Arc 1: First Life (and First Death)

Chapter 6: Burns and Bandages

The next morning I woke up some time after ten, I turned to my left to look at the presence I felt beside me, and saw Almina setting a tray down on my bedside table. After she finished she looked up, saw me watching her again, and smiled at me, "you're awake Princess! Did you sleep well?" She asked cheerily.

'It's a relief to see Almina smiling again,' I smile back at her, "I slept very well, how are you?" To my surprise she seems to startle at my question, before she blushes and looks down, "Almina?" I question when she doesn't respond after a minute.

She abruptly drops into a deep bow and almost shouts, "I am incredibly sorry for my conduct yesterday, it was inappropriate of me to act so recklessly in the presence of a recovering patient! I was overwhelmed with relief that you were okay, that you would be okay, and I let myself go crazy with my relief and joy, and failed to account for the fact that you were still tired and weak, and that you would be quite concerned when I started crying! I am so embarrassed that I put my own needs before yours, and I'm very sorry Princess!" I can hear the sincerity in her words, she is truly embarrassed of how she acted yesterday, even though I'm pretty sure that reaction is fairly normal when faced with the fact that someone you care about that nearly died is okay.

I quickly attempt to reassure her, "it's alright, Almina! I understand that you were under a large amount of stress from worrying about me while I was unconscious, I'm not mad at you for being relieved!" My voice drops a little in volume as I continue, "in fact, it's kind of nice to know that you care about me so much." I give her a shy smile.

She looks up at me wide eyed, before she moves to pull me into a hug, "oh Princess, of course I care about you!" She pulls away a little in order to look me in the eyes, with a small smile on her lips, "in fact you're almost like a little sister to me! Which might be a bit arrogant of me to claim seeing as I'm just a maid, but I care about you deeply, and I don't want you to forget it!"

I hurriedly shake my head, "I don't think it's arrogant! I think of you like a big sister too! I love you very much Almina!" I instantly blush and clamp my mouth shut, 'should I have said that I love her? I mean it's true, I love her like family, but I've never really said as much before and it feels awkward to say. I don't know how close we are, I think I would say very close considering her concern when I was hurt, and her confession that she thinks of me as a little sister, but am I wrong? I could-'

My tangent of worried thoughts gets abruptly cut off as Almina squeals delightedly and pulls me into a firm -but gentle- hug, "oh Princess, I love you lots as well! You're so adorable! Big sister Almina will do her best to dote on you tons from now on!"

I hug her back as I struggle with how to respond, eventually I settle for gratitude, and an invitation to act informally around me, "thanks Almina… You can call me Zelda, you know?"

She gasps slightly, "really?! But I'm a maid, it might not be appropriate…" As she trails off I frown disappointedly up at her, when she sees my expression she quickly rushes out, "of course as long as I only call you by name when we're alone then it should be totally fine! I would love to call you Zelda!"

I smile brightly up at her, "thank you Almina! I'm very grateful!"

She smiles fondly down at me, "it's no problem Zelda." She pauses for a moment, her eyes go wide in realization and she glances back at the tray on the side table, "I forgot! I need to take your bandages off Zelda, your burns are all healed now!"

I blink up at her in surprise, "they are? But the room still smells like burn cream?"

She looks at me in surprise, "it does? It's been three days since we stopped using the cream, your burns were fairly minor… Oh dear, that means that I must've gotten used to the smell! I'll air your room out as soon as we take your bandages off and change you into some clean pajamas!"

I nod in acceptance, "okay, thank you Almina." She grabs the tray as I take my shirt off so she can get at the bandages around my torso. I take a moment to look at the bandages wrapped around my body and down both my arms, "hey… Almina, did any of my burns scar?" I ask quietly. I personally don't have anything against scars, they tell a story of the things you've been through. But Zelda with scars? I don't really know how to feel about that. On one hand, if the game creators had gone a similar route as they had with Tetra and made a strong warrior version of Princess Zelda with scars, I think she'd be pretty damn cool. On the other hand, Zelda is a beautiful, seemingly untouchable, princess who can use magic, not having any scars makes her feel proud and ethereal. I don't know what to feel about either possibility really.

Almina looks up at me, her expression slightly sad, "oh Zelda…" Her voice trails off weakly at the end.

I take a moment to study her face and the tone of voice she used before I nod in acceptance, "I take it that means they did, which places and how badly?" I ask calmly, 'so I have scars, well I was never going to be like video game Zelda anyway. I'm my own person, with my own personality and quirks. I could never be as graceful and regal as her, in my past life I was always bouncing off walls and tripping up sets of stairs, not to mention that I am a total dork. I guess this will help differentiate us, so that I don't keep comparing myself to her. That way lies the path of disappointment.'

Almina hesitates for a moment longer before she says quietly, "you only have one, and it's not very bad…" She trails off again.

I look her in the eyes, "but?" I prompt, 'whatever it is, she thinks I won't like it.'

She sighs minutely before she says, "but it's on your face Zelda."

I blink dumbly at her. "Oh." I breathe, as I reach up to touch my face. 'I didn't consider that…' I struggle with my thoughts for a moment, trying to decide how I feel about this piece of information before I mentally shrug, 'well, I suppose this will help me look in the mirror and recognize my face, instead of constantly seeing Zelda's, that always made me feel indescribably lonely.' I look back up at Almina, she's been watching my reactions nervously, and hold my hand out, "can I have a mirror please? I'd like to see it." Almina stares at me in shock, she, and everyone else really, are aware of my aversion to looking in mirrors. She reaches into a pocket on her apron and pulls out a small square mirror, she gingerly hands it over to me with a look that says 'are you sure?'

I nod in reply to her unspoken question as I take the mirror from her. I rest it in my lap as I reach up to undo the bandages on my face. Almina rushes over to help me when I struggle to unwrap it. Soon enough the bandages fall free and Almina sets them on the tray. I pick up the mirror, and without any hesitation or indeed thinking about it too deeply, I look at my reflection. I notice the scar right away, it was definitely big enough to be easily noticeable, and some part of me felt relief at that, I was different, distinguishable and unique, not some empty clone. The scar stretches from above my right eyebrow, runs down my face beside my eye, and comes to an end just below my cheekbone. Despite the length, it was relatively thin, only about the width of an adult's finger. Of course on the face of a three year old it looks pretty wide, but I know that as my face grows the scar will not. Therefore I deem the stretch of silvery scar tissue acceptable. I look back up at Almina's anxious face and smile up at her, "I like it." I say simply.

I see her face twist in shock and surprise before she asks incredulously, "really?! Because It's okay to say you don't like it Zelda, I'll do my best to find a cute hairstyle that covers it if you want me too."

I shake my head resolutely, "I'm being honest Almina, I like it." I give her a cheeky smile as I say, "it makes me look unique, how many other Royals do you know that have scars?" Almina freezes. My heart lurches in my chest, as she refuses to meet my gaze. I gasp out in sudden realization, "mom?"

Her eyes squeeze tightly shut as she nods reluctantly, "her burns haven't all healed yet, they were much worse than yours. The physician says that the majority of the burns on her back, and some on her arms, will scar. His Highness, King Jerrisel, broke down crying for his wife when he heard. I worry the Queen will have difficulty adjusting to her new appearance when she wakes."

I stare up at Almina's solemn face in shock as I process her words. After a moment my face firms up with resolve, "even more reason why I shouldn't cover my scar." I say firmly. Her eyes widen in surprise at my words, her confusion is evident on her face so I explain, "if I hid my scar then my mom might think that she needs to be ashamed of, and hide, her scars. I want her to be proud of them. She got them by saving my life and I am incredibly grateful for that. Furthermore, no amount of scars will ever make me think that my mom is any less beautiful. So I will show my support on my face." I pause for a moment as I assess Almina's teary face, "am I wrong? Do you think it will hurt her instead to see the scar she couldn't prevent me from getting?" My voice is weak as I'm suddenly hit with self-doubt.

Almina quickly denies my question as she very forcefully shouts, "NO!" She shakes her head emphatically, "I think she'd be relieved that you're not ashamed of the scar, and if you explain to her what you just told me, she would be very touched by your support and consideration. You should discuss this with the King later, I'm sure he'll support you as well."

Relief fills me at Almina's reassurance, "thank you. I'll definitely talk to dad later."

She smiles at me, "you're welcome Zelda. If you're going to talk to the king any time today, then we should finish getting those bandages off and getting new clothes on you. I'm sure it would be a relief to see you looking less like a patient."

"That's true. But do you think I could get something to eat as well? I feel like I'm starving." I ask shyly.

"Ah, of course! I'll get you something later." She assures, as she begins undoing the rest of the bandages.