Rona.
I plopped onto the bed, grabbing the nearest pillow.
I absolutely hate it when he does that.
Unlike the garden, I wasn't the only one here, two new additions stood on the sides, their faces were nearly too identical to distinguish.
"Madeira," I cleared my throat, facing the one on my right.
"I'm Madelaine."
.....
I cleared my throat, "Sorry the both of you just look so identical."
"It's okay, we get that a lot." Madelaine smiled and did her hair in a messy bun. "This way it'll be easier for you."
"Thanks Madelaine," her hair was a bit shorter than Madeira's. "Do any of you have an idea about the banquet I'm supposed to attend."
Madeira plopped down on the edge of my bed, "We do know quite a bit about, I suppose Madelaine should know better, she attends every season."
Madelaine's cheeks heated up, her eyes darting around the room.
"A certain someone is always invited by an immortal." Madeira teased, relishing in her sister's obvious discomfort.
"It's... It's nothing like that." Madelaine rebutted, albeit weakly, "Stop spreading rumours."
Madeira shrugged, "Call it whatever you want but she invited you again, didn't she?"
"Stop it, Eira." Madelaine leaned against the canopy. "We're just friends."
"I don't know what the hell is going on right now, but I dig it." I chuckled, resting my chin on the back of my palms, "I dig so bad."
"I'll fill you in on the details later," Madeira winked, "There is so much to talk about."
"And I'm not going anywhere for the next two years, so I've got nothing but time."
Madelaine clapped her hands twice, "That's enough gossiping for one day, we need to get you ready for the banquet."
"Says the lady with cheeks the colour of blood." Madeira cackled as Madelaine's cheeks darkened even further.
I blinked twice, wasn't blood supposed to be red? Her cheeks didn't grow any redder... Oh
"I've teased you enough for one day, let's get into business." Madeira adjusted her dress, leaning towards me. "The Fate's banquet is a really important gathering of high immortals and gods."
"A high society gathering of sorts?" I asked, twirling a strand of my hair.
"Exactly, but immortals like us can get in on invitation," Madeira pointed towards her sister, "Like Elaine over here, she's invited every season by her friend."
"Yes Madelaine, tell us more about your friend." I giggled, adding fuel to the fire. Her cheeks were already a deep blue, the colour of the sea.
Madelaine cleared her throat, "The most important part of the Fate's banquet is the convergence-"
"It's like a gathering of the elites of high society," Madeira chimed in, "The gods."
"So it's like a high society inva high society." I added, "Sounds cool."
"It does, doesn't it?" Madeira sighed wistfully. "Even Elaine's friend can't get in."
I could see a vein pop in Madelaine's forehead, "Yes, yes, you've said that countless times already, it's getting old Eira."
"Soo...." I drawled, garnering their attention before a cat fight ensued, "I'm supposed to be prepare for the Banquet, then I'll be out of there."
"Well," Madeira glanced at Madelaine for a second, before turning back to me, "Not exactly."
"You're the guest of a primordial god." Madelaine began, "You're attending the convergence too, unless hedecides against it."
"Hold on a second," I raised my hand out stop her, "What you mean to tell me is that, I'll be stuck in a meeting with gods?"
Madelaine nodded, "And we have to get you ready, there's barely enough time as it is.'
The both of them approached me, their pale, icy-blue skin glowing eerily.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, shifting further into the bed, "Wha…What are you two doing?"
"Preparing you." They answered simultaneously.
Madeira grabbed my ankle before I could escape, "I'm afraid there's no running from this."
"God no!" I tugged my ankles back forcefully, "let me go!"
Madelaine placed her hand on my shoulder, her skin icy cold, "I'm afraid it's too late for that now."
I was forced into the bath, every inch of my skin scrubbed raw with product after product.
"The banquet isn't even happening today!" I grumbled, dunking my head under water.
"You have to start preparing immediately." Madeline brushed her hands through my hair, "It's going to need time before it takes effect and we barely have any."
"Trust me if you go there looking like you do now, you'll be the talk of the entire realm." Madeira shivered, "I had to learn that the hard way."
"Fine," I groaned, "while we're here, tell me a little bit about the... Primordial gods."
I won't lie, I was intrigued to know more about the progenitor. He was like a pandora box, the more you look, the less you see.
"We don't know too much about them, actually no one does." Madeira poured another bottle of god knows what in the bath.
"They're a bunch of very recluses." Madelaine tugged a little too hard at my scalp, "ever since the Fates ceased their blessings, they've been even harder to see."
I popped my head back up, "Fates? Blessings? Tell me more."
Madelaine chuckled, "Curious, aren't we?"
"Of course I am, who would willing missing out on juicy gossip like this."
"I would." Madeira huffed, "I've heard it one too many times."
"Nobody really knows what happened," Madelaine began, "One day, the Fates ceased their blessings of mates. Since then, there has never been a mating pair."
"And the blessing of childbirth," Madeira added, here eyes vacant, "Not a single child has been born in the immortal realm for nearly five thousand years."
I paused as the atmosphere suddenly turned solemn, "So if the gods are elite, the Fates are the kings?"
Madeira nodded, "Some say that it was all caused by a primordial god-"
"But nobody knows the truth." Madelaine cut in, "Don't spread silly rumours, Eira."
"One thing we do know is, The Centennial Convergence was the only day the gods could find the other half of their soul."
I submerged my head back in the water as Madelaine hummed a foreign tune.
I couldn't even imagine waiting for so long for a soulmate that probably didn't exist.
The new routine continued for days and I slowly became used to it, I even began expecting it after seeing the results.
My skin was glowing. Literally glowing.
"I have never felt so beautiful in all my years of existing." I gasped, staring into the mirror. "Even my hair feels different."
"Of course it does." Madeline smiled softly as she stared at my reflection in the mirror, "I took care of it after all."
Madelaine appeared behind me, holding a hair brush and dozens of trinkets, "Loving the humility, Elaine."
"It's not bragging if it's the truth."
"For once, I agree with Madelaine." I was still in awe at my reflection, "I still can't believe I look like this."
"You better do that now," Madeira placed a hand on her hips, her frills glowing a light pink, "Because when I'm done with you, you're going to look like an actual goddess."
"I'm all in for the magic." Madeira led me to the vanity, running her fingers through my hair.
"You're going to get heads turning tonight."
Personally, I just wanted to blend in and not be noticed. But how could I say no to a free dress up.
†††
"Voila!" Madeira stopped to stare at my reflection as she placed the last pin on my hai, "Absolutely nobody will be able to take their eyes off you."