39. Flower Crowns
Marth enjoyed making flower crowns. It had been a hobby of his ever since he was a young child, and he often put them together in his spare time. Whenever he wasn't training or working on paperwork, he'd go to the nearby flower meadow to make the crowns.
However, he kept his hobby a secret from everyone, including his parents and his best friend since childhood, Roy of Pherae. After being teased and bullied over being feminine, Marth was worried that if anyone found out about his hobby, he would be bullied even more. He trusted his parents and Roy, but he could never quite bring himself to tell them about his hobby.
Today was a cloudless day, and Marth ran to the flower meadow. Marth breathed in the smell of the grass and flowers, remembering his younger days. Sitting down in the middle of the meadow, he plucked a few flowers that were nearby, and grabbing the wire loop and floral wire he brought with him, he started to thread the flowers on the loop.
After a few minutes, he held a newly completed, gorgeous blue flower crown. The prince smiled as he stared at his creation before placing it on his head. Grabbing another wire loop, he was about to make another one when he heard a voice behind him.
"Marth?"
Marth jumped, and when he turned around, he saw his best friend, Roy, standing behind him. A worried expression was on the red-head's face.
"Roy? Um…" Marth gulped, taking the flower crown off his head. A light blush appeared on his face.
Roy walked towards him and crouched down beside his blue-haired friend. "I was worried about you. You've been gone for a while."
Marth stared at him, and he nodded. "S-sorry…I was just…"
Roy's eyes were fixated on the blue flower crown that was resting in Marth's lap, and he raised an eyebrow. "Marth? Is that a flower crown?"
Marth's face turned even redder, and he tried to hide the crown with his hands. "N-no! It's, um…"
Roy chuckled. "Hey, no need to feel embarrassed. You make flower crowns, right?"
Marth stared at Roy before he sighed. "Y-yes…am I girly because I make flower crowns?"
Roy, to Marth's surprise, shook his head. "Of course not! It's a hobby you enjoy. I won't judge you for it."
Marth uncovered the flower crown. "R-really?" Marth asked.
"Of course," Roy said with a nod as he looked at the blue flower crown. "You made an excellent flower crown there."
Marth looked down at the flower crown in his lap, and he smiled. "Thank you. I've been making them since I was a young child."
Roy raised an eyebrow. "Really?" To Roy, Marth never kept secrets from him. Why didn't he tell Roy that he's been making flower crowns since he was a child? "You were afraid that I'll let your secret out, right?"
Marth stared before nodding. "Y-yes…I'm so sorry, Roy, I—"
"I understand, Marth," Roy interrupted, placing a hand on Marth's shoulder. "You were just cautious since you were picked on when you were a child."
Marth nodded before he grabbed another wire loop to work on another flower crown. "Yes, I was, Roy. I do trust you, but like you said, I was just being cautious."
Roy watched intently as Marth plucked some red flowers and threaded them on the wire loop. The red-head was fascinated; Marth knew how to place a flower in the right place, and how to thread it correctly without it falling off the loop.
After a few minutes, Marth made a lovely red flower crown. With a smile, he turned to Roy with the crown in his hands. "This is for you," Marth spoke as he placed the red flower crown on top of Roy's head.
Roy placed his hand on his head, feeling the flower crown. With a small smile, Roy spoke, "Marth, that's sweet of you."
Marth's expression mirrored Roy's. "You're my best friend. I feel that making something for you marks our friendship," he said as he placed the blue flower crown on his own head.
Roy chuckled as he stared at Marth's blue flower crown that sat on his head. "I think the blue flowers suit you well."
Marth chuckled as well. "I feel the same with the red flowers for you. That's why I picked the color."
The two looked up at the sky, noticing the sunset. Marth got up from the ground as he grabbed his supplies. "It's getting late. We should head back," Marth suggested.
Roy nodded as he got up from the ground as well. "All right. By the way…"
Marth hummed.
"Can you teach me how to make flower crowns tomorrow?"
Marth smiled widely, and he nodded. "Of course, Roy."
With that, the two walked back to the castle.
Since then, the two come to the same flower meadow, with Marth teaching Roy how to make flower crowns. Although Roy eventually learned how to make flower crowns of his own, he still kept the red flower crown that Marth made just for him that day.
Constructive criticism is welcomed!
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