Ascardia

((8)) Reception of War

The sun was just about to set, dusk in Ascardia was beautiful, but dusk in the Rose Garden overlooking the waterfalls that separated Nightingale and Ash was breathtaking. Onyx peaked out of the tent where she was supposed to be getting ready. Her mother, making a rare appearance outside the castle walls was flitting around like a hummingbird readying all the supplies they would need. Ivory combs with little jade Nightingales were placed with care on the vanity table, along with tints, kohls, and stains for her lips, eyes, and cheeks. Her dress hung on its mannequin, the daunting delicate garment staring at her, as if daring her to put it on her warrior's body.

Finally, Clio placed her callused hand in Nyx's, and guided her to the stool where she would be getting her hair and make up done. Hand maidens seemed to come from nowhere as she sat and began working on her long, cascading ebony hair, and three more began the task of washing and moisturizing her face. Her mother was dressing herself with the aid of Clio into her Mother of the Bride dress. Nervous flutters assaulted Nyx's stomach. When she had pictured her wedding day, she never thought she'd marry anyone aside from Axel.

But now that she had finally found someone she loved; something she thought was lost to her forever, now she had an amazing second chance at love and she was nervous something would go terribly wrong.

"Sweet pinca it is your wedding day. Do not let your head, or your heart to be filled with worry and fear of the future. Focus on the present, focus on the man that awaits just on the edge of the water; who loves you."

Onyx regarded her mother with love filled eyes, she contemplated her mother's words and instantly relaxed. She allowed the hand maidens to continue their work in silence. When they finished with her hair and makeup, Onyx felt and looked like a completely different person, but not in a bad way. She looked how she imagined she would if she had been allowed to grow up as a normal princess. One that read all day, did needlepoint, rode a horse side saddle, and played croquet with ladies in waiting.

Her hair was loosely braided and tied into a low bun at the nape of her neck, with smaller, thinner braids running from the front of her face, to where the braid began. They were held in place by the Nightingale Combs. Soft wisps of hair framed her face, and her eyes were lightly lined with kohl, with soft pink hued charcoal tinting her eyelids. Her lips were stained bright crimson, and her cheeks were the same shade as her eyes. She looked and felt beautiful. Dainty even. But she knew better. Looking dainty and being dainty were two, completely different things. She knew that if she had to, she could tear a mans arm free from its socket with one swift pull or kick to the shoulder.

"Oh sweetheart, you look beautiful." Her mother whispered, a hand over her mouth.

"Oh midra don't cry, you'll make me cry and I don't think Bernie and the others would like that very much."

Bernie, who was ten years Nyx's senior smiled in appreciation from where she was helping the others remove her delicate dress from where it hung. Nyx stood and dropped her robe. Underneath, was what she would be wearing on her wedding night with Nox. A black and white sheer night-slip with matching garters on each thigh, where her white stockings attached. Her petticoat was non-existent it was just a piece of cloth and a string that went into her butt. It was oddly comfortable. The corset part of the night-slip made her breasts look bigger than they actually were and she worried they would spill over the neckline, no one else seemed to be worried about it, so she stepped into the dress, with the help of Clio and her mother.

The finished look took her breath away. The gown fit all her curves, all her muscles perfectly. The tiara, the attached veil and the Nightingale combs completed the look. Her mother handed her, her bouquet and whispered,

"Are you ready love?"

"As I'll ever be." Nyx answered honestly, inhaling, a long, deep breath.

The tent flaps opened, and the dull sunlight from the sunset met her eyes. The first person she saw was Emmerson, who wore her dove-grey maid of honor dress, the grey of the dress contrasted her eyes perfectly, which her eyes matched the sunset.