Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been busy busy!
Chapter 5
"M'lady? It's time to get up. You need to be ready for your last dress fitting at ten o' clock."
I opened my eyes to see Alianey, my sweet, plump maidservant hovering over me. I smiled and assured her that I would be ready. She smiled and nodded and then left.
I closed my eyes. Could this really be the day? The day I would be crowned Queen of Narnia? Doubts filled my mind with worry. Was I really ready?
Trying to brush them aside, I climbed out of bed and put on a flowing yellow dress that would be easy to slip out of when I went to my last fitting of my coronation dress. I hadn't seen it yet and was excited to see it finally. I then ate the fruit and bread Alianey had left for me on my bedside table.
Striding to my bedroom door, I opened it and went in search of Spindell. I found him, of course, in the middle of all the preparations of the coronation. He glanced up and beckoned me to him.
"Yes?"
"Are these bed linens and curtains and rugs to your satisfaction for your new room?" He asked, waving his arm across an array of many different cloths on display.
I gasped. They were just what I had imagined. A filmy white cloth with intricate silvery blue embroidery would make up my canopy and curtains leading out to my balcony. My bedding was a silvery-blue brocade with a filmy white cloth overlay. A darker shade of blue material made up my curtains that would that would cover the windows that surrounded my new room. The rugs were plush and of many different hues of blues.
"Oh Spindell they're perfect." I breathed.
"I thought you would like them. They will look stunning in the queen's tower bedchambers."
"Yes, I'm sure they will," I replied. "I was wondering what time the coronation started?" I continued.
"It starts at two, so you need to begin getting ready at twelve thirty." He replied.
"Alright. Thank you. I'll be going now. It's almost ten o' clock." I told him, leaving him to his preparations and heading for the fitting rooms.
I twisted and turned my way down the many corridors of Cair Paravel to the fitting room. It was a cheery room with windows looking out to the gardens. In the middle of the room stood a platform on which you would stand on to get your clothes adjusted. A three paneled mirror stood in front of it. On either side of the room shelves were filled with everything from scraps of lace to pins and needles.
Mistress Beatrice, a plump cheerful beaver, looked up from the shirt she was working on and smiled. And yes, in case you were wondering she is the sister of Mrs. Beaver.
"Why hello dear! Here for your fitting are you?"
"Yes. I don't mind waiting if you would like to finish what you're working on."
"Oh posh! I was just passing some time 'til you arrived. Now come here to the platform." She said, while padding to the platform.
"There you go, now you just stay there while I go fetch your dress." She ordered in her motherly way while pushing me onto the platform.
She disappeared briefly into an adjoining room and reappeared with a bundle of cloth.
"Is that the dress?" I questioned, doubtful.
"Of course! But you don't think I'm going to let you see it yet, know do you?" She replied with a twinkle in her eye, bustling over to a small worktable.
"Now close your eyes and slip off your dress."
I did as she asked and felt cool, silky cloth slipping over me. I heard her bustling about on all sides, guessing that she was adjusting this and that on the dress.
"Alright, you may open your eyes now."
I slowly opened my eyes. I inhaled sharply. Mistress Beatrice had created the most gorgeous dress in all of Narnia!
I slowly turned around looking at every inch of the dress.
The bodice was a light azure color. Filmy sleeves gathered and then flowed down and gently touched at the elbow. The skirt was full, and was sapphire. It flowed to the ground and covered my feet. The skirt was gathered in many places and a silver ruffle peeked out from underneath it. Silver embroidery edged the sleeves and bottom of the skirt.
"Oh Mistress Beatrice, it's beautiful!" I breathed.
Mistress Beatrice beamed.
"Why thank you dear! I thought you might like it! Now, here are the shoes you're going to wear. "
She placed pearly white ballet like shoes near my feet. They matched the color of the sleeves.
"Thank you." I said gratefully.
"You are quite welcome, my dear. Now, you better hurry off to hairdressing. Make sure you come back here at 1:30 to get dressed." She instructed, removing the dress and assisting me in slipping my other dress back on.
"I will!" I called as I hurried off to hairdressing.
I arrived at hairdressing and two dwarves began curling and braiding my hair. They intertwined small sapphires, pearls, and sliver ribbons in my braids, and then piled them on my head. By the time they were done, my head was aching from all the pinning and pulling of my hair. I thanked them and hurried back to Mistress Beatrice's.
"Hello dear! Don't you look stunning! Let's get that dress on." She greeted me.
I stepped onto the platform and she began fussing and messing with the dress.
"Something about that ruffle doesn't look quite right." She said eyeing the ruffle critically.
"I think it looks fine." I replied.
She didn't respond but began fussing with it. Fifteen minutes later, she appeared satisfied with how it looked.
"There, I believe you're ready, dear girl." She said straightening up.
Just then, Lady Ember entered the room.
"Hello Iridessa. I have something to give you."
She placed a necklace with a blue ribbon and a white gem with a blue swirl in the middle around my neck.
"Your mother wished to give this to you the day you became queen. Before she died she gave it to me to give to you."
I gently touched the necklace and tears filled my eyes.
"Thank you." I whispered softly.
"You're welcome. You look very much like your mother." She replied, patting me gently.
Spindell burst in just then and ended the tender moment.
"Dessa, it's time." He said, guiding me out of the fitting rooms.
As we walked I gave Spindell a very special gift.
He looked at me in surprise and asked,
"Are you sure you want to give me this?"
I assured him I did and he smiled.
We arrived at the throne room and I entered, knowing I would I would come out a different person.
A/N: So what did you think? I wasn't sure about how to write the coronation so I decided not to.
Please let me know what you think!