The girl looked skeptical, “I don’t think anyone can help me. But if you want to try that would be alright.”
Allie nodded, but before she could ask the girl’s name or say anything else the spirit faded from her sight. Taking a deep breath as the temperature of the room warmed around her, Allie forced herself to move back across the bathroom to the dress. With numb fingers she quickly undressed and then pulled on the smooth cloth.
The bathroom had a full length mirror, no doubt Allie thought for theater goers to make sure their fancy attire was properly put to rights before they left the restroom. She walked over to it now, her socks shushing almost silently on the tile floor, and looked at herself. The dress was several inches too long and a bit tight across the abdomen where the roundness of the pregnancy was more obvious. But otherwise Allie thought it was as close to perfect as she could hope for. The sleeves were tight to the elbow then the material hung loose and flowing; similarly the bodice was tight to the waist –and a bit too tight around the waist where the fit was off – then billowed out around the hips so that the skirt was full. The color was light enough to play off of Allie’s naturally fair skin and blond hair and the embroidery, a pattern of leaves and flowers that included a variety of magical herbs, added just the right amount of color. It hinted at the styles of the Fey or of the human Medieval period without quite being either, and Allie immediately loved it. She could even zip it up herself without any help, a big bonus in her opinion.
She quickly shoved her feet back into her boots, then scooped up her clothes and jacket and hurried back to Janet’s room, aware that she’d been gone too long. She knocked then stepped in before really waiting for a response.
Shawn and Janet were chatting, obviously not too bothered by the length of Allie’s absence, and she felt some of the tension leaving her. They both looked up as she slipped into the room. Janet stood and reached to take her bundled clothes from her, and Allie handed them over then stepped back slightly and held her arms out, “So what’s the verdict?”
“It’s perfect!” Shawn exclaimed, his enthusiasm making Allie grin in response. “You look like a princess in a story.”
She blushed at that and turned to Janet who was looking her over with a more critical eye. “I’ll have to lift the hem a couple inches and let the waist out about the same amount – no problem there it’s got the extra in the seams, I always allow for plenty. And I think the shoulders are off a bit as well, I’ll bring them in or you’ll find them slipping down on you and that won’t do. But overall…overall, yes I think this fits you quite well. What do you think dear?”
“I think I kind of love it,” Allie blurted out before she could stop herself and to her surprise Janet laughed, a hearty belly laugh that filled the room despite the muffling effect of all the clothes.
“Well then this is definitely the right dress,” she said when she wound down. “Every bride should feel that way about her dress, and to Hell with what anyone else thinks anyway.”
Allie smiled tentatively at the seamstress, who reached out, despite holding all of Allie’s clothes, and patted her arm. “Alright now I know you’re on a tight schedule, so let me put this stuff down and I’ll measure while it’s on and note where things need to be altered. It’s all very simple work. I can have it done by tomorrow afternoon. You swing by around this same time and I’ll have it ready for you to pick up. I’ll charge you $300 for the dress and alterations if you agree that’s fair?”
Allie nodded, thinking that was more than she’d ever spent on a dress before but it also seemed like a small amount for this particular dress. This entire wedding was looking to put a serious dent in her savings no matter what she did to keep expenses down, and she felt a sort of reckless abandon overtake her as she thought about it. Screw it. I’ll spend what I have to spend and worry about it later. Gods know I have no intention of doing this again so I might as well do it up this time. She didn’t know if she should try to argue Janet down or protest that the amount was too small though so she simply agreed. Janet smiled again and nodded back then turned to set Allie’s clothes down on the table. “Let me get my measuring tape out-“
The Eve of the Solstice
The next day seemed to fly by, even with Jess and Bleidd stopping in to meet with Allie’s priestess friend, Samara, to plan out the ceremony. That had been early in the morning but the rest of the day had passed in a blur and before she knew it Allie was closing the store. She had realized after leaving the theater the night before that the only way to get the rings and pick up the dress would be to close a bit early, but it seemed worth it to be sure that everything was ready for the wedding the next day.
Dear Gods she thought as she locked the back door and walked carefully across the snowy parking lot to her car, I’m getting married tomorrow. Why am I more freaked out about that than I was about the idea of signing the contracts? She frowned slightly as she slid into the front seat, starting the car and sitting there to let it warm up. I mean they’re basically the same thing, wedding, marriage contract, both legally binding, so why am I nervous about this? Sure when Jess first got me to ask his family I kind of didn’t really want to but since then things have changed. Everything’s changed. And with this psychic bond, or whatever it really is, any kind of marriage is just window dressing anyway. We all know this is for life, beyond life even, maybe. What difference does a public ceremony make?
She sighed and put the car into drive, carefully easing out onto the road and heading into the heart of downtown towards Lux Divine. As she drove she kept worrying the thought over in her head but it was a circular process at best. By the time she arrived in front of the jewelry store she was tired of the subject but unable to stop thinking about it.
She lucked into a spot right in front of the store, her car bathed in the bright yellow light falling from the display window and sign. Lux, of course, had the money to pay for the best magical services so they had all the fancy electronics, including a neon sign, that most places in Ashwood didn’t. The effect for a Bordertown was that the store front practically screamed opulence.
Suddenly acutely aware of her worn jeans and far from new green sweater Allie nervously bit her lip and headed in to the store. The inside was as dazzling as the outside promised: the floor was a polished hardwood that glowed, fluorescent lights hung in rows overhead and each display case was also lit from within. There were mirrors everywhere, and before she could stop herself Allie reached up and smoothed her hair down over her ears, making sure they were covered.
“Allie, don’t just stand there by the door come on in” Kelly greeted her from the left side of the store where she was standing with a tall, dark haired man.
Allie walked quickly over to join the couple, trying not to look overawed. When she was closer Kelly spoke again, “Allie this is Will, Will this is Allie. I’ve told you both plenty about each other over the last few months so you should feel like you know each other by now.”
Allie smiled at that and Will laughed. “Nice to finally meet you Allie. Kel told me you’re looking for a wedding ring?”
“Nice to meet you too Will,” Allie said. “And, ah, actually I need two. Two men’s rings.”
She watched his face carefully and read his emotions rather shamelessly, concerned about how he might react to that. There was a moment of surprise, then something she couldn’t quite read, then simple acceptance. For a moment she was surprised in return then common sense kicked in. Well he does work in retail she thought a bit cynically I’m sure he sees some outré things and as high end as this store is if he wants to make sales he probably doesn’t get to judgey about people’s weird choices about what to do with their purchases. Gods know I’ve had some bizarre book requests over the years and as long as it’s not illegal I kind of figure it’s not my place to get up in other people’s private business.
“Certainly,” Will said smoothly. “Matching or would you like each one to be different?”
Allie considered that
for a minute. “Matching I think, please.”
“Right, follow me this way,” Will said, moving towards one of the back displays. Allie followed him with Kelly trailing behind. He went behind the display while the two women stood in the front. Will looked at Allie, his expression friendly. “So what were you thinking? Something fancy? Something plain? Any preference on metal?”
Allie pondered that for a moment, then said, more firmly than she’d intended, “Platinum I think, plain.”
He nodded and reached in, pulling out a small black velvet tray. Allie knew immediately which one. She gently picked it up, and with a reckless disregard for the coast said, “Can I get two of these? By tomorrow?”
“What sizes?”
She told him, glad she’d made sure to ask Bleidd and Jess their ring sizes.
Will grinned broadly, “I can have them boxed and wrapped up now if you like.”
“Perfect,” Allie said, and Kelly clapped her hands in excitement.
******************************
Bleidd clocked out of work, hurrying a bit to get out the door before any of his co-workers could try to start a conversation. He usually lingered a bit, keeping an ear open for the many, diverse opportunities that could come up for off the books work but tonight he had a schedule to keep and he didn’t want to risk any distraction.
Darkness had already fallen outside and he walked silently through the slush, breathing deeply the scent of winter. The air was filled with the smell of wood smoke layered over the tang of coming snow and even here at the edge of downtown there was a stillness in the air interrupted only by the distant murmur of traffic and faint but clear sound of a group singing carols. He loved this time of year better than any other, when things seemed darkest but when the atmosphere was at its most cheerful and peaceful.
He slid easily into his car, enjoying the growl of the engine as it roared to life. With a careless ease he pulled out into traffic and headed deep into the neighborhood off of the warehouse district where many of the local Fey lived. It wasn’t the sort of place one went unless you lived there, had been invited, or had business there especially if one happened to be an elf, something that Bleidd had learned when he’d first moved to Ashwood. But tonight he had business there and to many of the Lesser Fey he was still the Outcast elf and so still had a tenuous acceptance among them that other elves didn’t. He grinned wolfishly at the thought, more than willing to use that to his own advantage.
Within a few minutes he was pulling up in front of an unassuming house, or at least what appeared to be a house. Bleidd suspected the dwarves did live upstairs but the house’s lower level had been converted into a shopfront, albeit an unofficial one. This entire place was off the map and entirely illegal, of course, but Bleidd knew that human law was often a detail the Fey in Ashwood chose to ignore if they thought they could get away with it.
He parked on the street several houses down and walked casually back, extending his senses out to be sure there was no one, human or Fey, watching the place. When he was certain that the only magic in place was the dwarves and the usual assorted things to be expected from the other local lesser Fey he relaxed a bit and head around to the back door, careful to step in the existing foot prints along the path.
The door was answered by Elta, the master-smith’s wife. She peered up at him from under her thick red eyebrows without tilting her head up, an impressive feat, since she was about three feet shorter than he was. Bleidd smiled at the dwarf-maid, “Good evening Elta, is Gabul ready with my order?”
Elta reached up and stroked her beard, the hair held in a mass of braids tied with ribbons. “Evenin’ to ye Bleidd. If ye got the rest o the coin then Gabul’s got your order.”
Bleidd nodded and pulled a small leather pouch out of his pocket, trying not to laugh at the silliness of the dwarf’s insistence on being paid in real gold or on the leather bag here in the Borderland. It hardly mattered to him how Gabul took his payment and if the banished dwarf liked to pretend he was still in Fairy that was his business. He tossed the pouch to Elta who caught it and weighed it carefully in her hand. She nodded then gave the elf a look of grudging respect. “Right then. I’ll get ‘im for ye.”
She disappeared into the house, leaving Bleidd standing in the doorway staring at what had been the kitchen before the dwarves had mostly gutted it. He waited patiently, listening to the sounds of hammers hitting metal, the occasional sound of hot metal hitting water, and swearing in dwarvish coming from deep within the building. Bleidd had no idea how many dwarves lived and worked there, but he’d met four, and guessed there were likely a few others.
Elta appeared around a corner a moment later, his heavy brown beard swaying as he walked. He walked directly up to Bleidd, his slate grey eyes glinting. When he reached the elf he thrust out his hand and Bleidd reached down and took the two rings the dwarf handed him; they were almost identical one slightly heavier, one thinner, both white gold bands, three lines of knotwork intertwined, holding a black diamond.
Bleidd examined them minutely then nodded his approval. “Excellent work. Exactly as I described to you.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a second smaller bag, knowing the dwarf was expecting it, and handed it Elta. The dwarf smiled, the ends of his heavy mustache turning up then without another word turned and disappeared back into the house, closing the door almost in the elf’s face.
Bleidd didn’t notice, already turning away back in the direction he’d come. Tonight was the full moon and the eve of the solstice and to work the magic he intended on the rings he needed to move quickly.
Allie has claimed both of us as hers he thought to himself, clutching the two rings in his hand, and Jess would have us pledge ourselves publicly to each other. So be it. And I will lay my claim on them both as well…
************************************
Allie arrived at the theater on time, much to her relief. There was no show again tonight but the lights were on in the lobby and there was a small cluster of cars near the front of the lot, including Shawn’s. She guessed they were rehearsing earlier tonight, preparing for the opening of the new show. Allie felt a twinge of guilt as she hoped that she could slip in and get the dress without running into her roommate. She was tired and not in the mood for a drawn out conversation with him, or to be introduced to a bunch of his theater friends and given the full tour.
She slipped into the lobby but it was empty. After a moment she headed towards the back hallway that led to Janet’s workroom. The hall was quiet as well and despite her earlier wish to avoid Shawn she started to wonder where everyone was. Reaching Janet’s door she knocked tentatively and a few seconds later she heard the other woman’s voice inviting her in.
Inside Janet was sitting on the stool bent over a bright purple mass of fabric with her mouth full of pins. She glanced up and then realizing who it was straightened and reached to set the pins down on the counter. Allie felt bad since she was obviously interrupting. “Oh I’m sorry, you don’t have to stop on my account.”
“No, I need a break before my back starts cramping,” the seamstress said, rolling her shoulders. “How are you Allie? Is it 7 already?”
“I’m fine and yes, about five of actually,” Allie said. “How are you?”
“Good, good,” Janet said waving a hand and then rolling her head slightly and wincing. “Last minute addition that I foolishly decided to try to do in one day. I think I need to admit defeat and finish it later though or my fingers may fall off.”
Allie smiled uncertainly, as Janet stood and set the project she’d been working on down. Getting a better look Allie guessed it was a Renaissance style dress; she could only image how much work that was to hand-sew and of course the theater couldn’t afford to pay a witch to keep an electric sewing machine running. Janet reached over to the nearest rack and pulled down the dress Allie had chosen last night and handed it to her, “Here dear, I’ll step out and you try this on and let me see if the alterations a
re where they should be.”
With that she handed Allie the dress and was out the door before Allie could even open her mouth to say okay. Shrugging she took off her coat and then quickly pulled off her jeans and sweater before slipping on the dress. In the short time she’d had it Janet had worked miracles; it fit perfectly now, clinging like a second skin in all the right places and flaring dramatically everywhere else. Allie ran her hands over the front, a goofy grin spreading across her face. Before she could stop herself she spun around in a circle so that she could watch the skirt flare out.
It had only just settled back down when there was a knock at the door and then Janet was stepping back in. She looked Allie over just as critically as she had before, but this time no suggestions for changes followed. Instead she smiled in a self-satisfied way and nodded, “Yes, that did it. The hem is perfect for the style now and with the waist let out no one would guess you’re pregnant, not that I suppose you care much about that. Still it’ll look good in pictures the way it is.”
Allie bounced up slightly on the balls of her feet, ignoring the twinge in her bad ankle. “Thank you so much Janet, this really is perfect.”
The other woman’s face softened and she smiled gently, “You’re welcome Allie, truly. It was my pleasure to be able to help. Although I wouldn’t say no to a picture of you in it, if you don’t mind. Just for my own records.”
“Sure,” Allie said, feeling awkward but hardly wanting to refuse such a simple thing.
Janet quickly pulled out her cell phone and took a picture then showed Allie to get her approval. Seeing herself in the newly fitted dress Allie loved it even more. As she glanced up to tell Janet as much she caught sight of the theater’s resident ghost standing in the corner behind the seamstress. The girl was standing perfectly still, just staring at her and it threw Allie off for a moment, until she forced herself to say, “Yeah that’s fine and I really do love this dress. Let me get the money for you, and thanks again for all of this.”
Fairy Gifts: A Between the Worlds Anthology Page 16
