Disclaimer: I do not own Zelda, just Rosemarie. But since she's dead, I
guess it doesn't really matter anymore.
Chapter 21: Bride
"You look beautiful, your Highness," a maid said as she finished adjusting the veil on Zelda's head. Zelda gazed at herself in the mirror. She was in a white, silk wedding gown with pale pink flowers lining the hem. Her bodice was sparkling with real diamonds that were shaped in a paisley pattern. The veil was sheer white, with rose-needlework with light pink thread. Zelda's hair had been put up in a braided bun, a style similar to that of Rosemarie's.
"Thank you, Myla, but I'm so nervous!" Zelda exclaimed. "What if I screw up? What if I trip? What if I say the wrong thing at the-,"
"You'll be fine, your Highness. Just keep calm and do what your heart tells you."
"You're right, Myla, I can't be all nervous. After all, that's Rosemarie's job. She's probably more nervous than ever. I hope she doesn't trip on her dress as she's following me. She tends to do that a lot." The maid chuckled as she started to clear up the dresser. Just then, the door opened and Link walked in. He was wearing a milk white tunic suit. With a small gasp, the maid stood in front of Zelda.
"Sir! You're not supposed to see the bride yet! Princess, veil!" Zelda had leaned forward to check on her eye make-up, and she quickly snapped down the veil.
"My bad!" Link chuckled. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. Also, I had to ask her a question........."
"Nice try," said the maid. "You can ask the question from outside. Now shoo!" Link mumbled something under his breath and stood outside the door. Zelda eyed the maid and they both giggled.
"What's so funny?" Link asked from outside the door. The two girls just laughed even louder. Link muttered impatiently.
"Anyways, what was your question, Link?"
"I wanted to ask you if you saw Rosemarie. Is she still in her room? She's taking an awful lot of time to get ready."
"I don't know. Let's both check on her."
"But.........Princess?"
"It's okay, Myla. He's already seen me Goddesses-know-how many times. Let's go." Myla bobbed a quick curtsey and Zelda left the room. Taking Link's hand, the two of them headed to the staircase.
.........
"Excuse me, Ronald, which in your opinion is better, the sword or the shield?"
"I do not know, your Majesty."
"Come on, just tell me your opinion."
"Honey, stop bothering the servants!"
"I have to know their opinion!" The king turned around and faced his wife. The servant took his chance and got away. The queen glared at the king.
"It's over, Dear. Forget it. I won and you lost."
"WELL! Three-quarters of the servants like the sword better so HA!"
"They are just trying to please you. What did you do, hang the ones who opposed you?"
"No.........I just yelled at them."
"Honey! Stop being such a spoilsport!"
"Don't you realize people only say that when they win!" The queen sighed and took her quarreling husband by the arm. He still kept on going about people losing and winning arguments. Finally, the queen quieted him down.
"Say what, how about we go up and get Rosemarie. She liked the sword too, remember? But she, unlike YOU, actually admitted defeat. Come on now, you can use an example to look at."
"Humph!"
"COME ON!!"
.........
Zelda and Link laughed as they approached Rosemarie's room. They met Link's parents, who were fighting, as usual, about the sword and shield problem. The king kept arguing that the sword was definitely better, and the queen tried to do everything she could to quiet him down.
"Honey! Look, we're at Rosemarie's room already. Put a cork in your mouth." The king pouted and crossed his arms. Zelda giggled and knocked on the door.
"Rosemarie, are you still in there?" The three royals and the royal-to-be waited for a few seconds. After getting no response, Zelda knocked again.
"Rosemarie! Goddesses to Rosemarie! Are you in there? For Nayru's sake, say something!" There was no reply.
"Maybe she already went downstairs," the king suggested.
"That's the one sensible thing you've said all afternoon," the queen remarked. Link sighed and tried the doorknob. To his surprise, it opened. Link opened it wider and stepped inside the room. He yelled and quickly closed the door.
"What?" Zelda asked. "Was she changing or something?" Link stood frozen at the door, shock written all over his face.
"Zel.........maybe you should wait here. Mom, stay with her. Dad, take a peak and tell me if you see what I see." Confused, the queen and Zelda backed up a few paces. The king gave a curious glance at his son, and peeked inside. One second later, he came back out with a horrified expression.
"LINK!! That can't be!"
"I know! Is it a joke?" Zelda couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer.
"Oh guys, I know you're kidding!" She went ahead and pushed open the door, the queen right next to her. Upon seeing the inside of the room, the two women screamed and clung onto each other.
"NO! ROSEMARIE!! NOOO!!!!" Zelda tried to advance closer but the queen and king tried to keep her back. From there it was all pandemonium. Zelda, sobbing furiously, was struggling with the two royals to get out of their grasp. Link rushed back and called on servants. Even they were shocked at finding Rosemarie lying dead in a pool of her own blood, a dagger through her heart. They all rushed around in panic trying to understand who and what did such a thing as that. None of them could imagine something this terrible happening under the heavy security.
"Do you have any idea who did this?" inquired the king, turning to his son. Link stood silent for a few moments. The rush of servants and soldiers all stopped and they turned to him. Link took a deep breath.
"Yes........." he finally said. Everyone in the room gasped and started murmuring excitedly, but the king's raised hand stopped them
"You know?" the queen asked. Even Zelda was surprised. She used the back of her long, white sleeve to dry her eyes, but more tears fell.
"Yes," Link said, in a whisper as if he was trying to hold back his own tears. "I had a dream a few nights ago that showed a bunch of daggers everywhere. At the end, I saw Rosemarie.........and she was killed by herself. She was the one who committed suicide."
"Suicide? But why?" Zelda asked, crying.
"She was trying to save you, Zel! She explained to me in the dream that someone was after Zel, someone with red eyes........."
"Gannondorf!" Zelda suddenly cried out. The king and queen gasped, and the servants whispered in fright.
"You know of him?" the king asked.
"Not really," Zelda admitted through sobs. "I had a dream too, and there was this guy named Shadow who told me that I had some 'Triforce essence' or something inside me. He told me that his master, Gannondorf, was after me. That name was so creepy that it stuck with me. I know nothing of him. Do you?"
"Gannondorf was one of the most dangerous dark wizards to ever step a foot in Hyrule," the queen explained. "Back then, it was dark times. Poverty.........death......... confusion. Every time you talked to someone, you felt paranoid for no obvious reason. Everything you did was shrouded in mystery and fear. It was like you didn't trust yourself. Well, that was until the Hero of Time came."
"Hero of Time?" Link asked. "Isn't that who I'm........."
".........Named after, yes. He was the legendary hero who destroyed Gannondorf and married the Princess of Hyrule, Zelda." Everyone looked over at Zelda, who faintly smiled. "But their life was also written in tragedy."
"So......... Gannondorf came back and he tried to kill Zelda?" Link queried. "But how did Rosemarie come to get anything? How did she get caught up in this?"
"I don't know, Link, and I suppose we never will. Now, take Zelda to her room and we have to figure out this mess." Link nodded and took Zelda, who buried her face in his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the room.
"I can't believe it!" she cried. "Rosemarie dead! She was my best friend!!" Link nodded and rested his head on hers.
"Come one, Zel. Rosemarie risked her life so we can be happy. We can mourn her death, but we have to remember that she wants us to be happy. For her sake, let's be happy." Zelda nodded, rubbing her eyes.
"I want to be alone........." Zelda walked off, leaving Link in the hallway.
.........
Later that night, Zelda was leaning back against the wall in Link's bed. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about that afternoon. Still, thoughts of it poured back into her mind. After Rosemarie's death, her mom and sister were informed. They had been totally devastated. Wildflower did not get the full meaning of it all. She knew her sister was dead, but not that she would never come back however hard anyone tried. As Rosemarie was her mom's first child, it was unbearably painful for her. Rosemarie's mom and Zelda had looked to each other for support, since both had shared the same type of bond. Zelda had even gone to visit Rosemarie's house.
Now, Zelda was back in Link's room, leaning back on the bedpost against the wall. She was still wearing the bride's gown she was too distressed to take off. In her hands, she held Rosemarie's diary. Rosemarie's mother had given it to her so she could always remember her friendship. Zelda read the whole thing in tears. Rosemarie had so many dreams that were shattered, not only by her death, but also by the fact that Link chose Zelda to marry. Zelda flipped again to the last few pages, where the story ended. To her surprise, she found that there was another page at the end that she had overlooked. Casually flipping to it, she read it.
"Can you believe it? I got this book from the library that I never quite finished reading. It's about Princess Zelda of the past. I couldn't believe it, but it says that Zelda died giving birth to her daughter, and Link committed suicide. How can someone as sensible as him commit suicide? Did he really love Zelda that much? Well, the Link of the present really loves Zelda too. Doesn't he realize I love him too? As far as I gather from the past, the Rosemarie back then supposedly disappeared or died. I have no clue, except know that someone back then had my name. I wonder if she looked like me........."
Zelda closed the book and hugged it. She remembered her dream. /So is that what I saw? Link committing suicide in the past? Is that what it was? Or was it Link in the future? / Zelda slid off the bed and proceeded to leave the room. Even though she had no idea where she was going, she found herself inexplicably drawn to the room Rosemarie was temporarily laid in. She opened the door, bracing herself. Rosemarie was lying on the bed, hands over her stomach with the dagger placed over her breast. Zelda fought the urge to cry as she rushed over to her.
"Why did you do this, Rosemarie? Why did you leave me like this? You know I need you most now, of all times. Why?" Zelda kneeled down next to the bed and glanced at the dagger.
"Why didn't you tell me? I bet that's what you had in your bundle that day. Was that why you wanted to run away? Oh, I have so many questions! Why couldn't you just answer them?" Zelda broke out sobbing, her head down on the bed. She knew Rosemarie wasn't listening. She lay straight, with her eyes closed. A child could have thought she was sleeping. Zelda looked up, her eyes stained with tears.
"You told me in your diary that my ancestor died. Do you think that was meant to be? Were you meant to die? And if that, I would be too. I can't live without you Rosemarie. I don't care what you do. I think it's unfair. Life is unfair, and I don't want it to be that way. The Goddesses have revealed that our story is meant to be repeated, and if that is so, then I shall not hold back on my end." Zelda got up and wiped her tears. She took the dagger and walked over to the only window. The moonlight filtered in and made her skin glow. Zelda looked out at the scenery.
"The past is meant to be repeated, for it is the present now. Rosemarie has fulfilled her end, and now it's my turn. I cannot change what the Goddesses have decided. Whether by good or evil it will happen, and I'd rather I'd face it myself for good deeds than have some evil come and make it happen. Sorry Link, but I can't be with you. Neither Rosemarie nor I was destined for you. Sorry..." Zelda choked back tears as she put the dagger to her heart. Clenching her eyes shut, she thrust it in.
Chapter 21: Bride
"You look beautiful, your Highness," a maid said as she finished adjusting the veil on Zelda's head. Zelda gazed at herself in the mirror. She was in a white, silk wedding gown with pale pink flowers lining the hem. Her bodice was sparkling with real diamonds that were shaped in a paisley pattern. The veil was sheer white, with rose-needlework with light pink thread. Zelda's hair had been put up in a braided bun, a style similar to that of Rosemarie's.
"Thank you, Myla, but I'm so nervous!" Zelda exclaimed. "What if I screw up? What if I trip? What if I say the wrong thing at the-,"
"You'll be fine, your Highness. Just keep calm and do what your heart tells you."
"You're right, Myla, I can't be all nervous. After all, that's Rosemarie's job. She's probably more nervous than ever. I hope she doesn't trip on her dress as she's following me. She tends to do that a lot." The maid chuckled as she started to clear up the dresser. Just then, the door opened and Link walked in. He was wearing a milk white tunic suit. With a small gasp, the maid stood in front of Zelda.
"Sir! You're not supposed to see the bride yet! Princess, veil!" Zelda had leaned forward to check on her eye make-up, and she quickly snapped down the veil.
"My bad!" Link chuckled. "Sorry, I couldn't resist. Also, I had to ask her a question........."
"Nice try," said the maid. "You can ask the question from outside. Now shoo!" Link mumbled something under his breath and stood outside the door. Zelda eyed the maid and they both giggled.
"What's so funny?" Link asked from outside the door. The two girls just laughed even louder. Link muttered impatiently.
"Anyways, what was your question, Link?"
"I wanted to ask you if you saw Rosemarie. Is she still in her room? She's taking an awful lot of time to get ready."
"I don't know. Let's both check on her."
"But.........Princess?"
"It's okay, Myla. He's already seen me Goddesses-know-how many times. Let's go." Myla bobbed a quick curtsey and Zelda left the room. Taking Link's hand, the two of them headed to the staircase.
.........
"Excuse me, Ronald, which in your opinion is better, the sword or the shield?"
"I do not know, your Majesty."
"Come on, just tell me your opinion."
"Honey, stop bothering the servants!"
"I have to know their opinion!" The king turned around and faced his wife. The servant took his chance and got away. The queen glared at the king.
"It's over, Dear. Forget it. I won and you lost."
"WELL! Three-quarters of the servants like the sword better so HA!"
"They are just trying to please you. What did you do, hang the ones who opposed you?"
"No.........I just yelled at them."
"Honey! Stop being such a spoilsport!"
"Don't you realize people only say that when they win!" The queen sighed and took her quarreling husband by the arm. He still kept on going about people losing and winning arguments. Finally, the queen quieted him down.
"Say what, how about we go up and get Rosemarie. She liked the sword too, remember? But she, unlike YOU, actually admitted defeat. Come on now, you can use an example to look at."
"Humph!"
"COME ON!!"
.........
Zelda and Link laughed as they approached Rosemarie's room. They met Link's parents, who were fighting, as usual, about the sword and shield problem. The king kept arguing that the sword was definitely better, and the queen tried to do everything she could to quiet him down.
"Honey! Look, we're at Rosemarie's room already. Put a cork in your mouth." The king pouted and crossed his arms. Zelda giggled and knocked on the door.
"Rosemarie, are you still in there?" The three royals and the royal-to-be waited for a few seconds. After getting no response, Zelda knocked again.
"Rosemarie! Goddesses to Rosemarie! Are you in there? For Nayru's sake, say something!" There was no reply.
"Maybe she already went downstairs," the king suggested.
"That's the one sensible thing you've said all afternoon," the queen remarked. Link sighed and tried the doorknob. To his surprise, it opened. Link opened it wider and stepped inside the room. He yelled and quickly closed the door.
"What?" Zelda asked. "Was she changing or something?" Link stood frozen at the door, shock written all over his face.
"Zel.........maybe you should wait here. Mom, stay with her. Dad, take a peak and tell me if you see what I see." Confused, the queen and Zelda backed up a few paces. The king gave a curious glance at his son, and peeked inside. One second later, he came back out with a horrified expression.
"LINK!! That can't be!"
"I know! Is it a joke?" Zelda couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer.
"Oh guys, I know you're kidding!" She went ahead and pushed open the door, the queen right next to her. Upon seeing the inside of the room, the two women screamed and clung onto each other.
"NO! ROSEMARIE!! NOOO!!!!" Zelda tried to advance closer but the queen and king tried to keep her back. From there it was all pandemonium. Zelda, sobbing furiously, was struggling with the two royals to get out of their grasp. Link rushed back and called on servants. Even they were shocked at finding Rosemarie lying dead in a pool of her own blood, a dagger through her heart. They all rushed around in panic trying to understand who and what did such a thing as that. None of them could imagine something this terrible happening under the heavy security.
"Do you have any idea who did this?" inquired the king, turning to his son. Link stood silent for a few moments. The rush of servants and soldiers all stopped and they turned to him. Link took a deep breath.
"Yes........." he finally said. Everyone in the room gasped and started murmuring excitedly, but the king's raised hand stopped them
"You know?" the queen asked. Even Zelda was surprised. She used the back of her long, white sleeve to dry her eyes, but more tears fell.
"Yes," Link said, in a whisper as if he was trying to hold back his own tears. "I had a dream a few nights ago that showed a bunch of daggers everywhere. At the end, I saw Rosemarie.........and she was killed by herself. She was the one who committed suicide."
"Suicide? But why?" Zelda asked, crying.
"She was trying to save you, Zel! She explained to me in the dream that someone was after Zel, someone with red eyes........."
"Gannondorf!" Zelda suddenly cried out. The king and queen gasped, and the servants whispered in fright.
"You know of him?" the king asked.
"Not really," Zelda admitted through sobs. "I had a dream too, and there was this guy named Shadow who told me that I had some 'Triforce essence' or something inside me. He told me that his master, Gannondorf, was after me. That name was so creepy that it stuck with me. I know nothing of him. Do you?"
"Gannondorf was one of the most dangerous dark wizards to ever step a foot in Hyrule," the queen explained. "Back then, it was dark times. Poverty.........death......... confusion. Every time you talked to someone, you felt paranoid for no obvious reason. Everything you did was shrouded in mystery and fear. It was like you didn't trust yourself. Well, that was until the Hero of Time came."
"Hero of Time?" Link asked. "Isn't that who I'm........."
".........Named after, yes. He was the legendary hero who destroyed Gannondorf and married the Princess of Hyrule, Zelda." Everyone looked over at Zelda, who faintly smiled. "But their life was also written in tragedy."
"So......... Gannondorf came back and he tried to kill Zelda?" Link queried. "But how did Rosemarie come to get anything? How did she get caught up in this?"
"I don't know, Link, and I suppose we never will. Now, take Zelda to her room and we have to figure out this mess." Link nodded and took Zelda, who buried her face in his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the room.
"I can't believe it!" she cried. "Rosemarie dead! She was my best friend!!" Link nodded and rested his head on hers.
"Come one, Zel. Rosemarie risked her life so we can be happy. We can mourn her death, but we have to remember that she wants us to be happy. For her sake, let's be happy." Zelda nodded, rubbing her eyes.
"I want to be alone........." Zelda walked off, leaving Link in the hallway.
.........
Later that night, Zelda was leaning back against the wall in Link's bed. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about that afternoon. Still, thoughts of it poured back into her mind. After Rosemarie's death, her mom and sister were informed. They had been totally devastated. Wildflower did not get the full meaning of it all. She knew her sister was dead, but not that she would never come back however hard anyone tried. As Rosemarie was her mom's first child, it was unbearably painful for her. Rosemarie's mom and Zelda had looked to each other for support, since both had shared the same type of bond. Zelda had even gone to visit Rosemarie's house.
Now, Zelda was back in Link's room, leaning back on the bedpost against the wall. She was still wearing the bride's gown she was too distressed to take off. In her hands, she held Rosemarie's diary. Rosemarie's mother had given it to her so she could always remember her friendship. Zelda read the whole thing in tears. Rosemarie had so many dreams that were shattered, not only by her death, but also by the fact that Link chose Zelda to marry. Zelda flipped again to the last few pages, where the story ended. To her surprise, she found that there was another page at the end that she had overlooked. Casually flipping to it, she read it.
"Can you believe it? I got this book from the library that I never quite finished reading. It's about Princess Zelda of the past. I couldn't believe it, but it says that Zelda died giving birth to her daughter, and Link committed suicide. How can someone as sensible as him commit suicide? Did he really love Zelda that much? Well, the Link of the present really loves Zelda too. Doesn't he realize I love him too? As far as I gather from the past, the Rosemarie back then supposedly disappeared or died. I have no clue, except know that someone back then had my name. I wonder if she looked like me........."
Zelda closed the book and hugged it. She remembered her dream. /So is that what I saw? Link committing suicide in the past? Is that what it was? Or was it Link in the future? / Zelda slid off the bed and proceeded to leave the room. Even though she had no idea where she was going, she found herself inexplicably drawn to the room Rosemarie was temporarily laid in. She opened the door, bracing herself. Rosemarie was lying on the bed, hands over her stomach with the dagger placed over her breast. Zelda fought the urge to cry as she rushed over to her.
"Why did you do this, Rosemarie? Why did you leave me like this? You know I need you most now, of all times. Why?" Zelda kneeled down next to the bed and glanced at the dagger.
"Why didn't you tell me? I bet that's what you had in your bundle that day. Was that why you wanted to run away? Oh, I have so many questions! Why couldn't you just answer them?" Zelda broke out sobbing, her head down on the bed. She knew Rosemarie wasn't listening. She lay straight, with her eyes closed. A child could have thought she was sleeping. Zelda looked up, her eyes stained with tears.
"You told me in your diary that my ancestor died. Do you think that was meant to be? Were you meant to die? And if that, I would be too. I can't live without you Rosemarie. I don't care what you do. I think it's unfair. Life is unfair, and I don't want it to be that way. The Goddesses have revealed that our story is meant to be repeated, and if that is so, then I shall not hold back on my end." Zelda got up and wiped her tears. She took the dagger and walked over to the only window. The moonlight filtered in and made her skin glow. Zelda looked out at the scenery.
"The past is meant to be repeated, for it is the present now. Rosemarie has fulfilled her end, and now it's my turn. I cannot change what the Goddesses have decided. Whether by good or evil it will happen, and I'd rather I'd face it myself for good deeds than have some evil come and make it happen. Sorry Link, but I can't be with you. Neither Rosemarie nor I was destined for you. Sorry..." Zelda choked back tears as she put the dagger to her heart. Clenching her eyes shut, she thrust it in.