“Is that like an engagement ring?” Maddie wondered.
“Well, a little, but this torc is more like that,” she lifted up a beautiful golden necklace. She continued, “First, let me tell you about the belt. This is the belt that you wear before your unification. After unification, you wear a different one. This one signifies that you have an intended mate, but you are still not, er, how do you say...?” Sharra stammered.
“Oh, I know. It means I am still a virgin!” I exclaimed. Dear Lord, everyone will know I’m...oh, I so don’t want to go there.
“Yes, exactly!” Sharra was relieved she didn’t have to explain further. “This is so important in our world, Maddie.”
The belt was stunning. It, too, was gold, but it was made of the softest of leather and was studded with diamonds and emeralds.
It was wide, to be worn slung across her hips, and it had a small loop on one side.
“What is this for?” Maddie asked pointing to the loop.
“Ah, that is for this,” she said excitedly. In her hands was a beautiful dagger. Again, it was gold and encrusted with diamonds.
“I have never seen so many jewels in my entire life, Sharra. Do you always wear these things on Vesturon?” Maddie asked, a bit overwhelmed.
“Only on special occasions. You see, everything we wear has significance. It is not like here where everyone adorns themselves with trinkets and baubles. On Vesturon, it is more meaningful, I think.”
“I think I get it. Okay, what about the necklace,” Maddie reminded her.
Sharra got excited again and blurted out, “I nearly forgot. Yes! It is known as a torc, Maddie. This is more like your engagement ring. It is something that the male gives the female as a sign of his intentions to unite with her. Okay, here it is.”
“But, Rayn doesn’t know about this. How can we do this?”
“We were a tiny bit devious about this one. When Rykerian and Therron took you to Vesturon the last time, they had some time alone with Rayn. They thought we might need to have a plan like this, to use in case we had to come back to make a point. So they discreetly asked him if he were to give you a torc of intention, what would it look like. This is what he described, or at least that’s what they
thought
he described. So that’s what they purchased for you. Isn’t it lovely?” she asked.
“It’s topaz.” It was thickly twisted gold filigree with a large topaz stone, surrounded by pave diamonds hanging from the center. It was elegant and beautiful.
“Exactly! He told them he would get one of topaz because that is the color of your beautiful eyes. He said he always loved that color and now he knew why. It was because he was waiting for you to appear in his life,” Sharra explained.
Maddie suddenly felt tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Oh, Maddie, I didn’t mean for this to upset you,” Sharra added sadly, while throwing her arms around Maddie.
“No, it’s just that’s exactly something that Rayn would say. I just wish he were here to place it around my neck. I don’t know what I’ll do if all this doesn’t work,” Maddie gushed.
“Maddie, we are going to make it work. You’ll see. Now, let me show you the clothes. They are white, which is our most formal color, see?”
“Oh, they’re so beautiful, and so soft. What kind of material is this?”
“It’s the softest type of leather known on Vesturon. It is lovely, is it not?”
Maddie was speechless. She had never owned anything so fine in her life.
She stripped down and started pulling everything on. Everything fit her to a tee. The leggings hugged her thighs and fell in soft folds at her ankles. There was a matching tunic that fell to the tops of her thighs. It was sleeveless and slightly cut in, showing off her shapely shoulders. The front came up to her neck and was form fitting. The back, however, draped down in a swag-like manner, leaving her bare nearly to the waist. The look was dramatic, demure, powerful and sexy all at the same time. She slung the belt low across her hips and her bare arms allowed her to show off the beautiful golden bands.
Sharra looked on in appreciation and said, “You are more beautiful in that than I ever imagined. Maddie, Rayn’s heart will stop beating when he sees you. You look incredible!”
“Do you think? I mean I feel like a princess, but…”
“That is exactly what you look like, and, Maddie, that is exactly what you are. When you unite with Rayn, you will be a princess! I cannot wait to see his face when he looks upon you.”
In the ancient tongue she added,
“You are truly beautiful beyond my simple words. My brother has picked wisely in you. I will be very proud to be your sister.”
“Sharra, what did you just say?”
“Nothing except that you are the best match for my brother, and he was right to choose you for his mate. Maddie, I know this has to work. You take my breath away; you are so lovely. You are going to captivate the Elders; I just know it.”
“Thank you, Sharra, for all of this.” Maddie swept her arm, gesturing toward all the clothing. “But also, thank you for being there for me every day and putting up with my moods. I really do love you, you know,” Maddie explained as she reached to hug Sharra.
“I love you, too, Maddie,” Sharra said, as she hugged her back. “Ready to be presented?”
“What?”
“Your presentation. All the brothers are assembled downstairs, awaiting for you to make your appearance. They are eager to see what you look like in your garments.”
“Oh, gosh. I don’t know about that.” She started fidgeting.
“Maddie, you must. This is part of the plan, and they have gone through so much trouble here,” Sharra said convincingly.
Maddie was embarrassed to go down and be paraded around in the beautiful outfit. She had never been fond of being the center of attention, so this would be very uncomfortable for her. They had, however, gone to great lengths for her, so she felt like she owed them. It was time for her to get over her apprehension, for when she faced the Elders, they would be much more intimidating.
“All right then, let’s get this over with,” she said as she headed downstairs.
They entered the formal living area with Sharra dragging Maddie by the arm. All the brothers were talking, the banter flying back and forth. Sharra cleared her throat to get their attention, and then, you could have heard a pin drop. The brothers were spellbound, and their adoration of Maddie spilled from them.
One by one, beginning with Therron, they approached her, placed their hands over their hearts and went down on bended knee, speaking in the ancient tongue,
“Mine eyes are not worthy to look upon your beauty. I foreswear, from this day forward, to protect thee and honor thee, my sister.”
After they had completed their oath, a silence descended on the room. Maddie, cheeks flaming, started fidgeting and wringing her hands, embarrassment beginning to make her nervous, as they would not stop staring at her.
“Dear Maddie, do not be embarrassed by this. We are but a group of males that are absurdly infatuated with you right now. Please don’t spoil our moment of pleasure,” Rykerian offered, with a pained expression. It was clearly difficult for him to be near her.
Then Tesslar chimed in with a twinkle in his eye, easing Rykerian’s discomfort, “Besides, if Rayn was here, he would be threatening to murder us right now! Seriously, you are truly magnificent dressed as such. I cannot wait to behold Rayn’s reaction when you make your appearance.”
All the brothers spoke at once, agreeing with Tesslar. Then Therron added, “We mustn’t forget about the proper way for her hair to be done. Sharra, can you help her with that?”
“Well, you know how I always make a mess of fixing up hair. I’m afraid if I do it, it will end up looking like a bunny’s nest.”
“Shar, it’s a rat’s nest, not a bunny’s nest,” Maddie dutifully added.
“Yes, well that too. I will have to get Zanna to assist me on that task.”
“Great idea,” the brothers agreed.
“What kind of hair style are we talking about?” Maddie was having visions of strange things popping out of her head.
“Oh, you must wear your hair in a coronet of intricate braids. It is quite an amazing look and not an easy one to achieve, but it will look stunning on you,” Sharra described.
Again, all the brothers murmured in agreement. Therron added, “Don’t worry, Maddie. Zanna is an expert at this, and you will love it. I promise.”
“Okeedokee,” Maddie retorted. Maddie wasn’t a fan of any fancy hairdo. She hoped they weren’t describing a beehive do, like they used to wear in the ‘70s. She would die if she had to wear something like that.
“Hey, I just want to say one thing. Well, maybe a couple of things. First off, thank you all so much for this,” she swept her arms, indicating her outfit. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn in my entire life. I never knew anything so fine existed. It is so overwhelming. Also, thank you for the necklace and having the foresight to check with Rayn. I know he doesn’t know about this, but thanks just the same. And last, I don’t know what you said to me a minute ago, but when you placed your hands over your hearts and got down on your knees, I knew it was something really important. So I’d like to say back to each of you,” as she placed her hand over her heart and continued, “I am so very proud, blessed, and fortunate to be a part of this wonderful family, and I promise to each of you that I will be the best sister you could ever want. I also promise to always, and I mean always, have your back, no matter what. You can count on my support, in good times and in bad, and I will always honor and trust you. Lastly, I love each and every one of you, and I honest to God don’t know what I would have done without you these past months.” Then, she went and gave each one of them a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
After a lot of throat clearing, Therron piped up and informed them, “So this is the plan. We leave tomorrow night at eight o’clock sharp. Maddie and Sharra, you will need to get Zanna to assist with the hair thingy. The trial is set for ten in the morning. Get a good night’s sleep tonight, because the next few days will be quite tense,” he concluded.
Maddie was in her room when the knock came on the door. “Are you ready?” Sharra asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. I cannot wait to get this behind me. I am so nervous.”
Maddie had spent the day suffering from a bad case of the jitters. She ambled around the Compound, trying, with little success, to create distractions to occupy her mind. She found herself, time and again, on the back terrace, overlooking the beauty of the mountains. She tried not to think of Rayn, but clearly, that was a preposterous notion. In fact, Rayn was all she could think about.
At last, it was time for her to prepare herself in the precious garments she had been given. She took a leisurely shower, meticulously shaving her legs, which was something she rarely did since she was totally inept with a razor. She was extremely careful on this day; it wouldn’t do for her to have shaving nicks and cuts everywhere.
She wrapped herself in a thick fluffy towel and began to work on her hair. When it was detangled, she lathered herself with a luscious, vanilla body butter, and then she began the arduous process of drying her locks.
Next, she gave herself a thorough manicure and pedicure, making sure her nails were perfectly coated in her favorite shade of polish. She had sent Sharra all over tarnation in search of OPI’s Chicago Champagne Toast. Sharra had brought her every color imaginable, except for that one. Maddie would have nothing to do with any of them. It had to be Chicago Champagne Toast or nothing. It was a metallic bronzy shade that would go perfectly with her outfit, particularly the torc and the rest of the jewels she would be wearing. Thankfully, after hours of aggravation, Sharra located that shade in a salon in Asheville.
Then, she painstakingly applied her makeup, which consisted of a dusting of barely pink blush and a tad of translucent powder. She put on a light coat of mascara and added a tinch of gloss to her lips. That was all she would wear, as she was not a big fan of makeup in the first place.
Lastly, she slipped into her lovely outfit. Now, it was time for her to get Sharra and Zanna to complete her look. She padded up to Sharra’s room and tapped on the door.
“Come in, Maddie,” Sharra called out.
Maddie entered the room to find Shar and Zanna waiting for her. They had set up a makeshift beauty salon in order for Zanna to braid Maddie’s hair.
“Maddie, you look lovely,” Sharra said.
Zanna added, “Yes, you do, but wait until I complete your hair braiding.”
Zanna went to work, twisting and twining, her fingers flying through the process with dizzying speed. She finished in record time, and Sharra clapped her hands, grabbed Maddie’s wrist and dragged her to the mirror.
“What do you think? Is it not awful?” Sharra asked.
Maddie was awestruck. “What do you mean awful? I love it!”
“Exactly! I knew you would.”
“Then why did you say it was awful?”
“Because it is! Is it not?” Sharra was truly bewildered.
Maddie tilted her head and thought for a moment, when finally a torrent of giggles spilled out of her. “Shar, you meant awesome not awful! Huge difference!”
“Oops! Anyhow, Rayn is going to explode when he sees you!”
“Huh?”
“You know, he will be very happy.”
“You don’t by any chance mean that he will be blown away, do you?”
“Exactly! Is that not what I said?”
“Not exactly, but I’ll give you a pass this time.”
Then, Maddie turned to Zanna and hugged her saying, “Thank you, Zanna. It’s a masterpiece. How did you do this? And so fast?”
Zanna looked at Maddie with approval. “I have been doing this for many years, my lady, but I must say the look becomes you very much. Rayn will be greatly pleased when he sees you. Now, do not do anything to unravel these braids as Sharra is not capable of fixing them.”
“Okay, I won’t. I promise.”
“And, my lady? Good luck to you and my lord. Peetar and I will be praying for you both.”