Dress to Impress

'Move aside,' a phrase Elise heard far too often being pushed in every direction. There was a reason she rarely if ever ventured into the market. Another shove to the ground almost made her hood come off her face. Grabbing it tighter in her fist she pulled it down again. 

This was reason enough to go back home where it was safe and private. Far from curious glances even with her cloak hood down she was an oddity among the market goers. Many wore capes and hoods but none so far pulled down to conceal their complete identity.

"Excuse me," Elise muttered when she finally arrived to the front of the fabric booth of her choosing. "I need yards of blue fabric enough for a simple dress. How much would we take?"

"You need at least double what you be offering girl," The man scoffed at her pocket change. "With the tripling prices of fabric in the past months. You waited too long and offer to get out and let others to the front."

"But I…" Elise began to argue but was quickly pushed aside by a woman yelling about needing another shall made by the end of the week. 

Elise pulled her cloak tighter around her chin closing her eyes and taking a deep calming breath in and out before opening her eyes and continuing on her way. Walking back to the house would be a long and depressing route for sure with no fabric in tow. 

"I have some fabric for sale," A cracked feminine voice came quietly from her left.

Turning to see who had spoken Elise furrowed her brow she was alone on the path home. Turning slowly all around she lifted her hood to see everything she could while still being able to cover her face from anyone she might encounter while doing so. Seeing no one she continued on.

"Aren't you searching for fabric my dear one?" The voice came again an elderly woman's voice that although old sounded somehow kind and oddly young at the same time.

"Hello?" Elise called out. No reply came and she walked on shaking her head and rubbing her forehead. The heat must finally be getting to her.

"My dear one," The old woman's voice came a third time making Elise stop in her tracks. 

"Where are you?" Elise asked aloud turning around before taking a startled step back. An old woman stood right next to her a donkey beside her pulling a large cart filled with various diritied fabrics. 

"I am seldom seen by those unwilling to look for me." The woman smiled at her motioning towards her cargo. 

Elise smiled politely and ventured closer a feeling of acceptance washed over her urging her to take off her hood but she held it firm. 

"There is no need to worry about appearances," the woman laughed aloud showing various gaps in her smile. "Remove your hood if you wish."

"I...I can't," Elise replied her voice low. "I think I should go now."

"Without any fabric? Are you sure?" The woman motioned to the fabric beside her. 

Elise felt oddly calm watching the old woman and couldn't help but feel like she was safe and in good company. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced before. It almost reminded her of when she was talking to the man by the river. Slowly she lifted her hood waiting for the gasp of disgust but was surprised when the woman didn't give her a second glance. 

"Do you see something you like my dear?" 

Elise moved closer fingering the fabrics with her fingers though they were heavily dusted with dirt they felt smooth and light. Rifling through the many fabrics a glitter of sun reflecting off the fabric caught her eye. Pulling out a light blue shimmery fabric her eyes widened. 

"This must be a mistake," Elise breathed out. It wasn't a bolt of fabric, it was a fully sewn ball gown. Studying it she couldn't contain her awe. "This is a dress, an exquisite one surely. The stitch work is perfect and precise. The corset is well boned and the skirt full and….This should be more on display in the markets not hidden under other pieces of fabric. You could sell this for a lot."

"My dresses," The woman smiled lovingly stroking the dress Elise held. "They are only for sale to the person they belong to."

"I don't understand?" Elise 

"The dress is yours," The woman smiled reaching and pushing the dress back into Elise's hands. "It will not be of any charge."

"I can't take this dress," Elise sighed fingering the fine garment even as she tried to back away. 

"No of course you can't without this," Reaching behind her the old woman pulled out a gold and blue mask one that dipped down deep on the left. "It reminds me of water with its flow of blue fabric don't you think."

"Water," Elise whispered holding the dress against her and twirling softly. "Almost like a water minx?"

"I would think that would describe it perfectly." 

Elise thanked the woman still in a sort of daze as she gathered the dress and mask in her arms and walked back to the house. Climbing the tree back up to her bedroom proved more difficult with added weight. Careful not to get the dress caught on any branches or bark from the trunk. 

Falling into the room she spread the gown out on the small bed. Seeing it spread out it looked even more extravagant and graceful than when she first held it up in front of herself. It truly was the best gown money could buy and she had gotten it for nothing at all. 

Closing her eyes she replayed the conversation in her head. It was a confusing conversation but it had happened. She had met someone on the road home, taken off her hood, showed her face, and been given the perfect outfit for Friday's ball.

Looking into a tall cracked mirror in the corner of her room she pulled the mask over her face. A small gasp left her mouth as her ugly scars were covered seamlessly by the mask only showing porcelain like skin untouched by the sun peeking from the eyes and along the edges. 

Along with the dress all she needed was the perfect pair of dancing shoes. Her current shoes were perfect for traveling there and back but once she was inside she would need something more fitting to her gown. Frowning she picked the dress up to hang and something fell to the floor from the folds of the dress. 

There were two things that fell out she found when she leaned down to look.Glass slippers with a tint of blue shining through when the sun from the window hit it just right. It was impossible for them to be hidden in the dress all this time. It was as if by magic that she had obtained these shoes. 

Shaking her head she turned her head heavenward. It was by some magic that she had obtained anything at all she couldn't wrap her brain around anything that had happened. The old lady that appeared on her way home with a perfect dress and mask that seemed to be made for her. The comfortable and familiar feeling she felt in her presence was enough to show her face to her. Even now just as she worried about one more aspect of her night shoes had appeared as well. 

The ball couldn't come soon enough and with the other ladies of the house busing themselves with preparations for it Elise was sure she would go about her chores fully ignored. She would be able to sneak out and go to the ball unnoticed when the time came she was sure of it.