One Flew Over The ChuChu's Nest [Memory #3] [QUEST]

"Me? Not exactly." As she said so, she looked up and extended her left hand, as if she wanted to catch the sun itself. The sun rays filtered through her fingers, on which both her ring and her Mark glowed clearly. "The way I see it, it is just a sign. A sign of something calamitous is about to happen and that the Goddesses have taken notice. And I don't really need a sign from high up to know that my kingdom is in great danger, see? So I think it is kind of redundant~"

Curling her fingers, she made a fist by her left hand and pumped it into the air. "I am not someone who put much importance in powers outside of our own, anyway. So why must something like this mark bother me? Mark or no mark, favor or no favor I will always try my best with the time I have been given. Because my kingdom and my people deserve no less from me."

Glancing at Desmond, she added with a chuckle. "But please don't tell others I said I don't put much importance in the Goddesses.... The Goddesses devouts and the priestesses will not really approve knowing their queen is not a complete believer. Even my own mother -bless her soul- would have immediately disowned me if she knew~"

Her mother, her sweet, kind, devout mother. Celeste de Hyrule was a descendant of a clan of priestesses from her mother's side. And though she elected to join her father's house of Hyrule it was clear that her religious upbringing left a mark on how she viewed the Goddesses. Marianne was devout, too. Until that time when she really needed divine intervention and chanted prayers in her pain and delirium. But nothing came. Not even a word.

So, after she clawed her way out by herself, ruining her hands in the process, she decided that such concept was not really worth her time.

Turning around towards Desmond, her eyes latched onto his. "If your Mark bothers you, Desmond... will you tell me why?"

Why?

"Heroes," Marianne scoffed, and even her hostility surprised herself that she immediately toned down her voice. "... no one knows they are heroes until history books say so. While they lived, they did what they could, just like the rest of us: the princesses, the knights, the mages, and many other roles you did not mention. I think all are important players on their own." And the one hero she knew? He was dead without ever meeting her daughter even once, leaving her only with stories of his heroism from teary-eyed veterans of which the particular daughter would gladly traded them away just to have him alive and well. A commoner, a nobody in history, but at least not an absent dad to her daughter.

She glanced at Desmond. "But the Mark appeared on you anyway, Desmond. Though it made me wonder... will it change what you do? If tomorrow there is another war like we had in the desert... Will you fight with lesser valor if you have no mark? Or conversely, will you think you have to fight harder because you have the mark? Will the presence of your mark changes how you will protect those dearest to you?"

And realizing she had gotten quite serious, she shrugged and attempted a laugh, "I mean... just curious. I... I want to know how you feel, you know...." Unsure, she bit her lips, her eyes straight ahead at the hill looming beyond. "I want to help you any way I can is all...."

Why?

The Queen's smile was genuine. "Then... maybe it should not matter whether you are worthy of the mark or not, would it? -which I thought you are, by the way. They say the marks grant special powers in certain circumstances, so maybe... think of it as a way for The Goddesses to give you a boon so you can protect your siblings better? Surely you would you take any chance which might better their survival, right? Maybe you are considered the hero your siblings need, because other heroes are too busy taking care of others to take care of them~

Then perhaps the mark can be considered just another weapon in your arsenal...."

It was then that they arrived at the top of Crenel Hill, which was actually quite small for a hill. Other hills were strewn about the expanse of Hyrule Field, with patches of wide grasses and small forests between. "I am... actually not sure...." The queen grinned, obviously looking guilty. "I thought I saw them on the western face, but here we are at the top and we've seen nothing....

Maybe... maybe we should try going down the northern face and then swerve to eastern face, if we still find nothing.... I apologize if this seems like a wild goose chase..... I... I really saw them. Honest."

The girl looked downcast, but determined all the same

"You are too kind," replied Marianne, smiling, "Yes, I suppose we can. Though I would be disappointed if today's search yield nothing...." And she began climbing down the hill on the northern side, "Also, remember you can always call me Marianne when we are on our own, okay?"

Hopping down a mound, she continued, "You weren't... bullied or ostracized because of your Mark, were you? I am... a little worried because of how you seem to take it," It seemed to bother him so much to make him this stiff and awkwardly formal? "I know very well the feeling of being ostracized and the helplesness it causes. It is... not very nice. Please, do remember that you will always have my support, Desmond."

She has other ideas~

"About etiquette...? Sure. That is good, I think?" Marianne, whose every member of her family could and did speak to her about etiquette, failed to see anything wrong with it, not realizing how different it would be for Desmond. "And no, Desmond. Why should I take it personally? Learning about proper etiquette will go far in helping you in life and I am glad about it. As the sayings goes, 'When in Labrynna, do as the Labrynnans do.'"

Then, as if realizing something, she sharply turned towards him, grinning. "Wait... was it because of 'etiquette' that you are hesitant to call me by my name?"

She has other ideas~

And The Queen could not help but laugh! They didn't speak- oh goodness! That was the cause? The hill rang with her bell-like laughter, and even the sun seemed to glint in delight. A playful breeze carrying flower petals swept between them. "Oh Desmond you silly! That is why you have been strangely stiff towards me all this time?" He wasn't bullied. He was... afraid? By Farore's smile! Tears had gathered on her eyes from her laughter and she had to wipe her eyes. "It is not -listen, it was not because of you that we did not speak for a long while! I just... I was just preoccupied by other things is all!" Does this mean he actually want to talk to her constantly? How sweet! "Really, if I had been genuinely offended that you have crossed lines, do you think I would not tell it to you? Surely I would be hesitant to even meet you again. But no! I said I enjoyed our time together, didn't I?"

Oh she almost could not see where she was going. Thankfully the downhill path was not very steep, though strangely not very grassy. "I can imagine Lady von Brandt would give you a talk about etiquette one of these days," she chuckled. This version of Desmond is so amusing! "Your brother is a knight, after all. And though it was not my idea some saw fit to ennoble him. Did you inadvertently offend the Lady von Brandt when you met in the medical tent? Because if you did, the best thing to do is- KYAAAAAAAAA!"

She had not seen where she was going and suddenly, the ground beneath her gave way! It was a hole or something, bigger than a bunny and Marianne's slipped right into it! Thankfully, she spread her arms and halted her fall. But there was The Queen, buried up to her chest and powerless to move.

"That is... unexpected," she blinked, as the dust settled. She extended her hand to Desmond, wanting him to pull her up.

A few meters to their left, there was an unmistakable blue blob of a ChuChu appeared, apparently watching them. But no sooner were it noticed that it disappeared underground, perhaps through a similar hole.

Desmond you silly!

"The Queen did not resist when pulled by her armpit. "Please do." And in fact wrapped her arms around Desmond's neck to allow him better position to grip, just short of an embrace. Her hair, though having traveled under the sun was still fragrant with floral scent, accented by her perfume. A whiff of rose, jasmine, patchouli, and tea leaf... she was as enticing as a flower bouquet, though decidedly far stronger-minded.

Back on her two-feet, she offered a sincere a thank you while patting her clothes from the dust. "Strange. It felt like there is a room underground -SHE WHAT??"

Stunned, she immediately turned towards Desmond, her eyes widened in concern. People said that The Queen revered the noble Lady von Brandt very much. Today, it seemed there was some basis in the rumors.

"She invited you to a dinner? And... scolded you about etiquette around royalty?" Oh Hylia. Why would Mrs. von Brandt.... "Did... did she tell you why she was interested in you? What did she ask?"

Desmond you cruel