IWelcome to Chapter 7. This is a good chapter, but it's more of a fun chapter than anything else. It's very likable though.
As always, ENJOY!
Chapter 7 - Canoe Ride
She led him behind the castle to a small pool filled with small canoes. The pool led into a long river that circled back behind the castle, and Link was startled when he saw her untying a rope to one of the canoes. She looked up and him and told him to get on. He didn't want to, but ended up getting on it anyways.
"I hate the water." He told her leaning back on the other side of the small wooden canoe. She continued to row the boat with her paddles. He watched her, even though she felt uncomfortable with his staring. She wondered why she even invited him to do this. Surely he knew she had some kind of romantic feelings for him.
"Why so? I love it, it's so peaceful. Unlike," She gave paddling a rest a moment and brushed her dress. She was amazed she could actually speak in front of him and sound calm. "Some of the things you see in Hyrule." She crossed her legs and leaned back, trying to relax. Link thought about it. The sailors continued to come to his mind. It gave him shivers on the inside. He had been under the feet of a group of overweight thugs who had nothing better to do than gamble. So many things happened to him. Several beatings and unwanted kicks, even when he was doing nothing.
But he couldn't think of anyone else. He hardly went into town, it was always Rais that retrieved supplies and took care of him so he wouldn't have to. Thinking of Rais made it worse. He had never shown his appreciation to him, but then again never realized how much Rais did for him. He had done so much… and then he goes and lets him lose his arm.
Zelda fiddled with her wristband, trying to seem distracted. She didn't look up but could see Link in the corner of her eyes lifting his head to watch her again.
"So, um…" She grabbed both the paddles, rowing the boat again. She could feel Link watching her still, and tried to keep her mind off it. "Who's your friend? Is he alright?" She wasn't sure if he wanted to talk about it or not, but she was getting too uncomfortable with him staring at her. You don't even know him yet! How can you be so obsessed all of the sudden? The thought buzzed in her mind.
"His name's Rais. He seems to be okay..." He stretched his hands over the sides of the boat and let his fingers ride the top layer of water. Him taking his eyes off her made her feel better, but at the same time a little upset.
Zelda sat up straighter and her face enlightened. She knew Rais, and this was her chance to talk about something that could keep him off her mind for a moment. "Oh! I know him!" She stopped rowing for a second, and looked out at the water. "He taught me how to use different instruments. Like ocarinas and the special flutes he made." She thought about him more, and she had always thought he was slightly attractive. That would be a good chance for her to seem like she was interested in someone else. "He has a nice butt..." Now she felt stupid for saying it, but she got a reaction out of Link, at least.
He flung forward. His eyes widened as big as the golden plates he ate on that morning. "What? He could be your grandpa! What's so great about an old man's butt?!" He stood up and raised his hands in the air. "And he's my trainer for lord's sake!" Zelda blushed at his big reaction, and started to laugh uncontrollably, but tried to stay quiet. It came out as loud giggles and she blushed in her seat while noticing Link's head slowly look down at her. Oh God! I'm making this so obvious!
"Well," She coughed, trying to come out of the giddy mood. "Maybe more boys should use his methods. They all come out as thin and finely built men." She hadn't realized what she said until she heard it for herself. She pulled her hand over her mouth and looked up at Link, who seemed confused as he stared down at her.
"Oh... well..." They were quiet words, and Link couldn't finish before he blushed and looked away. She felt her heart start beating faster. Did he blush? He did! Now she couldn't help but smile. He hated the silence that was controlling the moment, so he let out his breath and attempted to change the subject. "How do you row?" It was a stupid question. Zelda grabbed the paddles and moved them, feeling like butterflies were tickling her stomach.
"You move." She joked, feeling more comfortable with him after seeing him blush. He had better control of his emotions than she did, and gave her a confident smile. She felt herself blushing yet again. He either liked teasing her or he was just being friendly. But she knew her blushing was obvious, and was almost certain it was to tease.
"Helpful." He joked.
"Well, how do you ride a horse?" She asked him in a confident tone. At least she managed that much. He watched her row.
"You get on." He grinned at her while she began rowing faster.
Link leaned back and ran his fingers through the water again. "Going a little fast?"
She felt herself rowing faster, and slowed her arms down. She watched him and he watched her. He didn't stop grinning at her.
"Why not give rowing a break?" He leaned back. "We're not in a hurry, are we?" She let go of the paddles. She was too infatuated to know what to say.
The gentle ride was interrupted by something in the water that hit the boat. The side Zelda was on was pushed high enough in the air to scare her into getting up and falling over to Link's side. She fell right on top of him, while the boat fell back into it's upright position. She opened her eyes and found herself nose to nose with him.
She was right on top of his rough body. She was sitting on top of his legs while her upper body was pressed against his chest.
"Don't worry," She was clinging to his shirt, and he wrapped his arms around her, and she felt his muscles against her soft skin. "I won't let the rock hurt you." He grinned at her, kidding her about her scare. He thought wrapping his arms around her would make her jump off him suddenly, but she didn't. Instead she stayed on top of him, shivering from the cold water that hit her.
"I didn't think I'd… hit anything…" She trembled on top of him, not knowing what she was saying. He watched her, confused by her reaction. He could tell she was attracted to him, but he didn't think she'd be comfortable in this position. He couldn't tell if the trembling was because she was cold or because she was nervous.
He pulled her closer and closer, and she didn't protest. He watched her eyes as he pressed her soft body against his rough one.
"Are you… okay?" He whispered to her. She smiled a little at him.
"Yes… I… I'm okay." She stared into his eyes too now. She ran her fingers along his face, feeling his rough and slender face. He watched her while she touched him, enjoying the affection. Using both of her hands she ran her fingers through his hair, feeling the strands run through her fingers.
"I… I can't believe I never knew you before… how long have you been here…" Link closed his eyes as she ran her soft hands along his face and through his hair. He breathed deeply.
"Mmm… five years…" Her mouth opened a little and she stared at him, shocked. He had been in the castle for five years, and she only met him days ago?
He opened his eyes and looked up at her, watching her because her hands were no longer massaging him. She stared down at him, still surprised at what she was doing.
"I… I'm surprised we haven't met until now." He watched her and smirked. She felt his hands start to roam along her backside. She let out a small gasp and blushed, enjoying it but wondering if she should stop him. He pressed his hands against her and pushed her down. Her hips rested against his lower stomach while the rest of her was pressed against his stomach and chest. Her heart began to beat a little faster.
She wasn't expecting it, but he pressed her head against his, locking her into a kiss. She had never been kissed before, or ever dated. This was the first time she had ever even touched another man, and being pressed against him like this was definitely going to get her into trouble. She didn't think about it though and tried to enjoy the kiss. She opened her mouth to breath a little, while once she did she felt Link slide his tongue inside her.
He could tell it was the first time she had ever been kissed, seeing as she was having trouble keeping up with him. He explored the inside of her mouth while letting his hands run along her back, feeling her sensitive body. He could feel her shiver every time his hands ran over a sensitive area.
When they opened their mouths to breath, Zelda forced herself off him. They were coming close to the castle again, and she didn't want it to go any farther than kissing and touching. She sat in the seat across the canoe from him, grabbed the paddles and paddled quietly, surprised by the all of the emotions that were coursing through her body. Link lifted himself and sat upright, and she found she was still embarrassed to see him watch her.
She looked down, blushing at what happened.
"If my father ever knew," She said, "I'd be shaved and locked away in a tall tower in the middle of nowhere." She joked and watched as Link leaned forward, staring at the wood.
"Sure he'd be so harsh?" His voice was quieter than usual. She wondered if he was upset she made him stop.
"Yes," She replied quietly back. "But really… he doesn't care that much about me." She looked down and rowed slowly, not thinking about Link for a moment. They didn't say anything else, but then Link's head gave a small throb.
"I'm disappointed. I hoped you would have at least obeyed my rules after what happened."
He felt like a rock and any happy emotion left in him vanished at hearing the familiar voice. He frowned and looked at the bottom of the canoe, watching it as it rocked gently on the river.
"I'm sorry." It was meant for both him and her.
-
Link followed Rais down the hallway, trying to get his attention and start a conversation. Why did I go and do it, why? I should have known!
"So how do you feel?" He asked cheerfully and friendly. Rais completely ignored him and continued walking. Link rolled his eyes and pulled his hands above his head. "What, now you're never gonna talk to me again?" He said. Rais kept walking. "Well you have to eventually. Your my trainer." Rais stopped laughing. Link stared at him, puzzled by his sudden response. Why was he laughing at him?
"Not any more. Your training is finished. See ya." He walked off quickly. Link felt his heart pound at Rais's words. He couldn't be serious, could he? Link ran after him, hurt that he would tell him such a thing. Rais didn't stop for him, and continued to walk like he wasn't even there.
"But I haven't mastered mental powers yet! It still hurts and I don't know how to send messages..!" He whined, trying to get him to ease up on him. He wouldn't abandon giving him lessons, would he? That just wasn't Rais. Rais wasn't the kind of guy to just go and abandon his pupils when they broke a rule or two.
"Oh well. I'm sure wandering around with girls is more important!" Link growled at him. He may have felt bad and guilty about Rais losing his arm, but he was starting to get irritated. Rais was constantly telling him what to do and how he should do things, when sometimes they had nothing to do with him in the first place. He was infuriated that Link kissed her, and Link wanted to know why it bothered him so much.
"No! I'm not a little kid anyways! So who cares if I'm talking to her and taking a stroll every now and then?" Rais stopped and shoved him with his only hand. Link fell back, shocked that he actually pushed him. He stared at him in disbelief. Why was he so angry with him? What had he done so wrong?
"I do, dammit!" Rais shoved him again and this time Link fell on his back. "Go find somewhere else to stay! I don't own you anymore! Do what you want! See if I care.." He turned around and walked off, his boots echoing through the halls. Link watched him walk off, abandoning him in the empty halls of the castle. He couldn't believe it. Rais had actually abandoned him.
"Fine." He took off in the other direction, his mind rushing with anger, disbelief, and misery. He didn't know what to think. "Who needs you anyways..." He told himself quietly, walking slowly away from Rais's chamber.
Rais entered his quiet chamber, listening to the waterfalls splashing down into the small pool. He walked through it noisily until he came upon his room. He walked in and over to the bed and laid down, closing his eyes to sleep.
He sighed. He was outraged, and Link had done one too many things. He told him to stay away from Zelda, but he didn't listen. He had even lost his arm and was unconscious in a bed, and Link still disobeyed him.
He rolled over, closing his eyes to sleep. If Link wouldn't listen to him, he might as well let him go and let him do whatever he feels like doing.
-
Ah, well that was a dramatic chapter. Poor Link… :o
Anyways, hope you still like the way things are going… keep on reading!
