Page 42 of Journey to the Elderoak (Daughter of the Earth #2)

A bell chimed as Ava pushed the wooden door open to the dress shop nestled among the trees in town. Fanya followed behind her as they entered the warm space.

Dozens of dresses were displayed along the walls; an amalgam of silk and chiffon; of blues and greens and purples. Jewelry sat upon tables in the center of the shop, emeralds, rubies and other gemstones glistening in the light of the lanterns above.

An orc rose from her spot behind the wooden counter to greet them.

“Fanya!” she exclaimed in her low rough voice, black curls bouncing as she approached. “It’s so good to see you. What can I do for you?”

“Hello, Ghorza,” Fanya replied. “We’re in dire need of a dress for the princess tonight.”

Ghorza turned to Ava. “Oh! Your Highness.” She curtsied. “I didn’t realize it was you.”

“It’s alright. It’s nice to meet you.”

Ghorza turned and gestured for them to follow her. “I have several dresses that would be perfect for tonight, and they’re close to your size, so they won’t require too many alterations.”

She led them to the back where she pulled aside navy velvet curtains covering a doorway. The room had several settees in the center, facing a wall of mirrors with a small platform sitting before them. Ghorza walked to a table with wine goblets and a pitcher, poured two cups, and handed them over.

“You two have a seat and I’ll be right back,” she said, disappearing through another door.

Ava sat next to Fanya on a plush navy couch and took a sip of wine. “So, are you bringing a date tonight?”

Fanya shook her head. “Unfortunately, no. Pax is working.”

“Oh, right. Pax!”

“Yes. I’m surprised you remember. You were quite inebriated when we spoke about this.”

“Don’t remind me. That explains why he was looking at you like that when we left the suite.”

“Yes,” Fanya said with a small giggle.

“Speaking of Pax,” Ava said. “How’s he doing?”

“You mean after losing Zeph?”

She nodded.

“As good as he can be, I suppose. They’d been assigned to that suite for the last thirty years. She was his best friend.”

Ava swallowed the lump in her throat as the memory of Pax sobbing over Zeph’s body flashed through her mind. They hadn’t assigned another guard to their suite, apparently due to Pax’s protests and the reassurance Casimir was in there as well. Ava didn’t want a new guard. She wanted Zeph.

“But let’s not talk about that now,” Fanya said, interrupting Ava’s thoughts. “We must get you a dress that will take everyone’s breath away.”

Ghorza emerged, carrying several gowns which she placed upon an empty rack. “Alright, Your Highness. I think one of these will do nicely. ”

Ava set her goblet down and stood. She undressed and Ghorza helped her step into a deep blue gown. She ran her hand along the sweetheart neckline and the bodice where thousands of beads blended into the shimmering skirts.

“It’s lovely,” said Fanya. “But that’s not the one.”

“It’s not like I’m getting married,” Ava said as she turned around.

“True. But this is the first time you’re being presented to the kingdom. Your dress must be perfect.”

“Oh. I haven’t thought of it that way. This really is a big deal, isn’t it?” she asked, fidgeting with the beads.

“Very much,” said Ghorza. “It’s quite exciting, too.”

Ava gave her a wan smile. “Well, let’s try the next one then.”

She tried on three more dresses, all different colors and styles, but none of them seemed to stand out the way she and Fanya wanted them to.

Feeling defeated, Ava stood before the two of them, this time wearing a golden gown she hated.

The color washed her out and made her look paler than she already was.

A light appeared in Ghorza’s eyes. “I completely forgot. I think I have just the thing! I’ll be right back.”

Ava took a seat, uncomfortable in the scratchy material. “This is a bust, isn’t it?”

“No. We’ll find something. I promise.”

Ghorza returned, holding a stunning sage green gown. “This is the one,” she said. “I know it.”

It was beautiful. Ava rose to slip out of the golden eyesore, ready to be free of the itchy fabric. After Ghorza helped her adjust the back and sleeves of the new gown, she turned to Fanya.

Fanya clapped her hands. “Ghorza, you’re a genius.”

Ava turned back around and looked in the mirrors.

She was speechless. The dress was perfect.

Sheer fabric formed the tight bodice with a plunging neckline while lace detail covered her breasts and stomach, continuing into the chiffon skirts.

The open back dipped to the curve of her rear, and off the shoulder sheer sleeves flared as they flowed along her arms, ending in more lace.

And though it was as revealing as the dresses she wore in Saxumdale, she didn’t care this time. Because she’d begun to grow proud of her scars. “They’re badges of courage,” Casimir had said. Ava’s heart warmed at the memory.

“I love it,” she whispered.

“Cas is going to lose his mind,” Fanya said.

“The general?” Ghorza asked.

Ava turned around and smiled sheepishly as Fanya answered, “Oh yes. He is smitten with her.”

“He’s a good man. And very handsome.” Ghorza winked and approached to make small adjustments, pinning the fabric in the waistline. “This won’t take me long. I’ll have it delivered to the castle within a couple of hours.”

After getting the measurements and alterations, Ava dressed into her original clothing and thanked Ghorza profusely. She and Fanya headed out the door for lunch when they ran into someone entering the shop.

Ava looked up. “Cas?”

He stuttered, like he was caught red-handed as he stood in the store, face bright red. “Uhh…Hi.”

Fanya looked at him with her hands on her hips and eyed him suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”

He rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes darted between the two of them. “I…um…I just had to pick up my uniform. Ghorza was doing some alterations on it for me.”

“Ghorza doesn’t alter uniforms. This is a dress shop.” Fanya raised an eyebrow.

“She’s doing me a favor,” he blurted, fidgeting.

“Mmm hmm,” said Fanya. “Well, we must be off.” She looped her arm through Ava’s and dragged her out of the shop. “Goodbye!”

Ava met his eyes and smiled as Fanya dragged her away. Once outside the shop, Fanya whispered, “He’s lying.”

“I gathered as much.”

Ava was in her room, pulling on the gown with Fanya’s help, fingers shaking as she tried to adjust the waist. Cirilla had woven her hair into an intricate braid wrapping around her head, interspersed with tiny white flowers and green crystals.

Fanya wore a beautiful deep green dress with a tight beaded bodice and wide organza skirt that bounced when she walked. Her hair was left down and curled along her back.

Fanya took a step back and inspected her. “You need jewelry.”

“I don’t have any.”

“I’ll be right back,” she said as she left the room.

Ava admired herself in the mirror. Fanya had put a small amount of rouge on her cheeks and lips and lined her eyes with kohl. She touched her pointed ears, still startled when she saw them.

A part of her remained in disbelief. How she went from a wildlife biologist to a lost fae princess. It felt so natural to be here. In her home. But other times it was overwhelming. And it was times like these she wished her mother were here to guide her.

A light knock at the door startled her. “Come in,” she called, expecting Fanya with jewelry.

She looked in the mirror over her shoulder and met eyes with Casimir as he walked in.

He stilled in the middle of the room, at a loss for words. Ava waited for him to speak as she watched him in the reflection. After a moment, she turned to face him. His throat bobbed as he evaluated every inch of her.

“Ava…” he rasped. “You’re absolutely breathtaking.”

She marveled at him, jaw-droppingly handsome in his uniform.

He wore a forest green jacket embroidered with the gold emblem of the Elderoak tree and the general insignia underneath, brown pants and polished boots.

Leather armor adorned his shoulder caps, and he was armed with his sword at his side.

A forest green cape flowed behind him lined with golden thread and moved as he walked toward her.

“You look…quite handsome yourself.” She smiled as she shifted on her feet.

He stopped a couple feet away and cleared his throat. “I have something for you,” he said and held out a box.

“What is it?”

His hands trembled as he opened it, revealing the most beautiful necklace she had ever seen. Gold branches wove together, leading toward three teardrops of dangling peridot gemstones. A larger peridot hung at the bottom layer of more golden branches as they met together in a point.

“Oh,” she gasped as she reached to touch the necklace. “It’s…beautiful. I don’t know what to say. You didn’t need to do that.”

“I wanted to,” he said. “May I put it on you?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

She turned back around. Setting the box on the table next to the mirror, he picked up the necklace and draped it along her collarbone, attaching it at the back. It sat perfectly, accentuating her decolletage and bringing out the green in her eyes.

“Is this why I ran into you in Ghorza’s shop today?” she asked as he was fastening the clasp.

“Yes. I had her help me pick something that would go with your dress since she knew what you were wearing.”

“That was very sweet of you. ”

Ava heard the door open and caught Fanya’s eye in the mirror but as soon as she noticed Casimir, she winked and backed out of the room.

He didn’t seem to notice as he watched her through the reflection.

His fingers trailed down her spine and she shivered.

Reaching around, he adjusted the large gem, brushing her collarbone.

“Perfect,” he whispered in her ear.

She sucked in a breath as he placed a kiss below her ear, one hand on her hip, still watching her in the mirror. He stepped closer and yanked her flush against him, digging his fingers into her hip as his other hand traced the curve of her neck and shoulder blade.

“I’d like to rip this dress off you,” he said.

She turned around. “You can do that later. At least let me wear it first.” She traced the emblem of the tree on his jacket with her fingers. “I like this uniform.”

“It’s the official one. We don’t wear it often.”

“I hate that you have to work.”

“Me too.” He traced the lines of her face with his fingers. “You are going to be a challenging distraction for me tonight.” He stepped closer, touching his forehead to hers. “You. In that dress.”

He shook his head and kissed her. Ava sighed into his mouth as she ached for his touch, hands moving along his chest. He deepened the kiss briefly before pulling away.

“I must go.”

“I know. I’ll see you soon.”

He placed a light kiss on her lips again, backed away, and looked her up and down one more time. He ran his fingers through his hair before turning and leaving the bedroom.

Ava shook out her arms as she prepared to meet Thorne. She walked into the living room just as he was entering her suite.

“Oh,” she said. “I thought I was meeting you down there. ”

“I brought something for you. Besides, I assumed you were nervous and thought I’d accompany you.”

He looked fantastic in a dark green velvet top lined with gold, and brown pants. He wore his golden crown of vines decorated with emeralds and the stark green of his eyes stood out against his bright red hair.

“You look beautiful, sister,” he said as he opened a velvet box, revealing a tiara matching his crown.

“You don’t look too bad yourself.” She smiled as she looked at the box. “What’s that?”

“Your tiara.”

“I didn’t even think about that. I guess I must wear it, huh?”

“Yes. Sorry. I know you’re not excited about all the attention. But it’ll be fine,” he assured her.

She stood still as he lifted it out of the box and placed it atop her head. Golden vines wove to a point on her forehead with an emerald dangling from it. Dainty gold chains interspersed with tiny emeralds hung in U-shapes, framing her pointed ears.

“Wow,” she said as she inspected herself in the mirror above the fireplace. “This is beautiful.”

“It was our mother’s,” he said.

She turned around and hugged him.

“Are you ready?” he asked, pulling away and holding out his elbow.

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” She placed her hand on his arm and took a deep breath as they left the suite and made their way downstairs.