Thanks again to Sbriney and KaijuKnight for reviewing and again another thanks to all those who read and favorite and follow, etc. We're starting to pick up some momentum this chapter, so read and eat Canadian bacon. Which is just fancy sliced ham.
Umm. One I have no excuse. I WAS lazy, I know I know. But, if you would like it: Life happened. (Drivers Ed with homework, friend issues, a death, a boyfriend? What? Yeah idk either, umm. Swim team with shoulder injuries, sister home from college, haunted freaking house that I live in-its scary as potatoes- and sleep, lots of sleep and naps.)
Zelda sat at her vanity as the maids began to braid her hair, waiting for Serena to bring Veronica to her quarters. Her inkling was that Veronica wished to speak about Ariat and the heir, but she felt that there was something else as well, the way Veronica played herself earlier today just seemed...well, off. Usually Zelda wouldn't let these things bother her for people usually came around and confronted their subjects, but for some reason Zelda just couldn't put her finger on why this one lingered in the back of her mind.
The lingering about to be answered, the door swung back open, revealing Veronica in her own masquerade garments, mask even in place, hiding most of her expressions underneath.
"My Lady." Veronica curtsied hands placed respectfully in front of her, folded and patient.
"It is quite wonderful to see you dressed up, Lady Veronica. As you said, the peace and happiness won't last long." Zelda began, staring at the woman's reflection in the mirror as Helena began to uniform her hair. Stoic faced, she waited for Veronica's response, delayed some seconds after, hesitant but barely noticeable.
"Peace…is what I wish to speak of, Your Highness." Veronica crafted, no emotions readable but a cold and staid face under an even colder black and silver mask.
"What of it, Lady Veronica?" Zelda asked intrigued with the disposition of her friend.
"I am sure you very well know, Your Highness." Her face would not change, and only more bite crept into her words.
"To an extent, My Lady, for as of recent, and far and wide in the past, multiple topics have strung themselves up as the lights in the Castle City during The Festival of Time. As to which specific you allude to I can easily narrow down a select and controversial list that may have your, and many a person's head lost to the guillotine." Hah. Two can play at this game Veronica.
"I can, and will wait, Your Highness." She coolly replied leaning against the bed, staring at the young monarch in front of her.
"As would be appreciated. On a much lighter topic, why the black and silver oh great lady of the land of sun and the mines?" Helena began to place the final pins to the mostly down 3-foot long head of hair the Princess kept.
"Interesting you should ask. Kakariko is always seen as a sunny, golden place to those who have not been in person to what really lays beneath. On the outside, Your Highness, we may seem akin to the festive likes and colors of the Gerudo with our numerous goldmines and hot springs, yet, no one dares to search beyond that rough and false surface. All fail to know what is really behind the gold and the color." She finished, still leaning against the bed, fierce and emotionless as before.
"Sweet Lady Veronica. I can sense bifidity in the interpretation of most and many foreigners on the subject of what Kakariko is, and your own. Being that you have personal and close-up experience, I can understand that as most; however in my own way for I have not seen the things you have seen, heard what you have heard, and tasted the tears of the past events such as you yourself have endured. Though not on any level near, I do have a stifled and choked understanding to your own situation and your livid disposition on the subject. Yet, you did not finish, My Lady. Why is it that you wear black and silver?" Zelda extenuated as Helena began to place the mask with the help of Selena to pin it in, as the other maids sensed the tension growing and growing, cleaning what was to be cleaned, and curtsying and sputtering a quick 'My Lady' before scurrying out the door to stay clear of the war zone.
"Black and silver. The two colors of which no one has associated with Kakariko, but if you had known our lives first hand and seen the lives of those below you, even in a blessed household things are no more easily strapped to our backs than the lowliest of this Castle City which surrounds us; however, only partially, for certain people, some more than others, have a leeching knack and art at shielding out everything beyond their own walls, ceiling, and floors. So many are experts at shunning everything around them that is negative, they shun those who scream for help and love, those who need it most, and those whom are ignored. In Kakariko, no matter what family and bloodline you hail from, Your Highness, in Kakariko, everyone sees everything, and not a single person, from the top elder to the smallest child, is given any partial awareness of what the world is around them. Your Highness." Still even-toned and staid, leaning against the bed Veronica ended her rant, as Helena and Selena left with a curtsey and a breeze, leaving silence to the two women.
Zelda began her rebound the second the door clicked shut.
"I will let that slide for I honor the friend I knew from yesterday. If you intend to offend me again I will have you regretting every foul word you have said to anyone. In truth, I can remove that tongue with a single, simple command, and then you have no words, only the thoughts you must harbor inside for every day of every year that you breathe. Leave you with mockery and humiliation as even the "lowliest of this Castle Town" give you partial damnation and ignorance. My Lady."
"I am sorry, My Lady, for my mistakes. I truly do repose my words I meant not to offend, I was out of place, please forgive me." Veronica scrambled, flustered by the even and cool way Zelda threatened her without any trace of hesitation or second thought. What she had meant to do swung around and hit her instead.
"You are forgiven, Lady Veronica. I apologize for my uncivil way of speaking as well, yet my warning does remain, lest you forget." Zelda finished.
"Understood, My Lady."
"What of peace, then?" Zelda asked as she put her own touches on her make-up, and adjusted the mask to fit more comfortably.
"The peace of the country, the peace of no war: I have a proposition, My Lady, if I may be so bold." Veronica asked, straightening herself into a diplomatic stance.
"Boldness did not overlook you, Lady Veronica. Please, enlighten me." Zelda asked as she stood to admire her dress in the full body mirror, Veronica following behind her.
"A preposition of an assassination." Veronica stated, causing Zelda to turn her head and almost gawk at the absurdity of the idea.
"An assassination? Of Dresden do you suggest? I must warn you that would be nearly impossible and of great cost to us, and even if we did manage to murder him"-
"Not Dresden." Veronica cut her off.
"Then of who do you speak?" Zelda said, turning around to hide her face. Could she possibly be suggesting the heir?
"Who do you think, Your Highness?" Veronica asked, moving her way a few feet to the left to lean against the doorframe.
"Truly I do not know. Someone of the council, a General, and surely you do not mean anyone of the Hylian monarchy." Zelda turned to stare at Veronica, giving her warning that her idea better not be the latter.
"Of course, not any of our own, Your Highness, and the other two would do us no good. I'm speaking of that damned little heir that Dresden is probably hiding and turning into a war machine." Veronica lashed.
"I feared you would say such a thing." Zelda began, placing her hands on the table and leaning on her locked arms. "Yet, how would you be able to convince the council and my father? The evidence is lacking for the existence of the heir, and the cost of being able to concoct such an excursion, not of just money and time, but most of all the safety of Hylian lives." Zelda stood again, facing Veronica, waiting for her response.
"Such things as the 'costs' of the excursion can and will be dealt with later. As for the part of convincing your father and the council, that is where you come in. And"-
"Before you go further, how do you plan to convince me?" Zelda asked, turning and walking to sit by the fireplace in the antechamber. "Sit, we have time."
"Thank you, My Lady." Sitting down and fixing the folds of her black and silver dress, Veronica began again. "If I assume correct, you know some validated information, that not even your father may know, and considering who you have as a guardian"-
"Assuming that I had access to some…'validated information,' specifically what field considering the heir?" Zelda interrupted, busied by the folds of her dress and straightening them so they would not crinkle.
"The information that would have sway with the council on whether or not to plan an assassination." Veronica stared Zelda down, waiting for her answer.
"How would this information sway the council?" Zelda asked flat-toned, annoyed with Veronica never getting to the subject.
"One, you are soon to be the Crown Princess and they will listen to you, who are of a higher status than I, and two, you have the proof that supports the existence of the Prince." Zelda let out a sigh as she contemplated everything.
"I will think upon it. I cannot decide at this moment, therefore, I will let you know at a later time. I need to sleep on this one." Veronica gave a small smile, she had the possibility of her idea being realized, and it was only in due time that the war would end.
"Understood, Your Highness. I will let you be, for the Masquerade is to start in an hour. I shall see you at the dinner then?" Veronica asked as both women stood up, one to leave and one to stay.
"Yes, I shall see you at the dinner. Farewell until then, Lady Veronica." Zelda said as the other woman began to walk out the door.
"Farewell, and forgive me, Your Highness." Veronica curtsied and turned down the hallway to her own quarters as Zelda shut the door behind her, and leaning on it, she let out a sigh.
A different silence penetrated Zelda this time. It was a fearful, dreadful silence. One drugged with despair and thought of things to come and things that will never be the same. The silence dragged itself across Zelda's heart, making her anxiety pitch, and her panic and despair of her country and Ariats' position. She felt the anticipation, the anger, and most of all the lust for blood of the millions of energies filtering through the air. Her eyes were open, and she knew then, that darkness did find…exactly what it was looking for.
Yet, do you know what it was looking for…?
13to-be-and-to-not-to-be13
Sorry bout that guys, late late late, short short short. Next chapter will be the size of two. I hope. Sorry bout that, just wanted to get this one up before camp, and I wanted to stop it here to allow the little cat fight that went on sink in for ya, also so I can get a good cliffhanger and contemplative question J cause im devious like that. ANYways. Review, follow, fav. Love:
-Bean
2019 words
-Anyone wanna be a beta reader? just pm me. :)