A new dress

Topaz spotted Koyliak the moment she stepped from the ring. And Koyliak was sitting by herself. ?Perfect?, the fairy thought to herself and walked over to Koyliak?s table. She had been searching for a dress maker that catered to fairies, so far without any success.

?Good evening, Koyliak.? Up close, the fashion designer appeared tired. But Koyliak returned the greeting with a friendly smile and invited Topaz to sit.

?Thank you.? Having gotten this far, there really was no point in not mentioning her reason for having sought out Koyliak this evening. ?Every time I come by your store it is closed.?

?Aye,? Koyliak nodded, ?unfortunately I've been doin' more house calls than I'd like. Tha or I've been buried up ta my neck in fabric in the back and didn't know anyone else wanted in. Ye in need of somethin'??

?House calls. Really?? The fairy?s eyes shone at that suggestion. ?I was not aware that you did those. The thing is, I need a dress, a court gown really, for Tera's wedding.?

? It should be a splendid 'ffair, I'm only sorry tha I'm probably gonna miss it. Ye have somethin' specific in mind??

It was Topaz?s turn to nod. ?Aye, that I do. It needs to have Edelweiss flowers on it, it can't be any prettier than what the bride wears, it has to not get tattered when flying, it can't be getting dirty or wet, it has to leave me able to use my wings,? she rattled down the list of minimum requirements, then added, ?and it wouldn't hurt if Lucien likes me in it. Maybe I should have some soft slippers to go with it, too.? Topaz waited for Koyliak to digest all that and fervently hoped for a positive answer.

Koyliak knew when the wedding was but she hadn't really thought about how soon it was. All the foundation in the world could not have covered the exhaustion already consuming her face, and this rush order wasn't going to help. Still she put on her best smile. ?Aye, of course.?

?How much coin should I bring with me? Will you need to take some measurements?? Topaz asked as Koyliak picked up a pencil and started to write some quick notes and to sketch. She did not lift her head while Topaz spoke. ?Don't forget to charge for the short notice and the weaving in of extra threads

?Aye, come by tomorrow mornin' and I'll measure ye and we can discuss price.?

? What exactly is morning to you? Sunup or two cups of coffee later??

Koyliak offered the notebook for Topaz to view the sketches with a good natured grin. ?Sun up...'specially iffn I don't go back ta my workshop tonight. The summer season has been a lil overwhelmin'. Lots of soirees and wha not.?

?Sunup it will be. Oh this already feels like all that's wonderful. I should get new clothes more often.?


?Any of those fit yer fancy?? Koyliak drew the fairy?s attention to the notebook.

?This last one here looks like it might meet all the requirements and has room for blooms.? Topaz said after having studied the drawings. ?I do like the skirt of the first one, too, just not the part that it doesn't start til below the knees.?

? I think the last design will probably do the job best, ?Koyliak offered her expert advice. ?Mebbe in a jade green or royal blue.?

?It sounds splendid!? Topaz was careful though not to allow an image form in her mind. She trusted Koyliak to come up with the best design and color choices possible and did not want to spoil her joy at the finished product ahead of time by holding on to the ?wrong? picture.

? I'd put the blooms mebbe along the neckline or even possibly 'round the bust. Smaller flowers I'm thinkin' of as it is.?

? I am confident whichever you end up deciding about the flowers or any other detail will be just perfect.?

Koyliak didn?t bother to hold back a grin. ?Though this is a situation where I should be more modest, I'd say ye were absolutely right in yer confidence.?

?I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished product.? Topaz rose and made her farewells just as Matt Simon arrived.

Slumped in her chair, an apprehensive Koy watched her latest creation hanging on a mannequin across her workroom. She had never been so suspicious of one of her own dresses before, but no one had ever asked her to weave magical threads into a gown either. That she acquiesced to Topaz?s unusual request at all spoke more to the large payment Koy would receive than her sudden acceptance of foreign magics.

?Now that?s a dress.? A shrill two-fingered whistle accompanied the assessment of Koy?s work as Tula, her young assistant, looked at the mannequin as well. ?Aren?t you glad you took the gloves off?? Tula was lucky her boss did not turn around to catch the amusement in her eyes at the comment. Koy originally tried to wear white lace gloves more fitting for a tea party than work to handle the enchanted threads. She did not last very long as the early heat of summer, the difficulty of the fabric and Tula?s taunting forced her to give in, hoping Topaz?s guarantee that the threads would not do anything to her was true.

Magical items aside, the dress proved to be a greater challenge than the typical summer soiree orders pouring into the shop. Koy needed to take into account Topaz?s wings and the fact that her dress would be airborne. To help Koy keep these facts in mind, Tula had taken it upon herself to decorate the mannequin with fake wings made from silver and gold tissue paper. A pair of silver slippers with sage embroidery sat at the base of the plastic model.

The gown itself had a deceptively simple front of jade green silk with a modest ruched bust and an empire waist, the skirt ending just above the ankles. The only hint to something more came from the Edelweiss flowers framing the bustline and leading the way to the gown?s real glamour in back. The white star-shaped flowers bloomed their way along an additional layer of gossamer, the diaphanous fabric trapping light with every movement. The flowing skirt shone green like a still lake at dawn on an early spring morning. Koy imagined if someone tried to decorate a spider?s web with fresh flowers, it would look like this. She found it fitting for a faerie.

?Aye, it came out better than I ?xpected,? Koy agreed, her forest-colored eyes never leaving the surprisingly durable dress, ?but I?ll feel a whole lot better once it?s outta here.?

"I'm on it, boss!" Koy tore her gaze away from the gown to stare at the lanky blonde. Tula was already half-way across the room, finding a silver shoebox engraved with the Heavenly Boutique's logo.

"Not tha I'm not glad ta see it, but wha 'xactly are ye so 'xcited 'bout bringin' over an order?"

"I haven't seen many big faeries like her. Plus, I want to get a better look at her wings. I think it'd be AWESOME to have wings, don't you?" The girl enthusiastically looked at her employer. She also moved to the mannequin, carefully removing the tissue paper wings first. "Would you find it in bad taste if I wore these? It's as close as I'm ever going to get to having a pair of my own."

Tula never ceased to amaze her. Maybe amuse her was the more appropriate term for it. Either way, Koy shook her head, laughing.

"Iffn ye really wanna walk 'round lookin' like ye 'scaped the looney bin, knock yerself out."

There were some perks to working with magical creatures after all, Koy thought as she watched the girl rush out of the shop, her wings streaming out wildly behind her as she raced to bring the outfit to Topaz.

Topaz had been ready and waiting in the entry hall. She turned to face the door the moment she heard it open. She had not heard Lucien?s footfalls on the stone floor and was a little surprised to see him already so close. He looked stunning in court dress. All her worries of a moment before were gone as if whisked away by magic. She gave him a warm and welcoming smile. Before she could speak he already had bowed low over her hand.

?Good evening.? She felt his lips ever so slightly brush over her knuckles before he rose. The touch was surprisingly cool.

?And to you as well.? Topaz lifted her eyes to his.

?This is indeed a lovely surprise.? Lucien lightly touched one of the Edelweiss blooms on her dress.

Her smile widened at his compliment and greeting. ?You did ask that the dress match the blooms.? Then she added with the hope that he could remember the color, ?It is jade green.?

Lucien gave her a slightly fanged smile. ?Since when Lady do you listen to me? It is quite stunning however.?

?I always listen. And I did very much want to please.? Listening, of course, did not mean obeying. ?You too do look ever so handsome.?

?I believe in the olde ways. No teal tuxedoes for this Carpathian.? Lucien took the compliments with a smile. ?I did receive your letters. Thank you.?

?You are very welcome. The isle with so many ears about really was not the place to divulge too many secrets.? Was she apologizing for having been cautious for once rather than just blurting out secrets?

?I can understand that. There are many things I would like to ask you. But I am uncertain how you would take such questioning.?

Perhaps she had been reading too much into his previous questions. Still, she gave him a little flirtatious wink while she replied. ?I shall try very hard to take them at face value and not to read too much into the asking of them. Unless, of course, you would like me to.?

He did not flirt back, but only nodded. ?We should make our way back to Rhydin, but if you would tell me why the Fey left the Forest, it would be a start.?

Of course he had to start with a difficult one, she thought to herself. ?That is one of the questions I have started to ask myself too late to have found any answers. I still can only guess it was for the same reason I eventually left - curiosity.? She answered his question before replying to the reminder that they had somewhere to go. ?If you like, we can use a portal. We'd be stepping out from it in a not very busy alley-way near the Inn.?

?Easier than teaching you how to hold the image of mist in your mind and flowing with the wind.? He agreed to her suggestion.

Topaz greeted the idea with a soft chuckle, her curiosity aroused. ?Oh, but that does sound like something I would want to learn. Is it as much like flying as it sounds??

?It is similar, but you have no eyes per se, and yet you see from a thousand points. It is as if you become the fog itself.? The fairy invited him with a fluent gesture to step through the one set of open doors into the hall of portals.

Five portals lined the walls of the portal hall, each unique in appearance. ?Hmm, scrying and flying at the same time, sort of. Topaz mused aloud. "The water portal will take us into town." He really had read every word, and committed them to memory to come up with a comparison she could understand. The thought lifted her spirit.

?Then Lady, may I escort you to this Royal affair?? She placed her hand on his offered arm in the formal way befitting the occasion. ?I trust you are prepared to dance?? He asked with a glance at her slippered feet. She usually did not bother with footwear. But this was a special occasion, and the silver slippers with sage embroidery were soft and light.

?It is my pleasure and yes, I am.? She handed him a small jade and black enameled pin ? one without any security clearances attached to it. ?Before I forget in the bustle later - in case you do manage to dance the last step out of me - this will allow you to take me home via the portal, too. Just press up here,? she showed him the exact spot on the pin, ?to activate the portal.?

He took the pin with a low laugh and secreted it away inside the tuxedo. ?That assumes I would return you here should I completely dance the last step out of you.?

Perhaps flirting was contagious. She could only hope. ?As I said, just in case.? She smiled to him again. ?You may of course still go with any better idea that you may come up with.?

They stepped into the portal together and out onto the alley way less than a block from the inn. ?Did you cull your senses so that you could not identify the trouble from your first marriage?? Lucian offered his next question as they began walking down the alley.

?Yes. But I may not have known to notice it anyway. It takes more than weeks to know what it means what one sees and senses in so unfamiliar surroundings and beings. I knew next to nothing back then besides how to go on in the forest.?

?I see.? Topaz had wanted to give him more of an answer, but Lucien had paused beside a bright red Testarossa. ?We have been granted permission, have you ridden before??

Azjah?s permission, Topaz guessed. ?I have ridden horses and pegasi before. But no, not anything like this. This is beautiful.? It was another of her understatements. She had seen one of that type of carriages before. At the time she had not even heard the purr of its passing until after it had been out of sight again.

Before she knew quite how it had happened Lucien had let her to the passenger door, opened it, handed her into the vehicle, and settled himself into the driver?s seat. ?The great hall, correct?"

?Yes, sir.? The ride was all too short.

Lucien pulled the sleek red car into a parking place. A moment later he opened her door and offered his arm once more, which Topaz was only too happy to take.

?This was fun.? Her excitement and wonder were evident in her eyes and in the way she smiled at him. May we do that again sometime??

?Of course. A summer's night in the desert is a wonderful drive.?

Des wore her bejeweled chestnut curls piled impossibly high; two spiral curls were draped over her left shoulder. The off-the-shoulder dress lovingly hugged her torso, leaving the swells of generous breasts bared by the hand-embroidered ivory material that flared over shapely hips, a full eight-foot train trailed behind her.

?She is so beautiful.? Topaz was not aware she had said that loud enough for Lucien to hear as they rose to watch Brian walk the bride up the isle.

?Not as lovely as the woman gracing my arm.? Topaz blushed faintly at Lucien?s unexpected compliment.

Lucien remained unmoving while Des walked. Topaz wondered what was on his mind. Could it be possible that he had spoken of himself when he had told her about a mistake that was made in a marriage ceremony of his kind and that it had resulted in the death of the woman? Or perhaps his brother? Either would explain a lot.

?You do not scare me.? She meant more by that whisper than just picking up the conversation. And to judge by his reaction to her misleadingly simple sounding statement, she surmised he knew that, too. ?Have you started to believe in fairies??

Lucien slowly glanced down into her eyes. ?A while ago I began to believe.? Something in the way he admitted that much made Topaz unreasonably happy, and he continued in a very straight laced tone, "but, there are those who would consider such belief a sign of lunacy. However, I have never been one to give much credence to what other people have to say. And have you begun to believe in blood suckers that are not vampyre??

?Years ago.? She replied with a soft chuckle before once again looking toward the dais. ?I too prefer to build my own opinion about each individual, rather than what is generally of a race or occupation or whatever else.?

Topaz had to pay more than a little attention to Gavilean?s words. It had been quite some time since she last had heard the elven language.

?Amin mela lle, Des.? The groom started his vows. Topaz did not really listen to the words he spoke in common.

?Amin, Gavilean Starfare. Sana lle, Tera Destre, n? melvess?, Nauva illum? lleas ar tuluk lle; asari en qu?m? ar asari en envinyanta, asari en ny?r? ar asari en alass?. Amin vanda mela lle aqua, tiuta ar tiutal? lle asai nauca, arfanyarass? lle ar varyalle malallor, lann? lle enmela ar anta an maur?lle, illum? sanda ar voronda n? lle. M?la eress? lle an ve voronwa sina y?yo cuil?. N?si?. Amin mela ille Tera Destre, teni'oio ar Illume ar Atta Aure.?

Topaz gave a wistful sigh. There was no avoiding the memories of years past. But she did keep pushing them away, intent to enjoy Lucien's presence and the festivities. Thoughts of what might be made that rather easy. She felt Lucien?s eyes on her, but kept hers trained on the bride and groom while Gavilean spoke. Perhaps the fae magic knew when ?forever? was to be only a short time.

?As you wish.? Lucien said when she did lift her eyes to his.

Had he heard her thoughts just now, she asked herself, or did he mean the words to mean something else entirely? ?As you wish.? She whispered back and moment later reminded herself that she had promised to try and take things at face value. That was a hard thing to do, she found, when your first real date was attending a wedding.

It was Des? turn to speak her vows. ?Ely? nauva A'maelamin. Esteln ely? as ilqua tana iny?. Ely? haryanya enda ar antanya ely? f?anya mando nin. Ely? nauva tharnya ar ennas nar nanwa. Ely? nauva yess?nya ar ilquanya. Ennas nar munta mi sina mardo tana ?va quetasnya ely?. Vandanya ve illum? vornada ar irima vess? tenna aur? eff?riemmo. I ti?me lelya lilolva n? ely? nira illum? tul minya mi cuil?. Iny? nucumna ve i melm? ar estel haryaely? antanya sina aur?. Iny? nira illum? carely? valin haryanya arely? immo ve iny? carelnya haryaely? vantanya arnya. Amin mela ille Gavilean Starfare Teni'oio ar Illume ar Atta Aure.?

Lucien leaned close to Topaz for a moment. "The past is part of you, but I find myself wishing I could undo the pain I sense there."

?You are.? She replied quietly. That was not quite what she meant, but close enough. She added softly, ?you are wishing.?

Lucien looked at the dais. ?Figure of speech. I would undo the past if I could.? His expression very serious and earnest.

Topaz did not suppress the soft giggle that bubbled out of her. He was too wishing. She was fairy. And she knew he would undo the past if he could. But he couldn?t. She was glad for that. ?The past is part of who we are today.?

On the dais, Gavilean and Des were exchanging rings.

Topaz had left her rings at home for this evening. She wasn?t going to be the Guardian?s commander this evening, not the Baroness of Dragon Gate, not the coordinator of the magic duels. And since Daniel?s visit she felt she was no longer the Queen of Tharsien. This evening she was Lucien?s date, nothing else.

Lucien whispered softly into her thoughts. ?Yes, however, I mislike the idea of another touching you. Having your hand upon his arm. I find those images displeasing. We do not share well.?


Now, how am I to take that at face value, dear Lucien? But she replied, ?Neither do I.?

?I?ll explain later.? Lucien offered.

Topaz agreed. This was not the time, but she was very much looking forward to that explanation.

On the dais Gavilean was smiling from ear to ear. ?Do I get to kiss the bride now??

Topaz turned to Lucien with a smile and very quietly asked, ?Will those pretty fangs get in the way??

?Only if you wish them to.? His smile one of pure temptation.

?Of course not.?

?The family Daratrazanov has been at the right hand of the Prince's family for millennia. It is strength of character and will that keep Gregori, Gabriel, Dayan, Erich and a few others going on. Though, I feel in Gregori a darkness growing.?

?So strong, yet so fragile.? She mused out loud before randomly adding a piece of information. She?d ask about Gregori some other time. ?The empathic link of the fae can be broken when they run out of magic.?

?How do the fae run out of magic? I had thought the fae WERE magic.? Lucien rolled the red vehicle to a stop where the gravel ended.

?Yes, fairies are magic, but at any time there is only a finite amount that has to be replenished when it gets used. When every last bit is used, they die.? But Topaz had something else she needed for Lucien to know of. ?Dalton was insanely jealous, and as time passed got more violent in his unfounded rages. It made being pregnant difficult. Tormay was born when I had run away the first time. Had that stupid mid-wife not contacted him, he'd not have had the chance to threaten me with a sword, nor steal the baby to try blackmailing me into returning. I had to break those promises.?

?He could not have been your true life mate then, if the Fae have such a thing?

?I guess it is possible. There was no empathic link there, and there was none with Krollon. But his death, along with the unborn baby's did put me out of my mind. I was sick in body and spirit for a long time. But I didn't die from it. I was told not to have any more babies.?

?I have never heard of a mother not going nearly out of her mind with the death of a spouse and a child.? Lucien turned off the engine and gave her a smile before opening the car door. He walked around to the passenger side and opened the door, offering his arm.

As soon as her hand was once again resting on his arm, he slid the media into the Ferrari?s stereo. He smiled into her sparkling eyes. ?Then perhaps you will come dance with me??

?Yes, please.? The air was crystal clear, and the stars shone against a black velvet sky overhead.

Lucien covered her hand with his as he escorted his lovely fairy toward a glittering lake nestled high in the mountains, evergreens scented the air. As they approached the strains of a waltz could be heard from the car. ?It is the perfect night for waltzing.?
?That it is.? Topaz gave him a wide and joyful smile. The glittering of blue and white stars was reflected in her eyes as they paused at the edge of the lake.

?We need an appropriate dance floor? ?Ancient Romanian words lifted across the water and the rippling ceased, replaced by a shining solid mirror. ?Come dance with me.? He asked again and took her hand, his other hand settled to her waist. Topaz settled easily into his arms, and he led her out onto the shimmering surface in a formal waltz, the music rising and falling with ethereal beauty in the hollow on the mountain. Lucien leaned closer and whispered, "How long do you think you can keep up with me?" A hint of a smile curved his lips.

?Until morning.? Topaz replied just as softly, happiness shining from her light blue eyes.

?We shall test that assertion then.? Lucien said with a black velvet laugh. They flowed around the solidified surface of the lake in harmony with the music that crescendoed and fell amidst the stone of the mountains. They had a cathedral to themselves beneath a star strewn sky.

The fairy followed the barest hint of his lead, almost as if she knew his intentions before he acted upon them. Her feet flowed through the steps without even a hit of danger to his feet. Every now and then Lucien felt the bottoms of her wings lightly grace against his arm.

?My toes thank you for being so graceful.? Her iridescent wings glimmered in the starlight, and reflected off the surface of the lake at their feet as they danced alone in the setting of such natural splendor as to be nearly indescribable. ?Did you know that your wings shimmer in the surface of the water??

?No.? She immediately turned her head to try and see that ?to his amazement, without missing a step. The constantly shifting shades of white and grey reflected back at her. Lucien leaned in to smell the Edelweiss circlet in her hair. The preserved blooms had no fragrance, but he found Topaz to have one; vanilla mostly and some other sweet spices.

Topaz turned her light blue eyes back to his dark ones with a soft giggle. ?So it does!?

?The vanilla suits you.? Lucien led her off as the next waltz began.

?Thank you.? For some time Topaz just enjoyed dancing and being in Lucien?s arm, swirling and twirling over the icy floor. It had been a long time since she had gotten to dance with someone; not since the party at the Citadel. ?You are a superb dancer.?

?I have never danced with a fairy before; you are a joy to share the experience with.? He brushed his hand at her waist lightly against the wings. They felt silky smooth and warm, and was that a little quiver in response to his touch?

Topaz had changed from the fancy gown she had worn to Tera?s wedding into her normal every day dress and was ready to deal with the morning?s duties. She needed to find out why the brass was doing guard duty this morning, and the posts were only half-manned. There should be paperwork on her desk regarding the situation and some much needed coffee.

However, she only got as far as the door to her office. A deputy from town stood next to Captain Welby, portending one emergency or another.

?Good morning, Ma?am.? The deputy offered in his best gone-to-the-Fortress accent-free speech. Once Topaz had returned his greeting, he added, ?The constable sends his regards and respectfully requests your presence at the jail at your earliest convenience. Ma?am.?

Topaz suspected the constable?s initial phrasing to have been far more urgent and a lot less polite. ?I may as well find out what this is about right away. Thank you, Henris. ? The coffee and papers would have to wait.

The first thing she noticed when she arrived at the Beacon town jail was the noise. It was the kind of noise she associated with a bunch of drunken sailors pouring from a bar at the docks. When she stepped inside, however, the noise stopped almost at once. The cells were all filled to capacity and those within all looked to be in various states of disrepair with blood shot eyes. The jail reeked of cheap booze evaporating through the skin of the inmates.

The constable turned to greet his guest with a relieved smile, already knowing who it must be from the reactions of the men behind bars.

?Good mornin?, Ma?am. These here men said you know ?em.?

?I do?? Her light blue stare took on the icy quality of the Glaciers to the north of the valley as she turned from the constable and looked at each of the jailed men from narrowed eyes. Each and every one of them was a guard at the Beacon. That explained the officers were doing guard duty this morning.

In the general silence that now dominated she could not help but overhearing the not so quiet whisper from somewhere in one of the cells, ?Looks, it?s the Commander. She?ll get us out.?

Done with the thorough inspection of the inmates, she once again faced the constable. ?I?m sorry, Martin, I don?t recognize a one of them,? she said with a wink. ?But it is early. I?ve not even had a cup of coffee yet. How about I return after breakfast? I may recognize one or the other then. Perhaps you would like to join me??

The constable was delighted at the suggestion.