Val's dress above ^

Valeria

"Where is she?"

"Alert the guards!"

Those are the noises I groggily woke up to. I proceeded to hit my head on the bottom of the bed as I had slept underneath as a precaution. With as much of my dignity intact, I crawl out from under the bed to run into a gaggle of maids in my room. They are as shocked to see me as I them.

I question them, "What are you doing in my chamber?"

The oldest one replies, "High King Dromio has sent us to prepare you and attire you properly for Court."

I laugh. Dromio is obviously trying to womanize me. It would be unseemly to have a woman wearing pants at Court where I have to go. I hate maids. They are like spies. The servants have all the good dirt on everyone because no one questions them. It's not like I hate dresses, I am willing to wear an easy one. Not one with a thousand ruffles or anything, hell no!

I reach under the bed to pull out my various weapons, "Sure, you can choose a dress for me, but I have none. This dress must not be too extravagant either."

Another maid answered, "High King has anticipated your answer and set us in with your new wardrobe.  Breakfast is served in only a half candle's time. We must hurry to prepare you."

I stop what I am doing and give them a look, "What exactly does preparing me entail?"

A third maid waves her hands dismissively, "The usual. Clothes, bathing, fixing one's imperfections, adding kohl and other products suited to the Court's fashion."

I back up, "I dismiss you all. I can figure it out on my own."

A fourth maid pops up, "Milady, you cannot put on a corset without our help."

"A corset?" I squeak.

"Of course, it is the fashion," states the older maid.

I reach for my knife blindly behind me, "I am not wearing a corset."

"You must! All women have to," says a fifth maid.

How many maids are there in my room? What the hell?

I shake my head, "I will not. Count yourselves lucky that I do not show up in pants and a shirt."

The first maid gasps horrified, "You cannot mean the clothing you wore to arrive."

I nod, "The same type."

"Milady," cries the second one, "you cannot! High King Dromio will not allow it."

Irritated, I roll my eyes, "I can do whatever I damn well please. I am a diplomat in these walls, a foreign entity. Your king does not control me."

"However will you hear the hooped petticoats," a sixth maid whines, apparently not getting the message I was not wearing one of those god awful things. 

The eldest maid calms them, "At least, look at our preferred choice for you."

The maids bring out what they claim to be the highest fashion in Court. I gaze upon it horrified. Hell to the fucking no! I refuse, I draw the line. I mean how can women even move in that thing?

I shake my head furiously, "No thank you."

The maids clamor, "You must, it is beautiful."

I pull out a knife, "Nope, I won't. Please leave."

The maids are delicate souls apparently because most of them fainted at the sight of my knife. I mean it's not even a sword. It's not my fault that there is a tiny bit of blood on it. I cut my hand earlier while crawling out from underneath the bed. 

I call out, "Anyone!"

"Yes milady," a butler enters the room.

I motion to the fainted women-in-waiting which I think is the correct term, "Can you get these women out of my chamber? It seems they do not have the constitution to deal with me."

The butler pales at the sight of my knife, "Yes, milady. Right away, milady."

True to his word, five butlers come in and remove the women. Thank goodness they are out of the way because if they even thought I would for a minute wear the monstrosity they call a dress, they are out of their minds.

I don't have an issue with dresses. In my books, there are even these men that wear a sort of skirts, I believe they are called kilts. They only reason men wear that in their country is to be able to hide more weapons on their bodies. That is a reasoning I approve of.  

I slip into an easy dress to put on. It has slits that are covered in cloth of course, but it would be easier to fight in. If necessary, there are clear lines where I can cut the material to ride a horse or a dragon depending on the gravity of the situation. I take no time at all to get ready.

I open my door to find a woman waiting outside of it. To her, I look pretty innocent, but actually my hand is gripping the hilt of my sword. Damn them, they should know not to scare me. I try to pull my nerves together. This is why I hate new places.

I smile, "Hello, who are you?"

She curtseys, "I am Princess Rosaline, High King Dromio's youngest official daughter."

I give her a head nod, "I am Valeria DragonRider, but I suppose you know that."

Rosaline nods, "Of course, everyone has heard of you. I am to escort you to the dining room and serve as your guide. It was supposed to be my sister Princess Portia, but she is . . . unwell."

I chuckle, "Is Portia throwing a fit?"

She starts to walk, "Yes, but not in the sense you mean. As I am sure you have guessed, everyone believed the DragonRider to be a man. Portia is betrothed to King Angus who has wandering hands. If you were a man, either Portia or I would be your bride. As you're a woman that is impossible. She is upset and I am now your guide."

I frown, "You are rather honest with me. I am technically with your people's enemies, Princess."

Rosaline shakes her head, "You don't have to call me by my title. And I guess I am open to you, but at Court, everyone is your enemy."

I nod my head, "Like the old saying, Never trust anyone and have a plan to kill everyone you cross paths with."

Rosa agrees, "In a less agressive sense. If you do not mind me asking, how did you manage to leave your room with what you are wearing? My own ladies-in-waiting would never let me in such a gown."

I grin, "I am not appreciative of your fashion. Your father is lucky I chose a dress to wear and not the same type of clothes I arrived in, Rosa."

She giggles, "I like the name Rosa, it sounds good.

I shrug, "Rosaline is too much of a mouthful."

We continue along to walk in silence. I have nothing to say and Rosa appears ost in her thoughts. Good for me, I have to check in with my other friends. 

"Darat, Sonya, Zate, Xozzo, Gyki, Zorgym, Nivri, Ilby!" I call with my mind.

"Yes," replied Darat.

I inform him of the current events, "I am heading to breakfast, but it is rather late by our standards."

Sonya is still laughing from when I recounted what occurred with my ladies-in-waiting, "That's hilarious!"

Darat interrupts, "If you ever need us, we are simply a call away. Now focus because your companion is calling you."

"Valeria, Valeria, Valeria!"

I snap out of my thoughts, "Yes?"

Rosa looks sheepish, "Can I call you Valeria?"

"Yes, you can," I answer.

She smiles, "Either way, we're here at the dining room."

I take a deep breath before motioning to the guards to open the doors. It's time to start this nightmare.

***

Word Count: 1345