Christina

In the morning, Theri was up early. The dawn was only just breaking its way through the curtains and yet she was still in her dress of the day- a layered plaid walking dress with a straw hat and hat pin with her golden veil clipped to her headfeathers. She ruffled her wings and stood in her room, in front of a shrine. Theri was already interested in the deity's of the world, especially Fabhra. Fabhra was supposedly the deity of the Roseview and of the maidens of the valley. Theri knew Fabhra was surely looking out for her somehow. It was nice to believe in something, Theri had decided. No matter how crazy it was, no matter how implausible it seemed. 

She walked out to the foyer where her father waited for her with a strained smile. "You will be showing Christina around. I expect you to be on your best behaviour." Theri didn't even bother to spare her father the pleasantries of her ire. She knew for one, that Christina was likely to be exhausted from the journey, and two, impatient from the bodyguard Lord Iolair had mentioned in his hastily written letter from the night before. Almost in time with her thoughts, the grand door of the palace was pushed open by a guard in steel plate with an orange headdress and a rather impractical spear.

Theri turned to look at Christina. Her eyes widened as she closed her jaw once she realised she had been letting it sort of hang open.  Christina had neck-length olive green hair that was fluffy and light. She had long, dramatic eyeliner and electric blue eyeshadow. She had a little bit of green stubble as well, and tan skin the shade of milky chocolate. She wore a golden moon-shaped clip in her hair, and a collection of bangles and thick gold necklaces. She wore a white linen poet's blouse under a yellow ochre waistcoat that had two tails that went down to her knees. She wore a pair of grey suit pants that had little birds embroidered into the fabric.

For all intents and purposes, Theri had never seen anybody as handsome as Christina. Her father seemed to break a little. The bodyguard next to Christina was somehow the most bland humanoid Theri had ever seen, and that was impressive. She had seen a rather large collection of bland humanoids. Her father seemingly regained his composure. "Well then. Theri, go show Christina to her room, so she can get used to her new environment where she'll be able to be herself." 

Theri held back a punch that would've landed square in her father's face. 

"Well, of course father. I will escort Christina immediately." Theri gave a plastered fake smile from beneath her veil. Christina seemed ambivalent to it; straightening up to walk. "Sure." Christina replied. Theri didn't even expect Christina's voice. It was like a silk river, like a perfect median between feminine and masculine. Theri gulped and walked to a spare room on the left wing of the palace. She opened the door for Christina.

"This is your room." Theri coughed a little. Christina shrugged, walking inside. Theri turned to the bodyguard. "Stay." She commanded, and the bodyguard obliged. Theri followed Christina inside. 

"Hello." Theri began. Christina watched on as Theri carefully placed hairpins in her own soft lilac hair. The room was rather bland. It had tan walls, floral curtains and a collection of pillows arranged on the bed. 

"I'm sure I can redecorate here, right?" Christina began. Theri had been absentmindedly fiddling with a tassel on the bed sheet. "What- Yea. I'll be showing you around the gardens tomorrow." Christina hummed happily. "That sounds pleasant. There are no gardens in Sandfall." 

"Really? You know, I've only ever been around the gardens." Theri laughed. Christina froze. 

"What? Seriously? We need to sneak out tomorrow- you and me. You are deprived of life. Everything fun is always outside!" Christina gave Theri a wide grin. Theri tucked her dress and body in towards herself. A nervous chill went down her spine. It sounded fun, of course, but her father would never let her hear the end of it. 

"Um, sure. But you need to try a traditional dandelion Roseview Tea. I have a special way of brewing it- if you want. I'm sure there are some.. Here." Theri laughed nervously and wandered to one of the drawers, where a teapot stand was stored. She placed it on the drawer. It was a slightly elevated teapot with a turning motion and a spot for a flame to be lit. Theri poured water in the teapot. She grabbed a little press with roses carved into it. She crushed some dandelions from the same drawer, combining it with some of the leaves. Christina watched in curiosity as Theri carefully stirred the crushed flower into the teapot, struck a match and watched it boil.

A few minutes later, Christina and Theri sat on the bed with steaming cups of desaturated lime liquid, taking tentative sips in painful silence. "This is a nice tea. We don't get warmer drinks in Sandfall usually. We have a very unique technique for making popping water. It feels.. Different to drink. I must make some for you someday, Princess." Christina commented. Theri chuckled. "I'm sure it's lovely."

"It is. I can guarantee you that." Christina laughed. Theri smiled and let herself relax a little in the presence of Christina. Theri approached the window and opened it, hooking the steel latch on the hook of the window and pushing it open with a loud creak. "Sorry. The window is rather old, Princess Christina."

Christina flinched at the name, which went unnoticed by Theri. "That's fine. I can deal with a loud window. It's not too much of a problem." She paused before looking at a painting that hung on the wall of an alabaster horse. 

"Do you go horse-riding?" Christina stared at the horse. Theri turned around and looked at the horse too. "No. My father worries I might break a bone or something." 

"Jeez. I love horse-riding. I need to teach you, some day. Maybe I'll get a chance over the month."

Theri paused, imagining it. Her,falling off a horse to be caught by Christina and let back up on the alabaster horse. Her holding Theri's hand as they trotted around the stables. 

"Hello? Earth to Princess?" Christina chuckled. Theri yelped a little. "Um- sorry. Lost track of time!" A bell, almost perfectly timed, rang out from the kitchen, signalling that dinner had arrived. 

"Speaking of losing track of time."