Update: I've been meaning to post this. There is now an Inheritance Cycle: The White Fire Chronicles FaceBook page! Unfortunately, you will have to search for it, apparently it doesnt display the link when I post it.
At long last, chapter 9 is here! If you havn't already, be sure to read the new note at the top of chapter 8. Again, my apologies for my two month absence. I put my all into this chapter, and I think it is one of the best, as well as one of the longest. Happy reading and please Review! Your comments help shape this story!
Chapter 9:
The Celebration: Part 1
Fenrir woke groggily from his deep sleep. He slowly became aware of movement in the room and turned to find Evalette scavenging through what few complete outfits she had brought with her from home.
"Sister, you are aware that the celebration isn't until tonight aren't you?" Fenrir mumbled in her general direction. He wanted her to be quiet but he also didn't want to completely wake up to tell her.
"Yes, I am well aware of that, thank you. But are you aware that we slept until almost noon?" she replied, taking only a quick pause before returning to her furious search for something decent to wear.
How can she be so obsessed with looking nice?
After a moment of debating whether to spend the rest of the day in the Elven bed, he finally delegated to raise himself from its warm embrace.
What do they make these with? It is doubtful the Elves would use feathers, and it is much too comfortable to be straw.
He made a mental note to inquire about the fantastic sleeping space before the day's end.
With a nervous knock, Naethus slowly entered the room. He took in the scene of the two just waking at this hour and tried to hide an irritated sigh.
"Pardon me if I woke you, but the Queen has requested that you come with me to meet her. I believe she wishes to brief you on the customary proceedings of the Celebration" he said, glancing back and forth between the two of them.
Fenrir lazily sat up and eyed the Elf who had so rudely ruined any chance of going back to sleep.
"Naethus, what exactly is your position? You seem to handle pretty much everything around here" Fenrir asked, throwing on the same tunic he had worn the day before.
"If you must know, I am the Queen's Taskman. And to answer your next question, a Taskman is simply a glorified title for servant. I tend to the things which the Queen has no time for. That includes, for instance, your over-sleeping and questions" Naethus replied, clearly annoyed.
Fenrir didn't appreciate the harsh reply, but decided not to pursue the topic. He glanced at Evalette, who had finally settled on a short olive green dress, which hung to her knees, revealing the unladylike boots she wore beneath.
"We are ready to leave when you are, Taskman" Fenrir said as he walked towards the door.
Naethus simply nodded and led them out the door. They descended the thick wood staircase that spiraled the tree that held their room. Once on the forest floor, they made their way through the paths that laced the Elven city until they reached the Palace. The two guards at the entrance stepped aside as Naethus drew close, and they entered the ornate Elven building to find the Queen waiting for them.
"Ah, thank you for retrieving them Naethus. I will take them with me now. You may do as you wish until I have need of you once more" the Queen said as she guided Fenrir and Evalette towards a hallway on the far side of the room.
Naethus bowed and retreated outside. Queen Arya led the two of them down the hallway and into what looked to be a dressing room. Various robes, dresses, tunics, and other styles of clothing hung upon the walls and adorned wooden hangers throughout the room.
"You two may look around and find something you like for tonight's Celebration. I'm sure the clothes you are wearing now were fine when you were traveling across Alagaesia, but I would hope the son and daughter of the Elven Queen could make themselves a little more refined for such an occasion" the Queen spoke as she guided them through the collection.
"Evalette, would you like me to accompany you? I have some personal favorites I could show you" she continued, turning to Evalette.
Evalette simply smiled and nodded, doing a relatively poor job of masking her joy for mother-daughter time.
"Fenrir, I trust you can find something decent" Queen Arya called back as she walked away with Evalette.
Well, it's clear who the favorite is.
Fenrir began browsing through the selection. He waded his way through extravagant tunics and puffed up doublets, all the while thinking how ridiculous all of it looked. A few items were appealing enough to try on, but after looking himself over, each time he hung them back up, embarrassed to have been wearing such foolish clothes. Finally, near the back of the room, he found something that didn't make him look like a court jester. He slipped it on and admired himself in a nearby mirror. It was a sleeveless black shirt which fit him perfectly. It had a tall collar, left open in the front, which almost reached his chin-length hair. The front was covered in ornate designs that looked like wisps of smoke, and the shoulders were slightly pointed. Intrigued by the style, Fenrir soon located the other pieces to the outfit and put them on as well. The pants were black as well, with the same smoky design on the sides. They tucked loosely into the gray cuffed boots, and bound at the waist with an incredibly detailed belt. It had small bits of Onyx spread throughout the intricate loops and curves, blurring the seam between the shirt and pants. His own naturally dark features accented the outfit perfectly and to his great surprise, he actually liked it.
Is this how Evalette feels in every dress she wears?
Fenrir found a few bracelets, a necklace, and some gloves that evidently were intended to be worn with the outfit but decided that was too much.
Proud of his find, he began making his way back through the room in search of Evalette and Queen Arya. After what seemed like forever, he heard someone approaching from behind him. He turned to find Evalette and the Queen, and they too had found something for the night.
The Queen was dressed in a shimmering green dress. It had white ribbons criss-crossing up from the bottom and meeting in a sash around her waist, complete with an emerald set in the center. Transparent sheets of green-tinted silk loosely draped around each of her arms, on which also lay beautiful gold chain bracelets. She wore an intricate pair of golden earrings and a beaded necklace. She truly looked like an Elven Queen, in every way.
Next Fenrir's attention drew to his sister, who was adorned in startlingly bright white. Her dress stopped just below her shoulders and triangular cutouts on each side of her stomach, revealing her pale bare skin which almost matched the color of the dress. The bottom half of her dress had hundreds of small designs cut out of it, making her look as if she were wearing a giant snowflake. She wore long white gloves that covered most of her arms, and sparkling silver earrings with sapphire inlays. Silver bracelets hung on her wrists and a silver necklace adorned her neck.
Once he had gathered his thoughts again, he realized they were staring at him with just as much surprise.
"Well, well. I never expected you could actually dress yourself Fenrir" the Queen said, still analyzing his choice of attire.
"Nor I" Evalette added with a chuckle of disbelief.
"It was a surprise to me as well" Fenrir laughed in reply as he looked over his outfit again.
"And I had not expected you two to look quite nice either" Fenrir added quickly, realizing he had yet to complement their appearance. Although in all honesty, it wasn't all that surprising that the women could dress themselves.
Naethus walked into the room.
This man is an interruption on two legs.
"My Queen, my apologies, the Celebration will be starting shortly. It is advised that you be there before guests begin arriving" Naethus spoke quickly, somewhat out of breath. Probably from the run over here.
"We were just about to leave, Naethus, thank you" Queen Arya replied, and she started towards the hallway, with Fenrir and Evalette following close behind.
They made their way down the trails to the large clearing that was to hold the celebration. Already the area was beginning to fill with Elves. They followed Queen Arya to her spot overlooking the large stone table. The Queen took her seat and began greeting the other Elves as they passed by. Although Evalette seemed to be content socializing with the other Elves with the Queen, Fenrir quickly grew bored and went off to walk around the Celebration area.
As he wandered around, he noticed how much the Elves put into decorations. The entire tree-line was adorned in ribbons and banners. Were-lights floated above the party, lighting the clearing with an eerie glow.
"Quite a Celebration isn't it?" someone asked from behind him.
Fenrir turned to find Valeria making her way towards him from a nearby group of Elves, obviously deep in conversation.
Fenrir was shocked by the difference in her appearance since he last saw her. She wore a laced black vest that hung only slightly below her arms, with long, flowing loose sleeves. Underneath the lace she wore a white corset. She had on a black skirt that hung just above her knees and heels with straps lacing their way just below the knee. She had a collection of silver and black necklaces and bracelets and her hair was bound in a ponytail with a silver ribbon.
In short, she was stunning.
"Oh, I've seen better" Fenrir replied jokingly, suddenly in a great mood.
"It gets better, don't worry" Valeria said with a quick smile.
What happened to the rude, judgmental Valeria I met before?
"Thanks to you, it already has" Fenrir replied. And then realized what he had just said.
What am I doing?
Valeria laughed.
"I'm in a good mood, so I won't kill you for that this time" Valeria said, still laughing a little.
Wow, I'm still alive! I should back down now while I'm ahead.
Somewhere nearby, an Elven musician began playing an exotic stringed instrument. Each pluck of the strings seemed to radiate joy, no doubt being enhanced by Elven magic.
Nope, I won't do it. I'm stopping while I'm safe.
As Fenrir struggled with his feelings, Valeria seemed to know what he was thinking.
She laughed and held out her hand.
"Fenrir, would you like to dance?" she asked with an amused smile.
Fenrir almost fainted at her question. Valeria chuckled again and grabbed his hand. Every nerve in his hand went crazy at her touch. She led him towards an open area near the Elven musician. Fenrir scrambled to gather his thoughts.
Come on, don't waste this chance.
He cleared his rampaging thoughts and smiled back at her. He slowly placed his hand on her waist and took her other hand in his. Time ceased as they slowly danced for what seemed like an eternity. He was in absolute bliss, and never wanted it to end.
By now, his hands had dropped to her waist and she had rested her head on his shoulder. And then he smelled it. Valeria had sighed and on her breath there was a sweet, warm, intoxicating smell. Fenrir opened his eyes and looked around. As he suspected, he saw a few other Elves with small glasses of a red liquid.
Fenrir's heart sank.
"Valeria?" he asked quietly.
She sat up slowly.
"Yes?" she replied.
"Are there… drinks at this celebration?" he asked hesitantly.
"Of course there are, it wouldn't be a proper celebration otherwise. They are quite good. Have you tried them?" she replied, oblivious that she was confirming Fenrir's nightmare.
"No" he replied with a mumble.
He released her and walked off into the crowd. He was vaguely aware of Valeria calling to him but he did not acknowledge her. As he attempted to lose himself in the crowd of Elves, a booming, echoing voice resonated throughout the clearing.
"Attention Alfakyn. The Selection Ceremony will be beginning shortly" the voice said.
The Elves broke out into a cheer and began moving in a circle around the stone table.
More disappointment on the way probably.