Awake

by Riana Lucas

  “Nonsense,” I say forcefully, taking her arm back into mine so I can tug her down the hall once again. “I have plenty of dresses you can wear. I will let the queen know you will be attending dinner with me. She will not object.”

  “That is very sweet of you, Poppy, but I couldn’t wear one of your dresses. They are very special. They’re meant to be worn by royalty.”

  This time I am the one who stops abruptly. “Royalty?”

  “Oh! Um…well, you know…the queen…she…” Willow is looking everywhere but at me. It is obvious she is very uncomfortable and maybe even a bit scared, but there are too many odd things going on, this one topping the list. She is not getting off the hook that easily.

  “She…what? Why do I have dresses that are meant for royalty? I know I am a guest, not a prisoner, but this is a bit extreme. She does not treat all of her guests this way, does she?”

  “No, of course not. Poppy, you are special.” She looks at me desperately, as if she is willing me to believe her and stop asking questions, but I cannot. My instincts are screaming at me, telling me there is much more going on here than what I am being told. I am determined to get to the bottom of it.

  “How? How am I special? I should be the enemy!” I begin to grow frustrated with this entire mess. I am tired of being treated with so much freedom, and explanation as to why.

  A new voice cuts into our conversation, “You are special because you are a fierce warrior, an amazing fae, and a loyal friend. Those traits are very hard to find in someone. This makes you very special, Poppy.” I had whirled around at the sound of the queen’s musical voice and now I stand staring at her as she gives me her explanation.

  One that is total crap.

  And apparently I said this out loud, because the queen raises her eyebrow at me, and I hear Willow stifle a laugh behind me.

  Great. When I see Reed again, I will need to remember to yell at him for instilling such bad habits in me.

  “I apologize. I did not think before I spoke,” I tell the queen quickly.

  She waves off my apology with a flick of her hand. “It’s quite all right, my dear. But I must ask, why do you think what I told you is, as you say, ‘total crap’?”

  I stifle my own laughter this time at hearing the queen use such a human term. I am sure those words have never come out of her mouth before.

  I compose myself before answering her. “Well, there are many fae who fit the same description, but I assume they are not staying in one of the nicest rooms in your court. I also assume they are not greeted by fresh flowers every morning or given a servant to tend to them directly. They are probably not given the freedoms I have been given with my training and weapons, and they are definitely not given gowns fit for royalty to wear around whenever they please.” My voice had risen during my speech to the point of which I was almost shouting. I did not apologize this time, because I was ready for the truth.

  As the words leave my mouth, the queen turns a sharp look to Willow. I step to the side to block her from the queen’s view. “This has nothing to do with her,” I say.

  The queen’s eyes soften once again when she turns back to me. “There is that ever-present loyalty I spoke of. You just met her, and you choose to protect her from me. Interesting.”

  “Willow is my friend. I protect my friends. And like I said, she has nothing to do with this. I would like an answer to my question. Why am I treated this way when no one else is?”

  She looks at me for a long moment, appearing to be deciding what to say. When she finally speaks, she changes the subject. “I understand you have a dinner engagement this evening?” I start to interrupt, frustrated at her evasion, but she holds her hand up to stop me and continues. “Go and get ready for your dinner, and enjoy your evening. We’ll meet for breakfast in the morning, and I will give you your answers. Will that do?”

  I am stunned for a moment that she has agreed to explain things to me. I recover before she can change her mind. “Yes. That will do fine. Thank you. Oh, and Willow is going to dinner as well,” I say quickly.

  Willow shoots me a nervous look but I shrug.

  The queen gives me a small smile and nods before turning to walk back down the hall, leaving Willow and me in silence. We both stand there watching her until she disappears down the hall.

  Willow is the first to break the silence. “I’m sorry, Poppy. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

  Turning back toward her, I lock my arm with hers once again and lead us toward my room. “You did no such thing, so there is no reason for you to apologize. Besides, I got what I wanted. I will find everything out in the morning. And you get to go to dinner with me.”

  “Thank you,” she says softly. I smile at her, but it does not quite reach my eyes. Now I am the nervous one, unsure if I really want to know the answers to my questions after all.

  Knowing there is no sense in worrying about this now, I return my focus to the present as Willow and I reach my room. Telling her I am going to bathe first before I pick out my dress, I go into the washroom to do just that. While in the room, I take the opportunity to try to recall my dreams once again by using a little magic, but my body and mind must be exhausted from the training session because it does not work. Frustrated, I wash up quickly. When finished, I pull my hair back before wrapping myself in a towel.

  When I step through the doorway into the main room, I stop in my tracks. Dresses are thrown all over the place. Pink ones with ruffles, some with purple sequins, others that are made of plush red velvet, and even some in black satin are covering every surface of my room. Some are long; some are short, and some are extremely fluffy. In all of this, I do not find even one I like. I begin looking past the dresses for Willow. I finally notice her standing by the wardrobe, holding a dress behind her back, smiling mischievously at me.

  “Willow, what is all this? I thought we were going to look together. And how is it possible you were able to make such a mess in such a short period of time?”

  “I know. I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t wait. I was so excited! I found the perfect dress.”

  “Oh, how wonderful. I am sure you picked the best one. I know it will look wonderful on you.” I turn to look at all the dresses once again with a frown on my lips. All of them are horrible.

  “Oh no, Poppy. I picked the perfect dress for you.”

  I snort before I cover my mouth and nose with my hand in disbelief. I cannot believe I just did that. Willow begins laughing, making me laugh as well. Soon we are both sitting on the bed, wiping tears from our eyes, trying to catch our breath.

  “I am so sorry, Willow.” I hiccup between words, trying not to laugh. “I have no idea where that came from. It was very un-warrior-like of me.”

  “It’s okay. That was rather funny,” she giggles again and rests her hand on her stomach as if it hurts from her laughter.

  “So, are you going to show me the dress or what?” I am unsure of how we ended up in the situation we are in, but somehow the dress got lost in all of the confusion and laughter.

  “Oh!” She jumps up and begins digging around looking for the missing dress. “Aha!” she announces triumphantly, lifting a length of fabric into the air in front of her. The dress is still on the hanger so I am able to see the full length of the front.

  The black dress reaches about mid-calf with a neckline that scoops down in a flattering way without being revealing. The bodice is fitted with a deep-red belt which cinches at the waist, allowing the rest of the dress to flow loosely down around my calves. At the base of the dress, deep-red poppy flowers finish the design, matching the ones pinned onto the left sleeve.

  “Oh, Willow! This dress is perfect!” I beam and push myself up from the bed to take the dress from her. “I am going to try it on, and then I will help you pick yours, okay?”

  “Of course. Take your time. I’ll wait here.” She sits herself back down on my bed and prepares to wait patiently. I cannot help but to laugh as I walk into the washroom: her patien
t appearance does not fool me.

  Not wanting Willow to wait too long, I quickly pull the dress on and find it a perfect fit. Once I have the gown on, I turn and notice the back of the dress for the first time. It has a deep V-shaped opening. Had I seen the opening before, I probably would have decided against it, but it’s not revealing or uncomfortable in any way. Once I step out of the room, I move in front of the full-length mirror so I can get the full effect. I do not recall ever wearing a dress before. They are not practical for fighting or for missions, and I have never been in a situation that called for this type of attire. When I gaze back at my reflection, I find myself speechless. I feel a little awkward, but the shock at my appearance overrides the emotion. I look almost beautiful.

  Willow steps up behind me, brushing my hair out so it smoothes out long and straight around my shoulders down to my waist. She hands me a pair of strappy black heels with small poppies just above the toes. I put them on before taking another look in the mirror. This is when I notice the poppy flowers on the bottom of the dress constantly shifting and changing. Looking down to get a better look, I realize the flowers are going through the life cycle right in front of my eyes. They start as buds and then bloom into full flowers before the soft petals fall off and drift to the ground around my feet, where they then simply disappear. Then the cycle starts all over again. The process is simply magical.

  “It is perfect, Willow. Thank you,” I breathe.

  “You’re very welcome. Would you like some makeup? I don’t think you need any, but if you would like some, I can apply it.”

  “Makeup?”

  Willow gives me a startled look but before I can question it, she walks over to the dressing table and brings over a few small containers with different colored powders in them. “This is makeup. You put the powders and glosses on your eyes, lips, and cheeks to enhance them.”

  “I know what makeup is, Willow. I just do not see a need for it."

  “Are you sure?"

  “Yes. I do not wish to paint my face. I like the way I look just fine the way it is,” I say with a decisive nod.

  Willow laughs before placing the items back on the table. "Fine, but I'll get you to change your mind eventually," she says with a wink then begins to look around the room. Before I can object to her prediction, she speaks up again. “So, will you help me find a dress that suits me as well?”

  “I will, but I must warn you, I have no experience with this. I might pick the wrong thing,” I say as I begin to lift dresses, trying to imagine what they would look like on Willow. After I hesitate over a few, I finally lift one I think would look beautiful on her. I hold up a light green, ankle-length dress made of satin but covered in a thin layer of flowing sheer material dotted with small crystals over the entire dress. The straps are thin, and the neck line modest but flattering. The entire dress may appear simple, but I do not think it will be on Willow. When I hold the dress up for approval her eyes light up, but she hesitates before taking it.

  “Are you sure, Poppy? This dress is very expensive.”

  “Why should I care? The queen gave them all to me, and I am not going to wear all of them. Besides, this one will suit you much better than it would me.” I shrug, trying to act nonchalant. “This is what friends do, anyway. They borrow each other’s clothes.”

  She beams at me now and snatches the dress as she practically runs into the washroom to change. When she comes out, I feel a bit of pride in picking such a wonderful match for her. She looks stunning. Nothing like the servant she likes to think of herself as. I push her in front of the mirror and mimic what she did with my hair. I brush out her long, thick waves, leaving them loose around her shoulders. It is much longer than I imagined, almost to her waist, which must be why it is always up. It looks like a wild fire around her shoulders, brightening her eyes with the hint of amber I have seen occasionally. They sparkle like the crystals on her dress. She finds a pair of silver shoes with gemstones on them and then takes one final look in the mirror.

  “Thank you, Poppy,” she whispers as she looks at me through the mirror. I’m so happy to be spending this time with her, making such a good friend, but I also feel a stab of guilt over Reed and Rho and how they are missing out on sharing this fun moment with me. I wish they were here as well.

  I push the sad thoughts aside for now and hold my arm out to Willow. “Shall we?”

  She hooks her arm with mine, smiling brightly up at me. “Yes, we shall.”

  Chapter Seven

  The dining hall at the seelie court is a typical fae dining hall. Music and laughter flow through the room, all of which can be heard even before entering the doors. Every flat surface stands covered in colorful, delicious foods that smell heavenly. Fae of different ages and social standings gather around, enjoying the food, dancing, and admiring the queen who sits in the very center of the room with some of her most loyal friends. She looks stunning, as always, the main focus of all of those around her.

  That is, until we enter the dining hall.

  Upon entering the dining hall, we became the center of attention. It appears to be the main dinner hour because the hall is filled to what must be beyond capacity. The music and laughter around us dim and all eyes train on us. The sudden, undivided attention is not something either of us is comfortable with. In fact, Willow and I both stumble over each other a few times while trying to find Gideon and Thorne. Heads turn, and whispers spread as we make our way through the crowd. Everyone knows who I am, but I only recognize a select few. I am at a disadvantage, which makes me uncomfortable and fidgety.

  We spot them sitting, of course, at the queen’s table. I had not noticed them initially, because the queen fills all lines of sight when she is in the room. She is outright magnificent. With her white-blonde hair flowing, her red dress emphasizing her pale skin, and her green eyes sparkling with laughter, she is a sight that would consume anyone’s attention.

  When we reach the queen’s table, some of the noise picks back up, but the people in our immediate surroundings still continue to stare and whisper. All of the male fae seated at the table rise upon our arrival, and Gideon and Thorne quickly move to pull our seats out for us. I wave Gideon away, pulling mine out myself. This is not a date, and I will not allow him to treat it as such. Willow graciously takes her seat as she allows Thorne to assist her. She looks like she knows what she is doing, and so I turn my attention back to the staring fae around me.

  “May I help you?” I ask everyone and no one in particular. I refuse to eat my first meal out with people gawking at me while I do so. Raising one eyebrow in question, I make a point to make eye contact with as many fae as possible. Most bow their heads, returning to their own affairs; a select few remain mutinous as they continue to stare; but the whispers stop. I make a mental note to keep an eye on those few.

  When I turn back to my company, I notice that everyone is regarding at me with different variations of amusement on their faces. Willow and Gideon are even covering their mouths with their napkins to keep from laughing out loud. I raise my eyebrow at them as well, trying to give them a pointed stare, but the smile that touches my lips lessens the effect.

  “Poppy, Willow, it is very nice of you to join us.” Queen Lily smiles politely as she quickly appraises both of us before continuing, “You both look quite lovely as well.” As is customary, the queen is the first one to greet us. She actually looks very pleased. I do not know why, nor do I care to question it at this time, but the thought gratifies me.

  “Thank you, my queen,” Willow answers softly beside me. “I hope I am not offending you by wearing one of Poppy’s gowns.” I hate the fear I hear in her voice.

  “Of course not, my dear. They are Poppy’s gowns. She is free to lend them to whomever she chooses. You made a wonderful choice. This one suits you perfectly. You are beautiful, Willow.”

  Willow blushes at the compliment and relaxes now that she has her queen’s approval. I had not realized how nervous she was over that, although I k
now I should have. At times, I find it difficult to remember that this is their court, and they hold the queen in a much higher respect than I do. I do respect her, but her opinion is not as important to me as the king’s would be.

  “What do you think, gentlemen?” The queen smirks when she turns to Gideon and Thorne, who are both openly staring at Willow.

  Gideon recovers first, clearing his throat before speaking. “They both look very beautiful.”

  “Yes, yes, they do,” Thorne agrees.

  Everyone falls silent once again. Willow, oblivious to the attention she is drawing, breaks the silence. “I’m so pleased to be invited to dine with all of you. Thank you very much.”

  “Yes, thank you for the invitation. What are we having?” I add.

  Everyone finally seems relaxed now that there is a topic to discuss. Gideon provides us both with a brief description of what is being served for dinner.

  Most of the fae in the dining hall are provided with a variety of dishes, which are placed on their tables upon arrival. They are able to choose what they would like to eat from there. This usually consists of a few fresh meats, vegetables, a large variety of fruits, and a great deal of fae wine, all items every fae loves. However, at the queen’s table, we are able to choose exactly what we would like from a larger menu. The food is prepared fresh for us, then served directly from the kitchen.

  As the options are presented by the servants and everyone at our table places their orders, I observe Gideon sneaking glances at Willow. Willow, on the other hand, has no idea. She has become more confident, speaking quite animatedly to the other fae at our table. I am sure Gideon, along with everyone else, was surprised by the transformation in Willow. She is like an altogether different fae. She has always been pretty, but she tried very hard to stay in the shadows, so most did not appreciate her natural beauty. Now she shines and is catching more than just Gideon’s eye. We will have to discuss this after dinner.