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The bar roared in laughter as Rusl delivered the anticipated punch line of the joke. I was careful not to spit out my drink. He was joking about the time he and Link ventured into the woods when Link was a little boy and how he was so scared the first time he saw a bat. Granted the joke was not too funny, but with the gracious amounts of alcohol flowing around, anything and everything was funny.
"Princess! Your drink is nearly full, what's the matter?" I blushed as the attention focused onto me. I glanced at all the faces. Telma had closed the bar to the public, so it was only a small group. On my right was Auru followed by Rusl, Ashei, Shad, Telma who was sitting direct opposite of me, then Renado, Mayor Bo, Ilia, and finally Link who sat by my left side. They had all come early for the coronation for the same reason as Link, I assume; for a good time with old friends. I smiled at them.
"As much as I enjoy a good drink," I tilted my cup towards Telma who acknowledged my compliment with a smile. "I'm use to wine, not hard liquor." I heard Auru chuckle.
"Let loose, Princess! For soon you'll be Queen and have a lot less freedom." He lifted his glass and I clicked mine against his, silently agreeing with him.
"Agreed!" Rusl clinked my glass as well. "Bottoms up!" He downed his drink then looked at me in anticipation. The others joined. My lips tilted up on one side.
"Bottoms up." I announced, then lifted my drink to my lips and threw it back. It caused a round of cheering, clapping, and laughter. I grinned cheekily as everyone else downed their drinks as well. I felt warm seep into my stomach and spread throughout my body.
"Alright, alright ya'll." Telma rose from her seat next to Renado. "This round is the last one."She was responded by complaints. She rolled her eyes as she brought over a bottle full of gold liquid.
"Here Telma," Mayor Bo proclaimed as he placed a leather sack on the table. "This should pay for expense on behalf of the Ordonians here." Telma raised an eyebrow.
"Father! Where'd you get that?!" Ilia exclaimed, gripping her glass. He turned to his daughter and pinched her cheek.
"Bo! Don't go showing us up. Here!" Shad threw down several blue rupees in the pile. I glanced at Link, who was digging through his leather wallet.
"Whoa now, I've been supplying drinks for you for how long, and all this time you've been holding out on me?" Telma exclaimed in mock incredulity.
"Well, Telma. We're paying you back for all those times now," Ashei said as she added two yellow rupees. I added two red rupees alongside Link's purple. He winked at me, making me feel as I had just taken another warm drink. After the last rupee was tossed into the pile, there was a long silence. Telma, trying to hold back her delight at the glittering pile, finally broke the silence.
"Okay, okay." She went back and came back with two long necked bottles with clear liquid.
"Telma!" Rusl grabbed one bottle from her. "And you say we've been holding out on you?!" Laughter exploded again as the glasses were filled and clinked together.
"You sure you can handle this?" Link asked in a low voice as he poured a splash of the mystery clear liquor into my glass.
"Is it strong?" Link laughed softly, displaying some white teeth as he poured a bit into his glass as well. Why did he only put a little in? There was plenty to go around.
"You tell me." I glanced warily at my cup. "You just have to drink it really fast." He brought his glass near mine. I tapped his with my own, and we both brought our glasses to our mouths. I tilted my head back and let the drink fall down my throat. Suddenly it burned and caused me discomfort. I scrunched my face, losing any concern to keep my face diplomatic.
"Yuck!" Link, Auru, and Rusl laughed heartily at my face.
"I agree completely, Princess." I glanced at Ilia who had slid her glass away from her. I smiled.
"Zelda. I prefer if you all call to me as Zelda."
"Zelddaaaaa!" I heard Shad and Auru shout at the same time. I laughed and placed a hand on the flushed skin on my chest. All the alcohol was helping people get past the formalities when dealing with royalty, and I was loving it!
We drank until the three bottles were empty. More jokes, more laughter, more merriment. Finally, the hour drew late and I was afraid of the duties I had to attend to in the morning. I stood up, a little wobbly. Link caught my arm to steady me. I smiled and looked at everyone at the table.
"I want to thank you all for inviting me into your group so willingly. I know it must've been awkward to have royalty, but I appreciate you treating me as one of you."
"Honey, you are one of us." Telma got up as well and headed towards me. She embraced me in a hug. I returned the gesture warmly.
"You're more than welcome to join us anytime," Renado extended his hand and I grabbed it lightly.
"Visit us again Zelda. You're company is a pleasant one," Rusl said standing up as well. He shook my hand too. I was surprised how solid he was on his feet, for how much he drank. Auru rose, said something of the same nature and shook my hand as well. Ashei came and hugged me, proclaiming how beautiful I was up close, making me blush. Shad laughed, agreed with her and kissed my hand making me blush a bit more.
"Thank you." I normally would've said something a bit more, but the alcohol in my system prevented me from thinking such.
"Now, Zelda. Don't forget little Ordon when you become Queen. And don't feel too shy as to come and visit us," Mayor Bo told me as he shook my hand. I smiled and hugged him.
"I could never forget such a lovely Ordinance. And I'd love to visit."
"You could always stay at my house if need be," Link added in. This earned a few 'whoops' from the men and a shocked-looking Ilia. "Not like that, you drunks!" I saw Link's face color a bit and giggled.
"Thank you for the offer, Link. Thank you, everyone for such a wonderful time! I'm afraid that I do have duties to attend to in the morning, so I must go sleep for whatever period of time that I can." I said more goodbyes and graciously accepted more invitations to indulge in their company again. Link offered his arm to me.
"Let me walk you back. Can't have you walking alone and have someone notice how drunk you are." I slipped my hand into his elbow and exited the bar with him.
"Where are you staying, Link?" I asked as we walked up the stairs leading to southern Castletown. I swayed a bit as I walked, trying to adjust to the funny affects of the alcohol.
"Telma knows an innkeeper nearby. Bo, Ilia, Rusl and I are stashed there. Telma has some room above her bar for the others." I nodded.
"I'm so sorry that I cannot offer you rooms to stay in, seeing as the palace is still being rebuilt."
"Not your fault. And the palace is coming along just fine. Why, by the next time I visit I believe it should be ready."
"I hope so, but it'll still be a while."
"I could always help, Zelda." I shook my head, losing my balance slightly. Leaning against Link, I straightened.
"No, I won't allow it." He frowned, but said nothing else about the matter. When we reached the fountain in the center of Castletown, I slowed our pace so that were still out of site of the guards.
"Thank you for bringing me, Link. I hadn't that much fun since, well, a while even before Ganondorf came along."
"Well, I'm glad you came then. They're a great crowd for having fun. They really like you, too."
"I like them! Such friendly people." He nodded in agreement. We reached the stairs leading to my apartment.
"Goodnight, Princess," he said returning to formalities. I'm assuming because the guards were within earshot.
"Goodnight, Hero. I look forward to seeing you at my coronation." He bowed at the waist. I curtsied in return. I then turned away, walked up the steps and into my room. Wearily, I climbed into my bed fully clothed, more concerned about sleep than anything else at the moment.
After kicking off my shoes, I sighed happily and snuggled into my sheets. As I waited for the room to stop spinning and to stop feeling so silly, I gradually fell into a deep sleep.
