Author's note: Nice weather means I spend too much time outside, and not enough writing! Just one more update this weekend, then I'll be all caught up for Monday's new chapter. Sorry this is a short one, but thanks for all the hits, favs, and reviews!


Chatper 9: Changing

Nabooru sat sideways in the armchair, her legs dangling over one side, her head peering upside-down at the princess while she studied the scrolls on her desk. "Goddesses, Zelda, you're so bookish. I've been coming here for what? Two years now? Three? And you still can't fight properly with a scimitar, but you know Gerudo history better than I do!" the Gerudo woman laughed. "At this rate, you'll be sent off to the Desert Colossus to become a priestess!"

"Your next visit will be three years precisely." Zelda put away the scroll she had been reading. "Need I remind you that I hold the triforce of wisdom? I'm supposed to be bookish!" The girl crossed her arms and made a face.

Nabooru laughed again. "Looks like your mood swings are getting the better of you." The Gerudo winked at the princess, who uncrossed her arms and rubbed her temples with her fingertips.

"This is unbelievably frustrating. I went through puberty once already, I really don't appreciate doing so again." Nabooru snorted lightly. "I know, I know. I must reap what I have sown." The princess sighed. "Training, then?" She stood and stretched lightly. "I think I could use some exercise." She stepped out from behind the oversized desk.

Nabooru slapped her on the back and led her towards the door. "Now that's the Gerudo spirit!"

Zelda couldn't help but smile.

***

Clad once again in breeches and a tunic, Zelda made her way into the training armory. She flashed a quick smile at the attending guards, who bowed deeply as soon as they recognized her. They stepped aside and motioned her into the room, which was filled with racks upon racks of training swords. She ran her fingertips along their hilts, before stopping at a rack of wooden swords and pulling out two that were the equivalent of longswords. She hefted the pair and nodded with satisfaction. With a spring in her step, she exited the other end of the room onto the training field.

Nabooru was leaning against a pillar as she watched a group of young men go through the motions of a training exercise. Zelda recognized the patterns on their tunics marking them as Hylian Knights in training.

"Not a bad group to share the grounds with, are they?" The Gerudo woman gestured with her chin towards one of the more attractive trainees.

The princess blushed lightly, "Let us just hope they keep to themselves. I do not need any distractions, especially today."

Nabooru shook her head and pulled out twin practice scimitars, the blades dulled to a rounded edge. "Okay then, Princess. Are you ready for that second blade?"

With a slight frown, Zelda passed the wooden blades between her hands, gripping the hilts. She stepped onto the grass and shifted into a ready stance. "I suppose it does not matter much, if I am ready or not."

Nabooru chuckled, "Agreed. Either way, here I come!"

The Gerudo Chief leapt forward, one scimitar over her head, the other out to the side. She swung both weapons towards Zelda as she landed. The princess sidestepped, avoiding the vertical slice, and jutted her right arm out, blocking the horizontal blade.

Nabooru took a step backward, lowering her weapons. "That's good, but remember, you have two swords there, use them!" She brought her blades up in demonstration. "Instead of dodging, put that second weapon to use. Let's try that again. I'll go slower this time." Zelda nodded and the Gerudo woman stepped forward, again bringing her dulled scimitars in for an attack.

Zelda started to shuffle her feet out of instinct, but stopped herself and braced her feet against the ground. She swung the blades around, catching one against the hilt of her right-hand weapon. She quickly brought her left hand around in a circle, sweeping Nabooru's second blade to the side before it could strike. The older woman stepped back with a smile.

"Great! Now you're thinking with both hands. I'm going to speed things up again, but try to stick to parries and blocks, instead of dodging. Fight like a Gerudo, not a Sheikah!"

They both grinned at that, setting themselves back into a fighting stance. As the pair fought, the regiment on the far side of the field disbanded, slowly finding their way back indoors. One of the shorter boys ruffled his shaggy blonde hair and made his way towards the Princess. Nabooru kept one eye on the approaching figure as she ceased her offensive and began blocking Zelda's attacks. The boy looked irritatingly familiar.

"Hey Zel!"

At the sound of the familiar voice, Princess Zelda gasped and spun too quickly as she swung her blade. She began to topple backwards, when Link's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him. The two stood, their bodies scant inches apart, and stared into each other's eyes. A loud, forced cough broke into their daydream, and the pair hurriedly stepped apart, cheeks reddening. Zelda stared pointedly at the ground near her feet, and nervously rubbed her forearm.

"I'm going to go get cleaned up. I think we're done with training for the day." Nabooru threw the pair a mock salute before sauntering off, leaving them alone on the training field.

Zelda was the first to gather her wits and speak. "It is good to see you again, Link! It has been at least three weeks, and I have missed you dearly!"

"Yeah, sorry about that, the King has had me in school all day, and training in the evenings... I haven't had time for anything but sleep!"

"School! That's wonderful, Link!" She cocked her head to the side. "Wait, training?"

"I guess they didn't tell you, I'm a Junior Hylian Knight!" He puffed his chest out, emphasizing the knight's crest on his tunic.

"But you're only thirteen!"

Link's cheeks reddened again and he scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, your father said something about having proven myself when I cleared out the Dodongo's Cavern and Lord Jabu-jabu last year."

"Well, you certainly have earned it! And now there can be no question as to the validity of your living in the castle!"

He frowned slightly. "About that... I've been moved into the soldiers' barracks, so I'm not technically living in the castle anymore."

"Oh..." The young princess looked crestfallen. "Perhaps we can meet for afternoon tea?"

Link grinned. "I'd like that. It'd be a nice break after class lets out."

Zelda nodded decisively. "It's a date then."

The Hero blushed furiously, certain that he would be able to glow in the dark. The princess giggled.