Short Note

In case you were wondering, the constant lines of separationness are for perspective changes. Thought you might want to know that…

An Empty Courtyard

The ballroom of the castle was unusually full that night. People were from all over town were socializing and drinking punch happily. Link saw a familiar maid setting a platter of small snacks. Carol looked up at Link and gave a friendly smile as he walked towards her.

" Hey there, Link," she said. " Looking for Zelda?"

" Yeah," Link replied. " Have you seen her?"

" I think she was over in the courtyard," Carol said.

" Thanks," Link said. He walked to the other side of the ballroom, forcing his way through the crowd. He could not believe how many people were there. At last he reached a pair of large glass doors that lead to the courtyard. This new entrance to the courtyard was installed just three years ago.

He looked around but could not find Zelda. He looked through the glass of the doors to see if she was in the courtyard. He did not see her. He looked around, but he could hardly see far with all the people.

" Link!" a voice cried out from the crowd. Link looked around. Zelda was struggling through the guests to get to where Link was standing.

" Zelda!" he called out.

" Let's go outside, it's too crowded in here!" she said. They went through the doors to the courtyard. " Thanks for coming. I'm so grateful! I didn't really want to attend this ball but my father insisted. I feel a little bad for asking you to come."

" It's no big deal," Link said.

" How's my dress look, by the way?" she asked. " It's not too fancy, is it?"

" It looks terrible," Link said sarcastically. Zelda hit his arm teasingly.

" A lot of help you are," she said.

" I know," Link said, laughing.

" Seriously, how does it look?" she asked. Link looked at her fancy looking pink dress. For a moment, he was a little embarrassed that he was not dressed very appropriately for the occasion.

" It looks good," he said.

" Okay, just making sure," she said. For a moment they both caught the other's eye. Zelda looked away instantly and Link saw her go slightly pink. She held her hands together behind her back and watched the fountain as if in deep thought.

" Are you alright?" Link asked. " You look something's on your mind."

" Oh, nothing," she said. There was a moment of silence.

" Common, don't think I don't know when your troubled by something," Link said.

" Well… Hmm…" Zelda said. " Do you know the feeling you get when you think you like someone as in, like, you want to date them, but you've known them for quite some time and aren't sure if they would feel the same way or if you're sure you want to yourself?"

" Oh yeah. I know that one," Link said.

" Well," Zelda said, " I've had that feeling for quite some time now. I'm not sure what to do."

" Just shoot for it, I say," Link suggested. Zelda continued to stare at the fountain in deep thought.

Inside, Link's parents were talking with the other guests. They were standing by a table with snacks and punch. Link's mother was busy chatting with other women. His father wasn't entirely paying attention, but simply smiled and nodded whenever his wife said, " Isn't that right dear?" Suddenly, someone put a hand on his shoulder and spun him around.

" Greg! How are you?" the man said.

" Just fine, Tom, just fine," Link's father, Greg, said. He was glad that his good friend, the king of Hyrule had given him an excuse to leave his wife's conversation.

" I'm glad you could make it!" Tom said. " And Link, too! Zelda really wanted him to come, I'm glad you brought him!"

" Took a bit of convincing but we finally got him to come," Greg said.

" I had trouble getting Zelda to come as well," Tom said. " She finally said she'd come if and only if Link came to keep her company."

Tom began to laugh a little as if what he had just said was somewhat amusing. Greg had something else on his mind, though.

" Have you heard about that young girl that was kidnapped the other day?" he asked.

" Oh, yes, I've heard," Tom said. " Terrible, terrible. Quite sad, yes."

" You know she was a princess, do you not?" Greg asked.

" Yes, I believe I do," Tom said.

" And she hasn't been found," Greg said.

" … Yes," Tom said, sounding worried now. " Do not worry. I have upgraded in security and no one will be able to enter this castle uninvited."

Greg could only hope that he was right, for Tom's and Zelda's sake.

" You thirsty?" Link asked. Zelda was now sitting on the wall of the fountain.

" Sure, let's go get some punch," Zelda said.

" No, no. You stay, I'll get it," Link said.

" Really I can come," Zelda said.

" It's fine! Stay and relax," Link said. " I'll get the punch."

Link opened the door and walked into the crowded ballroom. He began pushing his way through the crowd. When he finally reached the table of snacks and drinks, he began to poor to glasses of punch. Then, he heard his father talking to Zelda's father.

" Tom, are sure it's safe enough around here?" he said.

" Yes, I'm quite sure," Zelda's father said.

" I'm just concerned for the princess, is all," Link's father said. " The one who kidnapped that other princess may not be through."

" Greg, if I were to lose Zelda," Zelda's father said, " I don't know what I'd do… Do you truly believe that I would simply allow spontaneous commoners into my home after such a crime has already been committed?"

Link, worried at what he had just heard, hoped that this castle was safe for Zelda as her father had said. He had decided to put it at the back of his mind. Best not to worry about it is what he thought.

Link pushed through the crowd once more, this time moving extra slowly. He did not want to spill the two glasses of punch he was now holding. He finally reached the glass door and opened it with difficulty. He walked into the courtyard and closed the door behind.

" Hey Zelda, I…" Link began to say but stopped in the middle of his sentence. He could not believe what he was seeing… Or rather, what he was not seeing… Zelda was gone!

" Zelda?" Link called. " Oh, Zelda."

There was no answer. Link guessed she must be playing her little games again. He went to the usual hiding spot behind the oak tree. He walked up to the tree then jumped behind it.

" Aha!" Link said. Zelda was not there. He put the glasses down on the wall of the fountain then walked to a bush a couple yards from the oak tree. He looked over them.

" Found ya!" he said. Zelda was not there either. Link thought. He could not think of any other place to look for her.

" Alright, Zelda, come on out," Link said. " I give up."

There was no answer.

" Zelda?" Link said again. " Zelda come on out."

There was no one.

" Come on, Zelda, no more games," Link said.

He still heard or saw no sign of Zelda.

" Alright, Zelda, you're really starting to worry me now," Link said. " Come out of hiding."

There was no response.

" Zelda?" Link said, very worried. " Zelda!"

" Zelda!" a voice said. Tom looked around. He saw through the crowd the glass doors to the courtyard. He saw Link in the courtyard, walking around in panic.

" Zelda!" he heard Link cry out again. Tom looked at Greg. Greg looked right back at him. Apparently, he had noticed Link screaming Zelda's name and walking around the courtyard in panic.

" Make way!" Tom yelled. As guests cleared a path before them, Tom and Greg hurried toward the glass doors. They rushed out and approached Link.

" Link!" Greg said. " Link, what's wrong?"

" It's Zelda!" Link said. " I can't find her anywhere! I've tried calling her but there's no answer!"

" Zelda!" Tom cried out. " Sweet pea, answer me! Tell me you're still here, please!"

There was no sign of Zelda.

" GUARDS!" Tom yelled. A couple of guards came running into the courtyard at the king's call. " My daughter is missing! I don't care how, just find her!"

The guards left immediately. Link watched his father and the king walk out. He looked around the courtyard.

" Zelda!" he tried one last time. There was still no answer. He was alone in the courtyard. He looked at the two glasses of punch. He was distressed and worried. Especially at the thought that he could have been talking to his best friend rather than standing alone in an empty courtyard.