The Autumn Equinox was quickly approaching, and she needed something to wear. Something that would turn heads and not be a failure like the last dress. The memory of the reveal of the dress, the lack of acknowledgement brought a scowl to her face. That couldn’t happen again.

But this was a special Coronation. Their first as an engaged couple! She had to look the part of the perfect fiancée.

Sketches were made, hundreds of them, tucked away in her little Hollow. Some strewn about the floor, some tacked up, some crumbled, some torn in half. It had been a painstaking process to find the right design. The perfect design. It had to be perfect. She couldn’t fail again this year. It would not happen; she couldn’t take another blow like that again. The smiles would only mask that pain for so long.

Then came the process of bartering for the ingredients she needed. Most were fairly reasonable in price. But some set her back, requiring multiple trips to various Markets. She needed the light from the first moon of a chilled Autumn night. With the glow of the stars that twinkled in the first Autumn evening. Hobs were not cheap with letting that go. But she finally found one who would trade what she had. The crisp air of the first morning of Autumn? Equally as difficult to get. But worth everything she traded.

Next came selecting the material. It needed to be light, but rich. Breathable, but magical. Soft to the touch, and flow around her body like an unseen breeze.

Finally, the spinning could begin. Night after night she worked in her Hollow. Sewing, pinning, measuring. All tasks she was getting better at over time. But when it came to working the ingredients in? Well, that took patience. More than she usually had, but she was determined. The moonlight was carefully woven through the strands of fabric. Artfully placed in specific areas. And it wasn’t easy. Moonlight was a fickle thing, hugging some threads, falling through others. No rhyme or reason to it. It took hours of careful placement, the lightest touch needed. Finally, it clung to the places on the dress she wanted.

Now the starlight? That was more liberally applied, she wanted it to look like a cloudless night.
The crisp Autumn morning air? Carefully held in her hands and blown into the dress. When done, the fabric moved with the air, the stars appearing to sparkle.

Finally sitting, exhausted, she smiled. It was done, and she lays back on the floor. A pleased smile on her face as she looked at the dress. Looked at the moon and starlight dancing across the dress. Her hard work had finally taken form. It was ready.