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EXT. CASTLE OF MAC CUILL, COURT DESIGNATED CHAMBERS, MORNING
Morrighan and Cliona are inside Cliona’s room, a small room with some decent walking space and a bed. Cliona’s had things moved in here. Morrighan’s inside a wooden and metal reinforced large bucket with sudsy water Cliona is behind her kneeling, rinsing and cleaning her off. Morrighan looks dejectedly at the opposite end of the chamber while Cliona scrubs her arm with a brush. The water is filled with imported perfumes, oils, soaps and flower petals, all Cliona’s doing with her high-ranking court influence. Morrighan picks one of the petals up and eyed it curiously.

MORRIGHAN
Can barely breath with all of the stuff you put in here. What kind of flowers are these, even?

Cliona answers her without stopping.

CLIONA
Think they’re called jasmine. Outerland origin, much more fragrant than anything around here.

Cliona moves onto lathering and rinsing Morrighan’s hair, detangling with her comb and washing it thoroughly.

MORRIGHAN
Isn’t this a bit much?

CLIONA
No, sorry to say. I’m the only one who cares enough to tell you, but you smell horrendously awful. Still covered in dirt and blood. And all these new scars...

MORRIGHAN
Seca was flooded and it rained as long as I was there. I was basically being washed my entire stay.

Cliona laughs. Morrighan doesn’t get why.

CLIONA
You must be joking. That water must have been filthy, filled with the disgusting grime of literally every peasant in town. Your hair could do with some attention too, extremely matted it is. Not to mention the lice.

She picks a bug from her hair and flicks it across the room. Morrighan groans.
CLIONA
You’ll need to take much better care of this if you plan to wear it so long.

MORRIGHAN
You’re the one who told me to keep it this long, though.

CLIONA
Yes, because it looks good on you and serves to frame your face well if you take care of it.

MORRIGHAN
Don’t really have much time for that sort of thing. Considering.

Cliona sighs.
CLIONA
Yes, perhaps I am asking too much from you on your trail. But at least here, I can make sure you are at least presentable.

MORRIGHAN
Who cares. Not like anyone out there will see me any differently, no matter how much you try to doll me up. Only thing I present to anyone around here is doom.

CLIONA
Of course it will. Appearances are vital, the Court for one is known throughout the mainland for its clergy and their impeccable dress at events like these. It is for keeping in line with our reputation.

MORRIGHAN
And not for the oh-so-beautiful priestesses to weasel their way into the arms of noblemen?

CLIONA
That is a particularly nasty rumor. Although it is... not entirely inaccurate.

Morrighan smirks and Cliona pouts at her.

CLIONA
Hey! I do not do that!

MORRIGHAN
Mhm.

Cliona lightly taps Morrighan’s head, and she bends neck back so as to meet Cliona’s eyes.

CLIONA
You’ll at least wear the dress I have picked out for you? You can’t go in dressed in those rags you always wear.

MORRIGHAN
Hey, I take pride in those rags!

CLIONA
And I take pride in my ability to make my dearest friend look as beautiful as I know she is. So I would implore you to let me indulge in my own little labor of love.

Morrighan blushes like an idiot, but keeps her resolution.

MORRIGHAN
Fine. What does this dress even look like?

CLIONA
Oh!

Cliona rushes up and grabs it from a locked chest she has in her room. She holds it up, as if she was trying it on herself although it is far too large.

CLIONA
Western stylings, velveteen and cotton, dyed indigo with white, silken accents. And, it has been tailored by the best I could find in Ulster, with billowed shoulders and forearms, and more empty chest space for your particularly ample bosom.

Morrighan’s taken aback at the attention to detail.

MORRIGHAN
Wait, in Ulster? How long ago did you have this made for me?

Cliona touches her index fingers together and looks away to the side of the room.

CLIONA
U-um, not too long ago you know. (whispers)A year, maybe.

MORRIGHAN
Little weird, I think.

CLIONA
Well, excuse me for being too considerate. I had gotten one in a similar style to wear so we could match back when we were still living in Ulster. You know, in case we ever went to an event like this, everyone would know we planned this together, a-and--

Morrighan facepalms, but to mask her utter elation at Cliona’s sentimentality. She stops her over explanation.

MORRIGHAN
You really are too much.