Chapter 36 - Assumption

An hour was spent touring the halls and various chambers of the Palace. A few servants had tailed Link and Zelda from time to time during the process, showing them about and explaining the layout, others giving them stories behind certain pictures and busts of historical figures. Most all of them seemed to be happy to do so as well, giving the Hylians a warm welcome. Link found them to be highly hospitable, and Zelda thought for a while that she might have been a Queen instead of a Princess because they almost doted over her, asking what she might have needed and kindly offering things.

It was very pleasant, children here and there, a group of three who'd done something that Link and Zelda both remembered from their childhood - pointed and exclaimed 'look at their ears!'. They weren't picking on them as when Link and Zelda were children in Kakariko however, and one little girl who couldn't have been more than five years old ran up to Link, tugged on his tunic, and asked him why they were different. Following his explanation, she waved him down closer and whispered something into his ear that made him grin.

When he stood back up, Zelda curiously wondered what she'd said, and Link told her that she said she wanted to look just like the Hylian Princess when she grew up. Zelda smiled at the girl who shyly shoved her thumb in her mouth, then ran along when a school teacher called her name.

Of all of the rooms they looked about in, Zelda's favorite was definitely the indoor arboretum, which was built for Seriun's first wife according to an arborist who was on a ladder tending to one of the indoor trees.

Zelda looked stunned. She asked about the King's first wife and found out that the woman adored plants and spent a good bit of her time gardening and taking the young Prince for walks through the forests surrounding the Palace Town. The arborist went back to work after telling the story and Link and Zelda moved on.

"He must have really loved her."

Zelda gave a nod in response to Link's spoken thought. To build something as lovely as this indoor arboretum was definitely a feat, much more so to do it just because you loved someone so dearly.

"You know I'd do the same thing for you, but I think your father would get really suspicious if I started tearing down walls in the Palace."

The sudden comment made Zelda smile, and she grabbed Link's arm, snickering softly. "Oh stop, I'm sure he'd let you if you just asked." She added the last line in a jesting manner that said she wasn't fully expecting him to do just that even if she'd suggested it, a playful smile on her lips.

As they walked on, Link grinned, looking back for just a moment before he said, "You're right actually. He probably would."

Zelda hadn't been at all serious, so when he made that comment, and actually did sound as if he was legitimate in his certainty, she blinked and gave him a questioning look. Stepping through the large double doorway and back into the hallway, Zelda shook her head.

"Link, you don't have to build an indoor arboretum to tell me you love me."

"Who said it would be an arboretum?"

He was still grinning, and Zelda wondered if he was actually trying to spoil her, or if he was just trying to get under her skin. Either way, she handled it with the usual grace she exuded in most every situation.

"Very well, surprise me, but I'm not going to say or not I'd be content not to have something similar done for you."

His snicker told her all she needed to know, and they continued walking for a few moments before he made his next comment. "What time is it? Didn't they say dinner was going to be served soon?"

"Yes, but I don't know when. Maybe we should wait in our quarters and rest for a bit so they can come and get us more easily."

Strangely enough, Mirian rounded the corner almost as soon as Zelda had made the suggestion, heading toward the stairwell at just about that time. When she saw them, she came to a stop and folded her hands before her skirts. "Oh, I was just looking for you. Dinner is ready, everyone's going to the dining room now. They sent me to fetch you."

Zelda cast a glance at Link, smiling, "Isn't that odd."

Mirian looked confused, "What's that?"

"We were just talking about dinner," Link explained, heading toward the red haired chambermaid with Zelda. "I think I remember where the dining room is."

Mirian smiled, "Well, I'll lead you right to it. If you would follow me please."

Giving her a nod, they began to do just that, and while they went, Link asked, "Mirian, how's Risek? Did he get to see his father?"

She nodded, letting out a thoughtful sigh. "He's glad to be back with him, but I'm not sure if he's completely fine or not. He's grown accustomed to hiding how he feels a lot of times. But he couldn't be completely fine, it's somewhat of a bittersweet homecoming."

"I'd thought as much," Link replied, considering it all. "Better that he's home now though. He can be with the king instead of so far away."

"I agree," Mirian nodded, looking over at them both. "You three must have gotten along well. I was surprised to hear that he'd told you about any of us. Prince Risek doesn't speak of his family or friends to strangers often, at least, not of my brother, not ever since he disappeared."

Listening, Zelda gave a nod, "We did form a good friendship. I also forgot to say I'm sorry for what happened to him."

Mirian didn't really comment, only shook her head. "You don't have to be, but thank you. Anyway, here we are." She came to a set of double doors and went to open them. "I'm sure everyone's already seating themselves."

As she'd opened the doors to the nicely sized dining room and stood to the side to allow them both in, the chandelier offering light above the oval shaped table, they learned that she was right about the fact that most everyone was already there. Link and Zelda spotted Arrik first who was walking toward his seat, then they saw Risek with Lukas, apparently discussing something near the opposite end of the room in a somewhat private confidence, having yet to take their seats.

Charlain was already seated, chatting with a man that Link and Zelda had yet to meet, and aside from this, a young boy was sitting in a chair to the side by himself currently, but he was being kept entertained by apparently listening in on Charlain's conversation with the man she was seated next to.

Actually, the young boy looked completely disinterested.

Mirian led them both to the table, and Link pulled out a chair for Zelda after Mirian tried to do so for him. The movements got the boy's attention, and he turned his head to look at the three of them. From his garb, Link and Zelda had both assumed it was Risek's younger brother Gabriel, and he went a little wide eyed when he saw who was joining in on dinner.

Zelda sat next to him, Link on the other side of her, and Mirian went to Gabriel and asked him, "Is everything alright?"

Gabriel gave a nod and smiled warmly at the chambermaid, "Yes, I was just bored waiting on Risek to get done talking to Lukas. Charlain's gabbing about the society ball the other week."

Mirian smiled, turning to take the napkin at the table and settle it in the Prince's lap as were a part of her duties before she said, "Well, then meet our guests. Gabriel, this is Princess Zelda of Hyrule, and her fiancee, Sir Link."

Link cringed a slight bit, but it wasn't noticeable. He'd never liked being called that, thought it sounded strange. But he didn't say anything just then, and instead, let Mirian finish when she turned to them to introduce the youngest Miason sibling. "This is Prince Gabriel."

"Gabriel," the young boy said with a wave of his hand, "I don't like the titles all of the time."

Zelda gave him a warm smile, and Link grinned, nodding in agreement, "Same here. Just Link will do."

Standing up straight, Mirian smiled before she turned toward the servants and took her place standing in a neat line near the walls to await everyone to seat themselves before they began to serve the royals and nobility. Arrik had gone to Risek and Lukas to join in on the conversation for a moment, and as this happened, Gabriel looked over at Link and Zelda before they could say anything and asked them, "You're Hylians?"

Zelda, sitting closer to him, nodded her head. "Yes."

"I've never seen one before. But we don't look that different."

"No, not really, Gabriel," Zelda agreed, smiling over how he'd said it, as if he were surprised.

Gabriel smiled back, then leaned over a bit and looked at Link. Suddenly, he narrowed his brows and pointed. "Hey! You have hoops in your ears!"

Link rubbed his hand against the back of his head in a slight bit of embarrassment over how he'd just been pointed out and he nodded. "I've had them for a while."

"I want some. How did you get them?"

Zelda was holding her snickers inside, not wanting Gabriel to think that she'd found what he'd said to be silly. While she did this, Link gave his response.

"When I was fifteen, it was done as a right of passage into maturity."

"Oh, so I'd have to wait?"

"Actually, I think you'd have to ask someone if you could first," Link started, looking over at the boy. "Besides that, I don't know what the age limit here is. Or if Althorians even have a right of passage to begin with."

Gabriel pursed his lips while he thought about that. "I've never seen a man with hoops before, so I don't think there is one. I'm going to ask Risek if I can though."

Link gave a nod of his head, and noticed that - speaking of Risek - he was heading toward the table now with Lukas and Arrik, all of them seating themselves, leaving one chair empty at the head of the table where Link and Zelda supposed that the king usually sat. It was probably kept empty to honor him while he couldn't be there, and once they were settled, Lukas made an apology.

"I'm sorry for the delay, everyone. I was trying to catch Risek up to speed on what had happened while he was in Hyrule."

Sitting next to his wife, Charlain smiled and put her hand on his, "It's fine. I saw our Hylian guests getting acquainted with Gabriel."

Lukas looked over and nodded, smiling. "Good, then you know everyone in our royal family now, well, except for Seriun of course. But I'm sure he'll awaken and want to meet you soon."

"We look forward to that," Zelda replied with the same hope in her voice. "Your Prince told us a good bit about him when he was visiting in Hyrule."

"Yes, we're just sad he has to return when we're a bit worried over his condition," Lukas commented with a drop in his tone, apparently worried.

Risek then spoke up, "I'm sure he'll improve soon. When he does, I'll tell him you're both here. That should please him to know."

"Thank you," Zelda said to the compliment. While they spoke, the servants had taken up the tasks of serving, and Link didn't know exactly what type of food it was, but he had to admit, it smelled really good. While this went on, he listened to the conversation at hand, and the man seated on the side of Charlain opposite her husband, addressed him.

"You're a Knight on Hyrule's courts, aren't you?"

Link looked up, then gave a nod, "I am."

The blonde haired man gave a nod of his head, "We had a Hylian acquainted with the former Captain of the Knights pass through here not too long ago. Lyon, I believe he said the name was. Maybe you know him."

"Lyonel?," Link asked in return.

"Yes, that was it," he snapped his fingers in remembrance. "You must know him then."

With a nod, Link informed him, "Lyonel is my father."

"Really?" The yet-to-be-named blonde said with a slight bit of surprise in his voice, as well as some confusion. "I met this Hylian who told me of him in a tavern a few weeks past. But, he said this Lyonel had passed on."

It must have been someone who knew him before Ganondorf took the throne, Link considered, and he shook his head, "No, not quite. It's a long story."

"Hmm, perhaps you'll share it with us sometime then."

Lukas looked over at Link and offered an excuse for the blonde's behavior, "Forgive my brother, he's always been the inquisitive one. Gerild probably knows more about outside affairs though than he does those of his own homeland."

Gerild smirked, "I just like to try to keep up, that's all."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Charlain chimed in.

Link thought he saw Risek slightly roll his eyes, but he couldn't be too sure. If he had though, Link felt somewhat amused to know that Risek's younger sister seemed to get under his skin so much. But he didn't know the woman too well just yet, so he'd just have to wait and see how things turned out.

It was when he had the thought that Gabriel spoke over his sister's comment. "Charlain, all you like to keep up with is the new fashions."

Gabriel was just young enough that he could get away with saying such things - especially in front of company - without getting into too much trouble for it. Charlain cast him a small glare, and then sighed. "Gabriel, I like to keep up with a good bit more than that."

Gabriel had taken a bite of his food, and he looked over at Zelda and Link and said, "Well, she does like her gowns pretty and sparkly." He shrugged despite the annoyed look on his sister's face, and then looked over at Risek, and in a somewhat drastic change of subject, asked, "Risek, can I get hoops put in my ears?"

Link almost choked on his drink. Mirian, who'd been on the other side of the table lifting a pitcher from Arrik's goblet, blinked and stared over at Gabriel, then looked at Risek to see a somewhat confused expression on his face. Charlain looked like she didn't know what to think.

Lukas was the one to ask the question that everyone was thinking and Risek had just figured out however. "Wherever did you get the idea for that, my boy?"

Zelda glanced at Link to see a somewhat sheepish expression on his face. Risek had also glanced in his direction, saying, "I think I know."

Lukas looked at the Prince, asking, "Where?"

With a shake of his head and lowering his goblet, Risek replied, "It's not important. Gabriel, no. You're not old enough yet. I doubt father would approve."

"Aww," Gabriel drew out softly and pursed his lips. "But they look good."

Arrik was chuckling softly, and when Gabriel glanced over, Arrik shook his head. "I don't think you're completely prepared to have a poker piercing your ear."

"Huh?," Gabriel went wide eyed. "A poker?"

Arrik's attempt to scare the boy out of the thought for the time being had definitely worked apparently. It was then that Charlain added to it with a nod of her head, "Yes, a sharp poker," in order to enforce Arrik's words harmlessly. She went on, "It's actually a barbaric custom if you ask me."

When she said that, Link lifted a brow slightly. Did she know he had them? Glancing over, he guessed she didn't because Risek cleared his throat and leaned in to say, "Charlain, he wants them because Link has them."

Charlain's eyes went a bit wide and shot a glance over at Link to see the exact thing that Gabriel had been talking about. She looked mortified.

"Oh! I meant no disrespect!"

Link waved a hand quickly, "It's alright, Your Majesty. No offense taken. I know that customs are different here than in Hyrule."

Risek didn't explain that Charlain hadn't meant the words due to differing customs, after all, in a few provinces of Althor, men still pierced their ears who were of higher social status just as in the olden days. It had just become an outdated practice. So Risek knew that Charlain had really meant she didn't think it was fashionable at all and instead thought it looked primitive.

Risek wasn't going to say that though. Not if Link had enough common sense to put it the way he had - and Risek knew for a fact that Link wasn't stupid. Also, Link was respectable, and regardless of whether or not he got the jist of how Charlain actually meant it, he'd never call her out on it. Link was noble, after all, and he would respect the peace of someone else's home.

Charlain looked relieved, but still a bit uncomfortable. She probably wasn't used to being socially awkward after all, if what Link had heard from Risek was true of her. So pushing the thought aside, he focused on the next question which came from Lukas.

"Why did you get them, Link? Was there a custom behind the reasoning?"

Link gave a nod, replying, "Coming of age. I received one set when I was fifteen for maturity, the second when I was seventeen for warrior status, or manhood."

Lukas looked curious. Setting his goblet down from taking a drink, he asked, "Warrior? But you're a Knight, aren't you?"

"Well, it wasn't with Hyrule's court when this was done. I got them from the Gerudo."

"Gerudo? The same that inhabit the desert to the north of the Endigan Mountains?"

Link nodded, "That's where I grew up."

"That's the only part of Hyrule that shares a border with Althor," Lukas smiled, nodding his head, then he got curious again. "But you're not a Gerudo. Their people visit us on occasion. How did you come to live with them?"

Link had food in his mouth, and so Zelda gave Lukas the details. "When he was a boy, he took a long fall and ended up losing his memory. The Gerudo found him and took him in."

Lukas appeared as if he were taking the story in, drawing out finally, "Interesting."

His father smiled, sitting next to him. Having just swallowed a bite to eat, Arrik spoke up, "Link has done several things for his people. He's become something of a living legend according to King Hadinaru, but you'd never know it just from looking at him. Though he does his station justice. He was quick to respond to threat, and from what I've gathered, every Knight of Hyrule has this same dedication to duty. I must say I was very impressed with all of you."

"Thank you, Ambassador," Link said in response politely. Looking over, he noticed that Lukas, Charlain, and Gerild all seemed to be interested in the story, and he tugged at his collar a bit when he felt a slight flush of heat. He was modest, and unsure he liked the conversation being so settled on him, just as when Gabriel had first pointed out his hoops to him.

But it didn't stop when Lukas next said, "I see. I'm curious over something else as well. Rumor has traveled to our lands of course, but I'm unsure what the complete truth is. How was the tyranny King Ganondorf put your people through dealt with?"

Hearing him called 'King' put a sour taste into both Link and Zelda's mouths, but they decided not to correct the Grand Duke. Instead, Zelda replied with the words, "Ganondorf grasped more power than he could handle, and it became his undoing. A battle was fought with his armies by those who resisted him, and we were victorious."

The answer seemed to appease Lukas for the moment. They all knew hearsay of the tale, but none were completely sure what exactly to believe, and the questions continued also. Charlain was the next to ask one.

"Princess, how did you know you were the true daughter of royals to begin with? Weren't you taken as a child to be raised in a village?"

Zelda looked at the raven haired lady and replied, "Those who hid me away told me when I was old enough to understand. They'd been given information about my true past."

"Hmm," Charlain drew out, and then waved her hand, "so you lived your entire life until recently as a commoner?"

"Yes," Zelda replied simply, wondering if Charlain had a point to her questioning, or if she was merely curious.

"I see. What about duty and being raised to serve your people? Are you being given training?"

Zelda didn't mind being asked one bit, but the question just sounded odd somehow. Still, the Hylian Princess wasn't put off however, about to give a response when Risek stepped into the conversation.

"She's perfectly capable as she is, Charlain. Living as a commoner doesn't make one less able to lead their people. It makes them more understanding to what the needs of their people are, and it also toughens up a person's resolve when things get a little hard to handle."

"Well spoken," Lukas nodded in agreement, then he raised his goblet. "I'll toast to it, and to dining with our new friends and future allies."

They raised their goblets to Lukas's words, and Zelda considered that Risek had said essentially the same thing she'd been about to. The look on Charlain's face seemed a bit considerate, but some part of her also looked a little disbelieving. Still, Zelda made absolutely no comment on it. Instead, she simply told Lukas, "Hear, hear," and gave her toast.

As the meal went on, they discussed a few other details of their kingdoms and such, none of the conversation ever going very deep really. Most of it revolved around stories of Risek's first meetings with Zelda and Link, and then to the marriage proposition. When that topic came up, Gabriel looked surprised.

"You asked Zelda to marry you?"

It didn't seem to startle Risek that his brother sounded almost accusing. He simply responded plainly to the question, "No, Gabriel. I asked her father if there was a chance for a marriage to be arranged, but there wasn't."

"Oh," Gabriel sat back, looking confused. "But you don't know her."

"Gabriel," Charlain said, "you know how royal weddings work. I didn't know Lukas well when I married him."

"But you'd met him," Gabriel returned, "and you hated him at first too."

Over the comment, Lukas lifted a brow, giving Charlain a questioning look. Charlain cleared her throat and offered Lukas a little smile. "I might have disliked it a bit," she offered, then gave Gabriel the evil eye. "Gabriel, stop fabricating everything."

Gabriel sighed as if he knew better, then settled his fork down onto his now empty plate. "It's true though," the young boy continued on. "Risek didn't know Zelda at all. I thought people had to know one another somehow before they got married."

Mirian had gone over to take his plate and goblet, and as she walked on, she couldn't help a little smile. Gabriel was thirteen years old, so he understood things to a point, but even still, had discrepancies that he didn't feel the need to keep quiet about. She found it very amusing, especially when it came to debunking a custom that she'd always felt was silly without any bias on her part. No one should have ever been forced to marry, royalty or not.

Zelda looked down at Gabriel and told him when he'd given his qualms, "Well, this was a special condition. If I married your brother, an alliance could be more easily formed between our people. So it wasn't specifically a marriage of commonality, but instead one of functionality for the greater good, a way for us to hopefully serve it better."

Gabriel looked as if he understood completely, but he pursed his lips, turning his face toward Risek. "If you'd married her, would you have moved to Hyrule?"

"I don't know, Gabriel," Risek replied, "perhaps later if it turned out to be that Zelda was the only heir to the throne."

"Then I'm glad you're not marrying her. I don't want you to go away."

Risek had a warm smile on his face for once, Gabriel being one of few souls capable of bringing it out in him, and he told the lad, "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

Such was a fact. Especially now that Risek knew who had murdered his best friend. The only thing standing in the way was learning more about what they were dealing with - in specific, who.

When dinner was over, Risek offered to escort the Hylians back to their bedroom, and Gabriel wanted to come along. This being the case, Mirian had to follow because it was her duty to see to it that the young prince was put to bed - or rather, it was the young prince's preference for her to see to that. So they walked up together after Lukas and the others had bid them goodnight, allowing them a bit of time to talk.

"Dinner was delicious," Zelda complimented, "you have some skilled chefs here."

"They learned it from Mirian," Gabriel piped up, apparently content to blow the chambermaid's horn for her. Risek knew the boy did it though because Mirian would never do it for herself. As soon as he had that thought, Mirian proved him right with her next modest line.

"Gabriel, they didn't."

"Sure they did," Gabriel replied, pursing his lips up at her cutely. "You're just modest like Risek said."

Zelda smiled over the way the boy seemed to be so affectionate toward the chambermaid, briefly wondering if she'd grown up in the palace, would she have felt the same affection for such a person. But she thought to ease Mirian's embarrassment a bit, and as they went up the stairs, she said, "Either way, I'm definitely full."

"I'm glad for that, my lady," Mirian responded, holding Gabriel's hand when she stopped at the door to their chambers, looking down at the thirteen year old. "Alright, are you ready for bed?"

"Not really. But," he looked at Link and Zelda, adding, "tomorrow, I don't have classes. Some of my friends are going to the training yards for practice. Maybe you'd like to come if you're not busy."

Gabriel was just politely offering, and both of the Hylians smiled at him. Nodding his head, Link answered for the both of them, "We'll see what we can arrange for you."

Gabriel grinned, seeming very happy with the words. "Great! Well, sleep well. I'll see you later."

"We'll look forward to it. Goodnight, Mirian," Zelda told them both.

Mirian gave a respectful bow and a warm smile, "The same to you, Your Highness. If you need anything, the guards will know where to find me."

The three of them watched Mirian walking off with Gabriel's hand in hers, and Link opened the door to the bed chamber, going inside. Once the door was shut behind them, Zelda took up the task of lighting the candles while she heard Link speaking to Risek.

"So, how is everything?"

Risek glanced from Link to Zelda and back, saying, "A slight bit off to be honest. The first person I noticed acting strangely was Mirian."

"Mirian?," Zelda asked, turning to face them both. "How so?"

"She was acting pensive, as if she wanted to tell me something but she wasn't sure how to put it, nervous. I've known her long enough to tell. But I couldn't ask because Gabriel showed up. Though, she did give me news."

"About what?," Link inquired.

"Well, I went to Lukas to find out for sure. He said there's been a band of traitors found hiding in one of our towns, called Newbern. Some of our Knights, including the new Captain, Aggie, were apparently linked to them, because they turned on their own comrades and refused to carry out orders to infiltrate the homes of those harboring these traitors."

Zelda's head tilted, brows narrowed in thoughtful expression. "Do you think Aggie could be with the White Knights in secret?"

"No," Risek said legitimately. "I've known Aggie almost as long as I knew Marcelle." Shaking his head, he let a soft sigh of breath. "I just can't imagine him being a traitor."

Link thought this over for a moment, and with a wave of his hand, he offered, "I don't like to be suspicious of anyone, especially when I don't know them, but it could be that he had something to do with Marcelle in order to become the Captain."

"I'd thought of that, and I just don't see it. If you'd met Aggie, you'd understand better. He's duty driven, and the way he reacted to news of Marcelle's death," Risek trailed as if those words explained themselves, then shook his head. "No, there's more here, something that's not meeting the eye. I'll have to speak with Mirian before I can figure it out. She's yet to tell me everything she knows."

Zelda exchanged a thoughtful look with Link, then she nodded. "That's the best idea, before any assumptions can be made. Find out what she's seen and heard since you've been away. I know from personal experience that chambermaids tend to hear lots of gossip floating about that they don't mean to. In the meantime, we'll try to get some rest and get more done tomorrow."

Risek looked at them both in turn before he nodded and went to the door. Once he reached it, he stopped, and glanced back at them. "I'm going to instruct Mirian to trust you both, and have her oversee your needs personally. I'd rather her be the one tending you than someone else I'm not completely sure of."

With that said, Risek bid them both a goodnight and took his leave. Once he shut the door behind himself, Link looked over at Zelda, asking, "What do you think?"

Zelda stepped over toward him, fist at her chin, partially covering her mouth. As she considered things, Link put his hand on her arm. That seemed to bring her more to life, a deep sigh escaping her lips as her hand fell back to her side.

Turning violet blues up to him, she slowly shook her head, "I think Risek's right. Too many things could be assumed for now, and those assumptions could knock us off of our feet when the truth is revealed. It's too soon to tell."

Link stared at her for a moment, then slowly gave a nod of his head. "If anything, I think there's three people outside of Risek we can trust completely. The King, Gabriel, and Anamirian. Until we find out more, we need to be careful with what we do."

"Agreed."

With those words, Zelda stepped in to hug Link, and they stayed that way for a short while before they went to retire. Maybe dawn would shed some light on more answers instead of just the kingdom alone.