Chapter 14: A taste of love
A knock on his door forced Link to wake up, what he considered, far too early. At first he couldn't even make out what was up or down, or if he was dreaming or awake. With blinking eyes he stumbled out of bed, groaning "just a sec", before he hissed a curse as he staggered into the chair he threw his clothes over last night.
Pulling on his white pants, undershirt and green tunic all at once he almost tripped into the door. He opened it with his hair in a mess and peered at the person outside through half-closed eyes. As the blurriness disappeared Zelda came into view and his eyes shot open in horror.
Her eyes shifted away from him in embarrassment, although she had probably gotten a good look of his sloppy clothing, and he didn't call it sloppy just because he missed his belt, boots and hat.
"I'm sorry, if I woke you", she mumbled. If? She must have expected him to be asleep. During the many years they had known each other, had he ever woken up early? And what sane person would be up when Zelda was anyway?
"No, no… no problem" he slurred. "Just give me a minute…"
He closed the door and she remained outside, trying to ignore the sounds of tripping and drawers being pulled out that broke the silence.
"So what did you want?" Link asked as he pulled the door open in a hurry, properly dressed and with his hair in as much order it could be, and leant against the doorframe. He aimed a smile at her, still with a denseness in his eyes that revealed he wasn't quite awake yet.
"I was wondering if you could come down to the living room with me… I just needed some… company."
How typical of her. Something was definitely wrong, he could tell. The way she refused to look at him, the sad glimmer in her eyes, even her pointy ears drooped a bit. Still, he knew, she would not say what troubled her or that something even did.
"Did you have a nightmare again?" he asked, watching her with concern. She did have nightmares disturbingly often, not anything pleasant combined with the fact that you also had prophetic dreams at times.
"No", she said and almost pulled off a smile, well, someone else other than him might have bought it.
"Something's wrong", he said and put an arm around her as they walked down the stairs.
"It is nothing. I… did not want to be alone. That is all."
That he cared was enough comfort for her. If a heavy feeling fell over you for no good reason and draped itself around you so that there were no escape, then why complain to others? His earnest concern, not even knowing what little things troubled her, already made her feel better. At the end of the stairs she walked away so that his arm fell from her shoulder to his side. She stopped in the middle of the open space in front of the doors leading to the garden. He walked up to her, not masking his worry, not wanting her to stand alone in all that emptiness.
"Whatever makes you this gloomy I'll make it better", he told her and Zelda somehow felt that he really could and she closed her eyes as the last of her troubles were washed away by the safeness Link put in their place. To have someone to trust and share your thoughts with was one of the most beautiful things she had ever had the luck to experience.
"I guess I miss Hyrule", she admitted softly and opened her eyes to meet his. He gently took a hold of her upper arms and pulled her closer towards him.
"You should be there, Zelda, in your garden", he told her affectionately. It didn't matter that he himself always wanted her close. She should never have come here.
"Yes… you remember, don't you? The flowers blooming in the courtyard", she answered with a hint of longing in her voice and closed her eyes again. She could see her garden clearly as she did so, a sacred place within the castle walls. No wind could reach her beloved hiding place but sunshine shone down to free her from the darkness of the castle and rain fell down to wash away any misery, if so only for a short moment.
Link closed his eyes too and in their minds they were at the same place. The connection that tied them together seemed to be present in the air around them.
"You would kiss the petals and breathe in the flowers' scent", Link murmured.
"And you would stay at the entrance till I notice you", she answered, a smile spreading over her lips.
"Do you want me to take you home?"
Both opened their eyes. Zelda felt torn. It felt like so long ago she saw the vast fields of Hyrule but what would happen to this competition if she left? What about Link and all the new friends she had made here?
"No", she said sadly. She looked away and he bit his bottom lip. None said a word but he wouldn't let go of her yet.
"Close your eyes again", he told her. "Let's go back to Hyrule for just a short moment."
She did as she was told and again she could see the two of them in her beloved courtyard. Link's expression softened as he watched her relaxed face. He leant closer to her face, for a second considering kissing her, but thoughts of the consequences held him back. Instead he softly began to hum a slow tune. Zelda sighed contently as the familiar song made Hyrule become more alive around her.
"This reminds me of us", she whispered.
She loved how Link who could be so hasty and loud turned this gentle and careful when with her. Had anyone other than she ever heard him sing? His tone was such a harmonious one that none would have been able to guess it was his when you heard him speak.
She let her soprano voice become part of the song. Their voices blended, hers soaring towards the sky, his a safe support underneath. No words were needed as they brought Hyrule to them.
As Marth walked down the stairs the sound of someone singing reached him. It was something about it that made him stop and listen to it. The beauty of the song turned all that had seemed dreadfully monotone into beauty and was filled with such emotion that time seized to exist as the prince stayed to listen.
Marth forced himself to walk down the rest of the stairs. He turned to the left and saw Link and Zelda in front of the double glass doors leading to the garden. The sun had risen over the horizon to color the room in red, orange and yellow colors and surround the two Hylians with an illuminating yet soft light. Her hands were resting on his chest and he held a gentle grip around her arms, right above her elbows. Both kept their eyes closed as they sang, unaware of the world around them.
The prince felt taken aback by the lovely scene. He had never seen Link this tender or Zelda so serene. Zelda had never had an expression like that when she was with him, or anyone else for the matter.
He shook his head. He despised people who intruded so what right did that give him then when it came to her? Maybe it would be for the best to stay away from Zelda? Even though he had told her he would give it his all to stay.
Hyrule must be beautiful, My Princess, Marth thought as he walked back up the stairs. Please, say that it's your beautiful Hyrule that gives you that expression and not the man in front of you.
"Ah! What a hot day. Isn't the sunshine delightful?" Peach asked later the same day as she fanned herself with one of her hands. She strode down the street towards the mall, paying little attention to the colorful things at display in the shop-windows.
"I can't see the sun!" Link complained from behind the mountain of Peach's latest purchases that he had been forced to carry.
Peach made a loud sigh but didn't answer him. Then she noticed that she once again was alone taking the lead and looked over her shoulder to see just what she had expected. She stopped walking, waiting impatiently for Marth, Zelda and Link to catch up.
Ever since morning Peach had felt so incredibly happy that walking wasn't enough to get rid of all the energy bubbling inside of her. She wanted to break into a run and let the joy take over her, but she couldn't, not in the crowded city, and not when in such slow company.
If Zelda was full of excitement and joy she did not show it. She was walking at a normal pace and Marth gentlemanly adjusted his pace to hers so that he could walk beside her, although he hadn't said a word yet. To Zelda's left Link was dragging his feet, trying his best not to let Peach's treatment of him, or Marth walking next to Zelda, get the best of him.
Little did Link or Peach know that Marth and Zelda were too busy enjoying each other's silent company, walking in complete harmony and with the other's form at the brink of their vision, to hear anything of what Link or Peach said.
Peach smiled at how the prince and the princess seemed to be at such ease next to each other. If she could just get Link out of the picture everything would be perfect.
"How come you haven't bought anything yet?" Peach asked Zelda as she squeezed herself in-between her and Link, who almost dropped a few packages.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you say something Peach?" Zelda asked as she awoke from her thoughts.
"Why haven't you bought anything yet?" Peach repeated.
"Why have you bought the whole city?" Link muttered as he tried to cram Peach between him and Zelda so that she would be forced to take a step back, meaning he could walk next to Zelda again.
"But we bought plenty last time and I simply don't need anything else", Zelda answered with a nervous smile while Peach elbowed Link, thinking that he gave a lady way too little space.
"Don't forget that you need a new dress", Peach reminded Zelda and after their eyes met she directed her gaze to Marth and then back again. Zelda thought Peach was being a bit too obvious about her motives for this little shopping trip, but if Marth or Link suspected anything they did not show it, although Link threw suspicious glances in Marth's direction every now and then.
"Oh", Peach gasped, finally spotting the entrance to the mall and quickened her pace.
"There she goes again", Zelda said with and amused smile and turned to Link, whose face she couldn't see so she turned to Marth instead. He nodded. If he was trying to look interested, highly doubted, he failed miserably.
"Do you want me to help you carry anything?" Zelda asked Link after a few more seconds of silence. That was a blow to the hero's pride. A lady shouldn't help the guy carry stuff. It was the other way around, and he really didn't want to look weak in front of her.
"This is nothing! You know you just need to tell me if I should carry something for you", he replied with a wide grin she couldn't see.
Marth, who had been glaring at Link, thinking how dreadfully, terribly, horribly awful it would be if Link let a lady carry such heavy things, put on his blank expression again. Truth to be told, the prince hadn't been keen on coming along since he had accidentally walked in on the Hylians' little song session. But he had promised so there really wasn't any way out of it. To his great annoyance he found that he was quite enjoying himself just walking next to Zelda, but if she had chosen that… imbecile (meaning Link) to be her one and only he wasn't sure he felt like acquainting her.
After entering a rather fancy clothing store, where everything seemed to be cream colored and the floor so clean that you could almost make out a blurry reflection of yourself, Link immediately got rid of all the things he carried. Dumping them on a very pretty line of chairs, naturally with cream colored cushions, he then made sure to keep close to Zelda. Not only did he want to stay close because of it being a great joy to him, she also made him feel more at ease in an area he felt very unsuited for.
Although Link didn't trust his own taste all that well he did his best to help out choosing a proper dress for Zelda, something Peach did not appreciate. She had promised herself that she would let Zelda choose her company for herself, but still, after setting up this great chance for Zelda and Marth to grow closer it took a turn for the worse like this?
"Excuse me, Link", Peach said with a voice dripping of honey, trying her best to be nice. "Why are you not guarding my things?"
"You can watch them yourself", he snorted to then put a wide grin back on as he turned back to Zelda, showing her a horrible, green dress. While Zelda was doubtfully watching the dress, trying to think of a compliment, Peach sulkily glanced at all her things lying unguarded over three chairs. Not even in a high class store like this could you be safe from thieves and when Link had agreed to take care of her things, surely he could just not leave them like that!
"You said you would take care of my things", she reminded him, even being bold enough to put a hand on his shoulder to turn him around to look her in the eyes.
"Like I had a choice", Link shot back, twisting away from her. "Besides, I'm busy helping out here!"
That ought to silence her.
"Well, your taste is horrible."
Bam. That was not fair. He knew he did have the best sense of fashion around but at least he had tried to help despite that. How cruel wasn't it then to point it out when he had made such an effort not to do anything wrong.
Marth had since long left the group and was aimlessly walking around the store. A clerk came up to him, with one of those fake smiles he loathed. At least her cream colored uniform with a fancy little jacket, not a wrinkle in sight, gave a professional impression.
"Can I help you, Sir?" she asked as her smile, how he did not know, widened. Her red lipstick did not match the rest of her well, Marth thought, the conclusion being that she must have a horrifying taste.
She did appear rather startled when her customer gave her a stare that made her blood run cold. But since she worked in such a prestigious store she was used to rich people, and how to approach them. She nodded and was gone the next second.
Marth was satisfied. That was a good thing about shops like these. People knew how to treat their superiors and he was very pleased with the service.
He glanced over at his companions as he in a bored fashion browsed through a couple of dresses on (cream colored) hangers. Princess Peach, whom he had nothing against but whose fawning behaviour he was used to from other nobles and therefore was not affected by, interested him little. She was talking to another clerk, pointing at a familiar mountain of purchases. The imbecile was meanwhile busy holding up, was it really three, dresses at once for Zelda.
The Princess politely shook her head and before you had the time to blink he was holding up a new dress. Marth sighed and shook his head. Definitely not choosing with any care, and what choices then! Princess Zelda's future could not have much in store if she really was in a relationship with that.
But why would she? Yes, now when he actually thought about it none had confirmed that Link and Zelda were a couple. It didn't necessarily have to have been a date they went on, and even if it were, what did one date matter? He had promised himself, and told her, that he wanted to be with her. Perhaps he hadn't in a very easy-to-interpret-way, but at least something along those lines. He turned his attention back to the dresses, they had picked him for his extraordinary good taste after all. He couldn't believe that an acceptable dress happened to be what he laid eyes on as he did so.
Now was the time to make an effort and try his best to be as amiable as possible. He could do it.
"How about this one?" Link asked eagerly, showing Zelda a turquoise dress with a very eye-catching, flowery pattern. Maybe it didn't look all that good on its hanger but Link was convinced Zelda could beautify it a hundred times by wearing it.
"Marth", Zelda greeted the prince, spotting him over Link's shoulder. Marth sidestepped around Link in a very ignorant manner and offered Zelda the dress, holding it so that it neither brushed the floor, albeit it could never dirty it, nor was wrinkled.
It didn't look like one of the more expensive dresses, even if it was. The color was such a light blue it could be mistaken for white. The sleeves were short and shaped like bluebells, made out of a transparent, thinner and darker fabric than the rest of the dress. The same kind of fabric also fell like a protecting veil over the dress, with a slit from top to bottom in the middle front.
That Marth had an outfit that would match this dress perfectly did of course not affect his choice in any way whatsoever.
"Well, what do you think?" Link asked Zelda about the turquoise dress through clamped teeth as he glared daggers at Marth and tried to get the princess's attention back. However, Zelda could not tear her eyes away from Marth, or rather the dress Marth had found. This was of course very unfair of her but fortunately Link, as always, blamed Marth.
Just as the Hylian hero was about to, very politely, shove Marth out of his way Peach showed up, taking in the marvellous sight of the astounding dress the prince still was holding up for the princesses to witness till their eyes fell out.
"It's perfect", Peach sighed and brought a hand to one of her rosy cheeks. "Absolutely marvellous, incredible! Look at that discreet pattern, still being a necessary detail for that exclusive look, and just take in the sight of the transparency of that fabric, and such a lovely, light indigo color too!"
"It's wonderful", Zelda gasped while Link behind her back tried to get rid of the dress he was still holding. It was just too embarrassing of a situation to hold on to it.
There seemed to be no end to the princess's praise, and it didn't take long for Link to get fed up with it. Here he had spent so much time and effort to please them, showing them at least a hundred dresses, and then Marth shows up with one! Yes, one single dress that doesn't even look all that fancy and the girls are completely ecstatic.
"Try it on, Zelda!" Peach urged her friend in a short break between her praises. Marth immediately put the dress over Zelda's outstretched arms, as if he had passed a person over to her whom she was to carry.
While Zelda was changing, Peach kept flattering Marth who didn't listen to a word of it. Peach was probably aware and although she wouldn't have accepted such impoliteness from anyone else she let it slip because he would be such a perfect spouse for Zelda.
Link stood a bit further away with a shopping bag in his left hand and the rest of Peach's things behind him on the chairs.
Zelda smoothened out the dress, not that there was a need, as she looked into one of the many mirrors that surrounded her. For once she was grateful for her petite form. That was the problem with what was considered the best clothing. She doubted Peach, whose waist was probably just as thin but whose body was blessed with more curves, could fit in this dress. It was almost too tight for Zelda but was other than that a perfect fit. At least she was sure she could feel comfortable when wearing it.
"It's like it was made for you!" Peach said as she clasped her hands together when Zelda stepped out in all her blue dressed glory.
Marth didn't know if he should be annoyed with Link gawking at the princess or satisfied. The hero was a splendid example of the effect good taste had. Even a tasteless imbecile could tell the difference from if she should have worn something he had picked out. Indigo with its hint of lilac suited her eyes so much better than the green you found in turquoise and the light colors complimented her paleness.
Link guessed he could live with that Marth had picked out a dress for Zelda. What did it matter when she looked so beautiful he found himself falling in love all over again? Then he caught sight of Marth eying him and closed his mouth, he hadn't even noticed it being open.
"Should I buy it?" Zelda asked and Link was the first one to ensure her that she really ought to.
"Really?" Zelda asked, not seeming to want anyone else's opinion than Link's and he gladly told her over and over how pretty it made her look till she found herself blushing, something neither Peach nor Marth approved of.
"Then it's decided", Peach said to put an end to the stream of compliments coming from Link's mouth. Zelda went to change back to her usual dress while Marth was grinding his teeth, trying to glare Link somewhere far, far, really far away.
As if Link could really mean all those nice things he said! Marth loathed people forcing their empty words upon others. How could they be truthful when he himself knew how words got stuck in your throat as you tried to give an honest compliment? It wasn't easy to point out what was most remarkable, the best, with one certain person. Anyone could say that "your hair looks lovely" or "I love that outfit". Didn't they hear just how pitiful and false it sounded?
Zelda returned once again and Marth, who had subconsciously turned to look at her, noticed Link at the brink of his vision moving in her direction. Once again he felt the resisting force as he ground his teeth behind his lips. He had said he would make an effort.
"Allow me to pay for that", Marth said as he smoothly stepped in front of Link and gently took the dress from Zelda, making sure to look deeply into her eyes. He saw her hold back a gasp, beneath those thick eyelashes seeing the will to take a step back. But he was convinced that it was not due to repulsion but because she, like him, found such closeness unnerving. Yes, he didn't like it but still it was something about the way his heart beat when standing close to her, not like that of a trapped animal, but with some sort of excitement he couldn't get enough of.
"You really don't have to", she said, batting her eyelashes while her eyes shifted away from him and back again. Perhaps she also disliked the feeling of falling down into the black depths of another's eyes?
"It's the least I can do when you kind ladies invited me", he said, flinging the dress over one arm so that he could use his other to bring her hand to his lips.
"It really is too much", Zelda said, glancing at Peach for guidance.
"Marth! You are too kind! You really don't have to", Peach joined in.
Link clenched his hands into fists as Zelda and Peach followed Marth like a tail behind him, telling him over and over how generous and thoughtful he was. Link couldn't find any of those qualities in Marth.
Peach thought that she had denied the prince's offer long enough for what politeness required and went over to flattering him instead. She had been taught that it was what you should do after humbly saying no to then accept.
Zelda was still protesting and Peach could see the slight annoyance she had seen in Marth's eyes when looking at her disappear as he turned to Zelda.
"It's the least I can do", he repeated and his lips crooked into an awkward smile. Peach felt her lips part slightly while Zelda fell silent and Marth looked away as the smile faded away.
He looked back, awaiting her response and Zelda returned his smile with affection in her eyes, looking almost as if she was on the verge of tears. Of course it was not so but to bring forth such a moved expression from her made his heart skip a beat.
"Nothing would please me more than you accepting my offer", he said, taking in her face and its, to him, astoundingly beautiful expression.
"It's too much", she mumbled but objected no longer, averting her eyes.
Link unclenched his hands while exhaling. He felt jolts of fire being sent through his body over and over with the same short pauses in-between. So hard to keep under control and yet he had to. That was the most awful thing about jealousy because he couldn't help but to think that he was walking on the edge to insanity. Succumbing to it for only a short moment would send him plummeting down into its darkness that would make him blind to everything except the deep hatred spreading like a poison within him.
Why did Marth have to show such interest in Zelda of all people? Anyone but her. He clenched and unclenched his hands to prevent himself from lashing out at Marth. It was not right, he was better than this, he told himself. Her praise for the prince, her earnest appreciation was torture to him. Yet he had to live through it because it wouldn't be right of him to act on his feelings. He had to think of the consequences instead of his own will.
Marth stared at the clerk's hands, swiftly wrapping a big ribbon around a cream colored package, after receiving the money for the dress. The prize was nothing to Marth. He was just worried that Zelda would think he tried to buy her affections. Would she think that he was greedy, or didn't care, if he didn't spend the money he had in such superfluous amounts on her, or would she think he was someone who bought his friends with his wealth if he did spend it on her? Oh, the pain fortune caused.
A hand on his shoulder awoke him from his tormenting doubts as Zelda smiled gently at him.
"Thank you."
He completely forgot about the clerk. He felt like asking Zelda to say it again, just so that he could be certain he wasn't mistaken.
"Such a loving, longing gaze. For how long have you been a couple?" the clerk asked as she held out the package for Marth. The prince gave her a look so full of detest that the clerk immediately shut her mouth and wished them a good day, after apologizing three times for her mistake. Then she had to apologize to Link too since he seemed just as upset as the prince over her mistake.
"Isn't Marth a true gentleman? Isn't he kind, Zelda?" Peach asked, walking by Zelda's side, Marth walking on her other.
"I can carry the dress", Zelda offered him after giving Peach a nod in response.
"Allow me to carry it for you, it would make me very happy", he answered with the same smoothness in his voice he had been using lately.
"A true gentleman!" Peach said and smiled at Zelda.
Behind the trio Link walked alone, carrying all of Peach's things. He was feeling so awfully humiliated. His presence had not kept Marth away from Zelda. He had been insulted and dragged along like a slave. He bit his bottom lip and adjusted his grip around his heavy burden, at the same time freed from the sight of Zelda walking next to Marth, in the same gliding manner like a king and queen on their way to their thrones.
"Zelda, don't you want to fix your hair to fit with the dress a bit better?" Peach asked.
"I haven't been to a hair salon yet", Zelda replied and Peach quickly and surprisingly easily, took all the things Link was carrying and walked away with Zelda in tow.
"We'll meet you at home", Peach called out to Marth over her shoulder, sunlight gracing her smiling face.
Both men stared after the women before they, both with deep dislike, turned to face each other. Then to Link's great surprise Marth gestured for Link to follow him. Not being one to hesitate, Link immediately went after him, even admitting that he was a bit curious.
Marth made sure they were alone before he once again laid eyes upon the face he loathed. Or perhaps he was getting ahead of himself? He didn't actually have a reason to dislike Link so it would probably be wiser to just ignore him.
Link felt the little patience he had disappear as the prince thoughtfully watched the clouds, seeming to totally have forgotten about him.
"So what did you want?" Link asked as he approached the prince who took a step back, showing he didn't want Link closer than that.
"How do you know Princess Zelda", Marth asked with some difficulty, appearing very embarrassed by his question. He even lowered his head a bit, yet managed not to look away.
Oh? So that was how it was? The little prince really did have a thing for Zelda, and now he wanted to make sure she wasn't taken? Well, wasn't that cute.
Link, always being painfully honest, felt the answer on his tongue but the earlier treatment of him held it back. He felt the familiar feeling of fire consuming him. He didn't want to tell the prince that 'no, Zelda's free, go on and take her'. He wanted to hurt him. Badly. Make sure he didn't even look at her again.
Still Link felt a smirk on his face, felt how he tossed the hair out of his face and stared down at the prince and his exposed request. He felt possessed. He could imagine the look of ridicule and mockery on his face, he could see Marth's faint hope fall.
"She isn't your…" Marth trailed of in search for a correct term. "She isn't yours, is she?"
It was such an easy question. Link knew what he had to answer and still the words rolled off his tongue as if someone else was in command of his body. He crossed his arms and walked closer to Marth, staring him down.
"Yeah, she's my girl", he said, the feeling of malicious pleasure taking over him at the look of defeat on Marth's face. "And I'm not sure I like you being at her feet like some dog wagging its tail. You better stay away, because she's taken. She is mine."
A clicking sound caught both of their attention. Link's ears made a twitch when catching the sound.
"Oops", Bowser said as he realized he had been discovered. But the men's focus was not on the Koopa King, it was on the tape recorder in his hand, both knowing what must be on the tape in it. "Now I'll win that bet", Bowser declared with a satisfied grin, only causing him to look more evil than ever.
Link and Marth froze. Marth because he would rather die than have anyone know of the interest he had shown in Princess Zelda, sinking low enough to ask her lover if she was taken and being more than told off. Link could not even imagine what would happen if anybody found out about the lie he just had spoken in the heat of the moment. If Zelda found out…
Bowser laughed and jumped out of the bushes, disappearing behind the corner, the tape safe between his claws and out of Link and Marth's reach as some of the leaves from the bush floated to the ground.
I was rather tired when writing this, hence the lack of dialogue. Also, this chapter was much longer than the others but I'll make the next one shorter!
And of course Link and Zelda can both sing excellently. Still it seems like I'm only adding to Link's flaws. I'm sure he could pick out some really nice clothing if he just relaxed and chose with some care.
And did I insult Marth in the last chapter? No, no, I did not insult Marth, but Samus did and that's a huge difference. I'm not letting my own feelings for the characters affect how people in the story will feel about them (except for Zelda, I'm definitely favoring her but I won't do anything about it). Didn't I insult Link too? I tried to make Peach rather bad at insulting people while Samus is a bit better at it (sadly I'm quite horrible at insults myself so no one will be witty).
Samus, her dislike for Marth erupts from her own courage. I imagine her to be a person who confronts her problems whereas Marth runs away and she cannot respect that. She doesn't miss sympathy for the situation or understanding, but since she herself could never do something like that she has little patience with people like Marth. Also, it's a blow to her femininity if a man is less manly than her which she, in my story, is a bit sensitive about. (I think that is cute).
And thank you so much for reviewing! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are always so kind! Too kind!