Rifiuto: Non Miriena
A/N: Written: 2015, Found: 2018- Licia
She took a deep breath, glancing at the clock on her nightstand.
Ten p.m.
The ceremony was at midnight, which meant she had two hours- and those two hours would be filled with traditions and preparations and excitement. "Your Majesty?"
Etina stood in the bathroom doorway, a towel folded in her arms. The young royal nodded, getting up. She joined the young maid, slowly untying the belt of her robe as a voice was heard, followed by a knock. "Yes?"
After a moment, the door opened, and Cerise poked her head in. "Raven?" The young queen stood with her back to the girl, hair piled on top of her head and secured with bobby pins. "We were wondering-"
She nodded. "Come in."
"You'll have to excuse Her Majesty, Misses. She needs to get ready-"
"I thought the ceremony was at midnight." Cedar spoke softly.
"It is, but the preparations begin two hours before. It's tradition." The small group parted as Mira entered the bedroom, a small box in her hands. "The apothecary sent these over, Raven." The young monarch glanced at her adviser over her shoulder, and nodded. "Wild orange, peppermint, clove, cinnamon, and rose hips." She handed the box to Etina, who turned and made her way into the bathroom; a moment passed before Raven followed.
"Where are you going?" Nicola asked, her curiosity piqued. Mira sighed in annoyance, but beckoned the girls to follow; the bathroom was almost as big as Raven's room, complete with a shower and a tub, as well as enough space to fit several people. Steam rose up from the water in the bath, and after a moment, Raven slowly removed her robe. It pooled at her feet, and she allowed Etina to help her in. "A bath?"
"It's ritual, Miss." Etina replied, as Raven wrapped her arms around her legs and allowed the maid to quickly and expertly remove the bobby pins from her hair. The black locks cascaded down her back in messy waves, and after a moment, she settled back, sinking into the water with a sigh. "The oils are for her skin, to help with the stress and anxiety; the cinnamon is mixed into the shampoo to not only help it to shine, but to make it easier to work with once dry."
"This whole ceremony is about ritual and tradition, isn't it?" Cerise asked, curling up on the floor.
"I'm a witch, the last of the Marberly line. Even if I wasn't the queen, my wedding would be ritual and tradition, because the Marberly witches are steeped in tradition and ritual. It's how we've been able to last as long as we have." Raven replied deadpan, leaning her head back and closing her eyes, trying to let the oils do their job and relax her. She could hear Etina mixing the cinnamon into the shampoo, and then sat up at her gentle urging. Taking a deep breath, she ducked down, disappearing under the water for a moment before breaking through the surface again. She released a breath, sitting back and allowing Etina to work the cinnamon shampoo through her hair; once it was lathered and washed, warm water was used to rinse it. After, Etina helped Raven out of the bath, wrapping the robe around her small body and taking a towel to quickly dry her hair.
Mira, meanwhile, had pulled the dress out and laid it across the end of the bed. Upon seeing it, Briar furrowed a brow. "Hey, Raven? Where's your wedding dress?"
"That is my dress."
The young Beauty turned to her, horrified. "That's your dress?" Raven nodded. "But... that's not a dress, that's a... a nightgown or a... a shift."
Raven raised an eyebrow at her friend as Mira continued laying out what would be required. "It's a dress." Her friend took a seat at the vanity as Etina picked up the brush and began running it through Raven's drying locks.
"But where are the designs?"
"Designs?" Mira raised an eyebrow. Briar nodded.
"You know, designs? Patterns? Lace and glitter and rhinestones and things that make a wedding dress a wedding dress."
"Oh. Those." Mira nodded in understanding, glancing at Raven, who met her gaze in the mirror. "Wedding dresses like those can be worn if the bride is not a magic user, or of the Marberly line."
"Wait... so every woman in Raven's line has-"
Raven nodded. "Every woman of my line has worn this dress or a dress very similar on their wedding day. Though each bride can take liberties with her jewelry and hair, the dress remains the same, or as close to the same as possible." Once her hair was brushed, Etina let her stand. The girls settled on the bed, watching as Etina helped her dress- in a chemise, that was off the shoulder, and a pair of drawers that reached and gathered at her knees. A corset was then added- more to accent the figure than anything- and Raven released a breath, as the stays were tied. She then allowed Etina and Mira to help her into the dress, before returning to take a seat at the vanity and allowing her hair to be put up.
In all honesty, Raven was relieved. She was relieved that her wedding was following tradition, relieved that she didn't have to fuss about the dress and if the detailing or designs were to her specifications. She was relieved to not have to worry about her dress, and instead could focus solely on the wedding, and the events that led up to and after the ceremony, as well as the ceremony itself. While most little girls dreamed of their ideal wedding dresses- the designer, the cut and fabric and style- Raven hadn't. She had known from the time she was a little girl and old enough to grasp the importance of her life, that she would dress in the traditional gown of a Marberly witch. The dress held significance no one could remember- possibly having to do with purity, if Raven were to guess. It was part of the ritual that was marriage, and the sacred union between two people.
Before they knew it, the two hours were nearly up. Finally finished, Raven stood, turning to face her friends. "Well, what do you think?"