Chapter Text
It was three am the night before she was to leave for the summit and as usual, Loriela was still packing. She had never been much of one for planning, but it always applied doubly so whenever it was something she was dreading. A small, irritated part of her wondered again why her cousin had suddenly decided to elope. It was so inconvenient for everyone involved and worse yet it wasillogical. Surely she must have known this young man she had run off with long enough to give more notice than she had. Not, she supposed, that it would matter much in her case since she herself so rarely planned anything.
Loriela looked through her closet once more with disgust. When it had been decided that she was to go to the summit, it had also been decided that most of her wardrobe was far too plain and functional. To tell the truth, she hardly went anywhere but the libraries or universities. She didn’t have much use for showy clothes. At least she could comfort herself that she’d been able to keep her new wardrobe free of cumbersome flowing sleeves and trains. She threw her new outfits into a suitcase without much care for any wrinkles they might gain, followed them up with a few of her nicer old ones, handkerchiefs, gloves, some shoes, and a fitting selection of undergarments. She was thoroughly satisfied with herself when (after sitting on it) she was able to close her trunk with only part of a dress hanging out. She had managed to fit all of her clothes in a single large trunk. That meant she had the entirety of her other two suitcases for much more importantthings. With a triumphant smile, Loriela headed to the library to pick out books.