The Tree's Heart

XXII

Everything that was happening after felt like a blur to Clover. Her and Willow got back to the room and soon after a whole lot of fae arrived, carrying clothes and all kinds of things. Clover had no idea what most of those were anyway. She was being draped in her weddings dress and then everyone started working on her hair, quick and nimble fingers braiding and brushing and combing through her red hair.

All those fae seemed like they were genuinely enjoying themselves. They didn't look half as offended when Clover was rejecting their food and their drink, as they did throughout the last three days. Maybe they knew that they were close to turning her into one of them, anyway, and it didn't matter as much.

Clover had to admit that she loved her dress. It wasn't a white dress or anything like that. It was a deep and dark green one, one that looked like the moss on the ground or the leaves in the darker parts of the forest. It also wasn't a huge dress that was heavy and would be difficult to move in – it was made out of light material, layered with silk and tulle. It was fitted tightly to her form on the top and went down into an A line further down – the skirt being layered over and over with light materials.

When she was moving in the dress, Clover felt like she was moving through the forest, through the dark leaves on the trees. It was beautiful. She felt beautiful in it, as if she could really be someone like Willow – someone that was completely in tune with the world around her, that was part of the forest, someone that had amazing powers. It was making it harder to remember that she had a life outside of this forest.

Her hair had been braided extensively until it was all pinned up, small braids running above her head in a diamond pattern and one big braid going around the bun at the back of her head. She had gotten a huge flower crown, made of red, white and green. Clover expected it to be heavy on her head, but it was surprisingly light. On top of that was a veil – made out of some sort of silvery and shimmering material. It was covering her face for now, but when it would be pushed back, it would be at the back of her head. Clover was sure she never had looked so gorgeous in her entire life – not even for prom.

There was some silver embroidery on her dress as well, ranking leaves and vines, making it look beautiful and ornamental. And the jewellery she was given – it was all silver, but she got a silver necklace that was shining in the sunlight and looked like a band of leaves around her neck. The bracelets on her arms were intricate designs with green gems in them. Clover wondered whether they were actual emeralds. She had also gotten earrings that matched her necklace. She truly did look like the queen of the forest.

Funnily enough she wasn't going to wear any shoes whatsoever – apparently, it was normal to just go barefoot in the realm of the fae. Clover had to say she was incredibly impressed by how she looked. And she was feeling a little stronger, as well now. Willow had been feeding her small bits of bread and berries throughout the whole thing and she had given her some more water, too. Clover almost felt like she was back to normal. Still, she was getting less and less sure about her escape. She hoped she wasn't going to falter at the last moment and give up on the entire plan, leaving Willow alone.

But there wasn't much time to think about it. Once the fae were done, they quickly dissipated, taking Willow with them. Apparently, the ceremony was going to start any minute now, and they all seemed giddy and excited to get to a good place, where they would have an optimal view of the wedding.

With that, Clover was left alone again, but not for long. The door to her room soon opened and a familiar face showed up. Dras. Clover almost couldn't believe her eyes. She hadn't thought that Dras was going to be here. She had thought the satyr had gotten on Avery's bad side, but apparently, he had been invited. And apparently, he had been told that he was going to walk her down the aisle for the ceremony.