Kayden sighed. She tried to turn around to see herself in the mirror but the seamstress slapped the back of her leg so she'd turn back around. "Stand up straight," the older woman squawked.
The girl turned reluctantly, trying not to squirm. She had been standing with her arms out for nearly 20 minutes. They were getting tired. She started tapping her foot before receiving yet another slap.
"Hold still, Warrior girl. You'll ruin the fine fabric and I'm almost done," she croaked. The woman rose up and began tying an ornate gold band around the teenager's waist to hold the sheer robe in place.
Kayden chewed her bottom lip like she was always did when she was fed up or bored. She blew a stray strand of hair out of her face.
"There," the woman sighed. "All done. Finally."
Thank God, Kayden thought to herself, rolling her eyes. She dropped her arms to her sides with relief.
"And no thanks to you, young lady!" she spat, wagging a finger at Kayden's face.
The teenager stuck out her tongue mockingly. But before the seamstress could do anything, Kayden was dragged off off the show stool and out of the room.
"Hey!" She cried out, jerking her arm free. She turned to see an older girl with warm brown eyes, pale skin, a round face and strawberry blonde hair. "Julie!" Kayden exclaimed, hugging her friend. "How long's it been?"
"Careful," the other girl said, shoving Kayden away. "You'll ruin the dress and I don't want to get in trouble." She smiled warmly and Kayden returned the gesture. Then she realized the circumstances under which they were meeting and frowned.
"I'm getting married," Kayden said sadly, looking down.
"I know," Julie answered, taking the young girl's hands in her own. They stood there in silence for a moment before Julie spoke.
"Well, let's not dwindle on that! We're going to make you look beautiful, right?" Julie tried to cheer up her friend but Kayden just looked away longingly.
"Come on," Julie said. She led her into a room with a stool in the middle. There was a desk to the side covered in all manner of decoration and accessory. Colorful ribbons, beautiful flowers, and ornate jewelry lined the table.
Julie sat Kayden down on the stool and grabbed the hair brush from the edge of the desk. She opened her mouth to speak but then thought better of it. The older girl brushed her friend's long, brown hair in silence, realizing there wasn't much more to be said about the situation. Kayden's strands turned golden when the light from the window hit them at just the right angle, and they sat like this for a while; no sound in the room but the gentle tug of the hair brush.
When Julie finished brushing her hair, she walked around Kayden's side to start braiding a few strands.
Kayden spoke. "I don't know why the council is so dead-set on me getting pretty for the ceremony. It's not as if it's a real marriage."
"Well, it's important that the whole thing maintains an air of celebration. The council is under a lot of pressure. For this to work, the people have to believe it can."
"You mean we have to make them believe it can." Kayden paused. "Put on a show."
"Whatever works I guess." The older girl smiled.
Julie quickly finished braiding the other side of Kayden's hair and began on the jewelry. She placed matching golden bangles on either of Kayden's wrists and a golden anklet just above the girl's right foot.
Kayden stared at the bangles curiously. "They're giving me riches?"
"Peace offerings," Julie answered, turning to face the table again.
"They feel more like shackles."
The older girl furrowed her brows in worry. It hurt her so much to see her friend in such pain. But what could she do? True, Julie was Kayden's senior by a few years, but the younger girl had always been the stronger one. Kayden had been called up to the Warrior training camp at only 8 years old. Julie had had to wait until her traditional 10th birthday before choosing her calling. And even then had landed the useless job of stylist. If Kayden - beautiful, strong, independent Kayden had given up, what could Julie do? Nothing. Nothing but sit and watch and hope.
Julie turned to face her friend once again. She playfully pursed her lips. "Something's missing…"
"Ah!" Julie exclaimed, grabbing a large copper amulet off the table. It was circular and had a large blue stone the color of the ocean embedded in its center. "There," she breathed. "You're almost ready."
Next, Julie started on the makeup.
There wasn't really much to be done, Kayden was already beautiful. She had bright green eyes the color of emeralds. They shone with a dark intensity and had flecks of gold in them which reflected back intelligence and confidence. She had a small, elegant nose, beautiful fair skin, and full pink lips. Julie had always been a bit jealous if she was being honest. Even with the makeup she wore every day, her looks couldn't hold a candle to Kayden's dark lashes and wide eyes. But Julie could never be envious of her friend's fate.
In the end, she decided to go for a simpler look. She brushed crushed gold powder onto Kayden's eyelids. She lined her lashes with a dark coal tip. The final touch was a bright pink liquid that Julie placed on the apple's of Kayden's cheeks and on her lips. Julie made sure to cover the only imperfection on Kayden's face - a pale white scar on her bottom lip - as she had been instructed to.
Kayden sniffed the air. "Magao berries?" She asked.
Julie smiled. "The Commander insisted."
The younger girl tried to return the smile but faltered. Julie took her hands like she had before.
"Come and see. Those humans won't know what hit 'em."
Julie helped Kayden up off the stool and walked her towards the mirror. Kayden looked up and gasped. She tilted her head side to side, taking in all the details. Julie had braided ribbons and flowers into her hair, securing it into an ornate half-up-do. She'd chosen jewelry and makeup that accentuated Kayden's features. She looked beautiful. Delicate. Refined. And…
"I don't look anything like me," Kayden stated.
"Well, you look even more beautiful."
"No, that's not what I mean. I mean I don't look anything like me. I don't look like a warrior. The Commander's made sure that you've erased any trace of fighter in me. She doesn't want the humans to be intimidated."
The way Kayden said it was plainly; without thought or emotion. She was merely stating a simple fact.
"Well I think you look beautiful," Julie said warmly in one last attempt to cheer up her friend. Kayden didn't even try to pretend like it would help this time. She sighed longingly and spoke solemnly.
"They'll be waiting for me. I should get going."
"Alright," Julie said. She let go of Kayden's hands. She watched her friend turn and head out the door but quickly pulled her back and into a hug. The older girl began to tear and brushed a strand out of her friend's face when Kayden pulled out of the embrace.
"Look at me. You're the one being forced off into marriage, and I'm crying," Julie whimpered.
"You always were a crier." Kayden finally smiled this time, genuinely. "Even when my parents died, you cried more than me, I think."
Julie chuckled, still tearing. "You didn't cry at all."
"Well how could I? You were crying enough for the both us."
Julie stopped smiling and for the first time that day she looked at Kayden, really looked at Kayden, with true sadness and sorrow and pity. "I'll cry enough for the both of us this time too," she breathed.
Kayden offered one final smile and squeezed Julie's hand. Then she turned to leave and was gone.
Julie cleaned up the desk and put all the accessories and makeup away. When she finished, she put the boxes away, laid her head down on the stool and cried until he tears ran out.