by Nancy Gaskin
The Dress
The noise which was generated by the excited faeries was a mixture of giggles, wing fluttering and rustling and much whispered conversation. Some small arguments erupted but were quickly sorted out with more giggling, hugging and fluttering as a result. With her eyes closed the girl listened to the buzzing and giggling, which sounded like little silver bells pealing, trying to think about all the questions she had as well as still trying to tell herself that she will wake up at any moment in her warm and comfy bed, and was soon lulled into a light doze. As she floated in a fuzzy dream like state the girl became aware she could see the little faeries flitting about excitedly choosing and discarding clothing in rapid succession creating several small mountains from a seemingly endless supply, wondering how this could be but she was so relaxed and comfortable she did not pursue the thought.
Lillianna was watching Dagmar and saw that she had fallen into light sleep and sat quietly observing the child with gentle eyes. She watched the little face with high cheek bones, gently arched eye brows; long dark eye lashes resting on rosy cheeks and a small cherub mouth that liked to smile and white blond ringlets falling in a tumble over the girls’ forehead and shoulders. Her small hands were resting in her lap, fingers gently curled with the palms facing up. Lillianna leaned over and took a closer looked at the child’s palms. Following the individual lines with her eyes, she smiled and nodded, looking more closely at the child Lillianna made discoveries which disturbed yet pleased her immensely. Sitting back the old faery let herself travel the many paths in her ancient memory looking to find answers to her own questions.
Dagmar felt as if she was in a dream within a dream. As she looked down she saw the little faeries busy rummaging through piles and piles of material and listened to them as they chatted happily away “OOOH look Illona, this one is just so perfect for the Lady Lillianna” the Red haired faery said her friend “No Adella, we need to find a dignified special dress which shows her heritage not a mad rainbow. I have been looking for a deep green one but can’t even find a forest green…..” throwing a bundle of material into the air frustrated to not find what she envisioned Lillianna to be wearing at the feast, Illona dived into the very center of another pile of material re-emerging feet first wriggling with all her might to get whatever she had grabbed out. Adella flew to her friends rescue and grasped her ankles when suddenly Illona popped out causing both faeries to go tumbling into another stack of clothing. Laughing they untangled themselves, straightening out wings and looked at what treasure Illona had found. Dagmar watched them but then became distracted when she saw Lillianna leaning over looking closely at her hands, instinctively pulling her hands away and tucking them behind her back The girl noticed that the hands Lillianna was looking at had not moved. Intrigued more than frightened Dagmar watched closely as the old faery looks inspected at her face and then slowly leaned back and closed her own eyes. Not sure as to what had just happened the child watched the little faeries a little longer as she spotted some very small creatures which did not look like faeries creep into the room.
The two little faeries had during this time been very busy making several piles of clothing ranging from a small heap to some towering mountain of colour and texture. They were busy finding accessories for the small mound of material to then present their selection to their honored guests. There were some small pixies which had snuck into the room and were trying to be helpful, by diving headlong amongst piles of all sorts of things rummaging about finding small treasures such as belts with rubies and diamonds and tiaras made entirely of a single diamond with a veil made of spider webs, or they knew they would be told to go find other things to do. It was a cacophony of twittering, whistling, humming and fluttering wings which made the two faeries concerned that the noise may wake up the girl. The two faeries kept shushing and hushing the pixies in an attempt to keep them quiet, because everyone knew that excited pixies meant much hubbub and noise.
Dagmar and Lillianna opened their eyes simultaneously and found themselves surrounded by glowing eyes and happy smiles. Sitting up the child stretched and tried to stifle a yawn as three small faces popped up and nearly bumped into Dagmar’s nose. Resettling in their cushioned alcove Lillianna and the girl were treated to a fashion show with a difference. The first item parading into the room was an exquisitely delicate yellow dress which as Dagmar noticed was actually two dresses, a kind of solid colour under dress and the second was a filmy, see through material. Illona was giving a commentary “This exquisite gown ladies, a tribute to the real from the meadow clan and is made of pure sunshine woven into honey bee hairs for the under dress with the over dress created from spider silk with long pointed sleeves as is the fashion at the moment. You will note that both the under and over dress skirt portion is designed into individual over lapping flower petals, again a very fashionable creation” looking down Illona pointed at a small pair of sunshine yellow skipping along trying to catch up with the dress as it paraded around the room “an these ladies are the matching slippers.” Another gown came into view as the first found a vacant spot and hovered in place, this one a dramatic black “This dress was created by black widow spiders as a tribute to the realm. The under dress is made of tightly woven from black widow silk and the over dress is also black widow silk woven during the nights of the full moon. As with the previous dress the sleeves are long and pointed and the skirts on both dresses are petal shaped. Oh and to complete the ensemble are these beautiful black midnight slippers” Illona hurried the slippers along as the next creation came into view, a gown of all the shades of green from a seedling green to the deep green of the needles of fir trees “Here is a creation and offering by the forests and tribute to the realm again a very fashionable design with a dark forest green silk from the forest spiders silk woven on the moonless nights. The over dress was also made from the silk of the forest spiders but interwoven with rays of sun shine and moon beams and gold leaves woven into the material completes this gorgeous gown.”
The two faeries were looking anxiously at Lilliannas and Dagmar’s faces twisting their hands and biting their lips. The next ensemble began to parade around the room and Illona began her commentary. “This midnight blue under dress again with the petal finish and the over dress was created out of mother of pearl gossamer with long pointed sleeves and petals forming the skirt. The slipper, which you see skipping along are also midnight blue with silver trim. Ahhhh and for the last creation here is a most delicate gown made of mother of pearl spider silk with the over dress made of soap bubble pink gossamer and decorated with sparkling dew drops and silver slippers which are just now skipping into view over there.” All four dresses curtseyed and settled in their most becoming pose awaiting selection. Both Dagmar and Lillianna clapped their hands in appreciation of the lovely show, the two faeries blushed and came forward and curtseyed. Illona being the bravest of the two stepped forward “Lady Lillianna, sweetling Dagmar, would you do us the honor of choosing your gown for this evenings feast?” Adella scurried over to make quick last minute adjustments, turning just in time to see Dagmar walk to the green dress, feeling very shy the child was afraid to touch the gown because it looked so delicate and fragile close up. Adella flew to the rescue, offering to help Dagmar, began to help the child get out of her night gown and then gathered the green under dress and flew up over Dagmar’s head “Lift your arms right up into the air sweetling, that’s it right over your head. Now let the dress adjust itself.” Hearing those words the girl felt the dress adjusting it to fit her perfectly. Lillianna was watching and shook her head “Oh my dear that colour makes you look absolutely ill. The green is far too dark for your fair hair and skin. Why not try that gorgeous pink dress on and see how it suits you?” The girl and the faery went back to their little corner and as Adella helped the child out of the gown agreed with the judgment the poor child looked ill in such dark colours “Sweetling, Lady Lillianna was right you looked so horribly pale almost dead! What you need
is a gentle colour with sunshine, you are a sunshine child” Adella picked up the pink dress and flew up to hover over the girls head, with arms already raised and waiting all the faery had to do was fit the under dress and let it adjust only flitting away long enough to pick up the over dress and place it on Dagmar and then stood back and waited for the material to adjust itself to fit the girl like a glove.
In the meantime Lillianna chose the midnight blue gown and had Illona help dress her. As the gown adjusted itself it showed the faery to be a beautifully regal faery that had such an air of royalty that the girl had the urge to curtsey which she did reflexively. Lillianna tried to stop her “Oh no my darling you never ever have to curtsey to me. Oh my! Don’t you just look adorable! Wait a moment……Illona, Adella do you know where that little tiara is?” Adella leaped up and flew to a small collection of treasures and returned with the tiara holding it like a trophy. Handing the tiara to Lillianna and then fluttering out of the way with Illona right behind her. The faery turned to look at Dagmar and stepped forward “With your beautiful hair and skin this tiara will set of the gown and make you look like a princess. Would you like to wear it sweetling?” The child nodded her head with eyes as big as saucers looking at the seven sparkling gems set into it. With great care Lillianna placed the tiara on top of Dagmar’s head and it looked as if were made for the girl and the seven gems began to glow slightly.
Adella and Illona brought a huge mirror for Dagmar to see herself in; she did look just like a faery princess except for the wings. Twirling this way and that the girl could see that dress constantly changing colour and sparkled as if there were stars woven into the material. A tingling from scalp to the bottom of her bare feet made her giggle prevented her from noticing the way all the other occupants in the room were looking at the small tiara. With a lot of commotion Lillianna had a look into the mirror to make sure everything was in place, gently adjusting the necklace which sparkled with a kaleidoscope of colour. Adella flew over to Dagmar and with Illonas help they adjusted a few of the child’s ringlets that were a little more energetic and then fluttered back a little distance with hands on hips smiled and said in unison said “Princess Dagmar!” and fell about giggling helplessly.