Twilight's Call: Vague Destiny
Chapter 2
Midna awoke to a light rapping on her door. She let out a sigh and rubbed the sleep out of here eyes. "Come in!" she called. The large stone door slowly creaked open and a small, high-pitched voice sounded from the hallway.
"Your Highness?" "What?" Midna called grouchily. If anything, it was sleep she needed right now. The voice hesitated, "the welcoming ceremony will begin in thirty minutes... it would be best if you were to be ready." Midna slouched back down under her silken sheets. A welcoming ceremony? she thought with disdain followed by a groan.
She then realized that the small man was standing awkwardly at the doorway. "S-sure, ok, I'll be ready," Midna replied in the most enthusiastic tone she could muster. At that, the small man bowed humbly and scuttled out of the chamber at a hurried pace, slamming the door behind him.
Midna winced.
The sound gave here a headache. "Must there be a ceremony?" she mumbled in a frustrated tone as she rolled out of bed. She shuffled across the room, half-asleep, to gather her cloak and headdress out of her wardrobe. She quickly changed out of the short silk gown she'd worn to bed and clumsily fastened her waistgown and cloak.
She spent quite a while trying to put up her hair and somehow incorporate the headdress into the look.
She was growing immensely frustrated.
I haven't had to do this in such a long time that I've forgotten how! Midna thought. Finally, her frustration getting the best of her, Midna called out into the cahmber hallway. "Leous??"
The guard standing in the hallway quickly came to attention at the sound of his name. "Yes, Your Highness?" "Leous, I am in need of great assistance. Could you find me a hairdresser? I am in dire need of one."
"Yes Princess," Leous replied as he made his way down the corridor. "One more thing!" Midna called after him, "Make it fast! The ceremony will begin soon!" At this, Leous nodded and bolted down the winding corridor on his way to the palace exit.
Midna plopped down on her bed and gazed distantly out the window into the unending twilight. "Link...I..."
She stopped herself.
"It's done now," she whispered quietly, sadness slowly consuming her. A knock on the door brought Midna back to reality. "Come in!" Midna called. At this, the door opened and an elegant twili woman stepped into the room. Her long, glossy, black hair flowed beautifully down her back. Her facial features were similar to Midna's, though her eyes had less of a slant about them, and they were much wider. She wore a waistgown that came down to her knees, and was embroidered with silver designs. Her smile was modest, yet captivating, and could cast a spell upon any man she desired.
"I'm Elena," the beautiful woman started, "I understand you're in need of a hairdresser?" Midna rose from her seat. "Yes, actually I do," Midna began, "My hair is quite a mess this morning, and the welcoming ceremony begins soon, and–" "Say no more," Elena interrupted, "I can have you hair looking perfect in no time!" she exclaimed with an enthusiastic grin. With that, Elena sat Midna down and set to work on her hairstyle.
***
"You look perfect!" Elena exclaimed with a satisfied grin. There was a firm knock on the door and a gruff voice sounded from the other side. "The ceremony is about to begin, Your Highness."
"We're ready!" Midna called back, "tell the head adviser I'll be down in a moment."
"Yes Princess," the voice replied.
Elena turned to face Midna. "Well," Elena said in a confident tone, "you're ready." Midna smiled and thanked her. Elena made her way to the door. "Aren't you coming, princess?" she asked.
"I'll be down in a moment," Midna replied, "A few moments of mental preparation is all," she added, answering the inquisitive look on Elena's face. Elena nodded, bowed, and left the chamber.
Midna practice faking a smile in front of her mirror. It then occurred to her that she would have to mask her true feelings for the rest of her life... But she had people to lead and a kingdom to rule. She had to do what must be done for the well-being of her people.
She then prepared herself for the thousands of twili that would be standing in the crowd, welcoming her as their new leader...
***
"You're nearly late, my dear. What kept you?" asked an older twili male standing near the entrance to the palace. He approached Midna and held out his hand. "Allow me to introduce myself," the man cleared his throat, "I am Malore, head advisor of the council... And you mentor, should you ever need one." The man smiled, "Pleasure to have you back."
"Pleasure to be back," Midna smiled, and firmly shook the man's hand.
"Are you ready?" Malore asked.
"Yes," Midna replied with a confident tone. As she stepped to the entryway, two guards accompanied her on either side.
As the grand doors to the palace opened, Midna took a deep breath and let the guards escort her down the long walkway flowing from the palace. At the sight of Midna, the crowd roared and cheered and a shower of beautiful flower petals cascaded from the edges of the walkway and rained softly down onto Midna. She smiled and waved, though she knew she had done nothing to deserve such gratitude from these people. Malore and the council followed directly behind Midna and the guards with proud faces.
When they finally reached ground level, they all moved into an orderly semi-circle formation with Midna in the center. When the cheering had finally died down, Malore cleared his throat and spoke loudly to the croud.
"My dear friends and family, people of the twilight," he began, "I present to you our new leader, Princess Midna!" On this, the crowd rejoiced and cheered wildly. Finally, when the crowd died down again, Malore nudged Midna softly on the arm. "Well?" he prodded, "Are you going to begin your speech?"
Midna could feel the color drain from her face. "S-speech...?"
"Well of course!" Malore whispered back, "We didn't set up this whole ceremony for nothing!"
Midna wanted to run away in that very instant, but knew she couldn't let her people down, not again. Afraid to admit she wasn't prepared with a speech to give, Midna replied, "O-ok... Here it goes..."
She then turned to the thousands of eager, expectant eyes all focused on her.
