485 After Sealing (AS)

The funeral had been lovely, or that’s at least what everyone told Liesl as she stood at the doors of the Temple of Light and waited as the assembled guests lined up to exit. Each one offered their condolences or an anecdote about her parents, but they mostly fell on deaf ears. Liesl was courteous, just like she’d been taught, except her mind wasn’t really there. It was back a few days earlier when they visited this very place for the first time in many years. Not since they came up for another funeral, the one for the Queen.

This recent trip had been strange, though. The head priest asked her lots of funny questions that were confusing and didn’t seem connected. And when it was over, he made her wait with a temple servant while her parents talked with the old man. At least he was friendly and offered her a small tart for her trouble, which she happily took, even if it might spoil her lunch. She didn’t even tell her parents about the treat at the time and now she’d never be able to, which only made her feel worse somehow.  

The only people who didn’t wait to give Liesl any parting words were the King and the Princess since they left first while everyone waited. She hadn’t seen either of them since she was here for the Queen’s service, but at least the King said some nice things about both her parents. How wise and gentle her mother had been and how brave and strong her father was. Both descriptions were accurate, of course. However, Papa could be gentle too, and Mama was just as strong.

When the ceremony ended, and the temple emptied, Liesl was ushered into a carriage that followed behind the one that carried her parents. They would be buried in the city in a tomb that held other members of their family because they were originally from the capital, not Arwik. However, she thought her parents might’ve preferred to be back with the people of their town, but no one asked her, and she didn’t offer her opinion.

If Liesl were being honest, getting back on the road like this made her nervous for obvious reasons, but thankfully, she traveled toward the city and there were lots of soldiers around because of the King. Still, she fidgeted with her father’s pendant nearly the whole time, and it only worsened when their two carriages broke off from the main line and headed to lay her parents to rest.

When she finally saw their coffins placed in their final resting place, to be sealed away for the last time, it really hit home that they were gone for good. She didn’t know how long she stared at the wall thereafter, but it wasn’t until a new woman appeared that she finally stirred. Well, not completely new. The stranger had been at the funeral, hadn’t she?

“Liesl,” the stranger said gently as she came to stand next to her. She couldn’t have been much older than Liesl’s mother and was wearing a dark blue dress. When Liesl looked up, she found red eyes looking down at her. They contrasted starkly against white hair styled in a bun and contained a softness that communicated her sorrow. And something else Liesl couldn’t describe, and wouldn’t get the chance to…

“My name is Impa. I serve the royal family and I’m here to bring you to the castle.”

The castle? Why…what did Liesl need to do there? The confusion must have been plain on her face, because Impa’s smile eased to match the rest of her expression. “Oh dear, did no one tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Asked Liesl, before turning to face the newcomer properly.

“That you are coming to live with the royal family now?”

“I can’t go home?” There was an unmistakable surprise to Liesl’s voice and even though she’d felt dazed these past few days, she was sure she would’ve remembered news like that.

“No, dear,” Impa said with a shake of her head. “The castle will be your home now.”

“But my dolls, my friends…” Lisel started to protest, but the words eventually died in her throat as her mind raced.

“You’ll have everything you need in your new home, Liesl. We’ll see to that. And you’ll have a new friend too. The Princess.”

“The…Princess?” Now she was really confused. Why would Princess Zelda want to be her friend?

“That’s right,” Impa confirmed with a nod before holding out her hand. “And she’s waiting for your arrival.”  

The thought of royalty waiting for her made Liesl profoundly uncomfortable. If only because of the lessons from her parents and tutors. So, Liesl reached up and took Impa’s hand to let herself be led out of the tomb and back into the sun’s powerful light. How long had she been down there?

The two entered a different carriage then and started their journey out of the city and toward the castle that sat separate. At first, Liesl only watched the buildings outside pass by with profound disinterest. She was too busy in her mind, wondering what was going on and what her new life would be like. “Where will I sleep?” She eventually asked, as if that was her greatest concern.

“You’ll have your own room,” Impa started. “Right next to Princess Zelda.”

“I will?”

“You will and your routine’s will match as well. You’ll go to lessons together, play together, that sort of thing. But eventually, you’ll become her…well, did your mother have any ladies that helped her around the house or get ready in the morning?”

“You mean like Hilda? She helped Mama put her nice dresses on.”

“Like Hilda then,” Impa repeated. “You will be that for the Princess when the time comes.”

Liesl wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about such a thing. Hilda was always kind to her, but that sounded like more chores to do and Liesl hated doing chores. However, before her mind had time to wrap itself around this latest piece of news, her attention shifted outside the carriage and to the castle itself as they passed over a bridge and then under the raised gates.

Then they were climbing, higher and higher through narrow streets that wound around and around. Everything was made of stone and cramped as opposed to the wide-open spaces of her home. Her former home. And with each turn, and each difference her eye caught, Liesl grew more distraught.

“Come, child,” Impa said as she opened the door and held out her hand once more. With a few sniffles, and only a brief hesitation, Liesl reached out and grabbed the hand to allow herself to be guided once more. The woman took them through the courtyard and into a grand hall without so much as looking any way but forward. No explanation came about what they passed, not until they went through a large kitchen area and then back outside into a garden of sorts.

Various vegetables and herbs filled stone planters closest to the door they passed through, in addition to flowers and other plants that were most likely chosen for their beauty and not their practicality. Eventually, this smaller section opened to a well-manicured area filled with grass and even a tree or two. And there, sitting on the edge of a fountain, was a girl about Liesl’s age who’d she’d only seen twice in her whole life.

“Princess Zelda,” Impa said by way of announcing their arrival. She subsequently bowed and Liesl hastily did her own poor imitation once her mind realized that was what she was supposed to do.

The Princess looked up and removed her hand from the water a moment later, only to smile once she realized company was here. “Oh, hello!” She said before hopping to her feet and using her hands to smooth out the peach-colored dress she had on. It was less formal than the gown she wore earlier, and it also appeared as if her braids in her long, blonde hair had been let out.

“Princess,” Impa started again before looking down and nodding toward Liesl. “Our special guest has arrived. The one I told you about earlier.”

“I remember,” she said before shifting her focus to Liesl, who swayed nervously under the gaze of those piercing green eyes. Was she actually here with the Princess of the whole kingdom?

“Hello,” Zelda said before tilting her head slightly as her expression shifted to curiosity instead. “You look upset…”

It wasn’t really a question, but Liesl nodded her confirmation, anyway. “Oh, yes. I’m sorry, Princess.” She then dropped Impa’s hand and did her best to force a smile onto her face.

“You don’t have to be,” Zelda said with a shake of her head. “I’m sorry about your parents.”

“Thank you…”

Then an uncomfortable silence settled over the trio before Impa cleared her throat. “Princess, why don’t you show Liesl around? You don’t have any lessons today, so just be sure you aren’t late for dinner.”

The realization that she didn’t have to spend time with her tutors was apparently enough to bring that smile back to Zelda’s face before she nodded enthusiastically. “Alright! Leave it to me!” Without hesitation (or asking), she took Liesl’s hand before starting to drag her toward the fountain and the wider garden. “Come on, Liesl. Let me show you my favorite places!”

Before she had a chance to answer either way, Liesl was once again following someone else. But at least this distraction meant she wasn’t thinking as much about her mother and father. Still, she looked back toward Impa as she went. Whether out of comfort or seeking permission, Liesl really couldn’t have said. However, Impa met her look with an encouraging nod and subtle shooing motion of her hands, which helped her relax somewhat.

“Look!”

After walking for a bit, Zelda stopped them in front of a planter that had a trellis staked in the dirt toward the back. A plant with bright blue flowers grew up the back and it was clear from the Princess’s expression that she seemed to enjoy it immensely.

“Are these your favorite flowers?” Liesl asked, her gaze shifting from them to the Princess and then back.

“No,” Zelda answered with a shake of her head. “I’ve only ever seen my favorite ones in a book, but these are close. Sort of. They’re called morning glories.”

“We had those by our house, I think,” Liesl said before bending forward and bringing out her free hand to cup some of the delicate petals. “But they were purple, not blue.” Purple was her mother’s favorite color, after all.

“We have purple ones too! Do you want to see?” And even though it was a question, Zelda gave no time for Liesl to answer and was already tugging her off to their next stop. “I think we have pink as well. Do you like pink?”

Liesl only shrugged before they stopped in front of another planter with much the same setup. Only this time, the flowers were purple instead of blue, just as Zelda said. They looked exactly like the ones at home, which immediately brought Liesl’s thoughts back to her mother. Of course, they had a gardener for their property, but she preferred to handle most of the flowers herself. At least the ones close to the house and that she would see every day.

The sight, as much as the memories that stemmed from them, finally caused tears to well in the corners of Liesl’s eyes again. She hadn’t even cried this morning after doing so almost nonstop since that fateful day by the road. It was like she had gone numb all the way until…now.

“Oh,” Zelda said after she noticed the first one fall down Liesl’s cheek. The smile dropped away thereafter and a look of concern took its place. “Is something wrong?”

Liesl shook her head, even though that was clearly not the case. A large sob caused her to raise her free hand to try to wipe away the tears, but it was a fruitless effort as they kept coming. “I’m sorry…it’s my mom.” She couldn’t explain why, mostly because the words would have to fight her sadness. Thankfully, Zelda seemed to understand anyway.

“Your mom liked these flowers?” She asked. To which Liesl only nodded. “My mom too. Well, the pink ones. It was her favorite color…that’s why I have so many pink dresses.”

Liesl only nodded at first, but after she composed herself somewhat, she looked over at the Princess. “I’m sorry about your mom, too.” How odd that they had now been at the funerals for each other’s mothers. At least Zelda still had her father, though. “Was she nice?”

“Yeah,” Zelda said with a nod of her head. “She was my best friend. We would play dolls and hide and go seek and lots of other games when we had time.”

“Mine too.” And it was those memories that finally brought the barest hint of a smile back to Liesl’s face. At least for a moment. “But now they’re both gone…” And there it went.

“Well,” Zelda started before squeezing her hand where she held Liesl’s. “You can be my best friend now if you want. We can even play games.”

“Really?” Liesl asked with more than a little hope blooming in her chest.

“Mhm, every day…but only after we’re done with our duties.”

Their duties? Oh, right. Zelda’s duties as a Princess and Liesl’s duties as a…helper? Well, having a new friend sounded nice, at least. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all…