Fairy Fire : Come Winter’s End
Chapter 4: Tea, The Queen and Mystery
Place: Lady Cornelia’s Dress Shoppe,
Emberfrost Courtyard,
Timberest
Date : Nollaig 3, 1617 11 am
“See, this isn’t so bad” Lady Elda smiled at Miri holding an armful of dresses and accessories.
Miri sighed, not so bad she thought Ha! The only nice thing she found about this shopping trip was the scenery.
The shop looked lovely, Lady Cornelia the shop owner and Parlan her assistant had it decorated from ceiling to floor for the holidays.
Wreaths, snowflakes, garlands, and bows were hung everywhere all twinkling and sparkly. Every detailed decoration seemingly danced under the glow of the brightly colored Yule lights.
Even the mannequins were in on the celebration dressed in their finest holiday attire. In the middle of the shop was a huge Yule tree decorated with lights, beads, ribbons, and bows of every color and size.
At the fireplace they had beautiful stockings hung for the king and queen’s children as well as the shop workers. The fireplace was warm and crackling. Its copper kettle held a pot of Cinnamon Peppermint Cocoa staying warm in it and its delightful aroma filled the shop.
“Yes I don’t know why you put up such a fuss, now go try this one on,” Aunt Nan said shoving a frock at Miri, snapping her back to reality. “I’m sure this one will be perfect,” she clapped.
She had said the same thing about the last 10 dresses. This monstrosity of lace beads and some sort of shiny material looked even gaudier than the one before.
“Aunt Nan this isn’t my style exactly, how about something simpler like that.” Miri pointed to the other side of the shop at a simple red plaid dress with just a little lace trim.
Aunt Nan turned her nose up as if she had just smelled bad fish. “Let’s try that one later dear now go try this.” She gently pushed Miri towards the changing rooms.
Shoving herself in the dress she immediately disliked it. “I look like a pastry,” she thought. “The things Aunt Nan picks” the girl shook her head.
Stepping out of the changing area she saw her Aunt Nan, Lady Elda, and Queen Merewyn sipping tea as Lady Cornelia showed her highness a rack full of dresses.
“Aunt Nan, this doesn’t fit probably its way too short,” she said showing the lacking length of the ball gown by turning her leg.
She heard a giggle and looking to her left she saw Karina MacKley, her friend and castle riding specialist. Karina ran the King’s stable. A small, stout woman who could work magic with horses. (Literally, that was her magic talent.) “You look like a daft cupcake in that frock lass” she continued giggling.
Hearing this, Nan gasped with a shocked look on her face and Lady Elda chuckled into her tea.
“Dear heavens child what have you got on,” Queen Merewyn said with a smile as she looked up over her teacup and shook her head.
“Karina is right, you look like puff pastry in that thing. I don’t think that style suits you at all.
“Here try this one.” Her friend pointed over to the red dress on the mannequin in the window beside then. It was beautiful. A rich holly red, with a round neckline that draped lightly off the shoulders. In the back were intricate lacing details and a ruffled bustle.
“Oh that is lovely Miri and it suits you go try it let me see.” The queen motioned her towards the changing rooms.
“Yes, your majesty.” Miri smiled and mouthed thank you to Karina and the queen as hurried to try it on and get out of that shop.
“Yes this is much better” Miri nodded as she saw her reflection
“Festive without me looking like one of the decorations,” she grinned. “ I think I will get this one” she announced as she left the fitting room.
She stood with her hands locked in front of her. From her aunt’s raised hand it was clear she was about to protest.
“That is just perfect my dear yes, get that one” Queen Merewyn clapped her hands and headed towards Miri.
This would thankfully put an end to Aunt Nan’s protest and the dress hunt. Her aunt looked away with a pout that Lady Elda had to grin at.
“Nice choice Karina well done. Who knew you had such an eye for ballroom fashion.” Merewyn smiled as she fussed with Miri’s dress.
“Aye, no problem your majesty I am a woman of many talents,” Karina said. “Now should I get blue or green Tartan?” She held them both up and asked the group.
“The blue,” Lady Elda responded “ It matches the twinkle in your eye. Everyone agreed.
“Blue it is then.” Karina nodded as she agreed and took it to the seamstress at the counter. “I will pick it up the morning of the ball,” she told the lady at the counter. “I don’t know why people make such a big fuss over dress shopping. 10 minutes here and I’m done” she beamed.
Miri looked at her Aunt and cut her eyes. I would have been out of here 2 hours ago had I come alone too.
“Karina dear do join us for some tea and biscuits.” Queen Merewyn motioned towards an empty chair.
“Sorry your highness I would love to, but I got that new filly to train this afternoon. She’s been giving Angus a right hard time, threw him twice yesterday.” laughing out loud at her brother’s misfortune.
“Oh my, I hope he’s ok,” Aunt Nan asked.
“Aye he’s fine he landed softly in the watering trough both times. That’s more baths than he usually has in a week” Karina continued her laughing.
Miri giggled “Poor Angus.”
“Aye I’ll be seeing you, ladies, later. Yuletide Blessings to you all” Karina waved as she left the shop.
Miri stood up and headed back to the changing room. The seamstress marked her dress for the few alterations it needed. Then she into her regular clothes. Returning she handed the gown to the seamstress who told her to come back in 3 days to try the dress again with the alterations. Miri headed towards the table and sat down. The ladies were in full gossip mode.
“So who all will be attending this year,” Aunt Nan asked the queen about the ball.
“King Max and Queen Emaline and their son West, of course, haha they wouldn’t dare leave him home alone again after what happened last time.” Queen Merewyn said sipping her tea.
“West is coming? Oh good.” Forgetting that he had mentioned it the day before when they spoke. “Maybe this ball will be some fun, after all,” Miri thought happily to herself.
She did have a little laugh thinking about how West had used his time in charge. Making all the castle workers “polish all the shiny things so I can see me wherever I go.’’ He did so love his own reflection haha.
She was happy she would get to see her old friend soon. They had known each other since childhood. Often visiting each other and playing together on the many royals visits through the years.
“Some dignitaries from Aziland will be there and maybe an Ambassador from the tribes as well. Oh, and the usual guest of course” Merewyn continued.
“Sounds like it will be a wonderful celebration this year.” Lady Elda said, reaching for a strawberry scone.
“Aye, I sure hope so, Brogan has been stressed about something terrible lately the poor dear. The sages are all in an uproar. They will be holding a council after the holiday season and new year celebrations to discuss how serious this threat is.”
“That must be what I heard them talking about the other day the prophecies,” Miri thought to herself as she added another lump of tea to her sugar.
“Yes Eldhigh and I have been discussing that matter as well” Lady Elda commented with a most serious look on her face, a look Miri had rarely seen. This troubled her.
“We have been trying to decipher some of the ancient writings,” Elda continued. “But had to stop at the part about the amber lights and the fall of the fire lord or prince. Neither of us has any idea who it might be. There simply is no fire fairy line left in the fae royal branches anymore period.” She sipped her tea.
All of a sudden Miri felt cold as ice. Her mind went black and all she could see was a flash from her dream. The fire crown falling as the man went down.
“Well if you remember correctly they were all in the same tizzy about the keeper returning about 27, or was it 29 years ago.” The queen sipped again “And look at where that got us. All these years later and still no keeper. Lord, it caused so many problems for Brogan’s father. The dear old fellow.”
“Wait what about the keeper” Miri’s curiosity peaked. She came back to reality. “I never heard about any of this before” she scanned the table both with looks and sensory magic.
They were all nervous she could tell that for certain.
“More tea your majesty,” Aunt Nan asked. Then gave Lady Elda an odd look.
“Yes please,” Merewyn replied. “Thank you” the queen set her cup down.
“Oh look at the time” Elda interrupted as Miri was about to speak.
“Yeah, it’s almost two o’clock, now tell me about this keeper prophecy.” It was Miri’s turn to interrupt. She looks right at the queen eager for an explanation she leaned over the table.
“Well at about this time 29 years ago the sages were all in a fuss. “The keeper is coming, the keeper is coming. There was a star shower on New Year’s Eve that lasted until sunrise. Several of them actually landed. Couple that with the double blue moons on Yuletide night fulfill the winter’s celestial requirements for the coming of the keeper.” Her majesty said the last part in a dead-on impersonation of Elder Sage Telfrin. Miri giggled.
“Then what happened,” she asked eagerly.
“Well then spring came and we all waited for the three signs of spring. And we got all three Merewyn named them off on her fingers. “The dark moons, the sleeping sickness, and the halo trumpet flower bloomed.. but still no guardian or keeper or whatever is the proper way to say it.” She dipped her biscuit in her tea.
Miri had so many questions but from the look on Lady Elda and Aunt Nan’s faces, she didn’t have much time. So she asked the most important one she could think of.
“Were there three winter signs as well?” She questioned the queen.
“Let me think, the star shower, the double blue moons, and oh what was the third one?” Merewyn looked at Elda.
“The blooming of the frostfire berries.” Her ladyship responded.
“Yes, yes that’s it. They made all that commotion and no keeper. Supposedly signifying the birth of the keeper the following spring.” The queen finished her tea. Elda and Nan nodded.
“Well, we have occupied enough of her majesty’s time.” Aunt Nan said as she stood.
“It’s been great fun ladies, oh and here” the queen signaled to her attending ladies who pinned Yule ribbons to all of them. “Yule blessing to you all,” she said with a genuine smile.
“Yule blessings to you, your majesty” the ladies curtseyed.
As they left the shop Miri could sense nervousness and trepidation from both her Aunt and her Lady Elda.. but why .. all those things happened so long ago. This all had left her with a plethora of questions. Questions she intended to get answers to. She looked through the shop window as the queen stood and brushed her pretty teal dress free of crumbs.
So Elder Sage Telfrin she said… I think I will start there. He should be back tomorrow or the next day. Until then I can check around the castle library.
With determined steps, she headed to her room to change into more comfortable sleuthing clothes. I need answers and I need them now. Wondering how her dreams were connected to all this, she hurried back to her room.
