Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Seven - The Tavern

It was late afternoon before you and Caspian decided to get out of the water.  The sun was casting long shadows on the buildings as you passed back through the now empty market.
"I really need some new clothes..." You grumbled as you kept tripping on the wrap Zumi loaned you.
"Yet another reason to get in contact with the Shade." Caspian responded.
"Even if we got a message out today, there's no guarantee they would be anywhere near here...and I'm not going to wear this for one more day."
"We could get you back into that little purple outfit you were wearing when we found you..." he teased. "It was rather convenient for me..."
You shot him a look. "I might just join the villagers tomorrow to sneak into the city..."
"Don't you DARE." His voice suddenly became stern, and he stopped to look you in the eye. His eyes darkened. "Aslan's mane...I'm not letting you out of my sight, ever again."
"I was only half serious..." You tried to play it off and continued walking.
"Well it wasn't half funny..." He replied. "They're still looking for you. If you were spotted... don't do that to me..."
"I'm sorry. It was a bad joke." You grabbed his arm as you walked, and you felt him relax again.
He looked down at you from the corner of his eye. "You are right though. If we are going to get down to the docks, you'll need something that makes you blend in."
"Soooo are we going shopping tomorrow?" You looked up at him hopefully.
He sighed. "I supposed we must."
You jumped excitedly, and made him laugh as you tripped over your wrap again.

As you approached the shack Raxe was outside grooming Abra,
"Welcome back. Have a nice bath?" He gave you a knowing look.
"Yes. Thank you." You emphasized.
He chuckled and nodded, and you headed inside.
Zumi was preparing whatever animal Kex had just brought him.
"Ah, all clean? Feel better?" He greeted you.
"Much." Caspian responded.
"We were talking about going shopping tomorrow in the market for some new clothes for me. But it occurs to me we don't have anything to trade with anyone..." You trailed off.
"Oh well, as it happens, I thought of that too. So, I had the men bring me those from the city today." He motioned to some fabrics draped over the chair opposite of him.
"What?" You looked over, "Zumi, you didn't have to..." You picked them up.
There was a pair of light teal, loose fitting pants, and a black vest type top with loose sleeves. Two sheer cuttings of material, one black and one of matching teal, and one solid copper colored piece fell out of the pile when you unfolded it.
He shrugged. "You needed them. Sire, yours are over there." He pointed to the other chair.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Caspian questioned, looking down at himself.
Raxe entered the room. "Nothing, for a Narnian sailor. But if we want to blend in on the docks, you need to look Calormene."
Caspian picked up a dark red sleeveless, long, robe type top, and a pair of gray pants.
"Come on, let's go try them on now that you're both clean!" Zumi clapped Caspian on the back. "We'll go outside. You can dress in here." He said to you.
"But...I don't need..." Caspian protested as Raxe and Zumi pushed him out the door. You giggled as he looked back at you and mouthed "help me..." as the door shut behind them.
You undressed, and inspected your new clothes more intently as you put each garment on. The pants were a very light cotton, they breathed very well. You had no idea what they used to dye their fabrics but this teal color was beautiful. Next the top, which was a bit confusing to put on since the sleeves came down to your wrists but there were slits cut all the way up to your shoulders. The waist was tight, almost corset style, but not as unbearable to move in, while the sleeves hung loosely at your sides. The material was a deep, dark black with copper colored thread stitched throughout in a diagonal pattern. There were brass clasps across your chest and stomach that stopped at your waistline, where the material flared out. The cut of the top was very low, just covering the bottom half of your breasts.
You looked at the last bits of loose material, trying to figure out what you were supposed to do with them. You called out to Zumi from the window.
"Can you help me?"
"Uh. Yea, coming!" He responded. You heard him knock on the front door. "Are you decent?"
"Yea." You giggled.
"Look at you." He exclaimed when he opened the door.
You blushed. "What? Did I do it wrong?"
"Not at all." He smiled. "Caspian is a lucky guy."
"What?..." You began.
He shook his head, "What else do we have?"
You held up the last three items. "I don't know what to do with these."
"Oh." he laughed. "Ok this one" he picked up the copper piece "goes around your waist. May I?"
You nodded, and he wrapped it around you like a sash, letting a bit hang off to one hip.
"Next. As much as I'm sure Caspian would love this" he gestured to your protruding chest "it's definitely not appropriate for everyday wear. So you tuck this" he grabbed the sheer teal strip of fabric "around your neck, and into your...uhm... top..."
He made a motion like he was tucking something into his shirt.
You tried to mimic what he was doing, but the fabric just ended up bunching and uncomfortable.
"Uh..not quite.. uhm..." He was trying to figure out how to explain it without touching you.
"Oh just do it." You put your hands on your hips exasperated.
"This is STRICTLY FRIENDLY" he called out the window, as if to ensure Caspian would hear him, then he rolled the fabric long ways, placed it around your neck and tucked it between your breasts, so your chest was more modestly covered.
"Oh, your hair." He motioned. "Can I just?..." He pointed to your head, and you nodded. He braided each side of the top half of your hair, pinning them both back behind your head. "You'll thank me for that, it'll be all in your face otherwise."
"Lastly... yea this one you'll need my help with." He held up the black sheer fabric. "It's a veil. Not every woman wears one but I figured the more your face was covered the better..."
"Good idea." You agreed.
He wrapped the fabric methodically around your head, so that it lay gently over the back of your hair. He used a small piece of it to wrap around and cover the bottom half of your face.
"Oh, I grabbed you shoes too." He reached under the chair and pulled out a pair of black flat, slipper-style shoes with slightly pointed toes. You put them on, and stood back.
"Well? How do I look?" You asked nervously.
"Damn." He said smiling with his hands on his hips. "If you ever get sick of that king of yours, I'll treat you right..."
"Zumi..." You giggled. "I don't.."
"Hush." He stopped you. "You don't need to admit or deny anything to me. I can see what's real with my own eyes."
"But I..."
"I won't say a word." He made a key locking motion to his lips.
You sighed, smiling.
"Let me go get him..." He winked at you and went out the door.
You moved around in your new clothes. As covered as you were, it didn't feel heavy or warm. The fabrics were all very light, breathable, and flowy. You didn't mind having your face covered, as it didn't restrict your breathing much. You put your necklace back on, and tucked it into your top. The door cracked open, and Caspian walked in.
The dark red, sleeveless robe fell to right above his knees, with gold buttons running the length from the short quarter collar that came up around his neck, down to his hipline. The fabric had a swirling vine pattern in a darker red all throughout.  His pants and sleeves were of a matching dark gray color. He too wore a pair of flat slipper type shoes, but his were red and not as pointed as yours. His hair had been combed, and the top half tied back. How did this man look good in ANYTHING he wore....
"Wow." He stopped and stared at you.
Raxe entered behind him. "DAMN GIRL." He shouted as soon as he saw you, and you laughed.
"Isn't she a vision Sire?" Zumi elbowed Caspian gently, who still hadn't moved.
"I... You look....beautiful." He stammered, turning pink.
You looked down, shyly. "Thank you."
"You both look fucking fantastic." Raxe laughed. "Why didn't you get me anything Zum?" He pushed him.
"Because it wouldn't make a difference. I could dress you as the Emperor himself and you'd still look like a feral animal." Zumi punched Raxe back playfully.
You all laughed.