I'm still writing this. I feel accomplished.

Also, yesterday I went to watch the final battle of TP, and I had a lot of flashbacks of how fucking great it was.

Enjoy!

William saw Cade in the distance, sitting and looking lost in thought. When William sat beside him he realised the boy was looking at Zelda and that new guest of honor that doubled as Zelda's bodyguard. A young woman who dressed as a knight, and behaved as one - at least in front of Zelda. William had seen her brawl and win wagers in the bars in downtown Castle Town.

"She's been really happy these couple of weeks," said William.

Cade looked at him and then looked away, making sure to roll his eyes in time for William to see it.

"I don't even know him, and I already hate him," maybe poking at him would make him react?

Cade huffed.

"He even draws, have you seen the pictures he's sent her?"

Cade glared at him. Jackpot.

"Are you still reading her letters?"

"Hey, buddy-"

Cade raised a finger, shook his head, "Don't you dare, William, you've been dealing with her secrets," Cade was offended, his eyes were two slits, "again," he pointed.

"Cade-" but there was no use trying to calm down the young man.

"She trusts you. Still does," Cade had trouble believing how, "even after you frustrated her attempts at facing the invasion. She could have curbed it, she could have-"

"She would have died, Cade," William sighed, the boy didn't believe him, "they had the numbers and the power. I saw them, I am one of the few who saw him, that..." William moved his hands in an attempt to help him articulate, "thing. Zelda had her heart in the right place, but it wasn't enough."

"You told them to retreat," Cade growled, "if they hadn't-"

"More would have died. Really, Cade, Zelda trusts me because she knows I'll make what needs to be done for the kingdom."

"Yeah, not for her."

William cocked his head, asked the Goddesses for patience. He wasn't bad, for Hylia's sake.

"Zelda gave me this position. You don't trust me anymore? Fine. Trust her, that's your thing."

Cade bit his cheek, decided not to fall for William's obvious attemp to rile him up, "Was it you who told them about Link?"

William shrugged, "You know I did."

"Did you bargain with the secrets I told you, too?"

"No... I mean, some of them. Only the ones they could get their hands on," William clarified, looking innocent, "the other secrets you told me are still, you know, secret."

Cade felt the need to clamp up, to tell William to leave him alone and not to talk to him again. William had been nothing but arrogant and meddlesome, and Cade just wanted to kick his shins whenever he treated him like... this. As if Cade just couldn't understand whatever William was doing because Cade was dumbed with trying to help Zelda. Zelda's face sprung up in Cade's mind, she had been snickering with Ashei all morning. Even when William had, in Cade's eyes, betrayed Zelda, she had not once retaliated towards him. Even after William had convinced the noblemen to retreat their troops, even when he talked with captains to take their companies away, even when that had resulted in Zelda's imprisonment. Not once had Zelda said anything bad about William. Cade had to remember that.

Cade gave William a look, full of distrust, full of 'I'd rather not', but William noticed and shook his head, shrugged while smiling. And Cade remembered how William had taken the blame for all of Zelda's chilhood's mischief.

"Link's coming on Din's day, you know. She received a letter with pictures, of a family and a baby. He's coming back now. I think that's a secret they'll know eventually, you should use it."

William felt his shoulders sag, tried to laugh it off, "Cade..."

"I certainly don't understand nor approve of your methods, and sure, I may not be the nicest to you now, but I can appreciate the... work you do... kinda"

William opened his mouth, felt the need to fight for his case, however he could, with whatever came to mind.

And then a laugh was heard through the gardens, and William and Cade sat straighter and looked at the source of the sound, disbelief filling their minds. Zelda was trying to stiffle her laughter, with poor results, as they heard Ashei talking about Reek Fish and Link.

Zelda laughed again. It brought back memories of late nights, and scrapped knees; of stolen pastries eaten inside wardrobes, and the sunshine smile of the princess, long lost in the making of a Queen.

Cade saw the gleam in William's eyes, "Jealous?"

William's eyes were filled with awe, "Infuriantingly so. What will I do if he is handsome to boot?"

"The maids say he is."

A guard looked at the Princess with his mouth open.

"And a Hero, too," William mocked, "I'll have to crush him."

Cade moved his head so quickly William raised his hands immediatly, "It's a joke," he gave Zelda a quick glance, "I swear, it was a joke."

Ashei had her usual aloof expresion, but she was gesticulating with such strenght that even Cade and William had trouble hiding their smiles.

"I just... he's too perfect, either he is faking it, or he is faking it," said William.

Cade gave him a side-glance, "They say that about you, too. Just admit you're jealous."

"I have a healthy dose of disrespect towards him, that's all. Like, I wouldn't be mad if minor inconveniences kept happening to him."

Cade looked at William with squinted eyes, "You better behave when he comes."

Link sneezed in front of Illia.

"Link! Gross!"

Link shook his head as he opened his eyes and frowned. The pumpkin he had just harvested was ripe and orange.

"Sorry, it came out of nowhere."

Illia made a disgusted noise, "If there's any snot in the pumpkins I'll hold you accountable."

Link laughed, "It was one sneeze," he remarked "if there's any snot on the pumpkins you should be amazed at my ability to grow snot."

Illia gave him a look, "You can't go talking like that in the Castle, you hear me? Everyone and their mother will try to get a look at you, you better behave."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Especially since they'll know you're from Ordona, they'll try to make you look like a dumb farmer."

Link cut the vines of his next pumpkin, "I mean, I am a dumb farmer who happens to live in Ordona."

Illia was going to lecture him, he knew. She was worried, as always. It was a lecture born out of love, he reminded himself. But he was getting fed up with them. The whole village knew he was going to Hyrule Castle, the whole village tried to councel him before he went, and by how they talked to him the whole village thought he was a dumb farmer. So before Illia could turn to glare at him again, Link spoke.

"And I know you're worried and all, but really, I can handle myself out there in the big scary world. I've proved it, actually. So please, don't go down the lecture route because one more and I'll snap, really."

Illia threw dirt to his pumpkins, Link looked offended, but started cleaning them with slow movements. She had seen him being sat down with every adult in the village to give him advice. How to behave, what to say, how to talk, what to do, and especially what not to do. Link had just smiled and nodded, thanked everyone and left with excuses.

Illia was half conflicted that it was her he had asked to shut up. She was also glad he could do it.

"Fine," she grumbled, "go be your dumb self with Princess Zelda. Just make sure not to hit too many nobles."

Link snorted, "Won't promise anything, but I'll try my best."

Illia patted her trousers and stood, "I'll take the pumpkins to the cart."

It was guilt that made Link call Illia, "Hey! I'll be back for my birthday, all right?" Illia gave a twirl and gave him the thumbs up, "I'll even bring you a gift!"

Illia made cheering movements with her arms, "Please have Princess Zelda advise you if you're gonna bring clothes!"

Link laughed, laughed like he had come to learn to laugh. Laughed till Illia got lost in the distance and then he closed his mouth.

"Oh, boy," he lamented as he cut another vine.

Also, am I hinting that maybe Link will beat some nobles up? MAYBE? Somebody will be decked, that's for sure.