Lesson 1. Hyrule taverns

My wife was in her element in all the affairs of the castle. She was proper, relaxed and exuded an aura of self-assurance that commanded respect from others.

I think my biggest surprise was when I saw her speaking the zoran dialect. I had no idea she spoke other languages! I thought I knew her well and I didn't really know anything about her, or I knew a small part. She knew how to intervene in diplomatic conversations, to greet correctly, she met all visitors, she knew how to behave at dinners, in the halls, in the meetings... beside her I seemed a kind of clumsy and scruffy bokoblin. And she looked very pretty in her Hyrule clothes. Not that she wasn't pretty in the dresses that she wore when she arrived at the Nest, she was always so pretty to me, but I didn't know her as princess of Hyrule and I guess I was stunned.

"When are we going to war?" Fridd whispered.

"Shut up, I want to hear this right."

"What the…? You don't understand anything, Captain, just like us. These people speak a different language, don't pretend to understand a fuck that guy's saying," Ardren mocked.

"At least I'm trying to concentrate to understand, not like you." I grumbled.

"To speak another language, it's not enough to concentrate it's not so simple...," Ardren laughed, and I had to elbow him to shut his mouth.

The man speaking was the leader of a coastal tribe in southern Hyrule. He had mentioned the word "lizalfo" several times, and also something that sounded like "monsters." So, the hordes of creatures were roaming Hyrule, increasingly dangerous, but not like the army that had ravaged Nightfall.

King Rhoam intervened to make a lunch break, there were still at least ten other village leaders and small tribes to participate, it wasn't like our kandar, fast and direct to the problem. There were protocols and a lot more things were being discussed... I don't think I'd ever complain about a kandar again after seeing how slow were the meetings in Hyrule.

Zelda walked away clutching Gae's arm as soon as the meeting ended, and I remained as a foreigner who feels strange in a strange country. And it was even stranger because the distances she kept from me hurt as much as if someone had punched me in the belly. Of course, I had caused her behaviour, and that made me feel even worse.

"I wonder what Linox has done to the lady this time?, you know what, Fridd?

"Nope."

"Captain, as easy as it should be to enjoy this gift that Or has given you... and you like to complicate your life with her..."

"We'd have to see what you'd do in my situation," I growled, "what about Impa? Is she begging for your songs yet?"

"Auch. That blow hurt."

The three of us made our way to the large guest hall they had set up in the castle. It was at least twice the size of Fort Hawk's, and there were huge gold-embroidered banners and crests, with the symbol of Zelda's family. It was almost logical that Kruu felt cheated every time he managed to get a bag of gold from King Rhoam, when even the plates there had a golden rim around them.

"I leave you alone, boys. Be good and kind to these people, alright?" I told them, before I walked away to my place at Zelda's table.

I sat to her left, she was engaged in a conversation with Gae that made her laugh so much that her cheeks were pink and was unable to sip her wine. It was a little surreal, if it blinked I could see the Eagle's Nest collapsed, and if it blinked again, in Hyrule it's like nothing happened at all.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I've accompanied Ardren and Fridd to their table."

"Oh, Link. I hadn't even noticed you'd arrived," she said, and I felt another blow right at my side.

"I'm going to call the butler, you want wine too, don't you, Link? I mean a real good one…" Gae hinted. He got up from there before I could answer.

"There are a lot of people in Hyrule's kandar," I smiled, trying to soften Zelda's tension.

"And it's no offense for the guests to talk or participate, and women are more than welcomed…"

"Yeah… in the West we've a lot to learn from you."

She nodded and poked with the fork at one of the many appetizers spread out on the table. She was so beautiful that it was killing me.

"You left early this morning, when I woke up you were already gone," I said. In fact, we spent two nights in the castle and in neither of them was Zelda next to me in bed when I opened my eyes.

"Amy wanted to measure me for a summer dress. If I'm going to move to the east coast I'm going to need a lot of summer dresses."

"Zelda..."

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"I'd like to talk about us. I can't stand to go on like this."

"Like what?"

"The butler is here," Gae interrupted, occupying his seat again, "by the way, Link, I'd almost forgotten it. Someone came in asking for you this morning."

"For me? Really?"

"Yes. I told him you might meet him after lunch, I hope you don't mind."

"I don't know anyone here, is that someone from the West? Is he here now?" I gazed around the huge table, with all the princes and nobles seated, splashing wine and laughter.

"He's not a guest at this table, so I couldn't tell you. But he's not from the West, that's for sure," the prince smiled.

"Alright, I'll meet whoever it is after lunch."

The meal was long and hearty. Fortunately, a letter had arrived that morning from Lord Tyto reporting that all was well, quiet and uneventful. He also said that his rito had completed the wall of the Nest, and that five of them had remained there to watch until we returned home. If it weren't for that reassuring news, I'd be a little put out by the ceremonious calm that dominated Hyrule Castle - a little indolent and offensive, really.

After lunch, tea was served in the garden. The weather was fine and many guests came to enjoy the sunshine and the pleasant temperature. Zelda also insisted on attending and I had no choice but to follow her, although I was a little tired of the protocols. I did steer Fridd and Ardren away from something like that, they had held back enough during the meal, I didn't see how they could be having tea and pastries without making a fuss.

Zelda spent a long time talking to people in the glassed-in corridor that led to the royal gardens. At least there were hardly any people there, the food had been served outside, and although the corridor was a sort of greenhouse, it was half empty.

"Do you mind if I'm absent from meetings this afternoon?" I asked Zelda, who had been engaged all the time in a chat with a zora, in that dialect I didn't understand.

"I don't care, do as you please."

The zora excused himself and walked away from us.

"I know you are hurt with me and I apologise for that. But here I feel lost and displaced. I don't know how to behave with others, let alone with you."

"As I said, do as you please," she said, sipping her tea and avoiding my eyes.

"This only makes me think that I don't belong to your world or you don't belong to mine," I said. It hurt to admit it, but I've never felt this far from her.

She sighed and seemed to soften a little for the first time in a long time. She met my eyes for a second and blushed. I stepped forward and she went one step back. Then another step, until she got trapped between me and the wall. We were alone in that corridor, everyone else was already outside. I rubbed her cheek with my thumb and she closed her eyes, surrendering to my contact.

"Zelda, I just need-

"It's not a good idea."

She stepped aside and left me facing the empty wall.

Prince Gaepora came looking for me to tell me that my visit was waiting for me outside, in the gardens, not in those but in the ones near the parade ground. How many gardens there were in the castle? Once he took me to the place, he returned with his sister and the rest of the pompous nobles of Hyrule's court.

There was a tall broad-backed man waiting for me, arms folded over his chest.

"I'm Captain Link of Eagle's Nest. You wanted to see me?" I didn't know him.

"I appreciate you accepted to meet me," the man smiled. I noticed something strange and familiar, "my name is Kevan."

We shook hands. I looked around, but there was no one else. Maybe he wanted some kind of trade treaty with the Eagle's Nest, or even with Nightfall.

"You're too much like her," the man smiled.

"Excuse me?"

"I am Suly's younger brother from Hateno village. Your uncle."

"My... " I was petrified, I'd never have expected a visit like this.

"Don't worry, I didn't come here to ask for anything. We are not the sort to take advantage. We were very surprised by the news of your wedding, the wedding of the princess of Hyrule has reached every corner and village of the kingdom, as you can imagine. My parents, your grandparents, were very happy, to be honest. I admit that father is a little less so, but I'm sure he's proud even though he's too stubborn to admit it."

"Grandparents..."

"I just wanted to meet you, Link. Suly and I spoke to each other by letter for many years. She told me about you and her life in the West. We always wanted to make a trip to meet again, but in the end it wasn't possible."

"I wanted to meet you too. I've always wanted it."

"That's fine," he smiled openly, then he came closer, "it's okay if..."

"Yes, it's okay."

I let him hug me. It was weird but felt nice. There was something of Mom's eyes in him, she looked like him, and I guess I looked a bit like him too. I never looked like dad or the twins, not too much.

"Hell, you grew big and strong like an oak tree." He patted my back.

"Are you staying at the castle?"

"Not at all! I've come to accompany the governor of Hateno, for the King Rhoam's council."

"You should stay in the castle, I can ask them to arrange it right now."

"No, thank you, Link, really," he smiled. It was Mom's very smile, it was clear, "I just wanted to have a chance to meet you, that's all. We'll depart back home tomorrow."

I kept thinking at full speed. I didn't want to spend so little time with him. I had an uncle, uncle Kevan. And a grandpa, a grandma, and maybe more family. I wanted to know a lot more, Mom talked little about them out of fear, and Dad never mentioned them, as he had to fight Grandpa to marry Mom.

"How about going to a tavern for a drink? There's bound to be a tavern in the Citadel, isn't there?" I suggested.

He let out a sound laugh. I liked his sincere way of laughing.

"Do you think only barbarians enjoy good taverns? May I suggest a place?"

"Of course!" I smiled.

"But... I don't want to distract you from that formal council, it must be important to you."

"I don't understand half of what all those squeamish guys say there," I admitted, "and I've made efforts not to fall asleep. Besides, my wife's there, and she can update me on everything."

"Gee... your wife. The princess of Hyrule, it's hard to believe," he waved his head.

"It's very different from what you imagine," I grinned, "she's wonderful. She's smart, kind, she speaks many languages and cares a lot."

"I see...," he patted my shoulder, "well, nephew. First lesson on Hyrule then: taverns."

The afternoon flew by. First we went to a small tavern at the end of a cobbled street. There was music, and noise, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. There I tasted Hyrule craft beer, and also some typical dishes from the central region of Hyrule. Uncle Kevan said that Hateno had good cheeses and meats, and that the portions were three times bigger than those served in the taverns of the citadel. We laughed a lot talking about our lands and families. He was married and had two children, a boy and a girl. They were Leri and Jannie's age. He was the forest keeper, inherited from grandpa Ry, who was retired. He said that almost all the neighbours came to grandma and grandpa's house to congratulate them in person when they heard about my marriage to the princess, and that grandpa Ry spent the day grumbling, although he accepted all the congratulations. Grandma argued with grandpa a thousand times and was always sad about mom's death and not having met me.

"She has you very much in mind," Kevan said, "you're her grandson. Every time she's knitted or cooked for my kids, she's done it for you too. If she made cakes in the oven for the kids, she always made another one bigger for you. If she knitted a scarf for the winter, she'd make another one for you. Dad says she's lost her mind…"

"It would be nice to try grandma's cakes."

"Just knowing that I've been with you today will make her happy for a long time, believe me."

Then we went to another, much bigger tavern, near a huge square, with fountains, puppeteers and merchants. I told him about the problems in the West, and he said that the people lived in fear, but that they were well protected. There was a huge defensive wall and a fort at the foot of the Hateno forest, it was "impregnable". His conviction wavered when I told him about the assaults on Fort Hawk and the Nest. I also told him about the problems I have been facing lately, I don't know why, once I started talking to him it was as if I couldn't stop.

"Damn it, Link, it's really hard what you've had to go through," he said, draining his last mug of mead, "at least your relationship with your wife is good. It's tough considering yours is a marriage of convenience, consider yourself lucky. And all that conspiracy... if you need help you can count on us, you know that, don't you? We're family."

"Thank you, really. I would like to meet you all," I smiled "although the more the family grows, the harder it is to keep everyone safe."

"Again with this strange idea... Don't look for the impossible! I've already told you that there are things beyond our control. Your mother always said that the only thing that mattered was to try to be happy, and that there was too little time for that. Everything else is secondary."

I left uncle Kevan in an alley where there was still music and people drinking, his inn. Then I realised how late it really was and ran through the maze of streets. I was a bit lost. I didn't know Hyrule citadel was so big. I looked up and saw the towers of the castle, illuminated by pale, waning moonlight. Shit, I was going to be late for dinner. What would everyone think when they saw that the princess's consort had disappeared? What would happen to Zelda? All I needed was for her to get even angrier with me.

After going further than expected, I made it to the castle. The guards didn't object when they saw me, even though I had prepared a mental speech to explain who I was and why they had to let me through. They just looked at me in line and said nothing about it. I hurried to the place where dinner had been served the day before, but all was dark and silent.

"What about dinner? Have I arrived on time?"

The soldier who was guarding that corridor looked at me perplexed.

"Dinner's over a while ago, sir. Everybody's already resting."

Damn it.

I started to run in the direction of my quarters, but that castle was another labyrinth even worse than the citadel.

"Captain Link!"

"Gae! Thanks to Or, Gae..." I grabbed his shoulders as I caught my breath.

"Where have you been? Looks like you had a great time…" he laughed.

"I've been with... with a relative. My uncle Kevan, from Hateno village. We went to the citadel for a while, but we're late."

"I knew it was your relative, but I preferred to keep the surprise."

"Thank you for making it possible, it means a lot to me."

"I'm glad to hear that, and I'm so sorry I didn't invite him and your family in Hateno to the wedding... I was not allowed to have a say in what had to do with the wedding."

"Don't worry, neither do I. And... and my wife?"

"In your quarters, furious as a huge dark dragon."

"Damn it..."

"I'm kidding!" He laughed again, "she may have been a little angry, but that's fine, she'll get over it when she finds out you were with a relative."

"Good."

"I must retire now, I've only gone to say good night to my sister," he smiled.

"No, wait! Gae, you tell me how to get to my quarters?"

He laughed again but gave in to accompanying me through the maze to the north wing.

"Good luck," he winked before leaving me there alone.

I stealthily opened the door. The living room was empty, and the servants were no longer around. I took off my boots and tiptoed into the bedroom, perhaps I could slip into bed without her noticing.

"Good night, Link."

Shit. She was sitting on the carpet, reading in front of the bedroom fireplace.

"I thought you'd be sleeping."

"You see I'm not."

I swallowed and approached slowly. Once again she was wearing that kind of thin, half-transparent nightgown which made me lose my focus.

"I'm sorry I missed meetings and..."

"And dinner."

"And dinner, yes. I'm really sorry."

She snorted and closed the book in half, making a lot of noise, so I gasped.

"I know where your magic sword is hiding, if you still have any interest on it," she protested, frowning.

I crouched down and sat next to her so I could better catch the cherries scent.

"I still have all the interest," I reached out to touch a lock of her hair.

"I'm very angry, Link. Besides, what is this? Have you been to a tavern?" She looked at me totally angry and I had to laugh, "I don't see what's funny."

"Lesson one on Hyrule: taverns."

"Are you drunk?"

"I'm not, just a little... Toned. Yes, that's the word. They serve nothing strong in your country, not strong indeed, although uncle Kevan says in Hateno they serve a mead that would knock Kruu down."

"Uncle Kevan?"

"Yes."

She pondered this, so I took the opportunity to kiss her, and she didn't pull away. Her soft lips tickled my mouth.

"And... And you've been with your uncle all this time?"

Her cheeks got pink with the kiss, but she didn't give me a smack or anything like that, she was lowering her guard.

"That's it," this time I kissed her neck and gave in to the need to see what the hell the clear nightgown was made of. Dammit, it was draining between my fingers.

"I don't know what you're doing," she babbled, nervously. I noticed her pulse racing, but she didn't move from the spot or try to push me away.

"Do you need help with your nightgown button?"

"But I've already buckled it..."

As I looked at her and tried not to laugh at her nervousness, I reached out behind her neck and unbuttoned her nightgown. The fabric fell a little and left an uncovered shoulder that I covered in kisses. Her skin was soft and delicious.

"I don't get it...," she repeated, as if some kind of absurd explanation had to be given for everything.

I stepped aside to take off my robe and shirt, and she stared, surprised.

"You can touch too, if you want," I grinned.

"I don't know why the hell you think I want to do that."

"Because you always look at me like you want to touch."

"What the…It's not true! You're a smug..."

I burst out laughing and pounced on her, now she had no escape and was trapped underneath me.

"I don't know what happened with your uncle, but you're acting very strange, Link."

I kissed her and at last she gave in and reciprocated by putting her hands on my back. She groped as much as she wanted and I did the same, fingering the slippery fabric of her nightgown that clung to her body like a second skin.

"You know? I've never seen a naked woman, not quite."

"And... w-why are you telling me that now?"

"Because you're my wife. And you're beautiful. Or so I imagine."

She babbled something I covered with another kiss, and then I pulled away to sit back down. It was amusing to see her so troubled. I know she liked to touch as much as I did, she could play smart or surprised as much as she liked, but there were unmistakable signs that she wanted to touch. At last she sat up too, her cheeks burning like fire.

"Are you going to let me look at you or not?" I insisted.

"Why do you want to do that?"

"You're looking at me, it's fair."

She sighed and frowned.

"Are you afraid? For western women it's normal."

"I'm not afraid, usually you're the one who's afraid," she folded her arms over her chest.

"Then you shouldn't mind. You look at me and I look at you. Deal?"

"What the hell does it mean it's normal for western women?"

"I see, you don't dare, you're a coward."

"No, wait," she snorted, "you want to look at me? Alright then."

By Or and by all the damn goddesses of Hyrule. I was pretty troubled too, really, but it was something I've wanted for a long time.

She gently grabbed the edges of her nightgown and pulled it over her head. As she pulled up the fabric I could see her legs, the flat belly, with a small, round hole, and... and…

"Don't you say anything?"

"... I...huh…"

This time it was she who laughed at me, but I had never seen anything more perfect in all my life. And I could look at her slowly and for as long as I wanted. Her breasts were round and firm, smoothly contoured and the nipple was a darker pink than the rest of her skin. When I was a brat the boys and I would go to see an innkeeper at Fort Hawk who always wore loose dresses and bent over a lot to pour the beer, we used to order and order so we could see something more. And something I could feel through the clothes, when I was with Eve, but those had been my closest approximations to women's body, so I was so in awe that I was afraid if I closed my eyes I'd miss it. Zelda brought me back to reality by taking my hand. She slowly drove it to her breasts.

"Damn by all the gods…"

"I don't think blaspheming now is a good idea." She teased.

She let me touch her, slowly. Her skin felt very different there, soft, and I almost thought I'd die when I saw that I could wrap her chest in my hand and squeeze. She breathed hard as I did that, I could feel her skin smooth against my hand.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, but don't you dare squeeze too hard," she said, chuckling.

I approached to kiss her and she hugged me. I surrounded her tightly squeezing her body against mine.

"Hey, slow down!" she laughed, over my shoulder.

"Sorry, it's that ... don't you like to feel this or what?"

"It's not that. But when you stop being so happy about the mead tomorrow, you'll feel differently..."

I lay on top of her to kiss her, I really wanted to, I wanted to touch her and kiss her all over, plus she started to move underneath my body and that didn't help.

"What about you? Have you ever seen a naked man?"