A Court so Cruel and Lovely

Chapter Eleven

Two days before the coronation, Brambleweft stopped by Madoc's house – where I'd been staying since the Summer Tournament – to take measurements for our coronation gowns. I had plenty of gowns I could've worn but I wanted a brand new one. She started with Jude – since Jude was the youngest – and worked her way up to me.

"I was told to make you dress with hidden pockets for knives and whatever else you may need to protect you," Brambleweft whispered.
"That's very kind," I responded. The Folk did not care for Thank you's. They did not like it when people used so few words to express their gratitude.

She continued taking my measurements and then sent me to pick out a fabric for my gown. I chose a midnight blue fabric that brightened in the light. Brambleweft began sketching shortly after.

She incorporated the Night Court's insignia – the mountain crowned by three stars – rather than the Greenbriar insignia – a tree that is half white flowers and half thorns, roots dangling beneath it and a crown atop. There would be no doubt where I came from.

I asked her to add the words "To the stars who listen" above the insignia and the words "And the dreams that are answered" below it. Brambleweft agreed and sketched the words around the insignia. I gave her a nod of approval and went to join the others in the parlor.

"Story!," Oak called. "I want the story!"

"Why don't you trust me around him?" Jude asked Oriana. "I'm not going to hurt him."

"We will talk about this later with your father," Oriana responded, primly.

"I don't know whose father you're talking about because he's certainly not mine," Jude yelled back.

Taryn gasped. Vivi's lips curled into a small smile and she raised her teacup as if in toast. I stood there, baffled and a little lost.

I turned to Jude. "Want to practice before dinner?"

She shook her head. "No, thanks."

I shrugged. "Well, I'm headed back to Balekin's."

"See you later," Jude said.

I nodded and walked out.

***

I couldn't stay at Madoc's stronghold. Not after Oriana and Jude's argument. It reminded me too much of me and my mother. Especially when I started to rebel as a teenager. She nearly had a fit when I got my ears pierced. And that's to say nothing when I had gotten my septum pierced.

A mellow feeling settled over me and I stopped near Madoc's stables. I missed my mother. I pushed down that feeling of sadness. I needed to focus.

Foolish Selene, that cruel voice whispered. You will never heal fully unless you acknowledge the hurts. When will you learn?

Shut it, I snapped. There was a tug again, this time in the direction of Hollow Hall. I followed it all the way to my bedroom. It led me straight to my desk where a new note rested. I picked it up. It had his scent – night chilled mist and cedar – on it.

Opening it, I read through its contents. It was the same thing as usual – rants about his day, talking about how much he wished I was there, etc. After I finished reading it, I sealed it back up and placed it in the drawer with the others.

I bathed and changed into an all black ensemble – fit for the spying I was to do tonight. Dain's mission was clear: Look for treason. Look for something the High King wouldn't like. In reality, he wanted me to find a reason to prevent Balekin from being put on the throne.

The scars on mine and Cardan's backs would be enough, I thought, grimly. Not that I would ever show them to anyone. Not out of shame, but out of fear. I hated the idea of looking vulnerable. Hence why the scars are always hidden.

I crept through the halls and corridors until I reached Balekin's office, where I looked through his documents for any new messages but there was nothing. I covered up my scent and left the same way I came in.

I went back to my room, annoyed that I found nothing new and a little disappointed as well. I'd always hated feeling like this – as though I failed. My father reminded me that I was a failure so often I'd started to believe it. Everything changed upon arriving here. I learned better, pushed myself harder.

How would he feel if he could see me now? Perhaps he would be proud, or perhaps he would still hate me. I didn't know. I didn't want to know.

***

The day before Dain's coronation, the dresses arrived at Madoc's house for me, Vivi, Jude, and Taryn. I went over there immediately to see them and to get mine. When I got there the girls were staring at Jude's dress, which was completely different from the sketches.

"That's not the gown you ordered," Taryn said to Jude, her tone accusatory.

"It had her name on it," Oriana said. "And still, it's a lovely dress."

It was a lovely dress. It went from white at the collar and faded to a pale blue around the midriff and darkened to deepest indigo at the bottom. There was a stark outline of trees on it with little blue glass beads meant to be stars.

I'd almost felt jealous until I saw my own dress. It was not the blue fabric I had chosen but an iridescent black dress. It still had the Night Court insignia on it – Ramiel crowned by Arktos, Carynth, and Oristes – as well as the phrase I asked for.

The gown had a thin sheet of sparkly fabric and an open back that was criss-crossed with thin strips of fabric. It was form fitting around the top and there were slits on either leg that went up to my hip with a plunging neckline.

It was a gown fit for a queen. I loved it immediately.

"It's not as pretty as Selene's gown," Jude retorted. "But I will take it all the same."

"We shall look our best at the coronation," Oriana smiled, beatifically.

I felt a pang in my heart. She reminded me vaguely of my own mother. I took my gown to Hollow Hall and when I returned Jude walked over to me.

"Let's practice," she said.

"Right now?" I asked.

"I want to see if I could cut the ribbon before Dain's coronation," she shrugged.

"If you insist," I said.

We trained for hours. I led Jude through each stance. Near the end of our session, Jude tried to cut the ribbon again. She raised her sword and slashed out. Half of the ribbon fell to the ground.

I picked it up, cleaned it off and walked towards her. I tied the ribbon around her head and officially crowned her a Valkyrie.