Pinkythesnowman: Thanks for the suggestion, I always needed to work on my grammar. : P
Floofy: Yes, the saddest thing I've ever written. Lol, point taken.
Terachi Kaishaku: Lol, I had a lot of fun writing that part. I'm so happy you find my story more than interesting. I'll try and work on the punctuation a bit more. Please write a story with Link in that setting! I'd love to read one of those.
LVMJ: Yay, a new fan! Thanks a lot.
Moonbeam: That makes me feel good, although I know for sure there are many Zelda fics out there that are better than mine. I'll try to update sooner, but school and other activities are keeping me quite busy
I don't know what you think, but for me this story has been a lot easier for me to write than my other one because so many events are taking place at different places at the same time whereas here its more of a one setting thing. So yeah.
Link followed a liveried servant outside to the stable who left him there to wait. After a few minutes of waiting, Link decided to take a look at the sort of horses that the Harkinian family kept. The stable was a large one, with seven horses inside. The majority of them were black except for one in the stall farthest down, a chestnut color with a white mane, and a white diamond patch on the nose. Having been raised on a farm, Link knew a thing or two about horses and was interested in this one.
At first, the horse whinnied a bit uneasily, apparently unnerved by this new human being.
"Shhhh." Link soothed. "It's alright, I wont hurt you," he said softly as he tip toed quietly up to the horse as not to disturb it. Sticking out his hand, he felt the horse nuzzle it with his nose. Soon enough Link had gained the horse's confidence enough to let him stroke the mane.
"Link!" a surprised shout came from Zelda who was now at the entrance to the stable.
"What?" he replied slowly, fearing that he had been discovered.
"Epona let you touch her! She never lets anyone near her let along ride her. You're the only one she has let near her since we bought her." Zelda said with excitement.
Link could only sigh in relief. "Yes, well I used to live on a farm and I'm quite used to working with horses." He said quickly recovering.
"Well then, since she seems to like you so much, you can take her out for a ride. You'll have to saddle her yourself though." Zelda said with a broad smile before turning to collect her own mount which had been saddled, and mounted it with the aid of a couple of servants.
Link nodded and grabbed a saddle, blanket, and harness of the wall and within five minutes he had Epona ready. Clambering on he took hold of the reins and nudged her out of the stable to where Zelda was waiting. Looking at her, Link noticed two things. First, she was not riding how he had been taught, but rather with both legs on one side of the saddle, yet her body still facing forwards. Second, in her dark green dress that she had donned, she looked absolutely stunning. However, instead of mentioning the second he brought up the first.
"Why are you riding like that?" Link said with amusement and confusion at seeing how Zelda rode her horse.
"This is called riding sidesaddle. Women must ride this way as the dresses we wear will not permit us to ride with a leg on each side as men do." Zelda replied.
"Seems kind of a stupid idea if you ask me, why don't you just wear pants. I mean, I don't think you would be able to gallop like that without falling off." Link retorted.
"Just because you don't know of something does not mean it becomes stupid. High class women don't just go galloping around like commoners. You are living in a civilized world now Link, and it would do you best to keep a civilized tongue." Zelda said severely. "Now come along." She beckoned imperiously, nudging her mount forwards, with Link following behind, glowering.
The two kept silent for the first while, as they navigated through the streets. Eventually, were riding near the east side of the city where the British soldiers were quartered. Unconsciously, Link clenched his jaw as he saw the masses of British soldiers marching about and lounging around. Behind him, he heard the clip-clopping of hooves and turned around to see several British officers riding towards him and Zelda. It was all he could do to prevent himself from yanking on the reins to gallop as quickly as he could away from this place.
"Good morning, madam Harkinian." One of them called out, evidently having recognized the beautiful young woman. This greeting caught Zelda's attention.
In her mind she sighed, most likely these were the same officers who had sent her the letters earlier. Putting on a fake smile she turned to face the officers and returned their greetings.
"Good morning dear sirs."
"You're looking particularly beautiful today madam." An officer with the uniform of a Lieutenant praised.
"Well thank you, you're looking quite nice yourself, sir." She replied keeping up the façade and causing the Lieutenant whom she was addressing to blush.
Meanwhile Link sat a little distance away on his own mount, regarding this exchange of conversation between Zelda and the British officers with disdain.
"Who is this gentlemen with you madam?" another with the epaulets of a captain piped up indicating Link with a gloved hand.
"Oh, he is a childhood friend of mine who used to live in the country with his parents before they passed away, I was just showing him around the city." She stated dismissively.
Link felt emotion rise as she mentioned his dead parents and at her calling him a friend of hers. One of the officers cantered over to Link and spoke up. "Tell me kind sir, what do you believe about the current situation here with the colonials?"
"I believe that King George III is the rightful ruler of these lands." Link lied after only the slightest hesitation which was not detected by his questioner. Satisfied with the answer the officer rejoined his compatriots. When watching Zelda chattering seemingly cheerfully with the British officers, Link felt a sense of unrest within him, that he couldn't quite identify. It wasn't merely because there were British soldiers, rather because it was Zelda who was talking so easily with them.
"Well madam Harkinian, we must be going as we have affairs to attend to, but we would first like to extend to you and invitation to ball at the Governor's Mansion tomorrow night. We would be greatly honored if you, your father, and your friend here chose to attend." A different officer stated expressing the word friend with slight disdain upon seeing the simple manner in which Link dressed.
Zelda thought the decision over for a while. It was true that she hated these balls and such as scores of men would climb over each other for the chance to dance with her and such. Yet, it was her duty to her father to attend these in order to help him retain the position in society which he so highly coveted.
At the same time, Link was mentally willing Zelda to accept, so that he could prove his worth and strike his blow against the British which he had so long yearned to do.
Finally after a little more deliberation Zelda consented. "Very well, my father, friend, and I shall attend."
With final goodbye the officers trotted off and Zelda and Link nudged their mounts back towards the Harkinian estate.
Soon enough, the two had returned to the large residence and were entering the dining room for a light repast. Link remained silent as he brooded over the events that had just taken place.
"What is troubling you Link?" Zelda inquired with concern in her voice.
"Nothing." He muttered. Surel,y he wasn't going to tell her of how angry he felt while she was conversing with the officers.
"Very well then, as I'm sure you've heard, you shall be attending the ball with me and my father tomorrow." She informed Link.
"Why are you not excited about this ball, don't ladies like yourself live to attend these functions where there are many handsome young men eager for your attention?" Link wondered aloud at Zelda disinterest in the ball.
Zelda snorted in response. "Oh yes, why wouldn't I enjoy a night of brainless young men vying for my hand merely because they think I have a pretty face?" she said sarcastically.
"Then why do you go?" Link asked with genuine interest forgetting for a while his dislike for the woman with whom he was conversing.
"Because my father wants me to, so that I can meet a desirable man and eventually be married." She answered simply.
"So you don't want to go yet you go because your father desires you to. Do you think that you should be allowed to chose whether you should go or not?" he asked.
"Yes, of course I would rather the right to chose, but society does not readily accept those types of women and neither does my father." Zelda replied with a hint of resentment.
"Then if you believe that you should have the right to chose what you want, why do you think the colonists shouldn't have the same rights?" Link asked having trapped Zelda with his previous question.
"Do not twist words Link! Those are two different situations. It is in the best interests of the people to have the king run the country because the good of the people benefits from it. The good of the people does not benefit from me going to a ball or not." She exclaimed with anger at having been led so.
"You're quite selfish then it seems. It's all about what you want isn't it? You must be the conceited self-centered woman in this hemisphere." he mocked with contempt. Link said this with the full knowledge that ran the risk of not being allowed to attend the ball, but seeing Zelda so uncomfortable made that risk worth it.
Zelda felt her cheeks flush with anger at this cheeky young man who dared to call her terms that no man would ever think of calling her.
"Get out!" she shouted pointing a delicate finger towards the door, her whole body quivering with anger.
"Sure, whatever." He said turning around with the satisfaction of knowing that he had won this verbal exchange.
After Link left, Zelda collapsed into one of the chairs, her mind awash with thoughts that had been provoked by the heated conversation.
The next day Link awoke and went down to the dining room to find Zelda already eating. Sitting down at his customary seat across from Zelda, he ate in silence. The two sat there awkwardly watching each other chew their food. Finally, it was Link who broke the silence.
"I'm sorry about last night." Link said having come to the realization that he had won and that it would not be best to rub salt in the wounds, lest he ruin his chances of obtaining the information that he so critically needed.
Zelda merely nodded without saying a word. Her lack of speech unnerved Link a bit who was by now used to Zelda's talkative manner.
"What time is the ball tonight?" Link inquired in an effort to change the subject.
"Eight o' clock. That reminds me you have to get something to wear." Zelda replied absentmindedly before falling into a disconcerting silence once again. Several more minutes of nothingness passed by before Zelda spoke again.
"Do you really think I'm selfish and conceited?" Zelda asked with an air of desperation.
Link was taken aback by the question because truthfully he did think so, yet at the same time he did feel a touch guilty for having made her feel so bad, even though another part of him said the she deserved it.
"Look, I was just tired last night and the words came out before I could really think about them alright?" Link commented in a manner which evaded the question rather than answered it, but luckily for him Zelda accepted his response without any further questions.
"Well then we need to leave so we can buy you some clothes for the ball tonight." Zelda said, returning to normal after taking a minute to digest what Link had said.
"Why?" Link asked dumbly.
"Because, you can't go in those clothes." Zelda laughed pointing at Link's shabby cotton shirt, and well worn work trousers.
"What wrong with them?"
"This is a high class event Link, and as such you must dress as such." Zelda pointed out as Link shoveled a large amount of food in his mouth.
"That reminds me, you must also learn appropriate table manners for tonight." She stated with a hint of disgust as a bit of food fell from the corner of Link's mouth.
"Now come along, I must take you to the tailor before it gets too late as we must have time to teach your proper manners before tonight." Zelda ordered, standing up and indicating for Link to follow her.
Yeah, another chapter done, hope you guys liked it. Please review and tell me what you think about it so I can make it better.