Storming Flower
A/N: Several months ago, I tried writing what I thought was a fanfic with potential (Legend of a Delicate Pillar). I'm trying again, using recycled elements of my trashed fic to enhance the depth of this one. Thanks go out to Michael Austin, Billy Wagner, Jan Spinardi....and to Matt, for giving this particular King of Hyrule a name.
Reviews are greatly appreciated, as well as constructive/not so constructive criticism! Zelda makes Nintendo money, not me.
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"Anuin, I love you. Never forget that..." Queen Fleur's face held the pallor of death, her form growing more ethereal with each passing moment. Drenched tendrils of copper decorated her shoulders and the pillow that propped her up, her entire body weary as though she had just sprinted the perimeter of Hyrule Field. But her eyes; they were an intense, perpetual twilight that rebelliously did not hint the River of Time was pulling her under. These moments were her happiest, despite the cruel fate that made them her last.
Anuin knew, even with the child's back facing him in favor the warm but weakening embrace of her mother, that she would have such eyes. There was so much he wanted to say to Fleur, but time was growing short for the fragile Queen of Hyrule, as the River of Time insistently pulled her along, further down the current of destiny. The king bent over his queen, placing a tender kiss on her cooling lips, doing away with words. His lingering kiss hinting he wished he had the power to breathe life into her anew.
Hyrule was engaged in a war the likes it had never witnessed, and in battle the king was a fearsome warrior. Now, he was gentle yet uncertain, a lost little boy wondering why his world was crumbling apart, knowing the only battle that mattered to him was one his wife was losing. "I will never love another, Fleur. When the River comes for me..."
Fleur shook her head, struggling to place a shaking hand to his cheek. "I know.." she soothed, "I know. But now is not the time to think of the River. She will be special, Anuin. Not the sort of special...every mother sees in their child... She.... will bear a worldy significance." She looked down at the immaculate face of the newborn, whispering so Anuin had to strain to hear. "Name her Zelda, as the old law decrees...and I implore you, Anuin...give her peace. Unify this chaotic land..." Her hand fell. Lashes fluttered shut, and with a sigh, Queen Fleur breathed her last, letting the River take her.
He hugged them both, covering them with his form; mindful not to put his weight on the child between Fleur and himself. Their child. Zelda. She wriggled in her blankets beneath him, making helpless noises while Anuin silently sobbed against Fleur's pale shoulder, his salty tears and warm breath not felt against her alabaster skin. He had witnessed and caused many a death these recent months, sometimes even expecting his own end to be near. Anuin never dared to think he would lose Fleur. He, a murderer of Farore's creatures, was offered life. She, a peaceful, gentle, good and just woman was rewarded with death -- for giving life. The irony was not amusing by any means. It made him bitter, and guilty. It was a simple fact that death would always be a risk taken with raising a family, or securing an heir. It could not be helped in most cases, but Anuin took no comfort from such knowledge.
* * * * * * * * * *
The king sat numb for ages, her words a searing brand that would never leave him. She was gone. But Zelda was still there. He took the whimpering infant from the still form of her mother. A tiny face looked hopelessly at him framed by the countless folds in her recieving blanket, and he stared in awe. Golden fuzz crowned the top of her head. Tiny, pointed ears. The rapture of a thousand starry nights shone in her eyes. As best he could, Anuin tried to console her. He held her bundle close, rocking her gently in the cradle of his arms, ignoring the nagging thought that Zelda could never be a son.
At the moment, she was content to be what she was, a newborn. Her cries were foreign to Anuin's sensitive ears and they drooped, trying to evade the sound. She wouldn't have any of his rockings, or his murmured shhhhh's, and her cries went on...and on...and on... Anuin looked to Fleur's serene face, wishing the noise would awaken her.
Impa stood in the opposite corner on the other end of the vast bedchamber, in the shadow of velvet curtains. Her garnet eyes and snowy hair marked her as a Sheikah, as well as her dark clothing. It showed off every muscle and every curve from the bulge of her biceps to the swell of her breasts, but one always took notice of the muscles first. Her thick lips of russet had pursed as all of the physicians and midwives and weeping maids left the room when Fleur's future looked bleak, and she moved no more, not even now as the babe loudly proved her existance. Impa stood statue-esque, though she let her eyes wander to Anuin as he began an obvious path for her corner.
He wet his lips, his eyes asking her to help him. "Impa, step forward. Take her."
The Sheikah were fiercely loyal to the Royal Family, protecting them and their interests. She hardly looked like the nurturing sort, but she came forward and carefully took the bundle from her king. Her swaying movements and enveloping arms began to quiet Zelda. She walked slowly towards the window so her princess might see her very first sunrise.
Women, Anuin sarcastically thought. He was grateful for Impa's skill and a little unsettled at the sight... He looked back to Fleur, so seemingly asleep and beautiful, then back to the warrior Sheikah. The sunlight spilled from the window, landing almost reluctantly on the woman of shadows. "We are in a time of war," he began, stepping closer so he could watch the gentle champagne rays of dawn touch Zelda. "I promised Fleur I would quell the conflicts and restore peace to Hyrule. I will be absent from her life often...perhaps forever -- Nayru forbid. Impa of Kakariko, take her. Protect her."
She turned to look at him, her hawkish eyes of vigilance searching the somber sapphire of his own. The Sheikah usually intercepted threats covertly, and rarely took an active role in the life of their charges. She lowered her eyes submissively, looking down at Zelda instead. There was genuine need, and Impa couldn't refuse her. Wouldn't refuse her. "I, Impa of Kakariko Village, swear by my blood as a Sheikah to uphold the pact taken with the Royal Family of Hyule. I will guard Princess Zelda until the last of my days, and see to her proper training as required by her title."
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Review please, and keep an eye open for new chapters!
A/N: Several months ago, I tried writing what I thought was a fanfic with potential (Legend of a Delicate Pillar). I'm trying again, using recycled elements of my trashed fic to enhance the depth of this one. Thanks go out to Michael Austin, Billy Wagner, Jan Spinardi....and to Matt, for giving this particular King of Hyrule a name.
Reviews are greatly appreciated, as well as constructive/not so constructive criticism! Zelda makes Nintendo money, not me.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Anuin, I love you. Never forget that..." Queen Fleur's face held the pallor of death, her form growing more ethereal with each passing moment. Drenched tendrils of copper decorated her shoulders and the pillow that propped her up, her entire body weary as though she had just sprinted the perimeter of Hyrule Field. But her eyes; they were an intense, perpetual twilight that rebelliously did not hint the River of Time was pulling her under. These moments were her happiest, despite the cruel fate that made them her last.
Anuin knew, even with the child's back facing him in favor the warm but weakening embrace of her mother, that she would have such eyes. There was so much he wanted to say to Fleur, but time was growing short for the fragile Queen of Hyrule, as the River of Time insistently pulled her along, further down the current of destiny. The king bent over his queen, placing a tender kiss on her cooling lips, doing away with words. His lingering kiss hinting he wished he had the power to breathe life into her anew.
Hyrule was engaged in a war the likes it had never witnessed, and in battle the king was a fearsome warrior. Now, he was gentle yet uncertain, a lost little boy wondering why his world was crumbling apart, knowing the only battle that mattered to him was one his wife was losing. "I will never love another, Fleur. When the River comes for me..."
Fleur shook her head, struggling to place a shaking hand to his cheek. "I know.." she soothed, "I know. But now is not the time to think of the River. She will be special, Anuin. Not the sort of special...every mother sees in their child... She.... will bear a worldy significance." She looked down at the immaculate face of the newborn, whispering so Anuin had to strain to hear. "Name her Zelda, as the old law decrees...and I implore you, Anuin...give her peace. Unify this chaotic land..." Her hand fell. Lashes fluttered shut, and with a sigh, Queen Fleur breathed her last, letting the River take her.
He hugged them both, covering them with his form; mindful not to put his weight on the child between Fleur and himself. Their child. Zelda. She wriggled in her blankets beneath him, making helpless noises while Anuin silently sobbed against Fleur's pale shoulder, his salty tears and warm breath not felt against her alabaster skin. He had witnessed and caused many a death these recent months, sometimes even expecting his own end to be near. Anuin never dared to think he would lose Fleur. He, a murderer of Farore's creatures, was offered life. She, a peaceful, gentle, good and just woman was rewarded with death -- for giving life. The irony was not amusing by any means. It made him bitter, and guilty. It was a simple fact that death would always be a risk taken with raising a family, or securing an heir. It could not be helped in most cases, but Anuin took no comfort from such knowledge.
* * * * * * * * * *
The king sat numb for ages, her words a searing brand that would never leave him. She was gone. But Zelda was still there. He took the whimpering infant from the still form of her mother. A tiny face looked hopelessly at him framed by the countless folds in her recieving blanket, and he stared in awe. Golden fuzz crowned the top of her head. Tiny, pointed ears. The rapture of a thousand starry nights shone in her eyes. As best he could, Anuin tried to console her. He held her bundle close, rocking her gently in the cradle of his arms, ignoring the nagging thought that Zelda could never be a son.
At the moment, she was content to be what she was, a newborn. Her cries were foreign to Anuin's sensitive ears and they drooped, trying to evade the sound. She wouldn't have any of his rockings, or his murmured shhhhh's, and her cries went on...and on...and on... Anuin looked to Fleur's serene face, wishing the noise would awaken her.
Impa stood in the opposite corner on the other end of the vast bedchamber, in the shadow of velvet curtains. Her garnet eyes and snowy hair marked her as a Sheikah, as well as her dark clothing. It showed off every muscle and every curve from the bulge of her biceps to the swell of her breasts, but one always took notice of the muscles first. Her thick lips of russet had pursed as all of the physicians and midwives and weeping maids left the room when Fleur's future looked bleak, and she moved no more, not even now as the babe loudly proved her existance. Impa stood statue-esque, though she let her eyes wander to Anuin as he began an obvious path for her corner.
He wet his lips, his eyes asking her to help him. "Impa, step forward. Take her."
The Sheikah were fiercely loyal to the Royal Family, protecting them and their interests. She hardly looked like the nurturing sort, but she came forward and carefully took the bundle from her king. Her swaying movements and enveloping arms began to quiet Zelda. She walked slowly towards the window so her princess might see her very first sunrise.
Women, Anuin sarcastically thought. He was grateful for Impa's skill and a little unsettled at the sight... He looked back to Fleur, so seemingly asleep and beautiful, then back to the warrior Sheikah. The sunlight spilled from the window, landing almost reluctantly on the woman of shadows. "We are in a time of war," he began, stepping closer so he could watch the gentle champagne rays of dawn touch Zelda. "I promised Fleur I would quell the conflicts and restore peace to Hyrule. I will be absent from her life often...perhaps forever -- Nayru forbid. Impa of Kakariko, take her. Protect her."
She turned to look at him, her hawkish eyes of vigilance searching the somber sapphire of his own. The Sheikah usually intercepted threats covertly, and rarely took an active role in the life of their charges. She lowered her eyes submissively, looking down at Zelda instead. There was genuine need, and Impa couldn't refuse her. Wouldn't refuse her. "I, Impa of Kakariko Village, swear by my blood as a Sheikah to uphold the pact taken with the Royal Family of Hyule. I will guard Princess Zelda until the last of my days, and see to her proper training as required by her title."
* * * * * * * * * *
Review please, and keep an eye open for new chapters!