*~ Hello again! I'm glad to report that this may turn into a full-fledged fanfic! Huzzah!
Shout out to Amy for reviewing! Thanks and I'm glad that you like it so far ~*
Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own any Nintendo characters mentioned in this story. They rightfully belong to Nintendo.
I hurry along the East Corridor, hoping not to run into anyone as I make my way towards my chambers. Curfew was something that I will never adjust to. I would like to think that at my age, I am capable of making as simple of a decision on my own as to what time I retire. I have proven on many occasions that I am responsible; however, no amount of coaxing will change my father's mind. As for the High Council, well, they already have less than favourable feelings about my behavior. If they found out where I've been all this time, more the reason to marry me off to some duke or what-not and seize control of my life through him. While I care dearly for my father, his age has made him somewhat more susceptible to others' opinions of things; namely, me. Ever since my mother passed away, he has lost his ability to think for himself. He's simply a mere puppet on strings at the mercy of his council. Over the years, new laws and amendments have slowly drained my father's authority over the High Council. Now, they merely need his signature and to win a vote by half to create new legislature. The veto power has long since been abolished, under the pretense that it was tyranny. I shake my head as I make my way up the stairwell. No, things will change once I am Queen. I shall be able to do as I please, within reason, and not have to answer to a bunch of stuffy-shirt nobles on a power trip.
The door above me groans, followed by the muffled sound of boots down the stairs. I glance around, panicked, looking for a place to hide. A small pool of light appears on the stairs above me. Looking up, I curse inwardly. Out of all of the people to run into this late at night, Sir Eldon Ilgenar, Marquis of Kakariko, is the worst. He has, on many of occasions, outwardly expressed his disappointment and disgust with my behavior. He feels that I am too headstrong and willful for a woman. I am merely here to provide heirs to the bloodline and then to be locked away in some faraway tower for the rest of my life. Ignorant pig.
"Why, Milady, I must admit it is a surprise to see you in the halls at this late of an hour. Is something amiss? Did you lose your chambermaids or something?" He sneers, looking down his bulbous nose. He looks rather piggish. A few stray, graying hairs are combed over his round head. Dark little eyes are hidden beneath bulges of fat around his face and his large nose. He is constantly sweating and so he chooses to wear darker shades, yet the stench still hovers around him. The candlelight bounces along his face as his cheeks jiggle in his permanent, aristocratic smile. I resist the urge to wrinkle my nose as I look up at him.
"I was simply retiring after a small stroll through the gardens. The rose bushes are doing splendidly with all of this good weather that we have been blessed to receive. Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to continue to my chambers. I am feeling rather tired."
His smile extends, giving him the appearance of a greedy cat who is about to pounce on unsuspecting prey. He takes a step towards me, his breath reeking of garlic and pickled beets. "Why, that is odd that you should mention the roses. I was in the garden earlier and noticed that they have been removed. I'm not sure if you have heard, but the High Council has drafted an agreement with His Royal Highness to extend the East Hall. It gets far too humid during audiences and we feared for his health. As well, it rids us of another pesky gardener. They've become more demanding and that simply won't do."
Caught by surprise, I take a step back. Father had those bushes commissioned for Mother's birthday before I was born. They used to take strolls through the garden and then sit on the bench by the bushes. It was their private escape from it all. When Mother passed away, he hired a gardener to specifically maintain the bushes and to make a bouquet for her grave every month. How could he have agreed to this?
Lifting a pudgy hand, Eldon strokes my face. "There, there, child. Think of you father and his health! We are merely trying to ensure that he stays in good spirits. We must all make sacrifices for our liege. Do not trouble yourself with something as trivial as a rose bush. If it matters so much, we can always send for roses for you. A beautiful lady such as yourself should be appreciated with such tokens. Perhaps we can contact some of your suitors to come and visit. Yes! We could hold a hunt to honour the good weather we have received. You must be longing for such company… There are some things that I can procure for you, if you so desire." There was something in his eyes that made me nauseous.
I swat his hand from my face and cross my arms. "Marquis, I am hardly longing for anyone's company of that nature, and I would appreciate that you keep my private business out of your concern. I will replant those bushes myself and rehire the gardener that you supposedly fired on wrongful grounds. You forget the symbolic importance it had for my family. Now excuse me, I am going to bed." I try to squeeze past him, but his chubby hand grabs my shoulder and pushes me into the wall. Winded, I glare at him, openly showing my anger. Screw having manners.
"You would do well to watch yourself when in gracious company Zelda. Don't do something that you will regret." He sputters, his face is turning into shades of plum.
My eyes flash. "Is that an open threat, Eldon?"
He immediately releases me and takes a step down the stair. He acts as if his outburst never happened as he flashes pearly teeth at me. "My dear, it was nothing but a suggestion. Why, if I were to have a sudden whim, I could easily have you locked away with so much red tape and stories that no one would come looking for you." He straightens his suit jacket and continues making his way down the stairs. "Good evening, Your Highness. May you sleep well!"
I dare not move until I hear the far door thud behind him. Wiping away tears of anger, I run to the safety of my bedroom. The nausea hadn't yet passed as I lock the door behind me. I shudder and walk over to my vanity. It was an old piece of furniture, dating back to the 7th Century, and yet it was still in pristine condition. Stained a dark cherry, it was made from oak and had a simple shape. It didn't have all of the fancy jeweled knobs or golden trims that could be found on much of the furniture within the castle. It served it's purposed and I preferred its simplicity. Placing my jewelry away in their respective drawers, I take out my brush and wander over to my balcony, facing the South.
Absentmindedly brushing my hair, I try and glance down at the market. Only a few lights were still lit, twinkling in the darkness, like small stars that have fallen from the sky. I wish that I could see the stars from here. They must be beautiful at night, glimmering, lighting the way across the fields. I wonder if Ralf is looking into those same stars, thinking of me. Such a distance is now between us, and yet, he can still see these same stars as me.
Forgetting all about the altercation in the stairwell, I head back into my room and climb under my covers. Crushing my pillow against my chest, I fall asleep, dreaming of Ralf and his return home.
The sound of a fist banging on my door woke me with a start. Glancing outside, the sun had barely risen. I dash across the room to grab my robe and neatly tie it around my waist.
"Who is it?" Looking in the mirror, I try and brush through my hair that has frayed and bunched up on the left side.
"Zelda, it's me. Are you decent?" It's my father. He tries to open the door, but it is still locked from last night. "I would like to speak with you. Could you please open the door?"
I rush over and unlock it. Opening the door, I step to the side. My father walks in, dressed impeccably, as usual. His snowy hair combed neatly beneath his crown. He takes a seat, looking me up and down.
"Did I wake you?"
Wrapping my robe tighter, I close the door and sit beside him. "Don't worry about it. What is it that you would like to discuss?" I was curious. He never makes his visits with me this early. Normally he would be in meetings until luncheon. Then, for the afternoon, he grants audiences. It isn't until after dinner when he usually has the time to see me.
He looks at me with a small frown on his face. I can already tell that it's another one of his lectures. What a great way to start the day.
"Zelda, I am concerned about your behavior recently. It isn't that befitting of an heir to the throne and I very disappointed in you. I was pulled aside by a close advisor this morning before our council meeting and he shared his concerns. From what he has told me, you have spent the last two nights at some establishment down in the market until the wee hours of the morning unaccompanied. You're a Princess for goodness sake! And princesses do not socialize in seedy bars with common folk."
"But Father, how can you be so quick to judge? Why does it matter that I was at a bar? I acted rationally and appropriately. The way I see it is that I am supporting local businesses. Someone has to with all of the new taxes and restrictions that have been passed as of late. I was never in any danger, and it's not a seedy bar. Telma runs a fine establishment. Whoever told you that must think too highly of himself." I replied crossly, knowing exactly who told him all of this.
"It doesn't matter who told me! What matters is that you could have been kidnapped, drugged, raped, or killed! Sir Eldon agrees with me. This is why the curfew was created in the first place!"
I throw my arms up. "Hardly! Not once has there been an incident there. Maybe you should go and see for yourself before taking the word of some idiot like the Marquis."
"Don't you go and insult my advisors. I am very thankful that he told me. I know that the information I get from him is accurate. In comparison, you never tell me anything!"
"You never want to hear it! Or did the Marquis also tell you about the rose bushes being removed? Mother's roses? How could you?"
There's a tense silence. I can tell that he's struggling with being an authoritative disciplinarian and a concerned father. He isn't sure how to handle these kinds of situations. He would often say that Mother would have known the precise way of communicating between us and that it really took a mother's touch to raise a daughter.
He sighs, rubbing his eyes. "Zelda, the last thing I want to do is to fight with you. You are just as stubborn as your Mother was," he pauses, fighting back the pain of the memories. "I just worry about your safety. Your curfew was created to protect you. Being accompanied by at least one escort is to protect you. All I want is for you to be safe and sound. As for the roses…" He stops, looking away from me. "Change is needed." He ends the discussion, and not wanting to cause him anymore grief, I concede.
I sit on the floor beside his chair, my head resting on his knee, just like I used to when I was a child. "I know…It's just that I am nineteen years old, almost twenty. I don't think I need to be babysat by the High Council. There are more important things to be focusing on than my nighttime activities."
He pats my head affectionately. "Nothing is more important to me than you, Zelda. You're all that I have left. I couldn't bear to lose you too." He gets up, clearing his throat. He always finds these moments too painful. The intimate family warmth is gone, replaced by the stiff codes of formality. "I still expect that you stay with your escorts, if you so choose to return to this," he struggles to find the right word, "this…place. I will not have you running amuck around all of Hyrule unsupervised." He leaves, closing the door behind him.
Having a row with my father is more commonplace than either of us would like to admit. He gets dramatic and I am too stubborn to listen. There have been times where we haven't spoken to each other for days, beyond the normal courtesies. One time in particular, he had found out that I was helping a family, who had hit a rough patch, by giving them some of my old jewelry to sell. He was furious, claiming that they could have been bandits with a clever scheme. I retorted that I wasn't a dolt and that I was doing my civic duty by helping them. It didn't help when I brought Mother into the argument. He always goes silent and this time he refused to see me for a week. I should know better. I know what kind of grief it puts him through to remember what was and imagine what could have been.
I walk over to my wardrobe and begin to rifle through my dresses. Well, if it's our reputation that's got bees in their bonnets, then I guess I will have to do something about that. Unsatisfied with my selection, I ring for a page boy. Normally, I prefer to do this sort of thing incognito; however, I am going to need some opinions in order to really nail things down. The page boy appears, and I send him off to fetch Malon. Something as innocent as spending some quality time with a gal pal would hardly catch the eye of those suspicious nobles. What I am about to do requires utmost secrecy.
*~ And that's where we cut it off for now! Hmmm…I wonder what's going to happen. Looks like Zelda's stubbornness is getting her into trouble, but where else is it going to go? ~*