Luna

Selene

"Stars Iko! You scared me! What're you doing here?" I half-yelled at my best friend who just leapt from my closet onto my face.
"You didn't think I'd miss your wedding?? Stars Selene! I wouldn't miss your kid's first wave goodbye!" "Who told you it was today? I thought you said you'd be busy in South Africa all this month." "About that...." I laughed at my friend. I loved Iko.
She was the sister I never had, the best friend I always laughed at, and the family I always needed. Although I had my mother and aunt and cousin and uncle and every staff member at my disposal, she was different. She was Earthen.
She was born in Australia, but lived in America for the majority of her life, so she never picked up the accent. Her mother died when she was 7, and her father when she was 14. She was orphaned and abandoned in Artemesia.
   I never found out what exactly killed her father, but I always suspected regolith sickness. As for her mother, she said her mother just passed away in her sleep after taking too much pain medicine. Her older twin brothers, Castor and Pollux were nice she said.. Castor lives here in Luna, and is a member of the Royal Guard; and Pollux lived in the EU with his wife and daughter, Asteria.
   His wife found his dead body in the river on their property not long ago. She's broken hearted, and raising her daughter alone. I always pitied Iko and her family, but her and I both knew she always had a home here.
   Iko shook me from my thoughts, literally. She pinned me on the bed, and started jumping all around my face. I've never jumped up so quickly in my life. Suddenly, my doorknob rattled, and the door sprung to life as my ladies-maid, Vega, my seamstress, Neb, and my hair and makeup stylist, Lyra, came pouring into my room.
   My ears were immediately flooded with compliments, congratulations, orders, and girlish squeals. I shut my eyes as my curtains were drawn back, exposing the bright sun, and artificial blue sky of Artemesia. I hissed as Vega and Iko dragged me (literally dragged me) from my bed.
   I clung to my bedpost as the 4 women laughed. "SHUT UP! THE LOT OF YOU! I DON'T WANT TO GET DRESSED I WANT TO TAKE A NAP!" I called out, but no one listens to me, at least, none of them do.
   Suddenly I was rushed to the bathroom and locked in beside a full tub with rose petals and lavender soap. I sighed, and slipped my nightdress and underwear off as I slid into the porcelain tub. I sighed as I settled, feeling an occasional rose petal softly graze my skin, or a pocket of air float up tickling my spine.
   I reached for the lavender soap and started to lather my skin and hair, then I rested. I looked ghostly pale, but quickly let it roll off of my skin and into the warm water.
   After a few knocks on the door, I knew I had to get out. I ran a brush through my long brown hair, and felt it already start to dry. I grabbed my softest navy robe, and slid it on, tying the small string around my waist. I walked out, fanning the train of my robe out, so I didn't trip like the klutz I am.
   The women told me we'd start with hair and makeup, Lyra's job, then the dress, Neb's job, as Vega oversaw the whole production. She told me after I was dressed and pampered, she'd add the finishing touches, and accessorize me like i was her newest doll.
   The hair took so long I thought I just might die. She curled every. single. strand. Individually! I swear, it took ages! Then she raised it. She tucked little white stars into my hair as well.

   Then she did my makeup, my lord that was pretty. It was gold and blue. (Imagine the purple as blue)

   Then it was Neb's turn. The dress. It was beautiful. It clung to my frame perfectly. It had a long flowing skirt, and my chest and arms were covered in jewels, identical to those in my hair, that sat atop a thin layer of lace. (Imagine that part)

   After I finished getting ready, everyone left but Vega. Vega looked at me, teary-eyed, and smiled. "Oh my little princess, all grown up. I have something for you." I smiled at her softly. I loved the familiarity of her soothing voice, the kindness of her wrinkled face from smiling, and the joy in her, now watering, eyes.
   "You've done enough Vega, thank you though." She shook her head. "Not an object my dear, not close, a gift. Firstly, I wish for you a long and happy marriage, secondly, I wish you children of good health and intellect, lastly, I give you this.
   She held a small jewelry box, it held a pearl choker with a small crest chain hanging from it. I recognized it. It was the first symbol on Luna. It was the Blackburn family crest. My family crest. I looked, shocked, at my friend. "Where did you-"
   "My father. I too am a descendant of the Blackburn line. Your great-grandmother had a child. An illegitimate child: my grandmother. She was given to a barren maid, but the maid told her secret. The girl, my nana, wanted something of her mother's, a necklace. The maid snuck into the queen's room as she slept, and stole this choker. She gave it to my nana, who passed it down. I wanted to return it as soon as it came to be in my possession, but Levana killed her own maids, so what would happen to me? Now I can die happy knowing the necklace was returned to its rightful place, the neck of a princess."
   I smiled, choking back tears, and leapt at my old friend. "Thank you, thank you so very much. I love you." She gasped quietly, returning my sudden embrace, and sighed into my hair, "I love you too Selene."