Samus in Altea

Chapter 4

AN: Oh my gosh! This picture is so cute! Props to the artists of all of these (not me). Okay so this is my romance part of the whole story. This is for me. Ahaha. So I'm sorry if it sucks. I wish I could have done more with it but... Caeda so... Anyway! Enjoy! Don't forget to vote and comment! :D

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"Miss?" Samus woke up to the sound of Delilah's tiny voice. "Miss, here's your breakfast." Samus sat up and Delilah placed it on the table at the end of the bed.

"Thank you."

"I'll bring your dress," Delilah said, bowing and leaving.

Samus walked over to the tray and once again, admired the amount of food, not knowing where to start. It was then that she noticed a small note with her name written on it wedged underneath the plate of the main dish. She slid it out and opened it.

Samus,

Please join me in the courtyard for lunch today.

Marth

She smiled and felt her heart race when she read his name. What am I doing? She thought to herself. This is silly. I can't possibly like him. Besides, it's just lunch. Sitting down, she began eating her breakfast. She then bathed and managed to get into her dress by herself. She wandered the hallways until she found a room larger than a study but smaller than a library. She walked along the shelves and scanned the books. Many were on the history of Altea, Akaneia, and Gra. She picked up what appeared to be the most recent edition on Altea. She began reading in place, but as it drew her in, she walked over to a small table. Before she could get there, however, she ran into someone else who was walking in the same direction. She thought she was alone, so this startled her quite a bit, causing her to drop her book.

 She bent down to pick it up when a familiar voice apologized, "I'm sorry!". Samus looked up to see Ike holding out a hand to help her up.

"It's alright," She said, standing up. She glanced at the book in his hand. "Gallia?"

"Oh- Ah-" Ike hid the book behind his back, but then sighed in defeat and sat down. "Gallia was my home country. I was born there, but I wasn't raised there. I don't remember much about it... I was hoping I could learn a little more about it from one of the many books in here."

"Have you been able to?"

Ike shrugged. "What did you happen too pick up?" Ike asked, changing the subject as he pointed to her book.

"It's on the history of Altea. I figured I ought to learn more about it while I'm here."

"And what have you learned?"

"I learned quite a bit about the Shadow Dragon, Medeus."

Ike's face grew grim. "Don't tell Marth."

Samus looked at him, confused. "Why not?"

Ike stood up. "Just don't alright?" He turned to walk off.

"Wait- Marth invited me to lunch. Would you like to join us?"

Ike smiled softly in spite of himself, "Thank you, but no. I think Marth didn't invite me for a reason." Ike walked over and kissed her hand. "I'll see you later, Samus."

Samus watched in utter confusion as he left. It was curious how his mood changed after she mentioned Medeus. She continued to read about him and found out that Marth had defeated him several times. She then realized that Medeus was a touch subject due to the havoc he had caused.

"'Scuse me, Miss?" Samus looked up from her reading to see Delilah in the doorway. "It's time for your lunch with the prince."

"Ah yes, thank you. I'll be on my way, then."

"Do you wish for me to escort you, miss?"

"I think I'll manage. Thank you, though."

As Samus approached the courtyard she could feel butterflies in her stomach and she couldn't figure out why. Wen she got there she saw Marth waiting with a picnic basket. He smiled at her and held out his elbow. She took it and they walked to the stables. He helped her up on his horse and handed her the basket. He then gracefully climbed up in front of her and urged the horse on. He hadn't spoken to her the entire time.

"Why are we only taking one horse?" She wondered out loud.

"It saves time and someone's got to hold the basket." He said simply.

It seemed logical enough so she didn't press further. Soon they came to a stop and Samus looked around. They were in a wide open field not so far from the outside of the palace. It was covered in many beautiful flowers and there was a small pond surrounded by cherry trees in bloom. It was lovely. When the wind blew ever so gently, petals would break free and float down, covering the ground and landing in the pond. Marth jumped down and helped Samus down. He then took the basket and walked over to a little blanket below a tree and right next to the pond. When Samus got closer she noticed the koi fish happily swimming about.

"It's beautiful here," she said softly.

Marth looked around, smiling. "Yes it is. I used to come here all the time." His smile turned bitter-sweet.

"What made you stop?" Samus asked, sitting down next to him.

"Things change," he said quietly. He then prepared their lunch and they at while chatting about this and that. After lunch, Marth relaxed and laid down on his back, closing his eyes. As she admired him, the butterflies in her stomach returned. Ike's words crept into her mind.

"I think Marth didn't invite me for a reason."

She shook the thought from her head and continued to watch Marth. The wind gently blew and it caused a few petals to land on him. She smiled as some landed on his face and in his hair. He didn't seem to mind it very much, though. He just laid there.

Samus felt her eyelids grow heavy after a while so she asked Marth, "Mind if I join you?"

He looked up at her and smiled, "No, please do."

She laid down next to him and closed her eyes. She listened to the bustle of the trees and the sound of the koi fish popping up every now and then. She couldn't hear Marth breathing, but she could sense him there and she felt at peace. She couldn't figure out why. Suddenly her mind posed the question, "Maybe I like Marth as more than a friend" but before she could entertain the thought further, she pushed it out of her mind. It was ridiculous to think about that. She was here on a mission. How could she possibly get caught up with someone. It was so unlike her. Once she thought that thought was removed, Samus let her mind wander to the past few days.

"Hey, Marth?" She asked, breaking the calming silence and looking over at him.

"Yes?" He cracked one eye and looked down at her.

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure," he said, closing his eye again.

"You don't have to answer, but for once, my curiosity is getting the better of me." She paused. "Who is Caeda?"

Marth suddenly grew tense but he sighed slightly and answered her, "Caeda was my fiancee. She disappeared not too long after the metroid attacks began."

"What do you think happened to her?"

"I'm not sure, but if she's in there, I don't think she would have lasted long. She was one of the greatest fighters I've ever known, but she didn't stand a chance against them especially with our lack of knowledge on them."

Before Samus could stop herself, she had grabbed Marth's hand and was comforting him. "I'm sorry." It was all she could say and she was mad at herself. Why couldn't she have said more to comfort him? However, he gently squeezed her hand in return and bitterly smiled down at her.

"You know, this is where I proposed to her. We used to come down here all the time. I stopped coming when she disappeared; it was far too painful."

She suddenly felt a sharpness in her chest. "I'm honored you brought me here, then," she said gently.

He didn't say anything in return. Instead he just sat up and pulled out a little bag from the basket. "Want to help me feed the koi?" He asked her.