Happily Ever Christmas

~Twenty-Five~

Mazie was of course a total genius at tailoring as much as she was at baking and seemingly everything else she did.

She showed me numerous holiday designs for different ball gowns for me; a beautiful emerald one in crushed velvet, a ruby red one that hugged the body, a shimmering golden one that turned silver when I moved and exposed my entire back, a snowy white number in fluffy chiffon, and a deep plum color gown in satin.

In the end we chose a stunning sapphire color gown with a sweetheart bodice and little sleeves that draped off my shoulders, exposing my pale expanse of collarbone, not to mention my modest cleavage.

As Mazie pinned the dress in place, humming to herself softly, I played with my auburn hair.

"Mazie, I was thinking about how I sort of miss my own natural red hair color. Do you think there's a way...?"

"Absolutely, Miss Emberly!" Mazie waved her long, thin fingers and I gasped in amazement as fire red bled into my hair from my roots, chasing the dyed auburn color back to the tips of my mid-length hair until it was all gone.

I stared at myself in amazement. I hadn't seen myself with my natural color hair in so long.

Why had I been hiding from myself this whole time?

*~*~*~*

When Mazie was finally finished with me, I barely recognized myself in the mirror.

I looked like a fairy princess in my blue, crushed velvet ball gown. I was even wearing a hoop skirt and a corset and a pair of white high-heeled slippers underneath, and yes, it was all as uncomfortable as it sounded. But it was worth it because I looked ravishing, and I'm not one to usually brag.

I had a pair of snow-white gloves that came up above my elbows, and my ginger red hair had been carefully curled at the ends and partially pinned back with sparkling white diamond pins.

My personal little elf helper had done my makeup flawlessly, too, with my green eyes just slightly darkened with a dark golden brown glitter and my lips painted a warm, fiery red.

Mazie had even presented me with a lovely little blue velvet box and inside was the most gorgeous three-tiered diamond necklace I had ever seen.

"This is too much!" I breathed. "Oh, Mazie, honey, I could never accept this!"

"Nonsense!" She waved a long, slender hand dismissively. "'Tis a present from the Time Master! He wishes for you to wear this to the Yuletide Ball tonight!"

When she saw my hesitation to even touch the diamonds, she smiled kindly with her slightly sharp teeth and said, "If 'tis not something that you fancy for yourself back in your own realm then it can stay here, always, waiting for you."

I swallowed and nodded, then finally allowed her to drape the magnificent piece around my throat and secure it in the back.

I stared at myself in the mirror with mute amazement, my fingertips resting lightly upon the frosted white diamonds upon my throat.

As Mazie fussed with my train in the back, I felt compelled to ask her a question that had been niggling at me all day.

"So what does the Time Master do exactly; when he's not delivery presents?"

Mazie shot up from behind me and gave me a sharp look then with those old, wise, golden eyes of hers. I had failed to notice how her pupils were actually slit down the middle, like a cat's or a fox's. The old elf took pins out of her mouth before answering carefully, "'Tis Time Master business, and not for the likes of us to even discuss."

"But-!"

"Ask him, maybe he will tell you. 'Tis not my place to say, most apologies."

And she would say no more on the subject.

*~*~*~*

At last it was time to gather my children and go downstairs to face the hordes that were apparently gathering. You could hear music playing faintly and people laughing even from all the way up in the quietest reaches of the castle.

My kids were beside themselves in their excitement to join the merrymaking at last.

The elves had designed little outfits for them, special just for tonight.

Olivia stole my heart all over again in her adorable purple holiday dress with its sparkling brooch and little white fur shoulder cape.

Firs weren't as taboo up here in the Arctic as it turned out, but don't worry, the elves all assured me that the mink, fox, and rabbit pelts were all sustainably sourced.

Even Bradley was looking very smart and dapper in his little dove gray suit with its purple shirt and lapel, matching his sister's colors.

I hugged both of my children tight, kissing them all over their faces and telling them both how nice they were looking. Olivia's hair had been done up on top of her head in an elegant braided bun and she was looking far too grown up for my taste, but that was just a mother's eternal cross to bear, I imagine.

Finally they were sick of me fawning all over them and insisted on going downstairs to join the others. I made them promise to behave themselves, but I knew all bets were off once they'd gotten into the sugary Christmas treats.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Can you believe there's only 6 days left til Christmas?! Gah!!! I don't know about y'all but I'm not ready for it at all!!!

HRH