Chapter 4 - Slow Progress

Ruto begged her for longer, but Midna delivered her back to the Zora's hotel suite promptly at ten o'clock.

Before she closed the door behind her, the little Princess gazed up into Midna's eyes, beseechingly.

"Can I come to the beach with you and the other Princess's tomorrow?" she asked, quietly.

Midna's brow creased. "Of course, why would you even ask?"

Ruto pouted. "My sister won't let me unless I'm invited."

Midna fought the urge to roll her eyes. It was times like this that made her grateful she had no siblings. "Well, I have invited you," Midna told her, firmly.

Ruto's face split into a wide smile.

Midna thought about the younger girl as she made her way back to her suite. The Zora Royals had become a complex unit since King Zora had passed away less than two years ago. Queen Rutella seemed to be so busy that Lulu had taken over her Motherly role. All of them seemed to be so occupied that they had allowed little time to grieve. Lulu was the eldest and had responsibilities to her Mother, Ralis was the darling Prince and heir to the throne, but where exactly did Princess Ruto fit into the new royal family?

Zelda was curled up on her bed asleep when Midna entered the suite. Midna allowed herself a fond smile. They had only known each other a few years, but the younger, much more naive Princess felt like a sister to her; the best friend she had always longed for.

Life had not been kind to Midna. She came from a harsh, unforgiving land that had matured her far beyond her years. It wasn't until she met Zelda that she finally felt balanced; able to show glimpses of her softer, kinder tendencies.

Midna threw a quilt over Zelda and gently pulled the strappy sandals off her feet, before retiring to bed herself.

Zelda woke early. Her body was struggling to adjust to vacation mode and as such she was awake and dressed by eight o'clock. She wandered down to the dining room, not expecting to see anyone else awake so early.

"Good morning, your highness," Ciela greeted as Zelda entered the dining room.

Zelda shot her her best Princess smile. Ciela looked too alert and Zelda wondered if she was running on pure caffeine.

"There's a breakfast buffet on the table, so please help yourself," Ciela instructed with a quick bow.

Zelda stifled a yawn as she wandered over to the table. The radio was playing in the kitchen and as the doors swung open she heard a burst of laughter. Zelda smiled; something about the island just seemed to make the people radiate with laughter and kindness.

"Oh, by the way, your highness," Ciela added, appearing at Zelda's elbow as she helped herself to fresh fruit and toast, "one of your guests is already out enjoying breakfast on the deck," she informed her before disappearing into the kitchen.

Zelda wandered over to the double doors expecting to see Lulu or maybe Uli sat enjoying the morning sun. The plate nearly slipped from her grasp when she met the gaze of Link.

"I thought I heard you in the dining room," he finally spoke after she'd stared at him for a few moments beyond what was acceptable.

Zelda shook her head quickly, trying to drag herself back together.

"I'm an early riser," she explained, sheepishly.

"Me too."

Zelda dared briefly remember the previous evening and then wished she hadn't. It was just too cringeworthy.

"Can I sit with you?"

Link frowned. "You don't need to ask, Zelda."

The Princess flushed, that same shiver running down her spine that always did when he "forgot" to address her by her title.

Link was far more adorable than should be allowed in the morning. His cheeks were dusted with a pink glow, his hair still in disarray and so deliciously messy that Zelda had to clench her fingers into fists to keep from combing her fingers through it.

"Did you sleep well?" Link enquired, cutting a pear into quarters.

"Not really. Bad dreams," she explained.

"You still have those?"

She nodded. Of course, Link already knew about her dreams. When they had been younger, and Colin was teething, her Mother had invited Link to sleep at the palace for a few nights.

"Almost every night."

Zelda reached across the table for the butter and inadvertently knocked Link's hand with her own. As their fingers brushed, a jolt of electricity seemed to scamper up his arm. It was an oddly pleasant sensation that caused him to drop the butter knife he was holding and it clattered, noisily, to the floor. He pulled back his hand as though he'd been burned; his eyes wide and his heart in his throat.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, ducking his head.

"Where's Colin?" Zelda asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Still asleep. He's running a bit of a fever. We think he might have mild sunstroke," Link voiced his concern, frowning.

Zelda's heart fluttered, unexpectedly. She adored the way his lips turned downwards and his brow furrowed. His eyes always gave away his mood and right now she could read the worry in them.

"So you won't be going to the beach today?" Zelda enquired, trying to sound nonchalant.

He glanced out at the beach, which was relatively deserted so early in the morning. The white sands glowed and the water lapped gently at the shore. His eyes moved back to Zelda, who was watching him with her bluer than blue eyes.

"I guess not," he answered, slowly.

Her disappointment, she knew, was clear in her expression. For once, he seemed to notice and mirrored the sentiment.

"I was thinking… well, maybe, that I might, um, take a walk. Before everyone wakes up," the words stumbled from his lips before he could snatch them back. Her lips curled into a coy smile.

"Could I come with you?"

He nodded, quickly. She was on her feet in an instant.

Midna watched from the deck as her best friend walked along the beach with Link. They walked with an awkward distance between them, the sexual tension rolling off them in crashing waves. Midna chuckled, fondly. They were so clueless.

"Something funny?"

He'd expected to startle her, but Midna didn't even flinch, nor did she turn around.

"Not funny. Amusing. There's a difference," Midna told him as he came to join her.

In truth, she was surprised at him being awake so early, but she had long ago learned to carefully hide her emotions. She was a pro.

Sheik's eyes followed her gaze before narrowing.

"See, this I don't understand? Why is it, in the end, the girl always ends up with the boring guy?"

"Link isn't boring."

He shot her an oh, come on look.

"He isn't," Midna insisted. "There's definitely something there. Trust me; inside he's pining in more than just a romantic sense."

Sheik smirked. "Little Linkie Hero? A sexual being? I don't think so."

On the beach below them, Link's eyes hadn't left Zelda once. He seemed to be listening, in rapture, as she chattered, animatedly.

"Not jealous are you?" Sheik accused.

At that, Midna snorted, as she turned away from the beach and retreated back into the dining room.

"You're rather ridiculous Sheik," she surmised.

"If you have so much faith in him, why don't we make this more interesting?" Sheik proposed, following her inside and leaning against the doorframe.

"I won't do anything that will jeopardise Zelda's happiness," Midna snapped.

"How sweet," Sheik smirked as Midna returned to her breakfast. "What if we were both on the same side?"

"Explain," Midna ordered.

"Surely you can see yourself that all they need is a little… push in the right direction," Sheik suggested.

It had occurred to Midna that the whole thing had reached slightly ridiculous proportions. Zelda had been in love with Link since before she had met her. Midna suspected Link had felt the same way for even longer. Shyness she could excuse, but this… it was bordering on a farce.

Still Midna had resisted meddling thus far. She suspected a small part of her was happy to watch the two of them flounder so that she might have Zelda all to herself. And yet she had seen the tear marks on Zelda's cheeks last night. The boy was making her miserable.

But would she stoop so low as to accept help from Sheik? Certainly not.

"I agree," Midna answered, silkily, "but this delicate manner requires a subtle intervention that I don't find you capable of."

For the first time, Sheik's eyes flashed. "I can be subtle."

"Subtle as a sledgehammer. Besides," Midna's gaze flickered to the doorway. Sheik looked up and saw Lulu with Ralis in tow. "Aren't you already… preoccupied?"

An expression Midna couldn't decipher flashed across his face. But it was gone in an instant.

"As you wish," Sheik conceded with his trademark smirk, "I only thought you might appreciate the help."

Midna didn't need help, she told herself, as Ruto silently slipped into a seat beside her and Sheik flirted with Lulu over scrambled eggs, she'd come this far on her own.

Midna cut a striking figure as she wandered across the sparsely populated beach in her black swimsuit. Her dark eyes sought out Zelda, who was sat close to the shore, still in a t-shirt and shorts, watching Sheik as he stretched, preparing to go for a swim.

"Zel' where is your bikini?" Midna asked, curtly, throwing the towel she'd had tucked under her arm down onto the sand beside her friend.

"I've got it on underneath. I just… I don't feel like making an exhibition of myself," she answered, nodding towards a crowd of the off duty waiters who were surfing further down the beach.

Sheik abruptly stopped stretching and watched as Midna lay down, stretching out her long, long legs and closing her eyes.

"Don't give me that," Midna answered. "You don't ever seem to mind when we're all down at the lake."

"Yeah," Sheik reasoned, snapping out of his short reverie, "but Link Hero is around to see her then."

Zelda scowled at her cousin who shot her a smirk.

"This has nothing to do with him, actually," she snapped, petulantly.

"Whatever." He answered, before wading out into the water and disappearing beneath the surface. He resurfaced a few strokes later, his dark blonde hair plastered to his head.

"Honestly, it's your choice, but just remember, there are plenty other boys on this island," Zelda shook her head at this remark, but Midna quirked a brow. "Do you really want to go to University having never even kissed a boy?" She challenged.

Instantly, Zelda flushed scarlet. "Midna!" She hissed.

Midna hardly looked bothered. "I'm not being cruel, just realistic."

Zelda got up, her arms crossed against her chest.

"Well it might help if there was anyone else I'd ever want to kiss, but as there isn't I suppose I'm stuck this way!" She exclaimed, haughtily.

Lulu appeared with Ruto in tow and Zelda sat down again and stared miserably out to sea.

Ruto instantly threw her towel down next to Midna's. She too was wearing a black bathing suit and had pinned half her hair up into a bun in an exact mimic of Midna's preferred hairstyle.

Lulu sat down beside Zelda. "Where are the boys?" She enquired.

"Colin has sunstroke. Link is taking care of him," Midna told her, closing her eyes lazily.

Lulu shot Zelda a sympathetic glance, but Zelda was too busy wallowing.

"Isn't that Sheik?" Lulu asked, holding her hand up to shield her eyes.

Midna rolled her eyes. "Yes."

Lulu resisted the urge to sigh. She'd been hoping for a quiet afternoon with the girls.

"I was thinking we might go to the Temple tomorrow," Zelda suggested.

"Oh Mother will love that. The Princesses go to the water temple," Lulu grimaced.

"Oh, don't you want to go then?" Zelda asked, her big blue eyes wide with concern.

Lulu shook her head, offering up a smile. "Sorry, just ignore me. My Mother's driving me nuts already. No, I would like to go with you."

Ruto's gaze slid to Midna.

"Are you going to go?"

"Hm?" Midna slid on her sunglasses, "of course."

Ruto smiled. "I'll go too then."

"It'll be a good opportunity to get away from all our parents," Zelda added.

Lulu quirked a brow. "Might you be inviting Link then?"

Zelda blushed. "Of-of course. It wouldn't be nice not to include everyone."

Midna laughed, softly, "You're not fooling anyone, Zel."

A shadow fell across them. Lulu smiled with delight as the mysterious waiter appeared with a tray of drinks.

"Wouldn't want you ladies dehydrating in this heat," He bowed his head, politely, offering Lulu a drink first.

"Do you know anything about the water temple?" She asked, eager to strike up conversation with him.

Zelda and Midna shared a look as the waiter nodded.

"Oh yeah. A couple of my friends are working there this summer as tour guides. It's pretty cool. Legend has it that it used to be home to the phantom hourglass. Now it's mainly used as a wedding venue. But I'd recommend checking it out, if only for the beautiful hike to reach it," he told them, shooting them all a pearly white smile. But his eyes lingered on Lulu, there was no mistaking it.

He bowed once more and strode away in the direction of the hotel and Lulu smiled to herself.

Sheik was lounging in the bar when Link came down to get some air. He was about to address him when he remembered his conversation with Midna that morning and decided to hold his tongue.

If there was one thing Sheik understood it was women. But he knew nothing about love.

Still, he wasn't blind enough that he couldn't recognise the look in Link's eyes as he stood at the doors leading right out onto the beach.

"She's not there," Sheik told him. "Her Mother took her shopping."

"Oh." Link sounded disappointed.

"Mm, seems she couldn't enjoy herself if we weren't all there to share the fun," Sheik said with a roll of his eyes as his hint, he knew, soared right over Link's head.

"Having fun?" Link enquired, sliding into a seat, his back to the view.

"I couldn't say. I suppose spending some quality time looking Princely will keep Aunt Impa off my back for a semester or two," Sheik consoled himself.

"I suppose University will be your ticket to scandal," Link remarked with a small grin.

"We can't all be upstanding young citizens, Hero," But Sheik grinned back. "So what did you get in to study?"

"Politics, Philosophy and Economics."

"Goddesses, you're more of a Prince than I am. My Aunt practically begged me to major in Economics."

It was true that Link was more of a 'hands on' kind of guy and his parents had been shocked when he'd opted for such a difficult syllabus, but a degree in such well respected subjects was his ticket to being considered useful and respectable. And Link needed to be taken seriously.

"Did you accept Aunt Elena's offer to live in the royal dormitory?"

The Royals had hoped for an 'authentic' University experience, but that didn't extend to living in the communal dorms. Instead, the Princesses would be living in a high security, small dormitory on the edge of campus.

"Not yet," Link answered, frowning slightly as he stared off into space.

In truth, the idea of living in such close quarters with Zelda was both tempting and yet mortifying to Link. Still, with such conflicting schedules, he wasn't sure if he'd have much opportunity to see her, should he decline the offer.

"Well, I don't suppose I'd want to spend my college experience locked up with three beautiful Princesses," Sheik's tone dripped with his usual sarcasm. "Though I suppose you've hardly noticed the other two."

Link's head whipped back around as Sheik pushed himself to his feet. With a wicked grin, he left Link to his musing and headed for the lobby, drink in hand.

Steam kissed Midna's skin as she stretched out like a cat across the rocks. She closed her eyes. Ralis squealed as Ruto splashed him and she could hear the swish of the water as Ruto chased her brother through the shallows. Midna couldn't help but enjoy the company of the younger ones; it seemed to her that the older you got the more complicated everything became.

"Your highnesses."

The waiter had appeared very quietly. Plus he'd brought ice-cream. Midna instantly warmed to the stranger.

Ruto and Ralis gathered around the tray, Ralis smiling sweetly as the waiter ruffled his damp hair. Midna sat up slowly.

"You wouldn't happen to be looking for Princess Lulu?" She asked.

The waiter didn't even flinch. "No, but I wasn't exactly not looking for her either."

That earned him a smile from the ice queen.

"Just a word of warning, stay away from her mother," Midna advised him.

"Mikau's my friend, not Lulu's!" Ralis cried, indignantly.

Mikau kneeled beside the little Prince. "Can't I be friends with both of you?"

Ralis seemed to think through the question as Mikau offered his hand to Ruto.

"Princess Ruto, if I'm not mistaken?"

Ruto nodded.

"Well, shake Mikau's hand, Ruto. A good Princess is always friendly and accommodating," Midna told her.

Ruto grabbed Mikau's hand and shook it, eagerly. Midna rolled her eyes. It was a start.

"And what kind of ice-cream do you like, Princess?" Mikau enquired.

Ruto frowned. "Ice cream is for children. I'm a young lady."

Mikau laughed, warmly.

"Nonsense," Midna snapped, sliding down to sit beside Ralis. "Ice-cream has no age restriction."

Ruto looked suitably abashed. "I like raspberry ripple."

"I won't forget," Mikau promised, "Next time there will be raspberry ripple for Princess Ruto."

Ruto blushed and Midna's ice heart melted a little more. When she wasn't trying so hard, Ruto was very cute.

"She was still on the beach, last I saw," Midna rewarded Mikau.

He feigned ignorance as he wandered away. "I don't know who you could be referring to, your highness."

Link couldn't keep his lips from parting in a half-gape as he opened the door to find Zelda stood outside wearing possibly the shortest skirt that had ever existed. His eyes simply could not resist travelling the length of her legs, down to her strappy sandals wrapped around her slender ankles. Her beauty could compare to that of the goddesses.

"I'm not disturbing you, am I?" Zelda asked, biting her lip. Link's gaze snapped back to her face. "I saw your parents down in the bar so I thought I'd come and check on Colin."

Colin waved from behind Link, where he'd been camped out on the couch all day, Zelda surmised, from the array of chocolate wrappers and Red Soda cans dotted around him.

Zelda brushed past Link, who closed the door still in a daze, and over to Colin who made room for her beside him on the couch.

"Hey, how you feeling?" She asked him, pleasantly.

Colin grinned. "I'm fine. Link and me have been playing video games all day! That woman-"

"Ciela," Link interjected.

"-brought them up for us. She's really nice," Colin said, all in a rush.

Zelda smiled. "Well, I was going to invite you to go to the Temple with us tomorrow, but I came up here to pass on a message from a Mr. Linebeck."

"Linebeck!" Colin exclaimed.

"Mr. Linebeck asked me to invite you to go fishing with him tomorrow, to, in his words, see what you're made of," Zelda relayed with a smile.

"Awesome!" Colin shouted.

"He says to meet him down at the docks at six am," Zelda instructed.

Colin glanced at the clock above the television and balked.

"I better go to bed then!" Colin jumped up. "Thanks Zelda, night!" He called over his shoulder.

Zelda chuckled to herself as he disappeared into the bedroom. She'd been glad to be the one to deliver the good news to Colin. She was especially fond of Link's younger brother who, much like Link, never treated her as though she were a Princess but more like an older cousin.

Link, who'd been lingering by the door, moved to sit on the couch, leaving a cautious distance between himself and the Princess.

"Would you like to come to the Temple with us, Link?" Zelda asked, holding her breath for his answer.

Despite what Link assumed to be a long afternoon spent on the beach, Zelda's skin remained stubbornly porcelain. In fact the only indicator that she had even been out in the sun came in the form of a light blush of pink across her nose and cheeks, which Link found to be adorable. Her skirt, not short enough to be distasteful but short enough to drive him to madness, gave him an excellent view of her long, shapely legs. He wanted to flog himself for thinking so impurely of her, but it was little wonder when he kept finding himself alone with her.

"The girls and I thought it might be interesting to go. And Sheik is tagging along too," Zelda told him, mistaking his silence for reluctance.

"I would like to go," Link managed to answer.

Zelda's cherry pink lips beamed at him and she unconsciously leaned in closer to him. "Great!"

There was a rap at the door and Zelda jumped.

"Come in," Link called.

Midna slinked into the room followed by Ruto, her omnipresent shadow, and Sheik, who winked, mischievously, at Zelda.

"Not interrupting anything, are we?" Sheik drawled, throwing himself down onto one of the recliners near the television.

Zelda flushed scarlet and scowled at her cousin. "Link was just telling me that he's free to come to the Temple with us tomorrow."

"How is Colin?" Midna asked, stepping in between the fair royals.

"He's much better," Link answered.

Midna herself looked beautiful, though in a much darker way than Zelda. The sun had sunk into her skin darkening her olive complexion. Her gaze was mysterious and seductive, but it had no effect upon Link. It was clear that only the bright eyes of the golden Princess could leave him tongue-tied.

Sheik, who was not entirely immune to Midna's charms but composed himself admirably around her, quirked a brow.

"Perhaps I should drive us into town," he suggested.

"There are far too many of us," Midna answered. "You could drive myself and the Zoras and," she flashed a rare smile, as if sudden inspiration had struck her, "Link can take my car and drive Zelda."

Midna rustled in her purse and pulled out the keys to the car that the hotel had supplied her with. She tossed them to Link who caught them, deftly.

If Link had noticed this blatant attempt at matchmaking, he certainly showed no signs of it.

"Why can't you drive them?" Sheik grumbled.

"I can't use the satellite navigation system," Midna lied, her dark eyes glittering. "Besides, a future Queen deserves a handsome young man to escort her."

Zelda blushed, prettily, as Link turned over the keys in his hand.

"Are you sure this is alright, Midna?" He asked, uncertainly.

Midna's eyes glittered. "Of course."

Lulu walked along the beach, watching the last of the sunset. Though she enjoyed the company of the older royals, with Zelda focused on Link and Sheik making unwelcome advances toward her, she found herself holding back from spending too much time with the others.

As she sat down on the sand a shadow fell across her.

"Peaceful, is it not, your highness?"

Lulu nodded. "You have the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen here. I am envious."

"May I sit with you?" Mikau requested.

"Would you ask if I weren't a Princess?" Lulu fired back.

Mikau smiled his slow, easy smile. "Of course."

He didn't leave a polite distance between them, instead sitting disturbingly close to her. He leaned back upon one of his elbows and stared out towards the horizon. His inky black hair was loose and he'd changed into a sleeveless shirt that showed off his impressive forearms and well muscled shoulders.

"Where are your friends?" He asked, nonchalantly.

"I'm not sure. Zelda mentioned going to check on Colin and I think Midna is somewhere with my sister," Lulu answered.

"Are all of you royalty?"

Lulu shook her head. "Colin, Link and their parents are guests of the King and Queen. Midna is the Princess of Twili and Sheik is the last Prince of a dying race," Lulu explained.

"Your little brother is a real firecracker," Mikau chuckled.

Lulu laughed. "He's certainly boisterous. He gets away with murder back home. Only six years old and already he can charm his way out of trouble."

"My parents couldn't believe I'd met the future King of our own royal family," he admitted.

Lulu smiled. So he was Zora, as she'd suspected.

"You were very kind to him," Lulu said, wishing she could express her appreciation properly.

"Nah, I like kids. We don't get many at the resort so it's a welcome change."

"Do you work here all summer?"

He nodded. "Making some money before I go on tour with my band this year."

Lulu's interest perked. She had a heart for music.

"You have a band? What's your sound like?" She questioned, eagerly.

"Loose rock, a little blues. Solidly alternative though." He smiled and her heart did a little flip. He was so handsome. "I play lead guitar."

"That sounds awesome," she answered, wistfully.

He looked out to sea again. Something in the Princess' voice made him wonder. For someone so surrounded by people, she seemed lonely.

"Maybe you could come here us play. I mean, whilst you're here. If you want," he offered, trying to sound casual about it.

"I'd love to!" She gasped, rewarding him with a bright, exquisite smile.

"Do you need me to escort you back inside?" He asked, sitting up to leave.

"Do you… have to go?" She asked, feeling confused.

"Kind of. I'm on prep duty in the kitchen tonight for tomorrow's breakfast. I only came outside to dump some rubbish," he explained.

Lulu mentally chastised herself. He was working here and her Mother would be furious if she caught her flirting so openly with a waiter. It pained her to think of anyone as beneath her, but her Mother saw no grey, only black and white.

"No, I should be fine, thank you," she answered, curtly. "Um, goodnight," she added, softly.

He stood, dusting sand from himself before smiling down at her. "Goodnight Princess Lulu."

Sheik was still sulking as Midna and Zelda delivered Ruto to the Zora suite. His gloominess only increased tenfold when Ralis informed him that Lulu had still not returned to the suite.

"Oh Midna, if only you'd seen the way he was looking at me," Zelda simpered.

"I knew that skirt would pay off," Midna replied.

"Honestly, Zellie, I just don't know what you see in him," Sheik grumbled, "he's so dull."

Zelda's eyes narrowed. "Link Hero is the least dull person I have ever met," she snapped, her voice dangerously low, "he is kind and compassionate and a perfect gentleman. He loves archery and video games and show-jumping and… and I am certain that there is no other man in this world who could ever tempt me," she declared.

Midna laughed, softly. "Never insult Link in front of our dear Princess."

Sheik frowned. "You really love him, don't you?"

Zelda lowered her eyes, her expression unhappy.

"Why didn't you agree to let me help you?" Sheik pressed. "You know I would have."

Zelda shook her head, desolately, her golden curls shaking.

"But he's making you miserable!" Sheik exclaimed.

"Of course he is, that's what love does to you!" Midna retorted. "If you wanted to help, Sheik, you could just give them some space. Eventually, he's going to realise that Zellie is head over heels for him and make a move, but that'll never happen with the rest of us hanging around!"

Zelda smiled, fondly, at her best friend. "Thank you Midna. I appreciate you lending us your car."

Midna sighed. "As long as it gets you somewhere. Just remember, I'm having to put up with his," at this she jerked her thumb at Sheik, "driving, so you better make it worthwhile."