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(Author's Note: Chapter three is up!....Um....that is all! XD;)
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Chapter 3
(in a ball-room inside the host King's castle. Link walks in all dolled up in knight's armor. A cape on his back, shoulder and breast plates of silver, an open tunic and a sword to his side. He observes the dancing couples and the activity in the tables. Link has a serious look in his face. It's obvious he doesn't want to be here.)
Rauru: My boy! (Has noticed Link in the entrance, he gets out of his chair and gestures him to come where they are)
Zelda: Link! (she gets up as well)
(Link tries to wipe away his annoyance from his face and goes toward them, acting like Link would.)
Rauru: Come, come! Sit here! (he pulls out a chair next to Zelda and himself) I was afraid you would miss the festivities!
Link (sits down and tries not to look at Zelda): What's the celebration for?
Zelda: The elders have found the third crystal pedestal and have recently activated it. The water maiden will soon be transported back to her homeland. Isn't this wonderful? We're almost done, Link. Just two more crystals and it will all be over...(she looks down, contemplating the very idea that all the suffering in Hyrule will end)
Link: I see...(he stares at her, his serious look once more. Nayru came to their table, said hi to Link, and started to speak to Zelda. Link glared)
Rauru (interrupts): Not only that (he caught Link's attention from the two girls), but to celebrate life, after what had happened last night. Specially for you two. The hardships you had to endure on account of that monster. (Link holds in his anger) It was amazing that you two came out alive...An angel must be watching over you. (he leans closer to Link and almost in a whisper) But none an angel could be as beautiful as the one you are lucky to have next to you, Link. (he winks.)
Link: Yeah...thanks, Rauru.
Rauru: Well, I suppose I should call it a night. Between you and me, I think I've had little much to drink.
Link: No kidding.
Rauru: Ha, ha! Even at times of danger you haven't lost your sense of humor, my boy! (he pats him on the back) Ah...to be young again...Well, I'll take my leave of you. Good night, princess. (he kisses her hand) Lady Nayru. (kisses her hand as well)
Nayru: Will you not be staying, Rauru?
Rauru: No, no, my dear. These late times are for the young to enjoy and have fun with, not for old men like myself, hm? (he starts to get out of his seat but is a little tipsy) Whoah (Link holds him up so he won't fall)
Link: You ok there?
Rauru: Oh, yes, yes! Just...ok, maybe I had more than I thought, and yet I still feel like I can run laps around this castle!
Zelda: He won't be able to reach his chambers like this. Nayru, could you please escort Rauru to his dormitory?
Nayru: Yes, my Lady. (walks over to the guys, Link hands him to her) Alright, come on, mister, let's get you to bed. And if you grab my ass on the way there, I'll leave you in front of the plaza with your pants down again.
Rauru: Alright, alright. I'll behave.
Nayru: That includes the boobs.
Rauru: (snaps fingers in disappointment) Damn.
(they walk out the door)
Zelda (giggles a little): Thank you, Nayru!
Nayru: Yeah, no problem!
(They're gone. This leaves Zelda and Link alone. The music is playing loudly, the people are chattering and having fun, and yet it's silent. It's very awkward between the two. They don't even look at each other. There's tension in the air.)
Zelda: Is something wrong?
Link: Why do you ask?
Zelda: I don't know...You've been awfully quiet lately. As if you want nothing to do with me.
Link: Maybe I just don't have anything to say to you.
Zelda: Link, you've been acting very different towards me. Was it something I said, or did? (under the table, she tries to grab a hold of his hand, but he swiftly takes it away from her grasp)
Link: No. Happy?
Zelda: What has happened to you? It's as if you're a completely different person now...
Link (realizes he's going to blow it): No, no...I'm just... just a little upset over what happened that night...with him...
Zelda: Oh...I understand, I've been worried about that as well. I still can't believe it was possible.
Link: Yeah.
Zelda: But it doesn't matter anymore. You're ok. He won't be hurting us anymore, and the fact that I have you with me is proof of that (she comes closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. Link is uncomfortable) Are you alright?
Link: Yeah, I'm just...just fine. (he holds in all his hatred, trying to get a grip, and kisses her head) Just fine...
Zelda: I don't know what I would do if I lost you, Link...I would probably kill myself if you are taken from me.
Link: Is that a promise?
Zelda: Oh, stop teasing me!
Link (thinking): Heh. Who's teasing?
Zelda: Link....
Link: Hm?
Zelda:...Do you love me?
(a sharp pain passes through Link's head. His ears only hear a loud beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep on both sides. He grabs a hold of his head, trying to shake out what's happening.)
Zelda (gets up, worried and confused): Link? Link? Are you alight?
Link (gets out of his chair quickly and starts to head out the door in a fast pace. Screaming back as he exits): I just need to leave! Everything's fine!
(He leaves. People are puzzled as to what happened and stare at the doorway for a few moments before they continue with what they were doing. Zelda is left alone. She sits down slowly on her chair. She just keeps staring at the hallway, confused as to what just happened.)
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(Author's Note: For fun, let's pretend the medieval times had basic plumbing, eh? Oh, and Link's armor kinda looks like Marth's, only instead of blue it's green. Go figure.)
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(in a washroom. Link's splashing his face with water repeatedly. The ringing in his ears have almost come to a complete stop, and his headache has gone away)
Link (gasping slowly, talking through the water driping from his mouth):...What the fuck was that...?
(You can hear the muffled sounds of the festivities at the ball-room, but this room is silent and cold. Link's voice echoes to his own ears . He shakes his head and continues to splash his face with water.)
Link: That bitch had something to do with this. I don't know how...But I'm certain of it. Perhaps I misinterpreted her. She has powers I know not of...That question, why would that question do this? Does she know I'm not-- (knock at the door)-- I'm busy!
Voice outside (causally): Link, get your ass out. They're doing the toast. The King's waiting for you.
Link: Shit. (towels his face dry and opens the door. Ralph is standing there. Link pushes him slightly as he makes his way out)
Ralph: Geez, what the fuck is your problem?
Link (walking towards the ball-room doorway): Don't even ask. (enters)
(Ralph just glares at him, annoyance in his face. He scoffs and finally goes inside as well)
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(inside the ball-room)
(Everyone is standing as Link enters. They begin to clap and cheer. Zelda comes to his side. Link is confused. She locks her arm around his as they walk towards the center table where Impa and the King are)
Zelda: Are you ok?
Link: Yeah, I'm alright now.
Zelda: What was wrong?
Link: I don't know.
(They make their way to the guest of honor chairs in the far center of the room. They keep standing as the king makes his toast. Devoting this entire celebration to the survivors of the castle in which they were attacked, and to the courage of Link for protecting the princess and risking his life for her. Zelda is blushing and smiles a little. Link is with his serious face. A few more words and they finally sit. A cheer fills the air as music begins to play.)
(The maidens at the table encourage Link and Zelda to go out and have the first dance. Though a little hesitant, eventually they do so.)
(Ralph sits next to Nayru who had arrived just a little while ago. He had to wait until the toast was over. He's still kind of angry)
Nayru: What's wrong with you?
Ralph: Link
Nayru: So what else is new?
Ralph: No. It's not the same.
Nayru: What do you mean?
Ralph: Have you noticed he's been acting different lately? Like he hates everyone?
Nayru: Yeah. I thought it was just me.
Ralph: So you've noticed.
Nayru: I don't know what it is. Every time I see him, he has this look...Like he wants to kill something. He tries to hide it, but...
Ralph: I know what you mean. Has Zelda mentioned anything?
Nayru: Not really. She has her doubts, but she's as silent about it as he is.
Ralph: This is weird. He hasn't been the same since last night. (pause) This morning I saw him coming out of that locked chamber.
Nayru: Wait, the one the King said was forbidden?
Ralph: The very same. He's hiding something.
Nayru: Well...whatever it is, stay out of it. I'm sure Link has his reasons...He would never do anything to us. Or to Zelda.
Ralph: Maybe. But things have obviously changed somehow.
Nayru: I'm sure it'll be alright. Here. (Nayru gives him a drink)
Ralph: Just like old times, huh?
(Nayru laughs a little. They both continue to watch the dancing. Others had joined in with Link and Zelda)
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(on the main floor, dancing)Zelda: I don't know what's come over you lately...
(Link pays attention)
Zelda: And whenever you're ready to talk...I'll listen.
Link: There's nothing to talk about.
Zelda: There has to be. There has to be a reason as to why you have been avoiding me. Why you don't seem to enjoy life like you used to...Why you're not...you.
Link: How am I supposed to be then?
Zelda: Would you cut the pompous attitude!?
(They stop dancing at that moment. Zelda is just staring at the floor, angry, small tears on the side of her eyes. Link is still holding her hand and waist, noticing that others are staring at them.)
Link: Can we talk about this somewhere else?
Zelda: I'm not moving.
Link: Don't make a scene.
Zelda: It's already a scene.
Link: Look, lets' just go to that corner and we can--
Zelda (she lifts her head to look at his eyes, her jaw clenched and determined): I'm not...moving.
Link (swallows his anger): Fine.
(They continue to dance as if nothing has happened. Everyone else does the same. Slow music starts to play and the lights were dimmed.)
(Zelda buries her head his shoulder, her palms pressed agains his chest, gently taking small hurt breaths. Link, in deep thought, has his hands on her waist and tries to keep the rhythm of the music with them as they sway back and forth.)
Zelda: Come back to me, Link...
(Link is silent, but his anger boiling within him. The same ringing in his ear shot through his mind painfully, creating another headahce just as before. He needs air. He needs to get out. He needs to get away from her.)
(As soon as the song was over, he left her standing there alone without saying word. She didn't even turn to see him go either. She just stayed there, staring at the floor, her cheeks damp and her jaw quivering.)
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(Authro's Note: This wasn't in my dream per-se, but I needed something here. I didn't write a long winded toast by the king cuz he's not an important character. Again, I'm trying to get to the good stuff. And is it me again or the whole Ralph thing already tells you that he's gonna get killed for being curious? Just like in the movies :P )
-Pheny Dawn
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