A Court of Legends and Myths

Chapter 3 - Getting ready for the Ball

Aelin's POV

"Out, get out!" Aelin yelled at her mate, whilst shoving him out the door of their shared bedroom. "Where am I supposed to get ready?!" Rowan shouted towards Aelin. "I don't care, go find Aedion or Lorcan both of their wives are coming here so they'll be alone!" Aelin yelled back. The girls were all coming to her room to get ready together, just them and some champagne, well champagne for everyone else. As she watched her husband move down the hall she heard the unmistakable giggling of Lysandra, Evangeline, and Elide. "Ladies" Rowan said as he passed them, Aelin didn't hear any response so she assumed they just rolled their eyes at him. "Hiiii" Evangeline said, waiving towards her.

Now 28 she has grown into the beauty Madam Clarisse sought her out for, just like any of them Eva can be the proper lady when needed but still has a wild and young heart. She makes Aelin smile every time she sees her, especially as she walks around proud of the scars on her face.

"Hi, Eva, Lys, and Elide, you're just on time and first to arrive." Aelin said to the girls. "We passed Sellene on our way here, she was just getting her dress, she should be here any moment." Elide informed her, and as if just speaking her name summons her Sellene walked around the corner at the of the hallway. She and Sellene had grown to be like sisters since their first meeting during the war 16 years ago. Rowan was right they do get along perfectly especially with their love of snooping in places they shouldn't.

"Come on in, now all we're waiting for are Nesryn, Borte, Yrene, Manon, Ansel, Hasar, and Renia." Aelin told them. The rest of the thirteen were invited but decided to stay out, all but Asterin who would no doubt stand guard at the door, they said there was no point in them joining Aelin and the others as they would be wearing their riding leathers. "Welcome to my humble abode." That earned her a snort from Lysandra "This isn't what I would call humble, this place is twice the size of my own back home." Sellene said with awe. A knock sounded at the door and Elide went to open it, a head of golden brown hair popped into the room and Yrene said excitedly "Guess who!" as she walked in followed by Nesryn, Hasar and Renia. "This place is massive, how the hell do you find your way around it!' Nesryn said as she flopped down onto one of the couches unceremoniously. Aelin simply rolled her eyes, "No seriously we got lost at least three times, before finally asking one of the servants. Well I asked, while Hasar tapped her foot on the ground impatiently, despite being the one to get lost in the first place." Renia said whilst glaring at her wife for the last bit of it, which earned a round of chuckles from everyone else but Hasar.

"You have now been blessed with our glorious presence!" Ansel yelled while bursting through the doors, Manon on her heels. "It's about time, if you had shown up any later we would have started without you" Aelin declared. "We had to take our time to have the perfect entrance." Ansel said as if it was obvious, earning a grin from Aelin, Borte and Lys, and eye rolls from everyone else. "Who's up first?" Lysandra said as she clapped her hands together. "We just walked in." Manon complained "That may be so, but it will take at least an hour and a half to get hair and makeup done then another hour getting dressed" Sellene pointed out.

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It took more than an hour and a half to get everyone done even with the four handmaidens who came in to help. Everyone kept their makeup simple, limited blush, kohl, either dark or light lipstick, and colouring above the eyes which matched each female/woman's gown. Ansel and Yrene were first. Ansel had a simple bun done on the base of her head. Yrene had half her hair braided into a coronet and the other half she left down. Following them were Hasar and Renia. Hasar had a french roll bun done, whilst Renia had an intricately braided bun. Lysandra and Evangeline did each other's hair. Lys made a crown braid in Evangeline's hair. Whilst Eva did waterfall braids in Lys' hair. Elide had a fishtail braid updo. Sellene had a braided chignon updo. And Aelin had a loose bun made of multiple twists. Both Nesryn and Manon left their hair down.