A tip of the hat to ObeliskX for requesting this.
Standard disclaimers.
Prince Lincoln tore his arm out of the goblin guard's grip with a vicious snarl, his glare causing it to flinch away, before storming on his own to his chambers, the beast following at his heels to make sure he actually went there.
He opened the door more with his shoulder than his arm, almost unhinging it, and slammed it shut behind him. A long and creative string of profanities poured out of him, interrupted by a curt greeting to the pretty girl sitting casually in his armchair, as he unfastened his cape and started to drag his tunic over his head.
Then he remembered that there wasn't supposed to be a girl sitting in his armchair and froze.
"Oh, don't stop on my account!" A melodious voice said teasingly. "You can just pretend I'm not here if it's making you uncomfortable."
He dropped his tunic back onto his body and turned towards the stranger, an almost disturbingly pretty young woman with large indigo eyes, long dark blonde hair held back by a – frankly silly looking – blue hat, and an overly amused smirk. She sat curled up in his chair, boots on the brocade. "Who are you and what are you doing in my room?"
She tugged at the brim of her hat and nodded courteously. "My name is Zelda, chosen heroine of the Goddesses. I'm here to kidnap you, Your Highness."
Link sputtered. "Kidnap me?"
Zelda shrugged. "All right, save you, liberate you, whichever you prefer. I just thought kidnap sounded more dramatic."
He stared at her. Reminded himself that falling in love with people who broke into one's bedroom and cheerfully declared their intent to kidnap you was in really poor taste. He kept staring at her because she must be crazy.
Zelda tilted her head, smirk transforming into a gentle smile. "I promise you it's not as crazy as it sounds on first hearing."
"Oh, so it's only mildly crazy?"
She snorted a laugh and grinned at him, which she was far too pretty to do so casually. "I suppose it is at that! But I promise I have a way out, and that's actually the safest part. The crazy part was breaking in, not out."
Link snarled and ruffled his hair. "You shouldn't take that kind of risk for me."
"For you?" Zelda laughed and unfurled from the chair. "Oh, no, Your Highness, it's for Hyrule." He blinked at her, then glared at her patronizing smile. "A wise heroine doing her fair share to liberate bits and pieces and regions of the land is all well and good, but we really need a banner to gather people under, someone to lead a revolt to free Hyrule. Who better than our very own Courageous Prince?" She bowed deeply, correctly, like a knight at court.
He nodded begrudgingly as she stood up. "Very well. I accept that reasoning."
"Good to know the Triforce of Wisdom still works." She held up her hand to display the symbol that had burned through her glove.
"Isn't wisdom supposed to be more solemn and take things seriously?" Link asked, staring incredulously at the girl's grin.
"Perhaps, but I've been in far too many serious situations this month and have used up my quota, so cheery and witty it is. Besides, life is too dull if you don't make a joke of it, and it really unnerves enemies when you laugh at them."
Link couldn't have helped it if he wanted to, he chuckled. "All right, milady. How do you plan on getting us out of here."
Zelda grinned and opened her left hand dramatically as a small ball of green fire formed in it. "Why, with magic, of course!" She skipped – actually skipped like a little girl – over to him and snaked her arm around his waist. "And it's Zelda, Your Highness, just Zelda."
"In that case, Zelda," his heart skipped a beat at how her eyes sparkled when he said her name, "you should call me Link, not enough people do."
"All right, Link, better hold on tight." Then, just as he put his arm around her shoulders, she stood on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek and activated the magic.
He jumped when he felt her lips, and he blamed the magic making him lighter than he normally was for just how much he jumped as they arrived with him lying in her arms. How did she hold him?
Zelda gave him a perplexed look, before smirking flirtatiously. "Why, Prince Lincoln, did I sweep you off your feet?"
He blushed beet red and she started to laugh so hard she had to put him down just so she could lean on him while she laughed breathlessly.
He would have walked away, perhaps even back to the goblins to turn himself in, if anyone had witnessed that, but only a pair of horses were there, and they didn't pay the odd two-legs any mind.
Hmm, I'm not sure if I'm fully happy with this. I do like the concept, though, so possibly more chapters will be added to this a la Wolfish Inclinations, which I should also update soon.
And, yes, Zelda is a little out of character with how much fun she makes, but she hasn't been raised in the court so she hasn't received any training in being a stone-faced seriouser, unlike Link.
Please review and tell me what you liked/disliked. Thanks for reading.