Medieval Hammerstacks

Endolynn POV

I woke up slowly, my brain having to adjust to not being dormant anymore. I turned my head, and was met with a curtain of my long brown hair. I moved sluggishly to brush it out of my face, then finally decided to actually get up and out of bed. My long night shirt dragged on the ground as I went to the window to open the heavy curtains, letting some light into the room.

After only a moment, a couple of maids came in and informed me there was a very important event going on later and that I was to be dressed in my finest today. My finest being a dress with three layers. The first layer was sheer, but gold in color, the only thing remarkable about the pattern being the slit from wrist to forearm that closed with a tiny button at the wrist, the skirt ended mid-calf. The second layer was opaque and sleeveless, a much paler gold, and the skirt would drag on the floor a little. The third and outermost layer consisted of the bodice and an outer skirt made from the same golden-looking material.There was a small, but not unnoticable, bit of frill on the sleeve, or lack thereof. The lace was in the back, which freed up the front to have intricate designs sewn on.

Once I was dressed, they brushed my hair meticulously and put it up in simple yet elegant braids that framed the rest of my hair. I examined their work in the mirror, thanked them, and left my room. They told me there would be someone at the foot of the stairs waiting to take me to the Great Hall. Once at the foot of the stairs, I looked for who they were talking about, but there was no one there, save for a stray cat. I knelt to pet it.

Just as I did that, someone jumped out from behind a corner, yelling "AH!" I jumped and yelped, but the person just laughed. I was ready to be angry, but then I noticed who it was. Ryia was one of my personal guards, and one of my friends, too. She had on a relatively plain tunic that was a smoky grey, and black pants, all held together by a belt. I didn't doubt there was chainmail on top of it, however, because I could see the collar of the mail poking out from her specially made silver chestplate. Her gloves were black leather, but had chainmail in and around them. A while ago, she'd saved up and gotten boots that were the same silver design as her chestplate, and the effect of it all summed up to about one statement: "Badass: Do Not Mess With."

"Ryia!" I settled on just being vaguely irritated, "You could get in a lot of trouble, scaring me like that!"

"Well that would only mean I'd have to serve in the kitchen for a few months." She grinned flipping back her black curly hair. "They give you many meals, so as it is it wouldn't bother me."

"Well, I do have to admit that was a nice scare." I grinned, remembering that there was only one time I'd managed to scare her. "Can we at least pretend that I'll be able to pay you back for that?"

"Pretend all you wish princess," She laughed. "we both know it will never really occur."

"Oh, well. Speaking of meals," I looked over her head of curly black hair at the large entryway into the Great Hall. It was open, at the moment. "What is so important about today? I

hardly ever have to wear clothes I didn't choose."

"Seems the King has called for a speedy ball." She laughed and wiggled her eyebrows. "Seems there is a rumor about some very regal attendees."

"Other than my family, you mean?" I tried to see if there was something she wasn't telling me, but her brown eyes weren't lying. They were just laughing at me.

"Perhaps." She said simply. "Do you wish me to do any errands before I escort you to the Ballroom?"

"None that I can think of." That cat was still standing there, and she started meowing at me. I picked her up and scratched behind her ear, "But we can take a moment to appreciate this furry beauty." I giggled and held her up for Ryia to see. She was entirely gray, even her eyes, except for her feet being covered in white fur.