Chapter 6: Preparations & Dresses

Days turned into weeks and all passed by, washed away by the rain. Ailith spend most of her time with her King Alexander. The old man was weakening by the day. She could see the Fever getting stronger day by day, defeating the old man. Still, somehow he had convinced the council and priests that he had had a vision from the gods. Perhaps they believed him because he was old and weak, or just because her was their King. Ailith could hardly believe that they just assumed that their King would never lie to them. She knew better than that. Still, since that day the entire castle had turned upside down. Everyone was busy with preparing and planning, creating ideas and throwing plans away. Ravens were sent out with invitations, while many a salesman already arrived in Highgarden. Yet, most of this passed Ailith. Most of the times she sat beside her betrothed's father. Holding his hands, praying for him, whispering encouraging words. Rowan wished he could sit next to his father the entire day, but he had to rule the country for his weakened father. His siblings, well, as much as they loved to visit their father, Queen Amelia made sure they barely saw him. Most of the evenings Rowan would visit his father. He would sit next to Ailith by the fire and they would whisper to each other. Ailith almost lived from one of those evenings to the next. Queen Amelia did not want Ailith to be involved with the entire planning of the wedding. In the beginning Ailith had been fine with it, but as time passed she got curious. Luckily, Rowan told everything his mother was arranging. And because his mother did listen to him, he also spoke for Ailith.
Yet, Rowan's visiting were growing fewer and fewer as his mother had all sorts of things for him to do. It were those lonely days that Ailith wished for Winterfell again. Ailith had wandered for many hours through the castle of Highgarden, but she doubted if it would ever be her home. She had even caught herself talking to King Alexander about her father, her brothers and even her mother. Not one time did she speak about Gunnora, and Ailith wondered if she would come to her wedding. But immediately realized that Gunnora would come, Gunnora was after all married to her father and her 'new mother'. Rather no mother than Gunnora, Ailith had often yelled. But it was now that Ailith wished for Gunnora. Rather Gunnora than Amelia, she now thought. There was something about Amelia Ailith did not like, did not trust. Why would you not involve the bride in her own wedding? But even more: why would you not let your children be with their dying father? On the other hand, Ailith was afraid that she could only see the negative things because Amelia was a Lannister. She was Rowan's mother and Rowan loved her. Perhaps she should try to be a bit nicer to Amelia. It would be easier if the woman would not make it so hard to be nice to!
'Milady,' Ailith turned around, but instead of her betrothed Ailith looked at Alyna. Alyna looked so much like her brother. Friendly yet proud face, beautiful golden locks. Deep brown eyes and a friendly smile. Ailith stood up. Alyna remained where she was. Was she afraid to come in?
'Come in,' she said and offered Alyna her own chair as she took the other chair to sit on. As soon as she sat down, Alyna turned her face to her father. His face was almost completely pale. Alyna swallowed and laid her hand on her fathers bed, afraid to touch him.
'He's not going to make it, is he?' she asked softly. Ailith looked from the girl to her father. There was no point in lying.
'No,' she said soft and laid her hand on Alyna shoulder, stroking a golden lock back. But not knowing what to say. Ailith and Alyna only had and age difference of two and a half year, still it seemed like Alyna was so much younger. Perhaps Amelia wanted her only daughter to be her little girl, for a long long time to come.
'He never really loved mother,' Alyna suddenly said and looked at Ailith, 'Do you love my brother?'
'I do,' Ailith said honest.
'I thought you did,' Alyna smiled and turned back to her father. She now reached for his hand and gently took it. 'I wish he would not go yet.'
'I know, Alyna,' Ailith said softly, she did not even want to think of her father leaving her yet!
'You know,' Alyna suddenly turned her head and looked at Ailith, in her eyes the same twinkle as King Alexander had had, 'my mother has arranged a dress for you.'
'She has?' Ailith was amazed by that. She had at least hoped she could pick her own dress!
'She has,' Alyna nodded and made a face like she smell something nasty, 'and I think it's one of the most ugly things I've ever seen! And I don't think Rowan will like it either. I don't think anyone will like it!'
'Why are you telling me this?' Ailith asked, she had always thought that Amelia had kept her daughter close to her.
'Because I also don't think that my lord father will like the dress,' Alyna said, 'And trust me, he will be there at your wedding.'
'I hope so,' Ailith only said, not wanting to give Alyna false hope.
'He will,' Alyna said, smiling at her father. For a moment neither of them said a thing.
'Anyway, the reason I came,' Alyna suddenly said as she turned her face back to Ailith, 'is because I want to you to have a wedding gown that you like and which will make you the most beautiful woman that day.'
'But why?' Ailith asked.
'You love Rowan, and Rowan loves you,' Alyna said, 'And when I marry, I want to wear a dress I love. Not one that the mother of my betrothed picked.'
'Thank you,' Ailith said, and softly pinched Alyna's hand.
'This has to be our secret, though!' Alyna warned, 'Mother cannot even suspect we're doing a thing like this!'
'I understand,' Ailith smiled, 'Whenever you have time, just call for me and we can-'
'Tomorrow, after lunch,' Alyna immediately said, 'I have already have arranged a thing or two.'
'Thank you so much,' Ailith said.
'Alyna?' the two girls turned around and saw Rowan, frowning.
'I shall leave you,' Alyna said and stood up, 'It was nice to talk to you.'
'The pleasure was all mine,' Ailith said. Alyna quickly passed her brother without looking at him and closed the door behind him. Rowan watched his sister go and then walked to his betrothed. He kissed her forehead and sat down.
'What was she doing here?' he asked.
'Visiting her father,' Ailith said, speaking half the truth.
'Any change?' he asked, looking at his father.
'Not much,' Ailith said and took his hand, 'How are you.'
'Fine,' he said, but she good see he was blinking. Suddenly her heart filled with worry, pity and anger. He should take better care of himself. No, she should take better care of him! Rowan covered his face with one hand and took a deep sigh. Ailith dropped to her knees before him and took his hands. He looked at her with teary eyes.
'Please,' she said, 'if there is anything, anything, I can do for you. I can't bear seeing you like this. You need rest, Rowan.'
'What I need,' he said, kissing her hands, 'is you, nothing more.'
'Rowan-' she wanted to tell him to take it easy, to calm down, to rest some more – but he would be King soon, and Kings cannot take break that easy.
'I'll be fine,' he said and slowly pulled her hands higher. He leaned back in the chair, laid her hands on his shoulders and laid his hands on her waist. Ailith slowly sat down on his lap, one leg on each side. As she buried her hands in his hair and he wrapped his arms around her. They kissed each other passionately and slowly rocked in a low tempo, pressing them closer and closer to each other. Suddenly Ailith pulled back and looked at him, breathing deeply.
'I'm sorry,' she said, knowing that they would go further than she wanted if she did not stop now.
'It's alright,' he replied and stroke her cheek. Ailith turned around and sat down, still close to Rowan. She laid her head on his shoulder and as he wrapped his arms around her she laid her hands on his. Gently she pressed her mouth against his neck and kissed him.

Alyna and Ailith could not help but giggle. After they had lunch with Queen Amelia they both pretended to leave another way. Actually they both walked to the kitchen and together walked to a room in tower, Ailith had never seen before. Aitlith had taken Inger with her and the red headed girl had been very grateful. Inger was the closest person Ailith had around her and she saw Inger as a friend. Alyna knocked three times on the door and waited to the door to open. And elderly woman opened the door and the two girls quickly entered. Ailith smiled at the woman and recognized her: Saya, the woman who made sure all the rooms were clean and pretty. Saya was had friendly blue eyes and light brown hair, which slowly turned white. She was old, but fire still burned in her heart.
'If you mother finds out,' Ailith giggled.
'She won't,' Saya winked, 'I'll take care of that.'
'Well, here's the dress mother had in mind for you,' Alyna said and showed a dress. It was a large plump package which did not even look like a dress and looked more yellow than white. There was hardly any shape in and no decoration at all. There was no tail and no veil. Ailith could not believe that Amelia would actually let her walk in that on her wedding!
'Told you it was bad,' Alyna said. Ailith shook her head.
'But that's why we're here, my lady,' Saya said with a friendly smile.
'Thank the gods you are here!' she said, 'If your mother would have showed this to me on the morning of my wedding I would have refused to go!'
'We don't want that to happen, my princess,' Saya smiled.
'Dear Saya,' Ailith took the hands of the old woman, 'why are you doing this? You know that when the Queen finds out-'
'I will be proud to say I indeed helped you,' Saya said pinching the hands of Ailith, 'My lady, I have worked in this castle long before the coming of the Queen. Yet she still does not know my name. You knew my name and those of my children within two weeks. She makes me run around the entire castle, with never even one word of gratitude. You thank me even when I only bring you some wine to drink! This is the smallest thing I can do to help you.'
'Thank you,' Ailith smiled.
'When you're ready, sister,' Alyna smiled to Ailith, 'Saya already made some drawings for you to look at.'
'Then we better get started,' Ailith smiled.

The rest of the days were spend in secret, as the dress – the real wedding dress – of Ailith slowly was formed by the gifted hands of Saya. Ailith did not say a word about it to either Rowan or his mother. Yet Ailith was very disappointed about Queen Amelia. Ruining the dress of the bride was a very mean and low thing to do. The only one who knew about their little scheme was King Alexander. When Ailith sat beside him, she softly whispered to him about her dress, as she held his hand. She would almost swear she could see more color in his face. After a few days she realized he really was getting better. He opened his eyes again and started to eat and talk again. Perhaps Alyna had been right after all.

Oooohw...what will the dress look like O.O ?

Let me know what you think of it (: