This is my third FanFic, and it's a story idea of mine that has been on ice for a while. I wanted to start it months ago, but I had a combo of university, work, and updating my previous works keeping me occupied. Now however I have the time, so without further delay, let's begin!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda. Nintendo does.
Updated July 16, 2020
Unhappy and Depressed
It was that time of day, when the sun raises her golden head over the horizon of the kingdom of Hyrule, painting the sky with fire-that time of day when the rooster crows, awakening the farmer-that time of day when the young maids are dreaming about their lovers until they are roused by their parents to begin the day.
Yet, there is one maid who is not asleep, for she is not allowed to. It is demanded of her to rise with the sun every day of the year so that she can maintain her busy schedule. It isn't that she had to work in the fields or on a farm. Rather it is her studies that keep her busy. She hates her studies, but she has no choice. Not since she had been ten does she have a choice. Much is expected from her; perhaps even too much, for she needed to know everything: history, geography, cartography, mathematics, embroidery, poetry, politics, the language of court, the language of the scholars, poise, deportment, and the harp. One might question why this poor lass who is scarcely an adult has to learn so much-more than the average maiden ever will? Because-she is a princess.
Princesses are romanticized a lot these days, but there is a far cry between the princesses of fairy tales and real princesses. They may have the finest clothes and the grandest food, and the most luxurious living quarters, but they owned no money, for all money belonged to their father or husband. They possessed no privacy and were constantly targets of political attacks. In terms of marriage, they had no say, for princesses were never married for love. Royal weddings were always tactical and seen merely as another way to further increase the king's own political power further. Perhaps the saddest truth was their lack of real friends. That was the real life of a princess, of our princess.
Rising from her bed, she rings the bell by her side to call her maids. They arrive as they always do with her clothes already selected for the day. Before they dress her, they lead her to an adjoining room to bath her. All the while her maids gossip about any silly piece of frivolous news. The brushes feel like steel wool on her skin, and the lavender scented soap was revolting to her senses; each on serving as reminders of her life sentence.
When done, they dress her in an all too tight gown and cinch her waist, shortening her breath and exaggerating her skinny frame with nonexistent curves. Afterwards, she enjoys a rich but small meal before being hurried to her first lecture. The day drags on as she flits from one tutor to another, each one as boring, bland, and ill tempered as the last. Each on regards her with overly strict methods and are quick to belittle her, even if she performs well.
Halfway through her day, her schedule allows her to enjoy another small meal. She sits at her balcony, gazing over the land that she will never be allowed to explore. Her gaze wanders to castletown, the home of her dreams. She watches as the children play in the streets, chasing the dogs and cats until they had to return to their mothers' arms. There are also the young maidens who walk freely through the streets on the arm of their lovers. The smiles on their faces are real, or at least it seems so from her high tower.
Princess Zelda sighs wistfully. How often she gazed with longing at the people below, wanting to be a part of their lives, to know what it's like to be free of her prison, to be born normal and experience the outside world.
While lost in her dreams, the door to her quarters open and in walks the only person she was happy to see, Impa. "How are you doing Zelda?" she asks, worried lines etched into her brow.
"I'm alright," Zelda replies almost mechanically, managing only a weak smile at the sight of her old nurse.
Impa's smile turns sad as she embraces the young woman.
Zelda smiles a real smile as a tear escapes her eye. She loves these hugs more than anything. The strength of Impa's strong arms, the softness of her bosom where Zelda rests her weary head, and the warmth that rolls off Impa over Zelda is the only love that the poor girl ever receives and has ever known.
"Thank you Impa."
"You are welcome, child. I will always be there for you, even if you do not see me."
Zelda tightens her hold, not wanting to let go of the woman who has been like a mother to her all her life.
They part eventually for Zelda's break isn't a long one. Impa helps her re-apply her makeup to her tear-streaked face, and as they prepare to part ways, she gives Zelda a final caress on the cheek. Before she heads out the door and back into the shadows she hastily reminds the princess of the audience she has with her father later that day.
Zelda feels her heart freeze over, fearing the evening's particular exchange with her father. She drags her feet to her studies, certain yet indifferent to the earful she knows she'll receive from her tutors, for her mind wanders elsewhere for the rest of the day.
When her final lecture finishes, Zelda treads across rich carpets and feels small as she steps across grand, marbled halls to face her father the king. She fears him above all else, for he has the power to decide her fate. With each step, her fists clench tighter, and she wonders how her father will determine her fate. Gathering what little courage she has, she approaches the doors to her father's study. A guard on perpetual duty, upon seeing her, knocks on the king's doors and announces her arrival. Zelda takes a final breath before entering through the dark, foreboding doors.
She does her best to meet her father's piercing gaze with her own. She holds it, even though she desperately wants to look away. When she half-closes the distance between them, she curtsies to him, and he gives a curt nod of approval.
"You wished to see me father?"
"Yes," he replies. "I have called you here to clarify a matter of great importance." His voice is stoic, void of emotion, and she knew every action or word she may do would be treated with indifference.
"What matter is this father?" Zelda asks, though she fears she already knows the answer.
The king reaches into his robe and pulls out a piece of parchment, a letter if the broken seal was anything to go off of. "I called you here because of this."
She eyes the parchment warily. "What is that father?"
The king smiles bitterly, but to Zelda it almost seems wryly. "A marriage proposal for you."
Zelda sways where she stands. The edges of her vision fade in and out of darkness, and she places a hand on her heart, knowing the news means her worst fears might be realized. "Whom is it from?"
"The Duke of Goth."
The Duke of Goth...
She had met him before when he visited Hyrule, a man over twice her age who ogles every woman he sees through the corner of his beady eyes. She always had feared him and the way he had smiled at her. Thinking about it sent a shiver down her spine and made her skin crawl.
But he was rich, his holdings were vast, and he had "friends" in high places, not to mention Goth-though it is an island nation-was known for it's bountiful farmland. A marriage alliance would be most beneficial for Hyrule. A politician like her father would willingly seize the chance to marry her to the duke. She could refuse, but she knew she would risk being the target of her father's anger. Chances are he had already made the decision for her, like most kings did for their daughters.
She dares look him in the eye and can tell by the too calm expression that it was so. He couldn't be fearing a refusal because she couldn't refuse.
"Father, if you have already made this decision for me, then there is no need to say anything more about this matter. I am a princess, and I am your daughter. That is all there is to it. Just," she pauses, knowing this is her last stand. "...know that I do not expect him to be the most honourable spouse."
Her father nods, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. "That is all I needed to hear from you. Since you are so cooperative with it, I can now let the duke know we can start planning the wedding. Good night daughter; that is all."
Zelda's heart shatters as the weight of reality sets in. She realizes she had been right to worry, and there was nothing she could do. Her fate had been sealed, and it can't be undone.
Defeated, she stumbles back to her room and rings the bell for her maids. Once she's dressed in her night gown she sends them away. When she's certain she's alone, she allows the walls surrounding her soul to break down as she cries herself to sleep, cursing herself as a coward over and over again.
First chapter done. Depressing, I know, but it will get better, don't worry. For now though, simply leave a review please, and stay tuned for more content.