Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

life experiences of someone far older. Now she was a woman—a very dangerous woman, but one who still looked up at him with eyes that were just a bit uncertain, just a bit insecure.
    "Beautiful," Elend whispered. She smiled.
    "Vin!" Ham said, turning. "You're wearing a dress!"
    Vin flushed. "What did you expect, Ham? That I would meet with the king of the Northern Dominance in trousers?"
    "Well. . ." Ham said. "Actually, yes."
    Elend chuckled. "Just because you insist on going about everywhere in casual clothing, Ham, doesn't mean that everyone does. Honestly, don't you get tired of those vests?"
    Ham shrugged. "They're easy. And simple."
    "And cold," Vin said, rubbing her arms. "I'm glad I asked for something with sleeves."
    "Be thankful for the weather," Ham said. "Every chill you suffer will seem far worse to the men out in those armies."
    Elend nodded. Winter had, technically, started. The weather probably wouldn't get bad enough to be more than a mild discomfort—they rarely got snow in the Central Dominance—but the chill nights certainly wouldn't improve morale.
    "Well, let's go," Vin said. "The sooner we get this over with, the better."
    Elend stepped forward, smiling, taking Vin's hands. "I appreciate this, Vin," he said quietly. "And you really do look gorgeous. If we weren't marching off to near certain doom, I'd be tempted to command a ball be held tonight just for the opportunity to show you off."
    Vin smiled. "Near certain doom is that compelling?"
    "Guess I've been spending too much time with the crew." He leaned down to kiss her, but she yelped and jumped back.
    "It took me the better part of an hour to get this makeup on right," she snapped. "No kissing!"
    Elend chuckled as Captain Demoux poked his head in the door. "Your Majesty, the carriage has arrived."
    Elend looked at Vin. She nodded.
    "Let's go," he said.

    Sitting inside the carriage Straff had sent for them, Elend could see a solemn group standing on the wall, watching them roll away. The sun was near to setting.
    He commands us to come in the evening; we'll have to leave when the mists are out , Elend thought. A crafty way of pointing out how much power he has over us .
    It was his father's way—a move, in a way, that was similar to the attack on the walls a day before. To Straff, everything was about posturing. Elend had watched his father at court, and had seen him manipulate even obligators. By holding the contract to oversee the Lord Ruler's atium mine, Straff Venture had played a game even more dangerous than his fellow noblemen. And he had played that game very well. He hadn't factored in Kelsier throwing chaos into the mix, but who had?
    Since the Collapse, Straff had secured the most stable, and most powerful, kingdom in the Final Empire. He was a crafty, careful man who knew how to plan for years to get what he wanted. And this was the man Elend had to manipulate.
    "You look worried," Vin said. She was across from him in the carriage, sitting in a prim, ladylike posture. It was as if donning a dress somehow granted her new habits and mannerisms. Or just a return to old ones—she'd once been able to act like a noblewoman well enough to fool Elend.
    "We'll be all right," she said. "Straff won't hurt you—even if things go bad, he won't dare make a martyr of you."
    "Oh, I'm not worried about my safety," Elend said.
    Vin raised an eyebrow. "Because?"
    "Because I have you," Elend said with a smile. "You're worth an army, Vin."
    This, however, didn't seem to console her.
    "Come here," he said, scooting over and waving her to the seat beside him.
    She rose and moved across the carriage—but paused, eyeing him. "Makeup."
    "I'll be careful," Elend promised.
    She nodded, sitting and letting him put an arm around her. "Be careful of the hair, too," she said. "And your suit coat—don't get anything on it."
    "When did you get so fashion-conscious?" he asked.
    "It's the dress," Vin said with a sigh. "As soon as I put it on, all of Sazed's lessons started coming back to me."
    "I really do like the dress on you," Elend said.
    Vin shook her head.
    "What?" Elend asked as the carriage bumped, pushing her a bit closer to him. Another new perfume , he thought. At least that's one habit she never got out of .
    "This isn't me, Elend," she said quietly. "This dress, these mannerisms. They're a lie."
    Elend sat quietly for a moment.
    "No objections?" Vin said. "Everyone else thinks I'm speaking nonsense."
    "I don't know," Elend said honestly.