A/N: This chapter is LONG (the author's note makes it longer) but yeah, it's a lot. The counter thing says like 920 words. Holy balls. It's also kinda shit in the beginning but it gets better as it goes. Probably.

By dusk, the knights, Zephrine, and Seyr had entered the citadel. Seyr was too large to fit through the streets, so she went around Viâna, finding a field behind the castle to rest.

They stopped in the square leading up to the palace entrance. Zephrine tilted her head back, trying to get a good look at the stone arches that loomed so overwhelmingly in front of her. "You live here?" She asked Xavier.

"Surprise, it's bigger on the inside." Xavier helped Zephrine down from her horse. "Sorry, that sounded really pretentious. I'll show you to your quarters, and we'll get you some warmer clothes."

Xavier stopped suddenly at the top of the stairs, just before he opened the castle doors, eyes widening and his permanent side-grin growing into a full on smile.

"What?" Zephrine blinked, confused.

"Nothing, nothing." Xavier waved her off, opening the doors, which were twice as tall as he was.

Zephrine furrowed her brow, but followed Xavier up the stairs, three floors up, until Xavier found a chamber for her. It was a beautiful room, much bigger than her room in Ithia. The bed was the biggest she'd ever seen in her life, with gorgeous gold sheets and light pastel pink, almost white, pillows, and four fur blankets at the foot. There was a long table just she she walked into the door, big enough to fit six people.

"So? What do you think?" Xavier stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his feet.

"It's beautiful!" Zephrine ran her hand along the dark red-brown wood of the privacy screen. "I've never seen a room this big!"

"I'm glad to hear that." Xavier, obviously amused at Zephrine's wonderment, laughed. "I'll go get you a cleaner outfit. No offense, you're just covered in dirt."

"Well, so are you, so I wouldn't complain." Zephrine set her bag down on the table.

"Fair enough." Xavier left. "Just wait here."

Zephrine stepped behind the screen , playing with her hair until she heard the door open. "Xavier?" She called out, letting her hair drop.

"My Lady?" A female voice responded.

Zephrine moved out from behind the screen, and was greeted by a young woman who was holding what looked like a dress and cloak for Zephrine, along with a hairbrush, and several beauty products.

"Hello." Zephrine studied the girl. She had nice red hair, and a petite frame.

"My Lady, would you like my to draw you a bath?" The woman set the outfit on the table.

"That would be lovely, thank you." Zephrine nodded, unsure of how to address this person. "What's your name?"

"Ovi." She responded meekly.

"Zephrine."

"I'll go fetch the water then." Ovi scrambled out of the room.

Once the tub was filled, Zephrine watched as Ovi sprinkled some sort of salt into the water, making it foam up at the surface.

"The foam acts as the soap." Ovi explained. "I'll be just outside when you're done. Enjoy your bath, my Lady." She bowed her head as she left, leaving two towels on the privacy screen for her.

Zephrine undressed, ripping the dirty garments from her body, and stepped slowly sank into the warm water, letting it drench her hair, weighing her head down as she scrubbed her arms and legs, releasing a flowery scent.

Reluctantly, after the water had grown cold, and all the foam dissipated, Zephrine reached for the towels, drying off her body and hair, which now shone bright without the layer of dust covering it. She pulled on what she thought to be the undergarment, then sat on the- her bed, brushing her hair.

She then attempted to wiggle her way into the dress, but ended up calling Ovi in to help her.

"Just like that, my Lady." She fastened the back of the dress, a long, pearly white piece that shimmered when Zephrine moved, with transparent sleeves decorated in the same manner. Ovi also fastened the cloak, which was more of a cream color with white bear fur around the collar.

"Thank you, Ovi." Zephrine studied herself in the looking glass as Ovi braided her hair.

"You look beautiful, my Lady." Ovi grinned when she saw Zephrine in her new outfit. "Just one more thing." Ovi applied an orange colored power to Zephrine's eyelids, then a dark brown on top of that, rubbing the two colors together until she was satisfied. She then moved on to a velvety purple lip paint.

"All done." Ovi stepped back to get a better look at Zephrine.

"Thank you, Ovi, it looks wonderful." Zephrine barely recognized herself in the looking glass. "Would you please fetch Xavier for me?"

Ovi nodded and bowed her head as she left.

"Ready to go?" Xavier strode in, stopping when he saw Zephrine. "We're preparing for dinner."

"I think I am." She replied, barely noticing the way lip paint made her lips stick together for a few seconds. Xavier's hair was shining, and his skin glowed, like Zephrine's had after her bath. He wore a pine green shirt, with clean black pants and boots.

He was incredibly good looking, Zephrine realized as Xavier held out his arm. She looped her hand through it, and together, they descended to join the others in the Great Hall.