Unlike Zelda, Rowan made sure to describe their route on the way back. Both to provide directions and alternative routes to reach the small storeroom without being seen. Also, unlike the Princess, he was much more careful about being seen by anyone else. It was easier to explain why Liesl was out of her room with Zelda than it was with him, and there could only be one assumption as to why they were together. At least in the King’s mind. Which just so happened to be the correct assumption, in this case.

So, as soon as Liesl recognized where she was, Rowan said his goodbyes and sent her on her way with a hug and a promise to see her tomorrow. And just like with Rowan, Liesl was now extra careful not to get spotted along the way. Which was harder now that servants were headed all around the castle for dinner time. Still, it wasn’t like individual servants knew her restriction yet or would tell the King she’d broken it. Yes, she would be able to figure out a way to get down to the storeroom with ease when the time came.

In the end, Liesl made it without incident and wasted no time slipping through the door. As soon as she made it inside, she found Zelda sitting at the table, sipping a cup of tea and glancing her way as if she’d been looking at the door for a while. It looked like their dinner had already been set out on the table, too. Huh, had it really been that long?

“You’re back,” Zelda said before hurriedly returning her cup to the saucer and standing from the table.

“I am,” Liesl confirmed before shutting the door and gesturing toward the table. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you from eating. You should’ve started without me.”

“Nonsense. You know I don’t like eating without you.” After Zelda stepped up, her gaze dropped to Liesl’s retreating hand, and her eyes widened at the sight. “And you’re hurt!” She grabbed Liesl’s wrist following the question and before the hand could fully retreat. “What happened? What did Rowan do to you!?”

At first, Liesl felt a little embarrassed to be fussed over like this, but soon, it was hard not to smile. Honestly, she almost let a few chuckles fall from her lips, but she managed to restrain herself.

“What? Why are you smiling?” Zelda’s face turned pouty from the confusion, but Liesl quickly shook her head and brought the other palm up to show her. Since it had gripped the sword, it fared a little better but was still visibly injured with scratches and red spots maring the skin.

“Well, training is tough,” Liesl admitted in a soft voice. “What did you think was going to happen, silly?” However, the amusement faded from her expression once she realized that Zelda was still silent and observing her palms with an almost sorrowful expression.

“I suppose,” she started, but then swallowed the words before the rest could get out.

Silly, caring woman. Liesl brought her free hand up and gently cupped Zelda’s cheek so she could lift her gaze from the hand and find her eyes. That’s right, don’t look at the injuries, just look at your friend. “I’m okay,” she assured the Princess. “And if I get hurt, you’ll heal me, right?”

At first, Zelda didn’t answer and only let her eyes drop to find the hand that was lightly touching her face. “Y-yes, of course!”

Hmm, was it Liesl’s imagination, or could she feel Zelda’s cheek warming beneath her fingers? And now that she noticed it, both of them were pretty red, weren’t they? Odd. After a few seconds, Liesl’s attention dropped to her hand as well, and she realized just exactly what she was doing. Goddesses, when had she grown so bold!? Cradling Zelda’s face like that! Another moment, and she snatched her hand away as her eyes went wide. “Sorry,” she muttered before her own cheeks heated with embarrassment.

Thankfully, Zelda also seemed keen to let it drop, and she quickly used the hand she held to drag Liesl toward the table. “Nothing to be sorry over. Besides, no time like the present!” Liesl was quickly ushered to a chair, and Zelda pulled hers up thereafter. Then, she quickly reached out for Liesl’s other hand so she could cup them both gently in hers, palms toward the ceiling. “I suppose it isn’t too bad all things considered,” she admitted before closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing.

“No, not today.” Today, Liesl hadn’t even swung her sword to try and hit Rowan, and more importantly, he hadn’t tried to hit her either. Even if he had twisted her wrist. And when they did reach that point, would Liesl come back in the evening sporting more injuries? Bruises, cuts, and Goddesses-knew what else? While that didn’t sound fun, she had to admit there was one upside to such a thing…

Liesl remained quiet as Zelda sat and concentrated, reaching deep within herself to draw out her power. Some days were easier than others, but it wasn’t surprising that she was having some difficulty after training all day.

Eventually though, light grew from Zelda’s fingertips and Liesl could feel a very different warmth seep into her skin. One that quickly filled her whole being and made her feel at peace. She’d seen cuts healed countless times at this point and instead chose to keep focusing on Zelda’s face because she was so cute when she concentrated like this. With her brows squeezed together and lips pressed tight into a line. She was trying so hard to provide relief to Liesl when it was only a few scratches, and it warmed her heart to know that her friend cared so much about her. Which, you know…of course, she did! More than just caring.

It didn’t take long for all the cuts to vanish, and Zelda let out a pleased sigh once the light receded. “There, all better,” she mused before running a thumb over Liesl’s palm. Then she did something completely unexpected by raising it up high enough to gently kiss where the red marks had been only a minute ago.

Liesl opened her mouth to say something, but her mind was much too focused on just how soft those lips were to be able to form a coherent thought. W-why had she done that!? Liesl’s cheeks reddened again until they were no doubt the same color as the tomatoes in their salads.

And when Zelda looked up, her grin only widened once she saw the reaction she’d caused. “Ah, how the tables have turned.”

Wait, was she messing with her!? “Oh! You…you…!” Liesl sputtered the words, and yet, she didn’t pull her hand back.

“What? Princess got your tongue?” Zelda let their hands drop, but similarly didn’t let go.

“It’s still dirty, you know.” Honestly, the Princess of the kingdom, doing such things!

“Well, you better wash up then. It’s time for dinner.”

Oh, she was very pleased with herself, wasn’t she? Liesl rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that formed in the wake of her surprise.. She left for the washroom thereafter but spared a glance back over her shoulder to find Zelda leaning on the table, hand on her chin as she watched her go. Cheeky woman, making her heart race like that.

And yet, when she got to the wash basin, it was hard to immediately sink her hands into the water and wash that kiss away. So much so that Liesl even brought the hand up and let a few fingers from its twin dance over the skin. Goddesses, why were her lips so impossibly soft? And what would they feel like other places? However, before she let those thoughts run too wild, Liesl shook her head and plunged her hand into the water, where soap quickly followed.

A minute later, she emerged to find that Zelda had already started doling out food. The two quickly fell into conversation in between mouthfuls of yummy food, which ended up taking most of their time. Zelda must’ve been putting in some hard work too, considering her appetite. That or she was having to work through lunch. Oh, her teachers better not be making her do that!

When they finished, Liesl was subsequently shooed off to the bathroom so she could relax in the bath while Zelda cleaned up. She knew the Princess was simply being kind, but it felt weird nonetheless. Both the offer to do the things Liesl usually took care of, as well as washing her hair thereafter. Again. That, coupled with helping Zelda once she was finished, meant that Liesl’s poor heart had now been beating hard for most of the afternoon and the evening. Unfortunately for her, it wouldn’t be getting any rest soon.

“Well, how do you feel now?” Zelda asked from where she sat in the bed, legs covered by the comforter.

Liesl herself was already lying on her back, eyes fighting to stay open now that she was surrounded by the warmth of the blankets as well as her friend.

“I feel great,” she said with a sigh, but then shifted her arms beneath the blanket. “Well, aside from the ache in my arms. Holding that sword for so long was really difficult.”

“Sore muscles, huh? Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve tried healing them or something.”

“You don’t have to,” Liesl lightly protested. “You need your rest, too.”

“I do, but I can manage this at least. Come on, no arguing with your Princess.”

Liesl grumbled but otherwise rocked in the bed and sat up to rub sleep from her eyes. “Like this?” She asked before turning her head and letting it rest on her knuckles.

“A little forward, please.”

Following the request and Liesl’s movement, Zelda pushed back the covers and slipped behind her in the bed. A moment later, she saw the other woman’s legs spread out to either side and felt Zelda’s hands land on her upper arms, over the soft fabric of her long sleeves.

“Are you going to use your power?” Liesl asked. “I’m not sure it really works on sore muscles.” At least, it hadn’t in the past. Sure, there was a small burst of energy while Zelda was healing her, but it faded quickly soon after. As if whatever energy the healing provided was linked directly to her magic, and it disappeared as it retreated.

“Well, I normally need skin contact for magic,” Zelda whispered from behind her. Oh…right. Which meant either pulling the sleeves comically high or ditching the nightgown altogether. And that second option? No, absolutely not. “But I was thinking a simple massage would do.” Yes, thank the Goddesses, that was much more doable. Or so Liesl thought.

“Alright. That sounds nice,” Liesl said with a nod of her head.

“Well, let’s hope it feels as nice as it sounds. It’s not like I do this often.” A moment later, Liesl could feel Zelda’s fingers begin to squeeze her muscles. Lightly at first until she seemed to find a rhythm. Honestly, it was a little awkward, but once Liesl forced herself to relax, she could feel the tension start to melt away.

“How’s the pressure?”

“You can go a little harder.”

And so, Zelda did. She used her thumb to trace and knead the muscles under Liesl’s arm while the rest focused on the top. The Princess moved steadily, ensuring that no inch was left untended from Liesl’s elbow to her shoulder. And once she reached the top, Zelda started again. The next pass she even rotated slowly as she went, just to ensure the previous point.

Thankfully, this wasn’t as unnerving as Liesl first imagined it would be. I mean, they touched each other before, right? Brushed hair, hugged, held hands in bed. So, what was a massage? An excellent massage that she let herself fall deeper into as the seconds turned to minutes. Liesl even let her eyes flutter closed and her head hang forward, she was enjoying it so much.

A few passes later, those hands traced up to her shoulders before once again getting to work. The way her thumbs dug into Liesl’s shoulders elicited a grunt of approval and a giggle thereafter from her temporary masseuse.

“That good?”

“Very good,” Liesl confirmed.

“Hmm, in that case, I might have to request one of these for myself one day.”

“Whenever you like.” Yes, whenever Zelda wanted, Liesl would be ready to repay the favor. Wherever she needed it, and even if her training wasn’t as physical.

When those hands finally stopped, Liesl figured that was simply the end of it and was about to offer her thanks before she felt those hands move up to her hair. Liesl’s eyebrows scrunched in confusion, but as soon as the Princess had the bulk of it gathered, she moved it around one shoulder to expose the long, pale neck beneath.

“Zelda?”

“Just following the muscles,” she mused in answer.

A moment later, Zelda’s fingers landed on her bare skin for the first time, and then Liesl’s poor heart was really off to the races. The touch was gentle, and she felt the tips trace along the curve of her neck and up to just below her ear. The hands shifted, and the downstroke that followed saw those thumbs digging in and relieving the tension that had suddenly and inexplicably popped up. However, as opposed to the relaxation she felt before, Liesl found no reprieve in this. Her mind traced every bit of skin those soft fingers glided over, and she was simply thankful her face was turned away, and the blush that formed was out of sight.

“Your ears are turning red,” Zelda noted a moment later with unabashed amusement lacing her voice. “Is this not relaxing?”

Damn, caught red-handed. Or red…eared? Liesl had to take a moment to swallow, and she shook her head gently so as not to disturb her friend’s efforts. “It’s relaxing…”

“You’re a terrible liar and yet you try anyway…” There was no accusation in that voice, only a whimsical observation that did nothing to subdue the embarrassment blooming in her chest (and all over her skin apparently).

No further condemnation came, but Zelda’s hands stopped their attention long enough to come down to her shoulders. With her new handhold, she pulled Liesl up and toward her until her back was pressed to Zelda’s chest. “I’m not sure big, strong warriors are supposed to blush like that.”

Perhaps not, but the softness of Zelda’s voice washing over her ear certainly wasn’t helping. Goddesses, she had to know what she was doing, right? What kind of thoughts she was filling Liesl’s mind with? Thoughts that made her not want to retreat even one inch because that would mean they would separate, and that was somehow a much worse fate than enduring the furious beat of her heart.

But was she really uncomfortable? No. Nervous maybe. But the warmth that seeped into her person from the hug was so, so worth it. “I’m not big, strong, or a warrior,” Liesl corrected. So obviously, it was alright for her to blush!

“Well, you’re taller than I. Stronger, too,” Zelda whispered before letting her head fall to the side and rest against Liesl’s. “And though you may not be a warrior yet, you will be. And I’m so proud of you for taking that step today.”

Goddesses, how could she not want to try her best when Zelda paid her such compliments? “One day, I promise.” She only hoped that day was before their time ran out.