The Runaway Princess

Chapter 16

-Esters POV-

Today was the day of the wedding. It would take place at sunset but I woke up at early light to start preparations.

There was a whole three hour process of getting rid of dead skin and moisturizing the skin left over before we even started on anything else. After the thorough scrubbing of my skin and removal of all my hair except eyebrows, eyelashes, and my actual hair they slowly start to doll my face up.

The girls used light white paint for my face and deep red for my lips to look like the traditional bride. I was a little worried about how the plan would turn out, but I was confident I had gotten Fila on my side and she was confident that when the time came to put the dress on she could either get Lismo away or turn her to our side. When it came time for my hair, they pinned part of my hair into a braid crown around my face and used heated stones to curl the rest of it.

I took a moment as they went to grab my dress to look at myself though I hardly recognized myself. The white paint and red lips made me look like a doll and this dug in the fact that I was being married off like a possession to own. My only relief was the escape plan and that Zephyr was a really nice person. My thoughts latched on Ivy for a moment and I decided that after this all settles I would find myself an adorable pet.

Fila and Lismo came back with the dress and I opened my mouth to start trying to convince Lismo when I saw Fila's guilty face and saw the figure behind them.

"Joxen." I said shortly. Fila flushed as my eyes went to her and then I felt the cold sting of betrayal as I saw Lismo's hard expression.

"Hello sister," he said, the first words we've exchanged in the last few days. "I'm here to make sure you get ready and to the ceremony without any hitches."

At that moment I was so glad I only told Fila about my plan and left out everything about Zephyr. He would have gotten into more trouble than me and he had people he was trying to save.

"Now, if you would please go to the dressing room and get changed please?" He gestured to the girls and they ushered me into the other room and started getting me into the dress.

I almost started crying but a sharp pinch from Lismo keeps the tears from falling.

"Get over yourself," she said sharply. "If you're going to cry, do it after the wedding." After that remark they brought me out of the room to watch me the last few hours before the ceremony.

—-

-Storm's POV-

"Come on Embeth!" Came Thala's voice from the other cave. "We can make a bet on it! If you do it I will buy Adair's next purchase, if not then you have to buy my next purchase. Deal?" I sighed inwardly. I was currently dressing for the wedding ceremony as we left in an hour. I was wearing the red suit from Lengeli and tied my hair back in a sleek low ponytail and paired the outfit with my leather boots. It was not the fanciest but it would have to do.

I left the cave I was using to get dressed and found the others. It was a funny sight, half of us in party clothes, the other half in work clothes, all mingling together. Noysha and a male Katul were also in the cave, both miming things to Amare and Baylen. Adair was looking into her mirror and Embeth was in a very exaggerated conversation with Thala. Thala was in her seafoam dress that she bought earlier, Baylen was in their suit, and Embeth in her purple dress as normal but with her long brown hair down for once. The crew turned toward me when I walked in and Thala gave a wolf-like whistle at me.

"Looking good, Storm! When did you get that?" Thala said. As Baylen explained where I got the outfit I went over to Amare.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked her. She nodded determinedly.