A/N:
Oh, wow, it's a new chapter! I wonder if I'll ever finish this story…I mean, I might, like, expire before I get to the end. Which is really depressing to think about. O.o Have no fear, though! I will do my best. Enjoy this chapter, of course. Weeeeeeeeeee
Disclaimer: Oh, for the love of all things holy, why do I even write this? I don't own LOZ. Holy schnoz, what a surprise! :P
Chapter IV
The coronation of Princess Zelda had become indefinitely postponed, due to votes by many of the Councilmen, notably Drieght and the men Zelda had dubbed his "lackeys." How they had managed to obtain a two-thirds majority was not even worth thinking about. Goddesses only knew what bribes and blackmailing techniques had been used behind closed doors. And, now, Zelda continued to waver between merely being a princess and a true monarch.
It was so entirely frustrating to Zelda that she possessed the greatest desire to break something, preferably something large like a window or a mirror upon the wall. Instead, she swore colorfully under her breath, her fists clenching and her head throbbing and her chest tight. This, of course, was when she had made it back to her own quarters. A princess did not lose her temper in public.
She had married the man that they had selected and had been subjugated to bear the brunt of her new husband's hatred and they rewarded her by postponing her coronation? It wasn't even a matter of reward! It was a matter of being fair and just. A matter of honesty! She deserved the crown of Hyrule more than the Councilmen could every truly imagine, and now…now she had to wait until their whim fluctuated once more. To wait for her throne for what seemed to be eternity.
Zelda, her anger sparking so furiously that it filled every nerve and sense within her body, took up a rather small vase and flung it fiercely against the wall, where it shattered instantly, the sound of breaking glass ringing in Zelda's ears. They have no right! her mind screamed. They have no right to take away what is mine! They did not suffer for countless years to preserve the throne of Hyrule! It was I! It was I! They have no right whatsoever. I married that man. I am his wife. I will bear his children. But I will be the Queen of Hyrule! The Councilmen will not stop me from obtaining the only aspect of my life that is still worth living for.
Zelda felt close to tears. As she fiercely wiped at her eyes, she heard a knock at the door and a concerned voice of a chambermaid. "Your Highness, is everything all right? I heard the loudest crashing sound…"
Zelda sniffed a little and went to the door, where she opened it and looked down upon the maid with a stiff smile. "All is well. I accidentally bumped the table and a vase fell to the floor. Please clean up the glass for me. I do not wish to be stepping in it all day."
The maid curtsied. "Of course, Your Highness," she replied dutifully. "Allow me to fetch a broom and pan, first." Departing for a moment, the maid returned, equipment in hand, to find the princess sitting upon the sofa, her gaze distant.
The maid was wise enough to overlook the fact that there were shards of glass high upon the wall, wedged into the grooves of the cold stone.
"Sounds like the shittiest marriage in the history of Hyrule. And you haven't even taken advantage of the fact that you have complete right to be in her bed, right this moment?" The man leaning against the wall across from Link snorted. "You're mad. Wholly and completely mad."
Link scowled at Verian from his perch upon the sofa. "Oh, and I suppose you could find a way to seduce the most sadistic woman in the land?" he retorted sharply.
Verian grinned, a forelock of ebony hair falling into his eyes. "Well, to be sure, I would be trying much harder than you, my friend. No woman can resist my charm. You know that."
"Oh, yes, every whore in the land is pining after you. Such an honor, Verian."
"Whoever said anything about only counting women with integrity?" the dark-headed man questioned with his usual smirk. "All women are basically the same."
"Do not change the subject."
"All right. Then, are we to continue discussing how you are going to attempt to seduce the princess?" Verian inquired airily. His gray eyes flashed with amusement at Link's annoyance.
"I do not wish to seduce her. I want nothing to do with her," Link snapped. "She is the purest essence of woman's sadism, I tell you."
Verian cocked his head to the side, his black forelock now near his right temple. "Then what do you wish to accomplish?" he asked, curiosity now in his lyrical voice.
Link threw his hands up in exasperation. "That is the problem! I have absolutely no idea! Should I avoid her at every possible turn or merely tell her that I despise her very existence?"
"I still do not understand how you could truly despise a creature so very lovely. Goddesses, do you know what you are missing, Link?" Verian licked his lips. "I would die of sheer happiness if I had access to such a woman as she."
"Unlike you, Verian, I have no wish to bed her," Link retorted. "She'd probably murder me in the process."
"In more ways than one, I assume."
Link threw a pillow at his comrade's handsome face. "Be serious for once."
"Ah, well…" he replied while picking up the pillow and eventually approaching Link at his sofa. "What would you like me to do? Anything for a friend in need."
Something in Link's eyes flashed for a moment, before disappearing just as suddenly as it had appeared. His blonde brows narrowed, he inquired seriously, "No jests this time?"
Verian made the sign of the Goddesses, his face a mask of solemnity. "I swear to you my sincerity," he intoned.
Link overlooked the fact that his friend never had said anything serious in his entire life. Although he had only known him for a couple of months total. "I think…I think this is something I must deal with on my own," he replied softly. Gazing into his friend's gray eyes, he added, "But will you promise me to continue to be here to listen to my complaining?"
Verian smiled kindly at his friend's earnestness, amusement and kindness in his gaze. Slapping Link on the shoulder, he stated lightly, "Of course, ole buddy ole pal. I'll always be around to listen to your whining. Alright?"
Link smiled. "Thanks," he murmured.
Verian Penathy, the son of the Marquis of Da'alti (otherwise known as the region in the southeastern part of Hyrule) strode toward his destination amiably, a grin always on his handsome face. Absently brushing away the forelock of dark hair upon his brow, he reached his lady's quarters and pulled the bell cord once, and then twice when no one answered. Eventually, Lady Julietta opened the door, her lovely face blushing furiously at the fact that a very handsome and wealthy bachelor was to be with her in her own quarters. Alone. With no chaperones.
It was too scandalous to even comprehend!
Verian entered and partook of a seat in the room (after his lady was seated, of course). Julietta waved a fan back and forth, her face still flushed before she asked, her voice trembling with both excitement and anxiety, "Verian, you must tell me at once why you insisted upon this meeting! Truly, if anyone discovers us together like this our reputations will be in shambles!" She cocked her head to the side, her honey curls shifting slightly. "More likely my own reputation," she mused, "for yours is already in shambles."
Verian chuckled. "You speak the truth, my lady," he relented with a wave of his gloved hand. "Be that as it may, my fair Julietta, but I have business to discuss with you."
The fan stilled for a moment before continuing its back and forth motion. "Business?" Julietta inquired slowly. "What type of business, Verian?"
"Why, I wish to discuss business concerning our fair princess and her new beau."
The fan began to move faster. "The Princess! Indeed, Verian? And what business is this about?" Julietta's green eyes widened with newfound excitement.
"Business concerning you, Julietta. You are to aid me in this plan," Verian stated plainly.
"Indeed!" she exclaimed, her fan waving so briskly that Verian feared it would take off and fly all too soon. "Indeed!" she repeated eagerly.
"Yes, indeed, my lovely Julietta. You are one of the Princess's ladies, correct?" He didn't wait for a response. "In that case, I would request that you teach her how to play hop board."
The fan stilled. "Hop…board…?" Julietta asked confusedly.
Verian grinned. "Yes, hop board," he repeated. "And after you have taught her, I would have you ask her to meet you in the library for another game later on this evening."
"But…" She blinked, befuddlement written clearly on her face. "Hop…board?"
Verian overlooked her confusion as he attempted to explain. "But you will not ever arrive at the library."
"Oh, but how rude a plan!"
He waggled a finger. "Ah, my sweet, you do not know of the entire plan! For I intend to mention to Link that I also wish to meet him in the library to play hop board this evening, but I will not ever arrive."
Julietta blinked a moment, before comprehension finally dawned and her fan began to move swiftly once more. "Oh, Verian, what a devious plan!" she exclaimed with a giggle. "With this, they will not help but fall in love!"
Verian laughed. "Yes, for who can resist the charms of hop board?"
As the fire crackled merrily in the hearth, shadows dancing like gypsies upon the stone walls of the castle library, Zelda watched with rising apprehension as Link stared at the flames, his back to her, as if waiting for someone. Someone that was most certainly not her.
He swiveled his head at the sound of her approach, his blue eyes widening with surprise and a dash of annoyance. "Where is Verian?" he asked brusquely, his eyebrows narrowed in suspicion.
Zelda scowled, first at him and then the table set with the hop board in front of the hearth. "And where is Julietta?" she countered.
Link looked at her oddly, before replying slowly, "They're not coming."
"They're not coming? How do you know that?"
Cursing suddenly, Link glared at her. "We've been deceived."
His voice was so full of gravity that Zelda laughed aloud. "We have been 'deceived?'" she repeated, chuckling. "You make it sound as if we have been bound and gagged to be thrown into the dungeon."
Link flushed slightly. "Then I suppose I should rephrase that and say that we have been merely duped?" he asked scathingly.
"Yes, I suppose so," Zelda mused quietly, her eyes drifting to the hop board already set up and ready to go. Julietta had taken the initiative to teach her the silly game earlier that day, and Zelda had found herself enjoying the pastime immensely. It was a rather addicting game. She had been looking forward to playing it once more this evening, but her plans had been dashed by her own husband.
Zelda sighed, her troubles resurfacing once more with the appearance of Link. Did that man ever bring anything but trouble?
"What are you sighing for?" Link asked abruptly.
"I am sighing," Zelda explained exasperatedly, "because I had been wishing to play a quiet game of hop board tonight without the interruption of men who have nothing better to do than bother their wives." Turning to go, she added, "Good night, then. I suppose I will see you in the morning, unfortunately."
Walking away, Zelda was suddenly jerked back by Link gripping her forearm. "No, wait."
She looked back at him, annoyed. "Yes? Did I offend you somehow or are you merely determined to rankle me as much as humanly possible?" she snapped.
Link flushed a little once again. "No, I merely thought that since we are already here, that we could play a game. Of hop board, that is."
She raised on eyebrow. "Indeed?"
"Um…yes?"
Zelda untangled herself from his grip. Poking him in the chest, she stated softly, "Fine then. Let us play."
Zelda began, her warrior figure moving steadily into Link's territory upon the board. He moved his raven in the opposite direction. Zelda moved her sorceress and trapped Link's iron knight; no where to go, she "hopped" him and won the first point, a triumphant grin upon her face.
Both argued over rules throughout the entire evening, sometimes resulting in scathing remarks and threats upon the other's life or body parts. Link almost tossed Zelda's wizard figure into the fire before she snatched it from his hand, relenting that her move might not have been entirely legal, but how was he to know that?
The evening ended with neither winning—a draw. As they separated and went to their own quarters, still arguing and pushing each other's buttons, both reflected that the evening had been somewhat enjoyable.
Enjoyable in that kind of way that was so minute and microscopic that it really did not count anyway.
Ok, so that was pretty long, right? Hope you enjoyed it, and the addition of my board game romance. Hahahahaha I'd also like to note that the name "hop board" was taken from a book I read a while back, so I guess it really isn't mine. Kinda. But not really. o.O Hope you enjoyed. NOW REVIEW!!!!! O.O
babowonsuni: Hahaha, yeah you're definitely right, there. No little Links are going to be made anytime soon. xD
potter29vo: Yeah, that chapter was short. But thanks so much for the compliments. Feel free to give suggestions if you'd like to, though. :D
Arcia: Thanks! xD
Perfect Solider 01: Lol, thank you so much! I never even thought of that when I writing it. xD It could have been longer, but when you can't write anymore you can't write…you know? Lol, I'm rambling now! :D :D
Greki: I'm glad you pity her, b/c that means that I'm portraying her in a sympathetic light effectively. : ) And that makes me happy. xD
sawyerzelda: You're not stupid! You're a great writer, too. And when it comes to detail, I think it's just something you get accustomed to writing about. And compared to real authors, my detail is pathetically small. :P But thank you again for the compliments! :D
seb: The whole time thingy always confuses me, and I don't know if I would say I believe one theory over another… The one I'm using just worked the best for this fic. xD
Nagem: Yes, the delays just keep getting longer… Oy. o.O And I'm sorry for neglecting WC… Gah, I'm tired of excuses! I'll be around again, hopefully. o.o
ZeldaChik63: Thanks! Gotta love a bit of drama. :D :D
Crimson Ashes: Yeah, it was short. Oops. O.o
Alanti Mistaniu: Oh, wow, you changed your name! Very interesting. Where'd you come up with it? Thanks so much for always reviewing! :D
Story Weaver1: I'm glad you liked that little twist. xD Hehe And I'm glad you felt sorry for him, b/c that's what I wanted everybody to feel. I want everyone to be rooting for both Link AND Zelda, which really just adds more depth to the fic, I think…
Brutal2003: I don't think you've even seen the beginning of their pissiness. xD
Sakurelle: Yeah, I guess they do need to be slapped. But you gotta feel for 'em a bit, right? Lol
chaosdragon326: Why, thank you. (blush) I know there's much improvement, but I'm glad you like reading my imperfect fics! Lol xD
Cat of Darkness: Oy, pleeeeeez don't write a Malink! (cowers) Ah, the horror! O.O
SmileBeHappy: Oy, that sux. :P Hopefully this chapter made you feel better…? o.O
Super Davis: And here's your request! WEEEEEE :D :D :D