Chapter Twelve
Link could not recall a better meal than the one he had just finished eating. It felt as though his stomach was going to explode. Although he was quite sure he'd made a pig of himself in front of Mystu, the blonde teenager could not find the emotion to give a damn. At the moment, anyway. For now, all he wanted to do was sleep. The court officer seemed to sense this, and led the tired, sated fighter to an empty bedroom. After Mystu left, Link tossed off his shield and sheath, unbuckled his boots, and crawled under the sheets and passed into a deep sleep.
["You're here... You made it! Please... There's something not right in this castle, there's a deep evil lurking about... I know you've lost your heart, but you have to concentrate on what's important. If you can find me and set me free, I'll explain everything... Please, Link, you're my last hope... This is the last time I can contact you, I've grown so weak..."
"Where are you?" The Hero of Time spun around once, but all that remained was the impenetrable whiteness of his dreamscape. "How can I find you?" The voice hesitated, and when it spoke again, it was softer and more pleading.
"I... I'm not sure... but...It must be high up, the sounds of the city are so far away... I'm in a tower, I don't know which one... It's getting worse, the evil is going to take over soon. It's the work of King Viru..."
"King... Viru...?"]
Lance stared wonderingly around the great front hall. They had arrived a couple hours after General Aston had sighted Ontharn, and now the young sailor wanted nothing more than to take a nice, long nap. Either that or a good, hot bath. Both would be great, too.
"Ah, General Aston!" King Edward greeted, cheered at the sight of the Hylian general. "I was expecting you sometime soon! Link arrived only several hours beforehand—"
"Link is here?!" exclaimed the general, completely surprised and delighted. The entire troop turned its attention to the king, utterly shocked. The King of Selinta nodded.
"Yes, he explained that he was caught in an unfortunate situation during a terrible storm, and has only just arrived here today. I'm sure Mystu, my court officer, can direct you to his whereabouts." King Edward nodded to a guard. "Daniel, seek out Mystu and bring him here at once." The designated soldier saluted smartly and marched off in search of the court officer.
"This is great! We thought him dead!" The general was overcome with relief, and closed his eyes and sighed wearily. "Oh, my aching bones. I'm not the bright-eyed lad I once was, I suppose..." King Edward nodded in agreement.
"Nor I. I shall summon some servants at once to bring your soldiers refreshment."
As soon as he heard that Link was in the castle, Lance was off like a shot toward the hallways. Not one to sit around and wait, the young sailor wanted to be the first to greet the Hero of Time, overjoyed that his friend was alive and well.
"Excuse me... Lance...?" A timid voice called out as he passed by another hallway. The eighteen-year-old stopped and looked over his shoulder. Mystu the Fourteenth, the renowned artist of Selinta, was standing there, looking a bit happy to see his old friend.
"Mystu! How are ye?" Lance clapped the young teenager heartily on the back. The artist coughed nervously.
"I'm fine, Lance, and I trust you are well, too. What brings you to Ontharn, friend?"
"Ayuh, I'm marching with the Royal Hylian Army, to help Selinta's defense against the Tophetians," replied the sailor cheerfully. Mystu the Fourteenth nodded.
"I see. And you're around these halls because...?"
"I'm lookin' fer me matey, Link. He came in earlier today. We lost 'im in a big storm, and we all thought he were dead, but t'ain't so! D'ye know where he is?"
"I... I think I might..." Mystu adjusted his glasses carefully. "The guest quarters are down this hallway, shall we go, then?"
Link opened his eyes groggily and sat up, groaning with the effort. His muscles ached from his dogged swim and trek to Ontharn, and somehow the nap wasn't quite as refreshing as he had hoped it would be.
Fragments of his dream lingered, but the Hero of Time brushed them aside like week-old cobwebs; he didn't have time to decipher the cryptic meaning of them. Let whoever it was die, for all he cared; his mind was only set on the Princess Cheyanna, and her lovely grace.
"Matey, are ye in here?" A raucous voice called, and the door opened creakily. Lance and a younger teenager peered in dubiously. "Link-fada!" With a cry of joy and a tremendous bound Lance was at the side of the bed, hardly able to contain his mirth. "I thought ye were killed in that awful storm, but here y'are, and all is fine, neh?"
"Lance, it's good to see you. A storm couldn't kill me, it takes more than that," scoffed the blonde, suppressing a smile at his incorrigible friend.
"So, spill the beans, mate, and tell me what happened." Lance set himself in a chair and leaned forward with rapt attention as Link began to relate his adventure. Mystu nervously pulled a chair towards the bed and listened as well.
By suppertime that night, the entire troop had met with Link and had shown their delight at having him back. All except Jonathan, of course, but that was to be expected. And Link couldn't wait for the evening meal; Princess Cheyanna would be there.
"She's a rare beauty, she is," Mystu sighed lovingly as they filed into the large dining hall with the other soldiers and castle dwellers. "My favorite subject to work with. If I were a prince from another land, I'd surely court her. But alas, I only paint."
"Mystu, I'd never pictured you the princess-marrying type," Lance chortled. "Link, here, he's got the looks, but turns all the lasses down. Even the princess types, eh?" Link looked uncomfortable; the mention of his 'rejection' of Princess Zelda made him feel rather guilty about the entire matter. It wasn't that Zelda wasn't lovely in looks and personality, it was just the extra baggage that came along with it, and being a king, well... would fit his lifestyle and vice versa. A hero rescues a damsel in distress, but that didn't mean they would marry. If that were the case, then he would have too many wives to count.
"Yeah, sure," mumbled the blonde as he took a seat near the center of the table.
"No, no, Link, you're the guest of honor here!" Mystu the Thirteenth called out, rapping a hand on the table. "Come with me." The Hero of Time shot Lance a helpless glance as the court officer dragged him towards the head of the table. The young sailor and artist followed after him.
"But I... I'm fine, really," insisted Link as Mystu the Thirteenth sat him down next to the head of the table. "I'm quite sure the king would rather talk with General Aston—"
"Oh, hello Link," greeted the man in question, taking a seat across from the Hero of Time. "Come to join me up here, eh? Good for you, lad." Aston smiled sincerely and settled into his seat.
"Come, Mystu, we shall take our appropriate seats," the court officer said sternly to his son, taking his seat several places down from Aston, Link, and the head of the table. Sighing, the young artist joined his father. Lance, a bit confused, simply sat down next to Link and tried to look as though he belonged there.
"Welcome, friends," bellowed King Edward in his most official voice, entering the dining room from the main doors. "Tonight we feast in honor of the soldiers from the Royal Hylian Army who came to aid us in our defense." There was a loud cheer from all the palace dwellers. Link, unsure of what was the proper response to such praise, looked beseechingly to the general for some advice, but Aston looked just as embarrassed and uncertain himself. "All of Selinta is grateful for the help of King Chandler and his regal subjects. Let us begin!" Link looked eagerly towards the king, sure that he would, at last, see Princess Cheyanna in person, but only the queen accompanied him. There was no princess to be found.
"Erm..." The nineteen-year-old had no idea how to ask the king where his daughter was without seeming as though he wanted, that badly, to see her. It would be seen as a... 'courting' of some sort, he was sure of it. Fortunately, King Edward answered his question before it even left his lips.
"I am afraid our daughter Cheyanna could not attend tonight, she has been feeling rather weak of late." The king's face fell a little as the servants began bringing out the food on silver platters. "I hope with all my heart it is not serious. Her misfortunate could be an ill-omen." The queen nodded silently and dipped her spoon into the soup, offering no verbal agreement to his comment.
"I am sure it is simply something that is running around the land," General Aston assured, trying to sound certain of himself. "Have there been any other symptoms?"
"No, thankfully. The castle herbalist does not believe it is the wasting sickness, thanks be to the goddesses. However, during such times, we mustn't take this lightly," Edward clucked, shaking his head with resolution.
"But she were just fine when I left, sir," Lance remarked, puzzled. "I can't believe she could be sick. Cheyanna were always strong of spirit, aye." The king looked up as Lance spoke, and his face broke into a sunny grin.
"Lance, dear lad, you've come back! I daresay, where is your rascally old seadog of a father? Did he come along?" The young sailor moved his head in the negative.
"Nay, sir, much work he's got to do to pay off the rest of his ship and buy new supplies, not to mention give the crew their due. But I'm sure he'll pop by one of these days..." The conversation lulled into something pleasant but not entirely interesting. Link automatically ate his food, and felt a little disappointed. He had expected to see the princess.
After the dinner festivities, Link immediately exited the dining room, lest Lance decide that the hero should join in the dancing and fun afterwards, and he certainly didn't feel like waltzing around the entire length of the room while some young girl simpered and swooned on his shoulder.
The Hero of Time found peace in the palace garden, surprised at the enormity of it. Hyrule's garden paled in comparison, but since it was also much newer, he supposed that they had thought more of wartime than peacetime, and had cut back on trivialities.
Still, a quiet walk in the garden was not something to be turned down, especially if your inner feelings were in turmoil. There was some soul searching to be done, he knew, taking a sit on the grass beside the pond, crossing his legs under each other, as though he were going to meditate. In a way, he was.
When first meeting him, many people were literally star-struck (or rather, hero-struck), and they worshipped and adored him. Link generally disliked that sort of attention, finding it to be some sort of annoying and useless flattery. So he had saved Hyrule and probably the rest of the world from a cruel fate at the whims of Ganondorf, but that was a couple years ago. It was old news. As of late, he had done nothing entirely notable, aside from the usual creature slaying and town saving, not to mention damsel rescuing, most of which had always thought it 'proper' to reward his actions with an unwanted kiss. During those times his affections lay deeply for Zelda, and he had no interest in being smooched by some woman that he had just rescued and hardly knew.
But now, now he wasn't sure where his heart lay, if he was the kind of man a girl would marry. Being a hero had some ugly side affects, many of which were painful and most likely fatal. Zelda... His mind worked it over ceaselessly, but could not see how it worked. If he had really been in love, he would have endured the kingship, but perhaps it was just as well.
Those who knew him (and, to be honest, not many did), knew that he liked the quiet, detested any kind of wrongdoing, and preferred his own company most of the time. Usually the more ignorant thought him to be stuck-up and pompous, but he considered himself rather quiet and humble, although that in itself wasn't a very humble thought.
Still... there was always the possibility that there was a lovely young lady out there for him, who shared his interests and his desires. Maybe one day he could hang up his sword, learn a trade (perhaps being a silver or blacksmith; that particular line of trade had always interested him), and settle down to have a family. Such was his dream; nothing fancy, no visions of glory or fame or riches, but a simple life with a loving family and a small business.
Of course, it would be tiresome after a while, all that idyllic behavior, but there would always be a need for heroes. Deep in his heart he knew he would never hang up his sword for long. (Returning the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time did nothing, so the Sages allowed him to keep it with him and protect its magic.)
So lost in thought was Link that he didn't hear (even with his sharp Hylian ears and acute sense of awareness) someone walking up from behind him, trying to be stealthy and not succeeding too great.
"...Who are you?" spoke a voice, startling the blonde terribly and causing him to jump in surprise. He craned his neck over his shoulder and saw the princess in all her beauty. She was staring curiously at him, with large blue eyes so innocent and unselfconscious. Her hair was tied neatly into a lovely thick braid that hung over one shoulder decoratively, and her dress was a simple pink frock. "What are you doing in my private garden?" Feeling somewhat the fool for allowing her to sneak up on him, Link scrambled to his feet and stammered a mumble that sounded vaguely like an apology.
"I... I didn't know this was your private garden. I came out from the castle to get some fresh air, after dinner, and... I sat down here. I'm sorry if I've intruded on your privacy." 'There, that should clear matters up,' he thought, still feeling stupid and clumsy. To his surprise, Princess Cheyanna laughed and clapped her hands together.
"How delightful! A visitor! Surely... you are one of the visitors from Hyrule?" He nodded dumbly, not daring himself to speak again. Only babble would pour forth from his mouth like a raging river, he feared. "But what an odd sense of uniform... surely, that is not a Royal Hylian Army uniform...?" She seemed a little offended at his lack of taste for dressing. That was no bother; he wasn't too fond of his style either.
"Er, no... your Highness. Officially, I'm not a part of the army, but the king sent me along as well... I've never been a soldier, and I don't wear their uniform." Cheyanna looked perplexed.
"Not a soldier? But then, who are you?" Feeling a bit silly, Link made a stiff bow and replied in a sighing sort of tone,
"I'm Link of Hyrule, Your Highness."
"Link? The very same Link, the Hero of Time?" Her voice carried astonishment... and... amusement...? He nodded silently. She smiled sweetly. "Of course, I should have known the Hero of Time would be so handsome." His ears burned red at the tips, and he forced himself to study the ground with great interest. "How convenient that you should be in my garden! Oh! I forgot, I must properly introduce myself." With a pert little curtsy, she announced regally, "I am Princess Cheyanna of Selinta. I am quite pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise," he mumbled, but she didn't seem to hear him.
"You must regale me with your story of bravery and the triumph over Ganondorf!" To his amusement, she shuddered a bit at the sound of the evil king's name.
"Erm... actually... I can't, really. It's probably late, and... I... well, the army will probably be marching out tomorrow..." Which was a lie in its entirety; King Edward himself had stated that they would march out three days hence. Cheyanna made a sort of disgruntled noise in her throat, which was quite... un-princess-like.
"Oh, very well, Link. Be off with you to your quarters, then, if you feel you've not the time nor the honor of keeping me company."
'When she puts it like that, she makes me seem like the worst person in the world,' he thought with some dissent. He had just met the princess, a beautiful creature that was already flirting outrageously with him, and he thought her to be a spoiled, commanding brat. But of course, that was probably because she was so used to having men fall over each other to please her, and she seemed to feel as though he was rejecting her. 'I'm doomed to forever be likened as a Rejecter of Princesses,' thought Link disconsolately, sighing with guilt.
Cheyanna turned away from him and sauntered off into the garden, obviously wanting him to follow, but Link would not play that game. Fooling around with the princess, no matter how renown he was, was nothing he wanted to be caught doing. And he had no intention of playing between the sheets; he was here on business, and because he found her physically satisfying was no reason to take advantage of her.
'After all, she's weak and probably is a bit delusional.' This thought hurt his own feelings, and in order to prevent any other self-discouraging thoughts, Link turned and headed back to the castle, feeling angry and puzzled with himself.
Cheyanna watched him stalk off along the path, and resisted the urge to crush the flower she held in her hand. She had been so close, so close, to getting him off his guard, and then she would be able to make her move.
Sexual relations were not in her mind; she had been planning to dispose of him neatly and silently. No one knew that she had secret meetings with King Viru of the Tophetians; her love lay with his. She had sworn to stay by his side and fight against her own people, but he would not hear of it. Viru wanted her to stay in Selinta, and be his little spy. No one in their right mind would suspect her, and she'd be able to convey messages through a round ball he had given him.
Naturally, she played her part well.
And at the first notice that a troop from the Royal Hylian Army, not to mention General Aston and Link themselves, would be coming, she notified him at once, and his immediate response was to assassinate Link at all costs.
She would do so, but on her own grounds.
Her favorite tactic was seduction, but apparently he was too stupid, honorable, or... something less natural to respond. Anyone who dressed like he did had to be strange.
Cheyanna's eyes narrowed dangerously.
'I'll get you, Link, for even thinking about fighting against the Tophetians, and especially my beloved, King Viru...'
Link wanted nothing to do with either the princess or with the strange girl Miyako. Women were such troublesome creatures, and all dreams of his raising a family vanished without a trace. At best, they were flirtatious little scoundrels with hearts of stone and sharp daggers of betrayal.
'I shouldn't have turned down Princess Zelda, but it's too late for that,' he thought bitterly. One bad event had spoiled his night, and so that he would not be further bothered by bad dreams, he took a sleeping draught he found in the bathroom and promptly went to sleep.
Miyako's head jerked in the direction of the doorway as the metal door opened creakily. The young teenager could hear deep breathing, as though someone was a little overexerted. She didn't bother to say anything; only one person came to visit her.
"I'll teach you to spy around," hissed Cheyanna, striding closer to the prone figure on the floor.
"I've done nothing wrong," the red-haired teenager replied quietly. "I don't see why you've locked me up and bound me like some worthless animal."
"You are a worthless animal!" snarled the princess, aiming a kick at Miyako's vulnerable stomach. The other girl grunted in pain but made no other movement or sound. "When I am Queen of Tophet, I'll see to it that every vagabond and criminal had his way with you."
Miyako wanted badly to sneer and be contemptuous, but that wouldn't be very wise. What she was saying wasn't very wise, but pushing her luck was a bit too much for the moment. "King Viru's just using you; any fool with half a brain and an eye that's not blind could see that."
"Shut up, I never said you could speak his name!" Cheyanna hissed angrily. "For that, you get no food for a month! You'll rot in here!" With that, the princess turned and slammed the cell door shut.
"Well, at least I'll be rid of her when I'm dead," Miyako tried to console herself, but it wasn't much use. Her death was inevitable; the boy she had sent her messages to had somehow manage to block her, whether unknowingly or purposely. "Might as well start writing my epitaph now..."
Link could not recall a better meal than the one he had just finished eating. It felt as though his stomach was going to explode. Although he was quite sure he'd made a pig of himself in front of Mystu, the blonde teenager could not find the emotion to give a damn. At the moment, anyway. For now, all he wanted to do was sleep. The court officer seemed to sense this, and led the tired, sated fighter to an empty bedroom. After Mystu left, Link tossed off his shield and sheath, unbuckled his boots, and crawled under the sheets and passed into a deep sleep.
["You're here... You made it! Please... There's something not right in this castle, there's a deep evil lurking about... I know you've lost your heart, but you have to concentrate on what's important. If you can find me and set me free, I'll explain everything... Please, Link, you're my last hope... This is the last time I can contact you, I've grown so weak..."
"Where are you?" The Hero of Time spun around once, but all that remained was the impenetrable whiteness of his dreamscape. "How can I find you?" The voice hesitated, and when it spoke again, it was softer and more pleading.
"I... I'm not sure... but...It must be high up, the sounds of the city are so far away... I'm in a tower, I don't know which one... It's getting worse, the evil is going to take over soon. It's the work of King Viru..."
"King... Viru...?"]
Lance stared wonderingly around the great front hall. They had arrived a couple hours after General Aston had sighted Ontharn, and now the young sailor wanted nothing more than to take a nice, long nap. Either that or a good, hot bath. Both would be great, too.
"Ah, General Aston!" King Edward greeted, cheered at the sight of the Hylian general. "I was expecting you sometime soon! Link arrived only several hours beforehand—"
"Link is here?!" exclaimed the general, completely surprised and delighted. The entire troop turned its attention to the king, utterly shocked. The King of Selinta nodded.
"Yes, he explained that he was caught in an unfortunate situation during a terrible storm, and has only just arrived here today. I'm sure Mystu, my court officer, can direct you to his whereabouts." King Edward nodded to a guard. "Daniel, seek out Mystu and bring him here at once." The designated soldier saluted smartly and marched off in search of the court officer.
"This is great! We thought him dead!" The general was overcome with relief, and closed his eyes and sighed wearily. "Oh, my aching bones. I'm not the bright-eyed lad I once was, I suppose..." King Edward nodded in agreement.
"Nor I. I shall summon some servants at once to bring your soldiers refreshment."
As soon as he heard that Link was in the castle, Lance was off like a shot toward the hallways. Not one to sit around and wait, the young sailor wanted to be the first to greet the Hero of Time, overjoyed that his friend was alive and well.
"Excuse me... Lance...?" A timid voice called out as he passed by another hallway. The eighteen-year-old stopped and looked over his shoulder. Mystu the Fourteenth, the renowned artist of Selinta, was standing there, looking a bit happy to see his old friend.
"Mystu! How are ye?" Lance clapped the young teenager heartily on the back. The artist coughed nervously.
"I'm fine, Lance, and I trust you are well, too. What brings you to Ontharn, friend?"
"Ayuh, I'm marching with the Royal Hylian Army, to help Selinta's defense against the Tophetians," replied the sailor cheerfully. Mystu the Fourteenth nodded.
"I see. And you're around these halls because...?"
"I'm lookin' fer me matey, Link. He came in earlier today. We lost 'im in a big storm, and we all thought he were dead, but t'ain't so! D'ye know where he is?"
"I... I think I might..." Mystu adjusted his glasses carefully. "The guest quarters are down this hallway, shall we go, then?"
Link opened his eyes groggily and sat up, groaning with the effort. His muscles ached from his dogged swim and trek to Ontharn, and somehow the nap wasn't quite as refreshing as he had hoped it would be.
Fragments of his dream lingered, but the Hero of Time brushed them aside like week-old cobwebs; he didn't have time to decipher the cryptic meaning of them. Let whoever it was die, for all he cared; his mind was only set on the Princess Cheyanna, and her lovely grace.
"Matey, are ye in here?" A raucous voice called, and the door opened creakily. Lance and a younger teenager peered in dubiously. "Link-fada!" With a cry of joy and a tremendous bound Lance was at the side of the bed, hardly able to contain his mirth. "I thought ye were killed in that awful storm, but here y'are, and all is fine, neh?"
"Lance, it's good to see you. A storm couldn't kill me, it takes more than that," scoffed the blonde, suppressing a smile at his incorrigible friend.
"So, spill the beans, mate, and tell me what happened." Lance set himself in a chair and leaned forward with rapt attention as Link began to relate his adventure. Mystu nervously pulled a chair towards the bed and listened as well.
By suppertime that night, the entire troop had met with Link and had shown their delight at having him back. All except Jonathan, of course, but that was to be expected. And Link couldn't wait for the evening meal; Princess Cheyanna would be there.
"She's a rare beauty, she is," Mystu sighed lovingly as they filed into the large dining hall with the other soldiers and castle dwellers. "My favorite subject to work with. If I were a prince from another land, I'd surely court her. But alas, I only paint."
"Mystu, I'd never pictured you the princess-marrying type," Lance chortled. "Link, here, he's got the looks, but turns all the lasses down. Even the princess types, eh?" Link looked uncomfortable; the mention of his 'rejection' of Princess Zelda made him feel rather guilty about the entire matter. It wasn't that Zelda wasn't lovely in looks and personality, it was just the extra baggage that came along with it, and being a king, well... would fit his lifestyle and vice versa. A hero rescues a damsel in distress, but that didn't mean they would marry. If that were the case, then he would have too many wives to count.
"Yeah, sure," mumbled the blonde as he took a seat near the center of the table.
"No, no, Link, you're the guest of honor here!" Mystu the Thirteenth called out, rapping a hand on the table. "Come with me." The Hero of Time shot Lance a helpless glance as the court officer dragged him towards the head of the table. The young sailor and artist followed after him.
"But I... I'm fine, really," insisted Link as Mystu the Thirteenth sat him down next to the head of the table. "I'm quite sure the king would rather talk with General Aston—"
"Oh, hello Link," greeted the man in question, taking a seat across from the Hero of Time. "Come to join me up here, eh? Good for you, lad." Aston smiled sincerely and settled into his seat.
"Come, Mystu, we shall take our appropriate seats," the court officer said sternly to his son, taking his seat several places down from Aston, Link, and the head of the table. Sighing, the young artist joined his father. Lance, a bit confused, simply sat down next to Link and tried to look as though he belonged there.
"Welcome, friends," bellowed King Edward in his most official voice, entering the dining room from the main doors. "Tonight we feast in honor of the soldiers from the Royal Hylian Army who came to aid us in our defense." There was a loud cheer from all the palace dwellers. Link, unsure of what was the proper response to such praise, looked beseechingly to the general for some advice, but Aston looked just as embarrassed and uncertain himself. "All of Selinta is grateful for the help of King Chandler and his regal subjects. Let us begin!" Link looked eagerly towards the king, sure that he would, at last, see Princess Cheyanna in person, but only the queen accompanied him. There was no princess to be found.
"Erm..." The nineteen-year-old had no idea how to ask the king where his daughter was without seeming as though he wanted, that badly, to see her. It would be seen as a... 'courting' of some sort, he was sure of it. Fortunately, King Edward answered his question before it even left his lips.
"I am afraid our daughter Cheyanna could not attend tonight, she has been feeling rather weak of late." The king's face fell a little as the servants began bringing out the food on silver platters. "I hope with all my heart it is not serious. Her misfortunate could be an ill-omen." The queen nodded silently and dipped her spoon into the soup, offering no verbal agreement to his comment.
"I am sure it is simply something that is running around the land," General Aston assured, trying to sound certain of himself. "Have there been any other symptoms?"
"No, thankfully. The castle herbalist does not believe it is the wasting sickness, thanks be to the goddesses. However, during such times, we mustn't take this lightly," Edward clucked, shaking his head with resolution.
"But she were just fine when I left, sir," Lance remarked, puzzled. "I can't believe she could be sick. Cheyanna were always strong of spirit, aye." The king looked up as Lance spoke, and his face broke into a sunny grin.
"Lance, dear lad, you've come back! I daresay, where is your rascally old seadog of a father? Did he come along?" The young sailor moved his head in the negative.
"Nay, sir, much work he's got to do to pay off the rest of his ship and buy new supplies, not to mention give the crew their due. But I'm sure he'll pop by one of these days..." The conversation lulled into something pleasant but not entirely interesting. Link automatically ate his food, and felt a little disappointed. He had expected to see the princess.
After the dinner festivities, Link immediately exited the dining room, lest Lance decide that the hero should join in the dancing and fun afterwards, and he certainly didn't feel like waltzing around the entire length of the room while some young girl simpered and swooned on his shoulder.
The Hero of Time found peace in the palace garden, surprised at the enormity of it. Hyrule's garden paled in comparison, but since it was also much newer, he supposed that they had thought more of wartime than peacetime, and had cut back on trivialities.
Still, a quiet walk in the garden was not something to be turned down, especially if your inner feelings were in turmoil. There was some soul searching to be done, he knew, taking a sit on the grass beside the pond, crossing his legs under each other, as though he were going to meditate. In a way, he was.
When first meeting him, many people were literally star-struck (or rather, hero-struck), and they worshipped and adored him. Link generally disliked that sort of attention, finding it to be some sort of annoying and useless flattery. So he had saved Hyrule and probably the rest of the world from a cruel fate at the whims of Ganondorf, but that was a couple years ago. It was old news. As of late, he had done nothing entirely notable, aside from the usual creature slaying and town saving, not to mention damsel rescuing, most of which had always thought it 'proper' to reward his actions with an unwanted kiss. During those times his affections lay deeply for Zelda, and he had no interest in being smooched by some woman that he had just rescued and hardly knew.
But now, now he wasn't sure where his heart lay, if he was the kind of man a girl would marry. Being a hero had some ugly side affects, many of which were painful and most likely fatal. Zelda... His mind worked it over ceaselessly, but could not see how it worked. If he had really been in love, he would have endured the kingship, but perhaps it was just as well.
Those who knew him (and, to be honest, not many did), knew that he liked the quiet, detested any kind of wrongdoing, and preferred his own company most of the time. Usually the more ignorant thought him to be stuck-up and pompous, but he considered himself rather quiet and humble, although that in itself wasn't a very humble thought.
Still... there was always the possibility that there was a lovely young lady out there for him, who shared his interests and his desires. Maybe one day he could hang up his sword, learn a trade (perhaps being a silver or blacksmith; that particular line of trade had always interested him), and settle down to have a family. Such was his dream; nothing fancy, no visions of glory or fame or riches, but a simple life with a loving family and a small business.
Of course, it would be tiresome after a while, all that idyllic behavior, but there would always be a need for heroes. Deep in his heart he knew he would never hang up his sword for long. (Returning the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time did nothing, so the Sages allowed him to keep it with him and protect its magic.)
So lost in thought was Link that he didn't hear (even with his sharp Hylian ears and acute sense of awareness) someone walking up from behind him, trying to be stealthy and not succeeding too great.
"...Who are you?" spoke a voice, startling the blonde terribly and causing him to jump in surprise. He craned his neck over his shoulder and saw the princess in all her beauty. She was staring curiously at him, with large blue eyes so innocent and unselfconscious. Her hair was tied neatly into a lovely thick braid that hung over one shoulder decoratively, and her dress was a simple pink frock. "What are you doing in my private garden?" Feeling somewhat the fool for allowing her to sneak up on him, Link scrambled to his feet and stammered a mumble that sounded vaguely like an apology.
"I... I didn't know this was your private garden. I came out from the castle to get some fresh air, after dinner, and... I sat down here. I'm sorry if I've intruded on your privacy." 'There, that should clear matters up,' he thought, still feeling stupid and clumsy. To his surprise, Princess Cheyanna laughed and clapped her hands together.
"How delightful! A visitor! Surely... you are one of the visitors from Hyrule?" He nodded dumbly, not daring himself to speak again. Only babble would pour forth from his mouth like a raging river, he feared. "But what an odd sense of uniform... surely, that is not a Royal Hylian Army uniform...?" She seemed a little offended at his lack of taste for dressing. That was no bother; he wasn't too fond of his style either.
"Er, no... your Highness. Officially, I'm not a part of the army, but the king sent me along as well... I've never been a soldier, and I don't wear their uniform." Cheyanna looked perplexed.
"Not a soldier? But then, who are you?" Feeling a bit silly, Link made a stiff bow and replied in a sighing sort of tone,
"I'm Link of Hyrule, Your Highness."
"Link? The very same Link, the Hero of Time?" Her voice carried astonishment... and... amusement...? He nodded silently. She smiled sweetly. "Of course, I should have known the Hero of Time would be so handsome." His ears burned red at the tips, and he forced himself to study the ground with great interest. "How convenient that you should be in my garden! Oh! I forgot, I must properly introduce myself." With a pert little curtsy, she announced regally, "I am Princess Cheyanna of Selinta. I am quite pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Likewise," he mumbled, but she didn't seem to hear him.
"You must regale me with your story of bravery and the triumph over Ganondorf!" To his amusement, she shuddered a bit at the sound of the evil king's name.
"Erm... actually... I can't, really. It's probably late, and... I... well, the army will probably be marching out tomorrow..." Which was a lie in its entirety; King Edward himself had stated that they would march out three days hence. Cheyanna made a sort of disgruntled noise in her throat, which was quite... un-princess-like.
"Oh, very well, Link. Be off with you to your quarters, then, if you feel you've not the time nor the honor of keeping me company."
'When she puts it like that, she makes me seem like the worst person in the world,' he thought with some dissent. He had just met the princess, a beautiful creature that was already flirting outrageously with him, and he thought her to be a spoiled, commanding brat. But of course, that was probably because she was so used to having men fall over each other to please her, and she seemed to feel as though he was rejecting her. 'I'm doomed to forever be likened as a Rejecter of Princesses,' thought Link disconsolately, sighing with guilt.
Cheyanna turned away from him and sauntered off into the garden, obviously wanting him to follow, but Link would not play that game. Fooling around with the princess, no matter how renown he was, was nothing he wanted to be caught doing. And he had no intention of playing between the sheets; he was here on business, and because he found her physically satisfying was no reason to take advantage of her.
'After all, she's weak and probably is a bit delusional.' This thought hurt his own feelings, and in order to prevent any other self-discouraging thoughts, Link turned and headed back to the castle, feeling angry and puzzled with himself.
Cheyanna watched him stalk off along the path, and resisted the urge to crush the flower she held in her hand. She had been so close, so close, to getting him off his guard, and then she would be able to make her move.
Sexual relations were not in her mind; she had been planning to dispose of him neatly and silently. No one knew that she had secret meetings with King Viru of the Tophetians; her love lay with his. She had sworn to stay by his side and fight against her own people, but he would not hear of it. Viru wanted her to stay in Selinta, and be his little spy. No one in their right mind would suspect her, and she'd be able to convey messages through a round ball he had given him.
Naturally, she played her part well.
And at the first notice that a troop from the Royal Hylian Army, not to mention General Aston and Link themselves, would be coming, she notified him at once, and his immediate response was to assassinate Link at all costs.
She would do so, but on her own grounds.
Her favorite tactic was seduction, but apparently he was too stupid, honorable, or... something less natural to respond. Anyone who dressed like he did had to be strange.
Cheyanna's eyes narrowed dangerously.
'I'll get you, Link, for even thinking about fighting against the Tophetians, and especially my beloved, King Viru...'
Link wanted nothing to do with either the princess or with the strange girl Miyako. Women were such troublesome creatures, and all dreams of his raising a family vanished without a trace. At best, they were flirtatious little scoundrels with hearts of stone and sharp daggers of betrayal.
'I shouldn't have turned down Princess Zelda, but it's too late for that,' he thought bitterly. One bad event had spoiled his night, and so that he would not be further bothered by bad dreams, he took a sleeping draught he found in the bathroom and promptly went to sleep.
Miyako's head jerked in the direction of the doorway as the metal door opened creakily. The young teenager could hear deep breathing, as though someone was a little overexerted. She didn't bother to say anything; only one person came to visit her.
"I'll teach you to spy around," hissed Cheyanna, striding closer to the prone figure on the floor.
"I've done nothing wrong," the red-haired teenager replied quietly. "I don't see why you've locked me up and bound me like some worthless animal."
"You are a worthless animal!" snarled the princess, aiming a kick at Miyako's vulnerable stomach. The other girl grunted in pain but made no other movement or sound. "When I am Queen of Tophet, I'll see to it that every vagabond and criminal had his way with you."
Miyako wanted badly to sneer and be contemptuous, but that wouldn't be very wise. What she was saying wasn't very wise, but pushing her luck was a bit too much for the moment. "King Viru's just using you; any fool with half a brain and an eye that's not blind could see that."
"Shut up, I never said you could speak his name!" Cheyanna hissed angrily. "For that, you get no food for a month! You'll rot in here!" With that, the princess turned and slammed the cell door shut.
"Well, at least I'll be rid of her when I'm dead," Miyako tried to console herself, but it wasn't much use. Her death was inevitable; the boy she had sent her messages to had somehow manage to block her, whether unknowingly or purposely. "Might as well start writing my epitaph now..."