I awoke, tired, as usual. The sun was shining in my room just enough to hint that I should wake up, but not so glaring as to suggest I should rush myself. Just take my time. Be delicate. Be pretty. Be so utterly boring most of the time.
"Uuuugh," I moaned, dragging my pillow over my head and issuing another, more irritated, little moan into it.
"Princess?"
I pushed the pillow up enough to expose my eyes, darting them toward the door where I knew the voice was issued. I was debating on answering, or staying quiet so she would just leave me alone. I was sick of dealing with people, with plans. It'd be different if my opinion mattered, which it so obviously didn't. Father allowed me to sit in on meetings after my spying began to get extreme. After a certain age, peeking through windows had just stopped cutting it. It was when I had rolled off the rafter from trying to listen to a particularly soft spoken man from Hyrule Lake explain about a problem with Zoras that my dad had finally had me a little seat built next to his. I was allowed my input, but it was the equivalent of salt in my tea: a bitter disappointment. I felt so useless. I was his only child, and I wanted to have some say in the future of my kingdom. No mistake, I said mine. It would be mine, not some prince that they expected me to marry in the future. And if I did marry, then my Goddess, he would shut up and listen or I'd smack him across the jaw so hard he'd be spitting teeth for a week.
"Princess?" The knock came again, a little more persistent this time.
"You may enter," I said, flicking my wrist at the door uselessly. Whatever, sure, come inside and act like I'm not allowed to do anything for myself. Goddess forbid I have to take a piss without telling someone about it and having it inspected for dehydration.
The girl slipped inside, my newest. I don't have a bad attitude, per se, but I guess I have been coming off as a creep lately, or so I've heard in the halls when I still manage to slide my now grown body into my old hiding places. It's not pretty and it's not comfortable, but it's efficient and I'm nosy. The word is that I'm a complete and empty statue, but the bad kind. I don't speak unless spoken too, but I'm monotone. I don't go out without company, but I glide like a specter. I don't eat without having my food tested and cut, but I don't eat enough to make having a cook worthwhile. I'm blank, and I am empty. Except when I'm anywhere but here.
The door creaked open hesitantly. "You're mother requested we make you a new dress," she said shyly, brushing her short red hair behind her ears as she looked down at the floor, only daring a short glance in my direction. She was tall and slender, older than me by a few years. She was from the village by Death Mountain and was a splendid cook, but was looking for extra rupees. Since my last maid felt I had been possessed, the position was wide and open for her taking. "She thought it might liven up your color."
I sat up and turned to face her, my lips pressed in a thin line and daring my eyes to shook icy glare beams at her. She hadn't don't anything wrong, but I wanted to have power over someone for once. I wanted someone to just listen. Or fear me. I really don't care at this point.
My silence just caused her to want to fill the space with more of her talk. "I sewed a lot back in the village, and I sewed the dress for you. I finished it yesterday. I'm not a great seamstress, but she thought you might like something to wear with the horses and when you were out in the gardens. I thought you might like to go out in the gardens today. Everything's starting to bloom and it's just so splendid. I'm sure seeing life in all the plants and animals outside might put some life into yo- oh!" She immediately clamped her hands over her mouth, her eyes widening in shock.
And I just burst out laughing. I couldn't help it. She looked like she wanted to grab the words from the air and just shove them back in her mouth and hightail it from my very presence. "No, don't be sorry," I giggled, "It's fine."
A saw her shoulders fall in relief as she took long strides to my wardrobe, opening the doors and picking a dress from the far right. Weird people putting stuff in my room while I slept. And they called me creepy.
The dress was simple and deep sapphire, sleeveless with decorative purple embroidery at the bottom. Simple and made for getting dirty. I liked the prospect that I might actually get to do something fun today. I roused myself from the excessive covers of my bed and plopped on the floor. I stood at the end of the bed, arms out, while she undressed then redressed me quickly and efficiently. I wondered as I stood what kind of training my maids went through. I don't think I would like to have to learn how to dress people. I'm not comfortable with nakedness. Surprising, considering I'm not allowed to dress myself or draw my own bath. Did they work on dressmaking dummies, or do they really learn by undressing a stranger?
My thoughts were broken as she ushered me to the stool in front of my mirror. I sat quietly, as expected, as she brushed out my golden hair and tied it back in a loose braid. I was allowed to wear a pair of crisp leather boots, obviously showing how I rarely went outside. Once finished dressing, I stood and allowed to finish doing whatever it was she was doing.
I have this tendency to block out my boring parts of the day. Which means I really don't remember much of the past chunk of years. What I do know, is it takes a surprising amount of time to make one ready to get dirty. After more face scrubbing an accessory adding, I could feel a bubble of hope that something good would happen today. Something to make it worth it to keep getting up. I snapped back to attention on the way to the breakfast, wondering how long I'd been in my zoned out state of mind. The girl didn't seem to mind though, and she was babbling something and I just nodded, hoping she hadn't said something important.
The large doors of the dining area were pushed open and I could see my parents already seated at the large table. I took my seat at the table across from Mother and next to Father, who sat at the head. I had a poached cucco egg and a glass of Lon Lon Milk with the bread they make from the kitchens. I poked at my egg with my fork.
"So, what's your plans for the day?" Mother asked as she daintily bit her bread. She dabbed at her mouth at invisible crumbs.
"I'm sure you know before I do."
She shot me a look.
"I hear they have your pony brushed up for you," Father added, popping the egg in his mouth. "I bet you'll love it. I know the weather has been so dreary over the Winter. Spring will do you good." He pointed his fork at me as if daring me to not go have the best day of my entire life.
I sighed, folding my hands in my lap. The conversation turned to other things, and I was tactfully left out as I stared at my hands, waiting for dismissal. After what seemed like half on hour of mind numbing chit-chat, I followed Anju, who I learned was my new maids name, and Wikkim, my guard, out into the gardens. Wikkim took his post at the end of the garden and Anju walked with me a short distance into the flowers.
"You know, you can go look at the ones you want, " I said casually, folding my hands in front of me. "You can meet me when it's time to go in."
"Really?" she said, looking excited. Her face fell after a moment. "I don't know, what if you need me."
"I'll be fine," I assured her, waving her off with my hand. Just so long as I can be alone. "No worries. I'll call if I need you."
"Well, if you're sure," she said after a thoughtful moment, her eyes lighting up. "I'll be right over near the stable if you need me, though, okay?" she assured me before taking her long strides off.
I sighed, Thank goodness for new maids. It seems she hadn't learned all of the rules they all get after the first couple of weeks. I'm not supposed to be left alone for any reason. Despite my slight clumsiness, I do tend to stray. Often. I hoped she wouldn't get in trouble, though, she seemed like a nice enough girl. Pushing the thought away, I felt my smile grow as I spun around for a minute, taking in the scent of the flowers and the brisk air. I hated being cooped up all the time. I already knew every nook and cranny the castle had to offer, and I wanted to see what else the world offered.
It had been months since the flowers had had had any color to them, and they always looked splendid when they began to stretch and bloom and scramble for their space. The walls around the gardens were high and thick stone, but that meant the corners allowed for great seclusion. The one is the northeast corner was perfect for that, as I had discovered last year. My "hiding" is the reason I'm not allowed to wander the gardens alone anymore. I disappeared for chunks at a time last Spring until I was finally under constant supervision.
The spot was where all the roses grew, as well a large tree. Behind the wall of roses was an old wooden ladder that looked like it had been forgotten long ago. If I leaned it against the tree, I could climb up enough to cling onto a branch and pull myself up the garden wall. I had smuggled a rope my second time back and tied it so I could shimmy down the side of the wall and into the grounds around the actual castle that I wasn't supposed to go into. Like most every room in the castle. You can see where this is going. I'm busting out.
After a bit of walking, that quickly evolved into an excited jog. I managed to find my roses, and I slipped through the tiny space between them and the wall into the gap in the corner. My ladder was still in place, and I quickly crawled up, thanking the Goddess that my dress and shoes where made for just this activity. With a huff, I manage to pull myself onto the wall and quickly tugged my rope to make sure it was still sturdy. I could only sit on the wall for a few seconds before someone was sure to spot me. I quickly allowed myself to drop down, letting out an "oof!" as I landed butt first, my legs splayed in front of me.
"What, they don't have doors in this place?" a voice chuckled from behind me.
Darn it, cover blown so soon! I moaned, turning my head slightly and scanning the ground until my eyes settled on a pair of dark leather boots, obviously used to being worn and so unlike my own. I followed them up past a pair of tan breeches and a navy loose tunic, all the way up to a laughing face of a- a man!
A small eep! escaped my mouth as I turned my face away, back to facing the front. An unfamiliar man. Oh, oh, I don't remember what I was taught to do with unfamiliar men. Oh, wait, yes I do. I was supposed to immediately scream and call my guard who was supposed to be within a few yards distance. I had totally left him…inside...over the wall…not in my reach. I scrambled up, turning to face the man while backing a few feet away. I could run. I knew I could run, but his build told me he could catch me faster than-well, I hadn't been out enough to know what he could run faster than, but I knew it would obviously be faster than me. I took a deep breath and held my shoulders back and chest high. I was regal. He couldn't harm me.
He looked at me like he unsure what do with me, which was okay by me. I surely didn't know what to with him. He ran slender fingers through his dirty blonde hair, giving a small smile. His blue eyes caught my attention. And his face? Well, he was handsome. Oh, he was handsome.
"Who are you?" I huffed, somewhat breathless, but still trying to sound authoritative. "What right have you to be on Castle grounds?"
` "The same right you have to crawl over walls," he said coolly, crossing his arms. It was with this gesture that I noticed the letter in his hand.
"What's that?" I asked, pointing.
"A message?" he replied, flashing it up quickly.
"A message?" I asked, curious. I took a step forward.
"Yes. A message," he said slowly, eyeing my like I was little slow. I felt my cheeks burn as he looked at me a little sympathetically.
"No, I mean, who is it for?" I asked again, waving my hand to clear the air of my earlier stupidity.
"Forgive me, but I really don't see how that's you're business."
I glared. Who was he to tell me it wasn't my business? Like he had a right to! I huffed and placed my hands on my hips, glaring. "Excuse you? Don't you know who I am?"
"No." Well, he was honest enough. I felt my resolve falter a bit, hesitant. If I told him I was the Princess, he would tell whoever that he was taking the message to I was outside climbing castle walls. I'd be in trouble and they'd find my refuge. I fumbled with my thoughts a moment.
"I'm-I'm the Princess's handmaid. Perhaps I could take your message."
He raised his eyebrows at me, making his face look inevitably cute. "I don't know," he mused, shaking his head, making the blue rings in his ears clang against each other. "Not saying I don't believe you," he apologized, "But it's for the stableman. And seeing as you seem to be going the complete opposite direction," he teased, smirking at me slightly. He infuriated me.
"I happen to just be…" I faltered again, searching the air for some explanation, "testing this new rope quality." I tugged on the old rope, giving what I hoped was an approving expression. "Yep, that is a sturdy rope. One sturdy rope," I rambled, nodding and pointing to it like it was the object of my affection.
His laugh was husky, and it made my stomach fluttery in a way that made me glad I hadn't ate. I frowned, spinning to face it. "What is so funny?" I demanded, trying to stifle the laugh of my own.
"It's just-" he began, pausing to laugh, "That is a good rope. You're right. Sturdy too. You are right." He gave the rope a tug, reigning in his laughter. "Look," he continued, and I had to laugh a little in spite of myself. "I'm not here to judge you on why you scour garden walls. I won't tell if you won't."
"Deal," I laughed, brushing some of the hair that had escaped my braid to behind my ear. "Might I ask your name?"
"Link," he said, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you-?"
"Z-Zoë." I said, catching myself. I took his hand, feeling the rough calluses that went so obviously against my smooth, non-working hands.
"Nice to make your acquaintance," he said with a quick shake. "As much as I'd like to stay and chat, this message involves an event later today so I need to get it dropped off. Maybe I'll see you around?" he inquired, already turning to continue onto the path that led to the courtyard.
"I wish you could," I replied softly, giving a tiny wave before dropping my hand to the side.