Bloody Stream

The bell tolled.

Buzzing sounds could be heard from all over the Hyrule Castle. Sounds of footsteps and chatters, of doors opening and people laughing. Clanging of several pairs metal boots on the pavement could be heard, as well as shouts of salute and greetings. From the various doors and stairs and walkways people could be seen streaming out into the courtyard and onto the South Gate, as the Hyrule Castle Guards changed hour.

Among the throng of people some would recognize Josh and greeted him. Some would be too busy to get where they wanted to be, passing him hurriedly. A few Hyrule Knights, still bedecked in their resplendent armor, waved at him from the direction of the barracks.

And far, far Josh position from the direction of the opened great door to the Front Hall, a group of people in clearly better clothing than the various guards changing shift could be seen walking across the courtyard, seemingly going towards the towers. Princess Marianne was in the group, recognized by her distinctive crimson dress although she wore a veiled hennin which obscured her face as was the custom of royal princess in a formal situation. Surrounding her were noble ladies and noble lords in their various colorful attire, seemingly having a discussion with themselves and the princess as they walked leisurely across the courtyard. The stream of guards who came across them saluted and made way, for indeed it was quite a large gathering of illustrious personage.

Their current route would take them past of where Josh was standing, although as they got nearer the knight they didn't seem to slow down at all. There was no impression that the Princess, or anyone else for that matter, was expecting Josh to be there.

Josh Dragelion

The nobles were a group who disliked to be disturbed. And it showed. Sir Josh might be newly knighted, but he was still rather low in the hierarchy compared with the real, true blooded nobles there. Disdainful gazes and disapproving looks were shot from the elaborately dressed gentlemen and the formal-looking ladies in the group as Josh made his way through them. Some were even clearly hissing underneath their veils, hidden though their expression were. Marianne, though, did not. In fact her expression did not change at all.

And it was proving to be an impossible task. They seemed to be dead set on their destination, perhaps an evening soiree or something somewhere in the castle grounds, and they did not want to be impeded. The many guards around the courtyard who were either coming in for duty or coming out to rest gave them a wide berth, so it was what the group expected. Josh would find himself pushed and forced to mostly gave up his ground to let them pass, lest there would be trouble. Big trouble. A few ladies and gentlemen, including Marianne herself, were much more civil. They side-stepped a bit to avoid crashing into the knight, unlike most others.

The exalted group of people arrived at the arched walkway which surrounded the outer courtyard. From there they went through another short corridor before arriving to the opulent Tower of Myrtle, a spacious tower overlooking the outer courtyard with a famed "hanging gardens" on top. It was not a place commoners could easily enter, and it showed. In front of its gilded pine door, engraved with golden vines, were four guards flanking each side, each one with a spear. They were not the usual castle guards who guarded the perimeter, either. They were royal guards.

One by one they saluted the nobles as they entered the tower in a single file. The two guards in front seemed to be assessing the noble guests. While the two behind them opened and closed the door as indicated by the one in front. The nobles, including Princess Marianne, had no trouble entering the tower, their chatter continued all the while. The aroma of roasted pie and freshly baked bread could be smelled wafting in the air.

Should Josh attempted to follow them, though, he would find his way barred by two crossing spears, the guards saying he had no business here.

Princess Marianne had long ago entered the tower. Barely fifteen minutes had elapsed since the toll of the bell signaled the start of the hour.

---

"Trust me. I wouldn't be here if my presence wasn't requested" the knight remarked pointedly. "And my presence was requested. Unless you would rather I wait for Her Highness to return here? I can keep you fine fellows company. I've got plenty of cuccoo facts to tell you all about to pass the time."

"Do as you wish, Sir," the guard replied, kindly but firmly, "Our apologies but we haven't been sent any missives concerning another participant. We are very sorry."

Thankfully, for the fuming knight, his decision to wait a little bit longer at the meeting point was not in vain. Or so it seemed. Throngs of guards changing their shifts passed around him as he perhaps paced restlessly on and near the south gate, though none of the busy workers really paid the knight more attention than most. Over time the flow of the guards would ebbed as vacant positions were filled from the newly arrived guards. Those who had been freed from duty had settled in their quarters in the barracks and rested or, for the lucky few who had it, were happily rushing to their homes in Castle Town, some still wearing their personal armors, their face happy from the thought of a familiar smile and a warm supper.

It was then among the shifting crowd, that a guard would approach Josh from behind, a little over thirty minutes after the bell tolled.

“Where were you?” asked a worried female voice. Which, hidden by the various chatters and sounds of footsteps would likely be heard by only Josh himself. “I was searching for you all over the courtyard when you weren’t here. I thought you have forgotten….”

The guardswoman, for indeed the shape and mannerism of the guard was unmistakably female, was one of the lower-ranking guards, it seemed. She did not wear any ornate armor, only a simple chainmail covered by a tabard emblazoned with the Hyrule Kingdom’s symbol. Underneath it she wore cotton-padded garments which connected to elbow-long leather gloves and knee-high boots, completing her cover from the neck down. A short sword was strapped on her left waist, along with a small pouch on her right which probably contained all her money. Guards like her usually didn’t have much. Her head was covered fully by a standard-issue helmet she wore, which exposed only her chin area and a slit for her eyes, which right now was staring straight at Josh.

And such familiar eyes! For there was unmistakable familiarity with her eyes and her voice and her slightly reddened face, flushed with worry. Along with her general build, she would paint a perfect picture of someone if Josh was looking for that particular person. Someone who was standing as close as Josh and engaged the guardswoman in close conversation would perhaps recognized who the guardswoman really was.

It was Princess Marianne herself!

---

Marianne's eyes shifted from worry, to confusion, to understanding, and finally to a stifled laughter as Josh detailed his misadventures. She, too, did not seem she would mind about their miscommunicated meeting more than Josh did. As evidenced by their previous interaction, perhaps, Princess Marianne was a much more lenient noble.

"And you followed them to Tower of Myrtle," she repeated, her giggle crisp and sweet, "I apologize, Sir Josh. Oh, I really apologize. It was my miscalculation. I forgot their route would also take them through here."

She casually motioned for Josh to walk with her as they chatted, through the Southern Gate and out to the streets of Hyrule Castle Town. "It was one of my attendants. A body-double if you wish, and one of my trusted ones. Now I'd be free from spying eyes. At least until the soiree stopped," her eyes glinted, "And that will take a while~ Oh, and what was the lesson you learned?"

The last question was added with a genuine mirth. Talking casually like this.... They seemed like an ordinary pair of friends meeting after duty. Or a couple, perhaps. Although it was rare to see a knight paired with a lowly guardswoman so most probably would assume they were acquaintances.
 
"I want to ask a few things from you personally, and I don't like to wait," she replied airily. "But first! Do you have any recommendation for a good place for a dinner, preferably without lots of other people? I am famished! I haven't had a proper meal since yesterday afternoon."

Her Highness looked around at the bustling streets with innocent curiosity in her eyes. Now she seemed to act more suitable with her age. It was hard to believe she was the same regal Officiator in the Ceremony before~

"I wouldn't last a day in court."

The response prompted a genuine laughter from Marianne, this time unable to stifle it. "Really, Sir Josh? Well, you'll never know until you try it yourself," she teased with a playful smile, "Just having your every movements watched by enemies you don't even know, being careful not to do anything out of the ordinary lest it caused a scandal, being threatened with murder in your sleep by disgruntled people you don't even realize have a grudge on you.... Stuff like that. No big deal, really. I am sure you'll manage. Maaaybe~"

Though she said it in an easy tone, in hindsight what she said was rather sad. Just what in the world this hard-working princess had to put up with everyday?

She listened to Josh's reasoning carefully, and did not all seem bothered from it. From the looks of it, Marianne was happy just being outside!

"Alright. I'll go wherever you decide to go, Sir Josh. Just...please don't take too long. You don't want to be inquired about a guardswoman passing out while walking with you~"

Her face lit up again. "And please don't start changing out in the open or I'll have to slap an Indecency Act fine on you," she joked, once more letting out a lively giggle.

Josh Dragelion

The Princess-in-disguise walked with Josh to the barracks without resistance, her gaze shifted all around as she did so. She leaned against the wall of barracks while Josh changed his full armor into something more manageable. A few of the guards coming and going the barracks noticed the her standing alone. Some greeted her, which Marianne saluted back in a well-practiced manner, just like real guards, though she was careful not to say anything or move too much. Some of the castle guards might recognize the Princess' voice, considering the amount of time she spent personally interacting with them to improve their welfare anyway she could.