So sorry for the late update I intend on updating quicker but I won't make promises... anyway enjoy chapter two!
There was nothing but silence as we gazed at each other. The setting sun's miraculous display in the sky didn't even take our attention away from one another. She had a faint pink blush to her cheeks as she took a small step towards me. My breath caught in my throat and she raised a hand to me.
"You're... You've been gone for so long." She said quietly. I took her hand in mine and brought it to my lips, my heart slamming against my chest at this point.
"I must apologize for my delayed return Princess." I said as I let go of her hand. Her eyes shimmered and she looked at me with a new expression on her face. "Zelda." She muttered.
"Excuse me?" She looked down at the ground as a red blush spread across her face. "You used to call me Zelda. There's no need for such formalities."
Right. I didn't know why I called her princess, just seeing her standing there, more beautiful than ever, for the first time in nearly a year just took all speech away from me.
"You're right, I'm sorry Zel." Her eyes met mine quickly and something about that nickname I used so long ago brought a dazzling smile to her lips. She giggled and that sound brought something back to me. It was as though all throughout my journey in Termina I had lost something, but now that melodious tune made me close to whole once again.
"It's alright Link." She said in a delicate voice. The tap of her feet echoed in the courtyard around us as she walked down the steps towards me. She stood close to me now, and I could see the way her eyes held the world and her smile stopped time. "I missed you." She whispered. And then she took me by surprise as she wrapped her arms around me tightly.
I wasn't sure how to react. I could feel my face heating up and I cautiously placed my arms around her. "I missed you too." I managed to whisper into her ear. I closed my eyes and we held each other like that. It was odd to feel the embrace of someone like this. Someone who cared for me and who I cared for. It was blissful.
We pulled away from each other after some time and Zelda seemed upset.
"What's the matter?" I asked. She sighed and smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"I was... I was scared."
Those words. There was a small pain in my chest and my breathing shallowed. I made her scared. "You have my sincerest apologies Zelda. I never meant to worry you."
"Link," her eyes held unshed tears. "You did what felt right. I understand why you left. But I didn't expect for you to be gone for so long. You know how I am, I care for you and I made myself get worried even though I knew you'd be fine." She sniffled a bit, and for some reason I couldn't help the small smile on my face. Her eyes brightened and she too smiled.
"So how was it?" She asked. I remembered my conversation with Malon earlier. Would Zelda also feel the same way?
"It was new," I told her. "Like nothing I've ever experienced before."
She laughed softly, like a gentle melody, taking my breath away. "What is it?" I asked.
"You just seem... Happy. I take it everything went well?" The expression on my face must have given her my answer as her smile soon disappeared. Oh..." She spoke quietly. "I'm sorry."
I wasn't sure how to reply. I could say it was ok, but even I knew it really wasn't. That would mean that I was fine with my whole journey being a waste of time and a failure. "It wasn't your fault you know." Zelda said suddenly. She was looking at me with sympathy and she put a hand on my shoulder. "Navi had to leave for her own reasons. It wasn't anything you did." I remembered that day after I had saved Hyrule. I thought we could go back to our lives but then she just... Left. I was so excited when I met Navi. She made me finally be the boy with a fairy.
But now, Zelda's eyes like the shimmering oceans made me the man with a purpose.
"Thank you." I said so quietly that she could barely hear me, but she understood and nodded gently. "How about we talk about something different?" She suggested and we both gave a nervous laugh. I cleared my throat as she released her hand and we stood still and quiet.
"So... How have you been?" I asked finally. She seemed almost surprised at the sudden question. "Oh! I've been... Well." But there was something else in her eyes and on her lips. "You're not going to tell me what's happened in the past year?" I said with a hint of playfulness and her cheeks faded to a light pink.
"Oh... I mean, we've been rebuilding as you can see." She gestured around us to the remodeled castle, although the courtyard remained a replica of the previous. "You probably don't want to know the rest, as it corresponds to my duties and I must admit, you'd have little interest in it."
"Enlighten me." I said with a half smile that deepened her blush. "You'd be shocked. After all, I was cut off from everything and well... It would be nice to hear what all went on."
"Ok..." She started, and as she took a deep breath I knew it was going to be long.
"Most of my time was spent in meetings with the council, if not with townspeople and their requests. The meetings typically consisted of ideas for the slight revolution and talk about our budget, ensuring that we'd have plenty even though I knew we would be fine." My head barely processed any of this, but I tried my best to understand. "Luckily Impa was here to keep me sane because let me tell you, the councilmen know how to stress you out." We both laughed, but there seemed to be something else between us, unspoken, and I waited to try and find out what it was. "Of course the worst of it all was when they kept bringing up the topic of... Well... suitors."
"Suitors?" I asked, confused. She seemed to suddenly become nervous with whatever the term meant. "Yes. Suitors, as in, people who would want to take my hand in marriage."
Marriage. My fists clenched at the sudden phrase and I didn't realize that my breathing had stopped. She wouldn't make eye contact with me and I couldn't help but imagine a wedding with Zelda and a complete stranger. "That's insane!" I sputtered out. Her eyes widened at the sudden outburst and I could feel the heat rising to my face.
"I-I mean, that doesn't make sense..."
"Of course it makes sense." I froze suddenly at the pure bitterness in her voice. "This is royalty. We don't marry out of love. We marry out of wealth and property. It's what my father always wanted for me. To be forced into a marriage and produce an heir without any. regard as to how the pair may feel!" Her voice shook and her nails dug deep into the flesh on her palm.
"Zelda." I spoke quietly. She jerked her head up at me and I could see streaks of tears shining on her red cheeks. "It's... You'll be..." There was a lump in my throat as I put a hand on her smooth cheek.
"I'm sorry," She whispered, embarrassed. "I shouldn't have acted out like that. It's your first day back and I guess I've just felt lost and alone lately, that's all."
"Shh." She listened to me and I saw the loneliness in her eyes. But in the center there seemed to be a small glimmer of light. Of hope. Could I be that hope...?
Ding... Ding...
A loud bell rang out in the distance and we both looked up to the sky, the sky dark and stars bright. Eventually I looked back at her, only to see her staring back. She smiled and took a few steps away, trying to avert my attention away from her.
"It's getting late." She stated, as though it was an unknown fact. I simply nodded my head, assuming that this was her way of letting me know it was time I left.
"I should get going then..." I said, avoiding eye contact. What, was I actually expecting her to want me to stay? Of course that wasn't the case.
"Oh, no." She said quickly. What? I glanced at her surprised, and she seemed to be shocked as well. "I mean, do you have anywhere to go?" I considered that for a moment. Did I? It would be strange for me to return to Kokiri Forest due to that I was in fact not a Kokiri. I could have gone to Lon Lon Ranch, they've offered me a stay before. Or I could just sleep on the field with Epona like usual. But instead what came out of my mouth was almost a blatant lie.
"I suppose I don't."
"Well please, be our guest and stay with us in the castle." The castle. She wanted me to stay? "I wouldn't want to be in the way." I murmured under my breath.
"Of course you wouldn't! We have numerous empty rooms and it would be an honor to have you as our guest." She was telling me that it would be an honor? This was the princess of Hyrule talking to me.
"I guess I can't pass down an offer like that." I said with a smile. She laughed and suddenly she seemed to remember something urgent. "Oh and Link?"
"Yes?"
"I realize this is short notice, but I just remembered. Will I see you at the ball tomorrow?"
"Ball?" I blurted out loud. Her eyes widened and she waved her hand. "Oh, you certainly don't have to come. It was only a suggestion."
"No," I said, trying to hide how nervous I was getting with the simple thought of attending a... Ball. "I-I'll be sure to be there. May I ask what the occasion is?"
"Oh well really it's just an excuse for the council to have me meet up with my suitors, but actually it's to celebrate my upcoming birthday." It was her birthday, and here I was without a single clue in the world.
"Well I give you only the best birthday wishes." I said, bowing. Instead of the smile I was expecting I heard a heavy sigh from her. "Is everything alright Zelda? You should be celebrating as well you know."
"Yes I know," she answered solemnly. "It's simply that my problems with the suitors and councilmen will only get worse from here on. You see, ever since my father's death when Ganondorf took over, they've been waiting for me to come of age to properly get married." Everything seemed to be falling in to place and I realized what this meant.
"So, you're saying that you are expected to choose one of these suitors to marry?" I asked her. "And now you must start to make up your mind?"
"Precisely. So tomorrow suitors from far and wide will be arriving for the ball, and I must speak to each and every one of them."
"But enough about me." She said with a sudden change in mood. "We really must be retiring to bed. I'll take you to your room if you don't mind."
I nodded my head. "Thank you." I said, but all I could think of was this ball and trying to fit in with the nobles and power hungry suitors. Now this would be quite the experience.
thanks and stay tuned! Be sure to review! Also sorry this one is shorter I'll try to lengthen the chapters like the last one.