The next day, Zelda woke up to the sound of birds chirping. She lay in bed
for a few moments, then kicked off the sheets lazily.
After putting on a cerulean dress with gold tints, Zelda walked down the stairway and into the dining room. King Harkinian, King Lowell, and Marth were already there.
"Good morning Zelda," King Harkinian greeted.
"Morning, father."
"I hope you slept well?" Marth asked.
"Very much so, thank you." Zelda looked down on her plate of food. Boar snout. She sighed, wishing that her father would allow her to become a vegetarian (but be able to eat bacon).
As she ate her breakfast, Zelda zoned in and out on the conversation. Marth and the two Kings were discussing politics, and how the economy was coming.The young prince was leading the terribly boring conversation.
Just then, Impa entered the room. She was wheeling a cart with a huge dead pig on it.
Goddesses! Zelda thought. What is it with my father and pigs?!
"Woah, that must be the biggest boar in the world!" Marth exclaimed.
"All depends on how you spell it," Zelda said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Marth didn't get the insult, but her father glared at her.
After a rather unappetizing breakfast, Zelda walked up to her father.
"Father, I was wondering if you'd permit me to go to Lake Hylia today?" She looked at him pleadingly.
"Why?" he asked. "We still have a lot to prepare for the May festivity, remember? It's less than three weeks away."
"Oh dad, please?" She gave him the Bambi eyes.
"Oh, fine," he laughed. "Be back in time for lunch, though."
"Okay!"
Zelda dashed out the door. She ran to the stables, and looked for Audrey. When she saw the princess, Audrey reared back, startled.
"What is it girl?" Zelda asked, grabbing the horses reins. Audrey shook her head, and kicked at a stack of hay. It was the bale that Hepburn normally hid in.
Zelda ran over to it. Hepburn wasn't there. "Oh Audrey, what on earth happened?!"
Audrey shook her head again, nodding towards the back stable doorway. It was open.
"A horse thief!" Zelda cried. "Poor Hepburn, I've got to go find him! Oh, but how do I find him?? I can't ride on you, Aud..." The princess glared at Katherine. "Looks like I'll have to use Katherine."
Proudly, Katherine trotted up to Zelda, and beckoned for her to get on. Sighing, Zelda stepped on. "Side-saddle will take me forever!"
As she rode by the beaches at Lake Hylia, she scanned the crowds. Then she saw a horse, and Link was with it. But it wasn't just any horse, it was Hepburn!
Zelda leapt off of Katherine and ran over. Then she noticed that Link wasn't alone. He was in a fight with another man!
The strange chap packed a punch into Link's shoulder. Link reacted to this by headbutting him. He ducked a blow to his head, and then got kicked in the stomach. Link doubled over, cluthing his waist.
The man was about to plunge a dagger into Link's chest, when the back of his shirt was grabbed by someone behind him.
"Excuse me sir," Zelda said. "I believe you have my horse." She closed her eyes, tightening the grip on his collar. Then suddenly, a rush of electricity surged through her fingertips and into his neck. He fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Hepburn trotted up to Zelda and nuzzled her gratefully. The princess hugged him back, then walked up to Link. He shook his head.
"Link, are you all right?" she asked, helping him up.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered, brushing himself off. "Thanks, that magic was amazing!"
"What do you mean, thanks? You rescued Hepburn for me! I might never have seen him again. Thank you!"
"It was nothing really, Princess," Link said modestly, blushing faintly. "I just recognized the horse, and...well, I could't let him get away with it."
"Oh, you're so sweet!" Zelda cried. "I don't know how to...to thank you enough. You're an amazing person, Link."
You can imagine what it's like to be complimented in such away by a princess. Link looked down, blushing again. "Really, don't mention it."
Just as she was about to leave, Zelda noticed Link was still grasping his stomach.
"Oh Link, did he hurt you much?" Zelda asked.
"N-no, not really. I'll be fine. But I think a bruise is going to form on my forehead from that head-butt."
"Well I couldn't feel too sorry about that," Zelda laughed. "You were the one that did it, of your own free will!"
Link laughed. "I suppose you're right, Princess."
Zelda looked into his eyes, and shoved some hair behind her ear. "You know, I don't want you to feel that you have to be so formal all the time. You can just call me Zelda."
Link grinned. "Thanks, princess. Oh wait...Zelda."
Zelda smiled back. "Well, I think I'd better get Hepburn back to the stables," she said. "Audrey's been pretty nervous about him."
"Okay, Zelda. I guess I'll see you soon."
Smiling to herself, Zelda walked away. Some people found it slightly awkward that the princess was walking with this strange (and un-royal looking) horse. She didn't mind.
As she walked back into the stables, Zelda bumped into Impa.
"I see you found him," Impa said. "Audrey just showed me that he was gone."
"Well the person we really owe his safe return to is Link," Zelda explained. "A horse thief came and stole Hepburn, and then Link found him and...saved him." The princess stroked Hepburn's mane, then led him back into his stable.
"Speaking of which," Impa remarked. "Looks like someone took Katherine as well."
"No," Zelda replied. "You see, I had to-" She turned in the direction of Katherine's stable, and realized that Impa was right. "Oh Goddesses, I forgot her at Lake Hylia!"
Zelda was about to rush back out the door, when she ran straight into Link. She managed to regain her balance, but Link fell to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry Link," Zelda apologized. "But I forgot my other-"
"Horse?" Link finished for her, standing back up. "Is this one yours?"
It was then that Zelda realized Link had a horse with him. Katherine.
"How'd you know she was mine?" Zelda asked, taking the reins.
"Well...it kind of tipped me off when I saw you at Lake Hylia riding her. Other than that, I suppose it was just a wild guess."
Zelda laughed. "Har har. Thanks for bringing her back, though."
"Nothing to it."
"Uh, Link," Impa interrupted, stationed by the window. "I don't mean to intentionally shorten your visit, but I see the King coming. If he finds you here, I don't think he'll be pleased."
"Got your point. Bye, princess."
"Good-bye, Link. Thanks again!"
Zelda turned to face her father just as Link dashed off. "Helllllooo, dad!" she welcomed, smiling broadly.
"Hello Zelda," he responded, also smiling. "I was just about to go for my daily horseride, and I asked that Prince Marth join me."
"How nice."
"Yes." King Harkinian walked over to his horse, Brandeux. A strong, mahogany colored creature, Brandeux had a very kingly look about him. That, of course, had captured King Harkinian's eye immediatley.
"Does...Marth have a horse here?"
"No, but I decided he can borrow my other one."
Marth entered the stables, putting on a pair of riding gloves. "Hello, princess," he greeted her. He marched up to Zelda, hugged her, and then kissed her cheek. She stared at him in disbelief.
"Here you are, Marth," King Harkinian said, tossing him the reins of a snowy white horse. "She's called Pickles."
"What an...interesting name," Marth said, smiling forcefully.
"We should be back within the hour," King Harkinian said over his shoulder to Impa. "I expect lunch to be ready upon our return."
"Yes, highness," Impa acknowledged, bowing her head.
As Marth and King Harkinian galloped away, Zelda turned towards Impa. Then she screamed.
"Impa!" she cried. "Impa, Marth kissed me! Oh, goddesses! Ewww!" She started pulling at her hair.
"So, what's the problem?" Impa asked sarcastically. The two of them walked out of the stables, towards the castle. "I thought you liked Marth. He's quite handsome."
"So what?" Zelda sniffed. "I haven't been liking his personality lately. He's starting to be like father--acting superior and everything. And he's got awful cheek just to walk up to me like that and just...kiss me!"
"I know what you mean," Impa comforted. "...well, maybe not really, but I can just imagine how awful that must be."
"No you couldn't," Zelda sniffed. "Oh, that impudent heir!"
Impa turned to look at her as she opened the main door. "Come now Zelda," she said. "You shouldn't talk about Prince Marth like that behind his back. It's not polite."
"Oh, polite shmolite," Zelda grunted, sitting down on a chair in the kitchen. "I really couldn't care less. Why, if he-"
"That's really enough dear," Impa interjected. "Surely you can't be that sore about Marth. Give him another chance."
Zelda calmed down, and sighed. "All right, all right. Perhaps he does deserve a second shot. I'll give it to him."
"There you go," Impa laughed.
After putting on a cerulean dress with gold tints, Zelda walked down the stairway and into the dining room. King Harkinian, King Lowell, and Marth were already there.
"Good morning Zelda," King Harkinian greeted.
"Morning, father."
"I hope you slept well?" Marth asked.
"Very much so, thank you." Zelda looked down on her plate of food. Boar snout. She sighed, wishing that her father would allow her to become a vegetarian (but be able to eat bacon).
As she ate her breakfast, Zelda zoned in and out on the conversation. Marth and the two Kings were discussing politics, and how the economy was coming.The young prince was leading the terribly boring conversation.
Just then, Impa entered the room. She was wheeling a cart with a huge dead pig on it.
Goddesses! Zelda thought. What is it with my father and pigs?!
"Woah, that must be the biggest boar in the world!" Marth exclaimed.
"All depends on how you spell it," Zelda said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Marth didn't get the insult, but her father glared at her.
After a rather unappetizing breakfast, Zelda walked up to her father.
"Father, I was wondering if you'd permit me to go to Lake Hylia today?" She looked at him pleadingly.
"Why?" he asked. "We still have a lot to prepare for the May festivity, remember? It's less than three weeks away."
"Oh dad, please?" She gave him the Bambi eyes.
"Oh, fine," he laughed. "Be back in time for lunch, though."
"Okay!"
Zelda dashed out the door. She ran to the stables, and looked for Audrey. When she saw the princess, Audrey reared back, startled.
"What is it girl?" Zelda asked, grabbing the horses reins. Audrey shook her head, and kicked at a stack of hay. It was the bale that Hepburn normally hid in.
Zelda ran over to it. Hepburn wasn't there. "Oh Audrey, what on earth happened?!"
Audrey shook her head again, nodding towards the back stable doorway. It was open.
"A horse thief!" Zelda cried. "Poor Hepburn, I've got to go find him! Oh, but how do I find him?? I can't ride on you, Aud..." The princess glared at Katherine. "Looks like I'll have to use Katherine."
Proudly, Katherine trotted up to Zelda, and beckoned for her to get on. Sighing, Zelda stepped on. "Side-saddle will take me forever!"
As she rode by the beaches at Lake Hylia, she scanned the crowds. Then she saw a horse, and Link was with it. But it wasn't just any horse, it was Hepburn!
Zelda leapt off of Katherine and ran over. Then she noticed that Link wasn't alone. He was in a fight with another man!
The strange chap packed a punch into Link's shoulder. Link reacted to this by headbutting him. He ducked a blow to his head, and then got kicked in the stomach. Link doubled over, cluthing his waist.
The man was about to plunge a dagger into Link's chest, when the back of his shirt was grabbed by someone behind him.
"Excuse me sir," Zelda said. "I believe you have my horse." She closed her eyes, tightening the grip on his collar. Then suddenly, a rush of electricity surged through her fingertips and into his neck. He fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Hepburn trotted up to Zelda and nuzzled her gratefully. The princess hugged him back, then walked up to Link. He shook his head.
"Link, are you all right?" she asked, helping him up.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered, brushing himself off. "Thanks, that magic was amazing!"
"What do you mean, thanks? You rescued Hepburn for me! I might never have seen him again. Thank you!"
"It was nothing really, Princess," Link said modestly, blushing faintly. "I just recognized the horse, and...well, I could't let him get away with it."
"Oh, you're so sweet!" Zelda cried. "I don't know how to...to thank you enough. You're an amazing person, Link."
You can imagine what it's like to be complimented in such away by a princess. Link looked down, blushing again. "Really, don't mention it."
Just as she was about to leave, Zelda noticed Link was still grasping his stomach.
"Oh Link, did he hurt you much?" Zelda asked.
"N-no, not really. I'll be fine. But I think a bruise is going to form on my forehead from that head-butt."
"Well I couldn't feel too sorry about that," Zelda laughed. "You were the one that did it, of your own free will!"
Link laughed. "I suppose you're right, Princess."
Zelda looked into his eyes, and shoved some hair behind her ear. "You know, I don't want you to feel that you have to be so formal all the time. You can just call me Zelda."
Link grinned. "Thanks, princess. Oh wait...Zelda."
Zelda smiled back. "Well, I think I'd better get Hepburn back to the stables," she said. "Audrey's been pretty nervous about him."
"Okay, Zelda. I guess I'll see you soon."
Smiling to herself, Zelda walked away. Some people found it slightly awkward that the princess was walking with this strange (and un-royal looking) horse. She didn't mind.
As she walked back into the stables, Zelda bumped into Impa.
"I see you found him," Impa said. "Audrey just showed me that he was gone."
"Well the person we really owe his safe return to is Link," Zelda explained. "A horse thief came and stole Hepburn, and then Link found him and...saved him." The princess stroked Hepburn's mane, then led him back into his stable.
"Speaking of which," Impa remarked. "Looks like someone took Katherine as well."
"No," Zelda replied. "You see, I had to-" She turned in the direction of Katherine's stable, and realized that Impa was right. "Oh Goddesses, I forgot her at Lake Hylia!"
Zelda was about to rush back out the door, when she ran straight into Link. She managed to regain her balance, but Link fell to the ground.
"Oh, I'm sorry Link," Zelda apologized. "But I forgot my other-"
"Horse?" Link finished for her, standing back up. "Is this one yours?"
It was then that Zelda realized Link had a horse with him. Katherine.
"How'd you know she was mine?" Zelda asked, taking the reins.
"Well...it kind of tipped me off when I saw you at Lake Hylia riding her. Other than that, I suppose it was just a wild guess."
Zelda laughed. "Har har. Thanks for bringing her back, though."
"Nothing to it."
"Uh, Link," Impa interrupted, stationed by the window. "I don't mean to intentionally shorten your visit, but I see the King coming. If he finds you here, I don't think he'll be pleased."
"Got your point. Bye, princess."
"Good-bye, Link. Thanks again!"
Zelda turned to face her father just as Link dashed off. "Helllllooo, dad!" she welcomed, smiling broadly.
"Hello Zelda," he responded, also smiling. "I was just about to go for my daily horseride, and I asked that Prince Marth join me."
"How nice."
"Yes." King Harkinian walked over to his horse, Brandeux. A strong, mahogany colored creature, Brandeux had a very kingly look about him. That, of course, had captured King Harkinian's eye immediatley.
"Does...Marth have a horse here?"
"No, but I decided he can borrow my other one."
Marth entered the stables, putting on a pair of riding gloves. "Hello, princess," he greeted her. He marched up to Zelda, hugged her, and then kissed her cheek. She stared at him in disbelief.
"Here you are, Marth," King Harkinian said, tossing him the reins of a snowy white horse. "She's called Pickles."
"What an...interesting name," Marth said, smiling forcefully.
"We should be back within the hour," King Harkinian said over his shoulder to Impa. "I expect lunch to be ready upon our return."
"Yes, highness," Impa acknowledged, bowing her head.
As Marth and King Harkinian galloped away, Zelda turned towards Impa. Then she screamed.
"Impa!" she cried. "Impa, Marth kissed me! Oh, goddesses! Ewww!" She started pulling at her hair.
"So, what's the problem?" Impa asked sarcastically. The two of them walked out of the stables, towards the castle. "I thought you liked Marth. He's quite handsome."
"So what?" Zelda sniffed. "I haven't been liking his personality lately. He's starting to be like father--acting superior and everything. And he's got awful cheek just to walk up to me like that and just...kiss me!"
"I know what you mean," Impa comforted. "...well, maybe not really, but I can just imagine how awful that must be."
"No you couldn't," Zelda sniffed. "Oh, that impudent heir!"
Impa turned to look at her as she opened the main door. "Come now Zelda," she said. "You shouldn't talk about Prince Marth like that behind his back. It's not polite."
"Oh, polite shmolite," Zelda grunted, sitting down on a chair in the kitchen. "I really couldn't care less. Why, if he-"
"That's really enough dear," Impa interjected. "Surely you can't be that sore about Marth. Give him another chance."
Zelda calmed down, and sighed. "All right, all right. Perhaps he does deserve a second shot. I'll give it to him."
"There you go," Impa laughed.