Hey everyone, this is my first Legend of Zelda fanfic, but I've had the idea in my head for a while and wanted to try it. I hope it goes well. Please let me know what you think. :) Thanks!
I'm currently going back through the few chapters I have posted and perfecting them. So If you get a notification with no real update, that's what happened. Sorry!
"No." Zelda flicked the suggestion away thoughtlessly once again as readjusted her delicate frame in the overbearing velvet throne. She attempted to keep her royal demeanor in the midst of her weariness as she smoothed the lower portion of her dress.
Another day, another suitor. When would it cease?
Her advisor frowned in displeasure, "Your Highness…" He began, "We have tried to make it apparent to you that you must wed. And soon at that. Your father deemed to us that he wished for your hand to be possessed by the age of eighteen, and yet, several months have passed without you obliging to his will."
The mention of her father stunned Zelda momentarily. She had known for quite some time that he desired for her to continue the Harkinian name as she matured. She honored her King as much as any citizen did, but her heart tugged. Could she not have what she wanted on some occasions?
Zelda sighed as she dazed out of the stain glass window and into the field directly outside. Such a gorgeous day outside, ruined by so called "mandatory" obligations. Her father was always very kind to her. Her mother died when Zelda was young, and it only brought the two closer together.
After a bit of subtle thought, she fixed her gaze back on her elderly advisor, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her. "Fren, I have expressed my feelings for this topic before, and I will say it once more. I feel that I have ruled this country well for two years now and see no need for a husband." She saw his look of frustration that was shared with other advisors in the room. It only made her continue, "If you are too stubborn, sir, then I will grant you this: I refuse to simply agree to a suitor. I must meet them and approve before anything of the sort is arranged. I'm sure the Amerate Prince is a lovely man. If you so wish me to marry, however, perhaps you should arrange a ball or gathering where I can congregate. This is the last time I will discuss this matter."
Fren hung his head in defeat. Impa stepped forward with a hand on Zelda's shoulder. She knew how flustered the Queen gets when talking about marriage. The topic had been brought up several times, and had left the Queen in a horrible mood every instance.
"Are there any other matters we must discuss today?" She asked the throne room while tracing the navy embroidery of her light blue dress.
Quiet mutters were recognized, but no subjects aroused.
"Good." Zelda spoke as she rose, "You are dismissed for the week." She rose and stepped down the red carpeted steps and strode down the path to the giant golden doors. She waved lightly when advisors rushed a "Your Highness" as she passed. Zelda could feel Impa on her heels. She smiled and nodded her head in thanks as two guards pulled the double doors open for her with a slight bow.
Continuing down the corridor to her room, Zelda admired the newly hung decorations along the wall. She had asked her servants to make the castle more decorative. They had done well, Zelda thought, with brand new curtains, paintings, and trinkets scattered throughout the castle.
"My Queen," Impa's soft voice interrupted her thoughts as the pair entered Zelda's living quarters, "What do you plan on busying yourself with today? Perhaps a fitting for a new gown?"
A grin played on the edge of Zelda's lips. She had her own plans to deal with. The queen hadn't gotten a chance to have time to herself in a while, and she practically jumped at this opportunity.
"I think I'll just spend some time alone." She started, "It's a lovely day, Impa, and you should do the same."
The servant shifted awkwardly, a look of worry playing her features, "Perhaps you should be accompanied by a guard, Highness. I do not wish for anything bad to occur because you are not properly protected."
Zelda reassured her with a smile and a steady hand on her shoulder, "Impa, I will be fine. I promise." Her grin broadened as she remembered her Shieka training from the servant, "Besides, do you doubt what you've so well taught me?"
The woman seemed to relax at this. She rolled her blood red eyes and smiled jokingly, "Of course not. Have a splendid day." She bent at the waist before exiting the room.
Zelda chuckled and shook her head. She was fond of the servant. Impa was the closest thing that she had to a mother since her real one passed. She had practically raised the girl. Zelda had learned from Impa more than she could learn from anyone.
Selecting a navy cloak to match her dress, Zelda also grabbed her sword. Tying it to her waist where it disappeared under the cloak, she took one last look in her mirror before she set out.
Zelda strode down the long hallways, nodding kindly to those she passed who in turn graciously bowed to their respected ruler. She stepped down the grey stone stairway leading to the various buildings and outskirts of the castle. As Zelda's distance from the royal building grew, her pace quickened to the horse stable.
Once she arrived, Zelda chose the nearest horse, a strong all white mare with a spot surrounding its left eye. She stroked its nose while trying to calm the now roused up horse. Whispering words as she dragged her along, Zelda let her mind slip away.
She let down her hood and released her hair as to let the wind catch it and blow it free. Riding always washed away Zelda's stress. It was a time where she could ponder her thoughts alone without having the constant attention from those in the castle. It's not as if Zelda didn't enjoy ruling her country. She wouldn't give up what she did for the world. The Queen loved her people and would do anything for them. It's just the never ending pressure of running Hyrule got to her at points.
Zelda slowed her horse at the edge of the forest she had journeyed though thousands of times. She was nearing her destination.
Zelda pulled up her hood once more as to shield herself from the chance of town's people of Ordon recognizing their queen.
She dismounted her steed and walked slowly along, it's reins in her hand and she stoked the horse's mane delicately.
"Excuse me, ma'am." A man in his later stages of life was hunched over, his weight mainly supported by the strain in his arms on the small stand that carried various fruits and breads, "Would you care to buy any goods?"
Zelda smiled sympathetically and fished the black velvet satchel of coins out from the inside of her cloak. She selected an apple and a roll of bread from the front of the cart and asked, "How much for this?"
The man replied with a smile on his face, "Ahh, for that I need four silver coins, please." Zelda peered at the man from under her hood. He had a long scar running along the right side of his face from his temple to his chin. He held his wrinkled and tanned hands out hesitantly and with great surprise, almost urgency. Zelda could tell he didn't receive customers often.
She loosened the string and pulled out around a dozen silver coins. The man's eyes widened drastically.
"Oh no, miss." He retorted, "I can't accept that." Zelda glanced skeptically at the old man.
"What's your name, sir?" She asked, trying to keep her face covered still.
"People around here call me Bull, miss." He smiled broadly.
Zelda's eyebrow's furrowed, "Is that a nickname?" The old man nodded proudly.
"They can't seem to shake me off, is what they tell me!" The Queen's grin widened at the analogy.
"Bull, is it? Well, Bull, it seems as if you are a hard working man. Please accept this as a word of thanks from me. I am in no need of it." Zelda took his hands and placed the money inside, closing them off and turning to arrive at her previous destination.
Just a little down the dirt path that seemed to be the center of the village, Zelda could make out a small horse stable attached to an inn that had to contain no more than a few rooms. Her heart quickened, as did her pace. After a few yards, she recognized Link's golden hair and muscular frame grooming his horse, Epona, under the shade of the makeshift stable.
Zelda tried to keep quiet, tried to keep on the balls of her feet as to not crunch the leaves beneath her. Her horse didn't get the memo that she wanted to surprise him, however, and whinnied with impatience. Luckily, Link didn't even glance behind himself, so, smiling once more, Zelda cleared her throat dramatically and, in a deeper than usual voice began with, "Do you know of a place I can keep my horse?"
Link's stature remained unchanging as he stroked Epona's mane with a brush. At first, Zelda assumed he didn't hear her and opened her mouth to begin again when his voice replied, "You may want to work on sneaking up on people before you try it on me." He turned around, a smirk plastered on his face, "Good afternoon, my Queen."
"Hello, adventurer" Zelda returned the greeting while tying her horse to a post and walking to stand by the hero. He returned to grooming Epona, but a smile still occupied his lips. She watched him as she retrieved the apple and fed it to his horse.
"So, what are you doing in the pathetic town of Ordon, Highness?" Link asked as he put up his brush and rested his elbow on the horse's back. He watched her skeptically as she fed Epona. He hadn't seen her in a while, but she seemed well. When Zelda didn't reply, he continued, "I mean, what does the Queen of Hyrule have any business doing here? Boring up in the castle?"
Zelda busied herself with feeding the horse while hers on the other side of the stable whined. "Quite," She retorted. "I've just got a lot to ponder. I felt like I needed to get away, and I figured you wouldn't mind if I came here."
"Not at all." Link said. "So what's bothering you?" he asked as he stood and began to gather his grooming tools and clean up the shabby stable. The Queen shifted uncomfortably.
"Umm. If you don't mind... is there some way we can go somewhere else?" Zelda asked hesitantly. It's not as if she didn't enjoy the stable, but she didn't want to talk about anything where someone could come up and hear her conversation.
Link eyed her, and developed a more serious demeanor. He nodded, "Of course. Grab your horse. I know where we can go."
Zelda did as she was told and together they rode through the woods without a word. Link led her to a clearing about seventy-five yards in diameter. The field was covered in wildflowers of every color. It was a practically perfect circle surrounded by summer trees that grew as tall as Zelda could see. A bit off-centered from the middle of the field grew an old weeping willow tree.
Link rode his horse forward in the willow's direction. After recovering from her awe, Zelda followed him.
Dismounting her horse and tying her to the tree's trunk, Zelda looked around. Link had done the same and now had his back leaning up against the tree's bark. She followed his example and sat down to his right.
While Zelda smoothed the bottom of her dress, Link inquired once more, "What's been troubling you, Highness?"
"Well, for one thing," Zelda began, "The hero I have known since my childhood still won't call me by my name." She fixed a look of blame on him and he raised his hands in mock defense.
"I'm sorry! It's out of habit. I'll try better... Zelda." He apologized while chuckling at himself. Zelda smiled, then Link's face became stoic once more. "Truly, though. What ails you?"
She sighed, "I don't know... I believe I'm blowing it far out of proportion. It's just I'm overwhelmed lately with stress. The council wants me to marry soon. And I know my father wanted me to wed by this time in my life... but I have no desire to marry. Link, I'm only eighteen summers old! I'm too young to be married. I-I suppose I should though..."
Link remained silent for a while, making sure she was finished. When she raised eyes to look into his, he began, "I realize you must be stressed. You say it might be nothing, but Zelda, you've got the nation on your shoulders! You have every right to be flustered over matters like marriage. I'm sure your father only wanted you to wed by now so that you wouldn't have the pressure of running Hyrule by yourself. He was only considering you, Highness."
Zelda sat unmoving for a few moments while she digested the information. Then she slowly brought her knees to her chest, crossed her arms over them, and rested her head on them.
She took a haggard breath and began "I just don't understand… I've been running Hyrule for nearly two whole summers now, and yet, am I still incapable of proving myself worthy of succeeding in ruling? Yes, I've been through... instances... but my father was alive then! Since I took power, nothing's happened! And nothing will happen. Nothing's going to happen... Nothing..." Zelda broke down into tears. Sympathetically, Link placed a hand on her back and rubbed in circles.
"Shh... Hush, Zelda. It's alright. Everything's fine." Link wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace. She complied and wept into his shoulder as he stroked her long, golden hair.
They stayed like that until Zelda pulled away a few moments later, wiping her eyes, "I'm sorry, Link. I shouldn't have broken down like that."
Link looked at her with a puzzled look, "Why are you apologizing? Highness, this isn't your fault. Everyone needs to cry sometimes. You have been cooping this up, Zelda. It's not healthy. I'm glad you got it out of your system."
Zelda nodded. "Thank you, Link." Link smiled and pulled her in for another hug. They separated and Zelda failed at stifling her giggle.
"What?" Links confused face turned to a smile when Zelda pointed to the tear stain on Link's white shirt.
Link tugged at the tunic to get a better observation, "Well, I suppose I could say I enjoy the taste of my shirt." Their laughter rang into the forest.
Once it stopped, Zelda said again as she stood, "Thank you, Link. I needed this. And I'm glad to know that you're here for me."
"I always have been, and I always will be." He smiled and helped her onto her horse then mounted his own.
As they rode out, the pair made small talk of what had been happening in their lives recently. The last few rays of sun disappeared over the tall trees as Zelda said, "Do you think perhaps the reason everyone wants me to marry is so that someone can defend me?"
Link pondered her question for a moment or two, "I don't know... but we can fix that." He said with a mischievous grin.
Zelda cocked her head to the side, "What are you up to, Hero?"
Link's smirk remained as they neared the stables, "What would you say to me training you?"
Zelda laughed one hearty laugh and said, "I think that's the best idea you've ever had. You can come and stay at the castle for a couple of days."
They got to the stable and Link dismounted. A grin still plastered to his face, he asked, "Tomorrow sound alright?"
Zelda smiled back and nodded, "Wonderful. I'll see you tomorrow, then." With a wave goodbye, Zelda pushed her horse into a gallop in the direction of the Hyrule castle.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are always wonderful, if you don't mind :) I'll have the next chapter up as soon as I can!