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Dimitrius sighed as he unlocked his fingers from hers, slipped off his jacket, and placed it around her shoulders as they walked. Placing a kiss on the side of his head, he murmured, "You shouldn't try to keep things from me, especially when it comes to the cold. I promise, Cindalina will have a fireplace ready for you when we arrive."
As he spoke, they entered the village. With a nod to all the elves whom they passed, Dimitrius simply smiled as he loosely draped his arm around Ariala's shoulders, keeping the jacket in place and ceasing all the questioning looks that asked 'What in Winterglade is an Elimlee Elf doing here?! And what's she doing with Dimitrius, of all people?!' Grinning at the looks, he couldn't help but chuckle as they neared the Seamstress's cottage, "You're the first Elimlee girl many of these elves have ever come across, especially here in Winterglade. Forgive them for staring, they're simply mesmerized by how beautiful you look, especially with that small flush in your cheeks." |
Embarressed that Dimitrius had caught her shivering, she glanced around the village. The snow covered everything and was sparkling from the sun. She ducked her head closer to Dimitrius, trying to avoid the stares of all the Winter Elves and instead looking forward to the warmth of a fire.
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As Dimitrius had promised, Cindalina had a large fire blazing in the fireplace with stools, measuring equipment, sketch books, pencils, chairs, and a selection of already made clothing surrounding it. Leading Ariala into the cottage, Dimitrius called out fondly, "Auntie Lina? We're here!"
Urging Ariala foreward, he made his way into the living room to see Cindalina carrying in a tray of tea and cakes. Giving her a kiss on the cheek, he smiled, "Aunt Lina, I'd like you to meet Ariala. Ariala, my Aunt Cindalina, the seamstress." Setting the tray on a nearby table, Cindalina smiled at Ariala as she held her hand out, "'tis a pleasure to meet you, young lady. Shall we get started?" Cindalina was a short, slender, frail looking elf in her early 50s (in human years). Her fingers were long, slender, dainty, and looked like they've been sewing for centuries, yet were surprisingly soft. |
"Its a pleasure to meet you to." Ariala said, politely shaking the woman's hand. She now knew that Dimitrius' looks ran in the family.
She looked around at the sketches, the drawings were beautifully drawn. She could tell by simply looking at the papers that she would look beautiful in nearly all of the designs. |
Cindalina and Dimitrius looked at each other while Ariala was occupied by the drawings, the look conveying that Cindalina was warming up to the idea of Dimitrius being with a Spring Elf.
Dimitrius smiled as he joined Ariala at the sketches. Slipping her arm around her waist, he rested his chin on her shoulder, "Beautiful, aren't they? She's been designing since she was small and no two designs are alike. Her talents never developed in the thoughts of Winter, she's always been suited for this." Cindalina smiled at the couple as she poured tea, "Soon Ariala will have a wardrobe all her own design. Come, child, please use the room around the corner to change into the small gown laying on the bed. I'm afraid it's rather slimming, but I need it thin and light in order to take proper measurements. And I promise you, child, you'll be perfectly warm because you'll be standing upon that stool in front of the fireplace all afternoon." |
Ariala smiled at the older elf and slipped behind the corner to change. Cindalina had been right, the fabric was thin and hung on her skin as if painted there. Her face reddened at the idea of Dimitrius seeing her in such thin clothes.
Though the pink material went perfectly with her long blond hair and the cinched waist brought out her most beautiful features. |
Dimitrius sat down in the chair near the tea after Ariala left to change. The moment she walked into the room, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
Cindalina simply smiled, "Good, child, I'm glad it fits. Now come over here so I can take your measurements. Do you have any idea what you would like the clothes to look like?" she inquired as she took out her measuring equipment. |
"Colorful." Ariala said before she realized it. "I love the colors of spring. Though I'm afraid I would stick out a bit." She said, remembering the pale blues and whites of the Winter Elves.
"Oh, but I'm just rambling now." She said, then shutting her mouth tightly. She could feel Dimitrius' eyes on her and her face broke into a deep blush. |
Dimitrius blushed and quickly looked away and sipped his tea.
Cindalina laughed, her laugh soft and light, "Don't you worry about that, child. You'll be a breath of fresh air among us dreary folk." As she finished taking Ariala's measurements, Cindalina motioned to the many racks of clothing behind her. Sitting down, she began writing down the measurements as she spoke, "Browse through the racks, child. Pick out anything you like and it's yours. Then take a look through the sketch books, see if any designs stick out. If we don't find anything, we'll sit here and brainstorm until we have a complete wardrobe for you," she added with a brilliant smile at Ariala. |
Ariala ducked behind the corner to change her clothes and then began to search the rack. Though she had a hard time picking out clothes considering how all the clothes were beautiful and knew how beautiful they'd look on her.
She pulled out a light green gown, as well as the pink, and a deep blue shirt and pants. "Gorgeous." She murmured to herself as she looked at a white dress that was hanging off the rack then realized she had spoken aloud and blushed scarlett. |
Cindalina grinned as she noticed the gown that Ariala had admired, "'Tis a good choice, you may try it on if you'd like."
Dimitrius blushed as he pictured Ariala in the gown, "You have that gown? I wondered what happened to it after Grandmother passed." "Of course, Trius, Mother gave me that gown in her will for she knew it was what inspired me as a child." |
Ariala smiled, taking the gown off the rack and bringing it behind the counter to change. Her face was lit with happiness as she glanced down at her bodice. The top held against her body tight and fit her as if it was made with her in mind. The skirt flowed out from her waist in a shower of white fabric, showing off a blue shimmer when she twirled.
"Like it?" Ariala said, twirling out of the corner with flourish. |
Cindalina smiled, "It looks beautiful, child. You look like a blushing bride, and a perfect fit too. I hope to see you wearing that in the near future."
"Auntie, please, don't embarrass her with talks of weddings!" Cindalina laughed, "Oh, child, honestly. With the way that girl looks in that gown, it'd be hard not to propose." "Auntie..," Dimitrius semi-pleaded with a blush. Standing up and walking over to Ariala, he smiled and slipped his arms around her waist, "You look breath-taking, love. But don't mind my Aunt and her teasing, she doesn't quite realize we've only just begun seeing each other, and surely not close to an engagement quite yet." |
Ariala hoped her face wasn't visible when she blushed. She burrowed her head in Dimitius' shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist for a small hug. "Thank you." She murmured in his ear and placed a light kiss on his cheek then pulled away, remembering that his aunt was only a few feet away.
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Dimitrius chuckled as he placed a light kiss on her lips before turning and going back to his seat. While Dimitrius poured more tea for himself, Cindalina smiled at Ariala as she walked over to her. Taking Ariala's hands in hers, she leaned close and whispered softly, "You two will be a happy couple in the years to come, I can feel it in these old bones of mine. Promise me you'll wear this gown for your wedding?"
Dimitrius, noticing the look on his Aunt's face, shook his head lightly, "Auntie, what are you whispering to Ariala this time?" "Nothing, child. Girl talk. Now, run along and try another of those outfits on so we can fit it to your size," Cindalina said with a wink at Ariala. |
Ariala smiled, picturing Dimitrius in a suit with her in the gown next to him and she liked the picture she saw. She smiled quickly and went behind the corner to put on a light blue dress.
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"Come child, stand up here on the stool. That's a girl. Now, it seems a bit loose on the waist, bust, and arms. The length seems good, the cut on the neck is good, what do you think dear? How do you feel it fits?" inquired Cindalina, barely stopping for breath between her statements.
Dimitrius chuckled as he picked up the nearby newspaper and began reading the front page, "Auntie, how do you expect her to say anything when you don't give her enough time to respond to anything you say?" "Shush, child. Be kind to your Aunt. Besides, if you didn't keep interrupting, I'm sure this young girl would get a chance to speak, right child?" Cindalina said with a chuckle and a smile. |
Ariala smiled. "I like it." She said, suddenly feeling very shy around the elder elf.
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"You wish to keep it exactly as it is? No alterations what-so-ever? You sure? If you're sure, go back and try on another and we'll see how that fits. The dress you have on, and the gown you just tried on, bring to me when you come back out. I have a rack specifically cleared for you," Cindalina added with a smile as she stepped around Ariala and headed down a long hallway, only to return moments later with a large rack that she left in the hall out of the way, "We'll store everything you want on this rack for now. We'll mark those that need alterations, and then I'll have them messengered over to Dimitrius's house. Unless you plan to keep them in Elimlee? If that is the case, Dimitrius, tell him where Ariala lives and he'll take them, alright?"
Dimitrius nodded as he turned the page, "Yes, Auntie, they are leaving to Elimlee. I'll take care of the arrangements, you just worry about Ariala and her outfits, leave the delivery to me." |
Ariala took off the green dress and placed it alongside the white gown. She pulled on a light blue skirt that reached her knee and a white blouse.
She stepped back into the room with Dimitrius and handed the gown and the dress to Cindalina. She stepped back onto the stool and twirled, fanning out the skirt. "What do you think?" She asked, turning to Dimitrius. |
Although Dimitrius couldn't speak, his constant staring told exactly how he felt of the outfit.
Cindalina, on the other hand, couldn't stop talking of it, "Marvelous, simple adorable, child! And the best part of that outfit, you can mix and match them with any other outfit to create even more available choices! What do you think, dear? Any alterations?" |
"The arms are a bit long." Ariala said, holding out her arms in a T, having the sleeves hang past her small wrists.
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Cindalina nodded, "Quite right, child. We could take it in here, and here, that would take care of the width problem. How short do you want the sleeves, child?"
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"Just at the wrists." Ariala said. She heard a gust of wind blow by the window and was instantly grateful for the fire in front of her.
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Measuring the alterations needed, Cindalina wrote them on a card, "Run along and change, dear, I'll attach this card when you bring it out, place it on the rack, and work on the alterations this evening after you've left."
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