Kiera
When Voronwë reached her, he kissed her on the cheek and said, "I am sorry you had to deal with Maeglin and his foul words. You do not deserve it. While I was sad I did not get to keep you company during dinner. I'm glad you and lord Ecthelion got on well. He is a fine lord and is very kind."
"He is," Idril said as she came up behind with Tuor. "I am sorry again for my cousin. You were right that he is very unhappy and tends to take out his anger on others. I'm sorry I did not get to speak to you much tonight. I have arranged for us to have some clothes made for you tomorrow morning, so we can spend some time getting to know one another. Afterward, I can show you and Tuor around the palace. In the afternoon, we can all take a tour of the city. In the evening, I can take Tuor to get fitted for some clothes as Voronwë has requested to show you around the city."
Kiera got excited and told her, "that sounds lovely. I can't wait."
Idril led them back to their rooms, and Kiera tried to remember the way. The palace was a confusing maze of hallways, but she focused on finding something to help her find her way. Idril paused outside of their hallway and said, "I will join you for breaking our fast tomorrow. I will be waiting in this main chamber for you. Have a good night, and sleep well."
They all bid her goodnight while Tuor watches her leave with a stupid grin on his face.
Kiera cleared her throat and smirked, "you and the princess seem pretty chummy at dinner."
Startled out of his staring, Tuor replied quickly, "I have enjoyed her company. I hope she will be able to spend some more time with me, as I would like to get to know her better. I am tired, my friends, so I will leave you now. Have a good rest."
Tuor ran away down the hall and quickly closed his door behind him. She giggled at the sight while Voronwë laughed. He walked her a few steps to her room and then surprised her with a warm hug. He seemed to hug and kiss her a lot lately, but she wasn't complaining.
As he leaned back from their embrace, he tilted his head down and kissed me on the cheek and then a quick peck on the mouth. It was swift and just a quick peck, but I could see that his eyes were shining when he pulled away.
As he leaned back from their embrace, he kissed her softly on the cheek, followed by a quick peck on the lips. It was swift and just a quick peck, but Kiera could see his eyes sparkle as he backed away. "I will see you tomorrow, lady Kiera. I look forward to showing you the city."
"As my friend, I wish for you to call me Kiera. No more lady Kiera, just Kiera."
"As you wish, Kiera. Have a good night," he replied as he turned to walk to his room.
Kiera went into her room and closed the door. She took a long breath as she rested against the door. The kiss was sweet but too short, as it made her long for more. The butterflies were a swarm in her stomach, and she was excited for tomorrow. Now, Kiera hoped that she would be able to fall asleep.
The large windows let in a lot of moonlight, so the room was illuminated. After changing into the nightgown, Kiera crawled into the bed. Within minutes, she was asleep.
A gentle knock on the door roused her from sleep. Kiera blinked awake and saw that the room was covered in the early morning sunlight. The bed was warm and comfy, and Kiera didn't want to get up, but the knocking persisted.
"Come in," she croaked.
Opening the door, Narriel came in quickly. "Good morning, lady Kiera. I hope you slept well. You have a big day today, and I need to get you dressed and ready for the morning fittings. I will draw you a bath and help get you dressed."
"Sure," she chirped. As Kiera sat up in bed and stretched, Narriel came into the room carrying a pail of hot water. She heard the sound of the water being dumped in and the tap being turned on. It seemed only one pail of boiling water was all that was needed as Narriel came back out and said, "your bath will be ready shortly. While you bathe, I will lay out some choices for dresses. I have two more dresses like the one from last night. Princess Idril says you may keep these, but she still wants you to have properly fitted clothes. Are there any clothes from your travels that you would like washed?"
"Yes," she replied. "I can dig them out of my bag." She yawned as she swung her legs over the bed. Spotting her bag on a chair near the fireplace, she grabbed it and started bringing out her clothes. Kiera set them all on the bed for Narriel to wash. Narriel was interested in her bra, and she explained what it was used for.
"Most peculiar," Narriel mumbled. "We add padding to our dresses and build support into corsets. Some female guards and craftsmen have bands made by the seamstresses to help give support while training or working. Perhaps you should ask for some as well today."
"I will, thanks. I'm going to take a bath now," she replied. Narriel nodded and scoped up her clothes, and left the room. Kiera went to the bathroom and stripped off the nightgown, and stepped into the tub. After a quick bath, she dried off and used the bathroom before leaving the room wrapped in a towel. On the bed were three dresses—the extra from last night and two new ones. She immediately reached for the dark green one. It is similar to the dress from last night, but instead of two colors, it is just one. Narriel helped her get into it, and it was pretty snug. The bottom is a little longer than the other, so she pins up the dress and secures it.
Seeing as there would be a lot going on that day, she asked Narriel to style it for today's activities. With record speed, she pulls up her half into an elaborate braid and lays the rest down her back. Narriel does it so quickly that she was left gawking at her.
The elf just laughed as she said, "I have been a handmaiden my entire life. It is easy for me to style people's hair. I enjoy dressing people and creating new hairstyles. Princess Idril loves my designs, and the rest of the city often copies them."
Curious about her life, Kiera asked, "do you work all day or have days off? Is that what you wanted to do for a job?"
"Oh yes, my mother was a handmaiden but is now a seamstress. She used to create all the clothes for the king and princess, but she wanted more work, so she opened her own shop. She is very popular, but you will be going to the princess's seamstress today. Perhaps another time you can visit my mother's shop." Narriel smiled pleasantly at her as she said, "as for my work, I only work for part of the day. In the mornings, I draw baths and get the princess and guests ready. We haven't had guests for many years, so it has just been the princess in my care until you came. I have free time in the afternoons and evenings unless there is a party. If I want time off, I simply ask the princess, and she grants it. We have a few handmaidens here in the palace, so the work is distributed evenly. I am paid well and enjoy my job, and I have enough free time to enjoy my hobbies and crafts. Your hair is done now. Come, I will take you to princess Idril for the morning meal."
She led her out of the room and down the hall. In the open corridor, Idril was waiting for her. Narriel left as Idril started walking down the opposite hall. "Your companions are waiting for us at the table. This is where you will eat most of your meals unless the king invites you to dinner. I will likely join you for most meals as my father likes to eat in his study, and Maeglin eats at his house. I'm happy to have guests to dine with again."
Their short walk down the hall opened up to a small circular room with a white round table. There were six chairs, two of which were filled with Tuor and Voronwë. There was a light spread of food at the table, and Kiera was surprisingly hungry.
The boys looked up as they approached and welcomed them. They both took seats next to the boys, and then Kiera loaded her plate with bread, fruits, and cheese while Tuor asked about the day's events.
"The king has requested my presence after our meal. I think he wants to discuss Lord Ulmo's message further, but where shall I meet you after? I know you are getting Kiera fitted for some clothes, but I don't know my way around. Shall we meet here for a midway meal?" he asked Idril.
"That would be for the best. I'll have a handmaiden escort you to my father's study after. They can lead you back after. Lady Kiera's fitting should take most of the morning, and I'm sure my father will want to discuss with you at length. We can all meet here for our midway meal and wait for each other. After, I will give a tour of the palace, and then we shall split in the evening. My father requested a private dinner between Tuor and the rest of the lords to discuss the future plans for the city. I am sorry, Lady Kiera, but you are not invited. This is why Voronwë wanted to show you the city and invited you to have dinner with his uncle. If that is alright with everyone," Idril explained.
They all look to her to see how she would take the news. With a slight shrug, she replied, "that's fine. It makes sense anyway, as I'm not as important as Tuor is. I'm just along for the ride."
Kiera looked over at Voronwë then and said, "I'm honored to have dinner with you and your uncle. Thank you for inviting me. What are you going to do while we are both gone?"
He smiled warmly, "I will meet with my uncle. He wants to hear about my journey and my new friends. That way, this evening, he can focus on getting to know you better. I'm sure he would also like to meet Tuor, but another time."
Tuor nodded, "'I would be happy to meet him. Perhaps we will all have dinner together soon."
With the plans in place, they finished up their meals and went their separate ways. Idril led her through the palace. Just like yesterday, Kiera was lost and was more interested in the beautiful carvings and paintings. Soon, though, they arrived at a set of double doors, which Idril opened to a large, brightly lit room. Inside was a long rectangular room with a large wooden work table and mountains of fabric lining one wall. The room had many high windows that let in plenty of light. In the middle was a small circular stone platform and a few chairs. Behind the table, a female elf was pulling tools out of the work table and muttering to herself.
Idril cleared her throat, and the elf looked up in surprise.
"So sorry, my princess, I didn't hear you come in. Please have a seat." The elf walked out from behind the table, and Kiera could see she was wearing a tunic and breeches, and her long brown hair was pulled back into a bun. She approached and said, "well met lady Kiera. I am Aerel, the seamstress of the palace. I am excited to make some clothes for you, as I have never dressed a human female. You are very pretty and well-proportioned for a mortal. Please step up into my circle so that we can get started."
Kiera stepped up while Idril took a seat in a chair. Aerel immediately grabbed a book and quill. "Now, what do you all need for clothes? I need a list, and then we can work on colors and style next."
"Everything, I think. I'd like some dresses for daywear and maybe a few for finer parties. I also would like some tunics and breaches in case I want to train or learn a new skill. Narriel also told me about some bands that the female guards wear. Oh, and I also need some undergarments, night clothes, and shoes." Kiera told her.
"So, a whole new wardrobe, got it. I won't bother writing anything down then." Aerel threw the paper and quill back onto the table. "Now, what about price? Are we going with finer fabrics or cheaper material for everything?"
They both turned to Idril, who was smirking, "finer cloths for everything. My cousin is paying, and I will gladly spend his money. This was my father's punishment for insulting our guests. Whatever looks best and as much as you think lady Kiera will need. I suggest making a few more party dresses. One can never have too many fine dresses."
Aerel clapped her hands, "fantastic, no limitations. I'm so excited. I have so many new ideas and creations. Let's get to work. I will start bringing out fabrics that I think will look best."
She bustled to the fabrics and started picking some out and mumbling to herself. Kiera bit her lip as she asked hesitantly, "Is Maeglin going to get mad at me for spending more?"
Idril shrugged, "I care not what he thinks. I warned him that I would spend his coin as I see fit to ensure our guests are treated well. This is the only punishment that seems to work with him. My father has tried many things in the past, but he never seemed to care. He likes his wealth and power, so spending his money bothers him. Either way, he will dislike you, so you might as well look pretty. My father is making him pay for everything until you both find a trade or a house to join, but there is no rush."
Aerel was still picking out fabrics, so she took the time to ask Idril some questions, "now that we are mostly alone, could you tell me some things that I need to know? Maybe people to avoid or things that a female wouldn't do. My society is vastly different, so I don't want to do anything that will offend anyone by mistake."
"Of course," Idril said brightly. "I know a lot about the city and the people. Let's see; we shall start with the basics. Women curtsy instead of bowing to the lords and the king when they see them. We always address them by their titles until they give us leave to drop them. Some, like my cousin, will always request his title. Only a select few are permitted to call him by his name. Any problems with fellow elves are addressed to their lord and the king. I think some elves will dislike you, but it should be fine as long as they leave you alone. Should any of them do anything cruel or unkind, let their lord know, and they will handle it. Perhaps for now, only report cruel actions, as I'm sure there will be unkind words said to you."
Kiera nodded, "I can handle petty words. Hopefully, I won't have any issues. Would you like me to address you by your title?"
Idril laughed a tinkling laugh, "no, I would like us to be friends. Unless we are in a formal setting, but even if you forgot, I would not mind. Now, I think I covered etiquette basics, but I can have a tutor brought later on if that is what you want?"
"Maybe, but probably not. I'm usually pretty polite and nice, so I think I will be ok for now. If we are going to be friends, please just call me Kiera. I don't need the lady Kiera when we are together. Now, what should I know about the lords of the city? Anything I should be aware of? I know Maeglin hates me, but who else?"
Idril thought for a while, and Aerel came back and started draping fabric across her chest. Kiera tried to interrupt her work, but she said, "do not mind me. I usually cannot keep a conversation going while I am working. Too many ideas are flying through my head. You may continue talking to Idril. Anything you say will be confidential. I do not betray the princess's trust. Now, I will continue picking out fabrics that match your skin tone."
After a few different fabrics were draped across her front, Idril finally caught her eye and said, "you are right that Maeglin will dislike you, but he is also close with Lord Salgant. I do not think he will dislike you, but he wants to please my cousin, so don't expect a warm welcome. Now, I shall tell you a little about each, and you can decide what to think. My cousin Maeglin has no wife and spends his days in his forge or in the mountains mining materials. His people are clever and very hardworking. I would be wary of all of his house. I'm sure he will have his spies watching you."
"Lord Salgant is a drunk. He spends most of his time drinking wine and playing music on his harp. His house is in charge of the festivals and music, but also the wine production of the city. He has a wife and two children, who are both females. They are both after marriages to a lord, but that will never happen. All the lords know what they want, but none of them find them to be wife material. You will see them begging for dances from all the single lords at festivals. I doubt they would treat you kindly."
"Lord Galdor is a kind lord, but he tends to side with Maeglin and Lord Salgant on important matters. His people grow all the crops and the grapes for the wine, which Lord Salgant's house depends on. He has a wife and son who he adores. His son is courting another lady of the court, but both are nice people. I think they will all be kind to you, but just be cautious in their presence."
"Lord Dulin is also kind and a good lord. He trains all the guards who wish to use a bow and arrow. Lord Oromë trained him in Valinor. His house is also home to skilled hunters who hunt wild game in the surrounding mountains. I'm not sure how long that will last now. He has a wife but no children yet. They were married shortly before our departure from Valinor, and they are waiting to have children during a time of greater peace."
"Lord Egalmoth is a stern and patient lord. He took many young orphans into his house after the last battle and taught them different crafts. His house is the richest, but they also care deeply about the people of this city. He and his wife took in many children personally and raised them. He has only one biological daughter, who is courting Lord Galdor's son, but many foster children. He cares for them all equally and is a very generous lord."
"Lord Penlod is a very busy lord. He has to maintain two houses now, but he does it well and enjoys the work. He has no children or wife, but he is courting a lady in the city. They are keeping it quiet and are having a long engagement. His house will welcome you as he enjoys building."
"Lord Rog is the worst flirt in the city. He likes all women as long as they are pretty. He does an excellent job of leading his house and is a spectacular craftsman. I will warn you now that it would be best to avoid his advances. He has courted many women and has taken countless more to his bed. He has no real desire to marry, but many females think they will be the one to change him. He is nice enough, but you don't need that drama right now, especially with my cousin circling."
"Lord Glorfindel is my kin and a very loving lord. He is always so happy and excited. He is my late mother's cousin and came with us here when my father built this city. He always treats people and children with respect. He doesn't look down on anyone, and many people flock to his house because he rules well and gives everyone an opportunity. Many females love him in the city, but he has not found love yet. I hope someday he will find someone, as he truly deserves it. He will be a good friend to you and Tuor."
"Lord Ecthelion is the same as Glorfindel. He is a very kind and loving lord. He treats everyone in his house the same and never looks down on anyone. People flock to his house as well, and he makes sure everyone is given the same opportunity. He runs the guards, and he trains them all himself. He is not a noble-born elf but was given the lordship due to his great friendship with Glorfindel. He is mostly reserved, while Glorfindel is the more outspoken of the two. He was courting an elf in the city, but she was horrid. He ended their courtship when he found out she was just using him to get close to Glorfindel. Glorfindel dislikes her as well, and it would be best for you to avoid her as she is still very upset that he ended their courtship. She tends to scare away anyone from getting to know Ecthelion, but I hope you don't let that stop you. I was glad that he was sitting next to you at dinner. I hope you can get to know him more and befriend him and Glorfindel."
She took in the information as best as she could. Aerel was on her third pile of fabrics and was still picking out more. Kiera could see why this was going to take most of the morning.
"Thank you for all the information," she replied. "That helps me get a better understanding of the city and its people. I'm sorry to hear that about Ecthelion. He has been nothing but kind to me, and he doesn't deserve to be treated that way. I hope I get to know him and Glorfindel more. Perhaps if I decide to train with a weapon, I'll get to know them better. You will have to point some people out at a festival, so I know who to avoid. Now, could you tell me anything you know about Voronwë? I admit that I know quite a bit, but I'm just curious if I am missing anything."
Idril laughed at her and said, "I've noticed how close you two are. I'm sorry to say you probably know more about him than I do. We have many elves in this city, and it is hard for me to know everyone. I try to remember being the princess, but plenty of elves don't come to talk to me. Voronwë only spoke to me after my father picked him to go on the journey. I was sad to hear he was picked as he is very young, but my father hoped that being related to Círdan would help. Perhaps it would be better if you told me what is happening between you two?"
She blushed now and glanced over to Aerel, but the elf was muttering at her table full of fabric. Feeling the need to gush, she spilled everything to Idril. "I don't know yet. On our travels, I got to know both Tuor and Voronwë. Tuor is friendly and kind, but I felt myself drawn to Voronwë more. At first, I thought it was because he was an elf, and it was new and exciting, but now I don't even notice that. I'm surrounded by elves, and I still think he's sweet, kind, and very handsome. He gives me butterflies when we hug and when he kisses my cheek. Part of me feels like it is a little unreal, you know. Like he could have his pick of any beautiful elf in the city, and instead, he likes me."
"Elemmakai told me that Voronwë has never acted this before, and he is smitten with me. While I feel the same way, I don't want to rush this. I want us to take our time and get to know one another. I think him being an elf makes it much more real. I've had boyfriends in the past, but I never even thought of marriage. Yet here, elves are bonded for life. I don't want him to rush into it either and regret his decision later on," Kiera stammered.
Idril gave her a warm and understanding smile. "It gives me great joy that you two are smitten with each other. I agree that it would probably be best that you two take it slow. You have a new city to explore and a new world to learn about. I think you are right that you can't rush this. To be bonded means to be bonded for life and after. Once you die, any elf that marries you will surely perish from grief. It is a big commitment for an elf, and I'm sure some elves will forgo their feelings just to avoid that future." Idril paused and looked thoughtfully at her. "I think you need to talk to Voronwë and work this out in the beginning. I think you both need to be aware of the future before you get your hearts involved. I'm glad that you know this is important and that you care about him. I'm sure some women and men would just love to be married to an elf and not care about the choices made."
Kiera smiled meekly and said, "I think I will talk with him after dinner tonight. He sort of kissed me last night, and I want to talk to him about this before it goes further. Now, enough about me. You and Tuor looked pretty cozy last night."
It was Idril's turn to blush as she bit her lip and whispered frantically, "is it that obvious? I don't want everyone to know. He is just so interesting, and he makes me laugh. He treated me like a person and not by my title. It was refreshing and nice for a change."
Kiera walked over to her and sat in a chair next to Idril. It was tiring standing still in the center of the room, but Aerel was still at her work table cutting fabrics.
"Just to Voronwë and I. Your secret is safe with me. I know Tuor likes you and wants to get to know you better. I'll give you the same advice to go slow and get to know one another. He is a very good man and was raised by elves. I'm sure he will treat you with respect. He was kind and thoughtful to me during our entire journey, and he has a very upbeat outlook on life," she replied with a smile.
Idril glanced at her and asked, "is it true that he has no wife or has had any lovers? If he is a good man, as you say, surely some women would have loved to make him her husband."
"Tuor was a slave for many years. After he broke free, he became an outlaw. He didn't have many chances to court women, living alone in the wilderness. I was surprised that someone who had that kind of past could be so happy and upbeat. I admire him for that, as plenty of people would crumble or become horrible people in turn. He would happily tell you anything you want to know about him, but you don't have to worry about him being a flirt. He's loyal and cares deeply about his friends and the people he cares about. He wouldn't do anything to ruin that."
Idril sighed in relief as Kiera chuckled at her. Soon they were both laughing, which turned into a fit of giggles. Aerel looked up at them and shook her head with a smile.
"Now that our love lives are out of the way, tell me more about you and your family," she asked Idril.
Idril sighed happily and said, "It is just my father and me in the city. My mother perished on our journey, but I hope I will see her again someday. I longed to see more of this world, but my aunt Aredhel had disappeared for many years. She returned to the city with her son Maeglin. Her husband followed and tried to kill him when he entered the city, but my aunt saved her son. So now it is just my father and Maeglin. My father is very concerned with this city and spends his days with his lords and duties. I am usually left alone in the palace most days, as I have few friends in the city."
"That is why I was so excited to meet you, and I longed to be your friend. I have very few female friends. I was very young when we left Valinor, and I helped my father build and design this city, but I didn't get a chance to make many friends when I was young. Most elves have friends already and are scared of me as the princess. I truly hope that we can all be friends."
"I'm sure we will," Kiera replied. She chuckled softly as she added, "I'm in dire need of some new friends. You have treated me kindly, and I would love to spend more time with you. Do you have any hobbies?"
She nodded enthusiastically, "I love to dance. Every festival, I dress up and dance the night away with the lords or anyone who would dance with me. I enjoy music and reading. I'll admit that I have no forging or craft-making skills, but I do like to paint."
Kiera's eyes shined as she said, "I try to paint and draw, but I'm not very good. You'll have to show me some of your paintings. I love parties and dancing, but I probably don't know any of the dances here. I doubt Tuor does, so maybe you could teach us? I'm sure Voronwë would volunteer to be my partner."
Idril clapped her hands together and shouted, "yes! I would love to teach you how to dance. I know all the dances, and I am an excellent teacher. I can't have you going to festivals without knowing the dances. I'm so excited now for the festival in a few days. We must teach you and Tuor because we are holding it in your honor."
"What?" Kiera screeched.
Idril laughed at her dumbfounded expression. "We are holding a festival in a few days for your arrival. To have the blessing of Lord Ulmo is a great honor. My father wants to formally welcome you to the city and give everyone a chance to meet you both. I must teach you the dances, as plenty of the elves will ask for a dance at the festival."
All Kiera could do was stare at Idril in shock. An entire festival with everyone coming to meet her and Tuor gave her anxiety already. Idril noticed and took her hand. "I'm sure it is overwhelming, but you will be alright. I will try to stay by your side most of the night. I'm sure Voronwë will help you as well. You will have to dance with elves who ask, as it would be rude to turn them down during your first festival. I will have a dance session tomorrow or the next day. The festival won't be for three days as my father needed time to get everything ready, but the whole city is excited."
Her throat felt like sandpaper now as she gulped. Dancing with every elf that asked was going to make the night go long. While she enjoyed a good party, Kiera was sure this one would be different. Idril squeezed her hand softly, and then she focused back on her.
"It will be alright. Just focus on enjoying the city for now and push the festival to the side. I will let you know tomorrow morning what the plans are for the next few days. I'm sure some elves won't ask you, as they cannot speak the common tongue."
That was a relief as she sighed. She brushed the festival off and focused on seeing the city today. Aerel was almost finished cutting her stack of fabrics, so Kiera figured before they left, she needed to ask some delicate questions.
"I need to know some things, but I'm a little nervous to ask."
Idril just raised her eyebrows, "ask. I will answer if I can."
"First, what do females here do about their monthly? I have nothing with me, and I'm sure mine will start soon," she questioned.
Idril smiled good-natured, "we have some special fabric that absorbs the flow. We can add it to the pile of clothes you are getting. We have special undergarments that help the fabric stay in place. We usually wash the folded fabric in the bathwater after our morning baths and leave them to dry over the tub. The water is still warm and helps clean them. Usually, each female washes their own as we don't want to burden the handmaidens. After a few months, you can request new ones."
Kiera let out a breath. That didn't sound too bad. Now for the real tricky question. "Alright, that's fine. It's better than what I was expecting. The last question I have pertains to elvish marriages. Elemmakai implied that elves give each other pleasure, but I need to know how far that goes. I don't think I will get there with Voronwë any time soon, but while we are here, I'd like to know as it has been on my mind recently."
Idril was blushing now and said, "that sounds like something Elemmakai would say. He is also a notorious flirt. Elves who are courting and even some elves who are not courting engage in a sexual moment together. Mainly for release and to get closer to their courting partner before the bonding. Sometimes, this is when elves realize that they don't really love each other enough to bond. I have been told that as long as elves do not have a full bonding where a man enters a woman, the rest is fine. I have heard of many elves using their hands and mouths, but I have not experienced it, so I wouldn't truly know." Idril shifted nervously while she spoke, and Kiera could tell she was uncomfortable with the questioning.
"Thank you for answering. I get it now, but I have to be sure that if something happens, I don't end up married too early."
"May I ask you a question in return?"
She nodded, and then Idril blushed profusely as she asked quickly, "I have heard that human men and women bond all the time, even without marriage. You spoke of your previous courtship ending because of him being unfaithful. Does that happen in human cities? Are humans not faithful to each other?"
"I'm not sure about this world, but in my world, it happens. Plenty of people get married and then separate later. There are some unfaithful people, both men and women. Others stay married for years and never stray. It just depends on the person. I think it happens here but is probably not common. Tuor would know more, but I doubt you want to ask him. If you are worried about him, I wouldn't be. Elves raised him, so he knows what marriage means to them. I'm sure he wouldn't do anything to ruin a marriage or a woman's reputation."
She visibly relaxed now and said, "thank you for answering. I was worried about getting to know Tuor more, as I didn't want to get hurt. He seems like an honorable man, and Lord Ulmo picked him for a reason. I will get to know him better and not worry about what people say of human men and women."
They smiled at one another as they both sat in comfortable silence, lost in their own thoughts. Aerel called her and took measurements all around her body. The process was the longest as she wanted to make sure and ended up taking multiple measurements everywhere. Finally, she said, "I have sketches of some common dresses that I want you to see. Some might not work well with your proportions, but I can alter or fix anything. While I write down all of your measurements and finish up, you can pick out the styles you like with the princess."
Once Kiera was seated next to Idril, Aerel brought over a handbound book. Inside were detailed sketches of different styles of dresses. There must have been around 50, so they flip through them, marking the ones she liked. Most are designed for skinny and tall women, so she discarded most of the styles.
The styles that remained were either fit and flare dresses or draped flowing dresses. A few other styles might work, so she saved those and had a few of them made just for some variety. Towards the back of the booklet were a couple of tunic styles, and Kiera picked all three to have made. There wasn't much difference between them except for button-downs or slip-over and short or long tunics. There was only one style of breeches.
"I have picked out enough fabrics and colors that go well with your skin tone. I won't adorn the dresses with gems or any jewels, but they will be made with fine material. I won't be able to do the usual cuts for elves as you are built differently, but I have plenty of ideas. I will send everything to your room in a few days. If you need anything else after, feel free to come back," she said with a wave.
She bids them to leave and to let her work in peace. They headed back to the table for lunch. When they arrived, they were the only ones there, so they chatted about lighter topics until the boys arrived.