She had been sitting silently in thought when she heard a knock on the door, shaking her out of her trance. "Um, come in." the door opened revealing Dani. "What is it?" she asked, "I have the measuring tape, my lady." said Dani. "Oh. Um, alright, I guess." she muttered, not really wanting to, but figuring Dani wouldn't be content until she did.

"Now if you please, my lady, can you put your arms out." she directed. Rolling her eyes, she conceded and let the woman measure her. "Do you have any preferences as to the fabric and color, my lady?" she asked. "Um, no not really. surprise me." she replied, much to the satisfaction of Dani, as she knew anything she would pick would be less flattering. Dani went along, casually removing boot and corset as she measured, only to stop with a cry of surprise. "My lady! Your hand!!" she exclaimed as she undid her vambrace. "Huh? Oh that." she muttered carelessly seeing the scar on her wrist. "What happened!?" questioned Dani. "Just a run-in with a very impolite wolf." she explained. "Did... Did it hurt?" asked Dani. "Well of course it did! I don't know any wolf bite that wouldn't!" she said with a laugh.

Trying to take her eyes off of the large, dark scar, she continued measuring. "Well, now let's see... I'll need to let out the shoulders and the sleeves... Hmm, Bring in the hips, let out the bust and the- Begging your pardon, the waist." muttered Dani. "Well that's kinda odd." she said, putting her arms down. "I wouldn't have thought my measurements would have changed all that much." she wasn't really concerned about it, but it did seem a little odd seeing as she had been walking more and eating less. "Does my collar need anything?" she asked. "No, it's about the same." Dani replied. "Hmm. Well never mind. But I suppose that explains why my travel clothes have been losing some comfort of late." she said with a shrug. "The body does strange things." Dani said vaguely.

"Now, im thinking something light and flowing. Maybe a corset would be flattering? Changes or not, you still have a lovely figure, my lady. And maybe... Long sleeve..." Dani said thoughtfully, giving her wrist a sidelong glance as she spoke. She wasn't really listening, giving a careless "Yeah, great." in response. Dani, contented by her new objective, gathered her tape, and with a curtsy, exited the room, leaving her alone once more.

Strange. Finger size, the same. Neck size, the same. Her face seemed all the more shallow than it had, and yet her waist was not so slim. She supposed she was more muscular than before, but that wasn't it. She wasn't terribly broken up about it, she of course tried to maintain herself, if but for her own satisfaction, but she was never one of those women that obsessed over her figure. Her mind wandered from this uninteresting topic, and she glanced about the chamber. She couldn't help but feel ill at ease. As if she were in another woman's room and not her own. She knew it, but she was so accustomed to the freedom of her little hut. It was bare and empty with only food and tools, but it was hers. This had belonged to her, but not for some time. She couldn't help but feel... Out of place...

These thoughts too were disturbed by the entrance of Dani. "Alright, my lady. I think I have a dress that shall suit you perfectly! Its light of fabric and color, which I feel is much more flattering to your features, though of course you could feel different." she rolled her eyes, but gave the woman a smile. "What ever is fine." The dress she had brought was a soft, pale gray, and of a light, silky fabric, far different from her accustomed garb. She let Dani dress her and fidget with her hair. It had been a long time since she had dressed nicely, she was accustomed to thick hearty leather and boots, but now she wore a nigh on weightless gown and slippers. She chuckled to herself. She supposed he would say this was "elvish preening", but then her smile quickly faded.

Dani moved to take her travel garb. "Wait!" she exclaimed suddenly, causing the woman to jump. "Don't take it!" Dani looked to the clothing in confusion. "My lady? They're in tatters!" she reasoned. "I know, I just... Just leave them to me." she said. Dani seemed unsure, but knew better than to argue, so she laid the garments on the bed and turned her attention back to her hair and the laces of the dress. "My lady, the king shall be holding a feast, will you join?" she asked. She was quiet for a moment as she thought. She supposed she should, but she was just so... Tired... She knew she'd been gone for years, but she wasn't sure she could handle her family right then, she wasn't even hungry. She put this to Dani, and she just smiled understandingly, she'd been through a lot.

"Very well, my lady. I have no doubt that the king will understand completely." but my mother won't, she thought. "Im sure you shall come down when you are ready." she finished, simultaneously concluding her tasks. "You have a good lie down, my lady, it shall do you good." She said as she moved for the door, and giving a final smile, exited the room. She heaved a sigh. She adored Aldaninna, but she was glad to be once again in the peace of silence. She laid down on the bed, not really intending to fall asleep immediately, only to relax and think, but her exhaustion caught up to her in full force, and she drifted to an unsure sleep.

She woke suddenly to the soft rapping on her door. The sound of calm domesticity jarring her out of sleep. She sat up, looking about her self. She glanced reflexively in search of him, running her hand across the sheets on the other half of the bed, but instead she found herself on a soft bed, dressed in beautiful clothes, in a beautiful room. She sighed... Eventually remembering the knocking, she rose, wiping the sleep from her expression. She walked to the door and pulled it ajar.

Dani was slightly surprised, having only expected either silence or summons, but she smiled. "Hello, my lady! Did you sleep well?" she asked. "Um... Yeah. What time is it?" she asked. "Oh, noon or so." said Dani. "Noon? I would never have heard the end of it if he were here..." she muttered to herself. "You needed sleep, my lady. You must have been exhausted." Said Dani as she began to reset the bed. "Will you come down to dine?" she asked. "Um, no. No, I'm not really hungry." she replied. Dani looked to her doubtfully. "But, my lady." she urged. "Im fine! I don't-" she stopped as she saw the concern on Dani's face. Taking a deep breath, she conceded. "You're right, I should. Can I have something simple in my room for now? I'll come down later, but for now, I just..." Dani smiled understandingly.

"Very good, my lady. I shall arrange some tea and breakfast." she said as she turned and passed through the door. She heaved a sigh. She didn't think she had slept so long since... Well, ever! Even when Ghashnaga wasn't there, waking her as early as he could, she still had to rise early to gather food and supplies. But for the first time in years, she had slept long, if poorly, in a soft, pristine bed, dressed in soft, pristine clothes. How she wished she were back in her hut, sleeping on her rough cot, in her rough travel clothes.

She began pacing slowly about her room, looking it over. She was less tired, and could now regard the room with clarity. It seemed so strange to be there again. From child to young woman she had spent in that room, and nothing about it had changed since the day she left. She should have felt comfort from the familiarity and nostalgia, but all she felt was unease. A feeling of being trapped was about her. Long had the only barrier between her and the outside world been a thin, flimsy, latchless door. But here she was surrounded by hearty walls, and a strong door.

Less than an attempt to escape, and more curiosity, she opened her bedroom door and peered about out side. Her eyes landed on two figures on either side of her doorway. She raised a brow. "Can I help you?" she asked suspiciously. "No, my lady." they said in unison. "Let me guess, mother told you to guard here?" she questioned. "Y-yes, my lady." said one hesitantly. She rolled her eyes. "Figures. And what would you guys do if I walked out? Follow me or stop me?" she questioned. "We are simply here to guard." they replied. "Sure." she said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I dont blame you two, you're just doing your jobs, but seriously?!" she said. They looked slightly relieved to not be the object of noble wrath, but said nothing as they didn't wish to make disparaging comments against either her or her mother.

She closed the door, and crossed her arms. So, her mother expected her to make another escape then? Not a bad idea! There's nothing she wouldn't give simply to be free again. But what's the point? Where would she go? She didn't know where he was, he must have been miles away by then. Whats the point of being free? It would never be the same. It was as bad out there alone as it was in there alone... They were almost there. Almost... She jumped as she felt the door bump into her as it opened.

"I'm terribly sorry, my lady!" exclaimed Dani. "No, no, I should have been standing there like an a- like that." she said, catching herself half way through. Dani entered the room carrying a tray of food. Now she had to admit, as unappealing as eating seemed right then, the scent of honey from the tea, the slices of freshly baked bread, shirred eggs, melted butter, and sausage was a pleasure she had long been deprived of! She wasn't sure how much of it she could actually eat, but it did smell good!! "This is your idea of simple?" she said with a chuckle. "Well... I mean, I thought it was simple. Shall I change anything?" she asked. She burst into laughter, "Dani, this is the first time in ages I've had anyone make something like this for me. No I dont need it anything changed!"

Dani smiled in satisfaction as she set the tray down on the bed. "Very good, my lady. Now, eat, you could use it. I'll be back when you're done or if you need anything." she said before exiting the room. She shook her head. No way was she going to finish that! She sipped some tea and nibbled on a piece of bread, but she didn't really see herself being able to eat the eggs or sausage. The most she could manage was a taste of the cheese from the egg, but she quickly decided that was more than her stomach could handle. So, spreading the eggs on two pieces of toast, she opened her door.

Giving a simple, "Hey." she offered the bread to her guards. They exchanged hesitant and confused looks to one another, before taking the bread, nodding in thanks. There, now Dani can't complain to her that she should have eaten more! Childish maybe, but still, she wasn't hungry! This, of course wouldn't work when she would eventually go down to dinner, but there was very little of that she was looking forward to, food was the least of her concerns.