It's no fun being sick when there's a grand palace ball going on...will Zelda find a way to enjoy the evening with Link in spite of a bad case of the sniffles?

Disclaimers, etc.: The Legend of Zelda is the property of Shigeru Miyamoto and all the kind people at Nintendo.

xLoZx

Chapter One: Sneezes and Sniffles

"Ah-CHOO!"

Zelda blew her nose into a well-used handkerchief - one of several, actually - and slumped back against her pillows, groaning.

She could not believe her rotten luck. Coming down with a terrible cold, right before the midwinter ball at Hyrule Castle: the social event of the winter season in Hyrule.

There was a Triforce for wisdom, one for power, one for courage…why couldn't the gods have created a Triforce for not getting sick on important days, Zelda wondered.

It had started a few days ago, with a scratchy throat. She'd attributed it to dry air in the castle, and went about her business as usual. But it rapidly turned into a full-fledged dungeon monster of a cold, with constant sneezing and a stuffy nose. She'd tried to carry on as best as she could, until, one day, she practically sneezed all over the entire council of lords and ladies during a meeting.

That was when the healers had finally intervened.

"I'm afraid it's bed rest and plenty of fluids for you, Your Highness," the chief physician had said to her.

So that was why Zelda was still in bed on a winter's morning. As sick rooms went, the princess's chambers weren't a bad place to be, with lots of pillows piled on the bed, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and plenty of her favorite books within arm's reach. But for her, it was as good as a prison cell.

Zelda had tried everything to make the cold go away. She'd gulped down mug after mug of hot fluids: tea, broth, and that horrible-tasting head-clearing potion she'd been ordered to take twice a day. She'd tried taking steam baths in the castle's sauna. That worked - but her head always clogged back up five minutes after she got out. In a moment of desperation, she'd even gone down to the castle greenhouse, picked some of the hot peppers that grew there, and chomped into one.

She was still debating whether the numb lips and the burnt tongue were worth the momentary sinus relief.

But today was the day of the ball, and her cold had not abated.

Out in the hallway, Zelda could hear all the castle staff and courtiers buzzing with excitement about the ball. One voice, giggly and shrill, was louder than all the others. It was Celeste, the airheaded daughter of one of Hyrule's council lords. And she was describing every last detail of the gown she'd had made for the ball.

"…and it was made by the VERY best house of fashion in ALL of Hytopia! Why, Madame Couture DESIGNED it HERSELF!" Celeste squealed. Then she prattled on about how she planned to dance with every prince, duke, and otherwise eligible man at the ball. "And I DO hope the Hero of Hyrule will HONOR me with a WALTZ or two!"

"Oh, shut up, Celeste," Zelda muttered.

She sneezed once more and reached for an unused handkerchief: her last one. As she did, her eyes traveled to the dressmaker's form standing next to the wardrobe.

On it was the brand-new ball gown Zelda had been planning to wear that night: a stunning, full-skirted creation of sapphire blue velvet, trimmed with silver braid and enough beads to make it look like a starry winter sky. On the floor next to it sat a pair of blue and silver dancing slippers, fresh out of the court cobbler's workshop.

Zelda's irritation started to turn to sadness. She'd been looking forward to putting on that dress and walking into the great hall on Link's arm.

Link…

He'd been sent on a king's errand over to Termina a few days before, and he was due to arrive back at the castle that day. Formal occasions like the mid-winter ball weren't high on the list of Link's favorite things, but Zelda knew he always loved a chance to dance with her.

If only there was a way to…

"Your Highness?" one of the healers asked through the door.

Zelda sighed. "Come in."

The healer, a plump, middle-aged woman in long gray robes, came in carrying a steaming goblet. "Time for your next dose of potion," she said crisply.

"Thank you, Mistress Melia," Zelda said. She took the goblet, steeled herself, and took a long swig. It tasted like boiled cabbage and swamp water, and she made a face.

"There's no avoiding it, it's the best thing for you," Melia said. "Get some more rest, Your Highness." The door closed behind her.

Stupid cold, Zelda thought.

xLoZx

More to come! Reviews welcome!