"I think a flower garland here, down the entrance stairs, would look beautiful," I told Rhian as we stood in the entrance hall to the house. "With perhaps some faelights over here," I signalled to the hallway wall, "They could lead the way to the ballroom."
Rhian tucked a few loose strands of auburn hair away from her face and gave a nod as a servant scribbled down some notes.
"You have a good eye," She told me as we walked down the hallway. The double doors between the guest dining room and ballroom had been opened, joining the two large rooms together, and the dining room had become a seating area. Sofas, armchairs and some smaller tables with dining chairs spread around them. Plenty of space for the guests to chill and socialise. The large glass doors led onto the small patio outside, which had also been organised with some seated areas.
"Faelights hung outside too for sunset would be beautiful," I said, "Maybe some lanterns?"
The servant scribbled down some more information.
"Do we have tablecloths for the tables?" Rhian asked.
"Which ones would you like, Madam?" The servant asked.
"The gold to go with the other colours," Rhian said. "They'll look lovely with the red roses."
"Of course."
"How is your dancing coming along?" My great-grandmother asked. Chairs were being organised in one corner of the ballroom for the orchestra that had been booked.
"I think… I think it's okay considering it's only been a week of lessons," I replied and she smiled.
"As long as your dress is long, they won't see the footwork," She winked. "Unfortunately Eris sets high standards because he's always been a natural dancer."
"Sorry to interrupt, Madam," A guard said as he approached, "But Eris is asking to see Miss Gwyn in his office."
I let the guard escort me to Eris' office, tucked along a hallway I'd not yet ventured down. Guards stood outside, armed and they opened the door, letting me in.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, my heart thudding in my chest.
It was his war room, I realised as I looked around. With a large table with a map of Prythian in the centre, it was almost a twin of the one Rhys had at the Moonstone palace. One side of the room was lined with bookshelves, filled with books about war and different courts. Some weapons lined another side of the room.
"We will go to The Middle in two days," Eris said to me. "I've had scouts up there already and so far they've found nothing, but Rhysand feels that I am delaying things."
"And are you?"
"Is it so wrong that perhaps I wanted to spend some time with my granddaughter before taking her to one of the most dangerous places in Prythian?" He moved some of his soldiers from the Autumn Court to The Middle on the map. "Has Nesta not spoken to you of what she experienced there?"
I tensed, "We must do what is right for Prythian. I would go tomorrow if you allowed."
"Tomorrow we have the ball," He reminded me, "And you will make your official debut." He folded his arms. "Then the following morning, we leave for The Middle." He passed me a book, "Have you read this?" I shook my head and he continued. "This tells you more information about the land and what dwells there. I suggest you read it in preparation for your visit."
"Okay."
"Dinner will be in your room tonight," He said, "I need to go to the barracks." He ran a hand through his hair, "You should get some sleep. I'll see you at training at sunrise. Bring your sword."
I woke up just before dawn and I was grateful that Artemis had somehow kept my bad dreams away from where she had slept sprawled out on the bed. I didn't have breakfast with Doja and Rosia as time was precious, but I promised I'd join them for lunch, before I left them with the puppy and headed out to training.
We didn't go to the forest. Instead I followed Eris to the training yard at the barracks and tried to ignore the stairs of the soldiers.
"Have they never seen a female before?" I whispered.
He raised his eyebrows, "You forget that females are not trained to fight in the Autumn Court. For them, this is a spectacle."
I warmed myself up and did my stretches and then, Eris called some of his soldiers over. "You three, here, we need someone to practise on "
They bowed to me and then readied themselves. I had a feeling I wouldn't thank Eris for this later. I focused on my breathing as I marked each soldier. And then I moved. Swords clashed as I twirled between the soldiers quickly. They parried the blows as I moved, this way and that. They were fast but I was faster. I knocked one to the ground. Then another. The last one, the one I'd seen in the garden, raised his eyebrows as I paced. And then I struck. I ducked every swing in my direction, dodging the blows. I skidded across the sand as I avoided one and then I was upright, moving behind him. I held my blade to his throat and he held his hands up in defeat.
The soldier bowed deeply to me as he stepped away and then I watched as every soldier watching did the same, a ripple effect. And as they bowed, they placed their hands over their hearts. Eris gave me a look of approval, his head high.
I looked down at the soldiers as they swore to serve me and my lips turned up into a smile.
The dress for the ball could not have been more perfect and it had filled my eyes with tears. Although the bodice was tight fitting, the dress was beautiful. A light blue chiffon that flowed into a skirt of light blue and gold chiffon. Across the bodice, it was embroidered with gold leaves and they fell in golden vines, trailing down the skirt. It was the perfect combination of my heritage- river nymph and Autumn court. And I had no doubt it had been designed that way intentionally.
My pin-straight copper hair was down, with a few strands pinned back in braids on each side. I wore golden formal slippers on my feet.
I'd sent Rosia and Doja to get themselves changed whilst I applied a small amount of natural make-up to my face but I paused at the knock on the bedroom door. Eris stepped in, a large velvet box in his hands.
He wore a smart, embroidered jacket of gold and red, a shirt and a waistcoat underneath. A crown made up of gold-plated thorns and leaves sat on his head. Every bit the High Lord of Autumn.
I got to my feet and he gave me the once over.
"Lovely," he said with a nod and he placed the box onto the dressing table. "I've brought finishing touches."
He lifted the lid, showing the jewels inside. A gold tiara fashioned of golden leaves and pearls and a pearl necklace to match.
"I can't," I said, blinking. "I don't deserve a crown."
"My soldiers swore to protect you this morning," He said, simply. "They recognise you for who you are."
"That's why you told me to bring my sword, isn't it?" I raised an eyebrow, "All for a show."
"Well it worked," He shrugged. "If my Court are ever going to accept they they'll one day have a High Lady, you need soldiers on your side." He fastened the necklace around my neck and moved to stand in front of me, "And you're going to have to get used to wearing crowns." He took the golden tiara from it's box and carefully placed it on my head. It seemed to slide on perfectly and I almost gasped at my reflection. It matched the dress, the whole outfit carefully planned.
"The dress," I said, tears lining my eyes, "It's so… perfect."
"I thought it would be nice to have a bit of your grandmother and mother with you this evening," He said with a bow or the head. He held his arm out to me, "Well? Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
