“Shouldn’t I have been the one to help get her ready?” Liesl asked where she stood in front of the body-length mirror in her room. “I mean, I have every other time.”

“True,” Impa hummed with a shrug as she finished tying off the last string of Liesl’s gown for the evening. “But this time is apparently different…for some reason. And you know how the Princess can be when she wants things her way.”

“Oh, I know.”

“Better than anyone, I imagine. So, better to simply play along.” 

After spending the morning and early afternoon together, Zelda and Liesl returned to the Princess’s room to begin preparation for the ball. Which involved the usual prep, of course. A bath that had Liesl once again counting the stones of the ceiling while she waited to help in whatever was was needed, followed by attending to the chosen hairstyle for the evening. However, once it was time to retrieve Zelda’s dress, the Princess’s demeanor changed. 

Much to Liesl’s surprise, she was summarily banished from Zelda’s room for the rest to be replaced with Impa. Infuriating! And confusing, just like the reason given. Zelda said she wanted Liesl to be the first to see her in the dress, but wouldn’t that be true if she had just let her do her duty? However, Zelda insisted it wasn’t the same and in the end, Liesl relented. She told herself it was because it was her friend’s birthday, but the truth was far simpler. Liesl just couldn’t say no. Not that she ever wanted to, mind you. 

It was doubly unfair because Zelda picked out her dress to wear tonight. Well, that wasn’t wholly the same. Liesl was actually relieved she wouldn’t have to choose, but that wasn’t the point! And what a choice it ended up being. The ice blue dress wrapped tightly around her torso before falling elegantly to the ground to pool around her feet. The sleeves were offset from her shoulder in thick loops and otherwise left her arms uncovered because, as Zelda had put it, “it would be a crime to hide them.” Extra material at the ends of the loops wrapped once around her arms before falling nearly to the floor. They also happen to provide Liesl the perfect object to fidget with in her nervousness, even if that certainly wasn’t their intended purpose. 

The dress was unadorned with any extra details or bits to draw attention. Just a simple, elegant thing that matched Liesl’s eyes and the royal colors. It would no doubt be a contrast to the Princess’s, but Liesl knew it wasn’t to make Zelda stand out more. No, she had picked it because she knew Liesl hated to be the center of attention. 

Her height meant flats for the evening, lest she tower over everyone. However, the one thing Liesl had chosen for herself was her hairstyle. And because she knew Zelda’s would be different, she asked Impa to gather her hair into loose braids like the Princess normally wore. They met at a point over one shoulder where the rest of her hair gathered and flowed down her chest. 

All in all, Liesl felt…silly. Oftentimes she wore one of her nicer dresses, but still one that might’ve been commonplace on a regular day. Especially on days she didn’t spend the afternoon running around. Really, all she wanted to do was blend into the background, but if it made Zelda happy, then she would do it. 

“You look lovely, Liesl,” Impa said as she stepped back to take in the full view. “You’ve grown up into a stunning young woman, just like your mother.”

Liesl managed a weak smile at the compliment and finally turned from her reflection. Impa herself seemed to have avoided the same fate and was in her usual attire. Lucky woman! And now that Liesl was ready, there was no point in delaying, right? Impa had only come in here after Zelda finished, after all. So, it was time to go join her friend. 

“I’ll leave you both to it,” Impa said before turning and heading toward the door into the hallway. “You don’t have much time, so make sure you both leave in a few minutes.”

Liesl’s face scrunched at the announcement, clearly confused. “You aren’t staying?”

“No,” Impa said with a shake of her head and a soft smile. She then proceeded to not elaborate further and then turned to make her exit. Gee, busy woman, huh!? But before Liesl could even think of protesting, Impa disappeared through the door with one last easy smile.

Then Liesl was alone and her attention shifted to the door that led to Zelda’s room. Her feet remained still, but her heartbeat picked up at the thought of opening it and going through. Why was she so nervous all of a sudden? Where had all the moisture in her mouth gone? Well, Impa had said they didn’t have much time, so she better get a move on. A few steps brought her to the door, and she lifted her hand to knock. There was a pause that seemed to stretch before she heard a soft reply. 

“Come in.”

With one final breath, Liesl gathered her courage, opened the door, and stepped through. She kept her eyes averted as she did so, determined not to catch even a glimpse of her friend until she was ready. After closing the door, Liesl paused for only a moment before turning and finding Zelda where she stood in the center of the room. Whereupon her eyes immediately widened at the sight of the Princess in her dress. She’d had similar reactions in the past whenever Zelda donned a gown for a ball or banquet, but this was something on a whole other level.

The dress itself hugged Zelda much tighter than anything she’d previously worn, down to her hips before fanning out around her. Not into a puffy skirt, but one that had more volume than Liesl’s. The color was a deep, royal blue inlaid with golden designs over the front. The sleeves were long and hung down from her wrists where they ended. A simple necklace and earrings were all that she wore otherwise, leaving the gifted hairpin to stand out as a centerpiece in the gathered hair that sat atop her head. 

The silence must have dragged on, because Zelda eventually tilted her head and opened her arms wide. “Well? I’m not sure if it’s good or bad that you aren’t saying anything.”

“It’s good,” Liesl interjected quickly in an attempt to dismiss that fear. “Sorry, it’s…Goddesses, Zelda. You’re beautiful.” Really, there was no other way to put it and the compliment had the Princess’s cheeks turning a shade of red so dark that Liesl couldn’t help but notice. Which in turn made her cheeks flush when she realized what exactly she’d blurted out. 

Zelda subsequently grabbed the sides of her dress and lifted it slightly before swaying where she stood, causing her hem to shift along the floor. “You really like it? It’s not too much?” 

“No way!” Liesl said before taking a few more steps into the room. As she got closer, the elaborate patterns of gold became easier to discern, and she also realized Zelda had gotten taller in their separation. “It seems you had a growth spurt, too.” Their heights still didn’t quite match, but the difference was undeniable. 

“Heels,” Zelda said by way of explanation before lifting one side of the dress and showing them off. Her poor feet! “And thank you, I feel you’re too kind.”

“Not at all,” Liesl countered. “If anything, I’m probably not doing you justice.”

“Well, it’s not like I’m the only beautiful one here. You look stunning, Liesl!” Zelda’s eyes sparkled as they passed over her friend and her smile lost that nervous edge.

Oh Goddesses. More blushing accompanied a flutter in her heart, and Liesl had to look away momentarily under that appraisal. “Thanks…but it’s only because you knew what dress would suit me best.”

“I may have chosen it, but you are the one who is making it look so pretty. I’m glad you like it, though.”

Honestly, the dress could’ve been horrible and uncomfortable, but with a reaction from Zelda like that, Liesl would gladly wear it all night. Good thing it wasn’t! The two stood in awkward silence before Liesl eventually caved and cleared her throat. “I suppose we should get going?”

“I guess…” Zelda didn’t seem enthused by the idea and the disdain on her face didn’t match how lovely she looked. 

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s just…when we arrive, I won’t be able to spend time with you. I hate it.

Liesl hated it too, but what could they do? The Princess had her duties to perform and sticking to her friend’s hip was not one of them. “Well, you’ll see me at the end.”

“I suppose,” Zelda said with a weak smile. But then she took a step closer and held out her hands expectantly. “You’ll escort me now though, right?

“Of course,” Liesl said as she extended her arm for Zelda to take. As opposed to the light grip she used earlier, Zelda came in close and squeezed the arm tight, almost possessively. But Liesl didn’t mind, and she set off a moment later for the door and out into the hall to be on their way.

It was a walk they had both done countless times now, but it couldn’t have felt more different at this moment. Why did it feel like Liesl was walking her friend to some doomed fate? Perhaps because of that, or a simple desire to spend as much time as possible together, she brought their pace down to a crawl.

“I have a request,” Zelda said after a few quiet steps.

“What’s that?”

“Save a dance for me.”

Save…a dance? As if Liesl would be dancing with anyone tonight. If she had it her way, she wouldn’t leave the wall where she would hopefully turn into a lovely decoration. Fading into the background, not to be bothered. But that wasn’t the real problem now, was it? “I don’t think your father will like you giving away one of your dances to me.” There was only a limited amount of time, after all. No doubt scores of noble families came into the capital for this event and there was no way Zelda would be able to meet them all.

“No,” Zelda said with resignation in her voice. “I fear he wouldn’t like that. However, he can’t control what I do after I leave.” That assertion had Liesl looking over to find the reserved smile turned into something much brighter. “Will you wait for me? Until I can politely excuse myself. Then we can go somewhere, just the two of us.”

“I will,” Liesl answered with a nod. No matter how long it took, she would wait.

“Thank you. You have no idea how much easier it will make this whole thing if I know you’re waiting for me on the other side. It’s something to look forward to.”

“I’m happy to be that for you.” Of course, what Liesl left unsaid was the swelling of pride in her chest that with all the noblemen the Princess was sure to meet this night, her mind was already back to one person and one person only. Liesl. Even if that was only to find comfort in a friend, it meant the world to her. Because surely, there was nothing more to it than that.

With their plan forged, the two fell into silence again as they made their way down to the grand hall. Zelda’s thumb eventually started tracing easy circles over the bare skin of Liesl’s arm and Liesl moved her hand to her friend’s free one a moment later to do the same. Unfortunately, despite their slow pace, they eventually came to the last turn that would lead them to the entrance the royal family always used for these sorts of things. The King would no doubt be there with numerous other important councilors and nobles. Which meant that this was their last moment of privacy should they want it.

Apparently, Zelda was thinking the same thing because she came to a stop before even Liesl thought to, leaving them a couple of steps from the intersection. Her grip loosened then, but only enough so that she could shift her hands to take both of Liesl’s. She remained silent as her lips pursed and different emotions played over her face. Ultimately, she sighed in frustration, dropped Liesl’s hands altogether, and reached up to wrap her arms around her friend’s neck so she could pull her down into a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered so only Liesl would hear. “…for walking me.”

“It was my pleasure,” Liesl said after her shock faded. However, not in time for her hands to reach up and return the gesture. Just as abruptly as the hug had come, it was now done and Zelda stepped back. Her hands clasped in front of her dress and Liesl could almost see the mask slipping onto her features.

“Remember to have some fun, okay? For me.”

“Okay,” Liesl said with a nod.

That answer seemed to please Zelda and a hint of a genuine smile poked through before it faded back to the practiced one the Princess used. “Good. Well, let’s get this over with. Shall we?”

With a nod from Liesl, Zelda turned and continued walking, her handmaiden now a step behind. And even though it was their usual way, Liesl couldn’t help but miss the warmth that contact had brought. Just as she always did when they separated.

A moment later, the two made the turn around the corner and Liesl saw the exact entourage she expected. While Zelda came to a stop by her father, who turned to greet her in his typically stiff manner, Liesl continued on and slipped down another hallway. But not without shooting her friend one last smile and enough well wishes to last the next few hours.