If Marianne did realize what it looked like, it must had been shoved away by her immense curiosity. She innocently concentrated hard as Desmond put a ring on her finger, focusing on wanting to know how the spell worked. Above them the old man laughed silently.

"Interesting," she commented, lifting her palm in front of her with amazement. The new ring on her finger glinted in the morning light as if winking to Desmond, "There really was no resistance when you slipped the ring. While when I did it myself, there was a barrier..." She turned towards the old man, "There cannot be a Target Enchantment prepared beforehand, since we did not touch these before. So how? Direction Permutation? Self-activating Loop?"

The old man's delightful grin was unmistakable, "Who knows, O Queen. Who knows? Try fitting the ring yourself and you may be able to understand it better."

"You are right." And she turned towards Desmond. "Give me your hand, Desmond," she said, in a tone like she was asking him to pass the salt rather than about to put a ring on his finger. The old man rolled, holding his belly in a fit of laughter without a sound. Then The Queen proceeded to fit the ring on Desmond's finger, looking every bit like someone doing a science experiment when she did so. Her concentration was genuine.

"I need to check on these rings after this," she huffed, shaking her head afterwards. She slipped her own ring out of her finger and then slip it in again, looking satisfied. "And now the barrier is gone. Strange."

"Oho! But the rings are not yet complete!" said the old man, now hovering diagonally, "You still need the crystals to make them work!"

"...You'll tell us where?"

"All in due time, O Queen. All in due time," And now he flew close towards them. "And! One last thing before you go! I will grant you a knowledge of one spell! Any spell! Pick your choice!"

"I already know everything there is to know about Hylia and Demise spells." She turned towards Desmond. "Desmond?"

"Yes yes yes you will all be returned eventually!" The old man stomped his foot mid-air, "But! This is like rain on a parade! No, not rain! Hail even! Thunderstorm!"

Meanwhile Marianne tilted her head innocently, noticing his colored cheek, "Desmond, your face is red! Are you alright? Did the sun get into you?"

"No not the sun!" The old man giggled. Marianne turned to him threateningly. "If there's anything in the ring-"

"And not the ring either! WAHAHAHA!" cut the old man, cackling once more, "No no I assure you, O Queen. The rings are perfectly safe!"

Marianne narrowed her eyes. Just to be sure, she reached to Desmond's hand and gently wrapped his fingers around it, trying to reassure him somehow. But if someone looked at them from behind, well, they were two people holding hands standing side by side, just after exchanging rings. The old man burst out laughing.

"WAHAHAHA!! I found myself wanting to pronounce something! But! I digress! We should-"

"Desmond is right," interjected Marianne, all business now, "Now you should return us to the surface." If her Kargaroc was fully grown....

'Yes yes! We'll get to it! Are you sure you don't want anything? I mean, we are on page 4 already and this is the second part. You should at least get something."

"Page 4?" repeated Marianne, baffled. "Second part? What do you mean?"

"Can you mark a place with light?" The old man smirked.

"Mark- what?"

"Like this."

With a wave of his hand, he made a point of light beamed from one of his finger towards a rather large stone one the ground. Light Pointer. Marianne knew that spell well. But-

And from the point where the light touched, a thin pillar of light streamed upward, piercing the clouds above. The pillar remained even when he had cut off his Light Pointer.

Marianne was wide-eyed in awe.

"And you can even change the color," giggled the old man. As he said so the pillar of light changed color to blue, then yellow, then red. He noticed Marianne's expression. "WAHAHAHA! Got you interested, didn't I? Not even our Wizard Master know this spell!"

Marianne blinked. "But learning a spell is not-"

"WAHAHAHA! I'd normally give you a scroll. But someone like you, O Queen. You can learn a simple spell like this in fifteen minutes! No! Ten! Wahahaha!"

And as the old man continued laughing, Marianne, shyly, turned towards Desmond. She was about to ask something, but hesitated. Though with that puppy eyes of hers, it was clear what she wanted his permission for.

Ten minutes, perhaps.

The way her face alight with joy would remind Desmond of a firework suddenly lit off in the night sky. There was a pure, delightful innocence there that was hard to argue with. "Thank you, Desmond! I promise it won't be long!" And the next moment she pranced over towards the old man, like a fawn frolicking on a meadow, genuinely happy.

When one remembered how little chance for the queen to feel joy.... When one thought about her hollow eyes when watching the Twilight Curtain last night, or those silent tears in the field of flowers, repeatedly saying "How can I be lonely?"... Was this sacrifice of a little time for the girl to at least found something that interested her worth it? That was for Desmond to answer.

A few handwaves later and a bit of theory explanation from the old man which made sense for Marianne but perhaps not to someone else, and Marianne was back on Desmond's side. She had placed a lightning beam on the spot between the two stones (one shattered), and now a thin crimson light shone from it upwards. Nine minutes and fifty seconds, if one cared to actually count the time.



"And I can even toggle it on and off for specific people," Marianne giggled, showing it by flicking her wrist to make the light disappear, and then flicking again to make it reappear. "As of now, only you and me can see the light."

"WAHAHAHA!! Indeed! It will be handy for a long exploration, won't it? WAHAHAHA!!" As he giggled, he hovered close to Desmond, extending a tied-up scroll. "I'll give you this. A scroll of Farore Spell. You can sell it if you don't want it." He winked, "Don't want you to be under the weather at all times, yes? WAHAHAHA! And you don't even have an umbrella! WAHAHAHA."

"A genuine spell scroll can fetch quite a price," whispered Marianne, "If anything, the castle Library will happily accept them."

She then turned towards the old man, who was still giggling. "Alright Mr. Mots. We really have to go back."

"WAHAHAHA! Yes, yes of course." And he flew back towards the center. As his eyes began glowing, at the same time a circle of light appeared under Marianne and Desmond's feet. "Send my greetings to my lovely Dint if you meet her, O Queen! You have promised!"

Marianne nodded. "I will."

"WAHAHAHAHA! Then, off you go! Like the wind!"

The light enveloped them, and all they could see was white.

...

...

...

When the white disappeared Desmond was... alone in his room, besides his bed. The room he knew well. He was back in Goron City, and morning had truly come. Outside, the whole city seemed to be in panic. Bugles sounded in interval, interspersed by drums booming from the Goron barracks. Soldiers and Goron Warriors alike moved up and down the streets, barking orders. Even from inside his room, the frenzy outside was clear to hear. People were moving about in restless pace.

Then, suddenly a loud trumpet. From the direction of the Main Gate. It was followed by shouts which spread all over the city like wildfire.

"The Queen! The Queen has been found in the main gate!"

And a sound rang in his head, the familiar annoying sound.

"Don't want to cause a scandal, do we? You have a hard life as it is. WAHAHAHAHAHA! Thank me later!"

Along with the sound of the whole city rushing towards the main gate, the voice cackled and disappeared. Should he knew where to look, though, he would be able to see a crimson beam of light far above the clouds, proof of their adventure together.

He found her on the main street, being escorted back to her compound with a cadre of Royal Guards and the finest of Goron Battle-Brothers. Even Elders were there, flanking The Queen as she walked. She was talking to them fast, could not be heard because of the raucous crowd around and was impossible to approach with these many people gathering to see her. She smiled and nodded periodically to the crowd, as if reassuring them. But those who knew her well, like Desmond, would notice her smile was simply plastered on her face.

The Queen was evidently distraught. Very distraught.

And the cause would not become clear until Desmond locked eyes with her, amongst the crowd. The Queen immediately stopped her steps, her eyes widened, and she clearly was about to walk towards his direction when she held herself.

But at that time, her worry had been lifted enough. Sure enough, the queen was worried about him all this time.

She leaned back and whispered to one of her Royal Guards, who nodded. She and her entourage then continued their march towards her compound. There were too many people to get to her.

Suddenly, there was a tap on Desmond's shoulder. A sheikah, tall and hooded, but with a kind face. Desmond would recognize him as one of the Royal Guards who had held their horses reins on their way to Goron City.

"Master Dragelion, The Queen wishes to see you. Please come this way."

If Desmond agreed, he would lead him away from the crowds, into a maze of alleys withing Goron City. As they weaved in and out of buildings, and even some residents' backdoors, it was hard to exactly know where they were heading, much less where they were. All the while, the Royal Guard would only smile.

Until they arrived at one of the Elders' residence. Desmond would know that Marianne had been using that house, one of the biggest, as her residence during her stay. The Royal Guard would bide him to enter the house and into a dining room, with a big slab of stone as the table. On the stone were several breads, dried fruit, and the like -the things The Queen liked to eat when she was in a hurry. He would not need to wait long, for another door opened and a crimson wind ran across the room and sank her face to his chest.

"Desmond! Oh thank The Goddesses!" It was Marianne, still in her attire from that night and a cobweb even visible on her hair. And judging from her slightly reddish eyes, it looked like she had been tearing up again. "Oh you are safe! You are safe! *sniff I-I was looking for you!" When I appeared in the city gate alone I... I had feared the worst... *sniff Mr. Mots said he misplaced his spell and you got s-sent somewhere... *sniff I w-was about to s-send *sniff people... *sniff."

Separating herself, she stepped back, wiping tears from her eyes. Her smile was tearful but glad. Poor girl. After such an ordeal throughout the night, she appeared alone and was given one last prank which had no doubt send her mad with worry. One could almost hear the crazy old man laughing and rolling on his belly mid-air.

"He- what??" Understandably, Marianne was indignant. He was... playing with her? Made her worry so? Gods! Her eyes were still teary, but her lips began to pout. He knew she would be worried so he withheld the information willingly? And that is because, if they appeared together it would make everyone in a whirl? Why? What was it about them and matching gold rings-

"Oh-"

Slowly, red crept upon her cheek.

Two people? Disappearing together? Each having placed a ring on each other?

"Oh... I... I see...." she stammered.

Silly little girl. It seemed that it was only now that it all dawned on her what that was all about. Two rings...Two identical rings on each finger. Now it was her turn to look like her hair was ready to burn. As always she had lost focus on the bigger picture. She was so consumed with her own curiosity that she failed to notice the obvious. How could she?? She was well-versed in the ways of the court, and such thing was clear as day-

"Hiya-!"

She let out a little shriek when Desmond suddenly took her hand. She could not even look at him now -and what is he doing??

“Now that we know you’re okay.. Here,” he said, putting the ring which she had put on him on her palm. She blinked. He withdrew his hands from hers, placing one in his pocket and the other on the back of his own neck. “If anyone should have a ring that calls a legendary hero with them, it should be you - incomplete or not.”

And ironically, the hand that held Desmond's ring was her right hand. So Marianne could see the ring on her own finger. Besides it, Desmond's ring.

The one she had put on him.

'But I... already have one....'

"..."

“And… I wanted to say something before you have to go back to your work-”

He... didn't like it.

She gulped.

He didn't like it. He didn't. He didn't want to wear the same ring as her, didn't want to use the ring she had placed herself. Back then she did not realize what it was, and now it finally dawned on her, just to let her know that she had crashed badly.

Slowly, her palm curled into a fist. And just to add insult to injury, the two rings made a soft clink as they pushed against each other.

Perhaps... it was for the best, right...? Perhaps she had been reading into this too deeply.... Perhaps she was the only one who was disturbed by the thoughts, and for Desmond, it did not mean anything. Yes. That must be it. After all, she could keep her mind clinical and business-like during the whole ordeal. Why stop now? Just pretend it was a silly ring to summon great heroes... and it is, right? No need to read deeply into things....

But still... But still....

He didn't want to....

"Of course, Desmond," she replied, forcing a smile, "Please say it."

And Desmond would recognize the look in her eyes. That same forlorn, downtrodden look which he first saw her when she was struggling with Macha.

Princess Marianne de Hyrule was no stranger to rejection.

"I’m not gonna even try to ask what he meant, when that stone shattered,"he began, and if it was as if a lamp had been switched off inside Marianne. Her gaze, which moments before was filled with relief and then indignation was now filled with... nothing. Those dim silver orbs were soulless, slowly retreated behind layers and layers of self-imposed wall.

Of course. Of course he would like to know about that. If their situation was reversed, she would also be extremely curious, and would not stop in wanting to know the truth.

Guess everything comes in two ways, isn't it?

The fist holding the ring tightened. She could feel the painful sting of the metal against her palm, even while she was careful to hide her hands behind so that the emotion there would not betray her feelings. This was why... she had been very careful in having an attachment in others. When she interacted with others in professional capacity, all went well. Secrets were expected. Trust, was not needed beyond the scope of their arrangement. She had always been like that before, and now with the new knowledge she gained she knew she had to be even more selective.

Because the moment attachments form, that is also the moment when trust means more than the discussion on the conference table. Or the review of the latest account balance. It becomes a personal matter. She was too naive in thinking she could gain the best of both worlds -expecting to receive but never to give.

'And why would you care, anyway?' the small voice snarked in her head, 'He doesn't even like you. See? You have nothing to lose.'

Her fist curled even tighter. But there was a sense of... loss... in her face. Forget about hitting him or scolding him. She found herself having no strength left even to argue. She had let her feelings led her, and now it had led her to the gallows. She would at least face the noose with chin held high.

She drew a breath, still with that forced, professional smile. "And what, exactly, do you want to know more about me, Desmond?"

Her tone was perfect. Flat and devoid of any insinuation. This was no longer the impressionable Marianne who flustered under the morning light. She was once again the experienced politician Marianne, a royal since birth and a Queen of Hyrule.

But this Marianne felt like she would provide the truth, on the condition that Desmond himself was not afraid to take his chances. Befitting a true stateswoman, she never claimed the impetus. Only the solution.