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Chapter 2

That Lovely Afternoon

Link's PoV

I heard about the Hateno Village Archery Contest about three weeks ago. The decision to go was hardly even one at all. I'd heard that the town is handing out a handsome reward for the winner and on top of that, I quite enjoy the village of Hateno. It's a bit out of the way from any other town, but I happen to live in Kakariko and it's only about half a day's walk from there so I thought, why not? But walking wasn't something I had to do, I took my best friend in the whole world, Epona. Anyway, I'm here waiting for the event to start.

Standing in front of me is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. She's got long, gold-blonde hair tied into a ponytail and flawless pale skin. Her eyes are emerald green and breathtaking. She's tall and has a slim figure and she wears an armless dark purple shirt, black pants, and knee high black boots. Her ears are pierced twice with two gold studs in each ear.

The host of the event introduces her as Zelda, which is a pretty name that I think suits her.

I watch as she steps onto the shooting platform and readies her now before she draws a arrow from her quiver and places it in a fluid movement. Even this catches my eye as somehow, she's made even the basic nocking of an arrow look elegant. She pulls her bow string back and I notice she has as tattoo on her left shoulder of a small owl with it's wings spread in black ink. I can see lean muscle in her arm for a second before her arrow flies and hits in a perfect shot.

I decide I'm going to make her notice me. When she steps off I take my spot on the platform. I'm supposed to shoot my own target but I lift my bow and quickly shoot the same one she did making my arrow split hers in half. I look over to her and see that she's not looking at me, but her face shows clear shock at what she sees. She can't believe it, good, that's what I was going for. She turns quickly and walks away and her ponytail bounces behind her.

The next round starts and I shoot my arrows. I hardly have to try to hit the targets, it's so easy. I wait for her walk up to the platform before I step off of it. Our eyes meet for a second and I smile. I've been told that my smile is my greatest weapon when comes to the ladies. One of my friends here in Hateno always tells me to put it away. She says: "You're a lady killer."

Is that really such a bad thing?

I see Zelda's cheeks flush a little pink and her eyes dart away from mine and know I've caught her. Standing ten feet from the platform I enjoy watching her shoot. She's calm and reserved as she lifts her bow, taking each arrow slowly and aiming it carefully. I don't bother watching where her arrows hit. Her shoulders slump after her last shot and her cool expression falls into disappointment so I finally take a look at her targets. It's quickly obvious why she looks upset, the last one is bordering on on the red bulls-eye and the brown of the wood and she won't get a very good score on it.

When five of us are called up as the finalists we have one more round to go. This time we must ten targets. The distance is the same as the second round and I'm fourth to go. Out of the corner of my eye I notice that Zelda is facing the opposite way and she isn't watching, bummer. I give it my all and hit every target in the red and then it's her turn. She shoots with precision skill hitting them all as well as I did and I can't tell which of us will win.

I know that Zelda and I are going to be the two finalists before the judges tell us they are ready. One of the men did alright, but everyone on this field knows that the competiton belongs to me and the beautiful woman standing a few feet away. When we are both called for the results of the contest we stand next to each other. The host draws it out for several seconds to bring in the spectators' attention before he announces me as the winner and everyone claps and cheers.

Zelda looks a bit dejected but she covers it up with a smile as she turns to me. Her voice is soft when she speaks, telling me that I'm not too bad. I give her a compliment in return as I shake her awaiting hand. A warm tingle shoots up my arm at the touching of our hands and I give her the best smile I've got and I feel her hand tremble slightly in mine. Her cheeks go bright red as she blushes and I let go.

I watch her accept her second place reward and then start walking down the road leading to Hateno Village. The mayor of the town hands me a small wallet of ten silver rupees and I thank him gratefully. I wonder how much Zelda made as my eyes drift to her form as she gets farther and farther away down the road.

A feeling washes over me as I watch her walk away. I want to talk to her again. Her beauty has captivated me and I wish to see her face again even though it has only been a couple minutes. But it's not just because she's drop dead gorgeous that I feel this way, I've never met a woman with her skills with a bow. She's seriously impressed me and I want to know more about her.

I put the rupees in my pocket before putting the hood of my jacket up and start walking after her. I jog a little to catch up but stay a ways back because I assume she's probably sore under her smile. If it wasn't for me, she would have won. That's the reason I stay back, to give her a few more minutes to relax. The sun is starting to lower in the late afternoon sky above the woods we walk through, and it's beginning to get darker outside and the trees cast shadows over the road.

When we get by the small grove of trees by the village she stops in the middle of the road. I duck behind a tree out of sight quickly, I'm not sure why I'm suddenly hiding from her but my body's moved before I know it. A couple seconds later I peek around the side and find her no where in sight. Shrugging, I continue walking into the village. I hear a footstep behind me but it's too late for me to react before I have a knife to my throat from behind. The cold steel presses against my jugular.

"What do you want?"

I'd recognize that voice anywhere. Huh, I knew she didn't go far. I find that I have underestimated her and am struck impressed with her for a second time today. I hadn't been looking around for her and that was my obvious mistake, but still I wasn't expecting this at all.

"You can let go. I'm not going to do anything to you."

Zelda doesn't let me go so I grab her wrist and jerk it away from my neck. With my other hand open, I hit the flat side of her knife with the back of my hand and her knife goes flying away from us onto the ground. I take her by surprise and swing around her twisting her arm behind her back but I don't apply pressure to the hold, as I don't want to hurt her. I keep my voice calm and even when I speak.

"I'm not going to hurt you, alright?"

"Well let me go, then." She snaps at me.

I do and she spins around and backs away a couple feet. Recognition spreads across her face when she sees me and her mouth gapes open and closed a couple times.

"You! What? Why are you following me like a creep?"

I open my mouth to say I wasn't but then I see her case and point. A: I'm following her in a black hood, and B: I hid from her like I had something else on my mind. Idiot. I curse at myself silently, of course she would jump to that conclusion.

"Look, you've got it wrong. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

Zelda stares at me for several seconds before closing her eyes and letting out a sigh.

"Alright. I forgive you. So...what do you want?"

"I want to talk to you, will you join me for dinner?"

Zelda's PoV

I stopped when I realized someone was following me, I could hear their footsteps in the quiet of the forest. I glanced back and saw a figure slip behind a tree so I took the opportunity to hide myself, then when he had walked out and I hadn't been able to see his face because of his hood. Sneaking up on him had been easy, almost too easy. I suppose using my knife to threaten him might have been a bit outrageous, but it could have been anyone and the last person I expecting it to be was him. Besides, you can never be too careful while traveling on the road, as there could always be someone with ill intentions or dangerous animals lurking around.

I stepped away from him quickly in surprise. Standing there in the afternoon light was the man I had just lost to, Link. The man I couldn't stop thinking about as I made my way back to Hateno. I'd attacked him, but to be fair he had been being suspicious. Why had he hidden from me? Why not just come up to me and talk? Jeez, it's not like I would have ran away or something. He was so fast disarming me that I hadn't seen it coming. I wasn't expecting him to do something as bold as break out of my hold and pin me. I especially didn't expect it since I had a knife held to his throat. That move he used on me was one I hadn't seen before and I realize that it would be a good one to know should I ever get myself into such a situation. It seems that Mr. Dashing Smile is more than I thought.

I consider his question. He wants to have dinner with me? I give him another look down.

Link has on a dark blue shirt under his black jacket and brown pants and boots. Right after he let me go he had taken off his hood off when I backed away from him. I see the hilt of a sword I didn't realize he had before along with the tip of his golden bow over his shoulder. I look in his sky blue eyes and am unable to detect any deceit in them. I pick my dagger off the ground and place it back in the leather holder on my thigh.

"Okay."

His face lights up as a look of relief passes across it and I assume that he had been worried I was mad at him for following behind me like he had. Honestly, I kind of am, but he apologized for it and I'm a pretty forgiving person. Link seems sincere and honest as well and I can tell just by the look on his face that he never meant me in any harm.

I realize another dumb fact of the moment as we stand there as well. I can't deny that I'm happy to see him so soon, and I feel ridiculous for feeling that way.

The two of us make our way through the stone gate and walk through Hateno Village. We don't speak at all until we are inside The Rusty Horseshoe, which is the tavern next door to The Great Ton Pu Inn. I walk inside without asking if he agrees, as there's no where else to eat in this village. We sit at a table in the back corner and a waitress comes over to us. I order the Mushroom Rice Balls and Link gets the special of the day: Meat Stuffed Pumpkin. I've had both meals before, and I have to say that the food here is quite phenomenal for a small village.

I find that I've been spacing out when I hear Link saying my name.

"Zelda?"

"Yes?" I answer him.

"Where did you learn to shoot?"

"My father taught me."

"He taught you well. I was surprised to see that you were so good. Almost as good as myself."

He sounds a bit conceited, but I wave it off since he demonstrated some serious skill out there. I give credit to those who deserve it.

"Thank you. I was a bit off today, though. But I do have to say that you are pretty good, like I said earlier."

I'd like to say that that was all that was wrong with me during the contest, but I'd be lying. I was distracted by him. The way he was watching me shoot and the way he had smiled at me had thrown me off ridiculously. I bite the inside of my cheek as I recall how I felt standing on the contest shooting platform. I really do believe I could have beaten him if I were in my right mind.

"What about you? Where did you learn?"

"I learned from the men in Kakariko Village. The Sheikah are excellent warriors. Have you been to that village?"

"I passed through it before I came here. It's a beautiful place, peaceful and tranquil."

Link nodded. "I'm lucky to have grown up there."

We talk some more before the waitress comes back with our meals. I'm careful about what I say as I am always wary around people that I don't know. I'm not exactly a social person, either. I normally keep to myself. But, little by little, I start to feel more relaxed. I mostly listen to Link talk about himself and every once in a while I find myself staring into his eyes and just nodding. Then I blink and realize what is happening but I can't help it, and it doesn't help that his eyes are so pretty. I feel my cheeks warming as that thought worms itself into my mind again. The more I look into his eyes the more I believe that he could be a a good person, his eyes hold the look of someone with a good heart.

No. Stop it. Just because he is good looking doesn't mean you need to go into dream land. You don't know him! Stop being delusional! Wake up, Zelda. I scold myself. That doesn't mean I can trust him, but I can talk to him. I don't have to hole up on my side of the table. Plus, I'm beginning to feel quite bad that I'm not saying much, so I open up and tell him a bit about myself.

"I left home to travel Hyrule a year ago and it was the best thing I ever did. I love being on the road and seeing new places, it's exhilarating, but I have to admit that it can be scary sometimes."

"I agree. I'm a bit of a traveler myself. Where did you grow up?"

"I'm from Lurelin Village."

"I've been there once, it seemed very nice."

I'm distracted for a couple seconds by that. He's been to Lurelin? I have to wonder if it was when I was still home but then I think that couldn't be as I would have probably met him. Lurelin Village isn't very big.

"When were you in Lurelin?"

"About a year ago. Funny, it's a small place but I don't remember seeing you."

"We probably just missed each other."

"Why did you leave?"

"Well, Lurelin is really nice. The ocean and beaches are breathtaking and my life was great, but something always seemed to be missing. Traveling had always been a dream of mine. I was sad to leave my home but I knew if I didn't then I wouldn't see the world."

"I feel the same about Kakariko Village, but since it is pretty central it never seems too far away. Do you miss Lurelin?"

"All the time. I miss my family too. But I send them letters a lot so they know I am doing well. Someday when I've been all the places I dream of seeing I will go back home to them. Do you miss your family when you're away?"

Link doesn't answer me for several seconds and begin to wonder if I had hit a touchy subject. His lips lift in a small smile before he answers.

"I lost most of my family when I was little, but I have a lot of friends in Kakariko. They are always on my mind when I am out on my own. Are you ever lonely when you're on the road, Zelda?"

It's my turn to go quiet for a minute because yes, I am very lonely sometimes. I pass by groups of two or three people every so often and I wish a lot that I had someone to keep me company.

"Yeah, but I always have my best friend, my horse, and she is a great comfort to me."

Link smiles at me and I feel that silly warm feeling again. I wring my fingers together under the table nervously. Why does he make me feel this way? I hardly even know Link, but just a smile from him turns my insides to mush, and it's beginning to get really aggravating. I've let my guard down so much to a guy I've known for less than two hours.

The two of us sit there in the tavern long after both our plates were empty. There is a sort of strange peace in the air around us as we sit there together. I open up more and more as we talk and I find that I really like him. Link is funny, sarcastic, and all around great company. Talking to him is really fun and we both laugh loudly in our corner of the tavern on more than a couple occasions. We order dessert as well at some point, a slice of apple pie for him, and for me my absolute favorite: fruitcake. We just keep going on and on about our adventures, the people we met, and the places we've seen. It's so nice to talk to someone like this and I have a smile on my lips well into the evening.

Hi! Thank you very much for reading.

I don't know much about self defense, so I'm sorry if that didn't make much sense how he disarmed her. I just thought it sounded cool. The Rusty Horseshoe is a tavern I made up. The inn is actually called "The Great Ton Pu Inn," in the game. I wasn't aware of that until I got curious and looked at the sign in Hateno Village. I decided to use the meals you can make in the game because why not? Of course I had to make Zelda's favorite treat fruitcake. The names and locations of places are going to stay on point as they are in the game, just for geographical use as I don't have much of an imagination when it comes to that.