Happy New Year everyone! This is going to be an awesome year, I can tell. And you know why? Because I'm going to finish this book! Which is going to be a major accomplishment for me - I've never written anything longer than twenty-ish chapters. Knowing me, this book will be, like, forty or something.

Onto the chapter!

Hilda sighed heavily, staring at the gathered dignitaries in her throne room. Ravio was currently sitting on the steps below her, idly playing with his magic. Clearly he didn't feel like standing much right now. She didn't blame him. This was monotonous. It was going to be a long couple of days.

She was bored. Another sigh escaped her, and Ravio's ears twitched. "Don't," he murmured softly.

"Give me one reason why not," she hissed back.

"You're the ruler of this kingdom. Poker face, remember?"

"I'd give it all away, you know. Just for a normal life."

He smiled sadly. "What is 'normal'? Is it just someone's fictitious idea?"

"Don't get all wise and knowledgeable on me," she grumbled. "It doesn't suit you."

"On the contrary, Princess, it suits me rather well. You don't want to admit it, that's all."

"Go back to your Rupees and magic tricks, Advisor," she snapped.

He raised an eyebrow. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

And he did. Fire lit up the room in swirls, waltzing around their guests in loops. Some of the visitors eyed the magic apprehensively, and Hilda groaned. Of course there'd be superstitious folk here. Of course.

"Ravio. Stop – you're scaring the guests."

He shrugged and folded his hand shut. The magic vanished in a snap. She found herself smiling – she had a feeling she knew where that magic was going. Oh boy. He was going to get in trouble for that. Magic didn't exactly vanish – it was displaced, in a sense – back to the caster or, in this case, someplace else.

Her suspicions were confirmed when a letter appeared, a pale blue feather dangling from the seal. Ravio got his feet, climbing the dais to hand her the letter. His lips twitched as he pressed it into her hand, trying not to laugh.

"Well, what do you know? Linky-boy wasn't too happy with his reminder."

She eyed the parchment with a barely concealed grin and sighed. "You didn't…"

He chuckled. "I did."

Unrolling the letter, she whistled in surprise. "Sweet Mother Naryu! Someone needs to wash his mouth out! He really isn't happy, Advisor Narbitt. You just had to set his breeches on fire didn't you?"

"Huh? I meant to set his hair on fire, but the breeches are a bonus. I bet he had to jump in the castle moat."

She was inclined to agree with him, and she giggled slightly as she re-rolled the letter. "Now what?"

He smirked. "Now? We wait."

"Farore help me."

Ten minutes later, the doors flew open with a bang, and this time Hilda did sigh aloud. "And here are the representatives of Hyrule. Fashionably late, I see."

Link ground his teeth. "My apologies, Princess Hilda. Perhaps Princess Zelda and I wouldn't have been so late if not for your Advisor."

Ravio gave his counterpart a cheeky thumbs-up as Hilda grimaced. "Yes, General, I'm aware of what Advisor Narbitt did. But please, don't take your anger out of him. Quite frankly, I need him. Go teach my worthless guards a thing or two about real swordsmanship."

"As you wish, Princess,"

He saluted her, and quickly left the room, leaving a hush of whispers in his wake. Hilda chuckled when she saw Zelda wink at her and waved back. She would have to catch up with her counterpart at some point. If only to prevent Link from using Ravio as a punching bag. Though, she had to admit, Ravio could handle himself quite well these days.

"Princess? Do you wish for me to go after the General?" Ravio asked from beside her.

She nodded distractedly. "Yes, yes, of course, Advisor. Just … try not to provoke him too much. I don't need you two buffoons getting into another ridiculous fight. Sparring each other I could understand but do not allow yourselves to come to blows. That would give off the wrong impression for both kingdoms."

He bowed. "Understood. I shall return in, say, a half hour? That reminds me – when should I tell the palace cooks to serve the banquet?"

The banquet. Hilda's eyes widened in alarm, and she gasped. "Golden Goddesses! I completely forgot!"

He chuckled. "Good thing I reminded the cooks a week ago, then. Shall we say six, Your Majesty?"

"Six would be fine, Advisor. See you in an hour, Master Narbitt."

"I bid you good day, Princess, and take my leave."

His formality almost made her laugh, but she managed to keep a straight face. Hilda let out a quiet sigh when the door closed behind him, and relaxed immensely. She still had a speech, well, to speak but she could do it at the banquet. Ravio was right – she did procrastinate. But nowhere near as much as he thought.

Ah, who cared? She most certainly didn't. There was no point in being aloof and sitting up here all by her lonesome self. It was better to go talk to her guests than make them come to her. Formalities were never her favourite royal 'perk'. No, indeed not.

"Princess Hilda?"

A voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she shook her head. "My apologies, I was lost in thought."

The couple smiled, and the woman who had spoken nodded. "Not to worry. We understand."

Grateful, she returned the smile. "What can I do for you?"

"We," the man spoke up, "are the Duke and Duchess of Reeping. And we wanted to speak to you about our … Ambassador. Vilen."

She groaned. "Oh, him. Right. Whatever happened to him? If you mind me asking, that is?"

"No, not at all, Princess." The Duke assured her. "We thought you would want to know, in fact."

"Your Advisor was right in his estimate. He was stripped of his title, and cast out of his family. I almost wish he had turned up in an urn as nothing but ashes." The Duchess added wistfully.

"So do I," Hilda replied grimly. "So do I. I felt like letting Ravio do it too – he was absolutely livid."

"Well, if that's the case, he won't like hearing the news we have for you." the Duke responded with a frown. "The Duchess and I suspect he has followed us into Lorule, and intends to seek his revenge in any way he can."

Oh fan-freaking-tastic. "Do you have any proof of this?"

The Duchess sighed. "Unfortunately not, Princess. But we will let you know if we do find any, I assure you."

"Thank you." she replied curtly.

The couple bowed to her, and left, leaving her to her thoughts. Outwardly, she appeared the tiniest bit bored with everything, but internally she was very much preoccupied. Ravio was going to have a fit. Either that, or he'd enter what they both referred to as 'Triforce Mode'. It made him sound like an automaton or something, but it was scarily accurate.

After all, the wielder of Courage had a job to do, and Sacred Realm help anyone who stood in his way.

Just what they need. More trouble. Not. Oh boy, is Vilen in strife. Quite frankly, Ravio's deadly, and someone's going to find out the hard way. *sigh* Well, this should be fun! As always, don't forget to fave, follow and review if you liked it! Thanks!

See ya next time!

- Familiar.