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chapter five

       “ Goody, the tailor is here.” I groan in mock excitement.
       “ That's the spirit” encourages Jax, “ with an attitude like that you'll be the belle of the ball!”
    “ Great” I mutter opening the door for a man I'd never seen before. He was thin,pale and had a thin moustache that covered his upper lip, he was carrying a measuring tape, a pad of paper, a pencil and nothing else. “ But, I thought you were going to pick the style and colour today.” I exclaimed looking at Jaxon.
    “ Oh no, it's going to be a total surprise! What fun!” Jaxon cheered and smiled at the man who introduced himself as James. Yet again I was ushered behind a screen, told to remove everything but my undergarments and then get prodded, poked and measured in places that shouldn't be measured by a man. After half an hour of torture I wasn't instructed to redress, by the time I was dressed again James was gone and Jaxon was grinning in triumph.
   “ Happy now?” I demanded putting my hands on my hips.
   “ Yes.” He replied smirking at my anger.
         
           The days following before the ball were lovely, the weather was gorgeous and the skies were a deep blue. Jaxon and I spent our time on rides in the forest, the warm may weather was perfect for picnics and sparring in the woods, we were joined by Anais sometimes and more often than not several friends of Jax. Two days after my “fitting” three days before the ball, Jaxon and I went on a ride through the wood with two of Jaxon's friends, Neil and Kyle and a new boy, Alex.

   “ Hey Jaxon! Kyle!Alex! Fyre!” Yelled Neil as the horses pounded through the brush “Come look at this!” Turning Balize around abruptly we thundered towards Neil's voice. We found him and Alex bending over something lying on the ground.
   “ What is it?” I asked  curiously, dismounting and joining the two boys.
    “ I think it's... it's...nothing!” Neil shouted and him and Alex roared with laughter.
     “ Ha stupid girl!” Alex smirked, looming over me still snickering.
    “ Okay stop it Alex.” Neil grinned slapping him on the back.
   “ Nah, she's just a girl, we’ll know she's sad if she cries” Alex replied “ right girlie” he grinned at me. Taking a step forward I stared him in the eyes
   “ Stop.” I commanded.
   “ Or what? What are you gonna do sweetheart? Hit me?” Alex gloated
    “ Come on Alex, leave her alone.” Neil demanded raising his voice
    “ Nah, just stay out of it Neil, she can take it, she's just a girl.” He replied smiling grotesquely at me.
      “ Don't call me sweetheart and don't call me girl.” I demanded taking another step forward. Laughing Alex cracked his knuckles and smiled at me as if I was too stupid to realize that he was a “man”.
       “ Well sweetheart, I'm going to call you want I want.” He smirked taking a step forward so that we were almost touching.
    “ That's not what very good idea.” I warned. Alex laughed and burped into my face.
   “ Ha and what are you going to do to stop me?” He leered. He didn't see it coming.

     With a sudden movement I slammed my elbow into his stomach knocking the wind out him, with another swipe a kicked the back of his knees forcing him to the ground as he gasped for breath. I used my foot to roll the heaving man onto his stomach and just as he thought he was forgiven I slammed my knee into his stomach again knocking the little breath he had left out at him. Straightening up I ripped his arms from his chest and flung then to the ground at his sides, kneeling on his chest I pinned his hands down with my leather riding boots.
   “ Well sweetheart, looks like you're in a bad situation. Well for your information, my name is Fyre Imperious and I've been studying with Master Simon for eight years. I'd say you should listen when I tell you to stop, sweetheart.” Standing up off his arms I dusted my hand off, swung onto Blaize and rode off to find Jaxon leaving Neil and the stunned Alex alone.

        The day before the ball. For most girls this means fun and last minute preparation, for others hours of torture and regret. Anais had got her dress from Nellie, it is a lovely pink silk ensemble with a ruffled bodice and a delicate scooped neckline, the dress is a masterpiece. From the waist down there is delicately ruffled fabric embroidered with white filigree and small silver and pink pearls and to go with the ensemble, a small crown of pink silk and pearls; the dress is a fabric representative at her beauty, delicate and crisp with no time for noise or excess. Around noon I hear a knock at the door, opening it I see Jaxon, again.
   “ Good afternoon Fyre, would you like to accompany me to the ballroom to oversee preparations?” he asked desperately, “ I don't want to go alone.”
     “ Umm...okay” I shrugged and followed Jaxon along the hallways and to the sunset ballroom.
             The sun streams in great arcs through the large glass windows of the cathedral sized room covering the floor in a mixture of light and shadow. The walls have been draped in sheets of luxurious black cloth that ripples in a slight breeze, at the back of the room a large stage had been erected and it to was draped in the soft cloth. Along the wall not covered by windows​ stood a long row of tables ready to be covered with steaming dishes and platters of scrumptious treats for the honoured guests of the royal family. Motioning to a doorway, Jaxon showed me through to a stairwell which led to a balcony overlooking the entire room. There we sat talking and laughing as the sun set and the streams of light turned gold and orange and gave the room a peaceful glow. We left as the last of the light left the clear windows and slowly, the sun pulled it's tendrils back as the night's force emerged to smother all but the twinkling stars.

      Sleep didn't come easy that night, I was roused from my sleep by a half remembered dream that I'd seen before. It was about a dark room and there were two women and another little girl with me, suddenly the ceiling of the room caves in and the blood of the two women is the colour of rose petals as it pools. The morning air was cool and soft against my face as I lay in bed thinking about the upcoming day, the ball was drawing ever nearer.
      
        Breakfast with Jaxon and Anais was awful. Both of them seemed to think that the ball was going to be enjoyable, Jaxon was positively giddy with excitement over my predicament and Anais was barely containing her pleasure with the whole situation and she was babblings about the ball to anyone who would listen. Jaxon and I planned to take a ride on the horses before the ball and so, after a delicious meal of eggs, meat and fruit we left Anais with poor Joel and wandered off to the stables to retrieve our horses. The crisp morning air was chilly as we trotted through the trees and before long I was covered in goosebumps, beside me Jaxon was trotting with Thunder and seemed immune to the morning's chill.
   “ So Fyre, are you excited to see your dress?” Jaxon teased. Groaning in disgust I touched my heels to Blaize’s sides and shot forwards, racing the wind to our favourite clearing. I pulled on the reigns as we entered the bare spot and Blaize slowed to a walk and then finally a full stop, Thunder and Jaxon were nowhere to be seen. With a loud cry, the careened out of the trees, sliding to a stop alongside Blaize and I. Jaxon was covered in scratches from the trees and bushes and I assumed I looked no better.
    “ You were saying?” I replied grinning up at him.
    “ Umm...yeah the tailor will be over son with your dress so….we better get back.” He mumbled incoherently.

         My room looked as inviting as it had done on the first day I had moved into it nearly six years before. Stripping off my sweaty, scratched clothing I entered the washroom and wrapped myself in a towel, ringing a bell beside the door I waited for a maid to come. Soon a pretty young girl knocked at my door and asked what I required, soon a steaming bath was provided and when she was gone I took off the towel and sunk blissfully into the hot water.  I stayed in the steamy water for an hour and when I chose to leave my warm washing station, my hand and feet were as wrinkled as prunes. Getting dressed was a sad affair, I knew it would only be a short time before the tailor arrived and I was forced into a dress for the rest of the night. As was expected, only a half hour later there was a rap at the door.

    “ A dress for Miss Fyre.” Jaxon grinned, holding out a box.
     “ Umm….are you the tailor?” I asked confused.
    “ No, the tailor got the flu isn't able to make any other alterations so if this doesn't fit, you're going nude!” He answered smirking.
    “ This better fit…..” I mumbled as I took the package and returned to my bedroom.
    “ Well….?” Jaxon questioned “ Are you going to try it on or are you going to stare at the wrapped box for an hour?”
      “ fine.” I sighed, returning again to the washroom with my skirts. The box was white cardboard and tied with a dark blue ribbon of silk, I undid the bow that was holding it closed and slowly worked the lid off the box. The dress was a pale, robin's egg blue, I pulled it from the box and marveled at the tailor's creation. The dress was simple and yet elegant, the skirt was a lovely sky blue silk decorated with ruffles of a slightly lighter shade of silk, a dark blue ribbon ran the length of the waistband and the bodice was embroidered with the same dark colour. Quickly removing my clothes, I pulled on my underskirts and overskirts and finally, slipped the delicate fabric over my head. It was like standing underneath a waterfall, the cool silk slipped over my shoulders and the sculpted neckline fit against my shoulders. It was a perfect fit. The box contained also a simple ribbon that matched the one on the bodice to tie my hair with, after spending a moment working my hair into a bun, I tied the ribbon and stepped into my room again.

     Jaxon’s face was a mask of awe and shock, I hadn't worn a dress in years and evidently he remembered the fact. “ S-so...do yo-you like it…?” Jaxon stammered feebly.
    “ Well I guess...I don't really like dresses much…” I answered looking ​at the floor, it had been so long since I had worn a dress it felt strange to not feel my legs. “ I think I'm ready for the ball, wouldn't you say?”