Ch: 27 The Costumes
She sat at her vanity, watching the elf maid twist and tie up her hair. It was extremely intricate and there were small white rose buds woven into the braids. Stephanie smiled at her reflection and for the millionth time that night told herself that she couldn't believe she'd let her hair grow so long. It was almost to her lower back now. It was getting harder to manage as well. But if it was the style for Middle-Earth, then she would just have to deal with it.
The maid stopped and stood back, admiring her work. "There you go miss. I think it looks quite lovely, don't you?"
"It looks beautiful Dalia. Thank you. I don't think I could have done something like this on my own. No, let me re-phrase that. I know I couldn't have done something like this. I appreciate it," She smiled at Dalia through the mirror and started putting glitter on her eyes and on her cheekbones, but not so much that it was overdone. She brushed some green eye shadow on and some light red lipstick.
Dalia smiled at her mistress. "Is there anything that you need before I retire for the night my lady?"
Stephanie stood up from the small chair and walked over to the bed where her forest green dress was waiting to be put on. "I think I'm going to need help doing up all of the strings in the back of this dress. Will you help me?"
"Of course miss. It would be my pleasure. Now step out of your robe and I'll help you into your dress," Dalia turned the dress over so she could untie all the laces while Stephanie undressed. She held out the dress and Stephanie stepped into it, eager to have cloth covering her body once again. The dress was a rich velvet material and it felt soft against her skin. The neckline was a curve and came down just low enough to show the curve of her chest. The sleeves were straight and ended in a 'v' at the back of her hands. It was floor length and hand gold leaves and flowers embroidered around the middle like a belt.
Dalia had Stephanie turn around so she could lace up the back. Stephanie waited patiently until Dalia had finished, then slipped the wings on. They were gold and had gold glitter all over them. Her mask was much the same way. Gold sequins adorned it. She strapped the mask around her head, careful not to mess up her hair. She turned around so Dalia could see her.
"What do you think?"
Dalia smiled. "You look beautiful my lady. But there's something missing."
Stephanie looked at herself, inspecting the dress and the wings and the mask. "What's missing Dalia?"
"I know what it is."
Stephanie and Dalia turned to face the door. Elladan was leaning against the door frame nonchalantly, grinning like a wildcat. Dalia curtsied and quickly dismissed herself so her mistress and Elladan could be alone.
Stephanie smiled. "Hello Elladan."
He walked over to her slowly, taking her in. She looked beautiful and he knew that he didn't need to tell her that. It was one of those unspoken understandings that they had between one another. He sat down a small box that he had been carrying and reached out for her face. He softly removed the mask from her face and sat it on the bed next to the box. "I don't think I need to tell you that you look stunning. And I have just the perfect thing that will finish off your costume."
"Elladan, you didn't have to get me anything. If you keep this up you might spoil me!"
"I don't mind spoiling you. You're my wife-to-be. I think I'm entitled to the spoiling factor. Here, open it up," he handed her the small velvet box.
She gingerly opened the lid and beamed brightly at what sat inside. A small fairy charm hung from a delicate gold chain. The fairy's wings were diamonds and her dress was an emerald, the same color as Stephanie's dress. "Elladan! I love it! But why?"
He laughed and took it from her to latch it around her neck. He kissed her deeply. "Because I love you. That's why."
"Thank you. Did you have it made to match my dress?"
"Yes. When you told me that you were thinking of a green dress, I rushed to the jeweler to have this made for you so you could have it in time for this special occasion of Courtney's birthday," He kissed her cheek and sat the box on her vanity.
Stephanie sighed. "She thinks that no one has remembered her birthday."
Elladan raised an eyebrow in question. "Really?"
"Yeah. Allison said that Courtney asked her if today was a special day. Allison told her no so that she wouldn't catch on to what was going to happen," Stephanie looped her arm through Elladan's and let him lead her to Allison's bedroom.
"This will be quite a surprise for her then. I hope she doesn't have a heart attack," He laughed as Stephanie playfully punched his shoulder.
Allison stood in front of her tall stand-up mirror and gazed at her reflection. She had been dressed and ready to go long before she needed to be. She just wanted to make sure that everything looked right before she was escorted into the large ballroom where everyone would be waiting for Courtney and Elrohir to arrive.
Her dress was a bright sky blue. It was an off-the-shoulder dress that accented her figure nicely without exposing her too much. The sleeves were long and bell shaped. The dress barely skimmed the floor. Silver glitter was scattered all over her dress and she was surprised that it hadn't rubbed off at all yet. Her hair was curled in ringlets and left down. A small silver headband was all that she wanted in her hair. Her wings were silver with silver glitter and her mask had silver sequins.
"Well Allison, this is your first ball, try not to mess it up for yourself," She sighed and smiled to herself. She'd never been to a ball before. The closest thing to a ball that she'd been to was prom, and that wasn't exactly the dream ball that she had seen when she watched Cinderella when she was a little girl.
Glorfindel walked into her bedroom, not bothering to knock. He walked through the entrance way and stopped short, his breath leaving his lungs, his words forgotten in his mouth. He couldn't do much but stare at her and she was still oblivious to his presence. He slowly walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
He kissed her cheek. "You look more beautiful than all the stars in the heavens above."
She giggled and turned to face him. "You have such a way with words. It's enough to make my knees weak."
"I will be the envy of everyone at the ball tonight," Glorfindel held on tight to her and smiled his most charming smile. "We are to arrive early tonight if we want to be part of the surprise."
Allison laughed. "I feel so bad Fin. She's so sad that we might have forgotten her birthday."
Glorfindel laughed and grabbed her hand leading her out of her bedroom. "She's in for the surprise of her life. Everyone is here you know."
"Really? Who all is here, with the exception of Elrond's family and friends?" Allison took his offered arm and they headed down the hallway together.
"Lord Celeborn and his wife Galadriel arrived this afternoon. King Thranduil has been here for weeks visiting with Legolas, you knew that. Lady Eowyn has come from Rohan to meet you and Steph and Courtney. Let's see, who else?" He thought hard and then it dawned on him. "And the hobbits from the shire are here as well as Gimli. There's many more. It's going to be one eventful night and we still have Steph and Elladan's wedding coming up."
She smiled and nodded her head. "There's so much to do and so little time to do it in."
Glorfindel laughed and kissed her cheek. "I couldn't have put it better myself."
Elrond looked around the ballroom nervously, sending servants in every direction to make sure that everything was ready and in place. Arwen noticed the agitated look on her father's face and walked over to him to kiss his cheek.
"Everything looks wonderful ada, quit worrying," She laughed at his insecure smile. "I don't think I've ever seen you this flustered."
He smiled at his beautiful daughter and lightly touched her soft cheek. "I am just greatful that I have you to keep me grounded, my undomiel."
Arwen laughed and left her father to join Estel and a few of the Gondorian soldiers that had come along with them.
It was then that Glorfindel, Allison, Stephanie, and Elladan entered the ballroom. They were all smiling and talking amongst each other.
"I hope she likes her costume," Stephanie smiled at her friends. "I heard that Elrohir had a heck of a time getting it done on time."
Elladan laughed. "Did you hear that he ended up having to help the seamstress finish sewing it?"
Glrofindel and Stephanie both looked at the twin, shocked. Glorfindel was the first to find his voice. "Are you kidding me?"
"I kid you not mellon-nin. Now let's go get up front so we can see her reaction easily," He grabbed Stephanie's hand, kissed it, then lead her to the front of the crowd that had gathered at the bottom of the grand stair case. It was fast approaching sunset and Courtney and Elrohir were due to arrive any minute now. Finally, the sun had set, Elrond surveyed the crowd as everyone held their breath in anticipation.
Ch:28 The Surprise
Courtney finished the last braid in her hair and looked into her mirror. The lavender dress fit her form perfectly and showed off her curves in all the right places. She smiled at herself and grabbed the mask from her bed and eased it over her face. She was just beginning to think that she looked a little plain when there was a knock at her door.
"Come on in."
Elrohir opened the door, smiling, then stopped dead in his tracks and took in the sight before him. He had always thought that she was beautiful but if it was even possible, she looked even more beautiful now in elven clothing. "I have come for you meleth." He walked over to her and kissed her deeply. "You look radiant this night."
She laughed and kissed his lips again. "Thank you. You're too kind. Ready to go?"
"I am ready to escort you if you will have me," He felt her loop her arm through his and knew what her answer was.
Courtney smiled as he lead her out of her room and towards the grand stair case where they would make their way to a small costume party with Elrohir's family and a few friends, at least that's what she thought it was. "Ro?"
"Hmm?"
"Wasn't today special for some reason?"
It took everything in him not to smile and give everything away. "I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
Courtney sighed then plastered a quick smile to her lips. "It's nothing really. Where is everyone else? I thought Al, Steph, Glrofindel and Elladan were coming with you."
"I told them to go ahead without us since they were ready a long time ago. I didn't think you would mind too much. Do you meleth?" He kissed her cheek. The stair case was drawing closer, and just at he bottom of it was the biggest surprise she'd ever get.
"I don't mind. I was just wondering," she sighed again and let him lead her around the corner. Little did she know that her spirits were about to be lifted.
Allison glimpsed Elrohir and stood on the bottom step to face the crowd. "I would like it if everyone would be silent for a few minutes so she thinks this isn't some big thing. Hearing all of your voices will spoil the surprise."
Instantly everyone in the room fell silent. Elrond smiled and nodded his head at Allison who stepped down from the step to rejoin Glorfindel and her friends.
She had been looking at the paintings that they were passing by when she finally remembered where she was going. Courtney looked at Elrohir who seemed to be trying to hide a smile. She decided to ignore it for the time being. Just then they reached the top of the stairs. She felt all of the air leave her lungs at once.
"SURPRISE!!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY COURTNEY!!!!!!!!!"
Courtney turned her head into Elrohir's shoulder, unable to hold her tears and shock inside of her. She looked around once more at the hundreds of smiling faces that stood at the bottom of the stairs. "Oh my lord…this isn't real…"
Elrohir grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "It is very real meleth. This night is for you only."
"Remind me to punish you later. I can't believe you kept this from me!" She tried her best to smile and gain her senses back.
"I look forward to it," He led her down the stairs where her friends were waiting with open arms to hug her and kiss her and wipe away her tears of relief. Stephanie got to her first.
"You didn't honestly think that we forgot your birthday did you?" Stephanie hugged Courtney tight and pulled away. "What kind of friends would we be if we did that to you?"
Courtney laughed. "I was getting worried. This is so great though. Wow…so many people…"
Allison hugged her friend. "We were all behind it. Everyone had something to attend to so that everything got done quicker. Legolas offered to get you out of here for the day while decorations were put up and your costume was made and laid out for you."
"So that's why we came in through the back of the house then Legolas?" She looked at him questioningly with a small smile. "I thought that was strange."
"I hoped that you wouldn't notice. Can you believe that they still weren't ready when we got back?" Legolas laughed as he got a playful punch from each of the twins.
Elrond walked up to the group of friends and kissed Courtney's cheek. "Happy Birthday pen-neth. Shall we go eat something?"
"Food sounds great. I only hope I can keep it down though. The butterflies are still flying around in my stomach," she smiled tenderly at Elrond.
Elladan smiled at her. "You will be fine. Come on, we had your favorite dinner made."
She looked at him, puzzled. "And how would you know what my favorite dinner was?"
Stephanie looped her arm through Courtney's. "Let me say this. What's a birthday party without pizza?"
"NO WAY!!!!! You managed to have pizza made?" Courtney wrapped her arms around her friend, both of them laughing. She grabbed Steph's hand and ran with her into the dining hall, eagerly waiting for her pizza.