Translated by MissQuestions-LaAmazingNabo
Beta reader: Chameleon Eyes
Thanks to both of them for their work and thanks to you all for your reviews, follows and favourites. I hope you like the chapter.
The Legend of Zelda series and its characters are property of Nintendo.
Chapter 6
Ball
A bit more than two weeks were left until the celebration of Link's presentation ball. Zelda was meeting with her secretary in her study, finishing the details for the party, details like the color of the mantels, which crystals to use, stuff of the like. Unfortunately, the princess wasn't concentrating on what her secretary was saying in turn; she was anxiously waiting for an object she had ordered a while ago to be brought to her. It was said to her that it would arrive that same day, and she was impatient for it.
"Your Highness, you are not listening to me," said the secretary.
"I am very sorry; I was thinking in other matters," the princess said politely. "I have several things on my head lately. There is so much to do before the wedding."
"I understand that you have lots of work with all this, but it is important that you pay attention to what I am telling you."
"Right, it will not happen again."
While Zelda and her secretary were discussing about the distribution of the guests, one of the servants entered with a big package in their arms.
"Excuse me, Highness," the servant said, approaching the desk. "They brought this for you."
The servant placed the package on the table and left. Zelda hurried to unwrap the package and took out a narrow case. She opened the case and observed its contents. The result was better than she had imagined.
"Is this…?" the secretary asked, leaving the question in the air while observing the interior of the box.
"Yes," Zelda replied with a grin.
"It's splendid," the man said, awed.
"You wanted to see me, Highness?" Link said while entering Zelda's study.
The secretary had left several minutes ago. When he left, Zelda had hurried to call for Link.
"Sit, please," Zelda said, motioning the chair in front of her. "Since the day Midna left, I have wanted to thank you in some way for everything you have done for Hyrule and me."
"You do not have to do anything to thank me, princess," he replied. "You have already given me a place to live and a job which I enjoy very much."
"Even so, I wanted to offer you something more, give you a gift for all your effort and dedication. After months of thinking over it, I have finally found the perfect present." Zelda sported a great smile and placed the case that arrived hours before in front of him. "I am certain it will be of your liking."
"It not necessary for you to give me anything, Highness, really."
"Link, open it," she ordered.
The hero sighed, resigned, and placed his hands over the case. When he opened it, he couldn't help being surprised and awed at seeing what was inside. In the interior of the case was a magnificent sword, and besides it, a beautifully decorated sheath. It looked like a replica of the Master Sword, the only differences were that the handle was silver with red leather ribbons around the pommel, and it also didn't have the Triforce engraved on its blade.
He barely took a few seconds to put his left hand in the case and lift the sword in front of him. He moved away from the desk, positioned himself in the middle of the room— where there was no furniture around— and made some maneuvers, testing it. Zelda observed how his eyes shone with happiness and how he smiled contently. She couldn't help but smile too.
"I see that it is to your liking," Zelda said when Link finally lowered the sword.
"It is magnificent," he replied, passing a bare hand over the blade, noticing the touch of steel. "The size and weight are practically identical to those of the Master Sword, and it is perfectly balanced as well. I missed having a sword like this in my hand."
"There were many blueprints and documents that spoke of the Master Sword in the castle," she said, standing from her seat and approaching him. "I only had to compile the information in them and give it to the blacksmith to forge it."
"I know I said before that you needn't give me anything," Link said, embarrassed. "But I am very thankful for this gift. It is the best you could have given me."
Zelda smiled.
Link approached the desk again and took out the sheath from the case. Holding it with the right hand, he put the sword in it and observed, awed.
"I hope that you will carry it for now on, Link," Zelda told him. "A hero like you must carry with them the best of swords."
"Of course I will, Zelda," he said with a kind smile, without straying his gaze from the sword. "I could not depart from a gift like this."
"I would also like you to wear it during the ball. Although, due to the clothes you will be wearing, you will have to wear it on your waist. I hope it will not be uncomfortable for you."
"There will be no problem."
"There is one thing I have been curious about for a while," the princes said, approaching Link again. "How does it feel to draw the Master Sword? What did you feel when your hands touched it for the first time?"
He turned towards her after setting his new sword over the table and remained thoughtful for a few instances.
"It is something difficult to explain," he said while looking at his left hand, its palm open, facing upward. "The first time I touched it, just before taking it from its pedestal, I noticed how a current traveled my whole body. When I took her and raised her above my head, all the power with which she was imbued penetrated through my hand." He closed his hand tightly. "I felt powerful, invincible even."
"Certainly it is not very far from reality," Zelda said, placing her right hand on his closed fist. "Taking up that sword, you have come victorious from all of your battles."
Link smiled. A certain nostalgia could be seen reflected in his eyes. He opened his hand and gently took the princess's hand. Zelda could feel the warmth in the back of her hand; her Triforce mark was reacting with his. Link squeezed his hand with hers and the marks began to shine with strength. Zelda gazed at him, but he kept looking at their hands.
"It is strange," Link said in an absent manner. "Since I have awareness, this mark has always been there. However, I never gave it importance before." He let go of Zelda's hand and lifted it to eye level, staring at the back. The mark had started to dim. "And so it happens now that it makes me the bearer of something that is even more powerful than the Master Sword."
Zelda placed her hand with his again, intertwining their fingers. The marks began to glow again with intensity. She looked at him at the eyes and he returned the look. They were eyes full of purity, without malice. Zelda had to thank the goddesses' infinite times for sending her a pure-hearted hero like him. The living proof that, even in the most difficult of times, hope should never be lost.
The morning of the celebration, Zelda woke up earlier than usual. She had to make sure that everything was perfect, supervise each and every one of the preparations. Given that she had to be from one place to another, she had opted to don a simple short-sleeved dress that reached past her knees and some flat, comfortable shoes. She also had chosen not to braid her hair, which she would have to do later, when the time came to groom.
At this moment, she was found observing how the servants placed the tables and the chairs for the dinner. There were three tables in the middle of the room, forming a U. The two from the extremes were much larger than the main table, the one that joined the other two. Zelda and Link would be in the center of the main table, facing the rest of the guests, and the members of the council would be at both sides from them. The rest of the guests would be in the other two tables.
After verifying that everything was right in the dining room, Zelda headed towards the ball room. There, not only would the ball be celebrated after the dinner, but also it would be the reception for the guests. The servants strived to place decorations for the occasion. A luxurious blue carpet went from the room's entrance to the podium, where a chair was placed alongside Zelda's for Link.
In that moment, Zelda realized that she still hadn't seen Link, and she needed him to help her with the preparations. Today the hero had the day off, so he didn't have training with the recruits. Normally during these days, he would walk around the castle in search of something to do, but she still hadn't bump into him. The princess left the room and looked for any servant or guard that were hanging around there.
"Pardon me, have you seen Sir Link?" she asked a patrolling guard.
"No, your Highness," the guard said after a bow. "The captain tends to sleep in on his day off; he might still be sleeping."
"Thank you."
She walked swiftly towards Link's room and called at his door. There was no response. She called again but no one answered. She opened the door and peeked her head in. Indeed, Link was still in bed, sleeping. Despite the lack of light, she could see his bulk formed beneath the sheets and his blond hair over the pillow. She entered the room and closed the door behind her. She walked towards the bed and leaned over him, who was turned towards the other way.
"Link, it is time to wake up," the princess said while shaking him a bit by the arm, but he didn't respond. "Link!"
The only response she received was a groan.
Seeing her success, Zelda went around the bed and headed towards the window that was at the other side. She opened the heavy and thick curtains to let the light in. She turned towards him and saw that he had covered himself up to his head with the sheets, fleeing from the light. Zelda moved towards Link again, grabbed the sheets and pulled them off completely, leaving the young hero in the open, who then hurried to put his head under the pillow. Zelda was happy to discover that he only wore pants to sleep.
"Link, wake up now," she ordered while taking away his pillow.
"Eh, give that back!" he exclaimed, extending the arm, covering his eyes with the other as he tried to retrieve it.
"Good morning," Zelda said with a smile.
"Highness!" he said as he uncovered his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Do you not think it is time to wake up, Link?"
The hero sat up, sitting on the bed with his legs crossed, while he yawned and rubbed his eyes with his hands.
"It is my day off, Highness," he replied while scratching the back of his head, trying to keep his eyes open. "And it is the only day in which I can sleep in."
"Oh, I did not know that our great hero was such a lazy person," Zelda said in a fun tone.
"I am not lazy," he said, looking the other way, bothered. "I simply like to enjoy my hours of sleep."
Zelda threw the pillow at his face, but he managed to catch it before it hit him. It seemed that even when he was sleepy he still had good reflexes.
"Come and dress. I need you to help me with the preparations."
Link huffed but rose from the bed and headed towards the dresser to get clothes, while stretching, shaking himself awake. Zelda observed how the muscles of his back moved underneath his skin. She bit her bottom lip while contemplating that tempting sight. How can a timid and formal man such as Link make her heart beat so rapidly and rise the whole temperature of her body with such a normal gesture like that? Well, the fact that he was half naked helped a lot.
The servants had already placed the mantels, the plates and the cutlery on the table by the time Zelda and Link entered the dining room.
"What do you think?" the princess asked. "Is everything of your liking?"
Link glanced around everything in the dining room and frowned.
"I suppose so," he said hesitantly.
"Oh, come now, Link. Be a bit more collaborative. When we marry, you will have to help me with these kind of preparations."
"I know," he said somewhat sheepish. "But this type of thing is not something I had necessarily worried for; I have never given them much importance."
Zelda smiled at his sincerity.
"I suppose that you will get used to it with time and will learn all that is necessary."
He nodded.
While Zelda explained to him all that he needed to know about preparations, they headed towards the table to see how all was going.
"Seriously?" Link said, staring horrified at the table.
"What is wrong?" she asked.
"Is all this necessary?" Link asked, waving to the tableware.
Zelda looked at the table. At the right of the plate were three different knives and a spoon, three forks at the left, a small spoon and fork in front of the plate, and at the left of these, a small plate with another knife. She looked again at Link and saw his face of horror at seeing the servants place three more cups for each guest. The princess laughed and he looked at her with reproach.
"I am sorry," she apologized while a giggle. "I did not remember that you have never attended to an official dinner. Although this is something that should have been taught when you arrived at the castle."
"It was. But since it is not something I have put to practice, I have already forgotten it."
"Well then, sit down and I will show you what each one is used for."
Link sighed, but proceeded to sit where she indicated him without saying a word.
"The cutlery that are nearest to the plate are for the salad." The princess indicated while gesturing at the cutlery. "The ones in the middle are for meat and the exterior ones are for fish. Of course, the spoon is for the soup. Then we have this spoon and this tiny fork that are for dessert, and the small plate and knife that is here at the left are for bread. The cups are, from left to right, for water, wine, and white wine. Will you remember?"
The hero looked at her a bit uncertain but finally nodded. She smiled.
"Remember, Link, that I will be at your side. Have me know whatever doubt you may have."
"I should have stayed in bed a while more," he said while rising from the chair.
The princess laughed at that and couldn't help give him a small hug. She knew how little Link liked these social meetings. Up until now he had tolerated them because he attended as a guardian and had to maintain himself at certain distance from all that. But this time was different; he had to be sitting among all the nobles, presiding the table along with her. Zelda felt pity. It was going to be a very long night for him.
Zelda and Link were waiting in a small chamber continuous to the ballroom for everything to be ready and prepared to enter and receive the guests. They were already dressed and groomed for the occasion and, although it was very shameless of her part, the princess couldn't avert her gaze from her fiancé. Link was incredibly handsome. The set that the jacket, shirt, pants, boots and earrings made gave him a very elegant air and, to make things more difficult for her, he had groomed and tied his hair in a small, low ponytail. In the end, he had opted not to tie anything on his neck, what's more, he had not fastened the first button of his shirt, giving Zelda a tempting view of his neck and part of his clavicle. From her part, the princess wore a purple and white dress, with a slightly low neckline and most of her back uncovered. As a finishing touch, she had opted for elbow-length gloves, which she had taken off while they waited.
"You seem restless."
Link was standing, with his back on the wall, but was constantly shifting the weight of his body from one side to the other.
"I do not like this."
"I know, Link. I know how much you do not like these reunions," Zelda said with a smile. "I do not like them either, but it is something I must do."
"Yes, I understand, but I still do not like them."
Zelda giggled and approached him.
"What happens if I do something wrong and embarrass you?" he asked once she was in front of him.
"Nothing you do can embarrass me, Link," she replied, placing her hand over his cheek. "To me, you are perfect, and nothing is going to change that."
Almost without thinking, Zelda lowered her hand onto his neck, caressing and staring at him. She wanted to kiss him, to kiss that scar on his neck that peeked from beneath his clothes. But before she could do anything, Link kissed her. It was a longer and sweeter kiss than the others he had given her. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her towards him, and his left hand softly touched her bare back.
He had caught her off guard. That was not proper of him, was not proper of someone so timid. Zelda noted how her legs began to fail, having to grab on to him. When he moved away from her, he whispered a "Thank you" to her ear.
She felt somewhat disappointed; he had only done so in gratitude.
"You are a cruel man," she whispered, averting her gaze, blushing.
He restrained a laugh in response at that affirmation while holding her tightly.
The reception of the guests passed by in a normal manner, without incident. It was evident that some of the guests had come with the intention of recriminating the princess for her election, Zelda could see it in their looks. But it seemed that the serious and feral gaze of the hero, and the fact that his sword was leaning on his chair, very close to his hand, was sufficiently intimidating for them to lower their gaze and keep their mouth shut.
"Duke Stain and family," the majordomo announced.
The duke approached her stage, along with his wife and daughter. Phillias Stain was a man of about forty and some years, tall, robust, and always with a smile on his face. Within the noble class, Duke Stain was famous for his honesty and the closeness and kindness which he treated his subjects with. Eileen, his daughter, didn't stand out precisely for her beauty, but for being a refined, sweet, and timid girl. Unfortunately, his wife Elinor, was a haughty and arrogant woman who enjoyed humiliating and looking down at others.
"Welcome, Duke Stain," Zelda said in a cordial and polite tone. "It is a pleasure to have you here at court with you and your family's presence."
"The pleasure is ours, Highness," the duke replied with a great bow, followed by that of his graceful daughter and his constrained wife. "I have been waiting impatiently for a while to meet our hero in person," he said, looking at Link with a sincere smile and offering his hand to shake.
Link looked at Zelda somewhat confused; it seemed he had not expected that gesture from the noble's part. She simply smiled and nodded lightly. Link stood from his seat and came down the podium to return the greeting.
"A strong young man, no doubt," said the duke while shaking hands. "I have to thank you for all you have done for this kingdom."
"You do not have to thank me, duke Stain," Link replied timidly. "I only carried out my duty."
"He is also modest." The duke laughed. "You have chosen well, Highness."
Zelda had observed the duchess's face of repulsion at seeing her husband shake hands with Link. How she hated that woman! She was the same or worse than her son. The princess would never understand how an honest and open man like the duke tolerated such a woman like that.
Link climbed the podium again and sat in his spot.
"I see that your son does not accompany you, Duke Stain," the princess said, dissimulating the happiness caused by that absence. "Nothing has occurred to him, yes?" she asked, feigning concern.
The duke's gaze hardened a little and turned serious, but soon recovered his jubilant mood as always.
"Your concern for my son flatters me, but it is not necessary of you to do so," he said with a smile, although it seemed something forced. "Wallace and I had had a small argument and I believed it convenient for him to stay at home until his head cools off. Nothing important."
There was something else in all that, Zelda perceived. The duke seemed somewhat tense, his wife was clearly irritated and his daughter looked a bit spooked. It was evident that the argument between Lord Wallace and his father had been more important than what the duke had wanted them to believe.
The rest of the reception and dinner had passed with relative normality. Even though the majority of the nobles with reproaches had been sufficiently intimidated as to not voice their opinion about the engagement, there still were some brave enough (or stupid according to the princess's opinion) to show their serpentine tongues and honor them with acidic words. Luckily, Link was prepared for that. Those who dared to say something against the young hero had fled with their tails between their legs at seeing his hand over the pommel of his sword while the most menacing glare they've ever seen was fixed upon them. Needless to say that none of them approached him again during the whole evening.
After finishing dinner, everyone returned to the room where the ball would be celebrated. While some guests danced in the middle of the room, others chatted animatedly on the sides. Zelda was seated high in her stage and Link spoke nearby with Duke Stain. Apparently, and to the duchess's dismay, both had established a friendship during dinner and seemed to get along well.
After saying goodbye to the duke with a bow of his head, Link approached the princess and offered his hand.
"Will you honor me with a dance, Highness?" he asked with a smile.
At first, Zelda looked at him weirdly, but finally grinned and accepted. They walked towards the middle of the dance floor where they began to dance, while the rest parted way for them.
"I thought you were reluctant for this kind of things, Link."
"Duke Stain suggested that I take you out for a dance before people start thinking things are not going well between us."
Zelda giggled.
"The duke is a wise man," Zelda said.
"I find it strange that someone of his category is so friendly towards me," Link said with a worried face. "Even more taking into consideration what happened with his son."
"Duke Stain is a good man. My father and him were good friends. Unfortunately, his son takes from the duchess."
In that moment, an uproar resounded in the room. All of the invitees turned towards its origin. Someone had opened the room's door forcefully. Lord Wallace Stain had entered the room without prior notice. It seemed some guards and servants had tried to stop him, but he had managed to slip by them. He began to search for something with his gaze until it fixed on the princess and her fiancé. He walked towards them swiftly, drawing his sword, and pointed at Link with it once he was at a short distance. The people, terrified, hurried to scatter and get away.
During that time, Link had grabbed Zelda by the waist, pulling her towards him in a protective attitude. The princess noticed how his grip intensified. She looked at him and saw his eyes harden and glow with fury.
"What the blazes are you doing, Wallace?" Duke Stain questioned, advancing towards his son.
"Stay out of this, father," he said, his gaze never straying from Link. "Someone that let's himself be humiliated in this manner does not have the right to recriminate me."
"Wallace!"
"How can you be in favor of such humiliation?" he asked the rest of the nobles. "It is a lack of respect towards us, nobles, that a repugnant goat herder marry the princess and into royalty."
Murmurs of approval could be heard along the room. Link stepped forward to speak, but Zelda stopped him. She grabbed him by the arm and walked in front of him.
"Zelda," Link murmured, but she raised her arm, indicating him to be quiet.
"Did you think that you can get away with this, Lord Wallace?" Zelda asked with visible anger. "My duty as a princess is not to satisfy the wishes and whims of you nobles! My duty is to protect my people and do what is more convenient for them, and to obtain that, I need someone like Link at my side."
"Is it because I said you needed a strong man by your side, Highness?" Lord Wallace asked full of fury, still pointing at Link with his sword. "Is it because of the result of our duel? Then I refuse to accept the outcome. I want a rematch!"
"No!" Zelda exclaimed. "Link defeated you in a fair match. There is no second chance. Furthermore, the outcome of your duel does not have anything to do with this engagement."
"What?"
"Do you not see?" the princess asked with a satisfied grin. "The engagement had been agreed to for two weeks and approved by the council. It simply had not been made public then."
For a moment, Lord Wallace lowered his sword in shock, but soon recovered and pointed at the hero with it again with more hatred than before. Zelda was about to yell at him, but, before she could do anything, she felt Link's hand on her shoulder, stopping her.
"Wait, Highness," Link said, walking in from of her. "I accept the challenge."
"But Link…"
Zelda couldn't say any more. Link took off his jacket and asked her to hold it. He approached the lord while unsheathing the blade that the princess had given him days before. From his part, Lord Wallace finally lowered his sword and positioned himself in a striking stance.
"You should know, Lord Wallace, that I do not plan to go easy this time."
Link remained still, with the tip of his sword pointing at the floor, waiting for his rival to take the first step. The guests left free space for the fight, creating a circle around both.
As expected, Wallace was the first to attack. He lunged at Link with great speed, putting all his strength in his attack. Link dodged him. The lord recovered quickly and attacked again, but his attack was blocked by his rival's sword with much ease. Link pushed hard, making Lord Wallace retreat and move away from him.
"You have improved, my lord, but I have confronted several more powerful enemies than you. You will need something else if you really want to defeat me."
Lord Wallace grunted with fury, and, once again, lunged at the young hero with speed.
The combat dragged on for several minutes. During that time, Link's superiority became more than evident to every spectator. The boy dodged and blocked all the lord's attacks with extreme easiness, and his perfectly calculated attacks always hit their target. It was clear that he limited his play with him, always attacking spots in which he knew would not cause major damage, but they were areas that would tire the lord until he was left exhausted.
Zelda could see on Link's face something she had seen only a few times, something that showed itself when he was fighting seriously. He had a smirk adorning his face, a smile full of pride and confidence in himself, up to the point to which it could be called an arrogant smile. But she liked it. That smirk accompanied by those eyes full of light caused an attraction in her that was difficult to resist, although it wasn't something she wanted to resist precisely.
Finally, after dodging one of the attacks, Link hit the lord's side with the pommel of his sword, making him fall to the floor. He turned swiftly, and, before his enemy could have time to react, placed the tip of his blade at scarce millimeters from Lord Wallace's neck.
Lord Wallace did not move, remaining seated on the floor, and observing Link with a mixture of fear and humiliation etched on his face. His heavy and quick breathing resounded throughout the room, which had remained in silence during the fight because no one had dared to say anything. It was evident that he was tired, unlike Link, who barely broke a sweat.
"The fight is over," Link said while he sheathed his sword and turned to return with the princess.
"Wait!" the lord said after recovering his breath. "I will never accept this. I will never accept that you are the chosen one."
"You doubt my word, Lord Wallace?" Zelda asked, irritated.
"Until I see proof, I will never believe."
Link turned towards the lord; advanced towards him in a slow stride and crouched to his level. His expression was serious and serene.
"You know of the legend of the Triforce, correct?" the young hero asked.
"Of course I do. Everybody knows of it," he replied furiously. "I don't know what it has to do with this."
"You will know soon. If you know the legend, you will also know that it was divided into three pieces a while back. The Triforce of Power fell into Ganondorf's hands and Wisdom has been passed in the royal family from generation to generation up until the princess. But do you know what happened to the Triforce of Courage?" Link asked after the explanation.
"Well… no one knows who has it or what happened with it. Only that it was in the hands of a hero of old."
"Lastly, you do know how bearers of the Triforce are identified, right?"
Lord Wallace remained thoughtful for a few instances before replying. He seemed rather confused with these questions. He didn't seem to know where all this was leading to, although Zelda knew all too well.
"The bearers have the mark of the Triforce on the back of their hand," he said finally.
"Then you well know what this means."
Link took off his left glove and showed Lord Wallace the back of his hand. There, the mark of the Triforce could be seen clearly. Wallace stared at the mark, then at Link, and looked at the mark again. He gulped. It seemed that was what he least expected. He had asked for proof and there he had it.
"Tha…that proves nothing." Lord Wallace said, trying to regain composure. "You could have made it yourself."
The hero sighed in defeat. He looked at the princess, pleadingly, and she nodded. She approached, crouched by him, and intertwined her right hand with his left. At that closeness between one another, both of their Triforces began to resonate, glowing. The right triangle from Link's mark shone more intensely than the others, showing everyone present that, indeed, he was the bearer of the Triforce of Courage.
The lord said nothing, still seated on the floor, staring at Link with a mixture of horror and fear.
"Seize him," Zelda ordered the guards after standing.
"What are you going to do with him, Highness?" Link asked, confused.
"The actions of my son can be considered an act of treason," Duke Stain answered for her, ashamed. "The penance for such crime goes from exile to capital punishment."
Link looked at Zelda, horrified by the duke's words. The princess could do nothing but lower her gaze at that, knowing full well that what the duke had said was totally correct. She noticed how Link placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her towards him so that she would look at him. As she did, she could see his eyes, pleading. The princess put her right hand over his cheek and caressed it gently with her thumb.
"You are too kind, Link," she told him.
"Please, Zelda," he supplicated while squeezing her hand. "I believe no one deserves such a punishment for something like this."
Other rulers had decapitated for less than that, but Link's heart was too compassionate, and Zelda was not going to leave this to fall into his conscience. She looked at Duke Stain, who had lowered his head in shame for his son's actions. She freed her hand from Link's and turned towards Lord Wallace, who was held tightly by two guards.
"You will remain in the dungeons for two weeks," she announced. "After that, I never want to see you set foot in this castle ever again. Thank Sir Link for his compassion and your father for being a man of great trust."
"Thank you, Highness," Duke Stain said with a great bow.
The guards took the lord away while the rest of the invitees murmured and gossiped among themselves.
"If someone else has something to say, this is the time." Link raised his voice for everyone to hear.
No one said a thing.
