and now , standing before me in a gown much like mine but a deep red with a glossy , brown fur ruff around her neck , her still dark hair ( there were only intermittent shafts of gorgeous silver ) pulled up in twists , curls and braids with tiny , gold clips in the shapes of butterflies everywhere , her own crown , gold with diamonds and rubies , a dripping , gold necklace scattered with rubies covering the skin that her scooped neckline exposed and long , gold and ruby earrings hanging from her ears , skimming the fur around her neck was my ... freaking ...