Anna could not recall the last time she had been in a dress, let alone a formal Elven ball gown. Certainly it had been before her time as a squire in training to become a Delphinium Dragon Defender. For some four years she had lived entirely in the popular wildlander tights and jerkin favored by the elven warriors. So she was definitely feeling uncomfortable and pretty confined at the moment. And that dam leaf corset was pulled so tight she could barely breathe. But this was a once in a lifetime moment for Anna and protocol demanded all the formality of an elven high court. And if that meant being bundled up breathless in a long formal dress then so be it; it was only gonna happen once. It was her final ordeal to knighthood. Two weeks ago Anna had knocked on the doors of Lady Larkspur's quarters. Not the shy timid knock of a squire but the bold bang, bang knock of a proven person - for Anna had returned from the Elven Craigs with her Dragon. And with George in hand she had passed the final trial to knighthood. Tradition demanded that Anna was not at the Lady's quarters to ask permission, but rather to demand the investiture that she had earned. And also by tradition this was the one and only time that the Lady was required to submit to a demand. Even though it was all ritual and the outcome assured, it was still rather unnerving to have to stand before Lady Larkspur and demand your just rewards! Never before and never again would a person be able to make a demand of the Lady... and not suffer the consequences of such indiscretion. Of course in Anna's case Lady Larkspur was most pleased to acquiesce to her demands. The birth of George at the Elven Craigs had been a good sign for a future mighty dragon. But of course this had been tempered by the relatively high failure rate at this birth site of mixed blessing. Lady Larkspur recalled her own trial at the Craigs and how she had almost lost her dragon, Thomas, when he stubbornly refused to come to her first songs. She wondered how Anna had fared, but protocol demanded that one not ask. At this point success was measure enough. Only those who failed had to tell their tale of woe at this time; those who would become knights could choose their own time of telling. Praise the Gods that it had been Anna this time, for a lesser being would probably have failed. And so it came to be that a fortnight later Anna and Lady Larkspur were to meet again. The place, a sacred grove of Lady Larkspur's choice, the site of her own investiture. Present, only Lady Larkspur, Anna and her familiars, and of course George. The purpose, the investiture of Anna into Knighthood and her formal recognition as a Delphinium Dragon Defender. And of course, the announcement of the start of her vision quest, which would start in no more than 3 days. With reverence Anna approached Lady Larkspur along the sacred stairs of cleaved white pine spars. Anna had never seen the Lady radiating her full power before and on this night of a blue moon she was both beautiful and yet totally intimidating. Anna was nervous. But off to her left her ever faithful Millicent was beside herself with joy at seeing Anna achieve her dream and this gave her courage. Ingrid was of course perched high on a sacred stone, watching. Nobody minded the sacrilege and besides, no one could stop her anyhow. As Anna stepped onto the stairs George jumped off her shoulders, giving her a fright that he was gonna bolt at this most inopportune moment. But instead the little bugger chose just to hover alongside Anna as she walked the stairs. Typical of George, he was gonna make his own way to the ceremony! Anna had to suppress a smug smile as the torches lit up George's glossy reptilian hide in a wonderful mix of orange and blue lights. At that moment she thought him the most beautiful little beast in the world. I must say this new way of crediting vendors really sucks gas. It is very clumsy and time consuming dontcha think? DAZ Credits Danie - Druid Valley Marforno - Druid Valley