Valerica lead them both up the enormous wooden staircase. It was so ancient that it creaked when they placed their feet on the stairs. Little puffs of dust wafted from the cracks in the wood as they climbed. Valerica lead the way, with Serana behind her and Stefan bringing up the rear. They reached the top and walked along a large balconied hallway overlooking the great hall. Valerica lead them down a corridor to their left. They walked in silence, their footsteps echoing down the ancient passageways.
They reached a large wooden door. Valerica stopped and turned to face them.
"Stefan," she said. The third door down is the drawing room. "Please wait there for a moment. I need to speak to my daughter alone."
"Stefan can come with us," protested Serana.
"No," said Valerica more firmly than she intended. "He must wait in the drawing room."
She turned to him.
"Please,"she insisted. She pointed down the corridor.
He kissed Serana on the cheek and strolled off down the corridor. He opened the third door and entered the room. Once she was sure he was out of earshot she turned to Serana.
"Mother," she began.
"Come with me," cut in Valerica. She opened the door and lead her to a large dressing room. Dark shapes could be made out in windowless room.
Valerica cast the candle light spell to illuminate the various candles on the walls. Serana blinked as her eyes adjusted. There were various cabinets and wardrobes pushed against the walls. At the far end of the room built into the back wall was a large wardrobe. Valerica walked over to it and opened the double doors.
"Mother..." began Serana.
"I haven't seen it for centuries," began Valerica. "I hope it fits you."
Serana remained silent. She stood with her hands on her hips watching her mother curiously.
Valerica began sifting through a huge collection of clothes. Some of them were centuries old or centuries out of fashion; or both.
"There it is," she said at last.
She cast the telepathy spell and a leather case emerged from the collection of clothing in the ancient wardrobe. The object hovered and fixed itself on a metal hook attached to the door. Valerica began unbuckling the straps on the case. Serana watched her and began to help. As they unbuckled the straps the object inside began to reveal itself. It was made of a wispy, willowy material in pure black. Once all the straps had been opened it revealed itself to be a pure black dress,
"It's a dress," said Serana observantly.
"Not just any dress," said Valerica. "It's my wedding dress from when I married your father."
Serana looked at her and then looked at the dress. It looked almost identical to the wedding dresses that mortal women wore when they got married, except it was pure black. There was a netted veil and a plunge bust. It came complete with silk gloves in the same colour as the dress. At the rear of the garment a long train flowed out of the back. Serana's red eyes took in every detail of the dress and she issued a small gasp of delight.
"It's lovely mother," said Serana and she meant it. "It must be quite old."
"It was hand crafted in the first century," replied Valerica.
Serana gasped.
"Wow," she said softly.
"I hope it fits you," said Valerica.
She turned the dress around and began to untie the leather ties at the rear. Once they were opened enough she turned to Serana.
"Try it on," requested Valerica.
Serana slowly removed her armour and stripped to her underwear. She stood nervously as her mother helped her into the dress. Serana pulled it on as her mother began tying the straps at the rear. Serana winced several times as Valerica tied them as tight as she could. After several minutes arduous labour the dress was as tight as it could be.
"I can barely breathe mother," gasped Serana.
She was a slender young woman, but Valerica had really tied the dress as tightly as she dared.
"That's the idea," she Valerica. "Show everyone your slender figure Serana."
Valerica stood back and looked at her daughter in the dress.
If there was any word she could use, it would be beautiful. But some how beautiful didn't really say it. Serana was absolutely gorgeous in her mothers old wedding dress. Elegant. Simply elegant. Her long dark hair flowed neatly down the shoulders. Her pale skin and red eyes stood out against the darkness of the garment. The train stretched out behind her like a river of sapphires. Serana looked herself up and down. Valerica emitted a small sob of joy.
"Oh Serana," she sobbed happily. "If only you could see yourself."
"Don't be cruel mother," she said looking at herself up and down. "You know I don't have a reflection."
She checked herself out once again.
"I'm beautiful aren't I?" she asked.
Valerica nodded fighting to restrain her waterworks.
"Why are you crying mother?"asked Serana approaching her.
"My Serana," she said. "My only daughter getting married."
"He's a good man," said Serana. "You should be proud."
Valerica nodded.
"I am," she said.
For the first time in what felt like centuries she pulled her daughter and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you mother," said Serana quietly.
Valerica hugged her daughter tightly, almost unwilling to let her go. Valerica released her daughter.
"Where is your wedding?"she asked.
"3rd of Sun's Dusk at Autumn-shade Clearing," replied Serana as her mother dried her eyes on a handkerchief from her robes.
"I will be there," she said.
"Stefan can take you there," said Serana. "He's got a horse."
"Oh no," said Valerica. "I can take a carriage. No need to bother yourself."
"Stefan,"repeated Serana. "I must show him my dress. He's got to see it."
"No!" called Valerica darted to the door and closing it as Serana opened it. "He cannot see it before the wedding day. It is bad luck."
Serana put her hands on her hips and glared at her mother.
"Bad luck?" repeated Serana. "We are vampires mother, we create bad luck for the mortals."
"Be that as it may,"said Valerica. "We are still women and it's tradition that he doesn't see you before your day. Trust me."
Serana sighed.
"As you wish," she said. "Please help me remove it. I would like to see my Stefan."