Minuet ♪ Moving

[sageprincess]

Characters: Zelda and you!
Setting: Floor 3 or 19, Floor 25, Floor 14, and Floor 32
Format: Starting with action - I'll follow you!
Summary: The Princess of Hyrule going about her days while trying not to freeze to death.
Warning: Sexual confusion? None yet.


Floor 3 or 19
[The libraries might as well have become a second home for Zelda with all the time she has spent there recently. Ever since Ruana (and to a lesser extent, Dax) took to the network, she has been pouring over book after book, network post after network post, trying to make sense of the things she said. Of course, any success is limited at best, and for the most part, the only fruit of her labor thus far has been a stack of notes with more questions than answers contained within.

Still, the search gives her focus and drive - things she had been terribly lacking in since... the end of June, really. And perhaps that's the most valuable thing Ruana gave her that day - not information, but a will to do more than merely endure.

In any case, if you're looking for one long-eared princess, you are most likely to find her here, surrounded by her books and notes.]

Floor 25 (For bow_of_the_galadhrim and maybe friends?)
[Of course, that is not to say she does nothing else with her time. Sometime before the chaos of October and everything else, Legolas said the elven swords he was having crafted for her were ready, and they could begin training. Sure, it's cold now and getting colder, but it's peaceful for the moment (well, for some definition of peaceful), and she needs to learn eventually.

So, looking more like a pirate than a princess in Tetra's mother's (her descendant's?) long coat and her hair tied up in a ribbon, she waits on the meadow floor for the Prince of Mirkwood. At least there's no snow on this floor.]

Floor 14
[And sometimes even she needs a break, though loathe she is to admit it. She doesn't frequent the media floor often - even after nearly a year's time in the Tower, most of the technology there is beyond her. But she does know how one piece of electronic machinery works (though don't ask her what it's called), thanks to a girl who's long since vanished from the tower walls. And it's that piece of machinery that's currently serenading her with the sounds of a certain British classic rock band as she curls up on a couch nearby, wrapped in the fluffy comforter she got as a "prize" for participating in Halloween's "game".

Pass by at just the right moment, and she might even appear to be asleep. Even back in Hyrule, music was always there to provide a temporary escape from life's hardships, and it's so easy to get lost in it...]

Floor 32
[And sometimes, given the high levels of stress inherent to the situation, it is necessary to take "taking a break" a little further.

Look up into the trees on the forest floor, and you might see a blur of blue and grey hopping from branch to branch, disturbing and sprinkling the snow that's accumulated there in its wake.

Investigate?]

(Responses for the last prompt will mostly come from sagesurvivor.)

Comments

burning down small cities happens sometimes

[scorchedchivalry]

[Saber does not move as her captive raises his hand to the half-mask worn. She would prefer to see his full face anyways before deciding whether to skewer him on her unholy blade or not. She was not expecting what happened.]

...

[She was not expecting it so much, that she didn't believe it. Yes, she had a Magic Resistance Rank of B, but that didn't make her capable of seeing through illusions. She'd already once been taken in by an illusion of an enemy appearing to her as someone else - she'd lost Irisviel that way after all - so her reaction was not as the princess was probably hoping for.

With her free hand, Saber grabbed for Zelda's throat with the intent of hoisting her off the ground and up into the air with her sword drawn back, point resting against the woman's breast over her heart. One wrong move and the blade would slide right into her.]

Do not take the face of royalty and expect me to be fooled again. Such actions are treasonous and punishable by death. Your magics will not save you against me.

this is why a grail war in the tower needs to be avoided at all costs - there's nowhere to hide

[sageprincess]

[... Not as planned.

Zelda struggles as much as she can in Saber's grip without impaling herself (which... isn't very much at all, really), her bandaged hands grasping at the knight's wrist - not so much to escape, but to be able to breathe, to explain.

She tries as best she can.]

Didn't... Didn't you once tell me... it's the lady that makes the outfit...?

[Once again, she's gasping for breath, unable to breathe deeply with a hand at her throat and a blade at her chest, but she has to keep trying.]

Didn't I say... I knew what it was like to hide...?

If it can survive a whale crashing into it, it can survive a grail war. maybe

[scorchedchivalry]

[Cold, jagged gauntlets were what Zelda's hands found as she grabbed at Saber's wrist, and the dark prana that constantly swirled about her when she was like this most likely hurting her somewhat given the princess' purity and the king's corruption.

Her eyes do narrow as Zelda speaks, using words that they had exchanged as a means to try to convinced Saber. Still, they were words others could have overheard, especially the one about a lady making the outfit as that had been at the party...]

If you expect that to be satisfactory proof that you are not using an illusion to gain my trust, you are sadly mistaken. I will not be responsible for the loss of a another because I believed an illusion. Dark skin, red eyes - that is not the visage of the princess I know and reside with. Who are you?

[sageprincess]

[It does hurt, like a cold fire burning the palms of her hands. They twitch and flinch in pain, pain that manifests as water at the corner of her eyes, though she still makes the effort of holding on, if only so her neck won't bear all her weight.

She had hoped those words would be enough, hoped she wouldn't have to do something as risky as what she's about to do, but the King has left her no choice. If this will not convince her, it's unlikely anything will.

She summons what breath she has left to choke out:]

I am Zelda, Arturia...!

[scorchedchivalry]

[It was like lightning striking her, the power of Zelda using her true name, and the anger, the hatred, immediately left Saber's eyes. Widening in shock, they darted over the princess' form before an intense self-loathing and shame hit her at what she'd done to Zelda.

Excalibur disappeared and she quickly lowered Zelda to the ground. The tears forming in the corner of the woman's eyes were not missed and Saber frantically tried to think of what she should do next.

Fully releasing Zelda, Saber's armor disappeared as she grabbed her greatcloak off the ground. Throwing it about her shoulders, she returned a second later to scoop Zelda up into her arms and wrap the furred cloak about them both, using her ambient prana - not the dar, corrupted, directive prana - to warm Zelda up as Saber cradled her.]

Forgive me, Princess. Please, forgive me.

[sageprincess]

[As she's released, a wave of dizziness (and, admittedly, relief) very nearly overtakes her as blood and oxygen rush back to the places which had been starved. For the brief moment she is left on the ground unsupported, she wobbles, still tingling hands reaching up to touch and massage her throat.

Amazing, how slow time seems to move in the midst of a near-death adrenaline rush.

Before she can really process it, she's off the ground again, but this time more gently, in a warm, comfortable embrace. It's... hard not to be at least a little afraid for a moment, with how the other had towered over her barely minutes prior, but, slowly, the princess begins to relax.]

It... is not the first time I have been held at sword-point.

[She speaks uncertainly, but lightly, as if it happening before would lessen some of Saber's guilt. Honestly, if she were a Servant, she would have E-rank luck.]

[scorchedchivalry]

[It does not lessen Saber's guilt. She just holds the princess a bit tighter and shakes her head.]

It does not excuse my actions. I am sorry. Princess; I did not know. I would not have willingly done that had I known you possessed such magics.

[Lips brush against Zelda's temple.]

Please, forgive me. [For attacking, for threatening, for hurting, for not believing her.]

[sageprincess]

It is not something I generally make known.

[Perhaps one of the strongest signs that she holds nothing against Saber is that there's a faint tinge of pink dusting her cheeks at the chaste gesture, yet she doesn't push or try to move away.]

I used this form once to hide from the Evil King. I may need to use it again to hide from someone else in the future. But today...

[Today she was a fool, apparently, thinking she could momentarily escape from everything being "Zelda" implies. But she doesn't say as much, too embarrassed to admit such weakness to someone she admires so greatly. So she simply smiles up at Saber, if a bit faintly.]

It is all right; I forgive you.

[scorchedchivalry]

[Saber bowed her head and let out a relieved sigh at being forgiven. That left her three important questions, one of them dependent upon the answer to another.]

By Evil King, do you refer to Ganondorf? And... how badly did I hurt you? Do not brush off any injuries I caused; I was far from gentle.

[sageprincess]

Yes, I do. The very same who leads my organization's opposite.

[How funny fate could be, hm?]

As for myself, nothing that will grieve me in more than a week's time, at least as far as I can tell at the moment. [Still got quite a bit of adrenaline in the system, here.] I am bruised, but not broken.

[For one who typically appears so delicate, she's a resilient one.]

[scorchedchivalry]

I have met him; I was also at one of his organization's meetings. [a pause] Out of curiosity.

[Saber takes one of Zelda's hands to look at it. She's well aware of how strong her prana is when she wants to use it. Prana Burst was her most powerful personal skill and when she got into the mindset she had been, she cannot restrain herself from using it. It was one of the downsides of being fallen - a loss of some control.]

I will attend to you as I can this week until you are recovered. Should I manage to hunt meat, I will make sure my vassal brings you a fair share. [Saber's share, in reality.]

[sageprincess]

[The corners of her mouth turn down at the thought of Saber attending one of his meetings, but any comment she had about it left her mind when Saber touched her hand. She winces, hissing quietly through her teeth. There are some burns, all right.]

Ah... You need not do that. I will be all right tending myself.

[She's done it for years, after all. Besides, she'd rather the food go to someone who isn't going to be laid up in bed.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Nonsense, Your Highness. I am responsible, after all.

[She brings the burned hand up and presses her lips to Zelda's palm, letting her prana seep into the princess. It wasn't much and wouldn't heal, but it might soothe and help the body repair. Saber was never sure exactly how different her prana was from others, but no one else had the resources of a dragon like she did.]

[sageprincess]

And I have forgiven you.

[Zelda blinks, and tries very hard to keep a straight face while Saber... does whatever she's doing. She can feel the tingling in her hand begin to slowly subside, though she doesn't know what the knight's doing to make it feel that way.

She can tell she's trying to help, though, so she'll just... sit here and watch.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Must I insist?

[Saber asks this as she looks back up, loosening her grip so Zelda could take her hand away if she wishes.]

[sageprincess]

[Which she will, tucking that hand back under the greatcloak, maybe flexing it a bit as if that will give her insight on what Saber did.]

I simply do not wish for you to feel obligated to do anything.

[But she's starting to get the feeling Saber will feel obligated anyway.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Yet I am obligated, Your Highness. Let us not argue on this matter for I will not yield.

...instead, tell me who you are hiding from today?

[sageprincess]

[Zelda's lips purse into a frown as her words are refused, one that grows at Saber's question. She remains silent for a moment, and looks down, avoiding eye-contact with the King.]

I...

[No, she can't tell the truth. Not to someone she looks up to so much.]

... I cannot say.

[scorchedchivalry]

[Saber tilts her head a bit.]

Cannot or will not?

[sageprincess]

The result is the same in either case, is it not?

[Dodging questions like a boss.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Result, yes, but the meaning is different.

[sageprincess]

Is the meaning so important?

[So defensive. But there is a bit of genuine curiosity there. Saber is certainly respectful (and she respects Saber very much in turn), but that is just because of her status, right?]

[scorchedchivalry]

Yes. I would like to know who I should be keeping an eye out for. And if it is a matter of your not willing to answer, than I will consider it a personal matter and leave it be. Otherwise, I will press for more information so I can help you figure out the source of the need.

[sageprincess]

[Well, then.]

... It is a personal matter, yes. But I will say it is not an entity one can fight - and I do not mean that in a way to imply you are weak - nor is it one that can do your loved ones harm.

[Well, it can be said that destiny has done quite a bit of harm to a great many people, but her mantle haunts her alone.]

[scorchedchivalry]

Then I shall leave the matter alone. Shall I carry you back to the room to rest?