496 AS

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

Liesl groaned at the soft voice that stirred her from her slumber. Her face scrunched thereafter, and her hands came up to grab the edge of the comforter so she could bring it up over her head.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Zelda said before gripping the blanket and pulling it back down. “You don’t get to hide away on my birthday!”

That’s right! It was Zelda’s birthday, wasn’t it? And not just any birthday, her eighteenth birthday. As if Liesl could possibly forget! Especially since the Princess spent what felt like the whole evening trying to guess what Liesl had gotten her. Unsuccessfully, of course. And even if she had, Liesl wasn’t about to confirm it. Where was the fun in that? It was much more enjoyable to torture her dear friend! Speaking of which…

“Birthday?” Liesl kept her eyes closed and tried as hard as she could to keep the grin from her lips. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re speaking of, Princes…”

“Don’t you Princess me!” A moment later, she felt the press of a body atop hers as Zelda pounced. “Unhand it already!”

A fit of laughter from both girls followed the demand, but Liesl didn’t relent. “You don’t even know if I have it!”

A huff of incredulity escaped Zelda’s lips before she rolled her eyes. “You always have it ready on my birthday mornings. Don’t tell me this year is any different!”

Damn, she had Liesl figured out, didn’t she? Because as much as Zelda wanted to receive her gift, Liesl longed to give it to her. And since she always spent the night with Zelda on her birthday (as she did most nights), Liesl had become adept at sneaking it in and hiding it where the Princess couldn’t find it. Minus one or two years.

It wasn’t until those royal fingers dug into her sides that Liesl’s eyes shot open and she began to defend herself in earnest. “Okay! Okay! I’ll get it. Just stop this assault!”

“You better,” Zelda said before lifting her fingers up enough that Liesl could move freely. One hand came up to wipe a few strands of her long hair out of her face while the other remained poised to continue the previous attack should her request not be met.

For a moment, Liesl considered going on the attack herself. She was much stronger than Zelda now and could easily overpower the Princess and dish out some of her own tickles. However, it was her birthday, so she would be spared. For today, at least.

Instead, Liesl rolled over once she was free and reached around in the nightstand drawer until she found a book and pulled it out. At which point Zelda’s expression became confused.

“A book?”

“Oh, come now,” Liesl said with a playful shake of her head. “While I know you enjoy them, you didn’t really think I’d hand something over unwrapped, did you?”

“That would be very unlike you,” Zelda admitted with a chuckle.

“It would be…which is why this is only a decoy.” Liesl sat up in the bed then and Zelda moved to do the same, so close that their arms touched while the Princess peered down at the book in Liesl’s hands.

The warmth in her arm gave Liesl pause for a moment, but she soon gathered her wits enough to open the cover and reveal the hollowed pages within.

“A false book, no way!”

“That’s right,” Liesl said with amusement lacing her words. “I borrowed it from Rowan because I know how no-sy you can be.”

“Well, can you blame me?” Zelda asked before giving her friend a little shove where their shoulders touched. “You always give me such thoughtful gifts. Not only that, you somehow manage to outdo yourself every year.”

That compliment filled Liesl’s heart with warmth, especially because she spent a lot of time and effort on each one. It was good to know they were appreciated so much! And this year she was particularly proud. So, she reached into the book and pulled out a small, plain-looking white box. It was sealed shut with a royal blue ribbon and sat neatly in her palm.

However, before she handed it over, Liesl found her friend’s beautiful green eyes and smiled warmly. “Happy Birthday, Zelda.”

Despite her near ravenous desire to receive this year’s present, Zelda didn’t reach for the box and met her friend’s gaze with an equally tender smile that was so wide it hid her eyes for a moment. “Thanks, Liesl.”

Pleasantries exchanged, Liesl finally extended the box forward and watched with glee as Zelda snatched it from her hand as she sucked in her bottom lip to capture it between her teeth. The ribbon was undone and discarded in a flash and the top was lifted away with almost as fervent a motion. But then Zelda’s eyes went wide and she froze as she peered down into the box.

Liesl stared expectantly, eyes dropping to the gift and back up to Zelda’s face over and over again as she waited. Her mind raced with anticipation for a reaction one way or another, but as the seconds stretched on, she became anxious this might not have been the right gift.

“Liesl…it’s…”

It’s what!? Ugh, this was maddening! However, judging by the shock on Zelda’s face, she wasn’t drawing this out to torture her friend on purpose. 

“Well, do you like it?”

The question seemed to shock Zelda from her stupor with a giggle and a shake of her head. “Do I like it?” Zelda repeated before reaching in and scooping out the delicate hairpin within. “Of course, I do you silly woman!”

Oh, thank the goddesses! Liesl nearly blew out a sigh of relief and watched as Zelda brought it up to her eyes. The gift was about as perfect as a rendition of Zelda’s favorite flower as she could imagine. 

“The Silent Princess,” Zelda mused as she turned the piece over this way and that in inspection. The delicate glasswork of the flower captured every bit of detail of the blue and white petals and even the golden bits at center. Its petals flowed naturally out from the center and each was bordered with silver to give it strength while not detracting or stealing the show. The stem (of sorts) branched out into three solid tongs that could easily be secured in one’s hair. For example, a large bundle of blonde hair…

“It’s perfect,” Zelda nodded before finally looking over at her friend. “But where on earth did you find this? The flower has been gone for so long now I doubt anyone is making it from memory.”

At that, Liesl couldn’t help but chuckle to herself as she thought back on just how much she’d had to sneak around to get this gift. “Well, I had to borrow one of your books for reference, just until the artisans had a good idea of the piece and could sketch it out.” 

Zelda didn’t respond right away following the comment and her eyebrows scrunched together in thought. “That’s where my book went, you thief!”

“Yes, yes. It was me…the thief.” More soft laughter followed the admission, but then Zelda dropped her eyes to the flower once more. 

“I guess I can forgive since it led to this, but do you mean to tell me you had it custom-made?” 

“I did,” Liesl said with a nod. 

“That must have cost a fortune,” Zelda objected before bumping her friend’s shoulder again. You shouldn’t spend so much on me!”

It was a little pricey sure, but the reaction so far had been well worth the price. Zelda was worth the price. Besides, it wasn’t exactly like Liesl was hurting for money. Her family has been…comfortable, and that all passed to her following their deaths. And since all her needs were met by the castle (and Zelda’s generosity), she didn’t ever have much to spend it on. 

“Don’t worry about it,” Liesl said with a grin. “It makes me happy to see that look on your face because it’s a rare treat to surprise you this thoroughly.” Eyes in the back of her head, that one. 

“Well, it must be considering the lengths you’ll go through.” Following her assertion, Zelda held the flower up toward the window and let the soft morning light illuminate the glass petals. It cast blue light over her face and helped illuminate the already radiant smile. “Though, I really don’t know how you’ll top this…”

“I’ll think of something,” Liesl said almost nonchalantly. In fact, she already had a few ideas.

The quip brought Zelda’s gaze back to Liesl and her expression softened before she began to nod slowly. “I’m sure you will.” Then she let the hairpin rest gently in the box and set it aside before reaching up and pulling her friend into a gentle embrace. “Thank you, Liesl. I love it.”

Even though the embrace was soft, Liesl’s heart raced with both Zelda’s touch and her words. She had wanted so badly for this gift to work out and thankfully it seemed to have surpassed even her wildest expectations. “You’re welcome. I’m so happy you do.”

With a final squeeze, Zelda pulled back and then her expression grew excited once more before she scooted toward the end of the bed. “I do! And that means I want to wear it all day!”

“All day?”

“That’s right, and even tonight.”

“Tonight? For the ball? I’m not sure it goes with your dress,” Liesl countered.

“I don’t care about that,” Zelda said as she slipped down onto the floor, put her hands behind her back, and turned with the most innocent smile on her face. The one that never failed to get Liesl to do whatever the Princess wanted. “It’s a ball for my birthday and this is a birthday gift. See? Simple.” A shrug followed as if this were the most logical statement in the world, and then Zelda reached out her hand for Liesl to take. “My favorite birthday present.”

Liesl took the offered hand a moment later and let herself be pulled from the bed as she rolled her eyes. “You haven’t even gotten your other presents yet. How do you know?”

“I know. Mostly because you’re always the one who puts in the most effort.”

Well, Liesl supposed that was right considering just how much time she put into each one. But how could she not for her most cherished friend? The one who had given Liesl her life back after she lost everything. Besides, it wasn’t as if Zelda wasn’t generous and thoughtful with her gifts, either. Liesl still used the compass the Princess got her last year for her eighteenth birthday. When she could sneak away to run through the forest, that is.

“So,” Zelda continued. “Let’s get dressed so you can do my hair and put my gift firmly in it.”

Now that was a fantastic idea and after Liesl offered Zelda’s hand a squeeze where she still gripped it, she let it fall away and began walking to her room. “Yes, Princess.” Her tone was playful and Liesl reveled in the wrinkled nose and roll of Zelda’s eyes as she disappeared through her door before any retaliation could come.

Once on the other side, Liesl closed it and then leaned back to let her back and head real against the solid wood for a moment. It really was becoming harder to share a bed with Zelda. If only because the pounding in her heart made it difficult to fall asleep. And yet, the nights they didn’t, felt cold and lonely. They had been doing it for most of the time they’d known each other, so it was just natural at this point, right? Surely, that’s why it felt odd otherwise.

With a sigh, Liesl pushed herself off and went to her armoire. Her simple, white nightgown was exchanged for a slip and then her typical dress. Mostly blue to match the royal colors, but with sections of white throughout. It was nicer than the typical servant’s attire, which was befitting a lady of her rank. Not just a handmaiden, but a full-blown lady of the court. Even if she mostly performed those duties for Zelda now. But she didn’t mind. She enjoyed doing such things for her friend and wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The long, bell-shaped sleeves of her dress and loose skirt covered the subtle muscles of her arms and legs but the dress clung tightly to the leanness otherwise present in her abdomen. Not because she refused to partake in the delicious food served by the royal kitchens, but more than likely due to the “games” she still played with Rowan, Calla, and the other soldiers to this day. Of course, they had evolved beyond tag and others of her youth. Honestly, sometimes it felt like she was exercising more than entertaining herself, but any time she broached the subject of actual training, Rowan was quick to dismiss it. And it wasn’t just fun either, the older man encouraged her to partake in numerous other hobbies as well. Dancing, swimming, reading (especially history). However, none of those activities were on her schedule today, so she finished up with some simple leather flats instead of boots.

A knock preceded her return into Zelda’s room and Liesl found the Princess already sitting in front of her mirror dressed in a similar style of dress. Albeit with many more additional details and emblems. “No corset today?” Liesl asked as she stepped up and put her hands on Zelda’s shoulders before finding her eyes in the reflection.

“Not today,” Zelda replied with a shake of her head. “I think I can sneak by without wearing that awful thing until later.” Well, Liesl wasn’t going to encourage otherwise. The few times she’d been unfortunate enough to have to wear one had solidified her hatred of the garment. Thankfully, no one seemed to notice or care if she did or didn’t, as all eyes were always on the Princess. Especially around her father. Besides, it would’ve been cumbersome when the vast majority of her afternoons were spent with Rowan, anyway.

Liesl hummed her agreement and then leaned forward to grab the brush off of the little desk. Of course, she found the new hairpin there waiting and smiled to herself knowing that Zelda had moved it so she could get it in her hair as quickly as possible. “Let’s see,” she mused as the brush came up and began to work through the long golden hair that spilled from Zelda’s head all the way down to midway through her back. “How about a bun this morning? And the flower can sit on top?”

Zelda looked thoughtful for a moment, but ultimately shrugged. “Do what you think will look good. I trust you.” She paused for a second, but then looked like she remembered something.

“And don’t forget the braids.

“I know…”

“Of course, you do.” Zelda smiled softly and then let her eyes close as the bristles fell in her hair repeatedly in long, languid strokes. More than was strictly required, but they didn’t have anywhere to be this morning. So, Liesl could take her time.

“I wish every day was like this,” Zelda said with a longing sigh. “No tutors, no special events where I have to put on a fake smile.”

“But you have a beautiful smile,” Liesl countered.

“Ah, you only think that because you get to see the real one.”

It was a good thing Liesl was standing behind Zelda, so hopefully the Princess wouldn’t see how her cheeks reddened ever so slightly at that assertion. She was right, after all! “Well, what would you like to do while we wait?”

“Breakfast first, of course. Then…how about a walk through the gardens? The flowers will help cheer me up even more, even if they aren’t as pretty as the one I get to wear.”

Liesl nodded along with her suggestion before setting the brush down and starting to part the hair out into sections. “That sounds lovely, I could use a walk.” And a talk before others would steal her away this evening…