Gryffynhall (the Danu Cycle: Fiann Trilogy Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

"We'll have about twenty minutes before they start getting tetchy, but half an hour before they really expect you back," Myrna squealed, hugging Niamh's arm.

She laughed with her friend, feeling a warm sensation where the pin was attached. They got to Niamh's room first and Myrna stopped her before she went in.

"Don't forget to pin your badge to your dress," she said, hugging Niamh again before rushing off to her room. "Oh, and leave the dagger behind!" she called back as she went.

Niamh stood about for a minute, wanting to take her time. Then, she unbuckled her belt, laying it carefully on her desk. She reverently unpinned the badge and looked at it more closely. It was silver and in the shape of a large leaf. There was a blank space in the middle, surrounded by a border of vines and leaves – fae obviously really liked that pattern – hammered into the delicate metal. Niamh flipped it over, trying to work out why it was so plain looking. Eventually, she shrugged and laid it on the desk with the dagger so she could change.

She peeled her ceremonial dress off, careful not to squash her curls, and tied herself into her dress. Before she put her shoes on – undoubtedly, they would be typical high heels and feel fine until the exact moment you arrived at the hours-long function and your feet started screaming – she pulled some of her hair up, leaving the rest hanging down her back. She pinned her badge to her dress just as there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she called as she slipped her shoes on. She heard the door open and close behind her. "You got ready quickly." She smiled, turning around.

Lochlan's face was much more satisfying than earlier in the day, a pleasant cross between shock and wonderment. His mouth hung open.

"You look amazing," he breathed.

"You didn't think I was so amazing earlier," she scoffed. She looked him up and down. "You do scrub up well."

He shrugged, but he did look nice. He was wearing a dark grey, slightly metallic suit, with a pale blue shirt, a darker blue, shimmering tie and matching pocket square. His blues matched the colours of her dress perfectly. He fiddled with a box in his hands. It was flat and square.

"What's that?" she asked, suspiciously.

He held it out to her. "It's customary to give your partner a gift on such occasions," he said, his face looking somewhat apologetic.

She was mortified and felt her cheeks warm. "Why didn't you say anything!"

He shrugged. "I didn't want you to feel obliged."

She laughed, suddenly thinking of a wonderful gift. She clicked her fingers and a rectangular box appeared in her hand. "Oh well. I thought of something for you anyway."

"Niamh, you didn't have to," he said as they exchanged boxes.

"No, but, I wanted to. Besides, I think you'll find this is fairly customary." She smiled.

"I appreciate it."

"Don't thank me yet. Open on the count of three?" she asked and he nodded. "One, two, three!"

They both pulled the lids off their boxes simultaneously. Niamh had no idea if Lochlan made a sound, as her gasp of surprise drowned out anything else that might have been said.

Inside the box was a fine, silver circlet. It was fashioned into thin, intricate vines and leaves. Dotted among the leaves, she could see playful ladybirds – how she knew they were playful, she wasn't sure, but she just knew they were – and soft, delicate chains hung down in drapes around it.

She looked up, feeling the huge grin on her face. Lochlan's face looked much like she felt hers looked and she could tell he was pleased with his gift.