In Which Nanalie Forgives the Sentiments

July 27, 1179

"There!" Asalaye finished fiddling with the hem of Nanalie's shoulder and took a step back to admire her work. Nanalie felt like nothing so much as a piece of pottery fresh from the kiln. "Aww, Nan, you're stunning."

"If you say so." Privately, she was sure she was only as 'stunning' as a little girl playing dress-up. Wearing her hair long only showcased its lank and lifeless form, lacking every bit of her sister's full-bodied bounce. And while she couldn't deny Asalaye's good taste in fabrics, the dress was far too elegant for a woman who'd always been plain and had never aspired otherwise.

Garrett's sister looked her over with a hint of a smile. Valira wasn't any prettier than Nanalie herself--like her brother, she hadn't dodged the misfortune of their father's rock-crushing chin--but she'd applied a wave to her hair that framed her face nicely and she wore her green velvet and brown silk as naturally as her own skin. Not all people were born beautiful, but some were better at hiding the fact, and that was a skill Nanalie had never mastered. "The dusty rose suits you. You should wear that color more often."

Asalaye nodded in keen agreement. Nanalie glanced back into the mirror and nudged a shoulder. She didn't look quite so incongruent as she thought she would, but she couldn't imagine getting so dressed up for mass--never mind all the time. "Maybe..."

"Really. You should." Valira turned to her daughters, seated on the couch by the window. "Girls? Doesn't Aunt Nanalie look lovely?"

"Yes, Mother," they chorused, though neither of them seemed too enthused. Nanalie couldn't blame them; she'd never been the sort to be fussed about weddings either.

But luckily for the two of them, their indifference went more or less unnoticed. "I can't believe Ivilia managed to get her hands on that dye for the accent color. It's such a popular shade these days, and they only make so much of each..."

"You'd think they'd make more of this one. It does go with almost anything."

Nanalie glanced down at the pale blue of her bodice. She supposed it would go with anything, but it was still light enough to be impractical for everyday use. But did ladies worry about that sort of thing? Not that it mattered much. She did. "It's nice..."

Someone knocked at the door--her father, from the sounds of it. Thank God. "Come in."

Sure enough, the familiar lithe form stepped through the door and shut it behind him, dressed well but not over-well, greying hair neat and combed. Nanalie half-expected a disapproving sweep of the eyes as he noticed her obviously-not-white dress, but instead came a quick, cordial nod for the party. "Ladies."

"Adonis," Valira greeted him. The first name familiarity was a shock to the ears, but her father didn't seem to mind and Nanalie guessed it made sense. They'd be family soon, after all. "Is it time already?"

Her father nodded. "Thank you for all of your help."

She replied with a quick grin, then gestured for her girls. "We'd better find your father and brothers before they get into too much trouble. Come along."

The pair of them stood and followed their mother out of the room, a wave for the rest of them apiece. Nanalie's father waited until Renata had shut the door to approach his daughters. "My girls."

"Father." Asalaye greeted him with an embrace and a peck on the cheek. "You look very handsome."

"Not nearly so much that anyone will believe I produced you." He laughed, rubbing her on the shoulder as they parted. "It's not a good time, but the baby's getting a little fussy. Avine and Alina think he's hungry."

"Oh, probably. That kid is always hungry." Asalaye shook her head, eyes rolling back. But there was an odd fondness looming in her face that Nanalie wouldn't understand for a while yet. "Do you think I have time to feed him before the wedding?"

"You should. Had's giving Garrett the 'if you ever hurt my little sister' talk, and you remember how thorough he was with Lonriad."

"Ack! I feared we'd have to postpone the wedding to the next day!" The exaggeration was typical of Asalaye, but it had been quite the wait. Hopefully Had had developed an abridged version for Garrett. "But I'd still better rush."

"And be sure to thank your sister and stepmother for watching the boys."

"Yes, yes. See you two in a bit!" And with a quick parting wave, she was gone.

Nanalie's father planted a kiss on her brow, then stepped back to look her over. "You look lovely."

"Thank you." She brushed the skirt of the dress, not sure how cloth could be so stiff and so soft at the same time. "It might be a bit excessive, though."

He shook his head. "It's not excessive. And even if it were, it's your wedding; a little excess isn't about to hurt anyone."

"Tell that to my purse."

Her father chuckled. "Oh, I raised you right. But my offer still stands, you know."

"No. If I can afford it, I see no reason why I shouldn't pay for my own dress. No sense wasting your money on something I'll only wear once, especially when you still have three daughters at home."

"Fair enough." He pulled her in for a quick, tight hug, then released her with a sigh. "I'm going to miss having you around."

Nanalie sniffed. "It's not like I'm moving across the continent, Father."

"I know, but still. It's an adjustment." He shot her a strange sort of smile--a little bemused, a little proud, and just the slightest bit melancholy. "Ah, but you'll have to forgive an old man his sentiments. Are you ready, sweetheart?"

Nodding, Nanalie returned the smile. Her father's seemed to shift at the sight of hers. "Whenever Had and Garrett are."

NEXT CHAPTER: