No Boys Allowed!!

[attr="class","ayab-lyrics"]sweet and salty

[attr="class","ayab-tagged"]for the ladies

Everything you ask for, nothing is above me
I'm shining like a candle in the dark
when you tell me that you love me

Marianne was somewhat taken aback by Phoebe’s monotonous response to her greeting. This was not the first time that they had met after those… tragedies, to be honest, and Marianne fully understood why even now she was not as lively as Marianne liked to remember her to be. She herself went through that phase before.

But as her parents once scolded her when she had an outburst, “The pain may grow still, but the hurt must never show again.” And the devoted princess took her role to heart. She gave Phoebe the alone time she wanted and turned her attention to the livelier assemble that had gathered in the hotspring.

She was positively happy as the last two guests took her invitation to introduce themselves. “Miss Arondale, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said, nodding to the mercenary Nova Arondale , “You must be a very good mercenary if you can keep up with Miss Merrows!”

And to the visibly shy Gerudo she gave a reassuring smile and held her hands in front of her chest in greeting, the Gerudo way. “Sav’saaba, Klara Neri. Kakariko’ai vasaaqi sav’aba,” replied the princess in fluent Gerudo, welcoming Klara to Kakariko and wishing her stay to be a good one. She even took care to use the same dialect as she used, hoping it might ease her a bit that there are people to rely on in her first trip outside the desert.

”I hope your father Chief Neri is in good health. Please send my best regards to him for his continued assistance –and protection- of our Hyrulean merchants.” For she did know her tribe! Um, although she personally had never visited them or met their representatives. Nevertheless, she liked to think them as good trading partners of her realm, though what Klara’s tribe think about Hyrule themselves was unknown to the princess. But she hoped the feeling was mutual~

It seemed that everyone quickly warmed up to each other! Beaming at the guests already striking up each other in chat, she leisurely leaned her head on Ruru and watched the others in delight. Some of the guests had already made themselves comfortable deep in the hotspring –‘Oh big sister has picked a perfect spot! Sooo lucky~- while others chose to sit around the stones of the pool to soak their feet first, herself included. From the corner of her eyes she could see Phoebe gingerly unfurl her bandages and noticed her condition, but made no comment on it. She had a feeling that the noble lady would prefer not to be seen. ‘As I myself would….’

Also- wait did Ruru just seconded her choice? So it wasn’t just her! “You think so, too?” she chirped, already starting to stand up, “Wait here. I’ll bring some for us!” Oh, now she was excited! Tightening her tunic so that it would not accidentally slip, she walked away from the pond- Whoops! Almost slipped there!- towards the bar…. Eh, bar? Where is the bar…?

She soon returned with a bottle of milk and a wide toothy grin. The bottle she had must be really special! “Guess what, Ruru,” she said, giddy with excitement, “They have Wild Ordonian Elder Goat milk in store! There is supposedly only one bottle produced each year, and this bottle is it!” She had actually never tasted one! Trixie was lucky enough to be presented one in her trip years ago but she had no such luck. Well, tonight it would be rectified!

So… here goes! She opened up the glass bottle after she had plopped down beside Ruru. Nice warm feeling on her feet…. The cold of the glass bottle in her hands… Her friend beside her…. This is what they called a relaxing night, right? The milk itself didn’t look too different from regular one? Mmm what’s so special about this…. The princess brought the rim of the bottle to her lips and managed a few gulp. Her eyes immediately widened!

“Ah… Mmm I can understand why this is once-in-a-year special occurrence.” She felt the urge to smack her lips like her head chef liked to do, but that wasn’t a princess-ly behavior so it was a no-no.

But really! There was a certain hint of sweetness in the taste of the milk, a scent of freshness which reminded one of wide open fields in a clear summer morning…. It was fulfilling without being heavy. Savory without actually being strong in taste. Ah did they the milk underwent post production or was it straight to the bottle? She must ask more about this later! Chalkedit up to her mind.... Wait where was her mind list? It was usually so… easy… to remember… things…. Must be because of the vapor….

Before long she delightedly handed the bottle to Ruru, who (probably) was still sitting beside her. “Would you like to have some, Ruru?” she inquired, smiling wide. “It really lives up to its reputation. And, umm, price, I guess,” she added with a giggle. There seemed to be something she forgot…. Something about drink and… and how to serve it? Nuh-oh. She would think of it later.

For now: hot spring! It had been warm enough and she was eager to dip into the pool itself! Releasing the bottle –and being especially sure Ruru would take it –she would, wouldn’t she? It’s delicious!- she gracefully disrobed her tunics and bared her ivory skin. She inherited it from her mother, her skin tone, but unlike the healthy fairness of her half-siblings hers was pale white in color, almost blindingly so. And oh the glistening vapor heat on her skin felt great! She could soak in warm water all day long in the castle, but there was no substituting the sensation of the heat of open-air hot spring engulfing your body!

So, dipping her toes first… Test the depth… Lowering her legs slowly so she would not be taken by surprise in case the bottom was slippery… Preparation is key to elegance, as her sister once said… And there, she could feel the bottom of the pool…. A little push, slide and- hop! She was safely in the water without making an audible splash. Her Zora friend would be proud!

She slowly lowered herself into sitting position –'Aaaah it is sooo niiicee~'- savoring every moment. Was Ruru still sitting on the edge or had come down into the pool with her? She wasn’t sure…. In any case, she pulled her tunic and expertly folded it into a makeshift pillow. She could lean back and rest her head on the pool’s edge that way! Better yet, let her bare shoulder lean against Ruru at the same time!

But… wasn’t she supposed to ask something? ‘What is it what is it,’ she could feel her head spinning from the heat, ‘something about… the taste of milk, maybe?’ She let out a long sigh and eased herself, her eyes closed. Relaxing in a night like this…. Surrounded by friends…. In a hot spring upgraded to Royal status…. Was she really allowed to have such luxury? Could she really let herself feel joy-

“I've been the only one sustaining us! She can't seriously be expecting me to do all the work! Our magicka is shared, but with what torture she's sustaining, I'll be spending it all within days”

-while her mother was being tortured to death?

‘Ah….’

Those memories again… of the red and black hand shooting out from the darkness towards her…. It should have been her…. It should be…. She should be the one to endure whatever it was her mentor was enduring right now….

“The pain may grow still, but the hurt must never show again.”

Keeping her eyes shut, Marianne felt the familiar warm fluid filling up the edges. She let it, but no more than that.

‘Forgive me, Mrs. von Brandt. Forgive me….’

Not even a single tear could escape.

[attr="class","ayab-lyrics"]daybreaks

[attr="class","ayab-tagged"]for the GIRLS