See, I told you it would be a while before I updated. But I managed to do it before I leave for Florida so I guess my updating skills aren't all bad . . . right?
Ah well, I thank all my reviewers who are all now on my best friend list as promised (yay!) and you all get a lollypops for being so nice. ^_^
Kool Kaizer: oooh . . . gotcha. Its not that I didn't read it, I'm just an extremely slow person. ^_^ thanks!
Anyone: thanks! I like you're anonymousness ^_^
Hylian Heroine: Hmm . . . . Maybe I just update on odd days. Well I hope you're having fun in Sweden (you're so lucky!) and I hope that when you come here you won't be disappointed. Anyways I'm glad you like!
Aeris Deathscythe: Well you did say "please" . . . ^_^ thanks!
Pinguicha: Ah its okay, I understand. I'm glad you saw that I did update and even better you liked my Prince Selth character! I worked hard on that bit of dialogue . . . anyways thanks!
Broadwaysopranoprincess: hehe you're right about the "aw" part. Thanks!
Doogs788: Thanks for reviewing twice! The "I like em feisty!" bit made me laugh. And no worries, I didn't think even for a moment you were talking about anyone else but Zelda. ^_^ Woo hoo, someone understood the 'love at first sight'! That's what I was trying to describe in the part. Many thanks!
BerlinBrownEyes: I'm going to write another romance fic and the main couple is . . . Marth/You! And you can have blue hair to fit your Matching Hair Theory. Hehe jk. And I so agree with you, that owl and Navi are the most annoying things ever. But then, I'd make Link walk around shirtless soo . . . . Yes I'm going to keep to fanfiction too. ^_^ I won't suffocate you this time with thanks but just now that I'm grateful for your review!
Got-lotr: hehe, I was thinking of maybe using Linky poo but I'm going to save that for later. ^_^ and your penguin army is one fierce bunch . . . ^_^ thanks!
Zelda-is-me: Thank you my fellow fan member! ^_~ and even more thanks for reading and helping me with that one bit with Marth and Roy . . . you can be my editor-in-chief! Ya! Oh and I hope you update your own stories soon because they rock! I will be waiting for them! Heh thanks again and I hope Frank and Mr. Clinker are well! ^_^ oh and I can ship out a life to you probably by next Wednesday ^_~
Sawyerzelda: I still can't believe you reviewed. I mean . . . . you! Hehe, like I said its just you're one of the best l/z authors ever so when you told me this was one of the best fic you've ever read I was just so pleased. And yep, we're poets and we don't even know it. ^_~ Thanks so much!
Wow that took a long time . . . . anyways I invite you all to read on. Oh and be sure to review!!
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Chapter 7: A Failed Attempt and a Kiss
The day of the ball had finally come and it couldn't have been on a more beautiful morning. The sun gleamed triumphantly against a cloudless sky, blue stretching for miles and miles. A gentle breeze blew every now and then, rustling the trees.
Zelda woke up, a feeling of dread already settled in her stomach. She closed her eyes and tried pretending that it was night and she didn't have to wake up. But then Impa rapped sharply on the door and Zelda was forced to let go of her dream world and she reluctantly got up.
The whole day, she already knew would be wasted getting ready for the ball. Choosing what dress she would have to wear, all the matching jewelry, getting her hair exactly perfect; it would take forever, considering her father's and the servants' meticulousness.
And then there was the ball itself. The whole evening, all she did was sit and smile at everyone and meet a bunch of people. Last year, at least half the "noble" men, and noble meaning rich, had asked her to dance. Her father was nearby looking at Zelda with meaningful narrowed eyes, and Zelda had no choice to accept. One had even tried to kiss her. She had stomped on his foot as hard she could and then before anyone could look twice she punched him squarely in the stomach.
She must have punched too hard however because he was knocked out, flat on his back. Zelda was punished most severely for that, even when she had explained that he had tried to kiss her. But all the same he had never gone near her again, to Zelda's great satisfaction.
Zelda sighed. She couldn't see how this ball could be any better. But then suddenly, Zelda remembered Link was coming. And for some unknown unaccountable reason this cheered Zelda up much more than what would be considered normal.
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"Link, you're ready?" Roy asked.
He and Marth were standing outside Link's room. It was around five and the ball was to start soon and Roy and Marth were waiting outside for Link.
"Yeah, hold on." Link came out a moment later, holding his sword.
"You're bringing your sword?" Roy asked, noticing it.
"Yeah, did you?" Link said.
"Nah, but Marth did." Roy answered, gesturing toward Marth.
"Good thing you did though," Marth said, nodding. "If the ball's boring, we can ditch it and go spar." He grinned at Link and led the way outside.
Link laughed a little. "Good plan," he agreed.
But secretly Link knew that no matter how boring the ball was and how tempting it was to leave, he (and probably Marth) would stay through it all even if it went on into the late hours of the night. He had promised himself that he would, quite simply because Princess Zelda had asked him; and he felt that was reason enough to stay there for days.
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"Zelda? Zelda come on, its time to go." Impa's head peeped through the doorway and saw a grumpy Zelda sitting on her bed, but looking very beautiful indeed.
"Do I have to?" Zelda asked, looking up.
Impa smiled. "Yes you do," and then she added in an undertone, "I wouldn't want to either," she said. Zelda smiled, got up off the bed and followed her outside.
The Royal Family arrived at the ball, where people were already starting to appear. Zelda sighed in boredom as person after person came up to meet her.
"I'm William Hevermitz, Your Highness, you may know my father and may I say I'm honored to meet you."
"Oh I cannot say how happy I am to meet you, Your Highness"
"Ah, your beautiful face is just like what I heard it would be, Princess."
"Oh you do look like a doll, in that blue dress Princess"
And on and on it went. Over and over again. Zelda smiled politely and thanked all of them, but this sort of formal thing was the bane of her. She sighed and looked over the groups of people . . . searching . . .
"Are you looking for something?" Impa asked.
Zelda sighed again. She didn't see him. Maybe he wasn't coming. "No," she said and looked back down again.
Link meanwhile, was there with Roy and Marth but a good distance away from the where the royal family was sitting.
"This isn't so bad," Roy said. "Free food, anyways." Link and Marth exchanged exasperated grins.
"Is that why all you came here for, then? The food?" Marth asked.
"Yeah . . . didn't you?" Marth rolled his eyes, but grinned. Link however was looking around at the crowd.
"I'm going to take a walk around," Link said, standing up.
Marth shrugged. "You do that," he said simply. Roy gave a cheery wave and then dragged Marth off to get the food.
Link came in sight of the Royal Family and he blinked very hard, and stared at the Princess.
Link wouldn't have thought she could have been more beautiful than she was before, but he was wrong. She was wearing a simple, yet elegant midnight blue dress and white gloves, her hair let down cascading down her face with gentle waves. She was resting her head on her hand, looking bored but at the same time extremely lovely.
Link realized that his mouth was slightly open, and he closed it quickly and saw he wasn't the only one staring at her. He looked away, and decided to just find Marth and Roy. She was probably too busy to notice him anyways.
It was getting crowded even though it was outside on the fields. Link brushed shoulders with someone, as he made his way past. He didn't think too much of it, until the person called him back.
"Hello Link."
Link turned back, and faced a tall woman and recognized her as Zelda's nursemaid. "Oh . . . hi Impa." He said politely.
Impa smiled, "Nice to see here," she said. Zelda, she knew, would be happy to know he's here, but she didn't say anything.
"You too," he said.
"Having a good time?" she asked, and Link thought he heard a note of amusement in her voice, and was about to answer when a voice came from behind Impa, that Link recognized with a weird jump in his stomach, as-
"Impa! Where were you, I was look-" Zelda said, appearing next to Impa, looking rather disgruntled, but she stopped suddenly when she saw Link standing there.
There was a moment pause, in which Zelda and Link looked at each other, and Zelda's cheeks reddened as soon as she met Link's eyes for no apparent reason. Impa looked from Link, to a blushing Zelda, back again to Link, and then finally resting her eyes on Zelda. A sly, furtive smile crept to her lips.
"Oh dear, look at the time!" Impa cried in false surprise. "I must be going now," she said. "I'll leave you two alone." and her smug smile widened. As she left, she nudged Zelda and mouthed to her, "He's cute, isn't he?" She gave a wink and left, grinning to herself.
Zelda blinked for a moment, then glared after Impa, but her cheeks were flushed even more. Link, luckily, hadn't seen anything and was standing uncertainly, not sure what to say.
"Hi," he said awkwardly.
"Hey," she said, turning back to him and temporarily forgetting Impa's comment. "I'm glad you came," She was supposed to say this to everyone, but this time she actually meant it.
"Are you having fun?" he asked.
Zelda rolled her eyes. "What's fun to you?" she asked back.
Link laughed, his laugh giving Zelda a strange but pleasant tingle.
In the slight pause between their conversation, Zelda noticed abruptly that dance music had started to play; couples had already started on a slow waltz.
Zelda saw, out of the corner of her eye, a bunch of dukes and nobles eyeing her lustfully. Oh no, Zelda thought dreadfully. Maybe she could pretend she had to go the bathroom or that her leg hurt or . . . . She looked at Link. . . . Maybe . . .
Link with a stab of horror realized that people were beginning to dance. Did that mean he was suppose to-? His mind raced furiously as he wondered whether or not he should ask . . . but she wouldn't want to . . . would she? She was looking at him and either Link imagined it, but there was almost a look of hope on her face. And before Link could stop them, the words came tumbling out of his mouth.
"Do you want to dance?"
Zelda smiled in relief. "Sure," she said, thanking the goddess she wouldn't have to dance with the dukes and nobles. It was much, much better to dance with Link than dance with them.
When they stepped out on the dance floor, nearly everyone broke out in whispers. Zelda ignored them and avoided catching anyone's eye, especially Impa.
Zelda got another strange but not exactly unpleasant shiver when Link gently placed his hands around her waist. The dukes shot daggers at Link, but neither Zelda nor Link noticed them. They were in their own world.
And suddenly, dancing with Link became much, much more than just an alibi so she wouldn't have to dance with Prince Selth and the nobles. And there was a strange happiness to it, and it was more than just because she had avoided the prince and the others.
The song ended, people broke apart and with a pang of disappointment Link let Zelda go. They stared for one moment into the other's eyes, before quickly looking away, and neither trusted themselves to say anything.
But Link suddenly became much more aware of the fact that people were staring at them and many were whispering, but in voices that he could hear perfectly.
"Oh, look at that! That boy next to the Princess! Aren't he and Princess Zelda the cutest couple you've ever seen?" a woman gushed.
"I know! They're just so adorable together!" her friend chirped back.
Link wished he could have gone temporarily deaf. His cheeks reddened and now he was determined not to look at Zelda.
Maybe Zelda had noticed or heard, because she cleared her throat and did some quick thinking. She got an idea, and asked, "Do you want to take a walk around the garden?"
Link's determination failed him, as he looked back up at Zelda. "Like the castle garden, you mean?"
"Yeah, come on." She said and without waiting for a response she began walking back toward the castle. Link hesitated but then followed her.
When they reached the castle grounds, they found it much emptier than it was outside. Zelda took Link to the courtyard and her own beautiful garden. The early moon shone brightly, as the sky slowly began to darken.
"Do you come here a lot?" Link asked looking around the lovely courtyard.
"Oh yeah, I spend all my time here. When I can, I mean." Zelda said.
"Busy being a princess?" Link asked smiling.
"Oh, very. You have no idea how much time sitting around choosing dresses and listening to people blabber can take up." Zelda said sarcastically.
Link laughed. "Can't you get out once in awhile, though?" he asked.
Zelda laughed, although rather bitterly. "My father would kill me if I did that again." She said. She didn't have to define what "that" was.
"Well he just wants you safe," Link reasoned.
"You sound like Impa." Zelda muttered.
"Is that an insult?" Link asked, and Zelda laughed.
Somehow, Link was not all nervous being alone with her which was infinitely better than being with those two gossiping ladies. She was easy to talk to, and there weren't many awkward pauses in their conversation at all. Link was just about beginning to enjoy this when he thought he saw a movement in the bushes.
Link stopped for a moment and look at the bushes.
"What?" Zelda asked stopping as well. Link shook his head, and Zelda looked at the bushes as well.
Then suddenly, Link sensed some movement behind him and he turned around, just in time to see a dark figure hurtling toward them. Link instinctively pulled Zelda out of harm's way.
The figure stopped and looked up. Zelda stifled a gasp. It was tall man, dressed in black clothes holding a big deadly sword, his eyes gleaming red. "Well, who do we have here?" he hissed. He stared at Link, his sword glinting in the moonlight.
Link gently pushed Zelda back a few inches more, away from the man. He drew his sword, and kept it in a ready position in case the man was to strike.
"We could ask you the same question," Zelda said roughly. Link noticed that her voice did not quiver at all, but seemed defiant and strong.
The man laughed a cold chilling laugh, sending shivers down their spines. "None of your business, princess. But if you must now, I've been hired to kidnap you and if you were smart you'd obey . . . unless you want handsome over here to die." He added giving a sick twisted smile at Link.
"Hired by who?" Link asked sharply, gripping his sword tighter.
"Ah I can't tell you that now, can I? That would ruin the surprise." He said, and without warning he pounced again, his sword out. Link blocked his sword, but the next second the man appeared next to Zelda.
The man tried to grab her and Link tried to get her out of the way but before either of them could accomplish this, Zelda gave one swift punch in the man's stomach. He went flying back, and landed with a nasty crunch on the ground.
Link stared at the distance the man had flown and then looked at Zelda, wondering if Impa had taught her how to do this as well. But there was no time to wonder. The man was already back on his feet, but looking very wind-blown.
Again he sprung forward, and again Link blocked his sword. The man stepped back a few paces and then pulled out something. Link couldn't tell what it was in the darkness, but by the way it was shining and looked oddly jagged, he could tell it was something sharp and would undoubtedly hurt if it made contact.
Stanton jumped closer to Zelda and at the same time threw the sharp object at Link. Link managed to dodge one, as it went spiraling dangerously past his head, but he was too busy looking to see where Stanton had gone to dodge the other one. The sharp edge cut his side, and blood began gush out from it.
Zelda gasped, but barely had time to do anything about it, because Stanton had appeared behind her, and grabbed her neck. She tried elbowing him in the stomach and kicking him away but neither proved successful.
"Keep still," the man hissed in her ear, as she tried forcefully to get away. "Don't make me hurt you, like I did pretty boy over there."
But Link was not over there. Stanton realized this, and he looked madly around trying to see where Link had gone when he received a powerful blow to his head.
Stanton gasped in pain, and let go of Zelda. Zelda turned to see Link standing, holding his side, blood still seeping out.
"Link, are you-" Zelda started anxiously.
"I'll be fine," Link said grimly. He still had his sword out and was ready.
A figure jumped from behind them and Link wheeled around in time to stop Stanton's sword from coming down on his head. Stanton tried jumping back and attacking again, but Link quickly stabbed his sword into his side, with all his remaining strength.
It was enough to do serious damage; Stanton withdrew and shrieked in agony. His piercing cry cut into the quiet night, echoing shrilly on. There was a deep cut in his stomach, and blood flowed steadily out, staining the grass red.
Stanton looked up quickly at Link and then at Zelda and back to Link. His scream would have attracted someone; it was too risky to stay here. Damn it, if only it hadn't been for that boy he could have kidnapped the princess easy. He cursed and then straightened up.
Link prepared himself, but did not feel too worried. He had the advantage now. Already the man had lost a good amount of blood.
But Stanton was smirking. "Looks like we'll finish this another time," he said and before either could react he was gone, just like that, with a sudden draft of chilly wind.
Link and Zelda stared, gaping but then heard footsteps. They turned and saw Prince Selth walking toward them. He took in the blood covered scene with wide eyes.
"Princess Zelda!" he said. "What's going on, we heard a scream and-"
"Link's been hurt really bad," Zelda explained hurriedly. "We have to get him something fast-"
"Link?" Selth questioned with raised eyebrows. He stared at the pair of them and asked again, "What's going here?"
"Look I'll explain later," Zelda said quickly and slightly irritated. "Just get Impa or someone-"
"Are you Link?" Prince Selth asked sharply addressing Link, and ignoring Zelda.
"Yes, Your Highness," Link answered weakly.
"What are you doing here? Peasants and filth like you shouldn't be in the castle courtyard." Prince Selth said in the same sharp voice.
Zelda clenched her fists so hard that she thought her fingernails would bring out blood. But luckily Link prevented her from saying anything nasty and answered himself, though his cheeks had become flushed with anger.
"She asked me if I wanted to come, Your Highness." He said quietly.
"Do not lie," Selth said coldly.
"He's not!" Zelda said angrily. "I did ask him!" Prince Selth looked taken aback. Then he looked back at Link and seemed uncaring that he was bleeding, and said coolly "So what happened?"
"A man jumped out from behind the bushes and he tried to kidnap me," Zelda said. "But Link stopped him-"
"You stopped him?" Prince Selth asked Link scornfully.
"Yes, Your Highness," he said in the same quiet voice.
"Well the man couldn't have been very threatening if even dirt such as yourself could have stopped him," Prince Selth said derisively.
Link's cheek burned a brighter red, but he didn't say anything. Zelda started angrily, "He saved my li-"
"Oh please princess, you expect me to believe this man over here is actually worth something? Don't tell me you actually think he did save your life." he said his voice full of disdain. Link said nothing, his face red, and looked away biting his tongue. But Zelda looked like she was ready to rip Prince Selth's head off.
"He is worth something, and a lot more worth than you!" she almost screamed. How long had she yearned to say this to him? "And he's not dirt!" she yelled. "He at least has some decency!"
Link looked up quickly and if possible his face burned hotter, but for a much different reason. Zelda was glaring at Prince Selth and then she shoved past him and said, "I'll get Impa myself."
Prince Selth looked shocked by her sudden outburst and then gazed angrily down at Link, not believing what she said. Then giving a cold glare at Link he left, following Zelda.
Link sighed softly. He didn't think he had the strength to remain standing, and collapsed on the soft grass. Taking in deep breaths, he waited hoping Zelda would return quickly and after a minute of painful silence, he saw Impa hurrying towards him.
"Zelda told me what happened," she said quickly. She bent down and examined Link's wound. "Unfortunately however, I don't have anything with me," she said grimly.
She paused for a moment, thinking. "I could however, heal it magically." She said slowly. Link looked up.
"How?" he asked.
"There is an old Sheikan spell. I haven't used it in a long time, but I'm pretty sure it'll work out okay." Impa said.
"What do you mean by okay?" Link asked apprehensively and Impa smiled.
"Just relax," she told him. She closed her eyes and began muttering something under her breath. As she muttered, Link felt a strange prickle from his wounded region.
"Uh, Impa are you sure about-" She silenced him with her hand, her eyes remaining closed.
Suddenly a great blast of light shot out of Impa's open hands, sealing itself over the wound and Link felt a curious sensation as if someone had taken a feather and tickled him. Link waited, and closed his own eyes not sure he wanted to see the end result.
Impa laughed. "It's okay Link, open your eyes." Link did so, and looked down and sighed in relief. His wound had disappeared and not left a single mark.
"Thanks," he said gratefully.
"Not at all," Impa said, standing up. "That's twice the Princess owes you now." She said smiling.
Link smiled and stood up as well. "Where is Zelda?" he asked.
Impa shrugged. "Her father threw a fit, asking what the scream was and everything. He's probably questioning her right now. I should probably go and see her. See you, Link." She said and walked off.
"Bye." Link said and realized he too should probably get going and find Roy and Marth. They were probably wondering where he was.
Walking back to the fields where the ball was finally drawing to a close, and people were gradually beginning to go home, Link looked around for his friends, but had trouble finding them in the crowd. Finally he resolved that they had gone home and he thought that he should too.
Wishing he could have at least said good-bye to Zelda, he began to walk home when he heard his name being called from behind him. He turned, and almost as if his wish had been granted, he saw Zelda walking towards him.
"Did Impa heal the wound?" she asked immediately once she had neared.
"Yeah, thanks a lot." He said.
Zelda shook her head. "No, I should be thanking you. That's twice you saved me."
Link went slightly red and mumbled, "No problem."
Zelda smiled. He's so cute when he blushes, she thought. She decided to ignore what she had just thought.
"And I'm really sorry for the way the Prince acted back there," she said. She found it pathetic how she had to apologize for his actions.
"Oh that's okay," Link said, shrugging it off.
Zelda smiled, relieved he hadn't gotten mad or anything. If only there was a way she could pay him back . . . .
Then, before she even realized what she was doing, she found herself leaning towards him. She gave him one swift kiss on the cheek.
She straightened up and smiled. "So I'll see you later then," she said and left, leaving a stunned Link behind.
Link blinked, wondering if he had dreamt it . . . . But it had felt so real. His cheeks were burning again and he could only stand there, dumbstruck. But somewhere under all the shock, was an overflowing sea of delight as a happy little voice saying over and over again, "She kissed me . . . she kissed me!"
He came only back to his senses when he heard a muffled snigger behind him. He turned and saw Roy and Marth, both who had their hands pressed against their mouths, looking very strained not to laugh. When the saw Link look at them, however they broke out into laughter.
"Aw how sweet, Princess Zelda's in love with our own little Linky!" Roy laughed.
"Looks like she does have some feelings for you, Link!" Marth teased.
"Yeah but then again, who doesn't? I mean who can resist Link?" Roy said, and the pair of the laughed harder than ever.
"Shut up," Link said his face even redder.
"Don't need to be shy about it, Link." Roy said grinning. "By the way, was that where you were all this time? With Princess Zelda?" he asked.
"Yeah but-"
"Ha!" Roy said triumphantly.
"We were just walking around the garden," Link said defensively.
"That was one awfully long walk." Marth said with a sly look at Roy who snickered.
Link sighed. "I'll explain when we're at home." He said wearily, and he began to walk home amid a sniggering Roy and Marth.
But even with the annoying smiles from Marth and Roy, he was extremely pleased by the way this ball went. And no matter what Roy and Marth said he was going to be there at next year's ball, that is, as long as Princess Zelda was too.
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A/n: I did some of this around two in the morning, so that may be why some parts aren't the best (like the ending) As for the fight scene, well I'm not very good at fight scenes so those are going to be bad no matter what time it is. : P Anyways, all the same I hope you liked and I hope I didn't saturate you with romance and mush, so you're all sick and puking.
Please review. How could you sleep at night knowing you didn't review on a story, written by someone who loves getting reviews?
I have already started on the next chapter, and I have a week off for mid-winter break so I don't think it should be that long for me to get the next chapter up. So I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you all later!