A note from the desk of .Majesty...the...um, First

Hi, everyone!

I've (finally) decided to make this a three-shot. It seemed worth it because for some reason, writing angst makes me happy. Even if it does make the characters...er, horribly depressed. Okay! Heh. :P

Hope you like it and REVIEW if you want the third chapter, kay? :)

And that was the note from the desk of .Majesty the First.


Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda


…Beginning

Months scurried past. The Army had been restored, cowards shaped into real men, ones who'd fight in the face of danger. The new Queen was beloved as she had always been, the Reaping Days now but a memory of a past to be forgotten.

Her mother tended to the house dutifully, going out often to chat with ladies in the market who caught the strong rumors of foreign princes coming to the land as suitors to their fair ruler. Marielle, who had only gone with her some of the days was not interested in the news the least.

The Queen had no need for suitors. She remembered what she'd seen in the field, under the glare of the sunset.

They came home sooner. Her mother had been planning to try a new recipe given to her by a close friend.

Marielle put on an apron obediently and came to the kitchen to help her. She minced vegetables, cut the poultry, and crushed the herbs and spices.

Then a knock came to the door.

"Open it, Mari." Her mother said. "It's probably Papa."

Marielle shook her head. "Papa does not come back from work so early."

She took the cloak from a hanger and put on a shawl swiftly. Marielle came to the door and opened it.

"Hi."

She blinked, startled at the unexpected visitor.

He wore casual fineries. A simple yet striking grey tunic clashing with the fairness of his hair. His trousers were a darker shade and his boots were slightly adorned with dried mud.

The sparkle in his eyes were still there. The same ones she'd remembered from when he'd bought her that necklace. Her hand instinctively went to her chest, to grip the pendant and pearls hidden underneath the fabric of her clothes.

Did he want it back? Was it a mistake?

"Hello." She answered, her eyes darting to the floor as she busied herself with a bow. She did not want to look at him too much. "Milord. What brings you here?"

"Mari! Who is it?" Her mother called from the kitchen.

Link looked behind her, an easy smile coming to his face. "Are you guys cooking something?"

"Yes." Marielle said.

"It smells delicious." He complimented.

Her heart thudded.

"Mother! It's Sir Link!"

There had been a deafening clang, her mother had probably dropped a frying pan in shock. She dashed out of the kitchen, wiping her hands hurriedly on her apron. Her mother's eyes flew to their distinguished guest. "Oh…oh dear."

She came next to Marielle, bowing shortly and fussing with her hair, looking as flustered as Marielle felt. "Milord. What brings you here?" She echoed her daughter's earlier words.

"I trust you remember my promise to practice the Ocarina with you." Link nodded to her, smiling faintly. She flushed unknowingly.

He had remembered.

"Mari, you…" Her mother looked bewildered, confused, shocked…

"I can go, right?" Marielle asked. "You'll let me go."

"I…of course I…" Her mother bit her lip, eyes raking over Link with worry. What did he want with her daughter?

Marielle cast her a pleading look. "Only for a while Mama."

"…" Her mother blinked, Link shifted his feet. "It's fine if you can't-"

"No!" Marielle's brows shot up, she faced her mother with a strained grin. "Mother, please?"

"Oh, all right." Feigning a nonchalant expression she waved them away. "Have fun. Return before night comes."


…Lessons

"Your ocarina looks nice." He smiled simply, jutting his chin out at the item in her hands. She felt cold, numb… his stare made her feet weigh like lead. Each step was shaky.

The palace floors were glassy and tiled, reflecting the high arches of the intricate ceilings spun above them with glistening chandeliers that swayed consistently. The windows were half open, sunlight poured through making the tawny of his hair mingle perfectly with the golden strands. His eyes remained dark and iridescent.

"Thank you." Her voice was meek, it echoed around her. Marielle glanced down at her ocarina, crude in comparison to his expensive-looking one. "Where will we be practicing?"

She was surprised she'd been able to manage out two sentences without stumbling over her words.

Light skimmed over the dark silk of his tunic, she could see the hidden chainmail underneath glitter. "Outside." He turned to smile at her. "Sometimes, the palace rooms get a bit too stuffy for my liking."

"I'll make sure to send word to the Council immediately." A voice replied. Link turned around, the air around him hit her and she could smell his scent. A sharp mix of holiday peppermint and ocean. A strange but endearing combination, she had to admit.

A woman stood behind them, face stoic but voice teasing. She had an ageless face, her silvery hair was set in a tight bun and her red eyes were unnervingly bright.

"Impa." Link nodded to the older woman. "We were just heading out to practice on our ocarina playing."

"We?" Impa directed her stare to Marielle. "Who are you?"

The way she said it, it had not been unkind, merely curious. "I am Marielle." She bowed, knowing she was in the presence of higher people.

Something in Impa's eyes brightened and a smile came to her lips. She turned to Link for a quick moment, then back to Marielle. "The daughter of Issa Gertel?"

"Yes." Marielle blinked. How had she known her mother?

"Hm, I see. Well, don't let me keep you." She nodded to Link and disappeared into the hall.

"How… how does she know my mother?" Marielle let the thought have a voice.

"Ah, Impa is ever knowing." Link gave her a one-sided smirk. "The gardens are over there. Come."

The gardens were breathtaking. A lush sea of green spread itself before her eyes, streams of vividly painted flowers floating down them, blushing with high color. Link led her to a small balcony, overlooking everything. "It's… well, pretty nicely-sized." He looked at her, laughing at the awe on her face. "It's pretty, huh?"

"It's beautiful." Marielle breathed.

He took out his ocarina. "Listen."

He played a simple tune, it was calming with soft pitches. Marielle struggled to repeat, envious of his effortless skill.

He taught her, repeated it a few more times to serve as an example. He'd correct the position of her fingers, his touch sending tingling sparks down her arm.

Eventually, she'd been able to play the song almost as good as him.

"What is that called?" She asked.

"A refined version of 'Epona's Song'. She's my trusty steed." He grinned.

"Ah."

"Do you have one?"

She blinked. "One…what…?"

He chuckled, bringing a blush to her face. "A song."

"Ah. No, not really…"

"That's okay." He shrugged. "Inspiration doesn't come easily. Songs come from the soul, whether it's about hardships, memories…" His gaze become distant as his impossibly blue eyes swept over the gardens. "…love."

She blushed.

Link stood abruptly. "Look! It's Zelda!" A smile broke across his face and Marielle craned her neck to see. It was indeed the new Queen, strolling through the gardens, lifting roses to smell.

"Do you want to say hi?" Link asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"No." Marielle shook her head hurriedly, frowning at the sudden excitement that deepened the color of his eyes. "I ought to get home. Help mother with dinner."

"Oh." He frowned, the disappointment flickered across his face, fleeting too fast for her to notice. "Okay. I'll see you another time."

She nodded and he grinned beautifully, rushing down the stairs to meet the Princess. Marielle watched as she hugged him, affectionately ruffling the wild locks of his hair. She bet they felt soft.

He laughed, enveloping her in a hug to return hers. She pushed away playfully, lifting a rose for him to smell. He took it gingerly, placing it within the strands of her sunlit hair.

She smiled, tugging him close and laughing into his shoulder as he whispered in her ears with a bright grin.

Marielle turned away as if the setting sun had hurt her eyes.


A Knowing…

"How did the lesson go, dear?" Her mother whispered softly in her ear.

"Fine." Marielle choked, brushing her hair blindly, staring at the blank wall that once held a mirror. "It was fine."

The brush scratched at her scalp, its splintered edges biting into her skin. With an irritated growl she clenched it tightly and hurled it against the wall, chipping the forest green paint of the walls.

Her mother pursed her lips, walking close to pick up the fallen object that had fallen victim to her wrath too many times. "Did he tease you Marielle? Was he rude?" Her mother's eyes darkened inexplicably. "Did he touch you?"

Marielle smiled bitterly. "Why would he do that?"

"I know he upset you somehow."

"Well then, you're wrong." Marielle stood, her hands curled into fists. "If anything, he makes me happy. He is a Hero after all."

Her mother frowned. "Just because of that, it doesn't give him permission to push you around like some mindless-"

"He makes me feel normal, Mother!"

What a lie, her mind chortled. He makes you feel special, Mari. So, so special… No one, except your own mother, could possibly make you feel as if you weren't-

She shivered.

-Ugly. What a disgusting word.

"I will see him again tomorrow. If he comes to visit." Her mother said. "We will have a talk about this next time."

The next morning, he did not come to visit. Marielle accompanied her mother to the town agora. The road however was kept clear by gaurds, who roped citizens into herds and lined them against the wall.

Marielle whispered behind her shawl. "What is happening?"

"A parade." Her mother answered, eyes bright. "Oh, Mari! Look!"

A phalanx of guard dressed in fine red suits trimmed to fit them in a flattering manner came marching down the open palace gates in neat rows. Their faces were stony but their eyes told of excitement and wonder. Their steps were synchronized perfectly, shined boots pounding in steady rhythm against the cobblestone street.

Marielle saw a line of fine stallions raging from deep ebony to pure white follow suit.

A stream of dancers came, lining the streets, and twirling with their arms flinging bright confetti and candy, which the children scurried to pick up. A dancer came near her, their grace and shining smiles warming her heart quickly.

Then a wondrous tune filled the air, alone yet piercing. A small portable stage came, colored a bright golden and jewels sparkling on its rim. There stood the Hero of Twilight playing on his Ocarina.

Another instrument joined, the Queen playing fluently on a graceful harp. They played the tune together, the people stopped in their cheering and looked at them, eyes filled with nostalgia.

They both had closed eyes, brows down in thought. Her fingers glided down each string, a flow of harmonic notes lifting in the air.

"The Song of Time."Her mother murmured, eyes droopy yet peaceful. Little children stopped in their innocent merrymaking to stare at the two musicians in wonder and awe.

"Mommy," A little girl tugged on her mother's skirt hem. "This song is so pretty. Didn't grandpa used to sing it for me?"

"Yes, child." Her mother nodded, stroking the girl's hair. "Yes he did."

A feeling of lightness entered Marielle. An aura of peace spread from the Hero and Princess, embracing each citizen warmly.

They stopped. The noted faded and the children clapped.

The Queen gazed over them all, her eyes kind and knowing. The Hero took her hand and together they bowed, a rain of roses and cheers falling over them.

Marielle noticed how gently he held her wrist, as if she were a delicate flower. How the Queen ran a finger through his gloved knuckles softly, brushing her arm purposely against his. How when a strand of her hair played with the wind and brushed his shoulder, his eyes flickered to her almost imperceptibly and shine. How whenever he laughed fondly at the children running by she'd smile and bite her lip shyly.

Then she noticed how when they passed her, his eyes left his partner for one moment to lock on hers. She noticed the flash of recognition in his eyes and the kind smile that crossed his lips as he lifted his hands from the Queen's to wave quickly.

What she had not noticed however was her mother's dark eyes and disapproving frown.


…Silken Gown

Her mother weaved the finest dresses in all of the land. They looked and felt like a fortune, but she was always paid the most minimum amount possible.

However, for the past trio of months of no visits from the Hero, Marielle was asked or rather commanded to help her mother make a new dress. One she said, "would be fit for the most elegant of royals…"

Marielle had to admit it was coming along quite nicely. The material was the finest of silk, a fabric that was extravagantly priced. She wondered and asked how her mother had afforded such a thing, yet her mother simply shooed away the questions.

Another trio of months passed. The dress was on the verge of being finished.

The upper part was white silk with light laces pulled into an elegant long ribbon, fluttering in the back. The chest had a golden emblem on the neckline, one Marielle found oddly familiar.

The bosom was a network of soft, luxurious fabric over pastel pink cloth. The curves of the gown were crisscrossed with a flowing string of pale velvet, the curves of the gown in the same light colored pink.

The bottom was a shining flowing swirl layout with a gorgeous pattern of soft, carefully stitched in flowers. Dainty pink roses circled the petite waistline, sprayed with expensive perfume. Usually, this would have made the gown look overdone but the roses on the dress looked as natural as the clouds rolling by in the sky.

It was…stunning. Her mother cried at the finishing day.

It was at night that a knock came downstairs. Marielle heard the thud of her mother's footsteps, a creak as she descended down the stairs, breathing shallow. Curious, Marielle stood from bed and followed silently.

Her mother stood in front of the open door talking to a hooded woman, her voice hushed and light.

"Is my dress ready?" The woman asked.

"It's beautiful, Majesty." Her mother said.

Majesty? Was that the Queen?"

"Thank you so much, Issa." The hooded woman bowed her head slightly, giggling. "He thinks I don't know. That he's caught me off guard… You'll keep it a secret, won't you?"

"I promise."

"Do not tell anyone, Issa."

"Not a word, Majesty."

….

The next night, Marielle's heart had shattered.

He knelt before her, his golden hair blowing back to reveal his soft blue eyes, eliciting a sigh from the girls standing in the midst of the crowd.

"My Queen." He pulled back the hood of the box to reveal a sparkling diamond ring, one that stole all the glitters of the moonlight and the intensity of the stars above.

Marielle stumbled back in confusion, feeling inexplicably lost. Her mother gripped her by the arm, looking concerned. "Marielle?"

"Will you marry me?" The question rippled across the canvas of the night sky, echoing around everyone, pounding harshly into her ears.

"Link…?" The Queen gasped, her face pale.

"Zelda." He spoke louder, the rising confidence in his voice making her head throb. "Zelda, I know that you might not have…."

"Not have…" Zelda frowned, tears springing in her eyes. "Not have loved you for the past several months?"

He winced, his thumb racing up to close the box.

She stopped him by laughing suddenly, covering her mouth. "You foolish man, how could you have not seen…?"

He frowned. "So…"

"Yes, of course I'll marry you."

It seemed unreal. The moment felt as if it were a dream…or a nightmare. She could not tell. Marielle fell back as spectators paid no mind and cheered the couple on.

The ring slipped onto the Queen's finger and as soon as he stood she collapsed in his arms, sobbing and laughing.

"You… you honestly thought I'd say no." She giggled.

He ruffled her hair affectionately. "But you said yes, I'm happier than I've ever been."

She smiled. "My Hero."

His eyes were soft and beautiful as he stared long and thoughtfully into her own. "I love you."

"Mari!" Her mother cried, reaching for her. But she twisted away, spinning back to escape.

….

"Is my dress ready?"

"My Queen, will you marry me?"

"He thinks I don't know. That he's caught me off guard… you'll keep it a secret, won't you?"

"Zelda, I know you might not have…"

"You honestly thought I'd say no? You foolish Hero."

"But you said yes. I'm happier than I've ever been."

"I love you…"

Their words, laughter, whispers… they pounded in her mind as she stared hatefully at the silken gown. She wondered how she would feel if…

Taking the soft fabric, she yanked back, watching the laces rip apart. She clawed and tore away the roses, tears blurring her eyes.

The material came undone in her shaking hands and she trembled as a sick sense of satisfaction festered in the growing shadows deep inside her mind. She was played, like a violin, and now she'd be discarded, her music long forgotten.

'I could let such a lovely damsel be left in distress now could I?'

That special feeling rising in her throat upon remembering left a sour taste in her mouth.

It seemed like a cruel joke.

She had just met him. Goddesses, she didn't even know him. So why, why was she acting this way when she had no right to?

Shred, pull, hack, slit. That beautiful work of art her mother had made! That token of love…now lying in a sorry mess…

Marielle gasped, wrenching herself away, her train of thought shattered. The dress remained on the faceless mannequin, untouched.

Her fingers trembled, yearning…

"Marielle?" Her mother's gentle voice cooed in her ears.

She broke completely, falling to her knees and weeping into her hands, devastated sobs rocking her body.

And that gown… that divine silken gown stood, unmoved as Marielle could do nothing but stare.

'I couldn't let such a lovely damsel be left in distress now could I?'

Yes, she thought. Yes, you could.

Light glimmered down the intricate swirls and folds of the dress. Her mother's voice sounded sad and distant, repeating her name over and over with that pitying tone.

And you did.


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