Chapter 7
Tea Time with Royalty
We barely talked on our way back to the ranch, as both of us were occupied with our own thoughts. Link's little outburst had made me realize just how little I knew of him, and how he had only told me the story of his adventures in very broad strokes before. He had mentioned the names of the sages, but not what they were like, and just how close he was to each of them.
I did not doubt that he would eventually open up more. But still, my curiosity was piqued. The past crushes he had mentioned... were some of them among the sages? And what about the Princess? I recalled how fondly he had spoken of her during our first meeting.
Look at me, I thought. Link and I barely admitted our feelings for each other, and I'm already being that clingy jealous girl.
„Rebecca?" Link looked over to me, unrest showing on his face. „There was something I meant to tell you. Do you remember what I said after we ran into your mother? About us getting married?"
I looked at him, wide eyed, and nodded.
„Well... I'm not feeling quite ready for it yet, but I was serious about it. One day, I want to marry you." He awkwardly cleared his throat. „If... if that's what you want."
„It is", I said softly, tears of happiness stinging my eyes. „I'm not quite ready yet, either. But someday, I would love to share home and hearth with you."
He smiled his kind, earnest smile and turned back to the road. „Oh, and Zelda has invited us for tea next week."
I stopped Glory dead in her tracks. „She what?"
Link stopped Epona as well and looked at me again. „I might have mentioned that I started going out with you, and now she's very curious about what kind of person you are. So she asked me to bring you along next time I visit her."
My first instinct was to panic. Me? Invited to have tea with the Princess? In the castle? Me, a farmhand, sitting across the table from the ruler of the kingdom?
Link must have seen how pale I became, because he rode closer to me and placed his hand on my arm. „Do not worry. She's not too hung up on etiquette when she's among friends."
That did very little to calm me, and, feeling my fear, Glory began to sidle around nervously.
„Calm down. Trust me, it'll be fun!", Link encouraged me.
The knots in my stomach slightly loosened. After all... it couldn't be that bad when Link was with me.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
In the following week, I was working on my dress like a madwoman, from the very moment I was done with supper until the clock hit midnight. And the night before I would visit the castle with Link, I was finally done.
It was my best work thus far; in this dress, nobody would be able to tell that I wasn't of noble blood.
When I showed it to Malon the next morning, she whistled approvingly. „You've outdone yourself this time, Rebecca. I bet the Princess will be impressed."
„I'm not aiming to impress her; I just don't want her to think that I'm a complete slob." I sighed. „Will you please help me get dressed? I hate to bother you with this, but Link could be here any minute, and I..."
„It's okay." Malon hugged me. „I know you'd do the same for me."
So she helped lace me up and did my hair up in a simple bun. We had barely finished when Link came riding onto the farm, wearing his usual tunic, making me feel terribly overdressed.
When he saw me, he stopped and looked at me with wide eyes and rosy cheeks.
„Rebecca. You... you look amazing."
I felt my face grow hot. „Thank you. It's made from the silk you bought for me."
„I can tell." He smiled. „Shall we? We can ride on Epona together, this time."
„Uh... sure. Why not." I let him pull me up into the saddle, and we took off in the direction of the city.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
I could almost feel the curious stares of the townspeople as we rode through the market. Some of them might have recognized me, but I tried not to meet anyone's gaze, fearing to find my mother or father among the crowd.
I breathed a sigh of relief when we left the marketplace behind and approached the castle gates.
„Stop!", the guard yelled. „State your business!"
Link sighed. „Really? Do we have to do this every time? You know who I am and why I'm here."
„I'm sorry, but I have to stick to the rules. So state your business or leave!"
„Princess Zelda has invited me and my significant other for tea this noon. Ask her and she'll confirm it."
The guard opened a notebook he had been keeping in a bag at his belt and opened it. „Ah, yes. Master Link and Miss Rebecca. We have been informed that you would come."
„And yet you insisted on stopping us", Link grumbled to himself.
The guard signaled for the gate to be opened, and we continued our way along the winding road up to the castle, through another gate and a drawbridge to the courtyard.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
There, in front of the entrance of the castle itself, stood the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Everything about her, from the way she looked to the way she moved, was perfect. It was as if I wasn't looking at a mortal woman, but a goddess.
She smiled as Link dismounted and lifted me out of the saddle as well.
„Link. It's so nice to see you again." She came up to him and took his hand.
Seeing them together made my heart sting. They looked so perfect. Like they were meant for each other. And I was just an intruder that prevented them from being together.
„Oh, and this must be your significant other. Rebecca, correct?"
I flinched and sank into a deep curtsy. „Indeed. It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness."
She looked at me for a moment, sizing me up, before speaking again:„The pleasure is all mine, I assure you. Link told me so much about you. Please, do not be intimidated. I did not invite you here as the Princess, but as a woman who wants to know her friend in good hands."
„But you still are a princess", I replied, not looking up yet.
She sighed. „That is my lot in life, I fear. But come. Our tea will be served shortly."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The Princess led us into a room that, while probably small if measured by standards of the castle, was still four times as big as my bedroom. A white teatable stood in the middle, sorrounded by four comfortable looking chairs. Beaten gold was worked into the intricate carvings on the furniture. And on the table stood a delicate porcelain teapot with three matching cups, and a plate with freshly baked cookies.
„Please, have a seat!", the Princess said.
Link and I sat down next to each other, just as a maid approached the table and poured the tea into our cups.
As we took our first sips, Her Highness began to speak:„So, Rebecca. Link told me that you are informed of the events sorrounding Ganondorf. Or rather, the events that would have sorrounded him, if it hadn't been for Link's heroic deeds."
„Yes, Your Highness. Link told me everything."
„It must have been hard to believe." She smiled at me kindly.
„It was, but Link didn't seem to be the type to tell tall tales. And it would explain the disappearences of all of these important people a few years back." I remembered the rumors that had spread when not just the Princess of the Zora, but also the Chief of the Gorons and the founder of Kakariko seemed to have vanished without a trace. I saw Link flinch from the corner of my eye.
The Princess nodded sadly. „Indeed. A terrible sacrifice to make, but a necessary one." Then she perked up, intent on changing the subject. „Say... how did you meet Link?"
I looked down at my cup, seeing my reflection in the tea. „He came to LonLon Ranch for a visit a few months ago while Malon and I were taking a break from work."
„Ah, I know Malon!" Her Highness smiled fondly. „Such an honest and hardworking person! I had the pleasure of talking to her a few times while she was delivering milk to the castle kitchen."
I relaxed a little. „Malon has been my best friend for years now. When I turned eighteen, she offered me the job at the ranch."
Princess Zelda cleared her throat. „Please do not be angry with me for asking so many questions. I am merely concerned about Link's wellbeing. I hope you understand that."
I lowered my head. „Of course I do, Your Highness." While it hurt that she seemed to see me as a potential threat, I reminded myself that I would probably also want to know what kind of person Malon was going out with. „Everything to keep those we cherish safe."
„You do not need to worry, Zelda", Link said and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. „After all, it was I who pursued her romantically, not the other way around."
Her Highness looked at Link, and her eyes grew soft. „I'm sorry if I seem overbearing, Link. I am just worried."
„I know that, and I appreciate it", he said, using the same words I had used when I asked Malon not to try and set us up.
I started to wonder if maybe there was another reason for Her Highness' behaviour. The way she looked at Link, her eyes growing softer, reminded me of the way he looked at me. My heart sank when I realized what that meant.
Or maybe I was just being overdramatic again, and the Princess was really just a concerned friend.
„Well, I'm sure you two will be happy", she said hesitantly.
„We will be", Link announced cheerfully. „Because one day, we will get married!"
The Princess almost dropped her cup at the announcement, while I was choking on the cookie I had been eating. „Oh! I had no idea you were already this far into planning your future together."
„That's how it's supposed to be, isn't it? You fall in love, and then you get married." Link smiled brightly. „I don't know when, but someday, that's what we'll do!"
„Don't wait too long", Princess Zelda said with something akin to defeat in her voice.
Link looked at her with confusion in his eyes. Then he perked up. „You think so? We were worried to rush into things."
„Indeed. But people talk, and if they see the two of you together but unwed for too long, it will hurt your reputation."
I remembered my mother's words. How being seen alone with a man who wasn't my husband would make people think less of me.
Link and I exchanged questioning glances.
„She does have a point", I said.
„So you think we should get married sooner?", he asked doubtfully.
„I don't know. Maybe. But I also think that it's too big a decision to make over tea."
„That's true", Princess Zelda agreed. „But keep in mind what I said. You do seem ready, so I do not know what you are waiting for. And don't forget to invite me when you tie the knot." She winked at us and chuckled.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
When we left the castle two hours later, my head was spinning. The Princess did have a point. But were we really ready? I held onto Link, feeling his warmth seep through the fabric of his tunic, and felt my heart flutter at the thought of being his wife. Surely there would be a way to continue working at LonLon Ranch even after marrying him. It was a two hour ride from the city to the ranch. All I had to do was get up extra early, and then...
I sighed happily.
