Link's whole body ached. He groaned as he grabbed the bar he hung from, unclenching his legs from the iron rod. He carefully dropped to the ground, breathing heavily. Link stood for a moment, then sat for several more. His morning workout never got easier. If it could be called a 'morning' workout. It took about four hours to do his usual routine. Link had to wake up early to complete it before noon. At least today he didn't have afternoon sparring.
Link knew he didn't have to push himself so hard. The other royal bodyguards' all worked out together. Link had joined them a couple of times. Small Hans, a giant of a man, led the workout. An hour run, followed by a half hour of calisthenics and sprints. Sure, it kept one at a certain level of physical health, but as did any number of things. Like lumberjacking. Or ditch digging. Link sighed. He shouldn't think such things. The other bodyguards were good men, handpicked by Zelda's father, King Harkinian, and had seen years of service. Still though, Link wished they kept themselves in better shape, like himself. One needed every advantage, when danger potentially lurked in any and all places. That was a lesson he had learned ages ago, in a time that didn't exist anymore.
Link broke from his reverie. His hands were shaking. Those memories were better left alone. He shook his head and stood. He grabbed his white tabard, his eyes taking a sweep of what his life was now.
The room described it well. A small bed, no blanket or pillow. A chamber pot, freshly used. One set of neatly folded clothing, a copy of the one he was currently putting on. An iron bar bolted to the ceiling, his one piece of exercise equipment. A dummy dressed in Link's heavy mail, a sword and shield resting on a rack to the side of the little wooden man. On the far side of the room, next to the door, hung a small mirror. It was the one thing Link had allowed himself, a break from the usual raw necessity of his other worldly possessions.
Now, Link was many things. He was quiet. He was raised in the woods. He was a musician, not that anyone knew that but Link himself. He was also considered a very good looking man. This was also known to Link. The mirror was a reminder of that. It was a tool to feed his vanity, absolutely, but also a tool to forget his insecurities. Link had no shortage of insecurities.
Link jerked on a wool undershirt, tossed on his chain mail byrnie, fit his head and arms through his white tabard, cinched on his belt, sheathed his sword, buckled on his shield and shook on his plated boots and gauntlets. He took a quick look at the mirror and pushed open the door. The modest chamber opened to a grand corridor, bedecked in tapestries and even a pleasant red carpet. The white stone of Hyrule Castle shone, and the grand window at the end of the hallway helped dispel some of the shadows inherent in a castle.
Link quietly clacked down the corridor, took a right, two lefts and went up a flight of stairs. He was excited of the day that had been planned today. Zelda had a desire to go to Lake Hylia today, and had requested an escort of four to attend to her. Link was still sore all over his body, but didn't regret his decision to volunteer to be one of those four. It was Zelda. The funniest, smartest, most beautiful-
Link spun around, catching the fist and using its momentum to throw its owner. The assailant put himself into the throw whole heartedly, gracefully rolling away the impact as he hit the ground to Link's front. Link grabbed his sword, unsheathing it halfway as the other man hopped out of his roll and into a tackle, sending them both to the ground. Link grabbed the man's wrist, who's hand was suddenly full of dagger, and kneed him in the gut. The blow didn't seem to faze him. The man struggled to a dominating position on top of Link, using his leverage to bring his dagger down on Link. Link desperately tried to keep the man's arm locked in place, but his arms were still fatigued from his exercises. The blade came closer and closer to Link's throat, until Link could feel the edge on his jugular.
"You lose." Lucien said in a whisper, as he rolled off of Link's stomach. Link groaned and sat up, rubbing his throat. "I keep telling you, buddy. Daggers." Lucien laughed. "The little bastards are terrible in a fair fight, but when a guy jumps you, gets you close, they're your best friends." His smile turned into a cheeky grin as he helped Link to his feet. " I really got you, didn't I? Do I smell urine?"
Lucien was young, of an age with Link, and also one of the Royal Family's bodyguards. Lucien was a long limbed blond haired man, his shaggy mane coming down to his smiling hazel eyes. He actually looked a bit like Link, but where Lucien was thin, tall and graceful, Link was athletic, midsized and deliberate. He and Link were best friends.
Link scowled as he said "You got lucky. Next time I'll be ready. Are you coming with me to escort Her Grace?"
Lucien shook his head and grimaced. "I'd love to have a day of fun in the sun, but unfortunately it looks like I'll just be having a day in the sun. I'm sparring today, Cap's orders. He says he wants my fire stance to be as good as his, or at least as good as yours. I am thinking that he may be in for a bit of a disappointment."
Link shook his head. The cap', as Lucien called him, was actually Lucien's father. Captain Jacob was the leader of the Royal Family's bodyguard, and for good reason. He was the best swordsman Link had ever seen. The captain had twenty years of experience under his belt, and a water stance so immaculate that Link could not for the life of him detect where his next attack was coming from, until it was too late. Link was quicker, Link was stronger, but when it was his turn to spar with the captain, he walked into the ring with dread.
"Don't worry, Lucien. I'm sure he doesn't have enough faith left in you to be disappointed anymore." Link said with a grin, resuming his walk to the Princess' room.
"Smirk all you want, jackass! I still just killed you!" Lucien called after him.
Zelda Harkinian, the first of her name, Crown Princess of Hyrule, was freaking out, scrambling around her room in her underclothes.
"Where are they where are they where are they where are they!" She muttered frantically to herself, tossing half-forgotten trinkets all around her lavish bedchambers as she delved deeper into the bowels of her wardrobe. "I know it's here, Impa! I specifically remember leaving them in this drawer!" She called back to her handmaid.
"I don't understand the problem. You cannot find a pair of earrings. You have more earrings. I can see thir-excuse me- fourteen other pairs right now, lying around your room."
Zelda turned her head a moment and squinted at her older friend. "You have terrifyingly sharp eyes." She stated, moving back to her work. "And it doesn't matter. Michael gave these particular earrings to me, if I don't wear them, he'll think I don't like his gift."
Impa rolled her eyes. Sometimes she wondered if her charge had her priorities straight. The amount of time she spent thinking of etiquette could be better spent thinking of, well, nearly anything. Then again, Impa mused, she had seen a number of princes offended at the sight of the improper use of a spoon. Perhaps Zelda should worry over such things.
"The earrings you are looking for are not in your wardrobe. They are on your bedside table, where you laid them out last night so you would not forget to wear them." Impa said with a small smile.
Zelda turned, frowned slightly at Impa, and said "I knew I had them set out somewhere. You should have said something earlier." She walked over to her earrings, pinning them into her ears. "How do I look?"
Impa smiled. Zelda was a vision. Big, violet eyes. Cascading lochs of golden hair. A fair bust, a thin waist, shapely legs. Simply gorgeous. "You look as you always do. Beautiful. Now, Let us get you into your dress."
Ten minutes later, the dress was on. Five minutes after that, there was a quiet rapping on the door. "The escort is assembled, my lady. We may depart now."
Zelda stood up excitedly. "Fantastic! Let's make haste then. Oh! I need different shoes. Aaaaag! Hold on!" Zelda ran into her closet, hurriedly picking through her shoes. "Who will be escorting me today?" She called from inside her closet. "I hope they know what they are getting into. Michael loves to show off!"
Impa smiled slightly. She liked the retinue she had assembled today. "I picked four I thought would be good protection and interesting company. We have Captain Jacob, Carl Four Fingers, Jace and Link."
"Oh my. Link had better be ready for Michael. He loves to compete against the pretty ones!"
The ride to the lake was uneventful. Zelda was closed off with her hand maid in her carriage, while Link and the others rode on horses. Link was happy despite this, however, for as soon as they got to the lake, Zelda would be available to see, to listen to, and perhaps even to talk to. Ever since regaining his lost adolescence, Link could not get Zelda out of his mind. He worried that her presence might distract him from his duty. He wondered if Zelda would go for a swim…
He blushed. The lake was not far. He could see the trees start to thin. After a few minutes of easy riding, the party had reached the sandy beaches of Lake Hylia. It was a beautiful day. A few puffy white clouds lazily drifted through the blue above them as the afternoon sun reflected a red gold light off the ripples of the water. Strangely, the beach was already occupied. A young man, tall and handsome, was tending to an even better looking horse. The man had fairly short black hair, with a part to the left. His eyes were a dark grey, the color of steel. He saw them and smiled, waving his arm in greeting. Link looked him over. No weapons, no armor, no indication that this man was a threat. The carriage stopped, and Zelda popped out almost immediately.
"Michael!" She cried as she ran into his arms. Link looked on, he felt like he had just been stabbed. "Where's your guards, Michael? Don't tell me you rode all by yourself from Burna alone!"
Link was horrified. He had not known that Zelda had been seeing anyone. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"I'm in love not stupid, Zelda." Michael spoke with a slight accent, a smile slowly spreading across his face. "I sent them off once I arrived. I thought it would look more gallant if I were alone when you arrived." He teased. The word 'love' drove another knife in Link's gut.
"Well, you are quite foolish, but I suppose you did cut a striking figure. It's a shame I didn't stay at the top of the hill, to cherish the image you had crafted. Now I have to deal with your stupidity." Zelda frowned, then kissed him. The moment lasted for only a few seconds, but a few seconds was all Link needed to taste bile. He looked away, ostensibly to give the two privacy.
"Zelda, what is the meaning of this? Your handmaid did not speak of anyone meeting us at the lake." Captain Jacob called to the couple, who were still embracing. Impa turned to face the captain.
"Zelda did not wish for her father to know quite yet that Michael was visiting from Burna. She wanted to spend some time with him alone, without a feast or tournament throne in his honor." Evidently, Link thought, the king had no problem with Michael.
"I see. I will take this up with the king later. I do not care to be misled. Without proper information, I cannot see to Her Grace's security as effectively." Captain Jacob turned after speaking this and walked off to a good vantage point over the area.
Impa frowned after the captain, her eyes going slightly distant. She then refocused and looked over at Link, giving him a tight smile. "I think it may be best if you were to reassert the presence of others to the two down there. There will be far too much touching if no one breaks it up soon." And with that she walked off.
Link sighed. He had no desire to get any closer to what was happening down there. His heart still ached. Link did not, however, want to sit back and watch this man do any more to the woman he loved. He adjusted his belt a little and headed down onto the beach. The two were talking quietly to one another, maybe half a foot between their faces. Michael's hands were on Zelda's hips, and they seemed to be moving-
"Hello!" Link cried, coming to a stop within spitting distance of Michael. "Pleasant day, isn't it? The water looks lovely."
The couple abruptly stopped what they were doing, Zelda blushed furiously and Michael grinned widely as they took a step away from each other. Zelda laughed a little. "Michael may I present to you one of Hyrule's royal guardsmen, Sir Link! Sir Link, this is Michael. The heir apparent to the Kingdom of Burna."
They shook hands. Michael tried to crush Link's hand with his grip. Link's hand did not crush. "A pleasure, Sir Link! Such a young man to be selected for service in Hyrule's royal guard! You must be something of a prodigy."
"Thank you for saying so, your grace, but I am no such thing. I simply have a good work ethic." Link smiled, keeping his emotions in check. The bastard had the gall to smile at him!
"Don't be so modest, Link! I've seen you in the tourneys. You place in lancing and archery every time, and you have never lost a duel to anyone but Captain Jacob! You are one of the best fighters of our age, and you are our age! You may not say you are a prodigy, but I would." Link's eyebrows raised at Zelda's words. He did not know she had paid attention during the tourneys.
"Well there you go Link! By royal decree, a prodigy! I must confess, all of this talk of your physical prowess has raised my competitive spirit. I may not be able to match your fighting skill, but I am renowned in my home country as a great swimmer. What say you? How about a race to that island and back?" He pointed to the island with a massive tree growing from it. "The winner gets a kiss from a princess!" Zelda shoved him at that. "Come on Zelda! We need a prize. I cannot think of something better than a kiss from you." Michael laughed.
"Fine." Zelda said, crossing her arms and looking at Link. "I hope you win, Link." Then she turned back to Michael. "I bet he's a better kisser than you." Michael frowned. Link kept his face carefully clear. On the inside, a storm was brewing. Despair, embarrassment, anger, anticipation, and a little hope thrashed in his stomach. Link wasn't going to let this prince take his kiss away.
Michael shrugged and then started taking off his shirt. He revealed his torso with a grin, evidently very pleased with himself. Zelda made ooh's and aw's , pretending to be entranced. Michael did have a swimmer's body, lean and muscular, with a sprinkling of dark chest hair over his olive skin. Link shook off his boots, uncinched his belt, yanked off his tabard, tossed off his mail and lifted off his undershirt. Zelda actually gasped this time.
"Oh goddesses Link, where did you get all of those scars?" She stepped forward, cautiously touching the largest, a nasty slash of scar tissue that went from his shoulder to his sternum. He shivered as her fingers made contact, remembering the feel of the huge axe ripping across the musculature of his chest. That had been an awful fight, three enchanted suits of armor, their sole desire to end his life.
"A difficult childhood, My lady. Do not worry. I am fine now. Are you ready to race, Your Grace?"
Zelda held her breath as the two men entered the water. "Alright boys! On the count of three, the race begins! Are you ready? 3! 2! 1! GO!"
The two blasted off through the water, furiously trying to get the best of the other. Zelda rolled her eyes. Neither man could possibly sustain that speed for the duration of the race. They were just showing off. They had just signed up for nearly a 1000 meter race. They wouldn't be back for a while. Zelda sat back down on the sand, adjusting her skirt. She thought back to Link. His scars had frightened her. They had crisscrossed his entire body, going from his neck down to his ankles. She had never seen so many on one person before. She shuddered to think what his childhood was like. She would make a point of getting the tale out of him later.
It had been nearly eight minutes before the two had hit the island. Zelda saw that Michael was leading, his dark hair poking out from the water every time he went for a breath. Link was maybe ten seconds behind, doggedly pursuing her love. Zelda sighed. She had wondered what it would be like to kiss Link. His face was lovely, and she wondered what it would be like to have his incredibly hard body and battle scars pressed against her. She knew she shouldn't have such desires, but she also knew that Michael was no better. If some reports could be believed, he had even acted on some of those desires, back in Burna. Zelda didn't care for that at all. She hoped Link would pick up the pace!
The two had just a hundred more meters to go. Things had gotten interesting. Michael was losing steam, apparently he had burned up all his reserves a little too soon. Link was still coming on, fast as ever. It did not surprise Zelda. Link had never spoken to her, but she had heard from some of her more chatty guards that he was relentless. Sh-
"Princess! Get down on the ground!" She heard Captain Jacob scream. She turned around, startled, looking toward the captain.
"Wh-" A crossbow bolt shot past her, inches from her head.
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