Chapter 10: Underneath
The noon sun shone down upon the field, warming the thousands that were crowded here. The brilliance of all the colors about her was breathtaking. She drank it in whilst she was able.
Zelda had been fitted into a splendid pink and gold themed gown, complete with a few accessories to match. Her seamstresses described the theme of the dress as "liquid summer". Thin, gold-colored straps held the dress up, leaving her shoulders bare. The top section of the dress stretched tight across her chest. The material shimmered in the sunlight, filled with intricate curling designs in pink. At her ribcage was fastened a thin gold belt, then the gown flared out into layers of fabric that reached her ankles. The layers were all golden with barely visible pink hemming. Her seamstress had hemmed the gown just above her feet to allow ease of movement without stepping on the dress. Above her elbows but below her shoulders were gold bracelets with long, drooping sleeves of sheer fabric raining down, shortened at one end to allow her use of her hands but excess fabric reaching past her knees. The color of these sleeves was a blushing cerise. On her feet were simple shoes that covered her toes and heels in pale pink.
They had taken her hip-length hair and twisted it into a loose bun atop her head, letting some strands come down around her face and adding some gold pins to hold it in place. They chose earrings that were not too large, but gold and shaped like the sun. Her only neck adornment was a mere gold choker with a tiny sun ornament in its center. To her face they had added little, only painting her lips a glistening pink.
Moments before, she had sat inside a closed wagon near the podium. Her servants picked at her hair and clothes, bustling about to make everything just so. Now she stood before her subjects, soon to be officially crowned the Queen of Hyrule. All of those people gazed upon her in reverence. The queen, her mother, walked in her slow but steady pace with the help of a sage who would perform the ritual and make the speech. Her mother had been granted the honor of placing the diadem on her daughter's head. Zelda had no need or desire to listen to the sage's prepared words and prayers to Din, Farore, and Nayru. She knew it by heart, and knew how to conduct herself accordingly.
Again she wondered how her shadow friend fared. Oh how she missed him so! Cain was the only person with whom she was free to be herself. His presence was somehow liberating, a haven from the claustrophobic schedules she was subject to. The shadow did not see her as everyone else did: he first saw her as a person, then a princess. Even in these light, airy clothes that were a gracious break from her usual stuffy attire, she longed to kick off her shoes, leap off this stage, and run through Hyrule Field to someplace else. Perhaps Lake Hylia to feel the waves on her toes. Perhaps Kokiri Forest to hear the fairies whisper. Or perhaps to the Zora Domain to swim with the fish. With Cain, she felt like that: free. Zelda could not imagine a life without his friendship at all. Who would be her friend if not this prisoner? Who would understand her as a person and disregard her royal status for a change? Who would challenge her rather than blindly agree with all her statements? Who would talk to her like he did, with his dark humor and tiny moments of caring? Who would fill her with such joy simply by laughing?
Without him, her cage locked shut.
Without him, she was empty.
"This crown is indeed simple, but is symbolic of…" The sage rolled on, nearing the end. Zelda was eager to be done.
A servant brought with care the cushion holding the crown to her mother's hands. The crown was rather small, about the length from one's pinkie to one's thumb, but the female rulers were never fitted with large headpieces. It was a triangle with sides that curved inward up to the tip. The middle of the triangle was not filled with gold, but hanging from the tip of the tiara inside the shape was a tear-shaped ruby. The base of the triangle was curved also and made with comb-teeth to settle in her hair like a decorative comb.
Zelda bowed her head and clasped her hands. The queen placed the diadem in her hair, making sure it was secure before motioning her to rise.
The people cheered, clapped, and chanted. Zelda smiled, her happiness to have the opportunity to lead such a beautiful country genuine. But feelings of claustrophobia and stress lingered in her mind, causing her smiles and waves to feel forced. She would have to endure long hours of festivities, but not if she could help it. Of course she wanted to visit with her subjects; she had always thought friendly intimacy to be a wise virtue of any monarch. But she did NOT wish the visit with them into the wee hours of the morning. She was led off the podium and ushered into the closed wagon yet again, where her mother briefed her on the proper conduct during these parties. They had a schedule of where they would visit throughout the rest of the day, ending in Castle Town.
Somewhere behind the comprehension of these plans and procedures, a silent plea echoed in Zelda's brain toward her beloved shadow: "Free me."
AN: HEllo hello hello! I know it's been a while again, I'm sorry. I got busier - Here's another chapter for you. Sorry for the lengthy descriptions, I just had some very vivid images in my head and I wanted to try and show them to you.
Also, I don't know if I've said this before, but if you have any criticism for my writing, feel free to let me know. I'll appreciate any thoughts you feel like sharing with me ^-^