Zelda saw Cade walking away from her as soon as he saw her. Gaebora had assured her that the boy was just really spooked by the tension within the castle, but Zelda knew better. Cade always enjoyed seeing the nobles be stupid, he was always ashamed when he failed her.
The letters were still either in transit or in the post office and Cade had no heart to tell her. He was adorable.
Zelda sighed, things were escalating within the castle. They had tasted power in her absence and it was hard to take it back. It had been hard enough to try to rule before, when she had all the right to it, but now they were actively shutting her off. If she could leave without feeling like a complete failure, maybe, just maybe, she would do it.
She had kept on writing letters, all to Link, fewer as she realised they wouldn't arrive. And though she knew that maybe Link wouldn't even know about them, she slept better knowing that at least he was able to be tranquil back in Ordon, surrounded by people who cared for him.
One of them could at least rest.
"A rupee for your thoughts?"
Zelda looked back, saw Mikau walking towards her, a smile in place. He was attired with expensive clothes, and his hair was fixed with gel.
"What about a rupee for yours?"
He gave her a loop-sided grin, "Wouldn't you like to know, your Highness," he stood next to her, eyed the guards around the garden, "you look lovely today, princess," he crouched to reach her ear, "as always, of course."
Zelda gave him a smile, they exchanged looks and she started walking, "What is your fight with Kafei about?"
Mikau huffed, shook his head, "The dumb fool can't see that Anju is smitten with me," Mikau gave her an annoyed look, "and really, no one can blame her, have you seen me?"
Zelda walked away from a suspicious guard, "Really, now? Isn't she his fiancé, though?"
Mikau laughed, followed her, "Doesn't that make it more gossip-worthy?"
"You evil man."
Mikau moved his hand in an affected manner, "The worst, apparently, and yet women can't help but see me as attractive. Mysterious beings, you are."
Zelda touched the flowers as she walked, they were walking near the fountain, "Was it really that bad?"
Mikau offered his arm, "Two more months and they would have pronounced you dead, evil bastards."
Zelda locked arms with Mikau, he gave a sharp turn, "They are being really stubborn."
"Don't give in," Mikau whispered, "some heavy cavalry has arrived, it seems. We're still checking if he is in our side, but at least it will give us time. Resist."
Zelda scrunched her nose, looked away, "Really, Lord Mikau, you know I don't appreciate those types of conversation."
Mikau cocked his eyebrow, changed his tone to overly jovial, "But, my Lady, you are the most beautiful, fairest, wisest of them all, you can't blame a fool like me for falling this hard."
A guard appeared in front of them, looked at Mikau with contempt. Mikau smiled, his handsome face shining with grace.
"Oh my, it seems that someone doesn't like what he's seeing," he let Zelda's arm fall, guided it towards her side with his hands, squeezed, "do forgive my rudeness, your Majesty."
Zelda sighed, acted bothered, "It is of no importance, Lord Mikau."
Mikau gave a bright smile, winked at the guard, "Well, then, I'm off the hook, it seems."
He bowed towards Zelda, patted the guard's shoulder.
The guard looked ready to kill, he sent daggers towards Mikau's back, stood still until Mikau was out of sight, he squared then, "Your Highness, Sir Gaebora asked for your presence."
Zelda hummed, "Let's not make him wait, then."
She walked slow, each step a measured one, she let herself stop at every flower that catched her attention, counted more guards than before, more eyes on her than this morning. She saw the irritation filling the guard, as he tried to get closer to her and pressure her into moving faster.
She wanted to punch him. She cut one flower, smelled it, then gave it to the guard, "Great scent, is it not?"
The guard feigned a smile, took the flower and thanked her, "Yes, ma'am."
As soon as the princess started walking again, the guard crushed it and threw it to the ground.
When she arrived to her workroom Gaebora was still, crushing his hands. There were guards stationed outside, but they couldn't hear a word from there.
"Gaebora?"
The man started and looked apologetic, "Your Highness, there are, uhm, people that want to have an audience with you."
Zelda nodded, her curiosity piqued, "Why are you so nervous?"
Gaebora wouldn't meet her eyes, "They say they were sent by a person named Link."
Gaebora didn't pry further, he lowered his eyes, tried to bite down the dread that was filling him. He had his assumptions about the young man, but whatever the boy meant to his princess meant nothing; the boy had left and was gone, - not something Gaebora should worry about - but now there were people in Link's name waiting in the hall, clearly coming to help the princess, clearly changing the rules. Gaebora dared to steal a glance.
Zelda was smiling, a tiny, completely controlled smile, like the ones he had taught her to show. And then she frowned.
"Are you certain?"
Gaebora sighed, took a piece of parchment out.
Zelda took it with care, it was hastily written, it read 'Trust them, I do. They will help. Link'
Zelda was out of the room clutching the paper to her chest.
Ashei glanced around the room, ostentatious and grand-looking, if it weren't for the clearly battle-earned damages, she would have called it beautiful; as she stopped at Shad's nervous hand movements, - in an attempt to iron even more his already ironed outfit - she let her weight fall to her left leg.
"Think she'll come?"
Shad made a whining noise as an answer.
Ashei huffed, "Come on, calm down. She won't bite, yeah?"
Another whine.
"And you were so excited when Link asked you to do this."
Shad flattened his hair, mumbled, "It's different," through clenched teeth.
Ashei ignored him, she made to touch her sword, but they had taken it from her. She frowned, "Well, it would suck if she didn't even gave us a meeting, yeah?"
Shad agreed with her, but he sounded almost relieved.
Ashei looked around her for the umpteenth time, chewing on her cheek to stop herself from telling Shad to please, for the love of Hylia, stop moving, when the door behind the throne opened wide and in came a young, beautiful woman, who was clutching a piece of parchment to her chest. Looking at them with way more enthusiasm than Ashei would have exptected.
And it clicked.
Princess Zelda gave them a quick look before sitting on the throne. She had called for no guards, and had left Gaebora outside the room.
Ashei noticed as much.
"Your Highness," greeted Ashei, she bowed and Shad followed with robotic movements.
Zelda stilled herself, controlled her breathing, breath in, breath out, don't give out what you think. She sat on the throne, looked at her guests, "Welcome to the castle, I have received a letter from..." Link, say his name, Link, "a friend of yours, I presume?"
Ashei straightened, nodded, "Yes, ma'am, the letter you have received is from Link Orden, from the Ordona Province. He was...is, a part of The Resistance, a group of people who fought agains Zant's invasion. We are here in his name, to be of assistance to you, your Highness."
Zelda pinched her thighs, tried to supress her smile, "Well, that is most welcome, but I can not give you positions within the castle without going through my council. May I know in what area you want to work in? That way I can present it in today's meeting."
Ashei smiled, "No, ma'am, there is no need for you to go through such hassles. We are," she motioned towards herself and Shad, "what you would call undercover agents, we are here to let you know we are on your side, but ours has always been an undergroung battle."
Zelda opened her mouth, "Oh," Ashei was giving her a satisfied look.
"There is also other person with us, but he is as slow as he is old, which is why it took us so long since Link's departure to come see you. He is on your side too, but he was rather fishy about coming back, something about me not being secretive enough, and something about how it was better for him to enter from somewhere else. He will show himself soon enough, though, don't worry."
Shad coughed, gave Ashei a look, "Maybe you could tell her Majesty about him, Ashei," Ashei raised an eyebrow, confused. Shad gestured towards the throne, "You haven't even told her his name, Ashei," he whispered.
"The old man wants it to be shocking, or whatever-"
"To others, Ashei!" Shad whispered, he went from Ashei to Zelda and felt his face go red.
Ashei scoffed, shook her head as she shrugged off Shad's meddling, turned to Zelda, "Your Highness, I am hereby offering my services to remove any impertinence out of your way with the swiftest, most untraceable method. Worse comes to worst I'll go back to living in the wilderness."
"Excuse m-?" Zelda couldn't find the words.
"Ashei?!" Shad was horrified.
"Also, this man here is Shad Colins, he's a noble from Hyrule, he'll go back to his family and be a spy, or something."
Shad shook his head, incredulous.
"Thank you?" tried Zelda.
"You're most welcome, your Highness."
Shad made fists with his hands, told himself over and over that he could do this, "The other man is Auru Po'hra, your Highness, he will come see you when-" Shad gave a nervous once-over to her Highness before going back to the ground.
"Excuse me?" Zelda scrunched her eyebrows.
Shad stopped dead in his tracks.
"Auru Po'hra?" asked Zelda.
"Yes, ma'am."
"My father's advisor? That Auru Po'hra?"
Shad bowed his head, "Yes, your Highness," he squeaked.
Zelda straightened. Ashei was standing with her hands on her waist, proud of herself. Shad was unable to look Zelda in the eye.
"What?" Zelda asked.
I really can't with Ashei's attitude, she's such a little shit, I love her.