Preparations

Cathlinn didn't bother getting up, even as Tatiana and Mei pokes at her together, leading them to call for Simon or Carmichael for help. She didn't want to move, her body refusing in its own tantrum. She wanted one day and yet their excited faces refused to let her sleep in. "Leave me alone," she snapped after another hour. Tatiana squealed after being caught off guard and the other three looked at each other. They were used to her aggressive outbursts but this form was new as she hadn't moved.

"Your highness, there's an event in two day," Simon hummed, "And you're at the center of it."

"Well they can suck my dick," Cathlinn pulled her pillow over, covering her head. "Leave me alone."

"Come on, Cathlinn," Mei hummed. "You get to go clothes shopping."

"Fuck. Off," Cathlinn growled. "Let me die here in peace."

"Your highness," Tatiana cried. She immediately pulled the blankets away and Carmichael started to laugh.

"The king allowed for trousers," Simon hummed.

"If it's an event it's a dress," Cathlinn grumbled. "And if it's a dress, it's a corset right now and I don't want to."

"Then no corsets," Mei nodded.

"The king explicitly briefed that the night was yours," Carmichael added. Cathlinn looked up and frowned as the three's faces went straight. She knew she looked bad. She hadn't been able to sleep because of what Istvan had told her and it was driving her anxiety. She slowly got out of the bed and walked for the closet, stopping to face Simon as she pointed.

"I need the history in the Tribes of Trosinger, I need their culture in an unbiased manner without you speaking a fucking word to Istvan, and you can formally speak to him about anything else you think would be necessary to know if we got married," she growled. He blinked and his eyes widened a bit. "Treat him like the fucking morons that sent the letters."

"Your highness, that's a tall order," Simon rubbed his head and sighed as she slammed the closet door shut. It was mere seconds later she was out in a shirt and her jeans, pulling her jacket on. "It'll be done as soon as possible, your highness."

"Great. Someone needs to send a fucking bird to the borders. They need to know to lead the tribes through and not to attack on sight like a gaggle fuck," she sniffed. Mei looked to Carmichael who rubbed his head and began walking after Simon.

"Cathlinn, you're not looking so well. Maybe you should relax on the whole marriage thing," Mei sighed. "Right Tatiana?"

"R-right," Tatiana nodded. "You can even pamper yourself today, there is nothing on your agenda."

"I can't. There's still the matter of- I didn't get anything from you about yesterday," Cathlinn rubbed her face, feeling her chest squeeze on itself. She wasn't even doing anything that warranted the attack.

"I'm obviously agreeing to do it," Tatiana nodded.

Cathlinn nodded and rubbed her face as she sat down at the table in the room, "I still need to review the information that's been gathered on the Queen and I need to start investigating Olvar's growth. There were traces of them on the coasts of Trosinger and we discovered-"

"Trosinger isn't a coastal country," Tatiana frowned and Mei laughed.

"The tribes claimed it while we were traveling," she giggled. "We helped them after they sold her highness to slavers. It was quite the occasion."

"Slavers," Tatiana stared at Cathlinn with wide eyes.

"Old news, Tatiana. No one else got hurt in the incident," Cathlinn rubbed her face and jumped when the hawk landed in front of her with a chirp. "Oh fuck you, you overgrown chicken." She pulled the letter off it's ankle and stopped, staring at the small design that had been scratched into the corner of the paper. Cathlinn sighed and opened it, blinking as her chest slowly stopped squeezing itself tightly.

"Your highness," Tatiana tilted her head and moved a bit closer. Cathlinn shook her head a bit, rubbing her face as she stared at the bird and poked its beak.

"Your master is a piece of work," she muttered. It squawked in return and she started writing a letter back.

The top was tight, pulling her waist to be smaller than it was and she wanted to tear it apart. Tatiana and Mei stared for a moment before Mei gave an exaggerated sigh, "It's too much. It takes away from the entirety." She walked over and tapped her chin before turning Cathlinn around. "Give me just a minute."

"Mei, we've been in here for two hours," Cathlinn sighed. "Shopping shouldn't take this long."

"Live a little, your highness," Tatiana giggled softly. The shirt was pulled over Cathlinn's head and something looser and softer was pulled over. The dress fell to the floor in cascades of emerald, her hips hugged and the v of the neck almost reaching her naval. The back was just barely hanging off of her shoulders and the sleeves hugged her arms like a second skin. Beads in different shades of darker green crawled from the pleat in the dress in the shape of ethereal branches.

Cathlinn marveled at it for a moment and felt at the silk of the gown, turning slightly to see the back. She was close to scared at the shear design of it and her first thought was of someone stabbing her and ruining the dress with red.

"I've outdone myself," Mei nodded and began to play with Cathlinn's hair.

"If I get attacked, the blood will ruin it," Cathlinn stated.

"The security will be tight and the only ones around you are the suitors and noble women," Tatiana walked to stand in front of Cathlinn, taking her hands and turning them over. "I'm sure we can hide the scars of you want. Many jewelers would welcome the challenge it'll bring."

"Are those really necessary," Cathlinn asked quietly. "The ones on my back are more worrisome."

"The scar on your throat," Mei peeked over Cathlinn's shoulder, a finger delicately tracing it, "You may scare more people with it. The suitors are the only ones that know it exists along with your back."

"Do we already have a list of names of who's coming," Cathlinn mumbled.

"Yes, was there someone you wanted to invite," Tatiana asked.

"The late family of Hertzmetzger," Cathlinn nodded. The two froze and looked to each other as Cathlinn shook her head. "If this event is meant for me than I want them there."

"Why a fallen family, your highness," Tatiana inquired.

"Because that family-"

"Your highness, look at this," Mei quickly wrapped a thick choker around Cathlinn's neck, the satin matching the dress. "It's perfect!"

"Mei, that was rude," Tatiana scolded. She sighed and shook her head a bit, "Besides, you'd want a color that didn't match the dress so much. Otherwise, it would be very boring to look at."

"You two are going to be the death of me," Cathlinn rubbed her head and crossed her arms. "The dress is fine. A choker is fine. But I'm not wearing anymore jewelry after that, got it? Shits expensive."

"You have the money to spend," Tatiana giggled. "Don't be such a penny pincher, your highness."

"Should we add fur? It would bring out her hair," Mei asked Tatiana. Cathlinn groaned and began to take the dress and choker off, her shoulders sagging a bit. She turned her head to the door slamming open and then shut and blinked at James, her heart squeezing at his little puffy eyes. He was such a crybaby here, it wasn't like back home at all.

He caught her eyes, staring back before those intense blues glossed over. He raced straight for her and she quickly knelt, hugging him as he threw his arms around her neck. It wasn't until she pat his back that the tears slowly stopped.

"It's okay, James. I'm right here," she whispered. The boy hiccuped and squeezed as the door opened again and Breanne looked in. She blinked as her gaze changed between her son and Cathlinn.

"I'm so sorry. He got lost," she bowed her head a bit as she came closer and Cathlinn stood up, smiling softly.

"It's okay. I got him to calm down a little," Cathlinn hummed. She handed James to her before hesitantly ruffling his hair. "How are you? I hope what happened a little bit ago didn't bring you any stress?"

Breanne watched Cathlinn's hand as if she had expected something different, "No, not at all, your highness. Marcus has been sleeping outside since then." Cathlinn chuckled; the step mother was ruthless as ever here and it was heart warming to see that hadn't changed along with the fair way the older woman looked at people.

"I'm glad I could see you though. I have a chance to personally invite you," Cathlinn nodded. Breanne stared with wide eyes before she gathered herself, straightening up as she gently bounced James.

"I'm sorry, I have to take care of the children and make sure-"

"They're invited as well," Cathlinn stared at Mei who seemed a little more excited than even before. "Her highness was just talking about it!"