A Dragon's Mate

2

A/N: omg guys I'm so sorry this took so long.. hopefully I will be updating frequently but I am in college now so it may be a bit longer than I would like.. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.. you know.. after a whole year of waiting.. as always let me know what you think and any errors you notice.
Chapter 2

The next day begins with the Princess arriving at dawn for a dress fitting. She insists upon the most extravagant dress for the upcoming ball her father is hosting.
"There shall be many beautiful men at my ball. Calista, dear, will you be joining me to celebrate?" She asks batting perfectly thick eyelashes in my direction.
"Now you know although I do enjoy a good ball I have much to much work to do your majesty." I avoid her question focusing on not pricking the princess as she wriggles under the soft pink fabric. She rolls her eyes.
"Calista!" She reprimands playfully, "I believe we've been friends long enough to do away with those ridiculous formalities. My name is Marriana and you will address me as such."
"Yes, your majesty," I tease smiling, quickly marking the needed adjustment at her waist before she spins around hands on her hips. light fragments bounce off the jewels at her chest and waist.
"You will be at my party Calista, won't you?" she pouts her full lips practically begging with her large, child like, green eyes. I fluff out the ruffled skirt of her gown attempting to avoid eye contact but failing miserably.
"Alright Ana," My resolve crumbles, "I'll be there." The younger girl shouts in excitement and hugs me tightly.
"It's going to be so much fun," she giggles stepping out of the embrace, "You won't regret it!" I smile and pull delicately at the heart shaped front of her dress nodding in approval as it fits her chest perfectly.
"Alright let's get you out of this so I can finish it," I chuckle at her excitement as I begin the arduous process of getting the hyper girl out of the dress.
"What are you gonna wear?" Ana's muffled voice inquires from under layers of fabric as I carefully slip the dress over her head.
"I'm not sure," I contemplate the thought and slip the dress back onto the wooden mannequin, "maybe the blue one I wore for the solstice last year." The princess stops halfway into the dress she wore to the fitting and gasps dramatically fanning her face with her hand. The look on her face is priceless.
"Please tell me you are not considering wearing an old dress to my party Calista," she groans, a very unprincess-like noise. I laugh and roll my eyes at both her reaction and her utter disregard to her near nudity as she gapes at me.
"No," I admit and her face softens, "I'll make a new one before next week."
"Good," she quips pulling the dress up to her chest, "would you mind?" I shake my head and begin lacing up her dusky gold gown. Another I made for the girl but it's much simpler though no less beautiful. I guide the princess back to the font room of my shop with a hand on her lower back. Her two palace guards dressed in spotless uniforms stand as we enter the room. The taller of the two approaches us.
"I apologise your majesty but your father wishes to speak with you on an urgent matter. Your lunch with Miss Mayhem will have to be postponed to a later date," the guards face is quite apprehensive as he speaks in his low baritone voice. He is her regular guard and is quite aware of the young woman's temper.
"How dare h-," she begins.
"Go speak with your father Ana," I abruptly cut her off, "it must be important." She sighs.
"Alright I will," she practically growls, " but it better be good!" She stomps out of my shop throwing a hand up behind her as her farewell. I chuckle and watch the guards scurry to catch up with the angry princess.
I dig messily through drawers full of fabrics ranging in color, texture, and thickness trying desperately to find something suitable to make my ball gown from. I flop quite dramatically into my favorite arm chair to glare at the mess I've created.

I'll have to buy something new, I groan at the thought. I had hoped to avoid the market place for a while after what had happened the previous day but none of the fabrics I have are sufficient for my gown not even the vibrant blue I just bought. Groaning once again I step into my flats and grab a small purse to stuff a hand full of coins in before walking out the door.

The streets are just as busy as yesterday if not more as I nimbly weave myself through the throng towards the stalls I visited yesterday. The princesses request came at just the right time I must admit. The two hour walk to Mrs. Pringly's lovely shop can hopefully be avoided if the vendors have worthy products. I dig through pile after pile of fabric and sweat begins to trickle down my spine in the summer heat intensified by my digging.

Four stalls selling fabric. Four anxious vendors staring greedily at the coin pouch pinned to my waist. Hundreds of people bustling through the cobblestone streets. Not one roll of fabric that meets my fancy. I sigh beginning the long walk to Mrs. Pringly's shop. I walk quickly through the market and across the bridge on the other side into the mid district with its huge houses and spacious lawns. The town is split in three large circular districts by the winding pattern of the Minx river. I pass my favorite house in the district. A large sky blue house surrounded by bushes sculpted into various creature, most that no longer exist. Two twin dragons guard the gate, mouths wide in a silent roar. I absentmindedly pat one of the beasts' forelegs as I pass the house on my way towards the second Minx River bridge that splits the Mid district from the Low district. As soon as I cross the second bridge the smell of excrement attacks my sensitive nose that has gotten quite used to the milder smell of the Court district. I continue walking for another thirty minutes or so ducking around some of the more gruesome places that I would much rather forget and never go near again. The streets here are only dirt and thankfully it hasn't rained recently or they would be a treacherous maze of muddy wagon tracks and hoof prints. I sigh once the streets become cobblestone once more and I arrive at the north edge of the Mid-district where Mrs. Pringly's shop sits comfortably between two regular houses. The older woman sees me approaching through the glass windows in the front of her shop and waves at me with a bright smile. I return her smile and push open the heavy wooden door of her shop to get bombarded by the smell of the fresh cookies she serves at the counter.

"Calista, my darling, it's so good to see you," She greets me with her loud boisterous voice and a hug that threatens to stop my breathing.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Pringly," I smile pulling out of the much larger woman's reach, "Do you have anything interesting for me today ma'am?"

"Little lady if I didn't know better I'd think you had forgotten whose shop this is," She retorts feigning offense and crossing her arms over her ample bosom. I chuckle at her response and ask for her to show me what she has. She rolls her eyes and gestures for me to follow her to the back.

"You haven't been selling all the good fabrics to these new comers, have you?" I ask noticing the small crowd in her shop seemingly driving poor Maddie, Mrs. Pringly's granddaughter, crazy.

She laughs at my presumption as we approach a solid black curtain along the back wall, "The child does have her hands full but she'll be fine. And don't worry dear, I save all the best ones for you." She whispers the last part patting my shoulder before brushing the curtain to the side. Sighing, I enter the small backroom that houses the slightly more illegal products Mrs. Pringly carries.

"Only the best deserves the perfection of elven materials," She smiles sweeping her arm in an arc gesturing into the room, "let me know when you find what you're looking for dear." The larger woman ducks out of the small room and I slowly take in the eccentric fabrics. Beautiful yellows shimmer as if they have gold threaded within them. Blues that change colors like ocean waves when they move. I freeze.

"Mrs. Pringly," I call out breathlessly stroking the fabric.

"Yes dear, are you..." Her words drift out when she sees what I have chosen then she nods taking the fabric from me and slipping it into a plain black fabric bag.

"How much?" I ask once the fabric disappears from my sight. The older woman shakes her head and pats my hand.

"Not this one dear," she smiles, "but don't get used to it." I take the bag and hug her.

"Thank you," I say stepping out of the embrace. She only nods and pushes me to the door. I smile the entire way home.
A/N: picture is the princess's ball gown