Summary: The caravan is snowed-in, so Link and Lydia explore the Capital, and Lydia gives her brother some… unique advice.

Warnings: Rated T+ for cussing, ranting, and generally setting a bad example.

Disclaimer: Don't own: Link, Zelda, Hyrule, King Harkinian, or the names "Calatia", "Medilla", or "Arn". The plot, extra characters, characterization of Link and Zelda, history and characterization of Link's family, and the glimpses into Calatian and Hyrulean culture, however, are of my own invention.

A/N: Reviews are more than welcomed -- in fact, PLEASE review. Flames are the little fires I -- ok, you know, what? I'm tired of saying that;if you've read this far, you know the spiel, so just review however you want. See the character sketches listed in my profile. Otherwise, enjoy!

Chapter 6: Emblems and Other Symbols

"AHHHHH!" The loud squawk echoes throughout the slowly-waking encampment, and several heads turn to inspect the disturbance. Those who turn their heads quickly enough have just enough time to see a green blur tackling a woman wearing red and white, and then a second blurred shape is thrown over said woman. At first, this has the earmarks of a particularly bold kidnapping attempt, until the same voice that yelled out moments ago screeches, "LYDIA, WHAT-THE-FUCK?!" Of the people still observing, those that recognize the voice's owner are flummoxed. Since when does Sir Link curse?! And why is he struggling to drag the afore-mentioned woman, now wrapped firmly in a large blanket, and looking annoyed, but completely unafraid, into a tent?

Emmika, running crowd control, calmly looks about and announces, "'s alright, people! Just a family squabble. Nothing to see, so go 'bout yer business." Since the other two members of Sir Link's camp don't seemed especially fazed, the crowd does as it's told and moves along, the incident mentally filed away as one of those "Huh" kind of moments.

As Link fights with Lydia's willfully-dead-weight to stuff her back under cover, the old man snorts and starts guffawing, and soon Karina and Rommel join in. Their ridicule is only partially muffled by the dropping tent flap.

If a human can be said to bristle, then Link is doing just that. Lydia smirks in repressed mirth, thinking that the only things her brother is missing are tufted ears and a furry tail. She purposely uses her most annoying mock-innocent voice and opens wide eyes to ask, "Brother Dear, whatever's the matter?"

Link splutters. Yes, splutters. Like a deflating balloon. "W-w… You can't go out looking like THAT!"

"What? Like this?" Lydia drops the concealing blanket, the outfit beneath being a wine-red tunic with a wide-sleeved white undershirt… except that the tunic has a loose wrap-around front with a dangerously low v-line opening, and the white shirt is also completely open on the front. The only part of the shirt that shows under the tunic is the collar, which gives the impression of being a wide choker. A round medallion on a long chain merely serves to point out that, yes, that is a significant amount of cleavage; pretty nice abs, too. The dark short-shorts under the tunic and the mid-thigh -high boots (the same ones she wore yesterday) don't leave much to the imagination, either.

Link's face is beet-red. A twitch threatens the corner of one eye. He grits his teeth to keep from screaming again.

Lydia is nonplussed. "I don't know what you're so fussy about. I wear this outfit nearly every day."

"WHAT?!" His voice cracks, and his jaw drops. The misery painted on his face would be pitiable, if it wasn't so funny to her.

"This is my uniform, Link. The one I wear every day at the academy. I even have multiple changes of clothes in the same cut. Check my bags!"

Jaw still open, but his face set in clear disbelief, Link edges to her pack. Sure enough, in the center pocket, there are four or five variations of the same shirt and tunic, in a number of colors. Now that he looks more closely, the outfit does resemble the one the academy sent his sister over the mail the week before she left home to begin her training, and that one did, indeed, have a low-cut tunic. But Link clearly remembers that outfit having a complete shirt, and not just sleeves and a collar! He stares at his sister as if she's grown a second head.

"Are you telling me, they let you walk around in that, at the Academy?! I thought most mages were guys!"

"They are."

"But… wouldn't this, I dunno, distract from the learning, or research, or whatever? Having the few female mages walk around half-naked?" The poor guy looks truly confused. And appalled. And intrigued, despite himself.

"Well, it would, if the other female mages actually wore something like this."

"Wait, what?! You mean, the other female mages wear a normal uniform, like the one you left home in?"

"Yep."

"So then… why only you…?"

"'Cuz I'm just special, like that." She flashes a cocky grin.

"That's not an answer! Why doe my sister get to be the only one walking around uncovered from neck to navel?!" Link's starting to come a little unglued. And his tone is taking on a distinctly bossy edge.

"Because I'm high-ranking enough to be allowed an altered uniform." Now, she's beginning to get miffed.

"High-ranking enough to… Hold up! Now, you're telling me you chose this design?!"

"No, I'm telling you I created this design. And commissioned a seamstress to have it custom-made. I still don't see the problem. It's not like I'm showing nipples, or pubic hair, or what-not!"

"BARELY!! Look, this is an army camp! There are soldiers everywhere. Soldiers, as in, "a lot of men, crammed together, with virtually no women". With all the testosterone in the air, and you walking around looking like that, I'm gonna have to bust some heads! Look, I'm supposed to be using my sword against the Ishandi, not my own allies!"

A threatening growl colors her retort of, "You do not have to protect me, Brother! As I recall, I immobilized you just yesterday!"

"Lydia, you're constantly surrounded by GUYS! And not just here, with the caravan, but at Academy, too! More men thrown together with a very, very small female population, and those guys can fight magic with magic! It's incredibly dangerous! Don't you know, by now, how guys think?"

"YES, I do. And that's why I wear this!" That stopped him cold... He wasn't expecting that answer, and now, he looks like he's just been informed his lover's a man -- post-coitus. Before he can reorganize and point out the apparent craziness of that statement, Lydia pommels him with logic. "The only thing an arrogant, powerful man fears is an even more powerful woman. When I wear this, it reminds them -- every, single one of those self-important bigots -- that a woman has attained this rank, and in faster time than it took any of them to climb even half so high! And it reveals, for all the world to see, exactly the reason they haven't let me climb even higher -- because I'm a woman. It's a symbol of my strength, and they hate it. But because I'm Archmage, all they can do is gnash their teeth behind my back, because even the ones that outrank me know that all it takes is for one of them to give me a reason to challenge him to a wizard's duel, and when the battle is over, the world will know that I'm the stronger Mage. That's why I wear this!"

KO'd. Utterly. A feather wafting in the breeze could knock Link over, right now. Slowly, the shock wears away, and Link is left with a sobering respect for his twin sister. He will never admit it aloud, but he truly admires her, right this moment. That's alright; Lydia knows: she sees it in his eyes.

Suddenly, the tension leaves the room, and both twins' shoulders relax.

"Well, come on, then. We're supposed to be enjoying the city, right?" Lydia grins brightly. Link reciprocates the smile, then nods. Anger abandoned, they turn together and walk out the tent.

--

The caravan is stopped for the day. A freak storm moved in last night, and the roads up ahead are buried under ten feet of snow. Calatian road crews are currently working to resolve the issue, but until the path is cleared, they're not going anywhere.

A few people (mostly guys) turn to stare at Lydia's unusual garments -- just because it's okay to be nude in the Church does not mean it's acceptable to extend the practice out into the streets. Just to be safe, Link grips his sword handle and attempts to look menacing, at her side. And to think, he was paranoid over the idea of someone joining him at prayer a few nights ago!

His sister… what can he do? He wants to protect her, like he used to when they were kids, but it's beginning to dawn on him that this older Lydia is a whole different breed of female than the carefree, rambunctious little girl he grew up with. Back then, magic was a big game to her. It was a great way to get apples down from the trees, and sneak a couple of cookies from the kitchen when their mother warned them not to spoil their dinner, or light a campfire to roast marshmallows on without having to bring tinder and flint. Occasionally, it was even a way to get even with Link for whatever little slight he caused her -- he'll never forget the three hours he once spent crammed in the corner of their room, floating above the bed, with nothing to do but watch a little garden spider crawl around the wall -- needless to say, he never again went near her diary (while she was in the house.)

Now that he thinks about it, she was pretty powerful, even then. He can barely light a fire without singeing his sleeve, or completely missing the target, but she can cast spells with barely a hand gesture, and get it right each time.

He suddenly misses Zelda -- a lot. She sometimes tries to teach him better control over his magic. When she's there, coaxing him, it's easier to pay attention. He finds this strange; a woman like Zelda should be a distraction, not a concentration aid, but, when he's with her, it's as if he's so determined to not embarrass himself by running his mouth, or being too quiet, or tripping over his own feet that, suddenly, anxiety over magical performance takes a backseat to other, more earthly forms of potential humiliation, and he can get the spells to work right. He's still weak as hell without an amulet or wand or other item to focus his power, but at least, with her, his fire spells don't suddenly decide to turn into fireballs that shoot up, deflect off the cast-iron skillet above his fireplace, and proceed to set blaze to his roof… stupid, leaky cottage roof… 'I really need to thank Zelda more often for rescuing me from my own house…'

She'd said she loves him. Even said that she always had. A nice warmth seeps into him at that, despite the bitter cold.

'Cold… that's it!'

He motions Lydia to wait for him, then ducks into a shop he saw a few blocks back. With some specific questions to the matronly clerk, and a quick browsing of the samples she fetches, Link makes his selection, pays the woman, and runs back outside. His sister is right where he left her, head cocked sideways and arms crossed. She never did have much patience.

"Lida! Here!" he hands her the parcel he just bought. He idly thinks that maybe he should have taken an extra moment to have it gift wrapped, as the lady suggested, but, eh. Lydia's never been one for frills, anyway.

Lydia raises an eyebrow, curious, and a bit suspicious. It's not like Link to buy random gifts, but this is a nice solution to the current problem. She rips into the cardboard box ('Yep; no point in wasting the gift wrap'). He sees her eyes widen in surprise and her mouth open a little. Her hand pulls out a wide silken scarf with subtle lacing on the edges. In color and trim, it's a perfect match for her customized shirt. She raises her chin to look at him, her eyes asking "why".

"It's cold. Just because you're trying to make a point doesn't mean you have to do it at the expense of your health." He shrugs, hoping he sounds sufficiently nonchalant.

Lydia shoots him a pointed glare, but smiles and wraps the scarf around her neck with a simple knot, the wide swath of fabric covering most (though, unfortunately, not all) of her exposed torso. She pats his arm, leans forward, and plants a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Linu." He smiles back at her.

--

It's several hours later, and the siblings are happily exhausted. They've joined a Circle Dance, played Catch, and then Juggling Toss (two sticks per player, one stick per hand, and two or more players, with the same number of round pebbles as there are players. The goal? To use the sticks to bounce the pebbles back and forth between all players, without dropping any of the stones). They've also climbed the steps of the Sky Palace -- Lydia was right, it's locked up tight, and the guards smile apologetically upon dismissing them. At least they can rest knowing their youngest siblings will be safe in aunt Sophie's care, and behind the sturdy castle walls. Then they'd left the Palace and rejoined the dance for a few hours. And now, they're finishing up the third round of drinks at a local pub (well, Lydia is on her third; Link is still nursing his first). The alcohol and the exertion of the day combine with the chill wind, and both their cheeks and noses are rosy and aglow as they laugh and catch up on each other's life -- with the recent discovery of Zelda's mutual feelings for him left out of the conversation -- the idea is still too new, and Link fears that if he just breathes too hard, the illusion will shatter around him. Best to give it time. Best to wait until it feels less tenuous, more real.

They walk back to camp, Lydia swaying a bit, and not entirely due to the music filling the streets. She makes a sudden halt, the unprepared Link wrenching to a stop beside her. She's looking through the window of an all-night tattoo parlor, and grinning like a mad woman. Link raises a questioning brow.

"That's what you need!" she declares triumphantly, the words only mildly slurred. "A tattoo!" At his bewildered expression, she eagerly plows on, "I mean it! A tattoo! Something bold, only, where not just anybody can see it, you know?"

"What? Like those arrow-looking designs on the small of the back?" He snorts. As if!

"Nooo! That's a girl's statement!"

"Statement?"

"Yep! It says 'aim here'!" Link blanches, then blushes bright red. Lydia giggles.

'Wow. She MUST be drunk to be laughing like that!"

"Naw," she continues. "What you need is something more manly. Something intimate, that shows off your physical prowess, you know?"

'Oh yeah, she's drunk.' Link is not amused. "Lydia, I am not -- repeat -- NOT getting a tattoo on my privates, alright?"

"GAAAAAH!!" She whimpers and covers her ears. "I do not need to picture my brother's Family Jewels, alright?!"

"Then what the hell are you talking about?!" This is becoming aggravating. Lydia's drunk. Link's not. It's cold. And they're standing outside a tattoo joint having a pointless conversation. "I'm taking you back to camp." He grabs her arm and begins to walk.

"I meant on your bicep, or your chest, or something!" Link stops walking, still holding her arm. He shoots her an inquisitive look. "Like, maybe a Hyrulean symbol right over your heart? Something nobody'd ever see unless you took your shirt off, like, in the middle of a fight. And then, when they ask, you can tell them it represents your loyalty to the crown, or some other sentimental crap like that. Women love that kind of thing! It's all in the details! I bet if Zelda saw you shirtless and sweaty, after a training session, and then saw that unexpected mark on you, it'd melt that cold, regal exterior till steam came out her ears!" Lydia is excitable, and pretty pleased with herself for coming up with this scheme. She crosses her arms, puffs out her chest, and beams brightly, waiting for an answer.

'… WOULD Zelda … ? … NAW!' What the heck is he thinking?! Lydia's drunk, and if he's even contemplating this, he must be, too.

"Aw, c'mon! Wouldn't it be nice to come home the victorious hero after a war, and then, just casually, there it is? The proof that you're not just a goody-two-shoes in a silly green hat?"

"… Hey!"

"Oh, please, honey, it's a ridiculous hat. What's with the flappy end, anyway? Is it supposed to be like a flag waving behind you, or something? The hell else is it good for?" She grabs the tail of Link's cap and pulls on the end, making it bob and flap around like a banner in the breeze. He glares at her, lips pulled tight and prim, and pointedly yanks the end of the cap out of her hand. She doesn't even slow down. "Seriously, Link, you've got a major Good Boy image. Did you see the shock on everyone's faces this morning when you cussed? I thought that mustachioed fellow in the back was gonna disappear down a hole in the ground, when he heard you! And your teammates call you 'Captain'. And you carry maps and tons of gear with you everywhere you go. Loosen up! You're giving me an ulcer just looking at you!"

The silence hangs in the air a few minutes, neither twin budging, glaring at each other. Finally, surprisingly, Lydia sighs and slumps. "I'm too tired and too sloshed for this. Do what you want. I'm heading back to camp. I'm gonna have a helluva hangover in the morning, if I don't go to sleep right now. Night-night!" She waves lazily over her head as she walks past him.

For a moment, Link is stunned. Then his face heats in anger for a few seconds. Then he stops to think… Does he have that kind of reputation? And, more importantly, would Zelda find an image on his body exciting? She's already professed her love. He supposes that means she's stuck with him, now… Couldn't hurt to give her a little surprise when he got home… He hunts through his equipment until he finds an item with the right icon.

An hour later, he heads back to camp, his chest a bit sore, right over his heart. The nice thing is, since he's in Calatia, the parlor artists are unfamiliar with most Hyrulean symbols, and they think the image is just a cool-looking graphic. They even make some tweaks to it, to make it more appealing against the flow of muscle. He gingerly touches the still-delicate skin, a timid smile playing upon his lips. Beneath his fingers, above his heart, is a stylized, but still recognizable, firebird with wings upraised -- the emblem of House Harkinian: Zelda's family crest. Somehow, just having it on his skin makes the situation seem more real.

--

A/N: I loved writing these last two chapters! Link's interactions with Lydia always make me smile. These two have been bickering back in forth for years, in my head, and now I share them with you! Oh, and did anyone notice the two little Easter Eggs I slipped into the story? I'll give you a hint: one is a cameo by another popular Shigeru Miyamoto character, and the other is a line stolen right from some of my earlier chapter intros. I might need to move a little more slowly with the next few chapters (sheer exhaustion is kicking in), so I hope you'll bear with me. Once again, reviews! Love them! Need them! I've become a complete review-whore, I'm afraid. (Is that a treatable illness, do you think?) Hope you enjoyed the read so far!

Just to give you the heads-up, I already have most of Chapter 10 written (long chapter, btw), and I've been tweaking previously-posted chapters. Now I just need to get my tail working on the chapters between here and 10, though I'm certain chapter 9 will be a breeze (there's introspection and setup coming up in chapter 7, and a lot of action and wrap-up of the war in chapters 8 and 9). If anyone has any questions of comments, this is the best time to make them!