Game of Thrones: StormBorn

291AC

"My Lady."

Selyse stared at the Essosi woman, and moreover at the enormous boxes at the servants carried behind her. Her son was a dear, but he had a tendency to overdo things, much like his little port.

"Let me see it."

She stared at the dress, long, embroidered finery, far prettier than she deserved, despite what her son said. She had it on good authority from her eye in his company that the boy had hired the tailoress all the way from Volantis.

All to make sure she looked her best when they went to King's landing for Prince Joffrey's tenth name-day. It seemed a bit overblown from her perspective, but then, it might well just be her son looking after her, making sure she did not embarrass his father before the court.

'Her husband.' she corrected herself. He had given her three children, and even if the man himself was insufferable she could spare him at least that much respect.

Respect she did not share for his brother the King.

She sighed into her hand, before gesturing to the tailoress who came with it to help her put on the fine thing. "I Might as well see how it looks on me."

"Yes my Lady," the Tailoress said, and Selyse moved to undress as the woman unpacked the rest of the material.

Selyse was forced to correct her posture as the corset was snapped into place, some Volantene invention, it felt like it was crushing her torso when she breathed, so she did so more lightly. After the Corset, the first part of the dress proper was put on, a long silk thing it hung down from her shoulders to her ankles in the bright yellow of her husband's house. But, much unlike the Fashion of Westeros, there were yet far more pieces to come.

A jacket of black with gold and onyx inlay was placed over the dress proper, and a smaller skirt of the same colors was placed over her hips, hanging slightly below her knees, thin yellow sleeves were placed over her arms from her hands up, and buttoned into the corset beneath the other fabric, then another set of far puffier sleeves was placed over those, this time bearing small rims of pearls around the edges. Finally, silvered slippers were placed upon her feet and black silk gloves over her hands.

She was about to comment at how ridiculous it all must look when she felt the tailoress begin to braid her hair behind her, but the words dried up in her mouth as she saw her reflection in the mirror.

It did little to hide the plainness of her face, true, and while it aided her body's contours somewhat, it was nowhere near enough to match her pretty cousins and their enormous bosoms.

But none of that mattered, because what stared back at her in the mirror was not simply ugly, tall, bosomless Selyne Florent. 'keh, Baratheon.' She corrected herself as she marveled at her own appearance, touching her face just to make sure it was still her under all that.

"Is it to your liking my Lady?" The Volantene woman said to the side, a small grin on her face as she stood admiring her own work.

Selyse would not begrudge her that.

Selyse was sure there was not another dress in the seven kingdoms as fine as this one, the intricacy, the detail. Even if it made it hard to breathe, it was more than worth it.

Even better that it wasn't one of those low cut dresses that her pretty cousins loved so much, no, despite the ostentatious wealth on display there was no harlotry here. Only dignity, firmness befitting a proper lady.

And here she would never have even known to ask for it. No, she had always thought that the same blacks and greys of her husband suited her best, but it seemed that like in so many things her son had an understanding that was far greater than his age. In this, she looked neither the Harlot nor the Septa. It was a real dress fit for a real lady.

It was almost a shame that she would have to wear it next to her dour husband. Stannis Baratheon didn't own an article with a color brighter than grey, save perhaps for the occasional brown.

'Then again, perhaps I will not have to.'

She turned to one of the other servants, a Dragonseed like many of those who served in the castle. "Would you please bring my son here, I would like to speak with him for a bit."

A moments thought and she turned back to the Tailoress, realizing she must have been unnecessarily rude.

"I very much like this dress." She said curtly. No reason to beat around the bush. "And I think I may yet have more need of your services."

"Indeed my lady?" The woman grinned as she spoke, her posture showing clear excitement. "I would be most happy to make you more. It is so rare that folk appreciate my Tailoring, and the nobles in Volantis thought it too stuffy."

"Oh no, this one shall be more than enough for me. No, but it would be such a shame to stand beside my son and husband in their dour garb while I wear something so beautiful." She made sure to remember to smile even as she addressed the woman, something she normally saved only for her darling children. "My son's gift is much appreciated, I believe I should return the favor, and perhaps for my husband as well."

The woman blinked for a moment, the idea clearly running through her head before she nodded frantically. "I could do that my lady, I have done men's clothes before, albeit rarely."

"Good." Selyse kept smiling. "Now what's your name my dear, I think I should learn more of one so skilled."

"Dyna, my Lady, I was apprenticed to The Radiant Weaver's house in Volantis, though I only recently earned my mastery."

"Indeed? Tell me, has my son already offered you a retainer?"

"Indeed, three dragons a month, plus whatever material I require."

"I will make it five, and you shall be part of my personal staff," Selyse said with authority. Her son might be upset to have the tailoress stolen, but she was his mother, and this woman was worth more besides. "Once my son gets here for measurements, you will start work on his and his father's clothing immediately. I already have my husband's measurements kept."

Dyna nodded as if she had thought this might happen all along. "Is there anything else my Lady?"

The Lady of Dragonstone started to shake her head before a final thought occurred.

"Actually, there is one other thing…"