Meeting the King

When Stella enters the orc's room the next morning, she finds Xena sitting at her vanity table, while Trudy does her hair. The witch's wooden puppets are running around the room, preparing Xena's outfit, bringing out cosmetics and perfume bottles.

"The king loves the scent of lavender," Trudy calls out towards the mannequins. They scramble to find the right scented oils and bring them to the vanity.

"I like lavender too," Xena says, smiling at the other woman through the vanity's mirror. Then, her eye fall on Stella, and she takes a more serious expression. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Stella responds, which grabs the attention of the other human. Trudy gives the witch a wink and a nod, informing her that she has indeed done the deeds with Xena the night before.

Stella, wearing a nightgown that accentuates her voluptuous form, joins the noblewoman behind the orc, looking at her in the mirror. Xena has the distinct glow of someone who's had a great night.

"You got another hour to get ready, afterwards we're teleporting to the castle." She squeezes the future queen's shoulder and then walks back out; She has her own preparation to finish.

Xena, wearing the lavish red and gold dress that she had tried on the day before, follows Trudy to the teleportation room, where they meet up with Stella. The witch wears a jaw-dropping black and purple dress. She frowns when she sees the other two women staring at her with wide open mouth.

"Too much cleavage?" She asks, pointing at her remarkable bosom.

"Well," Trudy says, finally regaining control over her gaping mouth, "maybe it'd be best if you didn't overshadow Mistress Xena."

"Overshadow!?" Xena cries out. She looks down at herself, noticing the rather conservative appearance of her own chest, then stares at Stella. Trudy might have a point.

Stella sighs, then waves her fingers around her chest. The fabric of her dress extends upwards, until it covers all the skin all the way up to her neck.

"Can you do that but in reverse for my dress?" Xena asks.

"Nope. I can change this dress at will, because it was woven by arcane spiders. Your dress is very pretty, but it is not imbued with any magical properties." While she explains her dress' abilities, she turns towards her teleportation circle and begins the spell.

Stella and Trudy are used to the teleportation, but Xena's first arcane trip leaves her dizzy and nauseous once they reach the castle. Stella gives her a scented rag to put under her nose, which does help dissipate the orc's headache.

"Is this your first time?" Trudy asks, sounding impressed.

"Yeah, why?"

"Most people puke the first time they teleport." Her red cheeks are a good hint that she's included in most people.

The witch and her pampered orc leave the room in the direction of the royal dining halls, while Trudy takes a different route to return to her own room before anyone beside her chambermaid can notice that she hasn't spent the night at the castle.

Along the way, Stella and Xena pass by numerous guards and nobles. Most have been informed that the witch would be accompanying an orc to meet with the king, but even those who knew of her arrival look at the immense green lady with disdain, apprehension, and sometimes plain old fear.

Stella dramatically pushes open the doors leading to the castle's eating area, where tables have been set up with an extravagant breakfast. Xena eyes the feast, but quickly steels herself. She looks up and meet the king's gaze; She has to do her best to impress him.