The Dragon's Speech

Chapter 7: A Dress I'll Wear

Eilea:

Arriving at my base camp, I continued at full speed past the men stationed to keep watch at the western border. "Running late are we, Eilea?" I heard them call after me, laughter evident in their tone. I raced to the stables to drop off Naia then full out ran back to my tent. Upon my arrival I found a very anxious Leif waiting for me. "What in the world took you so long!?" he exclaimed at my reddened face and frantic state.

"I found him Leif, I found a tutor!" I said excitedly, rushing forward to embrace him.

"And a handsome one at that if your red face is any indication!" he teased.

"Leif, you know I'm not interested in that!" I retorted, giggling in turn. "Still, he was not entirely, awful looking." I conceded.

"Well, I'm elated for you, but look at the state of your hair!" he fussed. "I only have one question for now, will he be there tonight? You can catch me up on the rest later."

I hesitated, "I invited him but he's not exactly the social sort."

"Of course he's not, he can't be any normal fella to get you this flustered!" He retorted, pulling twigs from my thick red hair. "Well, we'll make you the talk of the town and make sure he has to make an appearance to get an eyeful of what I have planned for you, little princess." Leif stated, so excited he clasped his hands together at the end.

With about a bush's worth of twigs removed from my hair, he pushed me into a basin of freezing cold water. "It would have been warm if you were on time," he scorned. Scrubbing the dirt from my skin, I excitedly babbled about all the day's events. Leif was an awesome listener, a trait that made him the best friend I could ask for. He only paused my ramblings when I mentioned Aeon's 'curse.'

"Wait, prince charming is cursed?" he exclaimed.

"No, not at all!" I insisted. I continued to explain the backwards notion that differing skin tones and patterns were looked at as a curse in this region. Back in our homeland, entire tribes of people would proudly designate their lineage on their skin by carefully applying dark inks by needle in intricate designs. Some tribes even altered their faces with large piercings, adorning themselves with animal bone and tooth fragments. We both shook our heads with the notion that one's skin tone or pattern should reflect their worth as a person, especially when it came to a person as educated as Aeon.

I almost shrieked when Leif brought out the gown he had selected for me to wear this evening. It was a vivid green, matching my eyes, with grey and black flowers embroidered across the bustline. It had off the shoulder long sleeves, the top layer of which was the same green, with a lining of black fabric for the part that flared above my wrists. The green bottom hem ended just above the ground and a black fabric train could be seen peeking out where the gown touched the floor.

"Leif, I don't know what to say, it's gorgeous!" I cooed, reaching out hesitantly to touch the delicate fabric.

"Well I had to find something worthwhile, I know how much you hate dresses." He replied, smiling at my reaction. "Besides, don't thank me yet, the dressmaker insisted that in order to wear it properly, you have to wear this..." his voice trailed off as he revealed the back of the dress, the bodice of which had black straps interlaced from where it would meet beneath my shoulders to the small of my back.

"What is that for" I questioned, somewhat wearily.

Leif shrugged. "It's called a corset and it's all the fashion now, better breathe deep now because your lungs are going to miss the taste of air in this thing!" He laughed eyeing the lacing.

After painfully donning my gown, Leif helped me braid a portion of my hair back from my face. Letting the rest of it fall freely down my back, the waves and curls fell past my shoulders nestling to my lower back. Adding a simple silver circlet to my brow, before I knew it, it was time to go.