Hi everyone! I'm back! I'm super happy that so many of you actually liked my first chapter. I'm low key just SO glad I can share my writing with all you peeps who actually appreciate it and enjoy it :) So thanks for all the support and reads, it means a lot for an unqualified gal writing garbage in her spare time... haha.
Here is the Chapter 2 which probably nobody has been waiting for, but I'll publish anyway! Heh. I know the first chapter was super smutty, but believe it or not, I actually have heaps of ideas for this little fanfic project! So stay tuned for more updates in (the very near) future… I will likely be changing the description on the overall fanfic title, since my vision extends a little further beyond the occasional fun lemon, but don't you worry your little butts, more lemons are part of my writing plans too 😉
Anyway enough from boring old me… Read on and enjoy xx
A Knight's Will: Chapter Two
The prickling of sweat along Zelda's skin was a buzzing irritation, one which told her they were fast approaching the arid sands of the Gerudo desert. She had fond memories of the place and very much loved Lady Urbosa, but the climate was one she would never grow accustomed to. The days burned so hot that she would yearn for nightfall, and yet when darkness was upon the deserts, she would find herself shivering in wait of the morning sun's warmth again.
Zelda turned to glance at Link walking alongside her. He was so close by that if she were to reach out, she would be able to touch him. And yet he felt so distant. Unless there was danger, Link never walked ahead of Zelda. His status as her knight meant he was far above just about every other Hylian in the land, but it also meant that he walked two steps behind Zelda at all times. She examined that beautiful face of his, studying his long eyelashes and straight nose. His mouth was the same flat line it always was, and his blue eyes were fixed ahead, scoping for danger. He was too loyal. Too good. Too perfect. His ability to act so utterly normal after the previous night was necessary, and not even Zelda could chastise him for it. Still, there was a significant part of her that wished to see a change in his behaviour. An element of awkwardness. A scrap of the embarrassment she had seen the night before. Something, anything, to indicate that the night's events had affected him as much as it had her.
Link didn't fail to notice Zelda's eyes on him, either. He gave a silent tip of his head, asking if everything was alright. He was aware that ever since they left camp, Zelda had been cryptically quiet. She was someone who liked to think aloud, and Link had never minded listening. If nothing else, he found her silence to be concerning. His silent query, however, was answered with a small glare. It was then that Link felt a flicker of panic heating his stomach.
Zelda turned away and quickened her pace. Link studied her, watching as she placed a short distance between them before slowing down to her usual walking speed again. Turning to look over his shoulder, Link gave a small gesture to keep the captains behind him at bay. He picked up his feet and followed after the princess, granting her whatever space it was she desired without fully respecting it. When Link drew nearer, he saw the sideways glance she gave him. He couldn't quite tell if she'd just given him a dirty look, or if it was an invitation to speak with her more privately. Link glanced backward at the Hylian captains again, noting they were about five metres away and for the most part, unsuspecting. He dared to reduce the distance between himself and the princess from two steps to just one and a half.
"Link."
"Highness."
Her voice was one of regal status, while his was of trained subordinance. A quick exchange like any other, and yet, Zelda hated the normality of it.
"You haven't spoken to anyone, have you?" she asked him. "About…"
Her voice trailed to silence and she chanced a look over her shoulder. Her two senior captains were chatting to each other and not paying particular attention to them. She looked over to Link, to see him shaking his head.
"You say you don't regret it."
Link's blue eyes scoped the horizon for signs of danger.
"No, I don't," he answered, glancing at her briefly. Zelda saw the way he turned his attention back to the road ahead of them. So fluidly, so readily. His ability to carry out his duties was admirable, at least.
"You don't seem all that happy, either."
Link was quiet a moment, as if processing the information. His eyes closed and he gave the smallest tip of his head.
"We can't do that again, princess."
He saw the way Zelda swivelled to look at him, and it hurt him more than he thought it would. He shook his head and turned his eyes back to scope the distant horizon.
"It is far too dangerous," he went on. "You cannot be without a nightguard. There are many assassins—"
"There is always a night watch for the camp," Zelda argued. "Besides, I wasn't alone, was I?"
She saw the way those brows creased in a frown. The corners of Link's mouth twisted with a wry grimace and when he turned to look the other way, she saw the light blush colouring his cheeks.
"I…"
Link knew he had fallen asleep almost instantaneously, and as far as his memory went, he hadn't woken up till the morning sun shone upon the land. He had been in no state to protect her. Not like that.
"A night guard must be awake and alert," Link stated, lifting his chin an inch. "At attention, and ready to strike."
His words sent Zelda into silence. She stared at him a few moments longer, trying to decipher just what exactly his motive was. Not for the first time, she failed to understand her silent knight.
"I take it you slept well, then?"
Zelda's voice was crisp with lethal sarcasm. A rare occurrence. Link retracted just an inch, and even his feet slowed down just enough for him to resume his usual two-step distance from the princess. He didn't know how to answer, and fortunately for him, Zelda didn't expect him to. She turned away and flipped her hair dismissively back over her shoulders.
Link's feet shuffled to a standstill. She had taken it about as badly as he had expected, though seeing it in action didn't make him any happier. The slap of a hand across his shoulder made him glance up.
"Scolded by Her Royal Highness again?"
The Hylian captain's voice was light with amusement. Link looked to him, wondering if he had heard their conversation. As far as unsuspecting smiles went, Link didn't think he had. Most of the soldiers in their entourage were quite familiar with Zelda's hatred of being followed everywhere. They were glad that only Link had the responsibility of such a task, and was therefore the only person subject to her wrath over the matter.
"She'll have her freedom once we reach Gerudo Town," he went on. "Those guards of theirs would never let you follow her in there."
Link only answered with a sideways nod of his head. He knew of the Gerudo Town traditions; men were forbidden from entering. While Zelda might love such a tradition for the freedom it granted, the concept of letting Zelda out of his sight always made Link uneasy. Knowing she was inside a private tent, temple, or bathing in the hot springs was one thing. He could guard those easily and permit some degree of privacy. An entire town, where an array of people could come and go freely? Not so much.
Shading his eyes against the burning sun, Link raised his head to the skies. He watched the passing flock of herons squawking and squabbling, as if trying to give voice to his inner turmoil. The brief flicker of their shadows passed over the marching ensemble, but the sun soon returned to full power above their heads. Link could see the mirage of waters upon the horizon, and a little further beyond, the tallest rock that formed Gerudo Town. Nightfall, along with the bitter colds that came with it, was only a few hours away. If all went well, then Link calculated they ought to reach the town by midnight. A few years ago, it was a safe road where most travellers preferred to traverse the freezing deserts at night than during the blistering daytime heat. But now, in midst of the rising monsters? Link silently prayed to the goddess that their entourage would be granted safe passage.
When darkness came, so too did the cold. The chattering voices of their entourage had turned to the sound of chattering teeth. The sand remained a source of warmth beneath the soldiers' feet, but the night air would strip it away without a moment's hesitation. The men began to walk more briskly to counter the decreasing temperatures, and with each additional piece of clothing being put on, the sound of their armour began to soften into near silence.
It had only been two hours since Link parted with his princess. He had watched the Gerudo guards escort Zelda inside their domain. He had stood in silence until Zelda walked out of his sight. And he'd lingered several minutes longer, till the other Hylian Captains began to march their soldiers towards the Kara Kara Bazaar, where the men could rest. They were nearly there already, and as the bazaar drew nearer, the men grew more excited.
"Not cold, Link?"
Link glanced up at the captain that had spoken to him. He watched as the taller Hylian rubbed his hands together and blew over his cold fingers. It was then that Link looked down at himself and realised why the captain seemed confused. He'd been so lost in thought during their march that he had forgotten to put on warmer clothing. He was still dressed in his usual trousers and blue tunic.
"You seem distracted," the captain commented. "She'll be fine, you know. Lady Urbosa is a powerful person, with plenty of guards at her disposal."
It wasn't that Link didn't know that. He understood that Lady Urbosa would allow no harm to befall his princess, but what of the other hundreds of people who passed through Gerudo Town? He could not say the same for them. Besides, there had been an increasing number of reports from people who had spotted Yiga clan members. For some inexplicable reason, Link simply couldn't shake that sense of impending doom and fear from his gut.
"Did something happen last night?"
Link's eyes widened. He stopped for a split second, then looked up at the captain. The other man's eyes were focused on the bazaar ahead of them, and it took Link just a little longer than usual to understand the captain's question had only been a light, curious one. There was no suspicion. At least, Link didn't think so.
"I saw you send the guards away," he commented. "And I know I'm not privy to your discussions with her… All that royal business, I know I'm out of line. But… Should we be concerned?"
Link wondered if the events of last night was what put him on edge. Was he right to be so concerned about Zelda's wellbeing in Gerudo Town? Or was he verging into a new territory of overprotectiveness? Perhaps for the first time, Link wasn't sure whether to trust his instinct. He focused instead on the men breaking formation as they approached the oasis by the bazaar. They could have marched for another fifty metres, but neither Link nor the Hylian captains felt the need to reprimand the men. Link drew to a stop alongside the captain and watched the men abandon marching in favour of food, drink, and rest.
"Nothing extraordinary," Link finally answered. His vague answer was of no surprise to the captain either, who accepted the response with a nod. He was accustomed to Link dodging questions when it came to Princess Zelda, the king, or the royal family. Link had a position of privilege by the princess's side, and he likely knew enough information to single-handedly bring down the royal family of Hyrule. But would Link do such a thing? Even in exchange for all the riches in the world, the Hylian captain knew Link would never breach Zelda's trust in him. Hell, Link would probably even choose death over doing such a thing.
"You really don't like leaving her side, do you?"
Link's eyes narrowed in a brief, sour expression of irritation. It was such a rare moment that the Hylian captain laughed out loud. He slapped Link across his back with enough strength that it forced Link to take half a step forward.
"Come on, have a drink with us! You need a break, my friend."
Link took another step forward, away from the captain. He shook his head to decline the invitation.
"You never drink with us. I've never even seen you drunk, Link. She's not here to reprimand you, you know."
Link flexed his shoulders and glanced up at the tall rock structures above the Kara Kara Bazaar. His eyes were focused and searching.
"I take my leave," Link told him. "Seeing as we are off-duty…"
The captain squinted after the small Hylian. "Where are you going? No, better yet, what are you doing?"
Link only gave him a backwards glance.
"My duty is to the princess, not the soldiers."
It was all he said before he turned away and headed towards the bazaar, leaving a confused Hylian captain in his wake.
Link remembered the secrets Lady Urbosa had once told him. As scandalous as the idea was, he didn't particularly care. Not this time. Everything he was about to do was within the scope of his job description, and even if the king were to find out, Link didn't think there would be all too much reason to scold him or punish him. Perhaps the only thing on the line was Link's pride, but quite frankly, it was a minor loss. The other soldiers might laugh, but would they be surprised? They might even be impressed by Link's dedication.
Link grasped the wooden ladders that were propped up against the sides of the clay building. He climbed up briskly, fuelled by a warmth in his belly. The mild numbness of his fingers and toes was all he had to tell him the night air was cold, perhaps dangerously so, but Link didn't feel it. He was a man on a mission now. He ascended the final rung of the ladder and searched the topmost landing above the bazaar.
"Why, hello!"
The voice was rough by nature, yet a much higher pitch than one might expect. It was a voice which Link recognised instantly, and the sound of it brought him more relief than he expected. Link looked to the source of the voice, to see someone sitting atop the bazaar with their evening meal in hand. Dressed in pink Gerudo clothes, the figure was of a masculine build. Yet the clothing was evidently designed for a vai, or a female, and as far as Link was concerned, the gender of the person before him was not to be questioned.
"Good evening," Link called out. He pulled himself over the edge and approached the person carefully.
"Are you in need of my services once again, young one? You are ever so pretty."
Link took a breath and went over to the person. He dropped down to their height and reached into his pouch.
"Yes, indeed. Six hundred rupees, is that correct?"
The well-built person pushed to their feet and cupped their cheeks bashfully.
"Non! For such a pretty returning customer? I will only accept three hundred."
Link wasn't about to argue. He gave a nod and withdrew the rupees from his pouch. This was not an expense he could put on the official account, after all.
"Thank you."
A handful of soldiers, alongside two Hylian captains, sat around a cooking pot. Warm from the fire and ever so slightly merry from the ale they had in their hands, they sang songs while supper was being cooked. They no longer felt the cold night, nor did they feel the need to act all too proper. In the princess's absence, they could be as boisterous as they liked, and drink as much as their captains permitted. Princess Zelda of Hyrule wasn't one to excessively criticise her soldier's behaviours when they were off-duty, however, the soldiers had seen her scolding her knight often enough. In some twisted way, they'd learned to fear her.
The soldiers were so busy chatting that they hardly noticed Link approach. He was a small Hylian, even compared to some of the other soldiers. He was even softer in his footsteps. Unlike the soldiers in their heavy armour, Link's clothes gave him the advantage of stealth. It had once been a talking point when he was first appointed the princess's personal knight. Many of the soldiers thought he had been softened by the luxuries his position granted him. He'd been taken from the battlefield, away from the front line, and away from the harsh life of a soldier. He'd been given new lodgings, new clothes to match his position beside the princess, and been granted all sorts of new privileges that a soldier could only dream of. It was only when they embarked upon their journey across the land that the soldiers understood Link himself had not changed. He no longer shared their uniform and armour, but he was still every bit the swordsman they remembered. And for that, they'd accepted him once more.
But tonight?
The men had seen Link's naked body before. He bathed with everyone else, and as far as everyone could see, his privileged title hadn't made him any more prudent. He was comfortable stripping down to wash in the river with the other men, and as such, the sight of his skin was no more foreign to the men as any other soldier's. Yet tonight…
His tunic was nowhere to be seen. Neither were his trousers, nor his boots. Instead, he wore a short shirt that exposed his shoulders and midriff entirely. Golden jewellery adorned his arms and wrists, along with sleeves of sheer silk. Instead of his sturdy trousers, he wore a loose fitting Gerudo sirwal. He had small shoes upon his feet, similarly decorated with gold. He had even exchanged his earrings in favour of a pair of gold hoops. A delicate veil of silk and gold masked his hair and face from them, too. The men fell into a deathly silence.
Perhaps it was the clothes. Perhaps Link's body had simply never been all too masculine, and the men had simply never cared enough to notice. Perhaps Link had always had a pretty face, and his friends had merely never stopped to think more on it. Whatever the case was, the men didn't recognise Link immediately. They watched as Link approached their barrel of water and reached inside. They were too stunned to stop him from picking up the ladle and scooping water out from within. It wasn't till Link moved his veil aside to drink the water that they saw his face and recognised him fully. And even then, they were speechless.
"What in the name of Hylia…"
It was one of the Hylian captains who dared to break the silence. At his prompting, the second captain spoke up.
"…I honestly thought for a moment there, Link… That I'd be getting lucky tonight."
Link frowned, but he didn't respond. He didn't have anything clever to say, he never did. He wasn't the witty type, though he was beginning to wish he was. He wiped the water from his chin and tossed the ladle back into the barrel. He pointed to the sword on his back and shot the captain a questioning look. He watched as the captain's eyes swivelled from Link's face, across the rest of his body, before finally landing on the iconic sword upon his back. Realisation dawned upon the Hylian captain's face as he realised the sight of Link's sword should have told him who he was. The captain held up his hands in protest.
"Valid point, but let's be honest… Nobody's looking at your sword."
The other Hylian captain held out a hand, demanding silence.
"Link," he uttered warningly. "Link, my friend. Just what…"
He trailed off again into silence, unsure how to finish his question. Link only continued toward the cooking pot and approached the soldier, who had been halfway through serving his concoction of mushrooms and meat. When Link held out a hand, the soldier silently and obediently handed him a portion too. After Link took the food off his hands, he went back to a frozen standstill and waited.
"You have your duties, and I have mine," Link finally said, picking out a hot mushroom and tasting it. He took a few more small nibbles before he wrapped the leaves over the meal, clearly intending to eat it later.
The Hylian captain spluttered for something constructive to say.
"That's all you're going to say?" he demanded incredulously. "Link!"
"You're going into Gerudo town, aren't you?" the other captain suddenly exclaimed. "That's why you're all dressed up like that!"
Link's only response was to wave them goodnight. Just as the men finally snapped out of their statue-like demeanours and began to bicker and shout after him, Link walked away gracefully. He didn't need to hear what they had to say on his decisions. He didn't particularly care, either. This wasn't his first time entering Gerudo town, even if it was the first his soldier friends had ever seen him dressed in such a manner.
The soldiers shook fists at him and shouted after him as he departed. The two Hylian captains looked to each other, then to Link's fading silhouette in the dark night. One of them let out a soft whistle.
"By Hylia. I've always wanted to see the inside of Gerudo Town. But look at me! Even if I tried to dress like that, they'd never believe I was a girl."
The other captain shook his head silently.
"Damn," he muttered under his breath. "He's pretty."
Deep within the walls of Gerudo Town, Zelda lounged against luxurious cushions and ate at a table of sweet delicacies. Lady Urbosa was sitting at the other side of the table, laughing as she struggled to tell a story of days gone past. Perhaps for the first time in many months, Zelda felt at home. Unlike the rest of her soldiers, Urbosa was much kinder and friendlier. She was easy to talk to, and perhaps most importantly, she was another woman. She understood what it was like to have the burden of an entire people's expectations upon one's shoulders.
"…can you believe it?" Lady Urbosa remarked. "Just like that, with a snap of my fingers… You know how electricity and water don't mix."
Zelda giggled and took a drink of wine. It had been many months since she tasted such sweet wine, too. The soldier's ale was always too bitter for her refined tastes. She remembered the first time she had asked Link to bring her some. She remembered the way he covered his mouth to stifle a laugh when she spluttered on it. She'd once found the memory embarrassing, and yet now, she wasn't so sure.
"I imagine he learned his lesson, then?"
Urbosa waggled her finger, as if scolding an invisible person in front of her.
"Never cross a Gerudo woman," she stated, "…you'll end up regretting it."
Zelda laughed quietly and reached up to pull a stray hair behind her ear.
"Well, you are very beautiful," Zelda reminded. "I'm not surprised that many a man has found you to be desirable. But I don't imagine you could possibly settle for someone…"
Zelda trailed off, unsure how to proceed. She wasn't so sure what she wanted to say, either. Had she been about to suggest a powerful woman ought to only ever associate herself with similarly powerful men? Was it hypocritical for her to make such a statement?
Urbosa gave a dismissive wave of her hand and laughed. "Never mind. I have many responsibilities as chief, and finding love is not a priority."
For lack of anything better to say, Zelda took another sip of wine. "I suppose not."
Urbosa leaned against her elbow and looked across at Zelda, watching as she drank her wine.
"Besides, men aren't allowed within these walls. Finding a man and keeping him would prove difficult."
"That is true, yes."
A small glint of light crossed Urbosa's eye. "And how is that young knight of yours, little bird?" she asked. "You aren't tormenting him too much, are you?"
Urbosa grinned when Zelda spluttered on her wine. She reached over for a napkin and offered it to the princess. Zelda took it sheepishly and wiped herself up.
"Such an adverse reaction," Urbosa taunted. "Are you giving him enough time off? The last I saw, he was chasing you all over the place. The poor boy…"
Zelda took a sip of water to clear her throat. "No! I was simply surprised to hear you ask of him. I'm sure he's enjoying himself right this minute, in fact. He has… He has plenty of time off. It's not as if…" Zelda took a breath of air and continued, "It's not as if he's with me every minute of the day."
Urbosa raised a brow elegantly. "Isn't he?"
Zelda fell into silence. She didn't like to think Link was constantly by her side, but now that she thought about it… Perhaps he was. Did he indeed have enough time away from her? To rest? Did he sleep enough every night? These were all questions that Zelda had never thought to consider, or even ask.
"Usually…" Zelda swallowed and looked up at Urbosa. "Usually I'm the one telling him to leave me alone. Telling him he doesn't have to follow me everywhere. And he does it anyway. Am I… Am I at fault?"
A smile spread across Urbosa's face. "I'm only teasing," she said gently. "The boy is loyal, that is no fault of yours or his. He's only doing his duty. But… it wouldn't do any harm to remind him he does not need to be by your side every minute of the day. You're old enough to be independent, and you aren't helpless."
Zelda rolled her eyes instinctively and looked the other way with a heavy sigh. "I don't think he feels the same way."
Urbosa chuckled. "Go easy on him, little bird. You may not fear your father, but I can guarantee you that he certainly does."
Zelda sighed again. "You're right," she muttered. She wondered how her father would react, if he ever discovered the things she had done. With Link. Would he have him drawn and quartered? Hung by the neck and left to die? Zelda didn't think her father was one to deal such violent punishments, but neither did she think their actions would be forgiven so easily.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of running footsteps. Both she and Urbosa looked up from their meal, to see one of Urbosa's personal guards approaching the table. The guard bowed deeply and apologetically upon arrival.
"Sav'saaba," she greeted, half breathless from having run all the way to deliver her message. "I'm sorry to intrude, my Lady."
Urbosa gave a dismissive wave of her hand, to show she was forgiven.
"Sav'saaba," she repled. "Not at all. Take a moment to breathe, my friend. What is the matter?"
The guard nodded and wiped the sweat from her brow. She took several deep breaths of air, and yet just when she was ready to deliver the message, she glanced up directly at Zelda. Urbosa followed her gaze, then looked back at the guard.
"Let us talk in private," Urbosa suggested. She motioned for the guard to exit. "Wait for me downstairs."
Zelda looked frantically between Urbosa and the leaving guard. She pushed forward to look at Urbosa as she began to stand.
"Is something the matter?" Zelda asked. The guard bowed to show her respect before disappearing out the door again.
Urbosa dusted herself off and finished her drink.
"No, not at all," she said mildly. She offered Zelda a reassuring smile. "Just a few urgent matters I must see to. I'm so sorry to cut our evening short, little bird. I will send another guard to watch over you."
Zelda nodded slowly. There was nothing more she could really say, after all.
"Of course. Please, don't apologise. I will be fine."
Urbosa gave her another warm smile. "I will be back shortly. Please, enjoy the food."
And all too soon, Zelda was left alone again. Alone in a luxurious room, with glorious food and drink. It was a setting all too familiar to Zelda, and for just a few brief moments, she felt tears prick in her eyes. She quickly blinked them away and finished the rest of her wine.
"No. Don't be stupid," she told herself. "Just enjoy the hospitality. Everything will be fine!"
Zelda wondered if she sounded half insane, talking to herself like that. She didn't have much time to think it over, because another set of footsteps alerted her to the arrival of another guard. Like the other Gerudo guards, she also carried a spear. Zelda smiled when she bowed to her.
"Sav'saaba. Please excuse the intrusion, Highness…"
"Not at all," Zelda remarked. She was quite used to being supervised, after all. As much as she hated it, she could never really escape it. She would escape one governess, only to be hounded by another. And when the final governess waved goodbye, Link took her place. She was never alone, not really. And yet she was forever lonely.
"…but there is a young Hylian vai, here to see you. She claims to be your servant, and demands to see you. Will you come with me? She refuses to leave."
Zelda blinked. Since when had Zelda ever had a young female servant? She knew instinctively that the safest option should have been to inform the guard that she had no such servant, and to send her away. But curiosity would always get the better of her, and tonight, she was armed with liquid courage. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Zelda suspected that Link would be very much upset if he ever found out what she was about to do. She pushed to her feet and patted down her clothes.
"Yes, of course. Lead the way!"
The guard let out a visible breath of relief. Clearly, she hadn't wanted to come and interrupt the princess's dinner for such a silly request. But whoever this Hylian vai was, she was evidently very determined to see the princess. Perhaps it was the wine speaking, but the lack of women in Zelda's life meant she found herself altogether too curious.
Zelda followed the guard out the doors and down the stairs. It wasn't a long walk, though by the time they reached the entrance stairs of the chief's home, Zelda felt as if she'd been forced to walk a mile. She could hardly contain herself, she was so excited and curious to see just who on earth would dare to lie about being her servant.
"Here," the guard said, coming to a stop and gesturing towards the two other Gerudo guards in the distance. "She's just over there."
Zelda peered into the dim night light, searching for the girl. She saw a small figure standing behind the crossed spears of two other guards. Clearly, the guards hadn't found her quite as harmless as Zelda would initially think, if they felt the need to bar her from going further. Still, Zelda took a few more steps to get a closer look. The first guard followed closely, letting Zelda take the lead.
With each step, Zelda saw the figure come into focus. She saw the purple colour of her sirwal, and the light teal of her top. She stood at an angle, evidently speaking to one of the guards as she tried to prove her innocence. Zelda couldn't see the girl's face because she wore a veil, so she was forced to seek other clues as to her identity. Zelda's eyes travelled up and down the small Hylian's body, searching. Soon enough, her eyes landed upon the sword she carried. Zelda's eyes widened. She may not have recognised the clothes, but she would recognise that sword anywhere. And as far as Zelda was concerned, there was only one person in the world who could be in possession of such a sword.
"So?" the guard asked, startling Zelda from her thoughts. "Do you know her?"
Zelda's mouth fell open; a reaction that was delayed purely by her sheer shock. She marched forward and stabbed a finger at the figure behind the other two guards.
"Link!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?! Did you follow me?"
Her voice made Link look her way. He raised a hand in greeting. When the guards glanced up at Zelda, she gave them an apologetic look. She waved her hand, silently asking them to let Link through. They hesitated, but after a few seconds, they relented and withdrew their spears. With nothing barring her approach, Zelda went to him.
"What in the name of Hylia are you doing?"
She looked Link up and down, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of his clothes. She recognised his body, the scars, and his sword. When she looked to his face, she recognised those blue eyes too. Link gave a sideways tip of his head.
"I was concerned for your safety," he answered. There was something about his voice that caught Zelda off guard. It was soft. Softer than usual. And she didn't think it was because he was pretending to be a girl, either.
"But you…!"
Link gave a nod to the guards that were still watching them.
"I am but a humble servant," Link went on quickly, to stop her from exposing him. "…and your welfare is of the utmost importance to me."
"Your Highness."
Zelda looked up at the guard who had spoken. She banged her spear sharply across the stone paving, twice.
"If you would rather we send this vai away, say the word."
Zelda shook her head. "No… No, it's fine. This… She is what she says she is. Unfortunately."
Link followed up with a short nod, to prove he hadn't been lying. He was, however, caught off guard when Zelda reached out and grabbed his hand. Zelda pulled at him so sharply that he almost stumbled forward. Just almost. He grappled for balance and fumbled after the princess.
"Misbehaving servant, this one," Zelda sighed aloud. "Good with a sword, but not with a brain."
The guards watched her, brows raised, but they didn't dare argue. The only watched as Zelda dragged Link out of the public square, where they had gathered a small audience, and towards the chief's home.
Link didn't resist her. He let her drag him up the stairs, through Lady Urbosa's home, and into the dining room. He noticed that Urbosa was nowhere to be seen. There were fewer guards than he was expecting, too.
"Where is Lady Urbosa?" he asked, looking to Zelda. She glanced backward at him. Clearly, he was here because he didn't trust her to behave on her own, either. She responded by giving his hand a sharp jerk before releasing him. It was just enough to cause Link to stumble. She would have liked to see him fall, but of course he didn't. She wasn't strong enough to do that. She turned on her heel and folded her arms.
"Now then. Care to explain yourself?"
Link took a moment to gather himself. It was neither a slow nor fast process. He merely took a few seconds to straighten out his disguise before he assumed his usual stance and lifted his head to look at her. And yet, he remained silent. He studied Zelda a while, almost as if he hadn't seen her in a year. Zelda felt those intense blue eyes scan her up and down. He glanced over her hair, her lightly coloured cheeks, then down to the rest of her body. His eyes lingered just a little longer than they normally would. Just as Zelda thought he had finally decided on what to say, his eyes narrowed just a fraction.
"Are you… drunk?"
The confused, surprised tone of Link's quiet voice was an insult to Zelda's ears. Zelda's eyes widened at the accusation.
"No! What makes you think that?"
Link lifted a hand to scratch his ear. He glanced over the table of food, at the half empty plates. Clearly, their meal had been interrupted. But judging from the setting of plates and the fact there were two places at the table, Urbosa had likely been the one to leave halfway. Urgent business, perhaps. Link knew Zelda's own meals had been interrupted enough times when she was in residence at Hyrule Castle. He had brought her food to supplement the interruptions too many times to count. He blinked and looked back up at Zelda in trepidation. He traced his fingertips over his gold jewellery mindlessly.
"I'm sorry. I just…"
"Why are you here?"
Link took a breath and lowered his hand again. He flexed his shoulders and pulled his sword off his back.
"I'm just doing my duty, Highness."
"You don't trust Lady Urbosa? Is that it?"
Link heard the defensiveness of Zelda's voice. He understood her relationship with the Gerudo chief, and he didn't dare suggest she was untrustworthy. Link took half a step back and bowed his head in submission.
"Forgive me, Highness. My intention is not to insult."
"Gerudo Town is safe, Link! You can't just…"
Link watched her from beneath his eyelashes. He saw her throw up her hands in frustration. It was rare to see her angry to the point of speechlessness. It wasn't that he didn't trust Lady Urbosa. But Gerudo Town was simply too big. And deep down, Link always knew he would rather be subjected to Zelda's anger than see her get hurt. He lowered his eyes to the floor again.
"Forgive me," he repeated. "It is my duty to keep you safe."
He had also gotten used to being by her side. Seeing her smile. Hearing her voice. To be so far away, where he could do nothing if anything happened… It was an immeasurable sense of fear he refused to admit. He took a breath of air and gestured his hand over the table.
"I'm sorry I had to come like this," he apologised again. "But please… Don't let me hinder you."
Link turned on his heel and started to walk away. He came to a stop at the doorway and positioned himself beneath the arch.
"I'll be over here," he said quietly. He turned her back to her and rested his sword on the floor in front of him. He assumed his usual stance and stood guard in silence.
"Pretend I'm not here, Highness," he murmured. He closed his eyes and took a slow, steady breath of air. "The same way you always have."
Zelda felt her anger dissipate like clouds after a storm. She felt the crushing weight of his words. It struck her like a boulder, and for some inexplicable reason, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt wash over her. All this time, she had assumed Link was never interested. She'd assumed he didn't care for her. She'd assumed that his dedication to her wellbeing was a pure consequence of his commitment to duty. Had she been wrong all this time? Zelda sat down in the cushions and covered her face with both hands. She stayed that way for a few minutes, silently contemplating everything that had ever happened between the two of them. It was true that she ignored Link on numerous occasions. It was true that she often went out of her way to make his job more difficult than it needed to be. Her frustrations had caused her to act out, and never once had she stopped to consider how it made Link feel.
"Link."
He tilted his head backward to glance at her.
"Come here. Sit down. Eat with me."
His brow creased in confusion, and he didn't respond straightaway. He was about to obey when Zelda spoke again.
"It's… It's not an order. Only if you want to."
Her voice was sheepish this time, and it didn't slip Link's notice. He turned to look at her then. Picking up his sword, he swivelled on his heel slowly to face her. He stood there in silence, trying to understand the situation. Zelda stared right back at him, waiting. When Link said nothing, Zelda blew out a breath.
"If you hate the idea of eating with me that much, you don't have to."
Link remained silent another moment. Zelda was beginning to question whether Link was stupid, or if he was scared of her. Or perhaps he knew exactly what he was doing, and only wanted to wind her up. She discarded the thought almost immediately. Link wasn't that devious. Was he?
Link took a slow step toward her.
"…I don't," he answered slowly. Zelda looked up at him impatiently.
"Well, are you hungry? Have you eaten? Did you even stop to eat before you came running after me in that ridiculous get up? Isn't it cold outside?"
Link broke eye contact to look to the side. He lifted a hand to his mouth, masking the softest noise that had arisen in his throat. Zelda promptly shut her mouth and covered her face.
"I'm sorry," she grumbled. "I'm just nagging again."
The soft, light sound of Link's laughter made her look up in shock. His eyes were little half moons of amusement, and though the veil masked his expression, she saw the smile on his handsome face. He quickly cleared his throat and quietened again.
"I'm sorry," he said, swallowing and looking back at Zelda. "I mean no disrespect."
To Zelda's great surprise, Link approached the table and sat down. He lay his sword down on the floor beside him and folded his legs to sit.
"I could eat," he admitted quietly. "The desert is indeed cold. And I did indeed run after you, half mad."
Zelda stared at him, her mouth ajar. Link looked to her, a mild expression of panic on his face. He withdrew an inch.
"…or has your offer expired?"
Zelda quickly shut her mouth and shook her head. "No! Not at all. I just… I don't think I've ever heard you say so many sentences at once, in one evening."
Link paused. "Would you prefer that I spoke less?"
"No!" Zelda exclaimed. "No. Don't do that. I hate when I can't tell what you're thinking."
Link took a moment to process the information. "…I see."
Zelda hurriedly gestured at the table of food. "Please. You must be starving. Help yourself."
Link looked over the selection of food on offer. There were all sorts of exotic fruit, sliced and ready to eat. There was a seafood platter, loaded with an assortment of roasted crabs, shellfish, and porgies. Next to it, there was a prime roast glazed with honey and spices, along with a plate of freshly cooked vegetables. There was a basket of bread rolls, too. Link could feel his mouth watering at the sight of such a grand feast. Zelda picked up a golden goblet and poured him a drink. Reaching over, she placed the cup in front of him.
"Here," she offered. "Eat anything and everything you want."
Link glanced over at the cup. He peered inside, to see only water. The smallest of smiles graced his face when he realised that she knew him better than he was expecting. She knew he never drank, and as such, hadn't tried to offer him any of the wine he could see sitting on the table. He swallowed again and reached for the veil on his face. Slowly and carefully, he removed it and set it aside to take a drink of water.
"I know you're a glutton at heart, Link," Zelda teased softly. "You're allowed to eat."
Those blue eyes looked to her in a mild panic. Zelda only smiled.
"You think I don't see the way you eat with the soldiers?" she asked. "Whenever someone brings back a deer, or a mountain boar… I may not always be eating with the men, but I'm not blind."
Link scratched his head bashfully. He supposed his love for food was no national secret, but to have been called out so readily by the princess was a little embarrassing. Zelda smiled and decided to pour herself more wine to take her attention off her self-conscious knight.
She took a sip of wine and reached forward to take a piece of voltfruit from the fruit platter. Seeing as Link didn't want to start, she decided to make the first move. The moment she bit into her fruit, she saw Link reach out and take a bread roll. Next, he took two slices of roasted meat. And after that, half a crab and a healthy chunk of roasted porgy. Zelda smiled to herself.
"I'm only envious that you're still so lean," she sighed. "You eat enough for three men, and yet here you are…"
She raised her wine cup and gestured at Link's body.
"…a prettier vai than I'll ever be."
Link stopped what he was doing to look at Zelda. His brows were knitted together, his lips pressed together in a crooked line and one corner of his mouth half lifted in a grimace. It was confusion, more raw and genuine than Zelda had ever seen from him yet.
"What, now?"
Was she seriously comparing him… to her? Link didn't even know where to start. There were too many things wrong with such an outlandish idea. Comparing him, a male, to what Link personally found to be one of the most attractive women he'd ever met?
Zelda pointed at him. "Look at you. So pretty that nobody is even questioning whether you are a girl. You'd make a very beautiful vai, you know."
She took another drink of wine and cast her gaze to the far wall. The wine was giving her more courage than usual, and she dared to speak her mind.
"…so pretty that if not for last night, you might have actually convinced me you were born female."
Link's choking snort made her look at him. He quickly wiped his mouth and regained composure, but not before Zelda had seen his expression of surprise. She grinned.
"You should wear that more often," she suggested. "I like it. I like seeing your naked body."
Link covered his mouth as he chewed his food, eyes wide on Zelda. He swallowed his mouthful before lowering his hand and speaking.
"I think you are drunk, Highness."
Zelda didn't think so, but she didn't care to argue. Changing Link's mind on anything was probably the most difficult feat a person could ever attempt, and as such, she didn't see the point in trying. She leaned across the table and picked a wildberry off his plate. She placed it in her mouth and sucked on it, all the while with her eyes locked on Link. Slowly, seductively, she licked the red juice from her lips and wiped it with a finger.
"Would you want to do it again?" she asked. "Tell me the truth."
Link dragged his eyes off her and focused on his food. He stabbed another piece of meat with his fork and put it in his mouth. He knew what the answer to her question was, but it was not an answer he could very well vocalise. Not like this.
"Link," Zelda warned, her voice low and husky. "Your princess is talking to you. Don't ignore me."
Zelda's hand shot out to touch him, but Link was faster. With a soft slap of skin against skin, he caught her hand and pulled it back on top of the table. He took a bread roll and placed it in her wandering hand instead, giving her something to hold.
"Highness," Link answered, his voice equally low and deadly, "If they discover I am male, they will probably kill me."
Zelda threw the bread roll at Link. It hit him square in the chest, leaving a fine dusting of white flour on his clothes.
"Kill you?" Zelda repeated, in awe. "No. Throw you out, maybe."
Link dusted the flour off his clothes and glanced over at her. "Do you really want to find out?"
Zelda scowled at him. "I asked you a question. You're not supposed to be good enough at talking to avoid it like this!"
A quiet, amused chuckle escaped Link as he cast his gaze across the room, silently wondering just what he had gotten himself into. The smile on his face was wide, and his eyes alive like the ocean. He shook his head silently and returned to eating.
Zelda watched his response in awed silence. His laugh and his smile… It wrenched her heart so tightly she felt it could burst at any moment.
"I think I'm in love with you, Link."
That got his attention, fast. He turned to look at her then, an odd expression on his face.
"You're drunk, Highness," he reminded. "I'm sure you'll feel very differently when I wake you up tomorrow morning, when you have a hangover."
His words stung, and Zelda threw another bread roll at him. He raised his hand to block it this time.
"Do you think I'd sleep with just anyone, Link?"
Link reached down to pick up the lost bread roll. He placed it on the table, in the corner.
"No," he stated. He fumbled for something more intelligent to say. Something more meaningful. "No, that isn't what I meant."
Link picked up his plate of food and moved it aside before Zelda could knock it over. He grabbed his cup of water, too, and lifted it high in the air so she couldn't spill it all over him.
"Do you really think you can tell me how I feel?" Zelda demanded, grabbing his arm.
Link's eyes closed briefly as he tried to come up with a solution. He wasn't successful.
"Zelda," he said softly, in exasperation. "That wasn't what I meant. I just… I'm not worthy of…"
The distant sound of grit grinding against rock made Link look up. His hand went to his sword immediately, and just as quickly, his back straightened up and he turned to look at their surroundings.
"Who are you to decide—"
Link didn't let her finish. He grabbed Zelda in his left arm and with his right, he reached for his sword. In a motion much too fast for Zelda to follow, he forced her to the ground and sent her sprawling into the pile of cushions. The motion was disorienting, and it took Zelda several long seconds to find her bearings. She felt the cool wetness of something on her thigh, which was followed by the wafting scent of spilled wine. When she reached to touch it, she saw the red colour dotting her white sleeves. Throwing her to the ground was one thing. Spilling wine on her clothes? He clearly didn't have any idea how hard it was to wash wine out of white fabric. Zelda picked up the pillow next to her and prepared to throw it at her knight.
"Link!"
She wasn't ready for what she saw. The glowing blue light of Link's sword crossed her vision, faster than she could see. The snap of metal on wood was all the warning she received before a spray of arrows, cut clean in half, scattered over her harmlessly. When she looked up, she saw two men standing on the other side of the room, bows in hand. They were dressed in red and black, with white masks bearing the inverted sigil of the Sheikah tribe. Yiga clan members.
When Zelda looked up to Link, she saw only his back. His Gerudo headpiece had come off in the scuffle, and she could see the golden blond colour of his hair. But that wasn't all. No, her knight was bleeding. The red on her sleeve? It was blood. Blood that he had spilled in the act of defending her once more. And this time, the culprit was an arrow. Protruding from behind Link's shoulder, the Yiga's arrow had speared him clean through. A fine trickle of blood ran down his back, seeping through into his clothes and staining it dark red. And yet, his only response was to crouch into an offensive stance, his sword ready.
"…Link!"
Link studied the scene. Two skinny Yiga members, each with a duplex bow. If they both loosed simultaneously, Link would have four arrows to parry. As good as Link was with a sword, not even he was confident he could cut down all four arrows safely. He would have to use his body to shield Zelda from whatever he missed. That was fine. What Link was struggling to comprehend was the audacity of the Yiga clan members. As far as Link was concerned, there had never been a breach of the Gerudo Town walls. The guards never allowed any man or voe past their gates, let alone an enemy like the Yiga. What could they possibly be trying to achieve?
The dull throb of pain in his shoulder reminded him that he was no immortal. He felt the trickle of blood track its way over his back, wetting his clothes. And yet at the same time, he didn't quite feel the pain. No, he only felt fear. Fear that Zelda might get caught in the cross fire.
A third Yiga clan member climbed through the open window. This one was wielding a curved and vicious looking sickle, and he was soon followed by a much larger bodied man. Link knew a Yiga blademaster when he saw one. He knew from the way the men moved that they were preparing to fight, too. Link tightened his grip on his sword.
The blademaster pointed past Link. Link didn't need to look to know they were pointing at Princess Zelda.
"We have the heirloom. Now, the princess."
Link set his jaw and lowered his stance just another inch. He flexed his wrist and gave a jerk of his chin. When he spoke, his voice was quieter than death itself.
"Over my dead body."
The Yiga clan members only glanced at each other and nodded. One by one, they turned to face him. With each step of their feet, Link could hear the the doors to his fate closing. He imagined that behind those cowardly masks of theirs, they might have been smiling. Four men against one? They had every right to be confident.
The blademaster drew his windcleaver and brandished it in both hands. When he spoke, his deep voice was like an echo of thunder. Invisible yet inescapable.
"…then so be it."
Chapter 3 is coming :)