In Dreams I Lie

Chapter Two: The Brightened Copy

Jerlla makes up my bath with citrus oils. Imported from the Eastern Kingdom, citrus fruits are alien and expensive for the average citizen. Crop are one of the Eastern Kingdom's largest exports, the second, and only because of their rarity, are the gemstones and precious metals from the mines that we craft into jewelry and stitch on to ornate cloths. From the West comes the oil, minerals and other metals that we need to manufacture zeppelins. In return, we provide the other nations with textiles from the cotton produced in the East, grains from our fields, and liquor from the breweries located to the south of the palace. The north shut it's walls to trade long ago, both literally and figuratively. If one was to travel north for by zeppelin, they would reach the towering fortress that surrounds the North in three days. It takes longer on foot.

I lean back and dunk my head in the water. I like my baths just shy of scalding. My sister likes them the same way. The steam rises in sweet smelling spirals, filling the large room with wisps of cloud. I want to sink back and close my eyes, to drift away with droplets of condensation. Unfortunately, I don't  have that option. I run the bar of soap over my arms and legs. Jerllahangs our clothing on the metallic rack above the counter.

"Your mother wants you in either red or gold today. Southern patriotism or some such nonsense like that." Jerlla shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. You'll look beautiful in anything you choose."

"Thank you, Jerlla, but you know that's not true." I reply . My mood will not let me respond with positivity. "Sansori's the one who is angelic in any sort of fabric or color."

"Oh, that's so sweet of you, Arcadiel! Thank you! But really, I agree with what Jerlla said. You are absolutely gorgeous in everything."

I shriek and pull my knee and up to my chest.  "Sansori! Please don't!"

My sister perches herself on the rim of the tub. She's already dressed. "Oh come on baby sister! We used to take baths together, for heavens sake. I've seen you like this plenty of times."

I role my eyes, batting the water from my eyelashes. "Baby only by a handful of minutes." Sansori has a way about her. No one can be a be in a room with her without smiling by the end. My parents praise her. They say she truly makes her fate. I smooth down the feeling of magic rising up within my stomach. Nerves can do that to me, crack the seal that separates light from dark.

"Well, Arcadiel, a handful of minutes puts me on the throne." She says this while laughing. Sansori always laughs when she talks. Her tone sobers slightly. "Anyway, I came to hurry you up. We don't have that much time. Momma and Papa want to talk to us before we start. Oh come on Arc! Hurry up!"

"Fine. Have it your way then." I motion for her to turn around as I step out of the tub.

"Go faster, go faster, go faster!" Sansori screeches.

"Patience is a virtue, Sans." But I'm laughing as I wrap a robe around my torso and squeeze the water from my hair. Sansori snatches my hands away.

"I'll dry it. It'll be faster that way." She forces me to sit on the floor, and rubs her hands together, super heating them. On contact with y hair they hiss, and the water evaporates leaving my hair smooth and soft. Sansori strokes it for a few seconds before saying, "I wish I had hair like yours."

"No! Your hair is lovely!" Her honey gold locks are every girl's envy.

Jerlla clucks at as from where she stands by the sink. "I know everyone says this, but you girls should have been switched."

Sans and I both nod sympathetically. It gives me time to look her over. Sansori, that is, not Jerlla.  I agree with my nurse. I look more like Sansori should, and she looks like what I want to.

Sansori frog marches me over to Jerlla. "What do you think?" Sans asks me. "Gold? Gold looks the best with your hair. It sets it off like a flame. Not that it doesn't look like that already. Arcadiel flame head. Has a nice ring to it."

I attempt to struggle away from her grasp, but she grabs me by the end of my hair. Now I can only range about about a foot and a half or so away from her, measuring from the top of my skull.

"Now now Arcadiel, we have to make you look nice for the suitors!" Sansori teases. "We can't have you be a mess, not if your expecting a proposal from Koen!" She's almost too cheerful.

"I've told you time and time again, Sansori, that Koen is not looking for a wife. And I am not looking for a husband no matter what tradition states." I am still struggling, if a bit half heartedly against  her grasp. "Leave my hair alone, you meddling beast!" I yelp at my sister as she tries to wrestle it into a braid behind my head.

"It's just so pretty. And long. And red. And wavy. And shiny. And thick and-"

"Sansori. Your hair looks perfect, leave it alone." I respond, addressing her true worry. She stares back in the mirror and holds a strand of mine up to hers.

"Do you think?"

"Yes," I reply with a sharp intake of breath. Jerlla has just finished lacing my corset. She pulls the gown over my shoulders and buttons it, letting the voluminous skirt fall around my feet to the floor. As I do not remember deciding on my gown, she must have made an executive desision  during my banter with Sansori. I shove my hands deep into the pockets hidden in the skirt's folds and turn away from Sans, to the door.

"Shall we eat and start the horror show?" I ask.

I can feel Sansori huff and roll her eyes. "Not a horror show, Arc. Tradition." She sweeps in front of me. "I told you that you'd look stunning in gold."

I snort and follow. "Fine. You win. Happy?"

"Not in the slightest." Sans shoots back. "Not until I can see Koen's face when he catches a glimpse of you."

I give a light laugh. "Well then let's see what Hass looks like when he sees you."

Now she's laughing too, like always. She slides an arm around my shoulder, and we begin to descend together. My nerves still grow by the second. It is time time to face the world again.