Chapter 12 - Arrival

A Week Later

"Are you sure you'll be alright leaving like this?"

Risek was fitting his gloves onto his hands, and he turned his eyes alone in the direction of his younger sister standing over by the hearth in the royal study, her curly black hair done up neatly, the gown she wore made of the finest materials in red giving her a nicely classical look to her beauty. Risek had gone to the study in order to finish preparing for his trip to Hyrule after receiving word from King Hadinaru of acceptance to host the Althorian Diplomats and their Crowned Prince the other day.

He was dressed in a deep blue tunic edged around the high collar with silver and marked with a few patterns on each side. Wearing a pair of etched silver pauldrons on his shoulders and plates on his upper arms, Risek's garb was nicely crafted in itself, but unlike his younger half sister, he had a reason for dressing in such a fine way. Once his gloves were in place and after she'd asked the question, he looked back at the eighteen year old Princess, putting his arms by his sides with his response.

"Yes, I'm sure I'll be fine. Your concern seems somewhat strange however."

She smiled at him somewhat coyly, lifting a brow and tilting her head inquisitively. "You know I don't mean about our Father if that's what you thought. I mean about leaving everything on my shoulders."

Had Risek been a man who expressed his emotion outwardly, there would have been a look of annoyance on his face over her words, as well as maybe some slight humor over the thought of her with everything settled upon her. But he had a response to give her, and he looked at her so he could see her face when he spoke it.

"Your shoulders, Charlain? The strength of your shoulders are reserved solely for holding up those expensive gowns you wear. Though I do believe that the Kingdom will be fine in your husband's hands while I am away."

Her wrinkled nose was exactly why he'd looked at her, and even though he didn't show it, he was more than happy to put that look of offense on her pretty face. Had someone lived for a day with Charlain, they might have been mildly irritated, but an entire lifetime? Risek did indeed question whether or not she was his father's daughter, though he knew his stepmother, whom had passed away bearing their second child, had given Charlain a great hand in the superiority complex she possessed.

"Fine," Charlain said with a good deal of disdain, "in Lukas's hands. So you're not bothered then. You always look it though. You always look so dejected anymore."

Risek finally made an attempt to show a little more than what he normally did when it came to how he felt, sighing in his breath and rolling his eyes. "Charlain, I'm only dejected around you."

She rolled her own blue eyes. "That's not what I hear."

Risek had began to walk to the door when she spoke those words, and in taking the doorknob, he looked back over at his half sister and replied quite confidently, "You would know, my Queen of the Gossip. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even know of my nickname, nor would I care to."

"Hmph," Charlain scoffed, "you know, they call you more than just the Prince of Stone."

"Once again, I don't care," came his fleeting words as he left the study they'd been standing in, ready to go see his father before he left on his journey to Hyrule.

"Jackass," Charlain muttered, sighing before she looked down at the fire while considering the journey that her older half brother was to go on. She wondered how things would work for him there, especially with his sour disposition. Somehow she doubted his going would serve Althor or Hyrule at all. If they wanted to send a royal in her father's stead, she still though that she was the better choice. After all, a certain charm was needed when it came to diplomacy, and as far as Charlain was concerned, she felt she had more charm in his little finger than Risek did in his entire body.

Unknowing of his sister's thoughts - and continuing not to care, though if he had known, he would have argued that a diplomat also needed to know more about the Kingdom they represented than the gossip floating around in the air - Risek headed down the hallway when he heard a young man calling his name out. Looking back, he saw his little brother running toward him, the thirteen year old seeming a bit annoyed as he went, and Risek leaned down to allow himself a hug from the young man.

"You were going to leave without saying goodbye to me, weren't you?"

"Of course not," Risek replied, "has Charlain been filling your head with nonsense again, Gabriel?"

"Maybe," Gabriel muttered, then stood back with a discontent look on his young face given to his brother in question, "Do I really have to stay here with her? She keeps trying to tell me how I'll grow up to be better than you and I hate it when she does that."

Risek snorted in amusement, the dark haired Gabriel being one of the few people he felt he could be himself with anymore. The smile on Risek's face - one that several thought might break his cheeks altogether because he never showed it to anyone - was definitely genuine toward his younger half brother.

"I wish I could say you didn't, Gabriel. But I don't have another man to make sure she keeps out of trouble. You can keep her in line, can't you?"

Gabriel scoffed and waved his hand, "Easily, Risek. All I have to do is tell someone to put a fake article in the gazette. She goes nuts until she finds the person who started the rumor, and leaves us all alone in the meantime."

Risek's laugh filled the corridor, and he stood up straight. "Then I'm at ease with your expertise, Gabriel. I'll keep that ploy in mind for future endeavors."

Gabriel smiled at Risek, then he stepped in beside of him as they both began to walk, asking, "Are you going to speak with Father?"

"I was, to say that I would return soon."

"Can I come?"

"I don't see why not," Risek told him, heading toward the stairwell in the wooden colored corridor they stepped through. "So tell me, before I leave, how are your studies coming?"

Gabriel gave Risek a thoughtful expression, and as they started walking up the steps, he said, "You know, you sound like Father. I think you'll make a good dad one day. My studies are going well. Lady Bakkit says I'm the smartest one in the class."

"Did you earn that through merit?"

Gabriel nodded, replying, "She doesn't say it because I'm the King's son, if that's what you mean."

"Good," Risek informed him before turning a corner and heading toward the chamber where his father was resting. Upon reaching the door, he opened it and let Gabriel into the chamber first, then followed him inside. Seriun was awake, resting against the pillows of his bed, actually sitting up for once, and a maid was taking a tray of mostly eaten food toward the door while Seriun smiled in seeing his two sons.

"Risek, Gabriel," he nodded, "you must be about to leave."

Seriun, for all intents and purposes, sounded like himself much more so at that moment than he normally had lately. Risek nodded in reply as Gabriel went over to his father's side and took his hand. "Are you feeling better, Father?"

"I feel good," Seriun told him, "much better right now than in a good week or two." He then looked back over at Risek who'd come up behind Gabriel. "Where is Arrik? Already waiting?"

"More than likely," Risek replied, "he told me to take my time, however."

"And his son? Where is Lukas?"

"The last I heard, coming back from Meley to keep the affairs here in order until my return, or until you're better."

Seriun smiled, nodding, "It looks right now as if it might be the latter, doesn't it?"

Sighing out his breath hopefully, Risek nodded his own head, "Yes, I'm very glad for that as well. I would like to come back to see you wearing that ridiculous crown again."

Seriun grinned, laughing softly, and coughing slightly through the laugh. Risek, when he was young, always told Seriun that his crown was too big and looked ridiculous, even though his views had changed as he'd gotten older. "That's the Risek I remember. Not the brooding man you've become during these past several months. I will try my best to please you."

Gabriel smiled, looking up at Risek, telling his father, "Risek's just mad because Charlain's perfume gives him a headache."

Seriun smirked, patting Gabriel's head somewhat weakly, and he told the boy, "Now, now, that is your sister. Show her some respect."

Risek didn't particularly care to argue on the matter even if he thought his little brother's insult had been humorous. After all, Seriun was right, and as much as he didn't get along with Charlain, she was blood. With those words spoken however, Risek changed the subject and looked down, asking Gabriel, "Would you like to stay here, or come out to the horses with me?"

"I'll stay here. Arrik always treats me like I'm five."

Risek smirked and nodded his head, then he patted Gabriel's head and looked back at his father, his expression taking on its usual serious demeanor once more. "I'll return soon, Father. And I'll be sure to return with good news."

"Thank you, Risek. I know you and Arrik will succeed in this. Let the Ambassador know that I have the utmost faith in him and his abilities." Taking in a breath, one he wheezed out before he lifted a clothe to his mouth to cover it with a cough, he finally settled down and took in his breath slowly, proving that while he was acting fine at the moment, he still had a good ways to go in the effort of recovery it seemed.

But it didn't stop him from looking up at his departing son and saying to him in his farewell, "I love you, my son."

Leaning down, Risek kissed his father's temple in a show of affection. After all, and though he wasn't thinking that specific thought, he could be gone for over a week and return to a father who was much worse off than he had been, if not dead. Leaning back, he said, "I love you too, Father." Then he gave Gabriel a little smile and turned to go on his business.

Getting to the door, Risek gave a final look back at them, offering his smile until he couldn't see them anymore. Once the door had latched, however, he smile quickly faded and his face took on the stony expression he'd become so popular for around the Kingdom. Turning, he walked back down the hallway, and saw a shadow cast from one of the windows as someone began to head around the corner.

He came to a stop to keep from bumping into the person whom more than likely had no idea he was there, and saw the familiar face of Anamirian as she stepped around the corner with a tray of different medical items. Having not expected to see anyone as Risek had considered when he'd stopped, she came to a sudden halt and looked up, blinking her golden colored eyes at the Prince from beneath her bonnet.

"Oh, My Prince," she said respectfully, bowing her head. "I thought you'd already taken your leave."

"I was just on my way to," came his deep voice as she stepped past him.

"Then, have a good trip," she told him, a quaint smile on her face, and as she went to go down the hallway, she was a little surprised when Risek stopped her, taking her upper arm in his hand.

Looking back at him, she heard him saying, "Mirian, I want you to do me a favor, as a friend."

Mirian shook her head slowly, somewhat unused to him being more personal with her as she could remember from time to time in their youths when her brother Marcelle was alive, but it didn't strike her as odd either given the circumstances.

"What is it?"

"I would appreciate it if you would spend time with my father while I'm away, make sure he is well cared for. Let Gabriel know so he can tell Lukas to let you into the King's chambers during the evenings when I would normally be there."

Nodding her head, Mirian replied, "I would be glad to." He let go of her arm when she agreed, and she added, "Just come back quickly and safely. Althor doesn't need a second ill royal."

He knew that was completely true, and nodded his head despite the fact that he hated to ask her of such a favor when she'd lost her own brother and his best friend so recently. "I will, and when I do, I intend on furthering me investigation," he informed her, then turned around to leave, allowing more of the sour mood he'd been put into by asking Mirian of such a favor as he walked down the stairs to show on his face.

Mirian watched him go, the promise of looking into her brother's murder left on her pointed ears and once he was gone, a frown lit her face, one that seemed just as sour as his mood had gotten. Sighing out her breath, she turned to head down the hallway, hearing the door to the King's chamber unlatching before opening, and she hid the sad expression when Gabriel walked out into the corridor before her.

Upon seeing him, Mirian gave him a smile, and she greeted him, "Lord Gabriel, is your father well enough to receive his delivery?"

Gabriel looked up, and when he saw Mirian, he smiled brightly. "Oh, yes, by all means, my lady."

Mirian couldn't help a little chuckle. Despite the fact that Gabriel was, in fact, a Prince, she'd found she cared for the boy just as much as she would a child of her own, even if she was only seventeen years old. She'd helped a good bit with taking care of him after his mother passed away in child birth when she was younger, and Gabriel was a very intelligent young man who had always seemed to look up to bother Anamirian and Marcelle as a sort of aunt and uncle figure to him.

They'd come to have a relationship which constantly mocked the way servant and noble treated one another, and the only reason Mirian allowed him to joke in such a fashion when they were alone was because she knew for a fact that Gabriel was smart enough to understand the real importance behind her proper treatment of his social status with her own being that of a servant.

"Thank you, My Prince," she smiled and made a slight curtsy as he held the door for her, and then walked into the King's chamber while Gabriel shut the door behind her.

Seriun looked over when he heard the voices, and in seeing the young servant, he smiled, saying, her name as if they were two separate terms with a short pause in between them, "Ana, Mirian. What a pleasant surprise to see you again, my girl."

Mirian blushed as she walked over to the bedside and settled her tray down. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm glad you seem to be in a much more fitting state to your true nature of cheerfulness as well."

"Ahh, you always were too kind to an old man, ever since you were just a lass I could settle on my knee with your brother." Seriun smiled over the thought, having known Mirian's parents very well. When Mirian's mother had passed away delivering her - an event which may have been the reason she and Gabriel had bonded so well - Seriun had her father, who was then the Captain of the Knights, move into the Palace to live due to needing help with raising the baby and keeping up with his work at the same time.

Mirian tried not to think too much about Marcelle however, looking over at Seriun quietly as she shook her head, "No, I don't think I give you enough credit, my King. But I did need to ask you something. Risek wanted me to sit in with you during the evenings when he would usually do so while he's away. I know that's irregular, but I promised him I would do so. I wanted to make sure that is fine with you."

"Do you really need to ask that, modest lady?" Seriun's eyes had shut as he rested, but he was still quite awake. His smile was warm and friendly, and he told her, "I would be honored to have the company of such a lovely young lass in the evenings. But in return, I only ask one favor of you."

Mirian bowed her head forward in humility over his praise and asked, "What would that be, Your Highness?"

Seriun paused for a moment, hearing the terms she'd used to address him, and he told the red head, "Actually, I have two things to ask of you. First, call me Seriun whenever you sit with me. After all, royalty bears little meaning when I've been bedridden, and once you face a mortal scare, you come to respect someone addressing you simply for who you are without formality attached to it. Is this agreeable?"

Mirian glanced up at her King, then she nodded and decided she really didn't have much of a choice, saying, "I'll try not to let habit stand in the way."

The King smiled brightly and chuckled a little. "Good. Second, I would like for you to try to watch Risek for me whenever he returns. I know the two of you were once acquaintances, so I thought it would be easier for you than anyone else. I want to know how he's really doing. He always acts as if he's fine, but deep down, I know he's troubled over everything."

Mirian, hearing the words, had sobered up from their previous compliments to one another, and she nodded slowly. "You're right, but he just tries to stay strong for us all. I'll do this for you, however, I fear I may be no good at it. He's not likely to open up to me either."

Seriun chuckled softly, replying, "You never know, young lady. You may stumble across something without even meaning to."

---

Outside of the Palace, the day was showing a bright sun without the cover of clouds in the sky. A contingency of horses with two carriages bearing the crest of Althor were settled waiting in the yards outside of the front entrance to the brick and marble Palace, and Charlain stood there with the Ambassador outside of them, speaking while they awaited Risek's arrival.

"Don't let him upset you, my dear. He is your brother, after all, and it's sometimes the jobs of siblings to get on one another's nerves. I had one of each myself."

Charlain let a sigh out through her nostrils and then looked over at Arrik, her father-in-law, and slowly shrugged her shoulders, "I know that. But he could at least treat me with some kind of respect. I could take care of this Kingdom just as well as he can."

"I know that," Arrik offered the young Althorian Princess a kind smile. "You would make a wonderful and perfectly acceptable Queen, Charlain. Risek is simply burdened with both responsibility and your Father's illness, not to mention the recent loss of his best friend Marcelle."

"Well," Charlain started in response, "I still don't think he'll do well going to Hyrule for now. They won't like his demeanor. You know, I also think he's just jealous sometimes because his mother wasn't as distinguished as Gabriel's and mine."

"Charlain."

The voice had come from behind them, and Charlain spun around. It had been a stern, and very serious sound, dropping like a stone over Charlain and stopping any other words she might've spoken. Risek stepped down the steps from the main entrance of the Palace and toward the courtyard where the horses were settled. He'd heard every word about their mothers, and he didn't look pleased - even less than he normally did.

Stopping near his sister, his eyes having gone to a much darker shade of emerald, he informed her on a voice that was soft but also serious and very meaningful, "I don't ever want to hear mention of my mother on your lips again. Do you understand me?"

Charlain stared at her older half brother quietly, his clipped words as cold as they got, and she rolled her eyes slightly to hide the fact that he'd actually startled her just then and nodded her head. "Fine, Risek. I won't mention her again."

Risek gave her a look that said he didn't believe her, one that was stern and, as his nickname suggested, made of stone, and he turned to head to the carriage, saying to Arrik, "I'm ready. Let's get underway."

Charlain watched as he opened the door for the Ambassador, and while Arrik climbed into the carriage, she told Risek, "You know, you don't have to treat me as if I'm insubordinate, Risek. I am the Grand Duchess of Meley, after all, and I'm definitely not incompetent."

Giving his sister a bland look, Risek sighed out his breath before telling her, "Then go to Meley." Turning, he got into the carriage himself and shut the door, leaving his sister with a highly annoyed expression on her face, and he could hear her calling from outside of the carriage as they started moving off that she was glad he'd be gone for a while.

Arrik heard the words as well, and he simply smiled and informed the Prince, "You know, I'm glad your squabbles with your sister don't cause bad blood between you and my son."

Risek's lips slanted slightly, not really a smile, but also hinting that he might have been a little amused. "No, I have no qualms with Lukas. I do, however, feel badly for him and what he has to deal with."

Arrik smiled at Risek, sitting back in his seat comfortably. Risek, in turn, finally made a little smirk of his own, and with a shake of his head, he added, "I love my sister, she's blood, and a good person deep down, but somehow, recently, she's changed."

"Yes, you're right, Risek. Things aren't as they used to be. But give her a chance. She's recently received new title and responsibility, and like you, is having to adjust to those changes. She's not different, simply coping as you are."

He was right, Risek knew as much, but while he would always give his sister a chance, he just didn't have high hopes that she would fulfill them. Still, he had other things to consider besides his sister's qualities, and he decided to focus his attention on that instead. After all, Hyrule would take a day and a half to travel to, and then it would take another half a day or so to make it to the Palace where they were heading. So with two days or so of travel ahead of him, Risek didn't want to spend much of that time dwelling on the problems he had with Charlain.

Instead, he was curious to see now exactly what waited for him in Hyrule. After all, it was supposedly the gem of the Goddesses, which of course was a high praise to live up to. Staring from his carriage window now, watching the more familiar buildings passing by along the cobblestone road, vines with brightly colored blossoms in bloom on them climbing the walls and even some of the street posts and signs, he considered this while citizens on horse back made their way, some walking and carrying different items back and forth as afternoon dawned on them.

Many stopped to look, watching the royal carriages passing them by, mountains rising up in the distance to set off the scenery of the nicely kept town of Althor's Kingdom. Those mountains, which sported white peaks due to the cold up high, sported two passes, one to the south, and the other to the northwest, which was the one to be taken to Hyrule. The range itself nearly completely separated Hyrule from Althor, called the Endigan Range, which was the Althorian word for Ancient, and in some royal texts, was also translated as Forbidden. The Althorians considered the mountain range to be sacred nonetheless, forbidden or not, and as the carriages carrying the Prince and his diplomats reached the northwestern pass as they went, things began to get more and more unfamiliar.

Two Days Later

On the other side of the pass, through the Gerudo Desert, into the plains and the fields of Hyrule, standing at its northern region, the Palace would eventually come into view, overlooking the land like a king in itself. It was a bit cloudy that afternoon, but not to the extent that light was completely blocked out, though it did cast a very slight gloomy feel to the afternoon.

The Althorian's were scheduled to arrive that day at any time. Knights had been sent out to meet their caravan and escort them safely to the Palace across the fields. While this was happening, Zelda was standing on the large balcony of her parents chambers, looking out at Death Mountain quietly. She'd had a wonderful week, ever since the Court Session, somehow things had started to feel much less burdensome to her.

Of course, it might have been due to the surprise that Impa gave her. On the morning after Zelda and Link had broken their promises to one another, Impa informed Zelda that her lesson plan was going to change slightly. Since Zelda's prowess in the magic arts, while not fully developed - though Impa often taught that magical prowess was never fully developed - was in fact more advanced than they should have been for the Princess's young age, Impa had wanted to start more of Zelda's training in the melee field of arts as they had begun but never finished so long ago.

Impa brought in a special instructor too. She figured that, since Link was so well versed with many different types of weapons, he would probably be the perfect teacher for Zelda, and Impa knew he'd already been working with her on it before anyway, only stopping because their schedules had grown so different there for a while. So Zelda had been learning under their tutelage much more than she'd known before, and Link, as he had already found out, remembered just how much of a quick study that Zelda was.

Aside from training under Link's well honed skills - which made them both happy because they could spend that time together which they'd missed so much of - Zelda and Link also announced to their parents the plans they'd thought of to have the wedding. When mentioned to Hadinaru, he almost demanded that they did, in fact, have a wedding in Kakariko, because he wanted to see much more closely where his daughter had grown up and who there knew her as a child. Of course, a royal wedding would have to be performed in the Palace as well, but the thought of two weddings, even if planning for them would take some time and consideration, was definitely a plausible one.

Zelda had gone to her parents room that afternoon once her lesson with Link had been completed because Nissandra had requested her to come by and take a look at materials for a wedding gown to be crafted from. Zelda, staring out at the fields, waited when Nissandra stepped through the columns behind her and looked up to see how her daughter looked to be stuck in a daydream.

"I'm sorry it took me so long to find them," Nissandra said as she headed toward Zelda. "I'd put them in my chest and not my sewing box."

Zelda smiled, looking over at her mother as the Queen stood next to her, holding in her hands several square cut clothes of materials that were all white and off white in color. Zelda pointed at one of two of them, and Nissandra agreed that the floral patterns across them were definitely lovely. "I was thinking that we should use a pale green to offset the white colors," Zelda suggested, "or maybe a pale blue."

"Why green?" Nissandra asked curiously, switching to the next clothe while they went through them.

"Well, it's been Link's favorite color since he was a boy, and being a Spring wedding, I thought it seemed fitting."

"I see," Nissandra smiled, "you know, you two will definitely have an advantage to marriage that most people don't in having known one another for so long."

"Oh, wait,"Zelda stopped her, taking the next clothe as one of her favorites, then she continued on with the conversation, "yes, I know. Of course, don't tell him I said the pale green is because he likes it."

"Why not?" Nissandra asked, setting the next clothe to the side.

"Because he'll try to argue and say that I should use my own favorite."

Nissandra chuckled softly, handing another favorite to her daughter before she added, "Well, if there's two weddings, and he finds out, you can use your favorites at the other."

"That's an idea," Zelda smiled, and having finished going through the materials, she took hers to a chaise chair sitting on the balcony next to a table where Nissandra's cat, a white Persian named Mellin was settled, and Zelda sat beside the animal, reaching out to scratch her ears. Nissandra went to sit beside of her daughter and she put the clothes they'd decided against on the table before taking the ones her daughter held to go through them.

"Mother, how are you feeling in the mornings now?"

"Oh, sick," her mother chuckled, "but I have more of an appetite here lately as well. I've started to show a bit too, but not in these dresses," she smiled, looking over at Zelda. "When you have your own, I'm fairly sure, with as concerned as he is over your well being, that Link will go crazy for a while with your constant illness at first."

Zelda started chuckling softly, nodding her head in consideration of the events. With her mother having mentioned the day that Zelda might carry a child, she thought to the event that had taken place a week ago now between herself and Link and rested easy in the knowledge that she wasn't pregnant. One thing that Zelda had learned when living as a commoner in Kakariko was the use of several different herbs, roots, and leaves for medicinal purposes. One of the roots, which was called Redstring due to its red appearance and string like shape, had a much more unknown purpose outside of its common one.

Commonly, the root was used as a painkiller, and it was fairly effective as one. Many shamans carried a batch of the root for use in their works and it wasn't uncommon at all for a shaman to be asked for some of the relieving plant. But the second purpose was used in birth control, a use which was not only very overlooked and unknown to most, but also came in very handy for the cases of rape that sometimes reared its ugly head.

The root had to be crushed and mixed in with a drink, or could be swallowed as it was, though the taste wasn't very desirable. Shamans never gave Redstring to royals because of the effects it had on a woman's body, and royals had a duty to procreate which they eagerly sought out. The root was more popularly used long before Zelda's time for birth control however, but was eventually stopped because it was far too effective. This led to several problems with infidelity and other such matters. But killing pain so easily as it did kept it about, and another plus was that the root was very hard to collect unless you were a professional herbalist or botanist.

Zelda knew how to grow it though, and collect the root without killing the plant that grew from it. She'd had some in her tea that morning, and she knew that not even Link was aware of the root and its uses. Well, not that particular use anyway. Zelda had simply told him there was nothing to worry about, she was confident in it. Link seemed to trust her, and she'd kissed him reassuringly.

"I'm sure he will," Zelda smiled in reply to what her mother had said, then heard the door opening behind them. Both ladies turned and looked back to see Hadinaru walking into the room with something in his hands. Pushing herself up, Zelda offered her mother a hand of assistance, and Nissandra took it with a thank you to her daughter.

Smiling, Hadinaru stepped toward them both, asking, "How are you lovely ladies doing today?"

"Oh stop it, Hadin," Nissandra scolded him playfully. Then she spotted what her husband was carrying, wrapped in a protective clothe, and she smiled, "I see you've managed to finally have it finished."

"Yes," he nodded, "sadly not in time for her birthday, but close enough."

"What?," Zelda asked curiously. "Something for me?"

"Mmm hmm," Hadinaru nodded. "I started having a sword crafted for you after learning that you'd taken up some lessons and had yet to acquire one. I thought it would be suiting for you."

He held out the clothe to his daughter containing the item, and Zelda's brows raised in surprise. "Oh," she replied, taking the sword into her gloved hands. Slowly, she pulled the protective cloth from the sheathed weapon, looking over the silver inlaid basket hilt with a guard that pointed out on both sides. The handle was a dark pink to red in color, and Zelda smiled, seeing that the scabbard, which matched the hilt in color, was marked with symbols of the Triforce and that of the royal family. Pulling the blade halfway out, she also realized the metal was marked with prints of the same type along its length, and the symbols made her think of the amulet she'd lost, creating a fond connection for her to the object she held now.

Zelda sighed and pushed the blade back into the scabbard, then went to her father and hugged him in thanks. "It's beautiful. I just hope I never have to use it," she chuckled out softly.

Hadinaru smiled and laughed softly as he gave her a hug in return, replying, "As do I, but I thought it would be a fitting gift for you, especially since Link is completing more of your instruction."

Zelda nodded, standing back from the King and she put the clothe back over the weapon she now held, saying, "Yes, I'm sure he'll like this blade as well. Though, I don't think he'd appreciate the color."

Both of her parents chuckled softly, and while Nissandra picked up Mellin and began to pet the cat, she changed the subject slightly, remembering something, "Oh, love, have you heard any word from our incoming visitors?"

Hadinaru nodded, and the affirmation got Zelda's attention. "Yes, I came to also let you both know they've been spotted coming through the fields now."

"Oh!," Zelda drew out, feeling a bit caught off guard with the mention that the Althorians were already so close. "I need to go make sure I'm presentable then." With those words, she kissed her mother's cheek and promised to return to looking through the materials for a wedding gown soon. Nissandra just grinned and watched her daughter giving her father a kiss and then heading back inside to go do as she'd suggested.

Hadinaru smirked ad reached to pet the cat his wife held, saying, "I think she's so interested in learning as much as she can that she forgets she's already put on the gown she wanted to wear when meeting the Althorians."

Nissandra laughed softly, chastising her husband with the reply, "Now, now, there's more to a lady's proper appearance than the gown she wears."

The words had her husband grinning, understanding far too well the female's need to look as proper as possible. Though he never really understood the motivations for the extremes they could take. Which in a way made him appreciate that, as far as he knew, the Althorians coming were all men. Hopefully that would put less strain on their time frames.

But the caravan could be seen from the balcony now, heading with the contingency of knights coming over the horizon in the fields. Link wasn't with those knights, but had stayed in the Palace for his lesson to his fiancee that day, and hearing that the Althorian caravan had been spotted, he headed to Zelda's chambers to find her and see if she already knew, though he got the feeling she did.

One thing he could say for certain however was that he could tell everyone felt the need to be presentable. The maids had been cleaning all day, and everyone was doing last minute preparations. It made Link wonder about the Althorians for a moment.

He hoped they'd would notice, and he also hoped they could get along.