Post by Golden on Jul 29, 2023 13:35:58 GMT
A dreamless night came and went. Cocooned within a bundle of plush pillows and heavy blankets, Alys relished in the feeling of being held; sheltered and protected and warm. Heat radiated onto her back, and as she slowly drifted back into consciousness, the fae nearly reached back to pull herself closer. But the sudden click of the door - the sound of it closing - caused her blue eyes to fling open. Her fingers tightened around the diamond whisker beneath her pillow and she sat up, wielding her weapon, heart racing. A split second later, she found herself glancing over at the bundle behind her, at the mountain of pillows she'd forgotten about. As her gaze flitted across the room, taking in the gloom, Alys realized that she was alone. The outer layers she'd shed the night before had been folded neatly onto a nearby chair, along with a couple other garments that didn't belong to her.
Realizing that she was sweating, the fae abruptly left the comfort of her bed and slipped off the tunic, leaving her in nothing more than an altered chemise and trousers. The bandages around her waist and head were loosely bound, and the two gemstones she'd hidden remained in place, held tightly by the final layer of fabric and a thin coat of moisture that clung to her body. A little more willing to explore the room now, Alys first wrestled with the ancient window latch, eventually allowing a steady stream of air to chill her flushed skin, before creeping towards the large wooden wardrobe.
Many of the outermost garments broke apart from the lightest of touches; too old and exposed to remain intact, but as she dug deeper, she found what she'd been looking for. The plain, loose tunic slid easily over her head, the posterior dip hanging just past the middle of her back - likely to accommodate a different set of wings. But something else caught her eye; a corner of deep blue fabric, the colour of the ocean at dusk, just barely covered by the lip of an old wooden chest. Unable to swallow her curiosity, Alys opened the lid and slowly pulled out her treasure.
It had to be the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen, from the colour down to the design. Even in the dim light, the material seemed to shimmer ever so slightly, like the night sky reflected in calm water. Delicately, Alys held the dress to her chest, and moved towards the ornate mirror. Despite her injuries, ruffled hair, and tired eyes, simply holding it up and pretending made her feel good.
How was she going to carry it back? The small chest it came from would certainly do the trick, but along with her sword and everything else, it'd be tough. But the dress - she simply had to have it.
After a brief moment of consideration, Alys decided to fold the dress, wrap it in the thin bed sheet, and place it in the bottom of the chest. That way, her bloodied clothes, the ones worth salvaging, could be placed on top of the dress. The rest, consisting of Caleb's impossibly thick coat - and her own, of course - were draped on the wooden lid, with the glimmering sword balancing precariously on top. Having tamed her hair in a long braid, the fae slowly made her way down the hall, careful not to drop her stack, but also remaining vigilant of those who might lurk the hallways.
Realizing that she was sweating, the fae abruptly left the comfort of her bed and slipped off the tunic, leaving her in nothing more than an altered chemise and trousers. The bandages around her waist and head were loosely bound, and the two gemstones she'd hidden remained in place, held tightly by the final layer of fabric and a thin coat of moisture that clung to her body. A little more willing to explore the room now, Alys first wrestled with the ancient window latch, eventually allowing a steady stream of air to chill her flushed skin, before creeping towards the large wooden wardrobe.
Many of the outermost garments broke apart from the lightest of touches; too old and exposed to remain intact, but as she dug deeper, she found what she'd been looking for. The plain, loose tunic slid easily over her head, the posterior dip hanging just past the middle of her back - likely to accommodate a different set of wings. But something else caught her eye; a corner of deep blue fabric, the colour of the ocean at dusk, just barely covered by the lip of an old wooden chest. Unable to swallow her curiosity, Alys opened the lid and slowly pulled out her treasure.
It had to be the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen, from the colour down to the design. Even in the dim light, the material seemed to shimmer ever so slightly, like the night sky reflected in calm water. Delicately, Alys held the dress to her chest, and moved towards the ornate mirror. Despite her injuries, ruffled hair, and tired eyes, simply holding it up and pretending made her feel good.
How was she going to carry it back? The small chest it came from would certainly do the trick, but along with her sword and everything else, it'd be tough. But the dress - she simply had to have it.
After a brief moment of consideration, Alys decided to fold the dress, wrap it in the thin bed sheet, and place it in the bottom of the chest. That way, her bloodied clothes, the ones worth salvaging, could be placed on top of the dress. The rest, consisting of Caleb's impossibly thick coat - and her own, of course - were draped on the wooden lid, with the glimmering sword balancing precariously on top. Having tamed her hair in a long braid, the fae slowly made her way down the hall, careful not to drop her stack, but also remaining vigilant of those who might lurk the hallways.
