Thanks again to all my reviewers. On to chapter four!
Just a reminder: Link is in Zelda's body, and she is in his body.
And another reminder, my disclaimer: I do not own any aspects of the LegendofZelda series.
As Link grumbled about preparing Zelda's body for the party, Zelda and Impa tried in vain to suppress their giggles. Link had already spent several minutes wriggling into the stockings and petticoats, as Impa had been too busy laughing to help him. Now she and Zelda stood outside the bedroom as Link attempted to pull the blue dress over the full hips that now were just another part of his temporary body.
"Impa, will you please button me up?" he shouted, annoyed at the teasing he could hear despite the thickness of the walls.
"Yes, Link," she answered, hurrying into the bedroom and closing the door behind her.
What she saw made her awestruck. Link was wearing the blue dress and dainty white shoes, white elbow-length gloves that went over the dress sleeves, and Zelda's favorite necklace, a gold chain with a Triforce-shaped pendant encrusted in sapphires. He had combed Zelda's hair and pinned it back from her face, leaving it cascading down her back.
"Princess, come look at this!" Impa said.
Zelda entered in Link's body and was speechless at how beautiful her body looked, thanks to Link. "The suitors won't know what hit them," she told Link, grinning the whole time. "I told you the blue dress looks great on me."
"Spare me, princess. I may have to deal with them now, but you're the one who has to marry one of them, whether you like it or not. The king will decide which one he feels is best for you, but if you're nice to me, I may be able to sway him a bit..."
"Okay, Link, I get. No more teasing from either of us, okay? Just don't make me look foolish."
"Don't worry. You've pretty much taken care of that on your own already," Link responded.
"WHAT!" Zelda screeched, stamping Link's foot on the floor.
Link sighed and began to feel regret for what he'd just said. Open mouth, insert foot, he thought as Impa buttoned the back of the dress. No wonder she has trouble taking me seriously sometimes.
Link stood nervously at the top of the staircase, waiting for the presence of Princess Zelda to be announced. Once he heard her name, he made his way carefully down the stairs, holding the banister with one hand and the dress skirt with the other and trying his darnedest not to step on the train or take an awkward step in the heels. He smiled down at the crowd, taking them by surprise, as the princess typically held her head high in the tradition of the royal family.
When Link reached the bottom of the stairs, he was escorted by one of the knights to his throne next to the king. The suitors were then presented, and all walked in and bowed courtly to the king and Link. Link wore a false grin out of politeness, replacing Zelda's typical scowl in the presence of any suitors. The young men seeking her hand in marriage then sat at a special table near the throne, awaiting their questioning by the princess.
A few minutes later, the feast was ready. The king took his place at the head of the table, Link to his right. Zelda and Impa watched from their places at a table perpendicular to the royal one, reserved for the king's favorite subjects.
One by one, the seven suitors drew lots to determine the order in which they would court Link. They would each have only twenty minutes initially with the princess, and then the ones that seemed the best fit would spend more time with her over the next few days. Link had been instructed by Zelda to take thorough mental notes on each suitor and report back to her.
The first suitor was Darrion of Kasuto, tall and thin with black hair and green eyes. Zelda and Impa snickered as he led Link outside to talk, and Zelda craned her neck in a futile attempt to observe the scene.
Link shook nervously as he took a seat on a bench, and Darrion sat very close to him. Link swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. As he listened to Darrion drone on about all his duties back at home, and all the things he could provide the princess if she were to marry him, Link formulated an idea. That's it! he thought happily. If the princess was really here in her own body right now, she would shun all the suitors. So what should stop me!
A moment later, Link put his plan into action. He started by letting out a loud belch, interrupting Darrion. "Excuse me," he said. "Too much wine."
Darrion frowned at Link. "Well, Princess, pardon me, but perhaps next time we should watch our alcohol intake. I cannot have a wife that cares more for liquor than for her husband."
"How dare you!" Link exclaimed. He raised a hand and promptly slapped Darrion on the cheek, causing the suitor to cry out in surprise. His eyes watered at the pain as a telltale red mark appeared on his face. He jumped up and rushed back into the ballroom, stopping when he was next to the king, causing a great disruption.
"What is the meaning of this commotion!" the king proclaimed, his face reddening with anger as he turned to look at Darrion. "Young man, what do you think you are doing, approaching me so improperly!"
"Your Highness, your daughter is awful! She had the audacity to slap me in the face, when I was simply trying to make conversation! No wonder you cannot marry off that... that shrew!"
"ZELDA!" the king's voice boomed through the massive room.
Link hurried to the king's side, secretly marveling at his own brilliance. "Yes, father?"
"Is it true that you raised a hand to this young man?"
"Yes, father."
"Whatever for, Zelda!"
"I felt I must to keep my honor. You see, this... dolt over here suggested that I am inebriated. I did not take kindly at all to his suggestion that I would let even a sip of alcohol pass my lips."
"Darrion, it is you that has the problem. For questioning my daughter's honor, you are hereby banished from this castle until I decide otherwise. Now, be gone with you! Guards, take this young man away!" the king proclaimed, prompting the soldier to handcuff Darrion and escort him out of the room. The king then picked up his wine goblet as if nothing had happened. "Now, let us return to our festivities."
As he watched the soldiers drag Darrion away, Link could not help but grin at how perfectly he had played the part of the princess, and how easy it was to get rid of the first suitor. One down, six to go.
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