"It would be a new festival," Melora announced as she strolled across the large distance inside her room, her servants taking quills fervently to parchment. "And we can call it 'The Lighting of the Lake'." She smirked at the idea.
"My lady?"
"Yes," she cut them off, and continued as she stared thoughtfully out a window. "And it will become a regular ceremony in which there will be wine and dancing, but it will be different, you see, in that even the commoners can join in on the festivities." Spinning around, she studied the faces of her servants, who appeared slightly shocked she wished to include the peasants, but they said nothing and scribbled it down. "Oh, and of course, lets not forget the true icing on the cake, where all men, women and children of Connloath who wish to attend purchase and light the floating candles."
"Floating candles?"
"Yes?" Melora stared at her servant patiently.
"Do such a thing exist?"
"If I say it does, you can make it so," she remarked smoothly. "Now, those are minor details. I'd like for the candles to rest upon petal like boats, that will cup around the flame and enhance it's glow." She stared at them as they began to understand her plan to make candles float, and sharpened her gaze when they hadn't wrote it down, and they promptly did so. "Now," she began, pacing once again. "This will be partially in relation to the pre-announcements to Aella's birthday party. She will be coming of age now and it would be most fitting to make a pre-announcement, so that any suitable persons can make sure they are free of obligations to attend." She smiled, much like a cat as she added beneath her breath. "And also the fact declining will not be tolerated." Facing her servants again, she smiled.
"Now, are you all well versed in what this ceremony will entail?" she asked the words so sweetly, that it jarred her servants everytime.
"Yes, my lady," one said, bowing her head. "You wish to light floating candles upon the lake."
"And?" Melora raised a sharp brow, but kept her cool countenance.
The servants weren't sure what to answer. Melora faltered, but never frowned.
"I thought it was obvious why were would send floating candles upon the lake, considering what I mentioned earlier," she said, only sounding mildly impatient as she stared down at her long fingernails. "But if I must spell it out, I must, but be sure to write this all down," she said, narrowing her violet eyes upon her servants. "The reason the men, women and children of this town will light glowing candles of radiance across the lake, is to express their true devotion towards beauty." She smiled as her servants remained silent. "You see, the candles are meant to float towards the woman in the land they found the most beautiful." She lowered her lashes as she peered admirably at herself within the mirror. "So don't you see? Myself, will be included in the royal ladies they have to select from and..." this is where she paused to turn around, looking face-front at her servants as she approached. "And this will be Aella's first chance to prove herself as the most beautiful woman throughout the land."
"But my lady, is that not the reason Aella travels with you throughout the other duchies?" one servant questioned, and Melora's smile grew wider across her face.
"Yes, it is true, I do like to keep my treasure of a daughter with me at all times as I travel across Connloath, bless my soul, lest I get lonely, but I digress, it is not a known fact that her beauty is unsurpassable!" she said with a good hearted laugh. "And whose to say she IS the great beauty most of this land praises? Perhaps it is only wise to hold the people accountable for such accusations!" she declared, and waved her servants off.
"Now go! Make the announcement. I want banners posted in every corner throughout Matron's Hollow, and any buildings near the lake. Any town and village nearby should be notified as well, that at week's end, there will be a grand ceremony!" and as she clasped her hands excitedly together, her servants bowed their head and went off to begin the preparations.
"And a grand ceremony it will be indeed," she commented into her lonely chamber, her smile stretching even wider across her lips.
News spread quickly throughout the town as the people prepared excitedly for the Lighting of the Lake. News that not only the duchess there, but her beautiful and famous daughter, Aella, would be joining the ranks, and in fact, that very day, the two were to be paraded through town.
Rumors spread quickly that candles could be purchased from the Duchess's men, and that any could participate in lighting a candle and sending it off into the lake, pushing it towards the woman they deemed most beautiful throughout the land. So far, the only names familiar (or popular) was that the competition seemed to be streaming between mother and daughter- that both Duchess Melora and her youthful daughter, Aella.
It was an exciting announcement indeed, as horns bellowed, welcoming the menagerie of carriages and displays that were paraded through the town's cobblestone roads. Flags were raised and waved, dancers were fluttering about, singing songs traditional to the land, and even some unique to Hellvion itself: the duchy from where both Melora and the famous daughter, Aella had been from.
But the most exciting display was when a magical float, carried upon gilded wheels and ornate horses, passed through the town where, there in the center, upon the most ornate carving of gold, glittering chairs sat both the duchess, and beside her, forced to stand and in one of the most outrageous but beautiful garbs- her daughter, the beautiful Aella.
Around here, and all of those celebrating in the cloud, fell delicate white feathers and gold and green confetti that sparkled against the bright, blue and cloudless sky. Though everything that day was beautiful, it was obvious extra attention was paid to both the duchess and her daughter, for the rumored long locks of Aella were worn down and in incredible curls that were locked and laced onto the perched, golden cages of birds, that were stationed at every outside corner of their royal float.
Even her dress, which, though most Connloaths did not wear, had been made an exception, since the gown was wide (though with layered, lacey pants beneath, that were swallowed away, hidden beneath the massive skirt), that of which flowed at great lengths behind Aella and spilled off the very float in which she stood upon to where a set of eight ladies (four on each side) walked behind them, carrying the delicate, but intricately embroidered designs upon.
Her dress was beautiful, made of pure white snow and gold, and across the front, which swept low, was trimmed with a ruffle of pure white feathers, and the same treatment was trimmed upon the front details of her skirts.
She wore gold earrings, though they would be lost in her golden hair, had they not been so large and glittering with enormous diamonds.
Though out of all of the extravagance that was on display, it could not be denied that both duchess, and the sweet face of her daughter, might very well be the most beautiful of them all.
OOC: I hope this all makes sense, I didn't realize it was almost 3 in the morning when I was finishing this up for Aella's first post!
I've tagged all characters meant for this thread, but if you wish to join it, PM me first (only because I have a few ideas here in mind, and would prefer knowing who might want to join so I can keep things steered in a pretty consistent direction) Either way.. yeah...
BEHOLD THE OVERLY EXCESSIVE-NESS OF DUCHESS MELORA!