The Flower Crown Princess

Part 5

"Join you?" I ask, mouth agape. "Join you in treason and in starting a rebellion?"

"No," Maridi says sarcastically. Her tears have gone, but they threaten return. "I want you to be a human sacrifice to the Sea- People and go marry their barbarian prince and have barbarian children."She huffs quickly and throws her hands up in the air. "Yes, join me in 'treason'! Don't you think that a king's rule, a monarchy, is cruel? With our system, you're not able to control whether he'll be righteous or wicked?"

"My father's reign wasn't -isn't- cruel," I retort, in disgusted awe of her, of what she's done, of what she's doing. "And no, milady, I won't join you. I'd rather be a 'human sacrifice to the Sea- People and marry their barbarian prince and have barbarian children'." I mock, not caring if it puts me out of my place as a lady. "Then, maybe, I'd be safeguarding my country and everything I stand for. All joining you would do is tear it down." I don't wait to hear her response. I barge out of her room in a most unladylike way, calming myself as I start to go down the great marble staircase, back to the festivities.

"Nivh!" Maridi cries from behind me. "Listen to me!"

I continue down the staircase, the sounds of laughter and fiddles reaching my ears faintly now.

She comes up right behind me. "How many times have you been out around your whole kingdom?"

"I'm not supposed to," I tell her, calmly, regaining all the composure a fifteen- year- old can. "Soon, now that I've almost reached the age I can marry, I'll go to my future kingdom. If I spent a lot of time around this one, I'd get too attached to it, and then, do you know what would happen?" I lose the little poise I'd regained and jab my finger into her chest." I'd never want to do my duty. That's something you should be familiar with- treason. Excuse me. " I have left her speechless, halfway down the staircase, and, triumphant, I take a deep breath and go back into the great hall.

* * *

The next day, I'm awake at the drizzly dawn. As soon as Mortweni's dressed me and covered my dark hair, I go into Maridi's room, bringing her outfit for today, her wedding dress, with me. She's still in a long nightgown. As I go towards her, I don't speak. Nor does she. I set everything down and quickly, silently, twist up her hair, then pick up the thin silk slip and corset that women wear here. It's clear she's never worn them, maybe she's never even seen them, and I feel I have to break the silence.

"Here," I say quietly, demurely. "Put the slip on first, just like your nightgown. I won't look." True to my word, I cover my eyes with my hand and turn around.

"Alright," she says after a moment, and I turn around.

"You wear the corset like this," I inform her, opening it and placing it on her slip-covered waist. "Then, you lace it tightly." I lace the strings through the back and pull. As the corset tightens, she stiffens, but, although her waist is already slim, it's not the same as the Hill- People's standard. I pull it tighter and tighter, until she nearly screams at me.

"How tight does this torture device need to be?!" she cries out. "Stop!"

I do, tying the ends neatly, considering it just for treason. Of course, this isn't nearly as bad as her punishment would be if I told her secret... 

 I take the woolen petticoats from the pile. "These, you put on like skirts." I help her step into them, then take the heavy outer dress, a deep blue one, and slip it over her head, and she puts her arms through the long, draping sleeves. I take the golden belt, the symbol of royalty, and clasp it around her waist. Finally, I take a pearled head scarf and place it on her head, covering her wild copper waves. Stiffly, she turns. I'm satisfied with my work, but she seems disgusted.

"How did I ever walk into this one?" she mumbles. A bit louder, she says " Do I have to wear this? Can't I wear my dress from home?"

I've been with her thirty minutes and already am done with her. "This is your home now," I almost snarl. " You're ready. It's time for you to go down to the ceremony."