…
Alexander
…
We were still at Zora's Domain, getting ready to go. Princess Lavette gave us some food and blankets and she also somehow convinced Chris to come with us.
"Ilaria! Can you help me pack this for a sec?" Lavette said.
"Oh! Yes, of course!" she said quickly.
As she walked, she glanced at me, but when she noticed I was staring at her, she looked away.
I felt bad, had I been too scary? Or way too forthright? Ilaria hadn't spoken to me since, and I wanted to know what was going on. "Damn it" I cursed.
"Son" my dad said as he grabbed my shoulder.
"Sorry! I won't say it again!" I shouted.
My dad smiled. "Yes, you better not"
I kept looking at her. My heart beating like crazy and my mind just admiring everything about her.
"Son"
I jumped. I had forgotten my dad was there. "Yes, dad?"
"Do you like her?"
I blushed. "I-I do"
My dad laughed quietly. "You do like to get in trouble, don't you?"
"Why?!" I said loudly. Even if I already knew it. She was out of my league. I sighed. "Just look at her. So strong, focused, beautiful, smart."
"Just tell her already" he said.
I blushed harder, if that's even possible. "What do you mean?! For the Goddesses sake, dad. She won't take me seriously or even consider it! I am just who she has to protect! She might see me only as a nuisance" I put my face in my hands. "Also, she was way too weak, and I took advantage of that. I feel like a complete loser"
Chris came out of nowhere and hit the top of my head slightly. "Stop wasting your time and help around, Alexander"
"Alright! But stop hitting me okay?!" I yelled, annoyed.
…
After packing our stuff, we reunited ourselves with Lavette at the entrance of the throne room.
"Take care out there, I don't want you to run into the same intruders we had to battle some days ago" Lavette said.
"Who are these intruders you are talking about? Do you know how to identify them?" Ilaria asked.
Lavette exchanged a look with a guard. "Well, these intruders were... different. They had powers similar to yours, Princess"
Ilaria closed her eyes for a moment and scratched her head. "By any chance… did these intruders wear black round masks?"
Lavette started at her google-eyed. "Y-yes they did. How did you know?"
Ilaria shrugged. "Just had a feeling. Anyways… I have reasons to believe these intruders you are talking about have something to do with Ganondorf's admirers, perhaps a group willing to follow him and his desires if he ever decides to come back"
I couldn't believe it. "You mean that we have to deal with these guys as well?" I asked.
"Maybe… I just wish we don't. I suspect they are pretty strong" she said.
Lavette nodded. "They weren't that strong, but that's because their leader wasn't with them. They threatened us, saying that if we didn't do as they said… their leader would end us"
"We'd better stop them before they try" I said.
"And we will" Jaiden said.
We all looked at him.
"I won't let anyone hurt you, Lavette" he said.
Lavette hugged him. "Thank you, Jaiden"
I peered at Ilaria. She just smiled at them briefly and lowered her gaze to her belt pockets, searching something in them.
My heart fell. Maybe she just doesn't want anything to distract her from the quest. Had I been that selfish to put myself before the safety of the kingdom? What would have happened if I had been an additional disturbance to the ones she already has to deal with? I needed to apologize. I lowered my gaze. For a moment, I had believed...
I started walking away, but felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, Alexander!"
Ilaria?
I turned around to see her, praying for her not to ask me if I was alright. My heart wouldn't be able to take it.
"Here" she said as she gave me a beautiful small gray stone, it shone brighter when the sun hit it, and in the shadow, darker tones of gray painted it. "I picked it by the waterfall when I was helping Lavette"
I took it. "Oh, thank you, Ilaria" A small flame of hope in my chest.
"It… reminded of your eyes" she said blushing.
My heart skipped a beat, my face felt so hot. "W-what?"
"Well, when I saw it, I thought, it looked like your eyes. You know?" she laughed nervously at the last part.
"I-I am, w-well" I babbled. I couldn't form a proper sentence. I took a big breath. "W-what I mean is... THANK YOU"
She laughed and nodded. "My pleasure! So, I guess we must get going-"
I grabbed her arm.
I didn't want to leave without telling her. Maybe I wouldn't have another chance.
"Ilaria, I-I'm sorry about earlier, I just wanted you to notice me because... I... like you. And, the truth is that, I have liked you ever since I met you at the castle. You are just, so beautiful and strong... brilliant..." I covered my mouth, letting go of her.
She took my hands.
"Well, it worked" she said blushing.
It... worked?
She grabbed my hand. "Okay! Time to go?" she signaled the others far away at the entrance.
I nodded, way too happy and excited to react.
And like that, Ilaria and I went together to the entrance, her hand in mine.
…
Chares
…
I saw them. Holding hands. Ilaria was smiling and Alexander was at her side, walking in his usual prince-like way, but with a big blush on his face.
Why did it feel as if my throat were in knots?
"Sorry about delaying you guys" she said.
Alexander cleared his throat. "Yes, we must get going"
"I'll be able to warp us all the way to The Great Bridge, I still need some practice if I want to warp us in longer distances, if that's ok" Ilaria said.
We all nodded and warped to The Great Bridge.
...