Chapter 25

After a week of festivities, Ralph was required to return to Faron Village. But his leaving was not without joy, for when he returned to Castle Town again, he was to be married.

The next Monday, the Queen had the pleasure of receiving her brother Fado Gardiner and his wife Laruto, who lived in Kakiriko Village in the East, for Christmas. Fado was a Hylian while Laruto was a Zora, and their marriage may have seemed rather odd to anyone unfamiliar with them, but their relationship was happy. Fado was quite a bit more sensible than either of his sisters, and Laruto was elegant and amiable and a very good harpist, and a favorite among all of the princesses.

The first point of business was to exchange Christmas gifts. The second order of business was to report to Fado and Laruto the situation of the two eldest princesses—they were both about to be married, but both chances seemed to have escaped them.

"I do not blame Zelda," the Queen said to her brother and sister-in-law, "for it was not her fault that Link left; besides, he will return to Castle Town in the summer, I am sure. But Tetra! To refuse such a great man as Duke Ralph Collins! And now, Nayru Lucas is to marry him instead. How dreadful a thought that we should lose such a good relation to someone like her."

Laruto, who had been told of this through letters from Zelda and Tetra, nodded politely. "I am sure that both marriages would have been very pleasant for all the involved families, especially Link and Zelda's marriage, but alas, accidents can separate lovers."

"But it wasn't an accident!" Tetra interjected. "It was obviously Link's sisters' doing. A man does not suddenly leave the woman with whom he is violently in love."

At these words, Zelda blushed deeply, about to protest, but Laruto said, "'Violently in love' is such a hackneyed phrase. To what extent do you truly mean that Link was in love?"

"I have never seen a greater love. He became completely engrossed by Zelda, so much that he started to ignore others. Two or three ladies asked him to dance, and he declined. I myself have spoken to him without him giving as much as a nod in response; he was that enthralled by Zelda. Is that not a violent love?"

At Tetra's words, Zelda blushed even more, and quickly excused herself from the room. "Oh, yes, I see," Laruto said as she watched the crown princess leave. "They are very much in love. I am sorry that this did not work out." She turned back to Tetra. "Perhaps a change in scenery would be pleasant for her, after such a failed love. Fado and I were planning to take a vacation after we left here to visit our second home in Faron Woods, since Fado loves the forest so much. Perhaps Zelda would like to accompany us?"

"Absolutely! I am sure that Zelda would be happy to join you," Tetra said, glancing at her mother. The Queen just nodded her consent.

"Then it is decided." The Zora woman leaned back in her chair. "Still, I am saddened by the fact that Link Bingley will not happen to chance upon Zelda during our stay. Although Faron Woods is rather close to Ordon Village, our house is in the far corner of Faron Woods, where no one would visit except intentionally."

"And Link cannot intend anything," Tetra mentioned, "with his sisters and his friend Toon holding him back in Ordon. Perhaps the latter might have even more power over him than his sisters, since Link never goes anywhere without Toon, and Toon has no reason to seek out Zelda."

"But perhaps it is better this way," Laruto said. "Perhaps Zelda can forget about her love, and the pain of separation will not resurface if she does not see the former Knight of Hyrule. Let us not mention the Bingleys to Zelda."

Later that day, Laruto asked Zelda to join her on the trip, and Zelda happily obliged. No thoughts of the Bingleys even crossed her mind.

The holiday week passed with excitement, for with the Gardiners, the Phillipses, the Lucases, and the Hyrulean army soldiers, there was not a day without an engagement. Whenever the officers came over—and inevitably, Shadow Wickham was among them—Tetra would always seek his company; Laruto observed her actions and concluded that they were, if not in love, then at least quite attracted. She felt, though, that the attachment was quite unhealthy for the princess, and resolved to speak with her before they left. For Laruto had quite a few mutual friends with Shadow, and she did not trust the man.

But when Shadow spoke with Laruto, he convinced her that his reputation was a fabrication on the part of Toon Darcy. Laruto had known Toon Darcy as a little kid, and had always found him bratty and ill-mannered. Still, even if Toon was the responsible party for causing Shadow's ill reputation, there was nevertheless something odd about the Hyrulean soldier that Laruto couldn't quite place her finger on.

Character Notes: Laruto and Fado were introduced (kind of) way back in Chapter 7, though this is their first actual appearance. There are a few more details in this chapter that reference their Wind Waker namesakes (such as Laruto's harp skills).

Published March 1, 2014