| Zelda wrapped a indigo silk kimono imported from Velatianne about her pale shoulders, and opened the stained glass doors onto her balcony looking over the spacious flora covered courtyard. Down in it, the pewter fountain gurgled and splashed, as little glowing faeries played in the pools of it, flitting about, making the darkened courtyard look enchanting. She could hear little piping voices giggling as the faeries chatted. Zelda then caught a whiff of the essence of the lavender lilacs climbing and creeping up the stone wall. A light breeze ruffled Zelda's gold curls, and the leaves of the tall majestic tree nearby rustled, as if whispering the secrets of life in the Princess' pointy ears. How Zelda loved North Castle! It was even more grand than than Hyrule Castle where she had lived for the first seventeen years of her life, before Ganondorf destroyed it. Her family had then fled north up near Rauru Village, and with the help of magic and and the Hyrulean citizens, they had somehow built a new castle in only two years! She suddenly raised her eyes to the sky as she thought of her gentle mother, looking for the constellation her father had said were the souls of her family. It was easy to find, a glittering cluster, one star shining more brightly than the others. Her mother. "Hello, Mum...." Zelda whispered into the breeze, hoping her mother could hear. She was disrtacted though, as a candle flickered across the way, coming to life. Against the curtains covering the glass double door, Zelda could see the lanky silhouette of Hyrule's hero, Link. Zelda could not help letting her mind wander, dreaming of his sky blue eyes, his tanned face, his muscular body... "Hullo, Princess!" Link had gone out onto his own stone balcony, flashing a pearly smile that lit up his whole face. Zelda beamed at him, calling; "What are you up to, my big strong handsome hero?" She gasped, covering her mouth with a perfectly manicured hand. That had not been supposed to slip out!!! Link just flashed a larger grin, gazing at her boyishly. "Nothing much...How about you, my beautiful Princess?" Zelda flushed crimson, calling back; "I found something to do with the Triforce, and separating it from yourself!" "Mind if I come over to see it?" Link asked. "Not at all!" Zelda smiled, as Link leapt into the shelter of a leafy tree, and scambled as deftly as a chipmunk from branch to branch, then springing onto an adjacent tree, the branches bobbing beneath his weight. Soon, Link landed on Princess Zelda's own balcony, foilage sticking out of his hair and night tunic. Laughing, Zelda helped pick the twigs off, and for a moment, their eyes met, and Link took her hand. Zelda's heart leapt into her throat, but then, he shyly pulled away, saying; "So, where's that spell?" Slightly dissapointed, Zelda lead him into her chamber, shuting the doors behind her. She glided gracefully over to her table, where the bayberry candle flickered, giving off a sweet essence, pale smoke curling towards the ceiling. The books sat paitiently, and Zelda picked up the larger one, bound in cranberry silk. "Sit down." She gestured to the satin chaise lounge, where Link promptly plunked down on. Zelda sat next to him, and spread the large heavy novel across their laps. She put her head on his shoulder as she read in her gentle voice, translating the spell from ancient Hylian to the simplifed version now used. Link listened like a trusting child, and his hand reached up to stroke the blonde ringlets that hung down from Zelda's head. Zelda felt a chill go up her spine, but just smiled as she finished the passage. "That can really be done?" Link asked, amazed. "I could barely believe it myself..." Zelda replied, looking to him. "Shouldn't we try that spell?.....It says that we could use the Triforce as a powerful weapon...." Link suggested. "Why would we need to do that though? Ganon's gone, we're in peacetime....." Zelda shook her head. "I suppose you're right..." Link was obviously dissapointed, but he kept a cheerful front. and leapt up off the low couch, "Guess I best be going. It's 22:00...Goodnight, Zelda...." He gave her hand a quick squeeze, and stepped back out into the cool, sweet night air, the stars twinkling brightly in a velvet sky. "You're going back through the trees again?" Zelda inquired, rather amused. "Yeah..." Link muttered. "Godnight, Link." Zelda smiled. "Goodnight Princess." Link grinned boyishly, and then swung over the side of the stone balcony, grabbing hold of the leafy tree branch that rustled nearby. In a minute or so, he swung over to his own portico, and waved to Zelda, dissapearing into his chamber. The chiffon drapes swung behind him, and Zelda could see his candle flicker and die out. She turned to enter her own chambers, and once inside, she removed her robe, and slipped into a soft silk white nightdress. Zelda loved this gown dearly. It was sleeveless, with a low neckline embroidered with a delicate Hylian emblem. The waisline was high, tied with a powder pink ribbon with a bow in front. It fell down to her ankles, and at the back, a light cape of chiffon floated from the shoulders. Zelda admired her wiry figure in her looking glass, and ran a brush through her thick shiny blonde hair. Smiling, she snuffed out the bayberry candle, and sank into her soft featherbed with the rich violet quilt with gold embroidery. The room was washed with pale moonlight, and the beams danced across the room as Zelda fell into a peaceful slumber to the sounds of the locusts in the lilac bushes in the courtyard. *** A knock at the door jolted her awake. Moaning drowsily, Zelda rolled over, and mumbled: "Who is it?" A feeble voice piped out: "Edbert, your Majesty." It was her father's personal messenger. "Mmmm? What do you want?" Zelda croaked. "Your father requests an audience with you in an hour. He will be knighting a lad." She heard Edbert amble back down the corridor, and she debated snuggling back into her matress, but instead, Zelda dragged herself to her feet, and shuffled over to her vanity where she picked up her ivory brush and ran it through her curls until they shone like a golden river. Zelda admired her reflection in the mirror that hung above the vanity for a moment, and then turned to her mahogany wardrobe, opening the intricately carven doors. "What should I wear?" She twisted a lock of hair around a slender finger as she looked among the several rows of over a hundered dresses. The Princess pulled out a blue dress with silver filigree dangling from the collar. Too heavy for the weather. She shuffled through the oufits once more, this time pulling out a lush purple silk dress with gold embroidery of roses around the collar, waist, and the ends of the long sleeves. She held it up to herself in the looking glass. Perfect. She pulled off her night dress, and pulled the soft gown over her head. The Princess then walked over to her vanity, and opened a gilt box, sifting through it's contents. Zelda withdrew a gold headdress and set it her long hair, a shining amythest hanging down her forehead, complementing the dress nicely. She then clipped a set of dangly gold earrings on her pointed ears, they glittered in the morning light that filtered through the chiffon curtains. Zelda then smiled at her reflection again, and her mind began to wander, about that spell she had read the evening before....Maybe it could be of a use...She must tell Link of her changing her mind. Zelda briskly flew down the steep marble steps to the next floor, and then made her way to the flight leading to Link's quarters. She picked up her trailing train as she raced up the narrow stairwell, and knocked at the polished double doors at the top. Several seconds later, Link opened the door, looking surpised. "Good morning, Zel." He smiled. Zelda grinned back at him, and said; "May I come in?" Link nodded. Zelda stepped into his chamber, and Link shut the door behind her. Zelda looked to him, and sat down in one of the ladderback chairs that had been sat around a wood table. "I decided...I changed my mind about the Triforce spell. It could be of use." She smiled thoughtfully. "Really? I knew it would be good if we ever went back to war." Link beamed. "Why do you want to try the spell so much?" Zelda asked. "Uhh, I dunno." Link replied. "Oh, well I see where you're coming from, it would decrease any threat we could have if the Triforce was an object, and not within us. We must tell my father." Zelda stood. "We need to be getting downstairs now anyway." "Ah, yes, the knighting ceremony." Link mused, remembering how he himself had been knighted just over a year ago when he was 17 for he vanquished Ganon to the Golden Land. He offered Zelda his arm, and Zelda took it, smiling at Link. Link winked at her and grinned boyishly. With her free hand, Zelda held her train above the stone floor, and they walked down to the ground floor, where the Throne Room lay before them. Grand tapestries lined each wall, and King Harkinian sat jollily on the throne, wearing a silk red weskit. He looked up as Edbert called from the threshold; "Presenting the Honourable and Royal Princess Zelda of Hyrule, Leader of the Sacred Sages, and bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, with her personal guard, Sir Link, Hero of Time, and bearer of the Triforce of Courage!" Link and Zelda walked to the King, bowed respectively, and Zelda took her seat at his left, Link standing behind her throne, hand on the hilt of his sword dangling from his waist. Edbert then called out; "Your Highnesses, may I present to you, Adam Eaverson of the town of Nabooru, his deed being great valour during the battle of Lake Hylia in the Imprisonment War!" Zelda saw a young man, only sixteen or seventeen, shuffling shepishly down the lond aisle towards the dais where she sat. His brown hair was slicked back from his face, he was clothed in a new satin Hylian Elite Army uniform whose brass buttons glistened in the torchlight. He knelt before King Harkinian, and murmured; "It is a pleasure to be in your service, my Liege." "I have heard of how you saved thousands of men with your quick thinking back in the Imprisonment War, Adam." Harkinian leaned forward, brandishing a golden sword crusted with baubles that glitered brightly. He placed it to Adam Eaverson's shoulder, and declared: "I hereby knight thee, Sir Adam of Nabooru Town." He moved the sword to the other shoulder, and then said, "Rise, lad." Sir Adam rose slowly, and smiled. "Thank you, your majesty." Harkinian shook his hand heartily, and said: "My pleasure. Would you like to join my family and the other knights for dining this eve?" "Yes, your Majesty." Adam pivoted with an air of importance, and slowly crept back out of the throne room. Zelda then turned to her father; "Father, I must ask to speak with you in private. Link too." "Alright, Zel. Meet me in the study at 13:00 then." |
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