Page 35 of A Dance of Water

Saw two lovers entwined on the bank of a glorious lake with a surface like glass.

Blinked again…

And heard echoes of giddy laughter, hands clasped as they ran in a forest with swaying treetops. Drinking wine merrily and curious touches on a blanket of grass.

The sound in her ears was like thunder, like the distant noise of the waves crashing.

A hand pressed against her shoulder.

And she was jolted from her hazed reverie, sounds coming back to her in a rush.

"Princess," someone said from behind her.

She turned, following the hand on her shoulder to find Osa standing behind her, thin lips pressed tightly together and brow drawn low as she stared down at Luella. Ina was behind the fire-tempered maid, hands wringing before her.

Luella swallowed. "Yes."

Osa gestured to the open door leading to her bathing chambers, steam wafted from within, and the faint hint of lavender and vanilla brushed against her skin like a welcoming embrace. "We’ve prepared your bath. We must hurry to ready you in time for the Solstice."

"Very well…" Luella nodded, overcome by fear and the sight of the pure snow.

She was led into the bathing chambers by Osa, Ina trailing after her with a meek sort of worry. Luella met the lithe maid’s brown eyes, and the female arched a delicate brow as she watched Luella with lingering questions.

Luella gave a simple dip of her head in reply; though, she was unsure if she was truly okay… or not.

The bathing pool was filled with warm water, and the tiny cart next to it held a few candles, their flames flickering amber, a relief from the blue flames that had been enchanted for the Winter Solstice decorations. The transformation of the castle was pretty, yes, but it was untouchable like cool marble. She found herself missing its prior warmth.

Ina gently urged Luella to drop her robe away from her body. She was still shy and nervous about baring herself in front of them, so she did so slowly and carefully, keeping an arm banded over her chest and her legs crossed tightly in front of her as she stood nude, awaiting their next commands.

Osa, uncaring of Luella’s hesitations, placed her hands on her shoulders and pushed her none too gently forward to stumble into the bathing pool. She sat gracelessly, and the water lapped against the edge of the pool from the rough movements.

"You’re chilled," the red-haired maid commented. "Would you like me to warm your bath?" She waved a hand, and red flames burst to life on the tips of her fingers. She held her palm over the surface of the water as she waited for an answer.

Luella shook her head, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

She didn’tfeelcold. Already, her skin was beaded with perspiration from the warmth enveloping the snugness of the room.

Osa and Ina shared a look but grew silent as they went abouttheir routine of washing her. Hands carded through her hair, fingers pressed on her neck to force her head to tilt back as the soap was washed from it with a warm cup filled with water. A rough cloth was lathered with a luxurious foam that had a rich and sweet smell and then scrubbed on her skin, making her pale flesh pinken under their ministrations.

Luella felt herself grow drowsy from the soft clinking of their products as they rested them on the cart, the sound of the bubbles as they popped and fizzed over her skin and the surface of the water, and the relaxing scents that filled the room.

It was sometime later that she was gently shaken awake, her skin clean and smelling sweet and fresh. Warmed from the inside out. The water trickled from her body as she stood, too sleepy to care for her nudity, as Ina wrapped a fluffy towel around her shoulders and helped her step from the bathing pool, settling her into her chair before the vanity.

Her white hair appeared a deep silver from the heaviness of the water clinging to it. Osa warmed a brush with her fire-tinged palms, then set about drying the strands and styling them into silken, white tumbles of waves and perfectly coiffed curls that framed her pale, soft face.

The glass doors to her balcony rattled from the frigid wind that beat against it.

Luella tugged the towel closer to her, sudden shivers wracking her body.

"This weather has been unpredictable. We typically don’t see snow until a few weeks after the Solstice…" Osa spoke softly to Ina, ignoring Luella entirely.

She blinked her bleary eyes open, watching as the maids flit around her in the mirror before settling on the reflection of herself. Her cheeks were rosy, and her hair was a fall of white around her, just like snow. It was without hair ornaments, flowing free. Her slim shoulders were wrapped in the white, fluffy towel, and goosebumps trailed over her exposed arms, even though her temperature oscillated from hot to ice-nipped.

Luella breathed deeply before saying, "What exactly is the Solstice?"

Osa caught her gaze in the mirror. "The King did not tell you?"

She shook her head, confused and concerned.

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