Starlight Festival [EVENT] [OPEN]

Marianne could see each detail of her attacker, every lines and images that made the Assassin. As if the time had slowed down only for her, and her own mind decided to forever etch that encounter in her memory.

Betrayal.

First there was the clothes. Black. Indistinct. A fleeting shadow that could fit everywhere yet could never be identified anywhere. Then there was the face. Calm. Deadly. His lips were taut in concentration and his piercing green eyes completely focused on his target. And lastly the single blade. Held in his hand. Shining gracefully in a frightening pride. Smooth and sharp and deadly, its tip was pointed straight at Marianne’s heart.

And it moved. The point moved. With each step the Assassin took. Ever closer. Ever nearer. Time had stopped. He was moving very slowly. Everyone else were frozen. And the point of the blade advanced unflinchingly, fully intent on doing what it was supposed to do.

To kill her. To push that long shaft of metal straight into her heart and let it be drenched with her blood. The blade and its owner wanted her dead.

Until now, Marianne had believed that she had lived her life properly. She had had an improper start, with the circumstance of her birth being a stain that would forever taint her life. So, she did her best to right that wrong. She did what she was supposed to do, always playing by the rules and never once strayed from what her position demanded. She studied and read. She learned poetry and practiced magic and any other thing she was told she had to be able to do. Whatever words she had ever spoken was proper. Always mindful, always careful not to fail what she was expected to do. She believed she had not been lax in this endeavor.

And thus, through it all she was led to believe that she was loved. That she was needed. That people welcomed and the kingdom would gladly have her as long as she kept on the right track. This belief was entrenched deeply in Marianne’s naive soul.

Never once has she imagined that someone would want her dead. That someone she did not even know would strike her and tried to plunge a dagger straight into her chest.

Inside, Marianne crumbled. She was not able to do anything. She was not able to dodge. She would not even able to feel the pain should the dagger reached her.

.Thankfully, the nightmare did not last long.

His half-brother was suddenly there, stuffing the orb right into the assassin's chest and causing his chest cavity to be blown open from the front, blood and organ tissue painting the walls behind him. He turned and took her hand.

"Sister!" He cried, worried. "Are you okay? Did the beast harm you?!"

Befuddled. Dazzled. Terrorized to the core, Marianne could only shook her head energetically a few times, not even sure what she was doing or what she meant by shaking her head. Was she… answering the question? Was she trying to say that she was not okay? Was she saying that she was not harmed?

Was she trying but failing to dismiss that image which will haunt her for the rest of her life?

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

Another voice, hoarse and tough like the rustling sound of an old birch tree intruded her thoughts, snapping her from her daze. Marianne blinked, too weak and dizzy to answer. A steady hand held her and prevented her from falling down.

A familiar old face appeared in her vision. An old, stalwart man. His white beard thick and his eyes bright. Under his helmet his face looked worried but relieved.

“…Uncle William?”

Sir William Marshal. The commander of 1st Redwing Batallion, Hyrule’s most famous and most decorated battalion of all time. Marianne’s biological father was the previous leader of this battalion before he sacrificed himself to save his men. The men left felt greatly indebted to their late commander. Thus, they became very caring of Marianne as a result. When Marianne was little she often played around their barracks, the seasoned men a few who understood her position. They often gave her gifts from their assignment, and little Marianne was very charming child she became close to their wives and children too. For some aspect this battalion was Marianne’s family.

And they had come to her rescue first and foremost.

Sir William turned towards Prince Leon, “My Prince, the army has been mobilized. 2nd an 3rd battalion are on their way. We’re trying to contact the 6th and 9th outside the walls, but no reply this far. With your command, we shall back the Knights up and help the people on-“

‘The people!’

“Leon!” Marianne gasped, turning to face his half-brother. Her clouded eyes had become clear again. His hand she squeezed tight with both of her hands, asking, nay, begging him to hear what she had to say, “Leon! You have to help the people! Only you- only you can lead our army and repel these…these beasts! Please, Leon! Y-you have to s-s-save them!”

Without her realizing it, tears had started to roll on Marianne’s cheek. She was still shocked, still very much destroyed in the inside after that close encounter with death. Even her shoulder was still bleeding. Yet, the gravity of her people’s safety chased all other thoughts away, although it could not stem all the rush of the emotion, like a giant log falling would dam the river current for a while but would not be able to prevent the rush of water afterwards.

But what use of tears could do? Tonight, people of Hyrule needed cool-headed decisions and swift arrangement. This is a moment that changes a life, when one do something no one else can.

A path that would lead her to one final stand.

She did not even wait for answer.

“All the wounded, please proceed to Castle Front Hall immediately!” she shouted, running towards the uphill path leading to the Castle itself, blood dripping from her wounded shoulder which she kept pressed. Confused people turned towards her, their faces frightened and despaired. Some Castle Guards noticed her and began to relay her orders as the wounded Princess kept running up. “Everyone who can, please carry the wounded to Castle Front Hall! They will be treated there! Every people who know medicines or any form healing, anything at all, please follow me! We need all help we can get! Please, everyone! This way!”