Lady of the Wood

IV. Genevieve

Three weeks later, I found my chambers filled with women. There were several maids, and they were all fussing about one aspect of my appearance or another. One, who introduced herself as Margeret, was insisting that my hair would look best with flowers tucked throughout it, while another, her sister Meredith, argued with her, saying that twisting ribbons through it was the better option. A third, whose name was Catherine, was busy digging through the wardrobe looking for the perfect dress for me to wear for this evening’s and ceremony and festivities, asking for my opinion on colors and styles, and a fourth, Bethany, was helping me into a hot bath she had prepared for me.

Two more named Emma and Claudia were helping the Queen Mother get ready in my chambers as well, and her very presence added an extra level of warm, motherly tenderness to the atmosphere. We were all in good spirits, laughing and chatting with one another despite the disparity of our social stations.
   
Tonight was the night that I would be officially named the first ever Governor Lady of Pren, Lady of the Wood, and declared eligible for marriage. To say I was nervous was the understatement of the century.

Arthur had offered to take my father’s place as the one presenting me, since Father was unable to do much lying dead on the floor of our own Great Hall. I would be crowned as the Governor Lady of Pren, and put on the royal court as the Lady of the Wood, High Queen Warrior of Evalor. Henry would also be named Lord of the Wood, High King Warrior of Evalor. We were both then supposed to swear oaths of fealty to Evalor and oaths to protect Evalor and fulfill our duties as Lord and Lady of the Wood.
   
The ceremony would be followed by a ball that would likely last until the early hours of the morning. I was more nervous for the ball; I knew none of the noblewomen, or noblemen for that matter. I really only knew the Queen Mother Hyacinth, Arthur, and Henry. It was going to be a long night, but I was still a little excited to finally be able to see what happened when the royal court assembled and the nobles of Evalor gathered.
   
Margeret and Meredith were ready for me to get out of my bath and sit at the vanity, so I stood and allowed Bethany to wrap me in a dressing gown. They had taken extreme care not to get my hair wet, so as I walked over to the vanity, Bethany was pulling a scarf that had been holding my hair up off of my head. I sat down, my hair falling in layers around me. They set into a flurry of motion around me, and within under an hour my hair was twisted and braided into an elaborate braid that fell down my back.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and what I saw was so complicated it didn’t seem real. They had twisted it and pinned it so that the braid was much thicker than my hair usually looked. The sisters had finally decided on twisting gold and forest green ribbons through the braids as well, and they had tied off the braid with the tails of the ribbons. They had left a few pieces out of the braid to frame my face. I looked like an angel with fire for a halo. The one thing that hindered the angelic work the sisters had done was the now completely scarred light pink line across my cheekbone. The other women in the room stopped in their tracks when they saw the finished product. They all began fawning over the sister’s work, and I stood and thanked them both generously. 

Next was the dress, and the gown Catherine had pulled out of the wardrobe was a pearl white beauty with emerald green accents that matched the ribbons in my hair, bell sleeves that fell halfway down the skirt, and a silver chain belt at the waist. I gasped aloud when I saw it.
   
“Your Majesty, surely this was not meant to be put in this wardrobe!” I exclaimed, placing my hand over my chest in awe of the dress in front of me.
   
“No no, this was meant to be placed exactly where it was placed. This is the dress your mother wore at her presentation ball.” She smiled, walking over to me, and ran her hand down my arm in an almost motherly gesture. “There is no other gown I would rather see you wearing tonight, and you can take my word for that.”
   
“I never thought I would ever see or get to wear a gown so beautiful! Thank you so, so much, Your Majesty!” I placed my other hand on top of where hers was resting on my elbow.
   
“Consider it a coming-of-age gift from me and your mother. Your mother would have wanted you to wear it tonight.” She wiped a tear from where it had escaped and run down my cheek.
   
“Thank you,” I said, leaning my cheek into her hand. “I don’t know what to say.”
   
“So don’t say anything, and put on the dress, my dear,” She winked at me. She stepped back from me, and Catherine came swooping in with the rest of the maidservants. They helped me into a clean chemise and corset under the dress, and then helped me step into the dress. The longest part of putting it on turned out to be lacing up the bodice. It took a good five minutes to get it laced and tightened completely, but once it was done, it looked heavenly. Bethany draped the belt, which had teardrop diamonds set into the clasp and the end of it that I hadn’t noticed at first, over my waist and clasped it in front, leaving the end of it dangling with the diamonds catching the light every time I moved.