The Queen has abdicated. Thank you for your service and long live the King and his queen
A few weeks later.
Wendy let the bow glide over the strings a few times more and then ended the song.
The girls around her clapped.
She bowed as gracefully as she could.
"I thought you were going to see your dear Prince Charming today." One of the girls teased.
Wendy felt her face grow hot and looked down at her ring finger where the beautiful green stones were shining.
"How amusing, I thought the same."
Wendy turned and saw Eric standing by the door.
She quickly put the fiddle down and stepped into his embrace.
"I didn't hear you come in." She said against his chest.
"I was mesmerized by your playing and didn't think to announce myself." He said softly and placed a kiss on her hair.
Wendy knew without turning around that the other girls were watching them with bated breath.
She pulled out of the embrace and patted her dress.
"Can I go like this?"
The dress was one that Eric had gotten her over the winter. With the Shoal hanging over her shoulder.
Eric stared for a moment at the necklace she was wearing but then smiled. "Of course, my love. You look radiant no matter what you wear."
Outside, a carriage waited for them.
Eric helped her up, and she waved at the girl standing in the doorway, looking longingly after her.
As soon as they could no longer see the inn, Eric turned to her. "It always amazes me how many people that are always drawn to you."
Wendy smiled and blushed. "I think it is just because they adore my music."
Eric took her hand and held it up to his lips. "My fairy, it is you everyone adores."
Wendy giggled at his response.
"But are we seeing the dressmaker today?"
The blue eyes glittered at her. "Yes, I wish for you to make the best impression on my mother."
"Do you think she will like me?" Wendy suddenly felt self-conscious about her manners, her dress, and her general way of being.
Eric's hand glided away from hers and cupped her cheek.
"How could she not? You have enchanted people far and wide. Your fame has even reached my parents long before I told them about our engagement." His thumb brushed over her cheek. "As you want fairy yourself, I don't think there's anyone that would oppose you."
Wendy closed the distance between their faces and kissed him.
As they pulled back from each other, Eric had his fingers tangled in her necklace.
He looked at it with odd eyes. "Where did you get such a piece?"
Wendy smiled and enclosed the pendant with her fingers. "It was a gift from a blacksmith I got long ago – as a thanks for helping him and his family through the winter.
Eric's furrowed brows melted into a smile. "If you are not a fairy, then you are certainly a saint."
When Eric helped her down from the carriage, Wendy couldn't help but turn her head.
People on either side of the carriage had stopped to look. Suddenly turned their heads away and wandered off.
"Pay them no mind, my sweet," Eric said softly and led her into the boutique.
Eric had taken her to the city before - during the winter - and bought her gifts and clothing, but this was the first time she was ever going to get a dress made.
As soon as they stepped inside the store, they were greeted by a beautiful older woman.
"Oh Monsieur Branigan." She greeted them eagerly and kissed Eric on the cheek. "I have waited so long for this day to think that I would design a dress for your fairy tale lover…"
Then she looked at Wendy like she'd never seen a person before.
"My, my, mademoiselle, aren't you the most beautiful creature I have seen in a long time?" She took a strong hold of Wendy's arm and pulled her a few steps forward, spun her around, and then got so close to her that their noses almost touched. "Just as the stories tell you to be. Beautiful as a fairy, graceful as a dancer, every movement soft and elegant as a feather on the wind."
Wendy blinked at her, confused, which just seemed to excite that woman even more.
"And those eyes! Green as a spring forest … to think I will get the pleasure of making a dress for you…"
Wendy blushed at the compliments and smiled.
"And such an adorable smile…" The woman continued to gush over her.
"Now, now, mademoiselle Victoria, you are embarrassing her," Eric said with a proud smile.
"Ohh am I?" The woman looked at Wendy with concern. "Sorry, my beautiful muse. I am simply taken with every beautiful creature that takes into my humble Boutique."
Wendy smiled. "It is fine. Can you make a dress for me?"
The woman took a gentle hold of Wendy's chin. "To make you fit for a crown, mon amore."
Wendy twirled across the wooden floor on her bare feet.
"How utterly magnificent." The dressmaker said and jotted something down on a piece of paper.
"I will ask that when she you go to a ball, you will ask for a balldress from me." The woman said to Eric.
"Of course, mademoiselle." Eric nodded.
Mademoiselle Victoria then stepped closer to Wendy and helped her up on a small chair. "Yes, yes," she muttered to herself. "I think we should go for green for the color. And the dress should be simple – letting your beauty shine through." She felt Wendy's arm. "The sleeves not too long. The dress should be fitted and quite simple in design – something out of a medieval fairy tale."
"I can see we are in good hands," Eric commented.
"Well, of course, Monsieur." The dressmaker let go of Wendy and turned towards him. "I have been your family's dressmaker for many years and now you've given me a new muse."
Two weeks later
Wendy breathed deeply as she walked.
Eric had gotten her a pair of shoes, the day they had visited the city, but they were not normal shoes.
The shoes had a tall heel, which made it hard to keep her balance and walk in the grass.
But on the inn's wooden floor, she had gotten to be quite graceful in them.
"Why don't you dance a little, Wendy?" David asked and handed her the fiddle.
Wendy smiled and took the fiddle.
As if magic her fingers knew exactly which strings to touch and beautiful music filled the room.
She didn't even notice that people looking at her in awe as she started to move her legs and the music got quicker.
But as she tried to spin in her new shoes, she fell.
Wendy's first instinct was to sit up and make sure her fiddle was still in one piece.
People crowded around her in confusion, and she heard both her mother and father asking if anything was wrong.
She didn't know what to say.
"Oh dear, what is this noise on a fine day?" Wendy recognized the teacher's voice immediately.
"Wendy just fell," William explained.
The crowd seemed to part as the woman came closer.
"Well of course," Miss Elizabeth said and looked down at Wendy. "Those shoes are meant for a more graceful kind of dancing."
Wendy looked down at her heeled shoes.
Elizabeth's smile was irritating. "If you want, you can come to my cottage and I can teach you about some things pertaining to the Baron and his family."
Wendy silently reached a hand out for Edward, and he and David helped her up.
She smiled at Miss Elizabeth. "That will not be necessary for the moment." She said and kicked off her heeled shoes in a swift motion. "For the time being, I will just dance without them."
Two weeks later
From time to time under the carriage ride, Wendy couldn't help but look over at the girl sitting across from her.
Eric had introduced her as a maid from his estate, but the girl had barely said two words.
The carriage took them through the city and stopped right outside the boutique.
"I hope she got it ready in time," Wendy said to Eric.
Eric smiled and kissed her hand. "My fairy, I doubt she had thought of anything but."
Eric helped her down from the carriage and Wendy stepped aside for him to help the other woman down, but he didn't.
The young baron just gently took Wendy's arm and let her inside, as the coachman helped the other woman down.
"There you are, my forest muse." The mademoiselle greeted Wendy.
Wendy smiled at her. "Is my dress ready?"
"Oh yes, my dear, I cannot wait to see you in it." The French woman clapped her hands together. "Now I can call myself a maker of fairy tales and dreams…"
Two assistants let Wendy to a changing room, with a maid from Eric's estate following close by.
"Do you want assistance?" The maid asked formally, when the two assistants left and asked Wendy to undress.
Wendy looked at her, confused. "With what?"
"Undressing." The maid clarified.
In response, Wendy just took off the dress and was standing there in her underdress.
"Pardon. I meant no offense." The maid then said.
The dressmaker came into the room with a dress.
"Here it is, my forest fairy." She smiled And looked Wendy up and down. Then she turned to the maid. "Please help her out of that underdress and help her into this one." The French woman pointed at another underdress that her assistant was holding.
Confused, Wendy just let them pull the dress off her and help her into a whiter underdress. A light green skirt was tightened around her waist and then the dress was pulled over her head.
Wendy looked down at herself amazed, the maid tried to pull her hair out from under the dress.
"Look here, my dear." The dressmaker said softly and guided her toward the mirror.
When they made big eyes at the person in the mirror.
Mademoiselle Victoria had been right. She really looked like a princess out of a fairy tale.
The light green dress with dark green patterns clung to her body, only widening out over her hips a tiny bit, which made the skirt fall elegantly. After the sleeves had been adjusted, they went down to the middle arm.
"I wondered about the neckline, but it shows off your beautiful neck without showing too much." The dressmaker commented.
Wendy had to agree.
After that, the maid asked her to sit down so she could do her hair.
Wendy followed her mirror image with interest as the maid braided her hair in amazing braids she had never seen done before - adding in golden strings and green ribbons.
When she was done, it almost looked like Wendy was wearing a crown of gold and leaves.
"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." Eric smiled at her and kissed her hand when he saw her again.
Wendy hid her smile behind her hand. "I hope I was that before I put on the dress too."
"Of course, you are my love. But I must say this has brought out your inner shine."
She was wearing elegant, heeled shoes that fit the dress, but Eric seemed focused on her necklace again.
"Did you not get the necklace I bought for her?" Eric asked and turned to the dressmaker.
The French woman smiled and stepped closer to Wendy - Like Edward did when he wanted to explain his woodwork.
"It goes with the dress and the beautiful muse." The woman explained. "It gives her an air of mystique, of forest, and of nature."
Eric took a deep breath but seemed satisfied with the answer.
"Now let's go." He said and offered his arm to Wendy. "My mother is expecting us for tea."
"But why is she not coming with us if she lives at your estate?" Wendy asked.
"Because this is my carriage," Eric explained. "She was only with us so she could help you with get change."
Wendy was still confused, but the confusion was replaced by amazement when she saw the estate come into view.
It might as well be a castle with its big white walls and fields that seem to go on forever. The carriage rode up through a long entryway with big trees lining both sides. They passed through a big stone gate and entered a big courtyard, where people were running around.
Everyone moved to the side when they entered the courtyard though and watched them in silent amazement.
Wendy could hear them whisper as Eric helped her out of the carriage, but Eric didn't even seem to notice.
Wendy held on to Eric as she slowly climbed the stone steps leading to the door.
"My Lord…" An older man at the top of the steps greeted Eric, and added: "My lady…"
"Abraham," Eric said in an odd tone. "You would not know where I could find my mother today, would you?"
The older man bowed and opened the door. "The Baroness is currently taking her tea on the terrace."
"Thank you, Abraham," Eric said without looking at the man and guided Wendy through the door.
The clicking of the heels on her shoes echoed through the halls as they wandered.
"Am I allowed to just go in?" Wendy asked.
"Of course." Eric smiled. "You have officially been invited. And I am the young Lord of the Branigan family."
It was a shame that Wendy didn't have time to stop and look at all the beautiful paintings and furniture, as Eric guided her through halls and rooms until they stood outside again.
Even outside, the ground was made of beautiful white and black stone.
Eric looked to the side.
"Mother." He greeted loudly and guided Wendy towards a structure of stone, with no walls or roof, but just beams of white stone.
There was a woman's sitting inside of the four beams by a table.
Eric led Wendy down a stone path leading to the structure and the woman greeted them warmly.
"Eric, my dear." She smiled and turned her eyes towards Wendy. "And you must be the girl who dances with fairies."
"Yes, Madam," Wendy said, not really listening, and did her best courtesy. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
The woman hid her smile behind the hand. "The pleasure is mine, dear."
Eric guided Wendy to a chair within the structure and helped her sit down.
"Oh Eric, my dear, your father had something he wanted to discuss with you." The older woman said as soon as Wendy sat down.
"At this very moment?" Eric asked.
"Indeed." His mother answered.
Wendy felt herself grow tense.
"Then I must see you later, my dear," Eric said and pressed his lips against her temple.
She looked after him as he disappeared the way they came.
"Now, my fairy child." The sound of the woman's voice made Wendy turn back around again.
The woman waved over a young servant girl. "How do you take your tea?" She asked Wendy.
Hello again
I hope you like this chapter. I couldn't really get to the good part before my deadline.
But please let me what you think.
I am still using a Speech-to-text program to write with, so tell me, if there is something spelled wrong or in an odd way and I will try and fix it.
See you next week.