Dresses and Distractions
BjorkeA | June 08 , 2009
Categories: BjorkeA, Journals Tags: Bjorke, Mabon, Pippa
Bjorke woke with a start, with the distinct sensation that someone was watching her. She opened her eyes to see Pippa sitting on the foot of her bed, grinning from ear to ear. Hero was sitting on the floor next to her, a similar doggy-grin on his face. Bjorke rubbed her face with her hand and sat up, tucking the sheet under her arms. “Mmmf.” A glance at the window told her it was still early. Very early.
Pippa took the noise and movement to mean awakened consciousness. “How was it? Did he kiss you? Wasn’t it the greatest picnic ever? He’s so handsome and nice and handsome. I can’t wait to go to the Faire.”
“Slow down, girl. Give me a chance to wake up.” Truth was, Bjorke always woke quickly, her protective instincts honed over a lifetime, but even that was no match for the barrage of questions. She ran her fingers through her hair. “It was a lovely evening, yes. I had a marvelous time at the picnic.” There, that should satisfy her curiosity.
“Did he kiss you?”
“Get me my robe, will you, dear? We have a big day.”
“We do?” It was Thursday and that usually meant sums and statistics with Truitt in Ironforge. Not exactly Pippa’s idea of a ‘big day’ even if Truitt would disagree.
“Mmm. I’m taking you to Elwynn to meet a friend of mine. She makes dresses.” Bjorke slipped on the robe, tying it closed. “We’ll pick up some breakfast rolls along the way.” A thought struck her and she looked at Pippa. “You do know how to ride a horse, right?”
The girl’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, goodness, no. I’ve never been on one.”
“Ah. Well, you can ride with me on Blastit.” And see about riding lessons soon. “Go on, get dressed. I’ll … er… explain about Mabon along the way.”
Down at the stables a short time later, Bjorke asked the stableboy to fit her ram with a flat saddle, instead of the high-back dwarvish-style one, glaring at him whenever he dared glance at Pippa. For her part, Pippa was too caught up in memories of what she thought was the most romantic date ever and thoughts of new dresses to even notice the lad’s attentions. “Right, up you come.” Bjorke offered her hand to Pippa to climb up behind her on the shaggy beast. “Ready?”
They rode through the main gates of the city, down the road that led to Elwynn Forest, the morning sun dappling the ground through the trees. Pippa nibbled her breakfast roll, looking around at the sights as if the trees and cows where one of the wonders of the world. Bjorke took advantage of the girl’s rare moment of silence to try to explain things. “I’ve known Mabon practically her whole life. She’s not much older than Truitt. In fact, I used to babysit her when I was about your age.”
Pippa had a hard time imagining Bjorke as a girl. “And now she makes dresses.”
“Yes. She… er… well, sometimes she forgets things. And if she calls you the wrong name, just don’t say anything about it. Try not to ask her too many questions, dear. Some things are difficult for her to think about.”
“Like what things?”
“She lost her children a couple of years ago, twins. A boy and a girl. She’s fine, most days. Just gets a bit mixed up sometimes.”
“Oh. That’s sad.”
“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to leave you with Mabon. I need to have a word with her mother, who lives nearby. While you’re there, Mabon can help you decide what kinds of dresses you want her to make.”
“I really get new dresses?” The excitement was obvious in Pippa’s voice, and it made Bjorke laugh.
“Yes, of course. Let’s see, a couple of nice, but simple ones, and something fancy. How’s that sound?”
Pippa wrapped her arms around Bjorke. “It sounds wonderful! Better than wonderful. Oh, thank you!”
Chuckling, Bjorke patted her hand. “It’s just dresses.”
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