Little Red's Riding

Not Alone

"Dahlia, I am pleased to introduce you to one of the finest ladies of the court, the wife of General Calla, the Lady Calla. You will not find a better friend while you are inside these walls." Dahlia made a concerted effort to keep her expression neutral. Her brother had dragged her out of hour at an ungodly hour and forced her to get dressed in the finest outfit that she'd been able to find in the assortment of dresses that the Lady had sent over for her.

Then he hadn't been happy with the simple yellow gown that she had chosen, and had come in himself and had made her change into a blue silk dress with a plunging neckline that he thought would be appropriate later in the day if the King sent for them, which he told her, was a very real possibility.

Lady Calla met them on a beautiful balcony not far from their own rooms, where a rather large table was covered in more types of fruits and pastries than Dahlia had seen in all her life. Dahlia's eyes widened as she took in the appearance of the beautiful woman who stood to greet her and her brother the moment they walked out into the early morning light that spilled across the tiled floor of the balcony.

She had beautiful platinum hair that had been carefully styled into an ornate updo that was woven through with ribbons and jewels. Her eyes were a bright blue that matched the aquamarine dress she was wearing. And the dress itself looked less like something Dahlia would have chosen to wear to breakfast and more like something she would have picked out for a once in a lifetime ball.

The skirt was full and must have been supported with a hoop, or at least a crinoline, Dahlia had never worn either one and really wasn't entirely sure how these things worked, since peasants really didn't usually worry about those sorts of things, but the contrast between the enormous skirt and the fitted bodice made the Lady's waist look even tinier than it naturally was.

"I'm so delighted to meet you," Lady Calla had gushed, in an excited, girlish voice, as she had clasped Dahlia's hands between her own. "I just know that the two of us are going to be the best of friends." Dahlia had glanced into her eyes, expecting to find insincerity there, but she was surprised when that wasn't the feeling that she got from the Lady at all. Instead a strange feeling traveled through her body. She blinked as she tried to place the feeling, casting back in her mind as if groping at the edges of her memory.

"Skye." The name barely slipped past her lips, as she shook her head quickly, pushing the thoughts away as her brother gave her a sharp look to stop being so odd. It probably didn't help that Lady Calla easily could have passed for the little Fay's sister. Or at least her cousin. "I'm sorry." Dahlia tried to gather her composure as her brother cleared his throat. "You just remind me of someone I knew once. But of course, you've never been to the North have you?"

Deckard laughed nervously. "So many questions Dahly. I thought we were trying to put our little village behind you. Did you know that our dear lady here has offered to take you shopping. The dressmakers in town are always willing to give her the best deals. They're practically willing to pay her to wear their clothes."

The delicate Elfin figure shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Don't give your sister the wrong ideas, Captain. No one's giving away anything these days.Well other than the King and if he tries to give you something," and now her voice dropped low in a conspiratorial whisper, "you need to understand that it isn't free and will probably cost you far more than you'll want to pay for it." She fixed Dahlia with a serious gaze as she said the words before her expression became light again. And when Dahlia's eyes flickered to her brother she saw that he was frowning at the light haired Lady.

"But I would love to take you shopping. My husband is gone almost always now. Your brother can tell you about that. Somehow he manages to come home, but the General is always kept out, keeping us safe I guess." Lady Calla's lovely full lips turned down at the corners before she seemed to force them back into the smile that she'd been wearing almost the entire time they'd been there. "Now, you must come and sit with me and eat. Especially you, young lady. The word has already gone about the palace that you hardly ate a thing on your journey here. I bet you didn't know that gossip could spread about the Kingdom that fast, did you?"