Prompt: Accusation.
Genre: Humor, Friendship.
Summary: Spreading false rumors regarding the princess had horrible consequences.
Book Ends
Accusation
On a peaceful and beautiful day, while they strolled around the castle's courtyards as usual, Link casually asked, "Are you a tomboy?"
At first, Zelda wanted to ask what brought this on so suddenly, but then the question sank into her mind and she blushed in a combination of embarrassment and pure fury. "Who did you hear that from?"
"A gossip stone near the castle," he answered with a shrug.
Oh these stones are nothing but trouble, she inwardly hissed, trying to compose herself. "I am, in fact, not a tomboy, Link. You shouldn't believe whatever rumor you happen to hear."
"And even if I were a tomboy," she continued, cutting off Link's reply, "what difference does it make? I'm still the princess of this country, correct? Just because I like climbing on trees and riding horses and archery doesn't mean that I can't be a lady. Our society needs to stop labeling people based on their interests and instead judge them on their actions, don't you agree with me, Link?"
Link just nodded, looking utterly lost on what she was talking about.
But Zelda continued on, her rants going from one topic to another, until Link took her hand in an attempt to gain her attention.
"I'll still like you anyway. No matter what you choose to be, you'll be a good friend to me." He smiled at her reassuringly, childishness mixed with maturity she couldn't place evident in his voice.
"Thank you," she mumbled, blushing to her ears from something she still couldn't figure out what it was. "I like you too."
She wanted to deal with the stone immediately, but Link's warm hand holding hers as they walked around the castle distracted her for a while.
It was weird, Link concluded; the gossip stone that was near the castle refused to speak, as if it feared the wrath of something. The only time he managed to get a word out of it, it said, "They say that gossiping is a rude habit to acquire."
Maybe Zelda knew what happened.