Link was in the throes of a mortal combat, his flashing fangs bared, his throat producing the most vicious of growls as he tore into his opponent.
A rabbit's skin.
In the throne room, not three-feet from where Zelda sat, trying to have a conversation with a Gerudo ambassador.
She was managing rather admirably, only occasionally flicking a glance at the ferocious battle, and that was mostly because the ambassador had yet to look away from the wolf for more than a few flickering glances.
"Link!" she snapped, effectively halting the deadly duel. "Go out, get some air,"
He launched immediately to his paws, balking at the idea of leaving her unprotected.
"Don't be contrary," she said firmly, her head jerking slightly to subtly indicate the guards standing at either side of her throne.
The incompetent fools looked impressive, and that was all they did. Why, give him an hour and he could train any which one of them to be twice as competent, although all that would make him was capable of holding a sword like a sword rather than an overgrown butter knife.
"Out," Zelda said, coldly. "Or I will make you play dress-up."
Link, somehow, managed to gasp in mock horror, chasing his tail a few rounds before picking up his toy and racing out of the throne room-
Only to screech to a halt the moment he turned a corner, lying in wait like the predator he was, his paws beneath his shoulders and haunches tense.
He let out a low, vibrant growl, furious that he could not be beside the princess as she talked to this dusky redhead who had the audacity to come proposing peaceful trade so soon after what –
"Link! If you don't get your tail out of the castle, I'll have it shaved!"
The wolf let out a highly dignified yelp and bolted for the nearest exit, a half-open window in the process of being cleaned. This, as a matter of course, resulted in a mixed pile of canine and servant landing in a big, messy pile in the middle of bush that was in the process of being cut into the shape of a rearing horse.
How exactly Link managed to make a clean break from that was and would remain a mystery.
When he, two hours later, returned to the throne room after having delivered a rabbit to the kitchens, he was dismayed to find it empty of everything but drapery. He immediately set to the second hunt of the day, and trailed Zelda's dearly familiar scent. It took him through many a hallway into the guest wing (where the ambassador's scent split from the princess'), via a lounge, into one courtyard, through the princess' office and culminated with her sitting under a tree in the gardens.
He laid down beside her, cautiously creeping closer until she reached out absent-mindedly and started rubbing him between the ears. "Have you learned anything today?"
That Zelda was more than willing to threaten utter and total embarrassment, even at the cost of his divinely good looks?
"And...?
That freaking out ambassadors could result in him getting a docked?
"I wasn't going to go that far, as you well know. Docking is rather barbaric."
That... She looked exceptionally lovely in this light?
The princess laughed at that. "Flattery, my dear, will get you everywhere! You'd make a natural courtier if only you would stop attacking animal skins."
But they tasted so good! And felt so fuzzy-funny! And it freaked ambassadors out!
"Well, it's the last I'm trying to avoid. I'd rather we could remain on friendly terms with the Gerudo. I mean, where else would we import those beautiful rugs, that you so enjoy chewing to pieces, from?"
They were Gerudo? He could have sworn they were Zoran!
"What, did they taste like fish?"
No, that's just racist.
Zelda snorted. "Says the dog that wouldn't leave me alone with one elderly man just because one of his countrymen wanted to conquer the world."
Link failed to see what that had to do with anything, so he instead reached up and licked the princess on the cheek, getting a peck on the muzzle in return.
He, gently, placed his head in her lap and let out a contented sigh when she kept nuzzling his ears. He was honestly having a hard time imagining how life could get any better than this.
Zelda looked down at the head nestled in her lap, her lips curving slightly and her eyebrows furrowing sadly. "How about you take a vacation to Ordon soon, Link?"
Whoa, whoa! Were those actually sad overtones near the end? Whoa!
Sorry for being gone so long, I blame... My new puppy! She sure is an attention-hog! Much like Link! He would totally die if he couldn't be in the spotlight anymore.
Please review and tell me what you liked/disliked. ^_^