Thanks to prowessMaster44 for being my regular reviewer and chat-buddy - you're a great motivator, and a great person to have as a supporter. Chapter Summary: Not everything is all sunshine and roses for our Hyrulean couple, as we're about to discover. It would seem Zelda is a ... troll? And a highly feral cat, too. Me-row!
- Familiar.
Later, in the library, Ravio had just finished writing, putting his quill to one side, when Link stuck his head in. The Lorulean raised an eyebrow at the sight of his dishevelled state and tried not to laugh. Link frowned at him, unsuccessfully attempting to flatten his hair out – it was all over the place and quite messy. A real bird's nest.
"What got you?" Ravio asked with a chuckle. "You look terrible."
His counterpart grimaced. "Zelda. Need I say anymore?"
"Farore, no." he replied hurriedly. "I'm good."
"At she didn't try to take a piece out of me this time." Link mumbled, rubbing his head.
"This time?" he repeated. "She got claws or something?"
He winced. "Yeah. Trust me; you don't want them in your skin. They freaking hurt! I can't count the number of times I've had to tell the guards the next day that I got attacked by someone's feral cat."
Ravio couldn't help himself, he started laughing. "You had to tell the g-guards you got mauled by a cat?"
Link scowled. "You were right about the territorial thing, that's for sure. It happens more than it should. I swear she does it on purpose. I mean, once or twice, okay, I get that. Sometimes I think I'd be better off drunk, then end up with shallow scratches in my skin. She's done that too."
"Done what?"
"Get me drunk," he admitted sheepishly. "It's embarrassing – but at least I don't remember what happened the next day. I'm usually too sick to even work, which she hates. I take my job seriously, thank you."
He sighed in disbelief. "Sheesh. If she hates you taking time off work, she should stop getting you drunk. I take my job too seriously and Hilda has to force me to stop working – I'm not joking, either."
"No kidding. And then there's the whole thing with dumping water – ice cold, freezing water – all over me. It's no small wonder I haven't got hyperthermia yet."
"No wonder." Ravio echoed. "Goddesses! What can you do about it, buddy?"
Link groaned. "Nothing. I can't do a thing. I'm sick of it – I have the Triforce of Courage, for Farore's sake, and I can't do a thing about an out-of-control royal. It's crazy stupid."
"I gotta agree with you there. You don't know anything that could help you? Weaknesses? Anything?"
He hung his head. "I have some idea, but I don't want to risk it. As much as I complain about it, I love my job and I don't want to lose it over something so … forbidden. I can't talk to her about it, because she just ignores me."
Ravio's eyes narrowed. "If you can't talk to her… I bet Hil can. She's scary good at blackmail – and I mean scary good. It's freaky. She wouldn't turn a blind eye, and I'm not about to, either."
Link heaved a sigh of relief. "Would you tell her for me? I don't know who else to turn to without throwing everything into jeopardy. I love Zelda, but this isn't something I can do on my own."
He nodded, turning back , grabbing a fresh sheet of parchment and began to write. "Don't worry – it's all under control. I'm sending Hil a message now. We'll figure this out."
"Thanks Ravio. It's appreciated, believe me."
"I do, Link. Really, I do."
Quickly signing the note, he folded it and dropped the quill back on the table again. Striding over to the nearby windows, Ravio opened one and let out a sharp whistle. Sheerow was quick to arrive, chirping eagerly as his owner passed him the folded parchment.
"Can you deliver this to Hilda for me? It's important – and make sure Princess Zelda doesn't see it."
The bird nodded, before taking off again, the message held securely in its claws. Both bearers of Courage sighed in relief, before Ravio turned to face his counterpart. Link gave him a tired, yet very happy grin and let his shoulders slump.
"Thanks. Are you up for a trip to the blacksmith's? I have an idea for a prank… if you're game."
Ravio frowned. "Hmm. I've been meaning to talk to you about that Sand Rod too. But we can sort it out when we get there."
Link nodded. "Okay, fine by me. Just… how are we going to get out the castle? I can't leave through the main entrance looking like this! People aren't stupid!"
He clicked his tongue in thought. "You have a point. We'll take the servant's passages – they're perfect for sneaking anywhere."
Link raised an eyebrow. "Anywhere? Ravio, how could you?"
He rolled his eyes. "Get your head out of the gutter, you blonde idiot. I'm not you."
Link followed him out of the library. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I'm not going to be the one with illegitimate heirs, that's what it means."
"Oh come on! This again? It's not like that!" Link complained. "You don't know half it!"
Ravio shook his head. "You can keep your secrets, Link. I'm not going to invade your privacy. I understand things aren't what they seem sometimes. Trust me. I've been there."
"You've mentioned that a few times. I still feel bad about calling you insane that one time."
"What's past is past, Mr. Hero. You didn't know – how could you? I never told you."
"Exactly. Though, it doesn't mean I can't feel guilty."
"It wasn't you who killed my parents, Link. Don't feel guilty about something you didn't do."
They were silent the rest of the way, and wasted no time in making their way out of the castle grounds. It was easy to slip past the fortune teller's tent (the pair of them both had a quiet laugh about Irene's grandmother) and rounded the corner to the blacksmith's.
Ravio knocked on the door and backed down the stairs hurriedly as the door flew open. The blacksmith peered down at him with a sneer, lip curling. "Oh, look at this. Don't you have better things to do than bother an old man, errand boy?"
"That's Advisor Narbitt to you, Master Blacksmith," he replied coldly.
"Of course – you're still the princess' little pet, aren't you?"
"How dare you! I belong to myself, you infernal smith, even if I do serve the Princess of the land!"
"Oh dear. It appears I've struck a nerve, 'Advisor'."
"Perhaps then, Master Smith, you'd like to strike a nerve of mine?"
Link's voice was unusually harsh as he stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Ravio's shoulder. The blacksmith faltered at the sight of the Hyrulean, much to Ravio's satisfaction. Link knew what he was doing.
"You're the kid with that sword! What are you doing in Lorule?"
Link tilted his head proudly. "I'm no kid, blacksmith. I'm the General of the Hyrulean Royal Army and I am here with the Princess Zelda to form an alliance with Lorule." he replied. "Remember that, because if you ever threaten my friend again, I can guarantee I won't be speaking with words. I'll be using my fists, and trust me, I've learned from the best. You'll be out for a few days if you're lucky – more if you're not."
Ravio smirked. "He has earned his title twice over as the Hero of his generation. Not just anyone can carry the Master Sword. He is also the one I sold those weapons to. Isn't that right, General?"
Link nodded. "Quite. And they will continue to belong to me, to be passed to the next Hero along with whatever knowledge I have learned in my lifetime. They are not, and never will be, for resale."
The blacksmith looked crestfallen, and Ravio took the opportunity to rub it in a little more. "Say, General Lindak? I'm certain Princess Hilda told you we of Lorule have no desert?"
He raised an eyebrow. "That she did, Advisor. What of it?"
"I have discovered with what sand I had left from my last visit to your kingdom that I can in fact make glass trinkets. It works when I apply enough heat to the sand, you see. And in order to craft more of them, and experiment further, I need more sand. An unlimited supply, most likely."
Link hummed thoughtfully. "You're thinking of the Sand Rod? I have no use for it – you're welcome to lease it from me, Advisor. How long were you thinking of leasing it for?"
Ravio smirked. "Until I am defeated by Yuga in battle, General – so a couple of decades, maybe?"
His counterpart chuckled. "Fair enough. I'll see what I can arrange for you."
"I am forever in your debt, General Lindak. Thank you."
The blacksmith spluttered in disbelief. "But – but – how – why?" he demanded.
Ravio grinned. "He said they were not 'for resale', Master Smith. The General never said anything about leasing them from him. Oh, and here's an expression of my gratitude."
The blacksmith fumbled as he caught the small object Ravio threw at him, and his eyes widened at the sight of the silver Rupee lying in his palm. Link waved cheerfully as the two bearers of Courage turned around and started back the way had come. When he'd made sure they were far away enough that the blacksmith couldn't hear them, Ravio burst out laughing.
Link grinned. "That rupee wasn't worth a fragment, was it?"
"No, of course not!" he chuckled. "It was glass!"
"He's going to be so mad when he finds out, isn't he?"
"You bet he is! And he can't touch me either – or else he loses his business. Such a shame, really."
"Because of the 'princess' pet' thing?"
"Yep. Although I do prefer to think of it as royal 'property' – now, come on, let's go see if Hilda has anything for us."
"I'm coming, I'm coming, I swear!"
Poor Link. And Ravio can start working on the glass trinkets he loves so much. Yay! Molten glass all over Vilen~ Such a pretty picture, isn't it? XD Don't forget to feed my Chuchus Follow, Favourite and Review! They like mushroom dust c:
See ya!
