Nystri twisted her body as she looked at herself in the mirror. The purples and greens of the skirt's ruffles shimmered in the sun that streamed through the shop's windows. The top was sleeveless with a wide open back, perfect for her wings. She tested out the two cinches that hung from the top of the skirt by pulling each one out to the side. The skirt's ruffles shrunk and clung to her hips and thighs. Flying tended to become quite a burden in skirts and dresses. But with this? Flying would be a breeze.

Her nose and eyes crinkled as she smiled at herself. She had let most of the glamour fall away while in the shop, aside from her hair, which she made short.

"How do you like it, Amber?" Amorastra said standing next to the table Nystri stood on. 

"It's lovely. Perfect, even." Nystri's eyes sparkled as she turned from the mirror to look at Amorastra.

Amorastra exhaled sharply. "It's good. Very good, I'll grant you. But perfect? No, I don't think so." Amorastra turned to the tailor. "For the next few, I want some enchanted embroidery. And let's get some with longer skits. Of course we still have the same requirements with the cinching."

The tailor nodded along as Amorastra spoke. "All doable, certainly. With the others you've ordered, it'll take the at least a week for me to finish everything, my lady."

"Unacceptable," Amorastra said with a huff. "You have three days."

"Three days is not possible, my lady! Be reasonable." 

"I believe you've found my pocketbook to be most reasonable already, have you not?"

"You've been more than generous, duchess. But no amount of money makes the day longer."

They continued back and forth, but Nystri's attention waned. She went back to the other three outfits that the tailor had made for her over the past few days they had been in town. She picked up a form fitting gown that went nearly to her ankles. There was a slit up one side that let her move more freely. It was a brilliant iridescent color that matched her wings.

The second was an expansive ball gown of dark blue and silver. As she gazed at it she felt like the night sky itself was surrounding her. The ball gown's skirt was too big for simple cinches, so the tailor had used an enchanted fabric that would change its shape if she willed it. She held it in front of her and did just that. The skirt pulled itself back forming a short bird's tail. 

Nystri's face became strained by her giddy grin. She vibrated with excitement and hugged the gown to her chest. As a queen she was certainly no stranger to fine clothing. However, the expectations of the court did not include her comfort or convenience. To have something designed for her instead of the nobles of the court felt extraordinary. 

She placed the gown back down and picked up the last outfit. It was not fancy like the others, but she felt no less excited to hold it. It was made of warm moth wool. The top had long thick sleeves and the open part of the back was much smaller, fitting exactly where her wings were. There was even cloth between the top and bottom and left and right wings! All in service of keeping her warm. And the pants! There were pants! Laced and with a proper belt. They fit her legs snuggly, but were easy to move in. The perfect traveling clothes. 

Not that those she brought with her were bad, of course. The silk was thick and surprisingly warm, but it left her arms and much of her legs exposed. Fine for the warm spring weather in the Faelands. But, who knew where they might travel to? And for how long?

"Amber? Are you alright?" Amorastra was kneeling by the table at eye level with Nystri.

"Oh! Yes. I'm fine. Just admiring everything." 

Amorastra gave a low hum as she bit her lower lip. "As am I." She let every word have its own weight and space.

Nystri felt her body flush. A feeling that was becoming worryingly common the past few days. She did not look away.

"Well," Amorastra continued, "It seems we'll be in town another four days or so. You deserve a proper wardrobe." She eyed the door to the back room of the tailor's shop. It was securely closed. "I still cannot believe you left with just the clothes on your back." 

Nystri looked away, shame plain on her face. 

"It's alright. We'll have it sorted," Amorastra smiled. "Come, let us away. We need to decide what we'll do after your clothes are finished. And we need to check if your friends have entered the town or not."

Nystri felt a cold pit in her stomach. Another worryingly common feeling the past few days. She looked into Amorastra's gentle eyes. They spoke of care and protection and worry and admiration. And desire, Nystri reminded herself.

She's still a demon for all her charms. No, her charms are a result of that lineage, aren't they? Yet, does that lineage define her? Or do her actions? How long can someone with evil intentions pretend to be good? Do I even care?

"As much as I enjoy gazing into each other's eyes, we should probably be going," Amorastra said, then placed her hand palm up on the table. 

Nystri took a deep breath and shook her head as if trying to clean a feather duster. She smiled at Amorastra and reformed her glamour. She stepped onto Amorastra's hand then onto her shoulder. 

They left the rest of the clothes for the tailor to put a few finishing touches on. They departed the shop without another word. They wandered the streets. They pointed at things and nodded or shook their heads. They traded looks and expressions. Still no words passed their lips. Lips curled in smiles of joy.

They stopped at a street vendor selling pies and Nystri was able to get one more her size this time. They ate together as they walked. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky and would soon dip behind the walls of the city. 

Amorastra began to make a circuitous path towards the temple of the dark. Their first stop along the way was the west gate, closest to the Faelands.

"Gatekeeper," Amorastra called out with a cool coyness.

A middle-aged man turned and his face brightened. "Duchess! Nothing to report, I'm happy to say." He pulled his belt up over his belly and sauntered from the gatehouse entrance, then he bowed deep.

"I'm glad to hear it. Keep up the good work," Amorastra said, then reached into her bag and removed a small bundle of notes, which she passed to the man.

The man took the money and bowed lower, "You're too kind, Duchess. Thank you." 

And so went the rest of their long walk to the temple. They stopped at more than half a dozen places. Some officials of the city, others just well informed or connected citizens. None had seen or heard of anything out of the ordinary, and certainly no elves.

Finally they turned into the alley with the little hidden door into the temple.

"Duchess," Nystri said.

Amorastra went a little further into the alley, out of sight of those on the main road, then turned her head towards Nystri. "Yes?" The first words they had shared since they left the tailor's shop.

Nystri felt as though a rock was in the back of her mouth. All of the thoughts and feelings that Nystri had been kneading in her mind bubbled forth, pushing the rock aside at last. "When we first met you said you were smitten with me. You've made your feelings very well known. I don't think you've stopped flirting with me for more than five minutes."

A playful smile danced on Amorastra's lips. Nystri continued, "Yet, I find myself conflicted. How could I ever know that what you say is true? How could I ever know that you won't betray me? That you aren't using me for your own ends?" As she spoke her words came faster. "Even with our oath we could do terrible things to each other. You could give me to Yu. You could see me imprisoned. I just —" she faltered and fell silent, looked down at the cobblestone of the alley. 

"Well, I suppose I could swear a new oath. Just me to you."

From heart to soul my life may pour

Know from now until ever more

Shall I—

Nystri's eyes went wide and she grabbed Amorastra's lips and pressing them together with both hands. "Don't you dare. I don't want that power over you. It's not right." Her voice was hard and quiet. She looked into Amorastra's eyes a moment, then released her lips.

Amorastra sighed. "My Queen—"

"And you're always saying, 'majesty' and 'your grace' and 'my queen'." An anxious anger had begun to swell in Nystri's chest. "Why! I can't tell. I can feel so many layers of subtext. Mocking, sarcasm, patronization—seduction. But I am not your queen. You are not of the fae." She deflated again, the anger extinguished as quickly as it had flared.

Amorastra let her head fall into a low tilt to the side and she smiled a small warm smile, "Listen to me. Truly listen. You've been so busy looking for subtext and hidden meanings when the meanings are plain. You are majestic. You are grace incarnate. And, above all, you are my queen. And so, regardless of our very different lives until now, I call you these things gladly and with sincerity."

There was that flush again. Nystri ignored it inspected each word, each sentence, each clause. For once, she found no hidden meanings. I truly am a fool. 

She swallowed hard and said, almost in a whisper, "I liked it better when you called me Nystri."

Amorastra grinned brightly. "Nystri, then. Oh! May I call you Nys?"

Nystri bit her lip and nodded quickly. "I'd like that."

"Well, then, Nys. Don't expect me to completely stop calling you 'my queen' and what have you. You mean many things to me." Amorastra began walking again, then stopped at the temple door, her hand on the handle. "You know, you were right about the subtext, in a way. The sarcasm and mocking are real. You didn't imagine them. They are not for you, Nys, but for the weight those titles have exerted on you for so many exhausting decades. I hope with each, 'your grace' I might lessen that weight by chipping away at the seriousness of it."

Nystri blinked back tears, suddenly feeling a little lighter.

Amorastra opened the door and stepped inside, letting the dark engulf them as the door closed behind them. She walked the now familiar path and stopped at the first inner door.

Amorastra whispered, "Something's not right."

"Worry not, your Radiant Iridescence! We shall rescue you from this demon and return you to your rightful home." Yu'trellum's voice echoed through the boundless black.