A Perfect Fit

Life, Milestone

Fenneck goes with Naertho to the palace to assist with the fitting for Evelyn and Jasna.

Fenneck carefully carried the armload of dresses as he followed Naertho into the palace. Fenneck had only ever passed through the throne room before and he found himself gaping in awe at the beautiful elvish architecture. They were led into a spare room that was set up for the fitting and Naertho laid out his things as they prepared for Jasna and Evelyn to arrive. Fenneck removed his green dress from the bag and admired it, hoping that Evelyn liked it. "It turned out lovely," Naertho said, admiring Fenneck's work. "You think so?" he asked him nervously. This was a big moment for Fenneck. He really liked the work he and Naertho did and he hoped to be as good of a tailor one day. "I do. You show real promise, Fen." His uncle smiled at him and turned as the door opened and Jasna and Evelyn walked in with a few handmaids and who Fenneck could only assume was the Grand Duchess herself, Milena, their mother. Milena was a tall, regal looking high-elf with long blonde hair and silver eyes. She was wearing a striking blood red dress with beautiful gold embellishments on it. She wore a large red ornate kokoshnik on her head that dangled gold pearls from it. She had a very powerful, intimidating prescence about her.   Fenneck and Naertho bowed politely as they entered. "Welcome," Milena greeted them. "Your grace," Naertho said, cordially and gracefully. Fenneck hoped he too would be able to be so graceful around royalty one day. He was pretty nervous at the moment. Evelyn caught Fenneck's eye as he rose from his bow and gave him a small smile and Fenneck couldn't stop himself from smiling back at her. "Who is this, Naertho?" Milena asked Naertho, motioning to Fenneck. "This is my apprentice, Fenneck Frostears," Naertho introduced him. Fenneck bowed again. "Your grace," he replied, his voice shaking ever so slightly. "Welcome, Frostears. Well, let's see what you've created for my girls, shall we?" Milena addressed Naertho.   Jasna gave Fenneck a friendly smile and Evelyn walked over to his dress. Fenneck's heart was pounding as he anxiously waited for her reaction. She smiled when she saw it and reached out to touch the fabric. "It's beautiful," she said softly, avoiding Fenneck's eyes, before pulling it off the bed. He took a few steps back so she could remove her current gown. Her posse of handmaids helped her and Fenneck couldn't help but admire how pretty she was in her underwear and stockings. She seemed to notice him staring and she gave him a coy smile and Fenneck turned away from embarrassment.   "Oh this is just lovely, Naertho!" Jasna said, spinning in her indigo gown. She seemed much easier to please than her sister. "I'm glad you like it," Naertho thanked her. Evelyn didn't say anything as she admired herself in Fenneck's gown. Eventually she turned from the looking glass and faced them. "You designed this, didn't you?" she asked Fenneck, playfully accusatory. Fenneck nodded cautiously. "It's beautiful. You have a different style from Naertho. I like it." Fenneck's throat felt like the Sethrekar desert from his nerves as he struggled to speak. "Th-thank you." Evelyn smiled and turned toward her mother who gave a small nod of approval. "Does anything need to be altered?" Naertho asked them. "Mine's wonderful. You always seem to get them perfect the first time," Jasna told Naertho. "Yeah, mine feels great too," Evelyn said, casting a shy glance at Fenneck. Fenneck could feel his ears turning red and he hoped they could leave before anyone noticed. Milena nodded her approval. "Wonderful. They'll look lovely at the ball tonight, Naertho. Thank you. Guards!" She waved gracefully toward the door. "Please show them out."   Naertho led Fenneck back out of the palace and down into the mountain. "Go ahead and head home for the evening. Good job today. Next time will be easier," he assured him. "I know it's a bit nerve wracking but you handled yourself well," Naertho told him. "Thank you," he told his uncle. "I just hope she liked it." Fenneck said, still worried about whether he had done well enough to please the duchess. "She did. That's the most I've ever heard her say about a dress. One she liked anyway." He gave Fenneck an approving smile and Fenneck couldn't help but feel a bit proud of himself. "Thank you for letting me design it," he thanked him. "Of course, Fen. Go, get home to your mother and tell her about your incredible accomplishment." He kissed Fenneck on the forehead and waved him off.   Fenneck excitedly ran down to the bar to see if Erikur and Alexei were there. They weren't, though. It was too early in the day. He huffed and turned back to his home. "Hey mom? I'm home!" he called out as he came in. His mother popped her head out of her bedroom. "Oh hello! You're home early! I was bathing, give me a few moments." "Oh, you're fine. I'll be in my room," he said turning to his door. "Okay love!" she closed the door and Fenneck went to his room. He closed his door and plopped himself down on his bed mat.   He couldn't stop thinking about Evelyn. Was she really interested in him like that? A princess? He pulled his pants off and let himself think about what it would be like to be with her. "Fenneck?" his mom called at the most inopportune time. "Shit!" he said pulling his trousers up as his mom's footsteps closed in on his door. "Hold on!" he said, annoyed at being interrupted. He finally got dressed and wiped his hands off on a towel. He opened the door. "What?" he asked her, annoyed. She gave him a knowing look. "Sorry to interrupt you," she told him cheekily. He scoffed at her. "What do you want?" he begged her hurriedly so he could retreat back into his fantasies. "I wanted to know how today went. It's a big deal! Did the princess like your dress?" she asked him. He sighed. "Yes, she did. Naertho said she liked it more than most of the dresses he's made her." Faina smiled proudly at him. "Did it look how you imagined it would?" she asked him. He thought for a moment. "Yeah, she looked... quite lovely in it. I was really nervous and it was quite stressful," he told his mother. "I bet. Well, I'm glad it went well. You're father and I are going out tonight and we won't be back till pretty late okay?" Fenneck nodded. "Okay," he said. "So no dinner?" he confirmed. His mother shrugged. "You can cook can't you?" she told him, a bit passive aggressively. "Yeah," he assured her. "I'll be fine. Have fun," he told her. She nodded and left and Fenneck pursed his lips.   There was still a couple more hours till the ball and Fenneck had an idea forming in his mind. A fairly dangerous one. He waited till his parents had left before going out and heading up to the shop. Fenneck rifled through some of the fancy clothes and picked out a nice navy blue outfit. He went into a dressing room and put on a fancy court outfit and studied himself in the mirror. This was very risky. He could get in a lot of trouble if he got caught, but Fenneck hadn't been able to get the thought of Evelyn out of his head. He needed to know if there really was something there or not. He found a dark brown wig and quickly braided his own hair to hide it under the wig. He looked weird with dark hair, but at least he wouldn't be as easily recognizable. He collected himself and left the shop, locking it behind himself and keeping his head down.   He tried to act casual as he made his way up the stairs. He climbed up and continued to the first floor of the palace. He got off and moved toward the entrance. Luckily there was a bit of a crowd forming and he allowed himself to fall into the group heading to the lifts. He couldn't believe how easy this was. They made it to the second floor and he walked with the crowd to the grand staircase that led into the ballroom. Fenneck avoided the guards' eyes and stayed interspersed with the other guests until he was inside. The ballroom was beautiful. It was very large with two stages for the orchestra and choir. Fenneck picked out Erikur who was currently playing the flute in the orchestra and briefly made eye contact with him before looking away, realizing he was in a disguise. Fenneck looked around until he saw the familiar green fabric of the dress he had made for Evelyn on the far side of the room by a doorway. She was standing by herself and she looked bored. Fenneck carefully made his way across the ballroom until he was a few feet away from her. He stood against the wall on the other side of the doorway, trying to make eye contact with her. When he finally caught her eyes, she looked confused for a moment before a smile crept onto her face. She looked around and nodded for him to follow her. She didn't wait for his response before disappearing through the doorway. Fenneck looked around and slowly followed her at a distance. She continued down the hall, passing several doors before settling on one and walking through it. Fenneck followed her in and she closed the door behind him. They were alone in what looked like a spare bedroom of some sort.   "What are you doing here?" she whispered to him in disbelief. "I... I wanted to speak with you," he said, realizing how foolish this whole endeavor was. "You could get in trouble for being here! My father could have you killed for showing up to a party like this uninvited!" she warned him. Fenneck gulped. "I... I couldn't stop thinking about you," he admitted, feeling foolish. She softened her demeanor and looked around as if to make sure they were really alone. "Really?" she asked him, surprised. "Well... yes," Fenneck said, blushing. "Why?" she asked him. Fenneck shrugged, unable to give her a good answer. "I... I'm not sure," he admitted. "You're just... I'm just confused I think," he told her. She cocked her head at him and glanced at the door before looking back at him. "You're really really handsome," she told him sweetly. Fenneck swallowed nervously. "Th-thank you. You... you're just so... beautiful... why did you kiss me that day?" he asked her. She shrugged. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "I just liked you. You were so... genuine and sweet. I'm not used to that." Fenneck felt his ears starting to burn as his skin flushed at her compliments. She smiled coyly at him and Fenneck felt overwhelmed with desire at her response. "Well," she said slowly moving toward him. "You finally have me alone," she pointed out, only a few inches away from him now. "What do you want to... do?" Fenneck could smell her sweet perfume that smelled like sweet fruit and he felt his trousers getting tighter and tighter. "I...um..."   He didn't know what to say and luckily he didn't have to. Evelyn walked into his arms and leaned her face up toward his. He slowly leaned down and kissed her her pretty perfect pink lips. She kissed him back and gently pulled him toward the bed. She pulled his wig off as she kissed him and Fenneck let himself go as he turned her in his arms and started undoing the ties on her brand new dress. He nuzzled his face against hers as he worked and she giggled and breathed excitedly, sending warm gitters and excited tingles through Fenneck's body. He finally got her out of the dress and pulled her beautiful body into his embrace when she was in her delicate white undergarments. Fenneck took his time as he admired every perfect inch of her body, slowly removing each piece of clothing she was wearing and before long Fenneck found himself admiring her beautiful naked body sprawled out before him on the bed.   After a few hours and when they had both finished, Fenneck held her in his arms as she smiled up at him. She was so pretty. Fenneck hadn't been with a girl before. He found it more nerve-wracking than it was being with Erikur. Fenneck kissed her sweetly and looked longingly into her eyes. "I want to see you again," he told her. She sighed and leaned into him. "I don't know," she said sadly. "It's risky. We should get dressed and head back out," she decided as she sat up and started putting her stocking back on. "I'll go first," she told him. "You should wait a few minutes before you follow me." She stood and picked her shift up off the ground and slipping it on over her delictae body, much to Fenneck's disappointment. "Will I see you again?" he begged her. She turned back and frowned before giving him a weak shrug. "It's really dangerous, Fenneck. I don't want you or your family to get into trouble." Fenneck nodded sadly and felt guilt rise up in him for having been stupid enough to have done this. He stood up and quickly through his pants back on. "Yeah, I guess I was kind of an idiot for doing this," he said picking up the brown wig off the floor and tucking his now matted braid underneath it.   Evelyn giggled at the ridiculous wig. "You really went through all this trouble just to see me?" She seemed surprised. "You don't have suitors constantly falling at your feet?" he asked her in confusion. She shrugged. "Not really. They all want my sister," she said trying to put her corset back on. Fenneck went to help her and started lacing it up in the back. "Well they're all foolish," he told her. "You're one of the most beautiful creatures I've ever met," he told her. He finished and helped slip her pretty green dress over her head and he started lacing it up. "It's a lovely dress," she complimented his work, caressing the fabric. "I'm glad you think so," he said sweetly. "It's the first time my uncle allowed me to design one for such a... grand occasion. Or such an important person." "Naertho's your uncle?" she asked him. "Yes, he's my mom's brother. I've studied with him for thirty-five years now," he told her, tying the lace into a beautiful bow. "Your hard work shows," she complimented him again. "It's a shame I didn't wear it for most of the night," she said teasingly before turning around to face him and pulling him down into another sensual kiss. Fenneck didn't want to let her go. He loved being with her. She made his heart all warm and fuzzy. She finally pulled away slowly and silently moved to the door. "Please tell me I can see you again, Evelyn?" he begged her. She looked down shyly. "I don't know, Fenneck," she told him honestly. "Be careful getting out of here." She opened the door and cast Fenneck a longing look before closing it behind her.   In that moment Fenneck felt himself start to fall. She had done something to him that no else had. Not even Erikur. Maybe it was the dangerous stakes of such an affair that made it all the more enticing. Maybe it was her cute, innocent blue eyes. Maybe it was his own foolish heart. He couldn't accept that this was it, though. He had to see her again. He was in love with her.    He waited a few more moments before following her back out into the ballroom. He looked around but he didn't see her among the crowd. He looked over at the orchestra and saw Erikur still playing his flute. He made eye contact with him briefly and saw Erikur looked confused. Fenneck remembered he had a wig on and turned away. He moved toward the entrance of the ballroom and headed down the grand staircase alone. He knew he should be more careful but his thoughts were consumed with Evelyn. He walked out through the main entrance and into the cold. He figured it would be safer to enter from the outside of the second level of the mountain. He made it to his house and snuck inside before taking his disguise off and laid down in his bed.   He continued to think about Evelyn. What was this? He'd been with Erikur a million times and never felt this painful desire. This uncontrollable hope. The dreaming. Fenneck realized it was love. He had never been in love before. Not romantic love. He loved his parents and Naertho and he did love Erikur but in different ways. This was something else entirely. Fenneck smiled at the realization and let himself be overcome with the exciting butterflies in his stomach. He had to find her again. He had to be with her again. It couldn't end like this.