Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda or Link.
Thanks to those who reviewed. This is my newest chapter, I just wrote it. Please review a lot, tell me if you want me to continue this story. Up next: Marin gets her memory back, and starts training for self defense with Link ;) should be interesting.
Chapter Four: The Ball
Marin lay in her new soft bed, in her new gloriously decorated room, trying to sleep. She kept thinking about the hate in her twin sister's eyes, or Tarin's love for her. She missed him very much. She tried to decide whether or not she had made the right decision. So far palace life was boring. She had explored and now knew her way around the castle fairly well, if only the newer wings. She still was a little confused by the huge place. And what of the people here? Her life was truly not normal now. She was a princess now, although no one in the kingdom really knew except the few people at the palace, Link, Granhem, that man Slick, Tarll, Tommy, Zelda, her father...and in two days there would be a magnificent ball for her homecoming. She would be forced to be polite and kind, to be stared at and ridiculed. She feared that night more and more. Every day a team of specialists was working with her to quickly learn palace manners. She feared dropping her fourth knife in her soup. As she sat in her bed thinking, she heard a small tapping at her window. In wonder, she got up and opened the window to see what it was. In jumped her pug, Cameron!
Marin squealed with delight.
"Cammie!!!!!!!!!!" She cried. Her pug lapped up the attention. He was wet from the rain, and tired, so he just let her hold him, and rested.
Marin grinned. She could handle anything with Cameron by her side, the little pug that had always been there, and had always talked to her
Marin hurridly made her way to Zelda's bedroom, trying not to run, but speeding through the hallways. She was lost, and late, for about the 50th time this week. Zelda's room was just so difficult to find. It was in a remote part of the castle, one that hadn't been renovated in a few hundred years.
"You'd think it would be easy to find, just follow the smell of perfume and the noise of giggling." She muttered to herself as she wandered around the winding hallways of the Hylia Castle. Her skirts gently swept the corners of the hall, as she tried not to fall over in her hurry.
She was thoroughly lost, and standing in the middle of a strange U shaped bend in a hall, when Link almost ran her over.
"Oh, Marin! I didn't see you there." He cried, and leapt back, trying not to run into her.
"Thank the Gods. Link, I cannot find Zelda's room, and you will just have to take me there." At these words, Link turned a slightly pale white.
"Umm.. Well you see, I was just-"
"Nope, come on, lead the way."
"But I have a very urgent-"
"I said come on! I can't find it, I probably never will, and you know where it is. Now what is all this chatting about hmm? Where is her room?" Marin cried, and grabbed hold of his arm. Link sighed, and led Marin to Zelda's room. He stopped a few doors before it, pointed it out, and ran.
Marin grinned evilly. She loved that Link hated Zelda as much as she did. The girl was rude, far too flirtatious, and a brat. As she was thinking this, she went into Zelda's room
Zelda was already perched upon a chair, having her measurements taken by the palace dress-maker. The woman took one look at Marin, and sniffed sharply.
"Good Gods Marin, where you playing with that little brat again? I told you to stay away from him. I don't know why you continue to play with children." Zelda snapped, and turned to pick up a ream of fabric.
Marin just rolled her eyes, and submitted to the dress fitting, making sure that the dress-maker understood she did NOT want the dress to be of the latest fashion-scant material.
"I know 'It's the fashion' But I do not want to look like a tart at my first ball in this kingdom, on my first day as princess." She said to the woman, who was just rolling her eyes.
"Fine," The dress-maker snapped, "I'll just make it vintage."
Marin grinned. The ball was going to be a wonderful day, she could tell, even if she was very nervous. It was to be the first time she was introduced to her people as the long-lost twin sister of Zelda. She would meet many new people. Cameron had assured her he would be there, hiding behind her chair and watching.
Marin spent the time that she wasn't preparing for the ball swimming at the Lake. She hadn't ventured into the more popular areas yet, and preferred to keep to the more secluded, shady bits.
It was on one of these outings, when she had just gotten in yet another fight with Zelda over clothes, when she met Slick again.
She had stormed out of the castle, and stormed into her favorite swimming spot. She leaped into the water without bothering to take off her oversized shirt and comfortable breeches
"Blue is the perfect color for you Marin, It brings out your hips! pff." She snapped, mocking Zelda's insults of her loudly.
She was doing this and swimming, cooling off her anger, when she heard a splash behind her. With a whirl, she turned around. Something blue and tan was heading her way under water. She quickly backed out of the water, and was brandishing a stick when the head popped out and she realized it was only Slick, the man who had saved her life earlier. She hurriedly tried to hide the stick.
"Hello Marin," He said cooly, treading water. He was wearing only leather pants, from what she could see, and his hair seemed to be glossy as though slicked with oil. "I wasn't expecting to see you in my swimming hole, and so angry, in any case."
Marin blushed furiously.
"Oh...umm I'm sorry, is this your swimming hole?" She stammered.
"Well I live in that hole right there." He replied, pointing behind him.
"What hole?" Marin asked, seeing only a wall of rock.
"Oh, come see I will show you."
She got back in the water, and they swam a little ways back to the hollow he had seemingly emerged from.
"Dive under and I will guide you." He said, grabbing her arm. They dove under the water, going into a hole in the rock. Then he pulled her up, and they emerged from under the water in a great cavern of rock. A waterfall coming out of an underground stream filled the pool they now swam in. It was a glittery, cool place. The floor of the pool was lined with bits of silver, coins, and metal.
"This is my place." He climbed up a small rock stairway out of the pool, and led her to a niche behind the waterfall. Behind here was a little home. It's walls were rock and crystal. A fire burned neatly, and Marin supposed, magically in one crevasse. Marin stood near this to warm up, and looked around. It was really only two rooms, a Small bedroom with a fireplace, comfy looking bed covered in furs, and a small table. The Kitchen was almost blank, and held niches in the rock for food.
Slick looked around. "Well, it's not much, but I like it. I don't like to be far from water." He said.
"Why not?" Marin blurted out.
"Isn't it obvious?" She stared blankly at him. "I'm a water nymph." He said.
Marin started. "Oh." She said simply.
The night of the ball for her reintroduction as Princess seemed to spring up out of nowhere. Marin woke up one morning and realized it was the day of the ball. She raced out of bed to head to Zelda's room, where she would spend the whole day getting ready. Butterflies raced in her stomach as she was primped and prodded and tucked into a beautiful gown. It was pale blue, and rather sparkly. Marin shrugged into it with a sigh. She loathed getting dressed up. She would much rather be out playing with her dog, or swimming. But this was what princesses did. They went to balls.
The ball would start at 7. Granhem would give a speech to all the courtiers, explaining Marin's absence. It wouldn't matter anyway; eventually the whole kingdom would remember Marin. Their memories would come back to them, Granhem said. After this, Marin would be introduced to long lines of people, and then she was free to enjoy the ball.
Zelda was being fitted into her bright pink dress beside her.
"Nervous Marin?" She asked. "I would be. The whole of Hylian Society out to see you and your imperfect ears. I just hope it doesn't reflect on me. One can't choose who share's the womb with them I suppose."
Marin ignored Zelda.
After a long afternoon of being made to look gorgeous, the girls made their way to the ballroom. Marin's breath caught in her chest as she observed the newly decorated room. It was hung with streamers of glittering lights, a band of players was setting up in one corner, and upon the dais sat two large thrones.
"Isn't your, our father going to be here?" Marin asked as she gestured at the throne.
"Oh no. He's far too sick. Most of the time he just stays in bed. Weren't you listening? This ball is our way to show the people we are in control and capable of handling things if father dies." Zelda said haughtily.
Marin wondered if the people would really believe that two 15 year old girls could run a kingdom. But there was always Granhem to guide them, she supposed.
They made their way to the dais. People had begun to trickle into the ballroom, all dressed in beautiful gowns and outfits that glimmered in the shimmering light.
"You there Cam?" Marin whispered, her voice trembling. She was starting to be very nervous.
A little nasily voice answered "Of course." And Marin relaxed a little. Soon the ballroom was full of courtiers laughing and dancing to the music playing. Men courted women, women flirted with men, and all eyes seemed to be on the new princess.
The music stopped and played an intro for Granhem. The old wizard made his way up the aisle between the seats on the throne.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you, your new princess, Marinella de Hyliarch, with her sister Zeldana. Our princess has been returned to us by the daring Link, who battled the waves and came out alive to save her from obscurity," At this Granhem gestured at Link, who Marin had not noticed before. She nearly gasped seeing him dressed in finery. Link bowed deeply. "Rejoice, for the triforce is whole again!" He cried in his majestic voice. At this last sentence, everyone cheered and clapped, and Granhem bowed low. Then, he rose up, and with a bright spark of explosion, disappeared momentarily. The people laughed and roared at this. A line soon started to form, mostly of men, of people wishing to meet the new princess.
Marin was still dazzled from Granhem. He had disappeared into thin air. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Granhem leaned over her chair, and winked at her.
"The people like a little show now and then." He said mischievously.
Marin would have replied, but now men were asking her to dance, and she obeyed because her dance instructors were glaring at her menacingly from the side of the room. Eventually she tired and just sat on her chair watching the ball. She spotted Tarll and Slick, who were obviously friends, because they were joking about together. They also were asked to dance by several beautiful women. Marin sighed. She felt slightly put out, being a princess and being forced to sit up on this chair and not have fun.
She was almost falling asleep when a voice startled her.
"Princess, would you care to dance with the head knight of Hyrule?" A voice asked sharply. Marin looked up to see Slick pressing Link forward. "He's too shy to ask you. Dance with him." Link blushed brightly and glared at Slick.
"I am not. I was taking my time. Princess Marin, would you favor me with a dance?" He asked, his eyes dancing.
Marin could practically feel Zelda seething beside her. She grinned and got up.
"It is my honor to dance with the most prestigious knight in Hyrule." She replied, and took Link's hand.
He lead her to the floor, and a waltz was starting. Link nervously took her hand in his, and gently placed one hand on her waist. They danced a slow, weaving waltz that twirled them across the floor. Marin found that it was easy to dance with Link. He danced as though he wasn't nervous, with pure effortlessness. She also had time to survey his outfit. He wore a dark blue tunic that was embroidered with gold, and underneath it a gold shirt. The tunic tied at his neck with bright gold ribbon. A gold handled dagger and sword lay at his waist. His tights had a slightly golden sheen to them, and he wore dark leather boots that were polished brightly. His reddish orange hair was combed back from his face, and he was smiling warmly at Marin.
"You look lovely tonight Marin." He said softly.
"Thank you." She replied, her face feeling rather warm. In fact, all of her felt warm. From the hot sensation of his hand on her hip, to her hand clasped in his, to her waist against his. She tried not to think about this and looked over his shoulder. Zelda was dancing with some man nearby, and she was glaring unabashedly at Marin. Marin tried not to laugh at her.
The dance ended and they parted, but instantly Slick had grabbed her up and was teaching her to dance a funny jig that was popular now. She laughed as he skipped across the floor in front of her, and tried to imitate him.
Overall the ball was far more enjoyable than she thought it would be. She had danced with Link, Slick, and Tarll, and had danced with several other men whose names she could not remember. The people had seemed to take to her, enjoying her bright spirit and happy nature. Marin fell asleep in her room, which was beginning to feel familiar, with a smile upon her flushed face.
Thanks to those who reviewed. This is my newest chapter, I just wrote it. Please review a lot, tell me if you want me to continue this story. Up next: Marin gets her memory back, and starts training for self defense with Link ;) should be interesting.
Chapter Four: The Ball
Marin lay in her new soft bed, in her new gloriously decorated room, trying to sleep. She kept thinking about the hate in her twin sister's eyes, or Tarin's love for her. She missed him very much. She tried to decide whether or not she had made the right decision. So far palace life was boring. She had explored and now knew her way around the castle fairly well, if only the newer wings. She still was a little confused by the huge place. And what of the people here? Her life was truly not normal now. She was a princess now, although no one in the kingdom really knew except the few people at the palace, Link, Granhem, that man Slick, Tarll, Tommy, Zelda, her father...and in two days there would be a magnificent ball for her homecoming. She would be forced to be polite and kind, to be stared at and ridiculed. She feared that night more and more. Every day a team of specialists was working with her to quickly learn palace manners. She feared dropping her fourth knife in her soup. As she sat in her bed thinking, she heard a small tapping at her window. In wonder, she got up and opened the window to see what it was. In jumped her pug, Cameron!
Marin squealed with delight.
"Cammie!!!!!!!!!!" She cried. Her pug lapped up the attention. He was wet from the rain, and tired, so he just let her hold him, and rested.
Marin grinned. She could handle anything with Cameron by her side, the little pug that had always been there, and had always talked to her
Marin hurridly made her way to Zelda's bedroom, trying not to run, but speeding through the hallways. She was lost, and late, for about the 50th time this week. Zelda's room was just so difficult to find. It was in a remote part of the castle, one that hadn't been renovated in a few hundred years.
"You'd think it would be easy to find, just follow the smell of perfume and the noise of giggling." She muttered to herself as she wandered around the winding hallways of the Hylia Castle. Her skirts gently swept the corners of the hall, as she tried not to fall over in her hurry.
She was thoroughly lost, and standing in the middle of a strange U shaped bend in a hall, when Link almost ran her over.
"Oh, Marin! I didn't see you there." He cried, and leapt back, trying not to run into her.
"Thank the Gods. Link, I cannot find Zelda's room, and you will just have to take me there." At these words, Link turned a slightly pale white.
"Umm.. Well you see, I was just-"
"Nope, come on, lead the way."
"But I have a very urgent-"
"I said come on! I can't find it, I probably never will, and you know where it is. Now what is all this chatting about hmm? Where is her room?" Marin cried, and grabbed hold of his arm. Link sighed, and led Marin to Zelda's room. He stopped a few doors before it, pointed it out, and ran.
Marin grinned evilly. She loved that Link hated Zelda as much as she did. The girl was rude, far too flirtatious, and a brat. As she was thinking this, she went into Zelda's room
Zelda was already perched upon a chair, having her measurements taken by the palace dress-maker. The woman took one look at Marin, and sniffed sharply.
"Good Gods Marin, where you playing with that little brat again? I told you to stay away from him. I don't know why you continue to play with children." Zelda snapped, and turned to pick up a ream of fabric.
Marin just rolled her eyes, and submitted to the dress fitting, making sure that the dress-maker understood she did NOT want the dress to be of the latest fashion-scant material.
"I know 'It's the fashion' But I do not want to look like a tart at my first ball in this kingdom, on my first day as princess." She said to the woman, who was just rolling her eyes.
"Fine," The dress-maker snapped, "I'll just make it vintage."
Marin grinned. The ball was going to be a wonderful day, she could tell, even if she was very nervous. It was to be the first time she was introduced to her people as the long-lost twin sister of Zelda. She would meet many new people. Cameron had assured her he would be there, hiding behind her chair and watching.
Marin spent the time that she wasn't preparing for the ball swimming at the Lake. She hadn't ventured into the more popular areas yet, and preferred to keep to the more secluded, shady bits.
It was on one of these outings, when she had just gotten in yet another fight with Zelda over clothes, when she met Slick again.
She had stormed out of the castle, and stormed into her favorite swimming spot. She leaped into the water without bothering to take off her oversized shirt and comfortable breeches
"Blue is the perfect color for you Marin, It brings out your hips! pff." She snapped, mocking Zelda's insults of her loudly.
She was doing this and swimming, cooling off her anger, when she heard a splash behind her. With a whirl, she turned around. Something blue and tan was heading her way under water. She quickly backed out of the water, and was brandishing a stick when the head popped out and she realized it was only Slick, the man who had saved her life earlier. She hurriedly tried to hide the stick.
"Hello Marin," He said cooly, treading water. He was wearing only leather pants, from what she could see, and his hair seemed to be glossy as though slicked with oil. "I wasn't expecting to see you in my swimming hole, and so angry, in any case."
Marin blushed furiously.
"Oh...umm I'm sorry, is this your swimming hole?" She stammered.
"Well I live in that hole right there." He replied, pointing behind him.
"What hole?" Marin asked, seeing only a wall of rock.
"Oh, come see I will show you."
She got back in the water, and they swam a little ways back to the hollow he had seemingly emerged from.
"Dive under and I will guide you." He said, grabbing her arm. They dove under the water, going into a hole in the rock. Then he pulled her up, and they emerged from under the water in a great cavern of rock. A waterfall coming out of an underground stream filled the pool they now swam in. It was a glittery, cool place. The floor of the pool was lined with bits of silver, coins, and metal.
"This is my place." He climbed up a small rock stairway out of the pool, and led her to a niche behind the waterfall. Behind here was a little home. It's walls were rock and crystal. A fire burned neatly, and Marin supposed, magically in one crevasse. Marin stood near this to warm up, and looked around. It was really only two rooms, a Small bedroom with a fireplace, comfy looking bed covered in furs, and a small table. The Kitchen was almost blank, and held niches in the rock for food.
Slick looked around. "Well, it's not much, but I like it. I don't like to be far from water." He said.
"Why not?" Marin blurted out.
"Isn't it obvious?" She stared blankly at him. "I'm a water nymph." He said.
Marin started. "Oh." She said simply.
The night of the ball for her reintroduction as Princess seemed to spring up out of nowhere. Marin woke up one morning and realized it was the day of the ball. She raced out of bed to head to Zelda's room, where she would spend the whole day getting ready. Butterflies raced in her stomach as she was primped and prodded and tucked into a beautiful gown. It was pale blue, and rather sparkly. Marin shrugged into it with a sigh. She loathed getting dressed up. She would much rather be out playing with her dog, or swimming. But this was what princesses did. They went to balls.
The ball would start at 7. Granhem would give a speech to all the courtiers, explaining Marin's absence. It wouldn't matter anyway; eventually the whole kingdom would remember Marin. Their memories would come back to them, Granhem said. After this, Marin would be introduced to long lines of people, and then she was free to enjoy the ball.
Zelda was being fitted into her bright pink dress beside her.
"Nervous Marin?" She asked. "I would be. The whole of Hylian Society out to see you and your imperfect ears. I just hope it doesn't reflect on me. One can't choose who share's the womb with them I suppose."
Marin ignored Zelda.
After a long afternoon of being made to look gorgeous, the girls made their way to the ballroom. Marin's breath caught in her chest as she observed the newly decorated room. It was hung with streamers of glittering lights, a band of players was setting up in one corner, and upon the dais sat two large thrones.
"Isn't your, our father going to be here?" Marin asked as she gestured at the throne.
"Oh no. He's far too sick. Most of the time he just stays in bed. Weren't you listening? This ball is our way to show the people we are in control and capable of handling things if father dies." Zelda said haughtily.
Marin wondered if the people would really believe that two 15 year old girls could run a kingdom. But there was always Granhem to guide them, she supposed.
They made their way to the dais. People had begun to trickle into the ballroom, all dressed in beautiful gowns and outfits that glimmered in the shimmering light.
"You there Cam?" Marin whispered, her voice trembling. She was starting to be very nervous.
A little nasily voice answered "Of course." And Marin relaxed a little. Soon the ballroom was full of courtiers laughing and dancing to the music playing. Men courted women, women flirted with men, and all eyes seemed to be on the new princess.
The music stopped and played an intro for Granhem. The old wizard made his way up the aisle between the seats on the throne.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you, your new princess, Marinella de Hyliarch, with her sister Zeldana. Our princess has been returned to us by the daring Link, who battled the waves and came out alive to save her from obscurity," At this Granhem gestured at Link, who Marin had not noticed before. She nearly gasped seeing him dressed in finery. Link bowed deeply. "Rejoice, for the triforce is whole again!" He cried in his majestic voice. At this last sentence, everyone cheered and clapped, and Granhem bowed low. Then, he rose up, and with a bright spark of explosion, disappeared momentarily. The people laughed and roared at this. A line soon started to form, mostly of men, of people wishing to meet the new princess.
Marin was still dazzled from Granhem. He had disappeared into thin air. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Granhem leaned over her chair, and winked at her.
"The people like a little show now and then." He said mischievously.
Marin would have replied, but now men were asking her to dance, and she obeyed because her dance instructors were glaring at her menacingly from the side of the room. Eventually she tired and just sat on her chair watching the ball. She spotted Tarll and Slick, who were obviously friends, because they were joking about together. They also were asked to dance by several beautiful women. Marin sighed. She felt slightly put out, being a princess and being forced to sit up on this chair and not have fun.
She was almost falling asleep when a voice startled her.
"Princess, would you care to dance with the head knight of Hyrule?" A voice asked sharply. Marin looked up to see Slick pressing Link forward. "He's too shy to ask you. Dance with him." Link blushed brightly and glared at Slick.
"I am not. I was taking my time. Princess Marin, would you favor me with a dance?" He asked, his eyes dancing.
Marin could practically feel Zelda seething beside her. She grinned and got up.
"It is my honor to dance with the most prestigious knight in Hyrule." She replied, and took Link's hand.
He lead her to the floor, and a waltz was starting. Link nervously took her hand in his, and gently placed one hand on her waist. They danced a slow, weaving waltz that twirled them across the floor. Marin found that it was easy to dance with Link. He danced as though he wasn't nervous, with pure effortlessness. She also had time to survey his outfit. He wore a dark blue tunic that was embroidered with gold, and underneath it a gold shirt. The tunic tied at his neck with bright gold ribbon. A gold handled dagger and sword lay at his waist. His tights had a slightly golden sheen to them, and he wore dark leather boots that were polished brightly. His reddish orange hair was combed back from his face, and he was smiling warmly at Marin.
"You look lovely tonight Marin." He said softly.
"Thank you." She replied, her face feeling rather warm. In fact, all of her felt warm. From the hot sensation of his hand on her hip, to her hand clasped in his, to her waist against his. She tried not to think about this and looked over his shoulder. Zelda was dancing with some man nearby, and she was glaring unabashedly at Marin. Marin tried not to laugh at her.
The dance ended and they parted, but instantly Slick had grabbed her up and was teaching her to dance a funny jig that was popular now. She laughed as he skipped across the floor in front of her, and tried to imitate him.
Overall the ball was far more enjoyable than she thought it would be. She had danced with Link, Slick, and Tarll, and had danced with several other men whose names she could not remember. The people had seemed to take to her, enjoying her bright spirit and happy nature. Marin fell asleep in her room, which was beginning to feel familiar, with a smile upon her flushed face.