Impossible Love
This is the revised version of a fic I wrote about two years ago (check my profile if you want to see the original, but I warn you, it's horrid!)
This is an Alternate Universe Zelda fanfiction, revolving around the frustrated love between a Princess and a mere commoner. With love, lust, lies, and heartbreak, what's a girl to do?
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Introduction
The Girl
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Zelda was probably the most beautiful girl in the Kingdom. "And well she should be!" was a common utterance from Madame Loraine, for Zelda was not only a beautiful girl, but a princess. Princess Zelda Madeleine Harkinian IV. The only child and heir of the King and Queen. It was a mystery to the common folk of the kingdom; why did the King and Queen only have one child? Some said that they could not conceive naturally, and Zelda had been a miracle, but others were doubtful.
In any case, Zelda was truly the Delight of the Kingdom's Eyes. Her honey-colored hair fell well past her shoulders, and her blue eyes were large and gentle. Her skin was milky white, no doubt thanks to her seclusion from the sun. Madame Loraine, Zelda's teacher in Proper Etiquette for a Princess, had made sure that Zelda spent as little time as possible in the outdoors. As a child, though, Zelda often went against her wishes to bask in the sunlight on a bright spring day. Flower buds and trees were her favorite things in the world.
But currently, the princess's sapphire eyes were downcast. She sat on the window-seat in her room, staring through the tainted glass. The sky was bleak and grey, threatening to spill into rainfall at any minute.
Zelda scanned the Kingdom below her. Her room was situated in one of the high towers, so she could see well over the castle walls to the village below. Her eyes darted back and forth, watching smoke rise from humble chimneys, and horse-driven carriages bumping along the paved roads...
"Princess?" came a small voice from the doorway. Zelda turned her head away from the window and looked to the speaker. It was a mousey servant-girl, no older than Zelda herself. "The King wishes to speak with you."
"Alright, thank-you," Zelda started, standing up.
"The King is in his Royal Study," the servant offered, moving to let Zelda pass through the doorway. "Do you want me to accompany you?"
Zelda flashed a smile and shook her head. "No, I'll be alright." The servant girl curtsied, and went on her way, leaving Zelda to herself. Zelda turned to the left and started down the hallway, heading for her father's study. When she reached the door, she made sure her dress was smooth and her hair was straight before she went in.
"Zelda, darling!" King Harkinian exclaimed brightly once he saw her. "Come, come, quickly! I have some important news, do sit down. Would you like me to send for some cakes to eat?" The King truly spoiled his baby girl.
Zelda grinned, sitting onto a plush chair. "No thank-you, daddy," she replied. Though she was growing into a fine young lady at nearly 18, she still referred to her father as 'daddy', like a child would. "I'm not very hungry yet. I would like some cakes after dinner though." She gave her father another bright smile.
The King nodded. "Of course. I'll be sure to send for some after dinner. Yes." He nodded, and paused. Then he shook his head suddenly, as if remembering something. "Oh, that's right, never mind that, I almost forgot the reason I sent for you. Your mother and I will not be able to join you for supper, we are busy making plans to visit the Royal Family of Polis." He clasped his hands together and continued. "It's really important! We are in the midst of planning something with Polis. We hope to join our borders and make a larger, wealthier kingdom than anybody's ever dreamed of! It will be brilliant!" He went on in this manner, congratulating himself, and he didn't see his daughter's expression.
Of course, she was happy that her father was happy, but at what price? She very rarely got to see her parents anyway, and if they began some foreign affair, she might never see them at all! For all the love and gifts her father showered on her, he forgot to just be with her. As a baby, he had missed both her first steps and her first words. Zelda knew, of course, that he and the Queen loved her dearly, but it seemed at times that they left the parenting to the servants.
"That's wonderful, daddy," Zelda commented, forcing a smile. "But will you be at supper tomorrow?"
The King shook his head. "I'm sorry, honey, but we plan on visiting Polis as soon as possible. It's a long journey, so we may have to begin as early as tomorrow." He winked at his daughter. "But that just means that you can spend more time with Madame Loraine, and eat cakes! Wouldn't you like that, darling?"
Zelda's fake smile remained plastered to her face. "Oh, yes daddy. Wonderful!" Fortunately, the King did not notice she had said that through gritted teeth.
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Back inside her own room, Zelda threw herself onto her bed. With her face buried into her pink pillows, she let out a loud moan. It was more of a grunt, really, but that's beside the point.
Spend more time with Madame Loraine? That was possibly the worst thing Zelda could think of! Madame Loraine was one of the most disagreeable people ever. She was Zelda's teacher of etiquette, and seemed to have the notion that a Proper Princess shouldn't do anything outside of embroidering, sitting prettily, and smiling. And Zelda couldn't embroider to save her life, so she basically had to sit and smile.
She couldn't clean anything, for she might get dirty and dusty. She couldn't learn how to ride a horse, for that was meant for the princes and knights. She must not run, for she might fall. She may not learn to cook, because that's what servants are for. She cannot partake in physical labor, for she might strain herself. She should not stay outside for prolonged periods of time, for she might get sunburned, or catch a cold, or get lost.
Too many rules! Zelda had almost fainted the first time she heard Madame Loraine list off these things, but that would have been okay, since Madame Loraine believes a proper princess should learn to faint on cue. Why? Zelda didn't know, nor did she care to find out.
Madame Loraine made life an absolute dreary thing. There were times that Zelda wished that she were a commoner, living in the sunny village around the Castle. Everybody would know her, and she'd be happy as a bluebird. But whenever she had thoughts like this, she quickly dismissed them.
Not today, however.
Zelda sat up in her bed slowly as thoughts rushed about in her mind.
If she were a commoner...then her parents would always be around. They wouldn't have faraway business matters or responsibilities. And she wouldn't need Madame Loraine to tell her what not to do! Oh, that would be amazing.
Zelda smiled scornfully, thinking of all the commoners that must be dying to be in her place, and here she was, dying to be in theirs! Oh, the irony...
"If only," she sighed. She stood up, off the bed, and sat at her vanity. She picked up her opalescent hairbrush, raising it to her head and brushing her golden locks in methodical motions. She always brushed her hair when she was upset, it was a sort of habit.
She looked to the window, her hairbrush still running through her hair. The sky had darkened since she last saw, the grey clouds blotting out the sun.
A bell sounded from faraway. It was the clocktower, located in the main castle courtyard. There were six chimes, signaling the arrival of 6 o'clock and dinnertime. Zelda placed her hairbrush back on the vanity, and stood up. She was in no rush to reach the dining hall; she knew that her parents would be absent.
Well, at least she knew that they would be absent. Zelda couldn't recall how many times she had arrived at the dining hall, only to find her parents were nowhere to be seen, and she would have to dine alone with the Lords and Ladies chatting amongst themselves down the table.
Oh well.
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To Be Continued...
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Okay! I hope this wasn't too confusing. The Introduction portion of this story is actually three chapters long. It was too big to fit into one chapter! XD (I don't like super long chapters). So by the time chapter 4 rolls around, this will getting more exciting (hopefully!) Actually, of the three introduction chapters, this is the shortest. So the chapters will be longer in the future!
Next Chapter: The Plan