It was a cool night, and with the fading of the last of twilight, it was even colder. Zoe didn’t mind, and leaned out over the veranda without a care in the world for the cold. The salty sea air was refreshing to her senses and she was reminded why she loved the sea so much. What must be over the horizon over there? There are legends of a land so grand that she could spend the rest of her life exploring and always find something new and undiscovered. Of course, those were only legends. If there had been any substantial proof, Zoe was sure she would have been on a boat headed east faster than her feet could carry her to the docks. So, for now, Zoe remained in Sirene, as different from the desert as she could find. She had always planned on leaving Sirene, but after being taken in by Bridget when she was sick and hungry from so much travel, she wasn’t in any hurry to abandon the only person who ever treated her like family. So she stayed and she served, and she loved every day of it.

Realizing how much time she had wasted just staring out at the sea, Zoe pulled herself away from the veranda and headed back into the castle proper. Bridget hadn’t really given her much to do to prepare the party, so Zoe had taken it upon herself to make sure that all of Bridget’s favorite things were going to be available: a large keg of soft purple wine, a full orchestra, a display of fine arts and paintings, and lots of chocolate. That last one was more for Zoe than Bridget, but she wouldn’t be mad at it either. Chocolate was very rare, so could anyone blame Zoe for wanting to get as much as she could when the opportunity presented itself?

Zoe began skipping her way down to her room somewhere in the center of the castle, her dual braids bouncing up and down against her chest. She had never bothered to count how many floors were in the castle and saw no reason to start now. Each floor was different in its decor and lighting, and Zoe knew them all from the barracks to the storage rooms to the treasury. People had often questioned how she managed to know exactly where everything was in the castle, and Zoe had always smiled back at them with a simple wink, never giving away anything more.

The truth of it was that Zoe had often survived only by recognizing one section of wilderness from another. Knowing which sand dunes housed oasis and which were quicksand was absolutely essential to surviving out in the desert, and she hated that the habit had stuck with her even as she had fled that wretched place.

But she was here now, in Sirene with a family and people to protect her. But how long can I hide here? They will find me eventually, and can I really put others in danger just to protect me? The question was, of course, simply paranoia that still haunted her. It had been over 3 years since she had last seen the mercenaries that were supposed to kill her on sight, and even after she had made sure that her trap had killed every last one of them, she knew that there were always more who would seek her out.

Zoe shook herself a bit and continued her bound to her room. There was a time and place to worry about those things, but it was not tonight. Tonight was Bridget’s birthday! And tonight, she was going to do her best to make her happy.

She reached her room and walked straight to the wardrobe in the back. There hung a dress of fine white silk with soft small ruffles and red ribbons around the waist and sleeves. It was a simple dress, but then again, Bridget was a simple person, pure and kind. She had made sure that the neckline had been brought down in spite of Bridget’s predictable objections. She was a woman, and Zoe was going to remind her and everyone else of that fact, especially Harry.

With that, she pulled the dress off the hanger to reveal her gift to Harry. A stately suit of white and red, fashioned after the general’s dress armor, but without all that steel to get in the way. The red embroidery would match Bridget’s ribbon’s perfectly, but that had always been the point. If Zoe knew Harry at all, and she was convinced she knew him better than almost anyone, then she knew that Harry was going to show up today to try and impress Bridget dressed like either a foot soldier or still in his blacksmiths outfit.

Well, that was not going to happen if Zoe had anything to say about it. She would not have him ruining Bridget’s perfect night by being underdressed and under prepared. No sir, not today. Today, they would finally share that special moment out on the dance floor and share true love’s first kiss. Zoe did not believe much in fairy tales, but she squealed a little at her own imagination and was determined to make Bridget’s come true.

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She packed up and folded both outfits, wrapping them very carefully to not crease them, and tucked them under her arm. She then turned to the candle on the table, focused her senses, and sucked the heat from the candle into herself. The candle snuffed out, and Zoe felt ever so slightly warmer as she closed her door and strode away. She had practiced her abilities for years now, but had kept them small for fear of being discovered.

Zoe peered around again, looking for anything that had moved to make sure that she hadn’t been seen or followed, and then proceeded back down the stairs to go find Harry in the barracks. He wasn’t hard to find, he was as predictable as the rising sun. He was attempting to straighten the curls in his hair with minimal success. He really shouldn’t even try, he looks more rugged and handsome than if he was so prim. She looked him up and down and frowned deeply. He had dressed himself in bright red brigandine and boring black trousers. The brown trimmings and buttons made the ensemble even more fitting of a soldier. But tonight he wasn’t going to be a soldier. Tonight he was going to be Bridget’s prince, and this would simply not do.

“And just what do you think you’re wearing?” Zoe demanded. She was expecting some kind of startle or flinch from Harry, but he always seemed to know where everyone was in his surroundings, and Zoe had never been able to sneak up on him, no matter how hard she had tried. How unfun! He’s too good at his job.

“Uhhh. I’m wearing my armor?” Harry said.

“Not tonight, you’re not.” She began unfolding the suit from its wrapping.

“Zoe, I need to be prepared to protect Bridget.”

“And who is going to protect her from your own stupidity?” Her mouth quirked up a little, waiting for the fluster to take over his speech.

Harry looked like someone just poured hot soup all over his pants. “What?!” he said, with more incredulity than expected. Now, that was the kind of reaction she was hoping for.

“Harry, Bridget is a woman now, in case you didn’t notice.”

Zoe watched his face glow red in embarrassment. “I noticed,” he managed to stammer out, with far less confidence than she was sure he was trying to project.

“Well, then you should know that you can’t go around courting a woman dressed like that,” emphasizing the last word as she gestured to all of him and his bright red outfit.

“I don’t…” He trailed off. “I’m just telling her how I feel.”

“And then what? Did you just plan on walking away from her afterwards, you great big wool head?”

His face grew even more red and was almost as bright as his armor. Zoe smiled deeply at that, taking what amusement she could at his discomfort. Harry simply shifted uncomfortably, so Zoe continued. “If you plan on doing what I think you are, you better do it right. So I’m here to make sure you at least look the part.”

She hung the suit up in the sorry excuse for a closet that Harry had. He looked at it with a grimace. Zoe groaned at him, “If you insist on wearing your armor, at least wear this over it. You will need to forgo the belt, and you should probably get a clean shirt to wear under the suit. Oh what am I saying? I’ll send Marissa to help get you dressed”

Zoe ignored the protests and simply began putting the suit on him to make sure it would fit, which it did, thankfully. “I’ll also be sending her with a new pair of boots for you. You really need to stop wearing brown, it doesn’t do your hair any justice, or your eyes.” He was still protesting, but Zoe simply ignored him and continued talking.

“Hurry up! Get those pants on and Marissa should be here in ten minutes.” Zoe smiled one last time at him, winked and walked away, his protests dying as she left. She wasn’t worried about him not doing as she had said. For all his stubbornness, Harry had a very hard time disobeying any woman, no matter how much he whined like a child. Still, it was always so funny watching him get so flustered at being ordered around. But that was enough fun for one night. For now, she had to go find Marissa, and then see to it that Bridget was just as ready as Harry to finally make their fairytale come true.