Crystal Dinaia
Elder
Genil Resident
The First of 12
GOD
Has an e-bun
in the oven.
Posts: 695
(6/28/07 9:42 pm)
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And So It Has Begun
04/02/300 Afternoon until Dusk.
The Festival had begun. The day wasted away in the gleaming sun as many people rushed around to bring the preparations into full swing. Gypsy carnivals paraded into the streets of Genil with women in colorful scarves and jingling gold coins. Giggling girls in full costume rushed through the streets with their heavily made up eyes glancing almost seductively at male merchants and shop keepers. A man with a table set up his station, full of cards and other magic trick paraphernalia. Petals from the pink barked trees in Genil floated into the city streets. Lights were strung up from light poles-to trees - to building tops and created a shimmering web of unlit lights in the sunshine. This was after all… The Festival of Lights, the first of its kind in Genil. All members of this world were welcome, no matter what race or even what species from any of the tree cities and even beyond. The Festival should have been an immense bringing together of all people.
The wind was slight and the sun beat down in a comfortable temperature, just warm enough to not be cold. A small secretary dressed in a business suit hurried through the streets checking things off of a clip board she held in her hand. This was Faria’s first organization job and a chance at a promotion within the Elders’ Palace. Perhaps instead of working the front desk she could be given a job working directly for one of the Elders. Crystal watched as the girl talked to a burly man dressed in Arabian wear and smiled as he obediently began setting up his booth in another place. She flipped her white hood up over her head and began to walk calmly down the street, receiving a few bows of respect along with glances of awe. Her blue eyes tried to look serious as she walked but her full lips could not help but smile. Several children raced through the street in front of her, stopping only to offer a few cheeky grins. A deep sigh of satisfaction overcame the Elder, this Festival would be a success.
Tonight, there would be a masquerade ball in which no one would known who another was. At the strike of midnight the lights would go out across the entire town and masks would be raised to reveal dancing partners, lovers, and secret smiles. Costumes of great array would float all over the outdoor ballroom on the banks of the river in the darkness of a Genilian night like shimmering stars in their home. Images from far would be brought to this place and people would become the person they always wanted to be. Simple villagers could be kings and simple maids would be queens. Love would be found out on the marble floor, Crystal could feel it. The thought made chills go up her spine and Crystal walked briskly toward the enormous gazebo where the event would be held, her customary heels that added a few inches to her height clicking professionally.
The roof rose around twenty feet in the air, held up by white marble posts and floored with the same material. Strands of roses still on the vine had been wound the twenty foot tall posts and the smell of the blooms filled the hair with a scent that could only bring romance to the area. A golden fountain that was currently being filled with sweet red wine that flowed over the edges and was finally caught in the bottom rung, seemed bottomless and unending. A childlike smile was displayed over the woman’s lips as she stared in wonder at the creation that could only be described as astounding. The ice sculpture would be brought in as the sun went down to avoid too much melting. It would be an enormous ice rose with white, red, and pink petals frozen into every part of it like butterfly wings frozen in time. Crystal shivered in anticipation.
One of the workers spoke in a low voice and handed her one of the wine glasses that were being set up on the table near the fountain. The crystal glass had been specially created for this ball and was exquisitely formed in each way. A perfectly made sugar rose bud rested in the bottom of each win glass and sadly, the sugar flower would probably melt once the rich wine hit the glass. An almost sad feeling came over her as the worker took the glass over to the fountain and began to fill it with wine. Crystal watched him closely as he brought it back. To her surprise, the flower had not melted but bloomed into a full rose. The idea of this was amazing to her and she stared up at the man with wide-eyed amazement. A gentle voice spoke to her, “The Mystic Forest elves, my Lady…” and she turned around to find a creature she had never seen before. An elf standing around six foot four stood behind her and the Elder felt the need to respect him, bowing her head first, she smiled and looked up into his violet eyes.
“The people of Genil thank you… I thank you. You and your kingdom are more than welcome at our Festival.” Crystal’s voice was filled with deep respect for the elf. Little did she know, he was the king of these creatures. His hand brought her chin up and her eyes met his with a grateful smile that would have melted any normal man’s heart. “We will be here tonight,” he spoke again and released her chin, then walked from the gazebo with Crystal still shell shocked. A sip of the wine brought a burst of flavor to her mouth and a shot of cool pleasure down her throat. This was the wine of olden times, brewed by the ageless wine makers of Genil. It was as if each grape was specifically chose and checked for supreme quality before it was made into the light alcohol. The pungent aroma rose to her mouth and the smell tickled her senses delightfully.
After finishing the wine, Crystal strolled out into the bustling mid-afternoon streets and narrowly avoided a horse and carriage consumed with light and roses. Perfect for lovers’ midnight strolls, Crystal thought as she watched the driver quickly get the horse under control and climbed out of the old fashioned carriage. A longing hit her suddenly as she remembered a few memories from her past and wondered why she couldn’t seem to move on. No no.. This was a time for celebration, was it not? A woman carrying a basket full of shimmering scarves wound her way through the city streets and made her way to where Crystal stood. She motioned for the Elder to take off the white hood and she did so, happily. The ends of the scarf were lined with gold coins and the silky translucent fabric was a light teal color that complimented Crystal’s eyes. The woman deftly wove the scarf around Crystal’s head and pulled a few strands of red hair around it. Feeling the cold metal trouch her neck pleasantly, she knew she had found a part of her costume for the Masquerade ball. A smile lit Crystal’s soft lips and she walked on as the woman was ambushed by a group of teenage girl that had decided the beautiful scarves were the perfect addition to theirs as well.
A thought took root in in Crystal’s mind and she began to walk briskly toward one of the shops in town, the dress shop. Stopping short in front of the window, her eyes were set upon the perfect dress for the ball. The dress was made of the same color and texture of fabric as the scarf wrapped around her fiery hair and at once, the Elder knew she had to have it. With several quick steps into the shop, she talked excitedly to the owner and he laughed over her exuberance. He walked to the front of the store and took it from the display, handing it to the woman, thankful for her business. The dress was far out of Crystal’s price range but there was no doubt in her mind that she must have this as well. Walking for a dressing room, she held the dress close to her chest and smiled. Seconds after stepping into the room, Crystal shed her clothing in a few small movements and unzipping sounds. The desired dress slipped easily over her long legs and tightened slightly around her lips. Zipping the zipper up before she turned to the mirror, Crystal gasped at the image.
The dress was magnificently styled with a tight fitting bodice that molded to Crystal’s mature curves and dipped low into her cleavage. The skirt clung to her narrow hips and fell above her knees in jagged, fairy style layers that moved sleekly around her legs. The teal fabric contrasted perfectly with her cream colored skin and brought out the copper in her red tresses, along with the color of her eyes. She blinked quickly, unable to understand that the woman she saw in front of her was indeed herself. The view of her body displayed so lusciously in the form fitting dress made Crystal blush a bit and wonder if she was being too open. As she walked out of the dressing room barefooted, she laughed and blushed at the shop owern’s double take and playfully suggestive offer to be her date for the masquerade. The man was harmless and old enough to her father or possibly grandfather, so she graciously accepted the offer only to be shot down and dumped for his devoted wife. A smile shot over her naturally pink lips as she walked over to an open jewelry case and pulled out a gold set necklace with a teal colored stone, hints of copper shot through it. Just like a little girl in a jewelry shop, Crystal thought as she put on the necklace and found earrings made of gold to match. The golden earrings jingled in her ears as she moved them and walked over to a collection of shoes inside the store. A pair of teal stilettos that wrapped around the ankle sat in the very front, begging Crystal to put them on her feet/
The owner of the store walked from the back and brought the Elder a feathered mask with gold rims around the eye holds. A gasp of amazement left her mouth as she put it on and the costume was completed by several gold bangles. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the woman she’d become in what felt like only moments. Feeling quite sure of herself, Crystal shelled out the cash for her purchases and walked out of the store at dusk with her regular clothing on. Where had the day gone? It seemed like she’d only just woken up at daylight and began the final preparations for the Festival. As the sun set on the river, a test run of the lights began and suddenly the city was brought to life in an elegant display of lights, some of them twinkling with the dust of fairy magic. A wondrous look was reflected in the Elder’s eyes as she stood alone in the middle of the street. Suddenly, the citizens of Genil let out a series of shouts and cheers from the sides of the white streets. This was their time… And so, the Festival had begun.
"The white city fell without her. Peace revolved around her, but when the mother left her children, they destroyed one another... She'll never forget that she left--she'll wear the chains of the martyr as she pulls the world's weight behind her, still thinking she's not doing enough." Morrigan Aensland
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