Disclaimer: I don't Zelda or any of its affiliated characters. oh poo…

Zelda's Choice

Awful Scented Blossoms and Unexpected Friends

Walking in the gardens, Zelda felt more refreshed than she had in days. The sweet scent of newly fallen leaves filled the air, and a crisp autumn breeze breathed upon the land. It was a cloudless day. The cerulean sky sparkled and sunlight danced upon any reflective surface available. Zelda brushed her hands against soft flower petals, although in due time they would fall to the ground, brown and shriveled.

But such negative thoughts did not enter Zelda's mind. Inwardly, she blatantly refused to focus on all of the pessimistic aspects of her life. Not to say she didn't think of them at times, but she simply did not want them to become the center of her life, the focus that dictated every action and idea.

Zelda walked slowly throughout the gardens, merely enjoying the simplicity of nature. Fresh air literally breathed new life into her; the delicious scent of the outside world brought straightforward and logical views to her mind, detangling many that were strangling her. She was unaware of anyone else's presence until a voice brought her back to reality.

"Your Highness, where are you off to on such a lovely day?" Zelda looked up from the ground to find Duke Kyanel bowing in front of her, smiling his opalescent smile. "You seem deep in thought," he added.

"Yes, I suppose you could say that," she replied. Zelda felt slightly miffed at being interrupted, but she attempted to take it in stride. "Would you care to walk with me, Duke Kyanel?" she then asked, feeling required to take part in his company.

His smile broadened. "I would be honored, Your Highness." Kyanel took her arm in his and rested his gloved hand near her elbow. He was taller than Zelda, but not by very much. His emerald eyes were just as penetrating as they were when Zelda had first met him. The Princess's initial embarrassment towards the man had disappeared, though; he seemed to mean well enough.

"Your gardens here a lovely, Your Highness. I'm positive they are quite spectacular in the warmer seasons, am I right?" His voice was deeper than Link's, but it didn't have the same comforting quality to it. Zelda instantly scolded herself for making such comparisons.

"Yes, I love the gardens, especially in the spring time. When the trees are budding and white and pale pink petals are showering the ground - it's one of my favorite times of the year," Zelda replied, liking the subject choice. She had always been partial to flowers.

Kyanel nodded. "I know of what you speak. In Kakariko Village the townsfolk call those trees 'popcorn' trees because of their white blossoms. Although I must admit that despite the petals being pretty, they don't have a very nice scent." He shrugged when Zelda laughed. "Truly, they smell awful. Don't you think so?"

"Yes," she replied, smiling, "they don't smell very good. It's a pity, really." Zelda felt herself warming up to Kyanel. He seemed haughty at first, but initial impressions do not always accurately display a person's disposition. She was glad she had chosen to be in his company. "What's your favorite season?" Zelda asked.

He pondered the question for a moment. "I would have to say winter," he eventually replied, "because the snow is so beautiful, and the hills are overrun with white foxes and ermines. I don't like the cold very much, though." He smiled. "I must say that I am very honored to have been invited to all of the upcoming events," he added, changing the subject. "And that I would be considered worthy." Zelda blushed.

"You're welcome." She then changed the subject back. "It rarely snows here in the city. I've never seen snow before in my life," Zelda said.

"Really? You'll have to come with me to Farthington Hills. It snows every winter." The conversation eventually turned to other subjects, but they weren't particularly personal or forward. Zelda truly liked Kyanel, but of course only as a possible good-friend. She sighed, rather loudly, about a certain golden-haired man. Kyanel noticed. "That was a long sigh, Your Highness. Am I too forward in asking what it is in regard to?" he asked politely.

Zelda waved a hand. "Oh," she replied, "nothing important, really. I just…I…" her voice trailed off. She wasn't confident in what to say. She surely didn't want to tell a stranger, a nice stranger, but a stranger nonetheless, about her personal problems! No, that would be silly, not to mention unwise. "Ah, don't worry. All will be well," she responded. Kyanel nodded.

Their conversation continued until an hour or so before the noon meal. As they walked along the garden paths, Zelda still holding the Duke's arm, they came upon a certain golden-haired man that had been flitting in and out of Zelda's thoughts throughout the day. He was dressed in a simple tunic and hose, his sword belted to his waist. He had on his pointy, green hat that he had specially made from the Kokiri Forest. Seeing him there, Zelda stiffened and reflexively took her arm from Kyanel.

"Link!" she called. "How are you?" She walked up to him, making sure that Kyanel followed. "Are you off to the practice field?" When he seemed disinclined to respond, Zelda simply continued to chatter. "Have you met Duke Kyanel? No? Well, Link, as I said this is Duke Kyanel of Farthington Hills." She looked at Kyanel. "And this is Link." Link grimaced at the lack of title, although it was only apparent to Zelda. When she tried to spark a conversation between the two, Kyanel interrupted.

"Your Highness, I thank you for your time. But I must be off. Other duties to attend to, I'm afraid! I will hopefully see you again." He then flourished a bow and kissed her hand. Zelda watched as he walked away before turning back to Link.

"Link, what are you up to? Really - "

"Who was that again?" Link asked abruptly.

Zelda raised an eyebrow. "Duke Kyanel of Farthington Hills," she answered slowly. "Why?"

"No reason," Link replied, dismissing the subject. His façade instantly changed to a smile. "So, how have you been lately? I haven't seen you for a while."

"Oh, busy, I suppose." And their conversation didn't get much further than that. Zelda noticed Link slowly becoming distant in his responses. The few times he did respond with a full sentence were with a clipped tone that could have been taken wrongly. She didn't understand him. Was he, dare she even think it, jealous? No, he probably just had a poor day. After departing from one another's company, Zelda went back inside the castle, for at the moment it was the noon meal.

Zelda's new gowns for the Mid-Winter balls were soon delivered. All were stunning: one gown was pale white with silver embroidery and a corset-bodice. Another was pale pink with tiny rosebuds. Each one was beautiful, and Zelda was actually looking forward to wearing them. And hopefully, she thought with a smile, Mr. Grumpy Golden-Hair would be there, too. She sighed, though. The silly man was so unbelievably shy! She would crack through that exterior. She swore it - she swore it on the fact that spring blossoms smell terrible.

How romantic.