Unscripted Love | Fire Emblem Awakening

Chapter 8: A Sinister Ball

Lady Charlotte's room looked like the scene of a silk explosion. Dresses every colour of the rainbow were scattered across her four-poster bed, sprawled over her floor, and hanging from her mirror, her wardrobe doors, and the poles of the bed frame. I hardly knew where to stand without treading on one or knocking it from its perch.

She picked her way across the room and scooped a dress into her arms. "Good evening, Commander. I only just decided on your gown. Try it on while I tidy up again -- just turn around." She handed me a bundle of emerald silk and began gathering up the rest of the clothing.

It took me a moment to shake the green dress out and understand what I was looking at. The bodice was studded with sparkling emeralds. The skirt was straight and floaty, bunched together at the top and then falling looser until it flowed into large folds of silk at the bottom. There were no sleeves, but a translucent shawl had been sewn on so that it would fall across my elbows and upper arms.

I ran my hand over the gem-encrusted bodice in wonder. Since I'd joined the pegasus knights, I'd never owned a dress that hadn't been a uniform. There had never been any need -- I was on duty for life.

This was the only opportunity I'd ever have to look beautiful.

I turned my back on Lady Charlotte and stripped down to my undergarments before struggling into the dress. It was certainly harder than throwing on my loose-fitting uniform. Once I'd managed it, I smoothed the skirts and tried to do the corset up at the back. I didn't have any idea what I was doing, and it was difficult when I couldn't see.

Lady Charlotte must have turned around to gather another armful of dresses because she giggled and came over. "This is why we all have maids to help us. How does it feel?"

I was more muscular than Lady Charlotte, which meant that the bodice was slightly uncomfortable and the silk was tight around my hips. But I hadn't been expecting it to feel nice. Princess Robin had told me often enough how much she hated the gowns she had to wear whenever she appeared before the public or court.

"Surprisingly good, Your Ladyship," I hedged.

"Keep the memory of that feeling in your mind," she said cheerfully, before taking the laces of my corset and giving them a yank.

What little mobility I'd had was suddenly removed from me.

***

An hour later, Lady Charlotte had woven my hair into an elaborate plait and applied some make-up. I'd heard everyone else returning while she'd been at work, and Cordelia appeared just as she'd finished, smelling of lavender. She couldn't stop smiling.

"Thank you so much for letting us borrow something, Your Ladyship," she said. "You're very kind."

"It's making me feel nostalgic," Lady Charlotte admitted. "Getting ready was always one of my favourite parts of the evening." She held a dress towards Cordelia. "Try this."

Cordelia dressed with more certainty than I had, being no stranger to ball gowns. Still, when she stood in front of the mirror, she did look awed. The gown was the colour of sapphires, with silver stars embroidered across the bodice and thin sleeves that left the tops of her shoulders bare. As the full skirt of the dress extended, the first layer came to a stop in the middle. It reached a little further as it hung around the skirt so that it was only touching the floor at the back. The layer beneath it was paler -- the shade of a frosty sky.

Lady Charlotte insisted on styling Cordelia's hair, too, and then my trainee looked as awkward as I had felt. But the lady was quick at styling hair, and skilled, too. She plaited the right side of Cordelia's red locks, then pulled it and the rest of her hair together into a bun at the back of her head.