Chapter 7

One advisor was a green yoshi who was well past his prime. Another was a yellow toad who also happened to be aged. The last was a young red female toad, who was also a religious counselor and advisor to the townspeople.

The yoshi was named Alexander. He was cranky and suspicious of Link, and wondered if he was after the queen's fortune. The yellow toad, Rolf, was wondering why the guest hadn't spoken and thought he had something to hide. Laretta watched Link not because she was suspicious, but because she was curious as to why Avalon had brought him home.

The friends never came that evening because Avalon was much too exhausted. They would have to come another evening. Link retreated to his room, early, to get some sleep but found it difficult to sleep in such a fancy, soft bed. He did however love the soft scent of lavender that lingered in the sheets, pillows and blankets as he tried in vain to drift off.

The next morning, Ava took him shopping for some fancy new clothes. They shopped until eleven, had a quick lunch at a small restaurant, and then returned home. She said that she would come see him at four; she had to see the chancellor in the morning.

Link lay on the bed, half-asleep, trying to take his afternoon nap. It was almost four and he didn't want to be asleep when the queen came up to see him. A toad had come up and showed him the basics of the room, and he had taken a bath and a shower. He wasn't sure if he liked the idea of bathing inside though...

The princess was an odd housekeeper, to him. The last few days, he watched how little she did by herself. She didn't cook. She didn't pull out her own chair at dinner. One thing she did do was take care of her pets. She had a pair of doves in her room. They were extremely tame, and they adored her. Sometimes they would fly behind her when she left the room. She also took care of her horses. She brushed them, talked to them, occasionally bathed them, and gave them treats all the time, but the toads bathed them most of the time, scrubbed their stalls, and gave them their full meals.

The queen opened his door, and stepped in, a peacock on a leash behind her. "Link, meet Emeralds." The bird fluffed, and strutted around the room, pecking at the carpet. It sat down by the Queen's feet when she stopped by Link's bed.

The knight got up and rubbed his eyes. He was wearing a red pair of pajama pants and a black tank top. "Oh, a creature of some sort." He remarked. "Where did it come from?"

She beamed. "I just got him for my birthday..."

Link laughed. "What an odd present! How old are you?"

"I will be nineteen in a week." She announced. "How old are you?"

"Twenty one in one month." He replied. "I wonder, can I have time off to go to Delfino on my birthday?"

She smiled. "Only if I can go too. Wow, I didn't think you were much older than me, and I was right."

"We will see, won't we? In any case, happy birthday." He wondered if he was supposed to kiss her, as was his culture. He finally decided to ask her what she wanted for her birthday.

She smiled, and answered. "I wanted a best friend, and I have one now." She annouced, giving him a hug. He rubbed her back, and breathed in the soft scent of honeysuckle that lingered in her lovely hair.

"You're so sweet, I'm surprised you aren't married yet." He announced.

"I've had many proposals, from Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Waluigi and Leo. Even Wario! He's one of my dear friends... He's gay, but he still loves me as a friend. He asked me to marry him until I found someone I loved to replace him with, that way I wouldn't be forced into marrying anyone I didn't love. I've also had a couple proposals from other people... but I didn't know them well enough... "

"So you're picky then?" He questioned, with a slight smile.

"No, I just don't believe people should marry unless they know it will be forever. Marriage is a lifetime commitment and it should be thought through carefully. Would you marry someone you didn't genuinely love? For instance, I could never marry someone as classless as Mario, or timid as Luigi. Bowser and Leo are too violent, and evil, and Waluigi is too strange. I would hate to ruin Wario's reputation... a gay man marrying a woman would make his callers turn away."

"So you want someone polite, able and willing to stick up for himself and everything he loves, not violent, wicked, or strange?" He questioned. "And someone who you wouldn't crimp the style of?"

She sat down in a chair and put her hands in her lap. "Yes, I suppose so. And it would be a plus if he was responsible, kind, handsome, and attracted to only me... someone who wanted to spend their life with me and only me. "

He smirked. "When you find him, I want to marry him too." He joked.

Avalon smiled and stood. Her peacock was asleep by Link's feet, and when she stood, it did also. "No, sorry, he's mine when I find him."

He smiled at her affectionately, as she headed out with the bird in tow. "Doesn't he have to be nobility to marry you?"

She paused and thought. "Well, if the chancellor approves of him, then it will be okay, even if he is a peasant! But the chancellor is very picky. Right now, he thinks I should marry King Leo." She rolled her eyes.

"Someday tell me what Leo did to you. I wish to avenge you, your majesty. That is what a knight does. He defends his maiden."

She looked away feeling quite nervous and ashamed. "You can't avenge me, but if you like, maybe I will tell you someday."

He smiled. "I would like there to be no secrets between us, you see, best friends are there to share secrets, and keep them between one another. Confide in me and I will not disappoint you."

She shyly looked away, "Well, I'm glad to hear that. I need someone I can trust." She put her hand on top of his, but quickly pulled it away as someone knocked on the door. The peacock tilted his head in curiosity. The princess rushed to answer the door.

It was a cute little toadette with big blue eyes, and a white and silver mushroom cap. She wore a nice royal blue gown. This little toadette was one of the chancellor's attendants, and it was obvious by the colors she wore.

"The Grand Chancellor wishes to speak with your new Knight in private." The little toadette announced.

Avalon looked at Link, whom was now standing next to her. "Link? What's the matter then?" She questioned the assistant.

"It is a private matter, I am not allowed to divulge details." She replied, sounding professional. "The Chancellor would not approve of me saying what the matter is..."

Link nodded. "I have been here for two weeks nearly and your Chancellor hasn't even said more than a dozen words to me. Why the sudden interest?"

The toadette looked at him and shrugged. "You'll find out in an hour." She nodded. "Your highness, you must get ready for the party tonight. It's a big day, the Chancellor planned a surprise for you." The toadette exited, and Link shut the door.

"Why the sudden interest in me?" Link demanded. "Have I angered him?"

Avalon giggled. "maybe he's letting you in on the surprise, and you're going to help? Oh, I can't wait to find out what it is!!! After you're done talking, come up and tell me what happened... what the surprise is! A birthday surprise!" She opened the door, and went, toward her dressing room which was down the hall to the left and up one more flight of stairs. The peacock followed, making a soft cooing noise.

He looked confused, "Aren't you coming with me?"

She continued down the hall. "The chancellor said 'alone' didn't he? I'm going to start getting ready. If I don't see you before the party then I'll see you during it."

Link watched her go down the hall, and smiled. She was a really good friend; maybe more someday. This was the first time he ever really felt content at where he was.

But, as it seemed, a few people were not content at him being there; namely Luigi and Waluigi. Waluigi bumped into Link in the hall, on purpose of course.

"Hey, you, little blond boy, watch out where you're goin'!!" Waluigi announced. Luigi giggled and hid behind his hideously thin and tall evil twin.

"Yeah, little blond boy!" He snickered.

Link shoved Waluigi back, causing him to fall on top of Luigi. Luigi screamed in shock.

"If a little boy could knock you both over, what does that make you two? Little girls?" He questioned, tilting his head and watching them struggling to get up.

"We were next in line to be Knights, and you bumped us outta the competition!" Waluigi announced as he finally stood upright. "You're a real worm, and the Chancellor is gonna throw you out on your ass! He sees through your pretty looks." Waluigi insisted.

"You've got funny ears too! You're a worm with funny ears and a... weird hat! Ha! You're a wiggler with ELF EARS!" Luigi laughed until his eyes teared up.

"Don't forget the sword, too!" Link unsheathed his sword, and in one slash, he cut the suspenders on both of their pants. Luigi's face was as red as the hearts on his boxers; Waluigi's face was as yellow as his underwear.

The pair pulled up their pants, dignity hurt, they rushed back to their room. "Better not wear suspenders tonight guys, you may end up being the 'ass' of everyones jokes!" Link cackled. No sooner had he said it then he realized how incredibly lame what he said was. He felt ashamed at his lack of creativity.