The Heroes Ball Chapter 3

"Announcing Princess Zelda and Link the Hero of Light."

Ashei could feel as Shad perked up and turned to look over as the princess entered the room with Link by her side. When they had entered the grand hall completely, the orchestra began playing, signaling the first dance to begin. Ashei observed as the aristocrats around her began their graceful dance, partners swirling about each other as the music flowed among them.

She found herself watching as Link and Zelda danced. Link was in a similar position as her, she mused. He was just a simple man from Ordon, unused to such lavish affairs, and it showed as he danced, a bit unsure of himself. He was graceful at swordplay, but when it came to dancing... Zelda let out a telltale wince as her foot was stepped upon.

Shad was fixated on the pair as well, actually, as Ashei noted, he was fixated on Zelda, watching as the graceful woman glided across the ballroom. She wasn't the only one staring at the richly dressed princess. She was wearing a long flowing gown with golden triforce patterned trim at the bottom. The dress was tight from the waist up, highlighting her ample curves. Complete with jewelry and tiara, the princess looked simply stunning, a fact not lost on the men of the room.

As the first song ended, Link and Zelda parted and a mass of men began surrounding the princess, begging for the next dance. Shad excused himself from Ashei to join them. The warrior snorted. All these men swarming around one woman? How pathetic that was! She melted through to crowd to lean against the wall, eying the mass of men around Zeda, who was smiling graciously at them all. She found herself rolling her eyes and turned her attention away from the group. She looked over as someone joined her.

"Couldn't think of an excuse not to come?" Ashei asked, looking at Link.

The man shrugged, his quiet eyes observing the crowd of dancers. The pair remained silent for a few moments before he spoke. "I see you couldn't either."

"Telma's idea. Thinks I should find myself a man, yeah? But since when have men ever been any use to me? I can take care of myself."

Link nodded. "I've noticed... Are you going to dance?"

"With who? I don't exactly have a crowd of men around me like Princess Zelda." Her dark eyes fell upon the princess, who was dancing with one of the aristocrats. Shad stood by anxiously, ready to leap in at the next dance. "Besides, I can't dance anyways."

"Neither can I," he admitted, shooting her a sidelong glance.

"You and I should get out of here and find a nice pack of beasts to fight."

The hero laughed. "I wish... But this ball is in my honor. I can't just leave."

"Next time you should try getting a fighting tournament in your honor instead, yeah?" Ashei smiled slightly. "I'd like that much better."

He laughed again. "I'll bring that up next time I save Hyrule."

"Link! You're Link!" A group of girls approached the pair, giggling excitedly. He recognized them as the group that hung out in front of the Stars game, admiring him. "Will you dance with us?"

Link looked over at Ashei, either asking for permission, or help. She waved her had dismissively, and couldn't hide a flicker of amusement as the girls dragged him away. Sighing when she realized she was alone once again, she found her eyes straying back to the graceful princess.


The song ended, and Princess Zelda parted from her dance partner. Shad took this opportunity to step forward, bowing low toward the princess. "May I have this dance, my lady?"

Zelda smiled graciously. "You may." She took his hand, with her right, placing the left hand on his shoulder. They began to gracefully glide across the ballroom, Shad flushing slightly as he gazed into the princess's beautiful face.

"I've heard much about you, Shad."

"O-oh?" the scholar stammered.

"Yes all about your work for the Resistance and the study of the Oocca."

"It must have been dreadfully boring for you to hear all that, Princess," he mumbled apologetically. "I am not quite capable of performing heroic deeds as the others were."

"Not at all," Zelda replied with her sweet smile. "I find it fascinating. Tell me, did you ever go to the castle in the sky?"

"I did... It was fascinating, truly fascinating," he replied, his eyes becoming animated. He soon began telling her everything he had found out about the Oocca, his eyes never once breaking the gaze from her smiling face. When he finished rambling, he noticed that the song had ended, but was quite pleased when Zelda made no move to part from him.

"You have such passion for your work. I admire you for that," she told him.

"Thank you, my lady," he replied, a blush coming to his cheeks. They remained silent for a few moments until Shad spoke again. "You look stunning tonight. Absolutely stunning."

Zelda looked pleased. "I am glad you think so..." She broke eye contact for a moment, looking at something over his shoulder. "Isn't that your friend over there?"

Shad followed her gaze to see Ashei leaning against the wall all by herself, her bored gaze sweeping around the room. "Yes... That's Ashei... She's not one for refined events such as this..."

"She has no one to dance with?"

"I doubt she would dance even if someone asked her too," he replied. "She's... different from most women."

"So the stories of her claim... But still, it would be a shame if she had to spend the entire night alone. Let us speak with her."

Shad looked disappointed at her parting from him, but glancing over at Ashei, he nodded. "Yes... That would be a fine idea."

Ashei looked up as the two approached. She bowed to the princess, realizing halfway down that she should probably have curtsied. "My princess..." Why was Zelda coming over here? Didn't she have a crowd of men to please? And Shad... Shad was as bad as the rest of him, throwing himself at the princess like he did. The princess must think herself such a gracious host, coming over to speak with one as lowly as she, Ashei thought bitterly.

"Ashei, might warrior from the north," the princess greeted. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"You don't need to address me by some meaningless title, yeah?" Ashei crossed her arms without realizing it, then quickly uncrossed them.

Shad looked absolutely shocked, perhaps even a bit annoyed at the blunt tone she has used. Zelda however, simply looked amused. "I see that you are not one for courtky formalities."

"No." She shifted uncomfortably, feeling inadequate next to the princess. She was so beautiful and she... She was not. She scowled as this thought crossed her mind. What did she care about looks? Nothing! She wasn't like all the other women here. She was raised as a son, not to be some girly-girl who was only concerned with her appearance.

"Have I done something to displease you, Ashei?" Zelda asked, an eyebrow raised.

Shad was giving her a look that could curdle milk, and she found herself blushing. "No, of course not princess... I have only displeased myself, I'm afraid." She was struggling with keeping a formal tone with the princess, but she knew it was necessary if she didn't want a lecture from Shad later.

"Will you not dance with someone?" Zelda asked her.

"I don't have anyone to dance with, yeah?"

"I' sure that if you were to socialize among others here, you would find a young man who would wish to dance with you... You're very beautiful."

Ashei forced herself not to snort at the empty praise. As if the princess really thought she was beautiful. Next to her, she looked to be about the plainest girl present. "I'll keep that in mind..." Her eyes wandered over to the table which had refreshments on it. She sure hoped that that punch had alcohol in it... "If you would excuse me, princess, I wouldn't want to keep you from your fan club, yeah?"

The pair looked absolutely shocked at the return of her blunt tone, and she couldn't hide he amusement as she walked away from them. She hazarded a glance back to see Shad apologizing profusely for his friend's gruff behavior. He excused himself from Zelda and began his way toward Ashei, a look of outrage on his face.

She was in for it now.