Disclaimer: I own Zelda! Get lost! No, I'm kidding.
Chapter 20: The Dagger
"Hurry! Let's go to the market! Maybe Rosemarie is already there! We've got to warn her!" Zelda suggested. She and Link raced back up the passage and into the main halls of the castle. The maids gave all of them a quizzical expression as they raced down the corridor.
"Do you think she'll be alright??"
"She's got to be.........she just has to!!" The two rushed out the gates and into the market. Everyone was still doing his or her normal thing. A few girls noticed Link, but saw he was with Zelda. The two looked around for any sign of Rosemarie. Zelda saw her by the water fountain.
"Rosemarie!!!"
.........
Rosemarie sighed as she dipped a hand into the fountain. She had come for no obvious reason. After carefully hiding the dagger deeply within the depths of her dresser, she just had to be alone to think of the meaning of her dream. Even with such a distance apart, she could still hear the dagger calling to her.
"The dagger will be yearning for Zelda.........you just have to help it get there........." a voice inside Rosemarie's head said. "It will do whatever it can to twist fate and get itself inside Zelda, it just needs a little help to move." Rosemarie grinned as she hummed to herself. She wanted to see those eyes so badly, she didn't even think of whom she was going to kill.
"Rosemarie!!" Rosemarie looked up to see Zelda and Link running toward her. It hit her at that moment who she was going to end up murdering.
"Zelda!" Rosemarie cried. The realization hit her like a rock. She couldn't kill Zelda! She was her best friend. The eyes had her mesmerized so much she couldn't even tell. Of course she couldn't kill her. Unfortunately, the dagger was zoned in on Zelda. Rosemarie was stuck in this one.
"Zelda.........Zelda's blood........." Rosemarie felt a force wave ring though her body. It seemed to be coming from her house, from the dagger. It was calling.
"Are you alright?" Zelda asked. "You look sick!"
"I'm fine. It's just.........I must've had a bad breakfast, that's all." It was a lie. She didn't even remember if she had breakfast. She couldn't even remember what she did last night. Her memories were starting to fade. She could hear the dagger chuckling in the distance.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure. I wanted to ask if you wanted to be the bridesmaid in the wedding. It's in two weeks. Do you??" Rosemarie squealed.
"Of course!! I'd love to. The pretty pink gowns are so gorgeous!!" Zelda smiled.
"I'm glad." Link frowned. He remembered the dream, especially the one with Rosemarie stabbing herself.
"That would be a good idea," he found himself saying. Rosemarie nodded.
"My mother would be so happy! Wildflower too!"
"She could be a flower girl, her name suits it."
"Good idea, I bet she would be very excited."
"Anyway........." Zelda pulled a strand of her golden hair back. "On a more serious note, have you seen any daggers lately?" Rosemarie's mind shifted back to the dream. The dagger within her room sent out more sickening force waves that rang throughout her mind.
"No.........none........." Rosemarie tried to input question within her voice. She had to get rid of the dagger, and she couldn't let anyone know about it. Zelda and Link shrugged.
"Well," Rosemarie said. "I've got to get home. I only came out for some fresh air. See you!" Rosemarie skipped off toward her house.
"I don't trust her," Zelda said. "Even though she is my friend, I still don't trust her answer to be true." Link nodded.
.........
Rosemarie ran into her house and up to her room. She shut the door and locked it securely. Then she turned and eyed her dresser. Edging toward it, she threw open the bottom drawer and brought out a bundle of old towels. Unfolding them, she took out the dagger.
"I'm not going to kill my friend," she whispered to it. "So you'll have to go now." Taking it into her hand, she hit it as hard as she could against an empty metal bookcase next to her. With a scream, she backed up as the shelf melted before her eyes. Picking up the dagger, she huffed.
"How in the world did you do that?" she asked. The dagger hissed back at her. Mad at the dagger, Rosemarie threw open the window and flung the dagger out. It hit the fence and bounced onto the porch.
"OH!" Rosemarie hurried downstairs and ran into the porch. She picked it up and aimed at the trees next to her house.
"Rosemarie!" Rosemarie gasped as she hid the dagger behind her back. Her mother came onto the porch.
"Did you make your bed?"
"Uh.........no........."
"I want to see you go up there RIGHT NOW!" There was no escape. Careful not to reveal the dagger, Rosemarie marched up the stairs. She could hear the voice of the dagger chuckling inside her head.
"If I can't make you get away, I'll have to run away and take you with me!!!"
.........
The next day, Rosemarie finished packing a bundle. She had a total of three, plus a smaller one for food. She wore the darkest colors of greens possible. That way, she could blend into the forest that was behind her home. The sun had barely begun to rise, giving her more than enough time to start her escape. The dagger she had was at the very bottom of her last bundle. There was no way it could get out to Zelda.
"Bye-bye, home!" she thought. She couldn't think of how important anything but Zelda's life was. She was to be the next queen of Hyrule. Rosemarie knew that somewhere she'd find a way to destroy the dagger.
She fastened a green cloak around her and pulled down the hood. Carefully, she threw each bag outside the window before climbing out herself. Carrying all the packages, she headed toward the stables.
"Wake up, Nayru, you lazy horse! We've got to run!!" Rosemarie managed to get the horse ready with all her bundles. Trying not to make any sound, she eased her out of the stable. Once outside, Rosemarie got on and rode out of the yard. The Lost Woods ahead of her would be the perfect way to get out of sight.
.........
Rosemarie didn't know how long she had ridden. She could tell her horse was becoming tired, so she let her rest underneath a tree. Dark storm clouds began to gather over the forest, but Rosemarie was busy preparing her food. By the time she noticed the clouds, a light drizzle had already started. Grumbling, Rosemarie found her horse and made sure all her bundles were securely tied.
"Shelter," she thought. "Shelter.........I need a cave or something." Rosemarie frantically started to look around for some way to get out of the rain. The trees were dangerous to be by at a time like this. The rain only got heavier with every passing minute. It was becoming harder and harder to see. As Rosemarie turned to look behind her, she caught a faint glow coming from her bundles.
"THE DAGGER!" she cried. Her voice was lost in the wind that was now blowing the rain into her face. The storm had grown very powerful. The sea of clouds blackened the skies. Rosemarie could barely see her hand if she put it out in front of her. Every part of her body was soaked through.
Rosemarie stumbled to her bundle and saw that the Dagger was glowing furiously. "Stupid Dagger!" she yelled into the wind. A flash of lightning, which seemed to strike really close, answered her. It was followed by more flashes. Trees burst into flame all around her. The horse got spooked and ran, leaving Rosemarie alone with the bundle. Rosemarie screamed as she ducked out of the way of a falling, burning tree. The rain quickly put it out. Rosemarie couldn't see where she was going, yet she ran as fast as she could. Her foot caught a rock and she fell down onto the dirt. Too weary to fight the storm, she closed her eyes.....................................................................
.........
Zelda was watching the storm from the castle. Link was examining the many bookshelves when Zelda beckoned him to her.
"Look!" she said, pointing in the distance. A storm was approaching, and fast. Link squinted into the distance.
"It's right over Lost Woods," he noted. The two watched as the storm grew closer. After an hour, they realized the storm was still over the woods. Lightning began to strike out of the dark clouds. The two looked at each other in confusion.
"What's with the storm?" Link asked.
"I don't know," Zelda replied. Behind them, the queen and king sneaked into the room. Link's room had the biggest balcony to watch from. The two royals, curious of the storm, had come to inspect it. They sneaked up behind Zelda and Link, trying not to alert them. Link felt their presence, but thought it was some intruder.
"Zel," he whispered as quietly as he could. "Stay calm, I think someone's behind us." Zelda's eyes widened, but she stayed calm. Link slid a hand down to his waist and grabbed the sword he always wore. In one fluid moment, he lashed out. The king and queen nearly screamed.
"Oh, it's only you," Link said. The king and queen still looked at him with frightened eyes.
"The sword........." the queen gasped. Zelda almost screamed and backed up from Link. Link took a look at the blade and dropped it with a shriek. Blood had somehow started to drip from the point and was making a pool on the floor. The four looked at it with frightened eyes.
"What the.........Holy Nayru!" the king cried. Link risked getting a little closer to the sword and picked it up. The blood was still streaming down the silver blade steadily. Turning it around and around in his hand, he studied it closely.
"I don't get it........." he trailed off as something began to form on the blade of the sword. A girl's face, with raven black hair, smiled back at him.
"Rosemarie!!!" Zelda hurried to the storm. The lightning had gotten more frequent, and the storm was still on top of the forest.
"Link," she said. "I think Rosemarie's in there!"
.........
Rosemarie moaned as she rubbed her eyes. She was lying on her bag in the middle of some big, flat surface. Her hands tried to reach for the bundle she was supposed to be holding, but only grasped the edge of a velvet comforter.
"What the.........?"
"Miss Rosemarie.........Miss Rosemarie.........are you awake, Miss?" Rosemarie turned over and opened her eyes. Sunlight filtered into the room she was in through the parted curtains. A maid was there, pouring steaming water into a basin.
"Where am I?" Rosemarie asked. The maid smiled.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're awake, Miss! Sleeping for ten days, Miss, you were! Oh, his Majesty and the new Princess will be so glad! You're in a room in Hyrule Castle, Miss, and it is a little past lunch time. Do you desire food, Miss? You should be hungry, I reckon."
"Oh, no, I'm quite full, thank you," Rosemarie replied. The maid gave her an interesting look.
"What are you made of, Miss??" Rosemarie raised her eyebrows and the maid dropped at least a hundred curtseys. "I'm beggin' your pardon, Miss. I didn't mean no offense or anything. Just surprised, Miss. I'm beggin' your pardon........." Rosemarie had to contain herself from laughing. She wasn't used to being waited upon by servants who took even the slightest bad mistake as a serious crime. She could get used to this. It was all a bundle of comfort to her.........the bundle!
"Um.........uh.........ma'am......... do you, by chance, know of where my bundle might be? The one I was carrying?" The maid thought to herself just as Zelda and Link rushed into the room.
"OH ROSEMARIE!!" Zelda cried, throwing her arms around her friend. Link gave her a huge grin. "I was so afraid.........afraid that you were going........."
"Where?" Rosemarie asked.
"Well.........on a permanent trip to visit the Goddesses........." Zelda trailed off, but Rosemarie only chuckled.
"Oh, Zel, you're as worrisome as always. How did I get here anyways??" Zelda dismissed the serving maid and sat down on the side of the bed. Link walked over to the window and looked out.
"You see, Link and I were hanging out and-," Zelda stopped as Rosemarie gave her a friendly expression of surprise.
"Hanging out?" she queried in a suspiciously questioning voice. Zelda flushed.
"NO!!!" Link looked up from inspecting the windows.
"What did I miss?" he asked. Zelda crossed her arms.
"NOOOOO!!!!!!! Okay, let's skip that part. Link and I just happened to be in the same room on his balcony and stuff and his parents snuck up on us. Like a good warrior would, Link took out his sword........." Rosemarie nodded.
"And?"
"It was covered in blood! And we saw your face." Rosemarie almost dropped her jaw.
"WHAT??" Her mind immediately snapped back to the vision of her dagger.
'Zelda's.........blood.........Zelda's.........blood.........' A wave of invisible force rang through her head, almost causing her to fall backwards.
"Are you okay?" Link asked. Rosemarie nodded, though she didn't feel like it.
"Anyways," Zelda continued, "we saw the storm over the Lost Woods and thought that perhaps the message was that you were in it. Link's dad sent out guards and sure enough they found you, hanging onto dear life a bundle that was supposedly growing red like crazy." Rosemarie's eyes widened. "So, I hope you don't mind, but we searched it........." Rosemarie felt a lump in her throat. She thought for sure they had found the dagger.
"And did you find anything?" Rosemarie inquired, making sure to act like nothing bad was supposed to be in there. Zelda shook her head.
"Nothing, besides clothes and stuff. Where were you going?" Rosemarie sighed with relief and put a hand to her heart, which made Zelda suspicious. "Wait......... were we supposed to find something?"
"Oh.........ah.........ah, no! In fact, I just thought you would cause something was - you know - glowing red, and stuff.........I thought something might have gotten into it." Zelda shook her head.
"Nothing, nothing at all. Quite weird. Do you have like any jewelry or anything that glows red in rain or something?"
"No."
"Oh. well, then we brought you here. And here you have been for over ten days. You can really sleep, you know that?" Rosemarie giggled. "So that's the story........."
"Interesting........." Rosemarie said.
"Well, then you must know the wedding is in four days, right?? We've got a lot of preparing to do!" Rosemarie almost jumped.
"FOUR DAYS!!!"
.........
The four days passed by swiftly. Before Rosemarie even knew it, it was the day of the wedding. The ball room had been decorated with more flowers than a field would yield. Everywhere servants were bustling around with decorations and groceries. The cake they had baked was at least twice as tall as any full grown man. It was supposed to be big enough for the whole of Hyrule to have a slice - including the Zoras, Gorons, and any other race.
In the course of the four days, Rosemarie tried her best to forget about the dagger. As far as she was concerned, her bundle was safe in her room, and a search of her own proved that the dagger was indeed missing. It still troubled the edge of her mind. She had more than enough dreams about dangers. Every morning she would wake up glad that the night was over. She had barred herself from giving her dreams a second run over in her mind.
A few hours before the wedding, Rosemarie was helped into her bridesmaid's gown. She had a happy, content smile on her face. Part of it came from simply being let to taste the different foods, another from the fact that her best friend was getting married, and the last from the fact that she had rid the dreams from her thoughts for the time being. At least until nightfall, she hoped it wouldn't bother her.
Three of the four maids tending her left. The last arranged some stuff on the dresser. Rosemarie went over to the tall standing mirror to look at herself. Her light pink dress seemed to flow out over the floor. It was gathered in the back with a big silk sash. Fake roses were embedded in the hem and waist. It was strapless, but the long gloves made it look like it had sleeves. The material of the gown resembled silky velvet with a velvet self design. Rosemarie's hair had been pinned back in a French braided bun. Rose petals matching the ones on her dress were tucked in to the smaller braids on the sides.
"I think I'm ready," Rosemarie announced. She turned to her maid. Unlike most maids she had become accustomed to in the short period of four days, she did not make a polite remark or curtsey. Instead, she glared at her with a look that chilled even Rosemarie. In a fluid motion, she took what appeared to be a stick from behind her back and threw it to Rosemarie to catch. Rosemarie caught it and realized that it was the very dagger she had lost. The Special Dagger. Rosemarie looked up with a horrific expression, as the servant jumped out of her skin - literally - to a form of a man in a dark uniform, and eyes that looked like they housed no soul.
"YOU!" Rosemarie screeched, toppling back and knocking the mirror to the floor, luckily not damaging it.
"Yes," Shadow said. "It's me. You might be needing that, on the account of a promise that you made to my master." Shadow nodded his head toward the upset mirror, and Rosemarie turned to look. A caped man rose up from its shiny surface, red eyes glowing. For a moment, Rosemarie was mesmerized, but a thought of Zelda put it to a halt.
"I refuse to kill Zelda! You can't make me!" Rosemarie felt quite rebellious at this moment against the pair who seemed to advance on her. She stepped back all the way to the wall.
"You promised, Rosemarie.........promised........." The man's eyes started to allure Rosemarie again. Struggling to maintain control over herself, Rosemarie resorted to thinking of her dreams as a last attempt. The one she had the previous night was especially good at distracting.
It had started with a simple image of three connected triangles. Of course, Rosemarie did not realize what this was. She had the thought she had seen it before. It was somehow suspended in air, its gold surface glimmering. If that wasn't puzzling, three maidens appeared from no where. Each wore a wide garment that could have been compared to a toga, except with long sleeves that almost reached their feet. One of them had bright red curls, another had wavy blue hair, and the last was straight and green (forgive me, I have no idea what the Goddesses look like). They each wore a golden crown upon their head.
"Rosemarie, do you know what this is?" The blue-haired one asked. Her voice was melodious as the soft chuckle of a quiet stream. Rosemarie shook her head. "This is the Triforce, whose essence Zelda now bears." Rosemarie raised one eyebrow.
"What? I don't understand."
"We do not expect you to," the red-haired one said. "But at least know this much. Zelda is much more than the future Queen of Hyrule. She has something within her that, if taken, could destroy Hyrule forever."
"And.........someone is planning to take it," the green-haired one warned. "Someone who is using you as a pawn........." Rosemarie's eyes widened.
"Using me? Is that what Shadow was doing?"
"Not Shadow," the redhead explained, "but his master, Gannondorf. It is all very complicated, but the basic is that if you kill Zelda with that dagger, the power within Zelda will be free for Gannondorf to take. Hyrule will fall to the shadows. You must not let that happen."
"He will come again," The blue haired one cautioned. "But you must not let him win."
"What must I do?" Rosemarie queried.
"It is not our job to tell you, but rather, help you figure it out. For if we told you the reality of the situation, of what we have foreseen you would do, you would not do it. There is only one way out of this situation, and it involves your courage.
"Are you brave? Or will you simply stand aside and put Hyrule in danger? It is not our choice, it is yours. The dagger cannot be destroyed, but it cannot hurt Zelda. The problem is, it will do anything to get it there. It can prevent itself from being stabbed into anything or anyone but Zelda, but another with a will of a good heart will know a solution, and her power will overtake that of the daggers, but only because of the great sacrifice she makes."
"Gannondorf said the same, but he did not tell me of the 'good heart' thing."
"I doubt he would. Our message to you ends there."
"But this person with the will of a good heart??? How will I find them?" Rosemarie got no reply. The three women stood there, fading away along with the Triforce. Rosemarie stretched out her hand and woke up.........
"Do you not hear what I am saying?" Gannondorf asked. Rosemarie zoned into the real world. She could still feel herself. Her plan had worked. The dream had been the least puzzling or horrifying of any she had. "If you join with me, you can become the Queen of Darkness. You will rule with the same wicked heart that binds you to the Dagger."
"I've got no wicked heart!!" Rosemarie retorted. Suddenly, the words of the red-haired lady in her dream came back.
.........but another with a will of a good heart will know a solution, and her power will overtake that of the daggers, but only because of the great sacrifice she makes.
Rosemarie understood the meaning. She realized the only way the dagger could be stopped was if it was overpowered. Rosemarie would not be able to overpower the dagger if she was lured into the evilness of Gannondorf. The only way she would truly be the 'good heart' described, was if she was willing to make the 'great sacrifice'. That meant that she would have to have no one's fall but her own in mind. If she was to save the world, she could not think of some other to fall victim to her dagger instead. She would have to give up her own things.
Rosemarie forced back tears as she did what she never expected herself to do.
"What are you doing?" Gannondorf demanded, as he watched Rosemarie placed the dagger right over her heart, the point touching her skin.
"I will never help you!" Rosemarie said. "I cannot help you." Gannondorf chuckled.
"Just try to kill yourself, even that won't succeed. The dagger can twist destiny. It will MAKE you kill Zelda." Rosemarie shook her head.
"That is where you're wrong," she declared. "The whole time I was trying to avoid killing Zelda with the dagger, I sometimes thought of throwing it away, or destroying it, or even killing someone else with it. Throwing it away could have resulted in someone else picking it up and killing others, and killing someone is just as bad as killing Zelda. I only thought of ways that wouldn't hurt me, and that made me selfish of my own life. Such, I was a bit wicked, but not wicked enough. Since the dagger was the same evil at me, but stronger, it over powered me.
"But not now. I now will place no one at risk but myself to do what's right. My heart is good, and therefore I have more power. I hate to disappoint you, but there is something that can destroy the dagger, and that is my heart." Taking one last deep breath, and with a very frightened feeling, Rosemarie plunged the dagger into her heart. She fell to her knees as the pain hit her like a flood of water. Her blood seeped through her dress onto her hand. Gannondorf shrieked as his body began to fall apart. Shadow, panicking at seeing his master fade away, shrunk into the darkness. Gannondorf howled with pain as light filtered through his body, ripping him in half.
"YOU WILL PAY......................................." With another long scream, he disappeared. It would have all seemed a dream, except for Rosemarie leaning over on the floor.
"Sorry.........Zelda.........Link........." she muttered with all the voice she had left. She squeezed her eyes shut and fell over. The pain had still not subsided. It grew worse with every second. Her hand over her breast felt blood drip down to the floor beside her. Rosemarie took one last look around her. The sky outside, which had been a bit overcast, now glistened in the afternoon sun. Rosemarie knew the evil that threatened Zelda was gone. With a smile, she let the darkness take her.....................................
Chapter 20: The Dagger
"Hurry! Let's go to the market! Maybe Rosemarie is already there! We've got to warn her!" Zelda suggested. She and Link raced back up the passage and into the main halls of the castle. The maids gave all of them a quizzical expression as they raced down the corridor.
"Do you think she'll be alright??"
"She's got to be.........she just has to!!" The two rushed out the gates and into the market. Everyone was still doing his or her normal thing. A few girls noticed Link, but saw he was with Zelda. The two looked around for any sign of Rosemarie. Zelda saw her by the water fountain.
"Rosemarie!!!"
.........
Rosemarie sighed as she dipped a hand into the fountain. She had come for no obvious reason. After carefully hiding the dagger deeply within the depths of her dresser, she just had to be alone to think of the meaning of her dream. Even with such a distance apart, she could still hear the dagger calling to her.
"The dagger will be yearning for Zelda.........you just have to help it get there........." a voice inside Rosemarie's head said. "It will do whatever it can to twist fate and get itself inside Zelda, it just needs a little help to move." Rosemarie grinned as she hummed to herself. She wanted to see those eyes so badly, she didn't even think of whom she was going to kill.
"Rosemarie!!" Rosemarie looked up to see Zelda and Link running toward her. It hit her at that moment who she was going to end up murdering.
"Zelda!" Rosemarie cried. The realization hit her like a rock. She couldn't kill Zelda! She was her best friend. The eyes had her mesmerized so much she couldn't even tell. Of course she couldn't kill her. Unfortunately, the dagger was zoned in on Zelda. Rosemarie was stuck in this one.
"Zelda.........Zelda's blood........." Rosemarie felt a force wave ring though her body. It seemed to be coming from her house, from the dagger. It was calling.
"Are you alright?" Zelda asked. "You look sick!"
"I'm fine. It's just.........I must've had a bad breakfast, that's all." It was a lie. She didn't even remember if she had breakfast. She couldn't even remember what she did last night. Her memories were starting to fade. She could hear the dagger chuckling in the distance.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure. I wanted to ask if you wanted to be the bridesmaid in the wedding. It's in two weeks. Do you??" Rosemarie squealed.
"Of course!! I'd love to. The pretty pink gowns are so gorgeous!!" Zelda smiled.
"I'm glad." Link frowned. He remembered the dream, especially the one with Rosemarie stabbing herself.
"That would be a good idea," he found himself saying. Rosemarie nodded.
"My mother would be so happy! Wildflower too!"
"She could be a flower girl, her name suits it."
"Good idea, I bet she would be very excited."
"Anyway........." Zelda pulled a strand of her golden hair back. "On a more serious note, have you seen any daggers lately?" Rosemarie's mind shifted back to the dream. The dagger within her room sent out more sickening force waves that rang throughout her mind.
"No.........none........." Rosemarie tried to input question within her voice. She had to get rid of the dagger, and she couldn't let anyone know about it. Zelda and Link shrugged.
"Well," Rosemarie said. "I've got to get home. I only came out for some fresh air. See you!" Rosemarie skipped off toward her house.
"I don't trust her," Zelda said. "Even though she is my friend, I still don't trust her answer to be true." Link nodded.
.........
Rosemarie ran into her house and up to her room. She shut the door and locked it securely. Then she turned and eyed her dresser. Edging toward it, she threw open the bottom drawer and brought out a bundle of old towels. Unfolding them, she took out the dagger.
"I'm not going to kill my friend," she whispered to it. "So you'll have to go now." Taking it into her hand, she hit it as hard as she could against an empty metal bookcase next to her. With a scream, she backed up as the shelf melted before her eyes. Picking up the dagger, she huffed.
"How in the world did you do that?" she asked. The dagger hissed back at her. Mad at the dagger, Rosemarie threw open the window and flung the dagger out. It hit the fence and bounced onto the porch.
"OH!" Rosemarie hurried downstairs and ran into the porch. She picked it up and aimed at the trees next to her house.
"Rosemarie!" Rosemarie gasped as she hid the dagger behind her back. Her mother came onto the porch.
"Did you make your bed?"
"Uh.........no........."
"I want to see you go up there RIGHT NOW!" There was no escape. Careful not to reveal the dagger, Rosemarie marched up the stairs. She could hear the voice of the dagger chuckling inside her head.
"If I can't make you get away, I'll have to run away and take you with me!!!"
.........
The next day, Rosemarie finished packing a bundle. She had a total of three, plus a smaller one for food. She wore the darkest colors of greens possible. That way, she could blend into the forest that was behind her home. The sun had barely begun to rise, giving her more than enough time to start her escape. The dagger she had was at the very bottom of her last bundle. There was no way it could get out to Zelda.
"Bye-bye, home!" she thought. She couldn't think of how important anything but Zelda's life was. She was to be the next queen of Hyrule. Rosemarie knew that somewhere she'd find a way to destroy the dagger.
She fastened a green cloak around her and pulled down the hood. Carefully, she threw each bag outside the window before climbing out herself. Carrying all the packages, she headed toward the stables.
"Wake up, Nayru, you lazy horse! We've got to run!!" Rosemarie managed to get the horse ready with all her bundles. Trying not to make any sound, she eased her out of the stable. Once outside, Rosemarie got on and rode out of the yard. The Lost Woods ahead of her would be the perfect way to get out of sight.
.........
Rosemarie didn't know how long she had ridden. She could tell her horse was becoming tired, so she let her rest underneath a tree. Dark storm clouds began to gather over the forest, but Rosemarie was busy preparing her food. By the time she noticed the clouds, a light drizzle had already started. Grumbling, Rosemarie found her horse and made sure all her bundles were securely tied.
"Shelter," she thought. "Shelter.........I need a cave or something." Rosemarie frantically started to look around for some way to get out of the rain. The trees were dangerous to be by at a time like this. The rain only got heavier with every passing minute. It was becoming harder and harder to see. As Rosemarie turned to look behind her, she caught a faint glow coming from her bundles.
"THE DAGGER!" she cried. Her voice was lost in the wind that was now blowing the rain into her face. The storm had grown very powerful. The sea of clouds blackened the skies. Rosemarie could barely see her hand if she put it out in front of her. Every part of her body was soaked through.
Rosemarie stumbled to her bundle and saw that the Dagger was glowing furiously. "Stupid Dagger!" she yelled into the wind. A flash of lightning, which seemed to strike really close, answered her. It was followed by more flashes. Trees burst into flame all around her. The horse got spooked and ran, leaving Rosemarie alone with the bundle. Rosemarie screamed as she ducked out of the way of a falling, burning tree. The rain quickly put it out. Rosemarie couldn't see where she was going, yet she ran as fast as she could. Her foot caught a rock and she fell down onto the dirt. Too weary to fight the storm, she closed her eyes.....................................................................
.........
Zelda was watching the storm from the castle. Link was examining the many bookshelves when Zelda beckoned him to her.
"Look!" she said, pointing in the distance. A storm was approaching, and fast. Link squinted into the distance.
"It's right over Lost Woods," he noted. The two watched as the storm grew closer. After an hour, they realized the storm was still over the woods. Lightning began to strike out of the dark clouds. The two looked at each other in confusion.
"What's with the storm?" Link asked.
"I don't know," Zelda replied. Behind them, the queen and king sneaked into the room. Link's room had the biggest balcony to watch from. The two royals, curious of the storm, had come to inspect it. They sneaked up behind Zelda and Link, trying not to alert them. Link felt their presence, but thought it was some intruder.
"Zel," he whispered as quietly as he could. "Stay calm, I think someone's behind us." Zelda's eyes widened, but she stayed calm. Link slid a hand down to his waist and grabbed the sword he always wore. In one fluid moment, he lashed out. The king and queen nearly screamed.
"Oh, it's only you," Link said. The king and queen still looked at him with frightened eyes.
"The sword........." the queen gasped. Zelda almost screamed and backed up from Link. Link took a look at the blade and dropped it with a shriek. Blood had somehow started to drip from the point and was making a pool on the floor. The four looked at it with frightened eyes.
"What the.........Holy Nayru!" the king cried. Link risked getting a little closer to the sword and picked it up. The blood was still streaming down the silver blade steadily. Turning it around and around in his hand, he studied it closely.
"I don't get it........." he trailed off as something began to form on the blade of the sword. A girl's face, with raven black hair, smiled back at him.
"Rosemarie!!!" Zelda hurried to the storm. The lightning had gotten more frequent, and the storm was still on top of the forest.
"Link," she said. "I think Rosemarie's in there!"
.........
Rosemarie moaned as she rubbed her eyes. She was lying on her bag in the middle of some big, flat surface. Her hands tried to reach for the bundle she was supposed to be holding, but only grasped the edge of a velvet comforter.
"What the.........?"
"Miss Rosemarie.........Miss Rosemarie.........are you awake, Miss?" Rosemarie turned over and opened her eyes. Sunlight filtered into the room she was in through the parted curtains. A maid was there, pouring steaming water into a basin.
"Where am I?" Rosemarie asked. The maid smiled.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're awake, Miss! Sleeping for ten days, Miss, you were! Oh, his Majesty and the new Princess will be so glad! You're in a room in Hyrule Castle, Miss, and it is a little past lunch time. Do you desire food, Miss? You should be hungry, I reckon."
"Oh, no, I'm quite full, thank you," Rosemarie replied. The maid gave her an interesting look.
"What are you made of, Miss??" Rosemarie raised her eyebrows and the maid dropped at least a hundred curtseys. "I'm beggin' your pardon, Miss. I didn't mean no offense or anything. Just surprised, Miss. I'm beggin' your pardon........." Rosemarie had to contain herself from laughing. She wasn't used to being waited upon by servants who took even the slightest bad mistake as a serious crime. She could get used to this. It was all a bundle of comfort to her.........the bundle!
"Um.........uh.........ma'am......... do you, by chance, know of where my bundle might be? The one I was carrying?" The maid thought to herself just as Zelda and Link rushed into the room.
"OH ROSEMARIE!!" Zelda cried, throwing her arms around her friend. Link gave her a huge grin. "I was so afraid.........afraid that you were going........."
"Where?" Rosemarie asked.
"Well.........on a permanent trip to visit the Goddesses........." Zelda trailed off, but Rosemarie only chuckled.
"Oh, Zel, you're as worrisome as always. How did I get here anyways??" Zelda dismissed the serving maid and sat down on the side of the bed. Link walked over to the window and looked out.
"You see, Link and I were hanging out and-," Zelda stopped as Rosemarie gave her a friendly expression of surprise.
"Hanging out?" she queried in a suspiciously questioning voice. Zelda flushed.
"NO!!!" Link looked up from inspecting the windows.
"What did I miss?" he asked. Zelda crossed her arms.
"NOOOOO!!!!!!! Okay, let's skip that part. Link and I just happened to be in the same room on his balcony and stuff and his parents snuck up on us. Like a good warrior would, Link took out his sword........." Rosemarie nodded.
"And?"
"It was covered in blood! And we saw your face." Rosemarie almost dropped her jaw.
"WHAT??" Her mind immediately snapped back to the vision of her dagger.
'Zelda's.........blood.........Zelda's.........blood.........' A wave of invisible force rang through her head, almost causing her to fall backwards.
"Are you okay?" Link asked. Rosemarie nodded, though she didn't feel like it.
"Anyways," Zelda continued, "we saw the storm over the Lost Woods and thought that perhaps the message was that you were in it. Link's dad sent out guards and sure enough they found you, hanging onto dear life a bundle that was supposedly growing red like crazy." Rosemarie's eyes widened. "So, I hope you don't mind, but we searched it........." Rosemarie felt a lump in her throat. She thought for sure they had found the dagger.
"And did you find anything?" Rosemarie inquired, making sure to act like nothing bad was supposed to be in there. Zelda shook her head.
"Nothing, besides clothes and stuff. Where were you going?" Rosemarie sighed with relief and put a hand to her heart, which made Zelda suspicious. "Wait......... were we supposed to find something?"
"Oh.........ah.........ah, no! In fact, I just thought you would cause something was - you know - glowing red, and stuff.........I thought something might have gotten into it." Zelda shook her head.
"Nothing, nothing at all. Quite weird. Do you have like any jewelry or anything that glows red in rain or something?"
"No."
"Oh. well, then we brought you here. And here you have been for over ten days. You can really sleep, you know that?" Rosemarie giggled. "So that's the story........."
"Interesting........." Rosemarie said.
"Well, then you must know the wedding is in four days, right?? We've got a lot of preparing to do!" Rosemarie almost jumped.
"FOUR DAYS!!!"
.........
The four days passed by swiftly. Before Rosemarie even knew it, it was the day of the wedding. The ball room had been decorated with more flowers than a field would yield. Everywhere servants were bustling around with decorations and groceries. The cake they had baked was at least twice as tall as any full grown man. It was supposed to be big enough for the whole of Hyrule to have a slice - including the Zoras, Gorons, and any other race.
In the course of the four days, Rosemarie tried her best to forget about the dagger. As far as she was concerned, her bundle was safe in her room, and a search of her own proved that the dagger was indeed missing. It still troubled the edge of her mind. She had more than enough dreams about dangers. Every morning she would wake up glad that the night was over. She had barred herself from giving her dreams a second run over in her mind.
A few hours before the wedding, Rosemarie was helped into her bridesmaid's gown. She had a happy, content smile on her face. Part of it came from simply being let to taste the different foods, another from the fact that her best friend was getting married, and the last from the fact that she had rid the dreams from her thoughts for the time being. At least until nightfall, she hoped it wouldn't bother her.
Three of the four maids tending her left. The last arranged some stuff on the dresser. Rosemarie went over to the tall standing mirror to look at herself. Her light pink dress seemed to flow out over the floor. It was gathered in the back with a big silk sash. Fake roses were embedded in the hem and waist. It was strapless, but the long gloves made it look like it had sleeves. The material of the gown resembled silky velvet with a velvet self design. Rosemarie's hair had been pinned back in a French braided bun. Rose petals matching the ones on her dress were tucked in to the smaller braids on the sides.
"I think I'm ready," Rosemarie announced. She turned to her maid. Unlike most maids she had become accustomed to in the short period of four days, she did not make a polite remark or curtsey. Instead, she glared at her with a look that chilled even Rosemarie. In a fluid motion, she took what appeared to be a stick from behind her back and threw it to Rosemarie to catch. Rosemarie caught it and realized that it was the very dagger she had lost. The Special Dagger. Rosemarie looked up with a horrific expression, as the servant jumped out of her skin - literally - to a form of a man in a dark uniform, and eyes that looked like they housed no soul.
"YOU!" Rosemarie screeched, toppling back and knocking the mirror to the floor, luckily not damaging it.
"Yes," Shadow said. "It's me. You might be needing that, on the account of a promise that you made to my master." Shadow nodded his head toward the upset mirror, and Rosemarie turned to look. A caped man rose up from its shiny surface, red eyes glowing. For a moment, Rosemarie was mesmerized, but a thought of Zelda put it to a halt.
"I refuse to kill Zelda! You can't make me!" Rosemarie felt quite rebellious at this moment against the pair who seemed to advance on her. She stepped back all the way to the wall.
"You promised, Rosemarie.........promised........." The man's eyes started to allure Rosemarie again. Struggling to maintain control over herself, Rosemarie resorted to thinking of her dreams as a last attempt. The one she had the previous night was especially good at distracting.
It had started with a simple image of three connected triangles. Of course, Rosemarie did not realize what this was. She had the thought she had seen it before. It was somehow suspended in air, its gold surface glimmering. If that wasn't puzzling, three maidens appeared from no where. Each wore a wide garment that could have been compared to a toga, except with long sleeves that almost reached their feet. One of them had bright red curls, another had wavy blue hair, and the last was straight and green (forgive me, I have no idea what the Goddesses look like). They each wore a golden crown upon their head.
"Rosemarie, do you know what this is?" The blue-haired one asked. Her voice was melodious as the soft chuckle of a quiet stream. Rosemarie shook her head. "This is the Triforce, whose essence Zelda now bears." Rosemarie raised one eyebrow.
"What? I don't understand."
"We do not expect you to," the red-haired one said. "But at least know this much. Zelda is much more than the future Queen of Hyrule. She has something within her that, if taken, could destroy Hyrule forever."
"And.........someone is planning to take it," the green-haired one warned. "Someone who is using you as a pawn........." Rosemarie's eyes widened.
"Using me? Is that what Shadow was doing?"
"Not Shadow," the redhead explained, "but his master, Gannondorf. It is all very complicated, but the basic is that if you kill Zelda with that dagger, the power within Zelda will be free for Gannondorf to take. Hyrule will fall to the shadows. You must not let that happen."
"He will come again," The blue haired one cautioned. "But you must not let him win."
"What must I do?" Rosemarie queried.
"It is not our job to tell you, but rather, help you figure it out. For if we told you the reality of the situation, of what we have foreseen you would do, you would not do it. There is only one way out of this situation, and it involves your courage.
"Are you brave? Or will you simply stand aside and put Hyrule in danger? It is not our choice, it is yours. The dagger cannot be destroyed, but it cannot hurt Zelda. The problem is, it will do anything to get it there. It can prevent itself from being stabbed into anything or anyone but Zelda, but another with a will of a good heart will know a solution, and her power will overtake that of the daggers, but only because of the great sacrifice she makes."
"Gannondorf said the same, but he did not tell me of the 'good heart' thing."
"I doubt he would. Our message to you ends there."
"But this person with the will of a good heart??? How will I find them?" Rosemarie got no reply. The three women stood there, fading away along with the Triforce. Rosemarie stretched out her hand and woke up.........
"Do you not hear what I am saying?" Gannondorf asked. Rosemarie zoned into the real world. She could still feel herself. Her plan had worked. The dream had been the least puzzling or horrifying of any she had. "If you join with me, you can become the Queen of Darkness. You will rule with the same wicked heart that binds you to the Dagger."
"I've got no wicked heart!!" Rosemarie retorted. Suddenly, the words of the red-haired lady in her dream came back.
.........but another with a will of a good heart will know a solution, and her power will overtake that of the daggers, but only because of the great sacrifice she makes.
Rosemarie understood the meaning. She realized the only way the dagger could be stopped was if it was overpowered. Rosemarie would not be able to overpower the dagger if she was lured into the evilness of Gannondorf. The only way she would truly be the 'good heart' described, was if she was willing to make the 'great sacrifice'. That meant that she would have to have no one's fall but her own in mind. If she was to save the world, she could not think of some other to fall victim to her dagger instead. She would have to give up her own things.
Rosemarie forced back tears as she did what she never expected herself to do.
"What are you doing?" Gannondorf demanded, as he watched Rosemarie placed the dagger right over her heart, the point touching her skin.
"I will never help you!" Rosemarie said. "I cannot help you." Gannondorf chuckled.
"Just try to kill yourself, even that won't succeed. The dagger can twist destiny. It will MAKE you kill Zelda." Rosemarie shook her head.
"That is where you're wrong," she declared. "The whole time I was trying to avoid killing Zelda with the dagger, I sometimes thought of throwing it away, or destroying it, or even killing someone else with it. Throwing it away could have resulted in someone else picking it up and killing others, and killing someone is just as bad as killing Zelda. I only thought of ways that wouldn't hurt me, and that made me selfish of my own life. Such, I was a bit wicked, but not wicked enough. Since the dagger was the same evil at me, but stronger, it over powered me.
"But not now. I now will place no one at risk but myself to do what's right. My heart is good, and therefore I have more power. I hate to disappoint you, but there is something that can destroy the dagger, and that is my heart." Taking one last deep breath, and with a very frightened feeling, Rosemarie plunged the dagger into her heart. She fell to her knees as the pain hit her like a flood of water. Her blood seeped through her dress onto her hand. Gannondorf shrieked as his body began to fall apart. Shadow, panicking at seeing his master fade away, shrunk into the darkness. Gannondorf howled with pain as light filtered through his body, ripping him in half.
"YOU WILL PAY......................................." With another long scream, he disappeared. It would have all seemed a dream, except for Rosemarie leaning over on the floor.
"Sorry.........Zelda.........Link........." she muttered with all the voice she had left. She squeezed her eyes shut and fell over. The pain had still not subsided. It grew worse with every second. Her hand over her breast felt blood drip down to the floor beside her. Rosemarie took one last look around her. The sky outside, which had been a bit overcast, now glistened in the afternoon sun. Rosemarie knew the evil that threatened Zelda was gone. With a smile, she let the darkness take her.....................................