Festival of Roses

Rayley paced nervously back and forth. With her ladies watching the archery, and her maids sent away, it was uncharacteristically quiet and still, apart from Rayley’s restless movement. She wrung her hands as she drifted towards a window, only to change her mind and start towards the fireplace. A dozen times she made up her mind and was about to summon a maid, only to change it once more.

Jynessa Tremaine arrived as instructed the evening before. She gave a few frantic knocks despite her desire to be as prim and proper as possible. As she waited, she too paced around the hallway and looked around for anyone who was still potentially roaming about in the halls.

Rayley started at the sound of knocking, crossing to the door and opening it a crack. When she saw the other girl, she was immediately relieved, and a thousand times more nervous than before. Pulling the door open, she invited the younger win inside, “oh, Jyn, I wasn’t sure you would come after all.” She was wearing a simple dress, the kind that a lady might wear while travelling, light and unadorned by fancy brocade or beading.

"In what world would I decide not to arrive?" She took a step inside and looked for mirror to check her appearance. It was her imperative to not have a single bit of herself be out of place. "What did you tell them?"

Closing the door firmly, Rayley turned, leaning against the closed portal. “I told Elwood that it was a lady’s ‘thing’ and he was more than happy not to inquire any further. The other ladies I told I was feeling tired,” the young woman placed a hand on her stomach, “and they all just nodded knowingly and told me to rest.”

"What about later though? When they intend to pry on the matter." Jyn tapped her fingers on her skirt and let out a sigh. "Have we made a mistake?"

“Later, when my moon blood comes, and my hopes are proven to have be only that, I will be suitably disappointed and the other ladies will comfort me,” Rayley shrugged. “I’m nervous too,” she admitted.

"Stopping now would not change a thing. We already went though the effort of meeting each other now." Jyn stepped closer and leaned in for another kiss.

Rayley's arms went around the other girl's waist, and gently pulled her close. Her lips brushed lightly against Jynessa's, she drew back and looked into the twin's eyes, whispering almost urgently, "the door to the bedchamber can be latched from the inside."

Jyn's cheeks reddened as she lowered her eyes. "That is good," she murmured before going in for a deeper kiss. "Oh Rayley..."