what she saw made her jaw drop.
Shartan was speaking with Ghilan'nain, who was dressed in a simple shift. The tender love on Shartan's face made her feel jealous and confused, was it jealousy when it was your past self? Ghilan'nain laughed lightly, the spirits circling around her seemed to glow brighter from the laugh. Shartan raised an eyebrow, the expression was carefree that Cassandra was sadden by it. She had always noticed the tension and pain hiding just behind his eyes, to see him so pain free struck home how tired he must be.
{My hart, if you keep pushing like that, I will begin to think that you are looking forward to the ball.} Ghilan'nain teased, Shartan smirked.
{Laugh all you want my sweet halla, but you're not the one who will be lectured by Sylaise for being late.} Shartan called over his shoulder, as he walked to a door opening it.
{Very well, grab my new dress while you pick your outfit.} Ghilan'nain called, Shartan appeared a moment later holding to hangers.
Cassandra was very confused by the sight of the clothes, on was pants with strips on long cloth on the ankles and even longer ones hanging off the waist. The other one was the same thing but with a skirt, and had anklets hanging on the hanger with long strips attached to them. The skirt was purple and every one of the dozens of strips was a different shade of purple. The pants were black, with the strips of black trimmed in gold.
Cassandra watched as the spirits aided the pair in dressing, weaving the strips around their bodies, after they had fastened their lower half garments. The entire outfit for Shartan was a single piece and Ghilan'nain was three, skirt, and anklets that the stripes on turned into the shoes. The pair looked matching as the linked arms and headed into a mirror, they vanished and the world swam before Cassandra found herself in the grove again.
"That was one of the last balls we attended as just great leaders and not gods, things were peaceful then and we had thought the wars were over." Shartan commented, Cassandra walked over to him and wrapped him in a hug.
"What is wrong?" Shartan asked, Cassandra teared up at his gentle tone.
"Seeing you like that, it made me realize how much you have suffered, and I am sorry." Cassandra whispered, Shartan laughed.
"And you wondered what you were like in the past, this is the same thing that has happened every time that they see something like that." Shartan soothed, Cassandra looked at him.
"Cassandra, I have watched you die far too many times, but never apologize about that. Every time I you are born again, I have the chance to fall in love with you again and create new memories. I would not trade my time with any of your past lives for anything in this world." Shartan promised.
"Thank you, now let us never speak of that moment of weakness again!" Cassandra said blushing, Shartan smiled and nodded.
"So what did you think of the outfits, I bet you would never haver guessed that those were suits of light mage armor?" Shartan asked, Cassandra looked at him with suspicion.
"It is true, that was how we dressed in those days. Nobles always wore armor like that, I was thinking of using those designs for our visit to the winter palace." Shartan explained, Cassandra scowled.
"I am not wearing a dress!" She hated dresses, and it would rain dogs before she wore one to a ball.
"Think of it as Templar tower armor, you the ones with the skirt." Shartan countered, Cassandra glared at him.
"I will try one on then stab my self with a knife, if it stops the knife then I will wear it to the palace." Cassandra offered, Shartan raised an eyebrow but agreed.