Chapter Four:
The next morning Zelda awoke not feeling drain nor refresh. She was happy though that no nightmare plunged her mind as she sleep through the night.
In her dreams she had been in a small circle of a field. There was no breeze or sight in the air. Darkness surrounded both her and the field. She saw nothing beyond it or above her head. She was not frighten by it. She instead felt protected and loved from it. But in the distance she saw a bright orange glow: fire. That was what made her blood run cold just as the dream ended.
She rub the sleep from her eyes. Should I be glad that I wasn't choked by invisible hands this time? She sat up and pondered on her dream. She tap her lips with her finger. Fire, fire….it is what's coming toward me at the end, and what made me scared. Another new thing was a small field around me. The comforting darkness is the only thing still the same. Zelda sigh before it turned into a yawn. What is my dreams telling me?
She rub her temples in hopes of getting the answer, but none came. Pushing her dreams aside the princess waited for her lady maids to arrive. Which they didn't take long to come. Both maids gave her a good morning saying and she return one to them with a small smile.
One carried a tray of breakfast of a scrambled egg and strips of bacon on a plate, and fried potatoes mix with baby tomatoes and mushrooms on a silver bowel on the side. A cup of ice tea as the choice of drink for her. She hold it that none clatter on the tray in her arms. Her feet taking steady steps.
She straight up on the bed and took a small sniff of the aroma of the food. The tray was placed in front of her and she lick her bottom lips. Her mouth began to water inside of food soon to be devour. Without warning her stomach grumbled out loud. Her hands quickly covered her abdominal and she glanced down at the covers.
Last night she had managed to come back to her room six minutes before they arrived to check up on her. She spend her time catching her breath, eating few vegetables, and decided that she should spend some time with Avilina the next day. It would be nice to make a true friend. So she offered the chance to the girl and was glad that she accepted it with surprise in her eyes. Than they entered after knocking to notify of their presence behind her door.
Her stomach twisting on the sight of Ganondorf she allowed the female servant to take the tray away. Leaving them three alone. She was also lucky that the maid kept silent, not a single emotion of confusion on her face, as she did not voice the fact that she had left earlier to speak with her father.
After much pressing of how her condition was from her father she was allowed to continue resting. Nothing could happen to her since she was only heir to the throne and that she wasn't married and given birth yet. She knew this and understood his concern. Her father was worried about thought of losing her. The last heir and only daughter from his late wife. Though she was little annoyed of his persistent worrying at the moment.
'If you don't feel good tomorrow call for the royal doctor, Zelda. No excuses.'
The one to serve her tray stroll to the balcony and opened the curtains, letting in the morning sunshine. Zelda blinked couple of times, allowing her eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness in the room. She pop in a small tomato in her mouth, squishing it between her teeth where the juice ran down. The juice made her taste buds frenzy that took a while to settle down.
The other maid opened her wardrobe to let out a dark blue dress with sleeves on the bed, than she went to prepare the hot bath.
Grabbing her fork Zelda chew on the scrambled eggs and bacon. She tasted the salt and pepper flavor in them and she let out a soft moan of the wonders of the breakfast taste. Next came the side dish. A sip of the ice tea to help shallow the food down her throat afterwards. With food coming down to her belly it cease its complaining. Within minutes the tray was empty save for some crumbs on the silverware. She took a last sip of her drink and allowed the tray to be taken away.
She moved aside the cover and stood up. She shivered on the cold air, but she resist the urge to climb back on her warm bed.
The hot bath ready she allowed the maid to undress her, bundling up the nightgown and her underclothes in her arms. To her displeasure the elbow still won't bend all the way. Making her make a mental note to check the royal doctor for anything for it.
Zelda left the maid to reach the bathroom where she slip inside the large tub. The hot water felt good on her skin with the smell of vanillin in the tub. She played with the bubbles by popping each one that floated up to the air, sniffing back a yawn.
What will today bring to me? Zelda asked herself in her mind.
Since what had happened yesterday she was not allowed to leave the castle area. With or without guards. Two reasons being that the assassin was still out there alive, and her father worried about her mental health from the horrible experience. Since her fiancé was in the room she hold her tongue to explain what really happened in the town square, and to let her father know that the assassin bear no ill-will against her.
The only thing to do today was spend time with Avilina after lunch with her father, and she was nervous on it. She didn't want to make herself a fool in front of the girl. She never really talked to the other girls from the noble or knight's families when she was younger. Just small talk.
The royal daughter took a deep breath and let it out between her lips that formed a tiny 'o.'
Washed she got out of the tub and was patted dry, than had dips of honey perfume put on her arms, neck, and close to her ears. She exited the bathroom covered in a robe where she put on some underclothes. The dress came next where it was slid over her head and arms. The smooth material feeling nice and cold on her warm flesh.
Inside her room the maid had return and sat on her knees in front of the health. She was cleaning up the ashes and getting rid of the useless wood to replace them with new ones. The dustpan filled with the ashes was put aside so the female servant could start the fire to warm the room up.
The one that cleaned her made her way to the bed to tide it up by replacing the bed covers for new ones.
Choosing short heel shoes Zelda put them on and left her room to start her day. The door left open behind her she decided to visit the library today to pass the morning time. The mental note to visit the royal doctor gone from her mind.
~1~1~1~1~1~
It was an hour after sunrise when Dark Link finally came down from his room. Most days he woke on the hours of lunch serving or before the sun could rise. Depending if he had a mission last night or not.
Mission late at night—a late raiser.
No missions—early as a chicken.
Dress in a simple black tunic and beige pants today he just plan on spending the whole day with Sheik. Nothing more or less once he give Auru the important papers that he took from the half-minish lord. When they come back they could talk what needs to be done. The only problem was that leader of the Resistance won't be in the bar till noon. Auru had his own home in the far west side of the town and he wasn't a fast his heart didn't sunk on a thought of that he didn't have a home to go to when all this was over. But he did wanted to slap his forehead on remembering that he had promise to hang out with Sheik at noon.
I thought it was going to be grab some papers that had records in them, give them to Auru by leaving them in the meeting room, he'll decide—when he comes at his own time—when to give them to the king and the princess, than I get to spend time with Sheik.
He made his way downstairs thinking of perhaps letting Telma hold them for him, but decide against it. He'll wait for the man and maybe he could know if they should be on guard of what is to come. 'The first to be release shall be from the ones sacrifice from pure and royal blood.' The king and his daughter had to be protected from Lord Ganondorf for sure. But what was to be release if they were sacrificed? Magic and then later creatures from people just by dying? How could that be possible?
He growled underneath his breathe and took a seat on the stool. Resting his head on his hands and his elbows planted on the counter he wondered if Lord Vaati was trying to trick them. The past magic doesn't exist, but only power; the enchanting abilities, the now magic.
Straightening up he dropped his arms down and spun around on his seat. The bar empty and quiet. It would not be open until lunch time. Telma and the courtesans still sleeping in their beds.
He touched his cheek where a bandage covered his injury that he got last night. Since healing potions were expensive to have Telma didn't carry them. In fact no poor people would be found having or selling them unless they were thieves. Only the rich and the royal people could afford them. If you lost a lot of blood and couldn't afford the red health drink you were doom to die a slow death. Or pray that you could afford an experience doctor that could save your life.
All the red potions made and brought from a seller somewhere close to the Swamp Mountains. Or should he thought he heard long ago.
He recalled the faint burning when the bar owner wipe away the dried blood with a warm towel. He had hold his tongue but his lips would twitch along with his hands. Telma would be the one to heal him after he had grown tired of wasting four hundred rupees for a single darn potion. A simple cleaning and patching up and few light scowls, but it was enough for him.
Impa had once told him, 'If you get hurt you learn to avoid it.'
He chuckled on remembering the next moment she had slapped with a wooden sword once on his thigh swiftly. He had yap on the high sting on it. His leg bending that he had to plunge his own sword on the ground to avoid falling down. Biting his lips he waited until he could stand straight again. His teacher was patient on him, but she still gave him another advice, 'No enemy will wait on you, so I suggest you memorize that.'
Then she proceed to hit him again on the same thigh, but he was ready for it. He blocked it, toss her wooden blade away, and made a wide swipe of an attack. Of course she dodged it with ease of doing two backflips, however she nodded her approval at him.
He glanced at the bottles at the display to see his reflections. The white bandage sticking out of his features. Unexpectedly he heard a faint glowering words of how he was being reckless again. He lightly smack his injury and it worked on getting rid of the incoming image of a girl around his year who had her hands on her hips. It also stung. He winced on feeling the tingling pain striking his nerves. The cut no doubt wanting to start bleeding again.
He sighed and got up.
Memory line.
It was easy to think that he was getting his revenge for the town and its people, but when it came to memories of them it hurt to think about them. To see their faces twisted in fear and dying expressions; the memories of that horrible event made him feel sick inside. Then he will become angry at the one that caused all the pain to him. Soon, soon it will be all over, he thought to himself. He took out seven followers of Ganondorf's as of now.
So far fate was going good for him.
He unlocked the door and opened it to step outside.
Hardly anyone was out and about in the street. Just a few here and there walking toward their destination. One or two dogs and cats laid around watching people stroll by with lazy stares. Few windows open up to allow the sunlight to come in. Few scents of breakfast cooking creep out. It stir awake both his stomach and his taste buds.
He closed the door and pull out a key from his left side pouch to lock it. A handy key that Telma gave him so he won't have wait for the lunch hours to be allow in or bother her from his 'infuriating knocking' on her window. Hearing the locking sound he turned around, thinking of climbing up a building. Sheik would probably be waiting on the rooftops for him.
He glanced up after catching a bird's ascending shadow on the ground. It was a hawk, but not the Resistance's. Yet it eyed him before calling out to him, coming closer to him that it flapped its wings at him. Demanding to rest on his arm.
So he let it, feeling little confuse.
It landed and made itself comfortable. It tilted its head at him; perhaps judging if Dark really was the one it needed to go to. While the hawk judged him he admire how its feathers were gold with white tips. It had a white chest with sprinkles of small and big brown spots. A unique creature that seems to belong to higher status class only.
"Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" Dark asked it.
The golden feather hawk stared at him and cried out. Its wings spread out a bit before resting against its body again. The assassin glanced at its feet where tied around one of it was a letter cutter and a letter. He could see a glimpse of the Resistance symbol on the letter cutter. He rose an eyebrow at the bird.
"You're new than," he told it. He had forgotten about the letter cutter too it seems when he went for Lord Vaati.
It didn't answer him, but stared around its scenery.
He managed to untie the red string and took the two items before the hawk moved around to face a different direction. He opened the letter with little hindrance on his right arm holding onto the animal. All the letters and words written in Sheikah language, and he knew the handwriting to being Impa's. Auru probably got her to write it for him.
Dark, one of the courtesan got information dealing with the princess.
We really don't have a lot of time it seems.
Be careful on the streets you're a wanted man,
But then again you know how to pay tips of misleading.
I trust you can take care of that problem.
We are to have a meeting in my home in the hours of between.
P.S.
Sorry, this is a new hawk as our last one was shot down during the last evening
By a Gerudo guard when it was trying to make a delivering to Ashei and Shad.
Lucky for us that Shad loves crackling codes.
Make sure to burn this letter afterwards Dark.
A corner of his lips rose on the last words, but still feel unease on the first sentence. Information dealing with the princess. It almost tempted him to go check up on her and guard her from afar at this moment. He folded the letter to the original position. Both items pocketed on his back pouch next to the folded papers.
He walked to the open of the street and allowed the hawk to leave his arm.
He won't have to worry about being caught. No one alive—expect the princess—ever saw his face. Everyone would look for a black cloak assassin that would appear out of place. And people somewhat knew him as just an original man that made major visits from Lorule when he had the chance.
Going to the left corner he checked to see if it was empty for him to climb up. Three people but they were in their own worlds.
He soon got a gut feeling warning him of approaching danger. Before he could react there came a dagger pressing against his throat, but not strong enough to draw blood. The person was silent. Only two people he knew could sneak up on him and draw a weapon without him hearing it. And if Impa was with Auru than it was…
"Got you," Sheik said underneath his wrappings.
Dark wanted to roll his eyes on that, but shrugged. "Who me? A harmless man just minding his business?"
He sensed the sheikah smiling at him.
"A harmless man, ha! Tell that to the wanted posters."
He turned around with a rose eyebrow when Sheik stepped away from him. "They make them fast," he said to him.
Sheik shrugged his shoulders. "There is only a handful of them being spread around town. Want to make a quick game of ripping them off than have breakfast? The one that has the most at the end wins. Or perhaps you will allow me to turn you in for some rupees?"
He smirked, ignoring the second question he answered, "You're on."
Sheik's eyes flashed to excitement as he put away his small dagger in his side pouch. He fumbled around on the next one to pull out a flash bomb. Dark Link shook his head, still having a smile on his face. He spun around to avoid the flash when Sheik slam the round bomb on the ground.
He heard faint cries of surprises on the sound and flash of light suddenly happening. His body on reacted by flinching on the loud crackling noise.
The assassin jumped and grab hold of a ledge from the wall. He pulled himself up and climb the rest of the wall to reach the rooftop. He may not know where all the wanted posters where at, but it made his blood pump from the excitement of the game.
And he'll pay for people to talk about something else than him along the way. He could afford to lose some coins after all.
~1~1~1~1~1~
The Royal library inside the castle was said to contain all the history and information of Hyrule. Ranging what had happened to the rulers in their time, the wars that took place and years, treaties that were made and renew, lists of creatures and monsters that once roamed the lands, worn-out journals of the deceased Kings and Queens, and other sorts that needed to be mark and remember in the library. Only there weren't any of books or journals will past the years of Queen Zelda the fourth. It was said that a great fire burned down most of the library and other sayings that no one bothered to rewrite them until the years of Queen Zelda the fifth.
Few mention that Queen Hilda had every knowledge written down destroyed. During what happened in her years and before. Including how she had every leader who swore their swords and alliance to her to burn anything dealing with magic, monsters, and gods and goddesses. Others disagreed that the new King burned the library where her siblings were trap in.
Zelda never really understood how people could come up with such nonsenses, and keep it going down the line of time. But one thing was certain; valuable information was lost forever in the past.
And there wasn't much on the race of Geru, Terrario, or Samilia here. Nothing about their culture, language, or customs. A waste of time as she almost slapped her forehead on remembering how she once came here to learn about the Geru's race when she had found that she was engaged to one of them.
Sighing to herself she sat on the table and rubbed her brow. She had come to pass the time to find anything dealing with the past or other lands. The books here were how to rule, read people, how to communicate and using body language, how to be proper when dining with guests, each roles that play a part in the castle, and the system in the kingdom. There laid records of past kings and prince hunting down great beasts that she could find and read instead.
Or….
Maybe see if there was any romance ones somewhere here. Just to pass the time and nothing more than that. 'It is the rage at the moment. Every noble women loves that topic. A shame, you're missing out.' She chew lightly on her lower lip. Was she really missing out on not reading romance books? Would it make it easier to talk to other girls and women than?
But what if she start fantasizing about love and carelessly toss aside responsible of the kingdom from it? All the lessons from her tutors wasted on their future queen. She pale on the thought of failing her people on that.
"What is troubling your mind, princess?"
She dropped her hands and stood up straight.
The voice belong to a man wearing small spectacles, yet it didn't help making him appear older. He was dressed in robes of the color dark orange and two white stripes. In his hands he carried three books in brown leather covers. The man was the youngest advisor in the council, soon to take the place of King's advisor once he stepped down or when Ganondorf was crowned King of Hyrule, and if the Gerudo lord wanted him as his advisor or not. She knew his name was Shad.
"Oh," she said, shifting in her seat. She felt little embarrass on being caught like this and did not want him to know about her thoughts of reading romance and someday failing her people. So she answered, "It is nothing much. Just that I wanted to learn about the Geru's land and its people, but there is—
"Nothing about them here?" He cut in. He nodded in understanding and said to her, "I see, you are marrying one and you want to respect his culture, correct?"
She smiled in one corner. "Yes, something like that."
Shad made himself comfortable by taking a seat across from her. "Finding information here is almost fruitless if I may say so, young highness."
She hold back her annoyed sigh. The romance books forgotten about in an instant. "I know, but why? We need to know what happened in the past and know about the other lands! They are what makes Hyrule a complete land of Uniti, and how can we make a better future if we are without knowledge?"
He blinked twice. "No one is certain of an answer to your question." He leaned close and surprisingly she did as well. As if they were going to share a secret. "But I do know that knowledge is power. Too much can kill oneself and enough can conquer many. Or so what I learned over the years of my living."
She rested back on her seat, taking in his words.
He was not done speaking, however. "What do you think of your future husband if I can ask you, princess?"
She glanced up at his face. He was watching and waiting on her answer.
She was uncertain on telling the truth to him or lie through her teeth. What if he bends a knee to Ganondorf once they married and he made king? She mentally shook her head at that question. No, this was Shad the quiet and intelligent young man whose family been with the Royale rulers since Queen Zelda the fifth time. They were trusted people on giving their advices and holding secrets for the rulers. To betray her—the pure hylian ruler—would mean dishonor on his last name and the family last name strip off the records.
"I… don't trust him," she finally said, her eyes watching for any reaction from the man.
He gave one of little surprise by his eyebrows inching up. He coughed into his hand off to the side. "An understandable thing to say, your highness. The people of Geru are… different from the hylian race, but without them this whole land can't be Uniti." He frowned on a thought. "If you may, why do you not trust him other than his race's background?"
She shifted in her seating. I can trust him, she told herself. Plus maybe it would make her feel better at the end.
"I visited the castle town yesterday and saw a Gerudo woman terrorizing a poor salesman for not paying his taxes in time. He started to rebel at her and she attacked his stall and had him arrested in turn. But that is not all she mention that they shouldn't tell me about this because I support Ganondorf or something like that. And last night I overhead him telling my father that the blame is to be put on the Midorians, and that some of our people are allying themselves with them."
Shad rubbed his bare chin and thought over her story. "Did you tell your father about this incident in the town? As I recall the only thing to happen in the town was your almost assassination attempt," he pointed out to her.
She wanted to scowl, but keep her face in check. "I haven't yet. Lord Ganondorf always keep close to him, and my father hates hearing me complain about him."
"Word of advice if you like to hear," she nodded at him, "don't tell anyone else in the council about your…distrust on him nor information that you have against him until you can find proof. Also come to me again if you find anything else. You can trust me."
He stood up and excused himself, but she caught something that hold her attention. Peeking out from underneath his collar she saw a gold pin of a shield with a tip of a blade sticking out.
~1~1~1~1~1~
Lunch with her father was silent and awkward. The sounds made only from their muffled sipping and clinking of silverware. Servants and guards stood to the side at a good distance away. Yet to Zelda the great hall was empty of life even through there was a fire steady warming up the large room behind her father.
She should be used to this. The only thing they would talk about was how her tutoring was going on when she was younger or few tips of ruling once she became queen. But now they could barely look at each other or make a small conversation since she got older and was now engaged.
At the moment her father's eyes were glued on the parchment next to his plate. Many more were underneath the parchment. She knew few to be letters from clan leaders and nobles and knights keeping in touch to continue on being on the good side of the King—to avoid war or tension between leaders and the one king of Uniti. Other paperwork to be what needed to be done today, and what was schedule for him to do.
Zelda took a piece of the grapefruit that was sprinkled with some salt and chew on it. She was taking Shad's advice to heart. Once she gather enough evidence she'll present it to her father. It would leave him no choice but to cancel their marriage engagement and give a fitting punishment to the Geru noble.
She saw how her father's brow tighten at the middle, and the wrinkles at his forehead deepen. His crystal eyes harden and reread the whole parchment once more.
"What is the matter, father?"
He leaned back on the cozy chair and drop the paper. "The Midorian rulers are going to be arriving here shortly, or more like their eldest daughter coming over as a surprise visit."
He motion for a servant to hand her the letter for her to read it herself.
King Abas H. Royale as of late we are sorry to inform you that our eldest daughter, Midna the seventh has taken off a many days earlier by the time this letter reaches you. She has caught word that a wedding for your daughter would take place within two to three weeks. It is probably a lie from some lady or just an excuse to visit Uniti.
She will arrive at your home castle sometime at the morrow. Truly we are sorry in her stead but we thought the best to inform you ahead of time. Please do care for our daughter and may life be ever great for you and your daughter.
From the King and Queen of Midora
Zelda rose an eyebrow at her father. "I thought you sent a letter to them about my wedding a month back," she told him.
He shrugged. "They must have misplaced the invitation or forgot about it."
She hummed, but knew that her father must have not written a letter for them at all.
The princess stood up, the letter still in her hand, and excused herself from the table which her father granted her. Luck was on her side when he did not notice she haven't return the paper to him. His narrowed eyes burning at the table top and his cheek resting at his fist. She stroll out of the great hall making way to outside.
With the Midorian Princess coming tomorrow she could confirm that the Midora weren't a danger to Uniti. More proof for her to obtain that she wonder if luck was really on her side. She stopped and closed her eyes, hoping it would stay for much longer in this case.
~1~1~1~1~1~
It looked to be a perfect weather to enjoy the time outside Zelda thought. Expect feeling the burning glare on top of her head from the sunlight made her think otherwise. Scattered and less thin clouds drifted through the blue top. None touching the bright sun.
She sat on a white stone bench in the backyard with the servant, Avilina. Where they saw ahead of them trimmed bushes that formed a small maze. White and red roses blooming within the greeneries. Everywhere few species of flowers bloom close to the ground and two water fountains stood side by side of the maze. Birds and bees and butterflies roamed the air in a lazy manner.
Her eyes glimpsed down at her lap.
It was a fairytale book that she hold in her hands which Zelda read the title: The Sleeping Princess. On the cover of the book was a painted picture of a fair hair princess resting on a bed with covers half pulled down. The title and the borders surrounding the painting were golden, and the leather a shade of green. She looked up at Avilina with a questioning eyebrow arched.
The book was no doubt a fairytale book, but why would she told her that at the moment princesses falling in love with adventurers at the end where at the rage with the ladies? Didn't fairytales have princesses or common woman getting the prince at the end?
Avilina must have mistaken her questioning look for something else for she said, "It is a fairytale with a love triangle in it. A princess is curse to fall asleep in a forest castle at her sixteen birthday, but she gains an ability to go to a prince's dreams to help him find her. An adventurer is also on a journey to save her because they used to be friends during two full seasons before she was taken away. He doesn't know that she is a princess through," she finished off, her eyes twinkling up on telling the summary.
Zelda couldn't help but feel intrigued on the story from the summary. Not for the love triangle in it, but because she wanted to know what happen next. Who woke up the princess? Who cursed her and why? How could the princess communicate with the prince in her or his dreams? There were few more questions that she wanted answered that she was almost tempted to start reading it.
A remarkable thing for her.
When she read books it was because she need to learn, her tutors told her to, or to pass the spare time she had. She ran her fingers across the cover. Feeling the slight bumps, curves, and smoothness of it. To have a feeling of an urge to read was new. Maybe she could read it tonight before retiring to bed.
The princess thanked the maid for the book and she was given a smile.
Not sure of what to talk about—which was nervous-racketing for her since she was taught of how to talk in political topics which she doubt would fascinate Avilina—she thought of her caretaker.
"So how is your mother?" Zelda asked. "How is life treating her? I haven't seen her in a long time."
Avilina flinched and she wondered if she was caught off-guard by the question. She was shy on saying how her mother worked for her last night.
The maid shifted on her seating and clasped her hands on top of her legs. "Oh, um… you see… will you probably haven't heard yet, but my mother is…dead," she said with a whisper at the end.
Zelda's face felled on that word 'dead.' Her mouth dried up within a second and her heart felt heavy inside her chest. "Oh," she managed to say.
Avilina looked away, but Zelda saw tears forming in her eyes. The female servant laughed so abrupt that it sounded fake to her ears. "We're both motherless."
Unsure on how to treat her, Zelda placed a hand on the servant's arm. The princess was motherless, but she never knew her mother one bit after she was born. She never suffered on losing her mother, however, she always repeating stopping herself from thinking that she was the one that caused her mother's death when she was younger.
Childbirth a deadly thing for mothers. Anything could happen that could cause one or both to die during the birthing process. Red potions could help the blood system regain most of the lost blood and help the healing procedure a bit, but yet no one could discover why it required so much of it to just save one person's life during childbirth, or why it didn't save the Queen's life.
Until four years ago one man discovered that the red potions were weak to use. Something happened to the plants that were used for it decades ago that only now where everyone was suffering from it. A witch, or so what everyone called her, was brought in to explain of it. She was one of the few that knew how to make the red potions.
She remember seeing the witch one time. Skin clutching to her bones and green vines popping out like vines. Big eyes that almost popped out of her skull. Patches of white frenzy hair sticking out from underneath her pointing hat. Crackling at her father, 'weak, yes weak they are and if you want them to be stronger once more you need to bring back magic itself!'
Then she started to cough or more like hacking at the end. But to young Zelda it sounded like strange laughter that was choking the witch from inside her throat.
Back then she didn't understand the idea of magic. Just part of an ingredient that no longer existed in this world. She learned it the hard and embarrassing way during her private class. Where few rich children had the privileged to study alongside her that day. When the tutor opened a worn out journal and asked who knew about magic. She rose her hand, everyone knew that she was smart—to be expected for one to be the future ruler—and she wanted to let her peers know and acknowledge her wisdom beyond her years. 'It's an ingredient used for the red potions that are long extinct.'
The tutor stared at her, torn to being half-confuse and half-amuse at her answer while everyone else laughed. She was confuse on their behavior also hurt inside. The teacher settled them down and started to explain what magic was define as today in the castle since no one really had information on the topic. Her hands shook so she clasp her dress on each side and willed herself to stay strong. On the wetness of her tears coming she ran off to the royal garden, ashamed on almost letting them see her being weak.
Her knees planted on the ground she cried on the bench until her father came to her. Then mustering the will to speak she beg her father no more tutoring with the other children. He compline and got her a new history tutor too.
She tried to block that day from her memories, however, never succeeded on it.
While she had her horrible experience her father had been busy on deciding what to do with the problem of the red potions. He decided, and the council having to respect his final decision, to change the ways of getting red potions. He decided on the new price, how many is to be supply to the people each three months, and who will be the buyers.
Either since than red potions price increased and the supply low. Nobles had the privileged to buy more than the lower cases though. The secret of the reason keep within the castle's walls until people forgot all about it.
Zelda resist the urge to sigh. Memories…
Depending of them at times they hurt, annoyed, or unfazed her.
She moved her hand to the back of the maid's back and started to rub it, in hopes of giving comfort to her. What comfort words could she use to help her? She licked her lips. "Avilina, you have me now, so you are not alone."
The said girl nodded her head in a slow motion, her mind progressing the words. "Thank you, princess."
She wanted to breathe in relief but discard that urge. She rub her back for a little more than withdraw her hand back.
"You can call me Zelda, Avilina," she said to her. "We can be good friends from here on out."
Avilina's head snap to her, her eyes wide and her mouth dropping open into an 'o' shape. "Friends?" she repeated the word full of wonder. Than her lips closed shut and turned into a smile. "Or like sisters right? I think my mother would have liked that, Zelda."
She had hesitated on saying her name than her title, but she was glad on hearing it. She nodded and agreed, "Yes, we can be like sisters to each other now."
Avilina started to laugh, wiping her eyes, and muttered, "I used to wonder what it was like to be born as your sister before."
"Oh?"
The female servant started to blush almost in embarrass of saying it out loud. "I like to imagine when I was younger. Sometimes mother thought I had my head in the sky forever and would never come back down again!"
She laughed again and Zelda smiled on hearing the nice sound and hearing her talking about her past. She must have a good childhood than, Zelda concluded.
So she put in, "When I was younger I thought of things I could do to make everyone look up to me and know that I can be there for them."
Avilina placed a hand on her shoulder. "They will always look up to you, Zelda. You'll be Queen soon."
She nodded, but clutched her head on feeling it sway. She thought she heard Avilina called out her name and grab her arm with her other hand. Zelda felt dizzy but managed to see the maze ahead of her all clear. On the entrance clutching to the left side a boy stared at her slyly. He had cuts on his cheek and the rest splatted of dirt along with his hands and clothes. She tried sucking her breath in, but it sounded like a gasp.
It was the boy with the blonde hair and blue eyes from Ordon Village.
Next she saw the sky spinning around. She had somehow fallen from the bench and was on the ground. She heard faraway voices, but she tried to stare at the boy again. He was gone. The leaves on the bushes dying. A vision, she thought to make sense of what was happening to her.
The back of her head started to burn, making her feel dread inside. It's coming closer, it's coming to get me! Something caught her eyes and she blinked to find a new boy in the opposite side of the maze's entrance. He had black hair and red eyes that glare at her. No, at something that was behind her. His eyes soften on coming in contact with hers. He reached out a hand to her.
Looking at him she felt safer that she tried picking up her hand to him. She saw darkness creeping up to him to engulf him whole. Than the fire touched her chest. She arched her back on feeling the fire burning the insides of her, and screamed till she blacked out.
~1~1~1~1~1~
She laid on the marble floor inside the Great Hall facing the throne seats. The banters gone from their places above them. In front of the King's seat was the purple handled sword that glowed to her. She frowned.
There was not supposed to be a sword there, but a small statue of a bird with its wings spread out wide.
She sat up, feeling confuse on why she was in the Great Hall. Did I fainted? But why am I in here—where is everyone also? Zelda speculated. She glanced down on hearing squishing sounds underneath her hands. She gasp on seeing dark red liquid: blood. A large puddle of it that she was in.
Before she could check herself for any fatal injuries the marble floor turned to glass. She choked on her screams on seeing strange creatures banging on the crystal floor. She couldn't hear the sounds, but she shifted away in fear that they would break through.
Three glowing lights touched close to where her hands were at. So sudden in their appearance that she couldn't register them of who they were. The three colors being red, green, and blue. And for a moment her hands started to glow white in return.
'What is going on," she tried to say out loud, but no sounds came out of her mouth.
They faded out. In replace of them an enormous fire creeped up to her, the glass blocking it. She shivered on seeing the fire. The white glow vanish just as quickly she picked up her hands in fear. Without thinking she shut her eyes and shook her head.
'What do you want from me?" she wanted to shout it out to the fire.
She sensed a powerful aura from it along with…wanting.
She flinched on feeling cold fingers pressing themselves against her left wrist. Other set of fingers against her warm forehead. Hush voices creeped into her hearing yet she couldn't open her eyes anymore. Biting her lower lips she allowed darkness to take her to sleep.
~1~1~1~1~1~
On hearing a raspy male's voice calling her name Zelda blinked open her blue eyes. Hovering over her head was the royal doctor. Next to him was Avilina staring down at her with a worried appearance. Seeing the peach color wallpaper behind them she knew that she was in her room.
"How are you feeling, princess Zelda?" the doctor questioned her as he let go of her wrist.
She licked her lips. "I feel…fine."
It was true. She didn't feel dizzy in the head anymore. I had a vision, but what for? For the future of what is to be or just her stress mind imagining things? No, something big was coming, something like fire that it represent something or someone that wanted her. Along with darkness that signify one that was protecting her.
Like the assassin, she wondered to herself. He didn't want to kill me and he killed one that followed Ganondorf instead.
Tapping his fingers against his elbows he peered down at her. "You have a fading fever, nevertheless….did you eat today or hit your head, if I may ask, young highness?"
She nodded. "Yes I ate my meals and no I didn't hit my head."
"Then I suggest some rest for you and some soup tonight. Perhaps your body is experiencing after shock from yesterday's occurrence."
She sat up and decided to agree with the doctor. "Could be… thank you doctor. I'll take your suggestion."
Avilina, having kept silent on the exchange, told the doctor that she will have the soup bring up to the princess personally. They talked to each other for bit more to the side. Seeing something catching her eyes Zelda saw the book on the nightstand. The Sleeping Princess.
I guess I'll be reading you very soon than.
All three heads snap toward the door on the sound of it opening wide. A small group of ladies gathered together to look inside.
"How is the princess?"
"Will she be better before tomorrow night's ball?"
"What happened to her?"
"I hope the ball isn't going to be canceled tomorrow…"
They shushed up on the sight on said girl awake in her bed. She rose an eyebrow on the sight of them and how she heard how fake they were on trying to sound concern for her. They care more for a ball than me?
It pained her on thinking that.
She cleared her throat and addressed them with a straight face. "Good afternoon ladies, I am feeling fine now. Just a case of light fainting from the heat adding with experiencing some aftershock from yesterday's incident. I just need some rest that is all."
Good, straight to the point that they would have to make a light remark and be on their way afterwards.
One woman around the age of twenty-five open up a hand fan and started to fan her face. Her loose curling hair swinging side to side against her pale cheeks. "It is rather dreadfully hot outside," she agreed.
One with waving brown hair stepped inside, her posture and expression screaming out I heard about this and I am curious, so tell me please! Give me some gossip to spread around!
"That is right, you got attacked by an assassin in the town of good fortune, right princess? Who saved you from the assassin's sword? A dashing knight or adventurer passing by? Or oh, you got him wanting more from you!" she winked at her. "If you know what I mean."
Three women hushed her, hissing out warnings of her loose tongue, and two others bidding the princess to ignore the lady's questions and words.
Zelda sighed heavily underneath her breathe, wanting nothing more than to have the women leave already. Is she thinking the incident is like a romantic story? I hope not. The whole experience was not pleasant. She started to think of whatever or not to send them away herself or bore them to tears so they could leave themselves.
The royal doctor must had seen it in her face—in her eyes of anxious—to be alone for he turned around, and motion for them to left. "Away with you lot, away. The princess needs her rest now!" He shouted at them.
For good measure he stomped his feet toward the door and threaten to get the guards, scrambling the women escape the doorway to get some distance away from him. Behind him the doctor shut the door, not letting anyone to sneak past him to enter.
For good measure the female servant went to lock the door. The young girl pressing her ear against the wooden entry to hear them. Certain that they were all gone she turned around and lightly chuckled, "And here I thought me and the other servants were worse on wanting gossip."
Zelda glanced at the wall. Avilina was the type to be a sly one while this lady practically screamed of wanting juicy information. She prefer shy wanting than a practically screaming one. Through at the moment she tried to think back to what the nobles women were asking about when they barged open the door. They mentioned something, but what was it?
She lost focus on remembering on what they said and saw in the edge of her vision of the maid coming toward her.
She touched the princess's forehead. "Are you really okay?"
Zelda had no chance on giving her answer that she was fine as she told the doctor—the thing that bothered her was the visions of today. Avilina eyebrows closed together in middle in worry. "You screamed out 'It's coming closer, It's coming for me.'"
She swallowed and slowly said, "I screamed those words out? I thought I said them in my mind." She trailed off her sentence and bit her lower lip in worry.
Zelda sat up suddenly, frowning down at the covers. "Wait, did they mention that the ball was going to be held tomorrow night?"
Two emotions ran across the female's face. Her amber eyes widening in surprise to frowning in confusion at the sudden question and change of topic. She sat down on her kneecaps to be face to face with the royal daughter.
Avilina looked over her shoulders at the doorway as if they would unexpectedly come back without warning. "Yes, they did. Supposing the King moved it up along with the marriage this morning. Rather unexpected if you ask me, but then again he used to make unannounced feasts to the cooks few hours late when he was a younger man. Or so the cooks told me." She turned to her. "Your father said nothing to you about it?"
Zelda paled on hearing that. "The marriage and the ball moved….They're both too soon!"
How could she gather enough evidence before the wedding day happens? She wanted to groan out loud but hold it in. Everything was happening too fast for her.
Avilina frowned. "Too soon?" she repeated, sounding confuse. "Zelda what is wrong? Is it because of the aftershock or sorts?" She took both of the princess's hands in her own. "Nothing will hurt you. Not the one that is 'coming for you' I promise you. We're like sisters now and we need to stick together and protect each other to the very end."
She stopped and giggled for a short bit. "Me protecting you more since you are the next in line of course. You don't have to risk your life you know….Zelda."
Zelda realized on how protective she sounded at the beginning by how she said her name without hesitating until the last sentence. She was touch, nonetheless, on her words. If only it could ease the worry from both her mind and heart.
"Thank you for your kind words, Avilina. I must see my father now."
She pushed aside the covers, ready to leave.
Avilina having no choice stood up and give space for the princess to stand up. "Are you sure? I think you should rest for a bit and have some soup to get you some more strength."
Zelda smiled at her generous offer, but decline it. Then she rushed out of her room, determine to have her father stop the wedding.
Avilina, left alone in the princess's room started to pace back and forth in front of the door. She complained out loud of wondering what to do. She felt the need to side by Zelda's side to protect her, just as she promised, but knew she was powerless. She was a maid for crying out loud; not a guard or knight…
An idea popping in her head Avilina ran out of the room, heading straight to the guard's wing.
~64~64~64~64~64~
Dark Zelink week is going to start in week four (17-23) guys. I just need to start thinking of prompts and I'll post them in both my profile and tumblr in the Dark Zelink tag. : D
Also Dark Zelink month of Twisted Fairytales will be in the month of June. So if you guys want to write fics for Dark Zelink don't hesitate to join; to read or review (and favorite of course : D), or if you know writers that do like this pairing please do ask them to join in. : )
The tag for this pairing is slow once more and why not show our love to this unpopular pairing than making stories (or fanart) for them together?
Anyway sorry about the long wait for this chapter, but I do hope that you guys enjoy it and look forward to the next one too.
*stares at my old and new (and unfinished draft of an outline) tosses it over my shoulder* You know I thought I was the driver, but I'm starting to think I'm the person in a carriage on my way to the destination (the story's ending), my story's plot is either the driver or the horses, and the characters are either horses or the driver.
Until next time...
~GreenFantasy64