I might go back and edit the last chapter as rereading made me realize how fast-paced it felt? Or maybe it's just me. Also, the first chapter is just a prolog. Anyway, I forgot to put a note at the top about disclamers and whatnot. I don't own Legend of Zelda, etc. etc.
So, reviews? What do you think so far? Sorry for any grammar issues. I'm stuck with WordPad and it doesn't show me squat in the way of corrections. And as both this and the last chapter were written in the middle of the night while I was half asleep, I didn't reread any of it... Which means I'll probably hate myself later when I DO read it.
I plan on making this a long story as I'm in a bit LoZ mood thanks to an awesome rp I'm in with someone. I feel giddy with excitement!
Chapter 1: Bad News is Good News in Different Wrapping Paper
Sleepy eyes stared at the dark ceiling. Twice they blinked, lids lowering more and more before finally closing; surrendering to sleep. At least, that was the plan until someone or something pounded at his door at an annoying pace. Each knock seemed louder than the first and Link scrunched his face in annoyance. It had been a long and tiring day and he had been looking forward to sleeping even if it was very late in the evening. He rolled onto his side, back to the door, hoping whoever would go away and bother him in the morning. The late morning. Maybe even the afternoon, not that he could sleep so late thanks to his job. Still, the knocking persisted until the person behind the door began yelling for him.
"Sir Link! Sir Link, please open up!"
The only ones who called him Sir Link were those of Castle Town. He knew he could not ignore them. Not with the urgency and panic in their voice. He let out a sigh mixed with a grunt and climbed out of bed. Taking up a match from the bedside table he lit a candle and carried it over to the door; the knocking never stopping until the person could hear him unlocking the latch on the door. Wood creaked as it opened and he stepped aside, not wanting to stand in the doorway on such a chilly night. The winter season was a month and a half away but it seemed as though it would be early this year. The nights were getting colder and the leaves were changing and falling in heaps.
"Sir Link!" The man repeated, stepping inside. It was a castle guard, probably in his late twenties. A thick shadow of a beard could be seen in the candlelight. Link guessed he had been in quite the hurry to not keep up the normal, "neat" look of the castle guards. The man spoke again, breaking the blonde's chain of thought. "I'm so sorry to disturb you so late at night, but you must return to Hyrule Castle at once! It's very urgent!"
The hero's brow scrunched together in slight worry and he straightened his posture. So many uneasy thoughts ran through his head as to what could have been so urgent to get him out of bed in the middle of the night and ride back to the castle. "What happened? Is the queen okay?" were his first words.
"Ah! Well...that's just it." The man seemed unsure of how to explain. "The queen, she..."
Link felt his blood run cold at the mention of the queen. He was almost afraid to know but the tugging feeling in his heart urged him to find out. To do something. "What!?" he demanded almost impatiently, startling the guard which was not his intention.
"She has been acting very strange, Sir. Locking herself away in her room, refusing to be seen and she hardly eaten in days! Only at night does she come out, and even then she avoids everyone like the plague." The man continued, "Ever since she met with that strange man, she's been strange herself. And then there was the attempt on her life last we-"
A growl escaped Link and the look he gave the soldier made him cower a bit, though he tried not to show it...much. Even if he could no longer become a wolf, some things had stayed with him, including his ability to scare the pants off of certain people with a fierce look. "What do you mean there was an attempt on her life?
Why wasn't I told about this sooner?"
The guard held up his hands in defense. "We would have told you, Sir Link, but the queen wished to keep it secret from the public. Even from you. But Shad has ordered me to fetch you post haste. He says he might know what's going on, but he needs to confront the queen and confirm his findings."
"What findings?"
"I do not know, Sir Link. Just that it was very important in regards to her majesty's sake."
Links' brow knitted in concentration for a moment before he turned and began packing his things. He disappeared in the cellar for a while, leaving the guard to roll on the balls of his feet nervously and look around the hero's home. When he returned, Link was dressed in his famed, green tunic, dressed for the journey as if he had never abandoned it. Though he had grown a bit taller since. But that wasn't the only thing of note. The Master Sword was sheathed on his back. The guard gapped and tried to point at it but Link shot him a look to shut him up. He knew he was supposed to have returned the sword to where he had found it, but he just...couldn't. Not yet. It didn't feel as if he should part with it. As if he knew he would be needing it still. The queen would probably not be happy with him, but he figured she'd understand if he told her the reason. She was like that. Always understanding and willing to listen and learn. So very patient, too.
Link grabbed his things and handed the soldier a saddle and reins. "Go get my horse ready. I have to visit the mayor before I leave." Blue eyes passed over the closet where his outfit for the wedding hung, ready and waiting. Again unease settled in his stomach to be ignored.
White puffs of air escaped into the night as he jumped down from the ledge outside his house. He did not want to waist time climbing down the ladder. The sound of his landing woke Epona who whined and stomped her foot. "I know, I know," He said gently as the even noisier soldier behind him tried to climb down with a saddle in his arms. Epona's normal sleeping grounds had been upgraded since his return. She now had a stall with a roof to keep her warm and dry. On harsher days, she'd go to the ranch like she used to in the past. The current stall was Ilia's idea, so that Link's horse could be near him whenever he needed her, for use or comfort.
The village gates were open, now that the "wolf" was gone. Link had to reassure them several times that there would be no more wolves running around the village so casually. They still didn't know it had been him the whole time. THAT would be a conversation for NEVER. His steps were silent as he moved through the village only to stop at the mayor's house. He felt bad waking Bo up for such a conversation. It was worse when Ilia was the one to answer. She looked tired, but the moment she saw him, he could see how much she brightened up. The warm smile on her lips contrasted the slight worry that grew in her eyes as she realized what he was wearing. Her eyes fell on the handle of the sword on his back. The smile quickly turned to a frown just as Bo appeared behind her. His expression almost mimicked hers, but became more understanding.
"I've...been summoned to the castle," It was all that could come out. He knew better than to tell why as the queen had wanted it to be kept under wraps. And any news of her acting strange was obviously something to keep quiet about.
"I see," Bo said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Ilia bit her bottom lip, "What about the wedding?"
Link opened his mouth and froze. What should he say? Should he postpone it? He didn't know how long he would be gone, though. Bo caught on and answered for him, much to the hyrulian's relief. "We can discuss that whenever he gets back. For now, the wedding will have to be on hold." The older man gave him a pat on the back that knocked him forward a little. "Don't worry, Link. She'll be here when you get back."
Link smiled awkwardly at this until he felt the warm embrace of his fiancé. She buried her face into the crook of his neck, all that she could reach now that he had grown almost a foot. "Be safe. And don't do anything reckless. And..." Ilia pulled back a bit and stood on her tiptoes. Her breath fanned his face and her lips pressed against his. He immediately returned the kiss; soft and gentle. "I love you," she whispered, looking up at him in such a loving way.
"Yeah," he said dumbly before adding, "I love you as well, Ilia." Why did those words have to feel so...empty? Why did he feel so glad to hear that the wedding would be postponed until his return? He did love her... But why couldn't he love her as a man loves a woman. "I'll...return as soon as I can. Tell Rusl and the kids for me?" Bo nodded and he turned to leave, unable to spare Ilia more than a second's glance before he left.
