CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ilia opened her eyes tentatively, as though afraid. During the argument with her father the night before, she had broken down and sobbed uncontrollably, and, despite everything, she wished more than ever that Link was there to comfort her.

Ilia felt embarrassed about bringing up the fact that she loved Link. Loved. Past tense. No more. Never again.

She rubbed sleep from her eyes and dressed, remembering with a jolt that today was the Midsummer Festival.

Oh, bloody hell.

She would have to face him down today. She needed to speak to him.

Ilia sighed. The sooner the Festival was over, the better. She knew she had to face Link today, no matter how she wished she didn't.

She brushed her brown-blonde hair slowly and deliberately. Her lack of shoes had never been a problem, but today her feet seemed sore, despite the thick calluses on the soles.

Maybe, she thought hopefully, It's a sign not to go out today. But her brain told her otherwise. It was only nerves. Unfortunately.

Ilia stretched. The Midsummer Festival was always a grand affair, during which merchants from all across the world and friends from distant lands came together to laugh and play games and just be happy.

Ilia had a number of good friends among the merchants, and she knew it would be stupid to stay home. The whole village had been decked up for this sole purpose, and it was only once a year, if the weather permitted.

She sighed and descended the stairs. Her father was already out and about, it seemed, as he wasn't in the kitchen, so she ate a hurried breakfast of toast and blackberry jam, grabbed her bag with her money in it, and went outside.

"Ilia!" one of Ilia's merchant friends, a black-haired girl in a kimono and geta sandals, rushed toward her and embraced her. "You have no idea how I've missed Hyrule! The forest has always been my favorite land to go!"

"Please, Yue, I'm getting strangled." Ilia laughed. Yue released her, grinning from ear to ear.

"It's wonderful to see you again! The place where I'm currently staying is just off the mainland, an island, really. It's called Alvarna, have you heard of it?"

"No, I can't say I have. Oh, Yue, I love your new kimono!" Ilia squealed.

Yue twirled around effortlessly, showing off her new kimono. It was a light, airy blue, with reds, greens, and a few blacks coloring blossoms embroidered in the silky fabric.

"You like it? A young man strayed into Alvarna last month, he gave me the idea. His name is Kyle. He's really handsome, too…" Yue playfully punched Ilia's shoulder. "You'd take to him, Ilia, you would."

"Oh, are you referring to the old Ilia-Needs-A-Man Conspiracy? Dear Goddesses, Yue, that was three years ago!"

"Ohhh!" Yue grinned evilly, linking arms with Ilia and walking her down the path through the village. "So you've found a man?"

"I thought I had," Ilia became quiet, and her eyes threatened to let loose the tears of sorrow. "But I guess I was wrong."

"What filthy bastard broke your heart, dear?" Yue snarled. "I'll tear him limb from limb-"

"Oh, Goddesses, here he comes!" Ilia spotted Link walking down the path towards them, the soft morning light glinting off his blue earrings.

Yue rolled her airy blue sleeves up to her elbows and was about to confront him and yell, but Ilia grabbed her hand and dragged her over the stream and behind the waterwheel, Talo and Malo's house.

"You cannot just walk up to someone you don't know and scream at them!" Ilia hissed at her.

"Why? I do it all the time." Yue replied, clearly puzzled.

"Because he's Link!" Ilia said back. "He's seen things that would scare you to death and barely flinched. He's saved our entire world from darkness. He's got, as far as I know, five girls in love with him!"

"Ohhh! And would you, my dear Ilia, be one of those five?"

"Of course not! We were just friends."

"C'mon. The Midsummer Festival is going to start soon," Yue grabbed her hand and they mingled with the crowed pouring down the path. Merchants in garb of every color with bags full of magical items, strange items, rare items, set up their stalls all through the village and into the pasture. Fado had graciously donated the field for the day of celebration.

Yue set up her stall, where she sold rare food dishes, seafood pizza, stew, Chinese manju, and jewelry, gold brooches, ruby rings, and even a Meshilight Ore, from deep within the Meshina Valley, close to where she was currently staying.

Whenever someone showed interest in the Ore, Yue smiled sweetly and said she was holding it for a friend.

Ilia noticed Link keep away from the larger crowds; he had never been great with so many people.

"So, that's him, eh?" Yue said, her large blue eyes trained on Link. "He's really cute. I like the cute, shy type. But, as you say, he's already got a pack of admirers."

Ilia put up with the festivities all day, and even enjoyed herself. Yue would be staying with her for the night, so she was looking forward to that. At noon, when everyone gathered to a long table for lunch, Ilia plucked a huge pink-red rose from a nearby bush and twined the stem in Yue's raven hair.

The Midsummer Festival went on long into the night, and paper lamps on the pond provided light, as well as paper lamps strung into the trees and lining the path.

Ilia knew that the dances were coming; at every Festival, after the sun set, a chorus of people with instruments would play. It was considered romantic and fun. And, as Yue pointed out, since Ilia was one of the more beautiful locals, she would have a few boys asking for a dance.

Yue punched her shoulder as Ilia sat on the grass, in the roots of the tree above Beth's house.

"You aren't gonna dance?"

"I will when someone asks me."

"What if it's Link?"

"Then I will not dance."

"You're so…. tough, Ilia. I've seen four boys eyeing you. And it looks like Link's already got a partner." Yue pointed to Link, who was slowly dancing with a girl about his age, whom she had never seen before.

Ilia stood, and Yue, sensing what was coming, grabbed her arm. "Ilia! You can't just rip his partner away from him! You don't like him, remember? He's just another boy. You don't care, remember?"

Ilia heaved a huge sigh.

"Let's go. I'm tired."

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I'm going to break the cycle a bit more. You know, Zelda, Midna, Link? Well, the next chapter is in Link's World, during the Midsummer Festival. And who is his mysterious dance partner? You'll see.

BTW, did you catch Yue? From Rune Factory 2? the traveling merchant? if you didnt, look it up.