Ho.
The last ho she had, she was maltreated, burdened by a mamma who hated her existence, and the duty, to care for brothers who never wanted her as a sister.
Ho.
The tower she spent fourteen winters of her life, wasn’t much of one but it was everything she ever had, even though she suffered extortion and abuse from the hands of Dashwell. It was still ho.
Serena made it feel a little bit of ho too.
Ho.
Here she was, standing before what seed impossible. Her ho. It was funny she thought of that word, knowing originally how she got here in the first place. But there was no harm in feeling that way.
After all, she had bled, slept, eaten, and trained in this place for many moons. Her fantasy dream toward freedom was far stretched.
But standing in this place, setting her eyes on the furniture, the fireplace, knowing she earned it.
This was freedom.
She walked to the chair close to the fireplace and sat, sighing heavily as her eyes continued to look around.
"It’s dull," she said. "Maybe if I add so flowers it will be lively," she pictured the things she would add over ti knowing this place was her ho. "I’ll invite Vanya and Cai for drinks." Just the thought of it brightened her mood.
She relaxed more on the chair, giggling as many thoughts crossed her mind.
But first she needed food.
~♧~
Two Nights Later
"How fast did she sew this?" Isadora asked, eyeing the cloth. It was done so quick and it made her doubt the ti given for it.
"Trust , she’s good, the best seamstress in the Raven court, even though she’s almost three hundred winters old," Vanya signed.
"What?" Isadora said with wide eyes. Did she sign right?
"Yes, I did." Vanya said reading her looks, it was written all over it. "She’s three hundred winters old!"
"Alda!" she gasped.
"Why are you shocked? She’s still stealthily as ever. I’m only forty five winters old and I haven’t gotten my first white hair."
Isadora gasped, placing her hands on her chest. "Y-You’re forty five winters old?"
Vanya nodded.
Isadora knew about Fae’s long lifespan, but the realization of Vanya living for so long was stunning. She looked her age!
"Don’t be too shaken about that. You must be older yourself."
"I-I’m twenty winters old."
"Alda! You’re still a child!" Vanya signed with wide eyes. At such an age she had been through so much.
"I-I’m not a child!" Isadora defended.
"You’re still young, don’t worry you still have a lot of winters ahead of you." Vanya pat her head making Isadora suddenly seem like a child.
Isadora growled backing away causing Vanya to laugh hardly.
"You’re just joking with !"
"It wouldn’t hurt to see that look on your face." She shrugged.
Isadora rolled her eyes before looking back at the dresses. "I wish this wasn’t mandatory, I prefer to stay here and let you all celebrate." She said sitting on the bed.
The idea of going out there knowing the ravenites did not like her, was overwhelming.
"We earned it so we have to go."
"Right," she mumbled.
Vanya took a seat beside her. "I’ll braid your hair if you braid mine." Vanya offered, hoping to lighten the mood.
Isadora’s eyes lit up at the idea. "Really?"
"We’re ant to have our braid there, it’s the greatest honor to braid a warrior’s."
"Such honor," Isadora said fidgeting with her hands, maybe this was a bad idea.
Vanya was entrusting her with sothing as important as this.
"I-I don’t know how to braid," she confessed, shyly.
Vanya’s eyes narrowed. "But who gave you that warrior’s braid then?"
Isadora quickly looked away. "No one."
Vanya raised her eyebrow. She wasn’t pushing but she had noticed there was soone in Isadora’s life, soone she thought about a lot even though she didn’t admit it but then the realization struck her.
’Rav?’ she thought with wide eyes. The commander? Could it be? There was no one else to think of, it had to be him!
Maybe she likes him but she didn’t know how to tell him because of his status.
Vanya nudged her shoulder with hers, grabbing Isadora’s attention.
"Don’t worry, I’ll make you outstanding tonight." She wagged her eyebrow up and down.
Isadora frowned. "It’s just a crowning ceremony, Vanya."
"Silly girl."
~♧~
It wasn’t hard to braid and Isadora caught up quickly and did Vanya’s beautifully.
Isadora took a seat, and let Vanya do hers. But a strong sense of deja vu found her as Vanya’s hand slid through her soft strands.
The mories spent in that cave were brought back, Kraven’s lessons, the awkward monts, the kiss.
She swallowed hard and veered her mind as far away from that thought as possible.
Vanya eyed her from the mirror sitting in front of them and smiled. Gods! The girl was so in love! She prayed her feelings would be realized soon enough and knew this night might just ignite that fire.
As far as she knew, Rav was a good person and she could see why Isadora was always around him most of the ti.
Vanya was done with it, she gave Isadora a crown braid she deserved, and she had never looked more beautiful.
Isadora was amazed at how her hair could be weaved to such a style and loved it. "Thank you."
Vanya simply just waved her off and gave a sign for her to stand and Isadora did.
Taking the view of her complete attire through the mirror. The black fabric clung to her figure, a long flowing gown with a fitted leather bodice, the sleeves were long and slightly puffed at the shoulders, tapering down to fitted cuffs.
There was a daring slit to the gown, where her thigh was exposed, revealing the holster strapped around it.
"The seamstress is good indeed," Isadora murmured breathlessly, unable to take her eyes away from the mirror, unable to believe who was standing in the mirror.
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