Chapter 4:

Bolster

Link's nerves burned as the fourth shopper clipped his arm. He clenched their bag into his chest, desperately dodging around the swarm that filled Castle Town square. It wasn't that he hated Castle Town, in fact the stone walls brought some nice variety compared to the typical open fields around the realm. But at the height of the market? Well there was a reason he'd avoided visiting in the past.

However, that thought clearly didn't occur to Zelda. Quite the opposite actually. Once she'd found out, it hadn't taken long for her to insist they at least spent the better part of the morning exploring the swirl of kiosks.

"And over there is Mrs Pita." He followed her outstretched arm, now noticing a kiosk adorned with cakes, pastries and breads varying as much as the people around them. Zelda continued "She and her husband run the bakery, their fruitcake is the most amazing thing." Turning back to her, Link noticed the wistful look in her eyes. "I'm definitely having some straight away when we get my body back."

A smile popped onto his face. It was reassuring to hear that from her. If he was being honest, he had been concerned about how she'd been since the other night. But then again, Zelda had more than proved her resolve in his opinion, the marks etched into the Spirit Train spoke for that.

"Wow, Link look at that." She was gone before his eyes could find her, gliding over the crowd. Again. He took a second to compose himself, glancing around the wall of bodies, barely glimpsing a small parting. He dove in.

Arms and legs buffered him as he forced his way through, grating on his skin. He barely dodged as a stream of blue, red, green and purple dashed past him. His leg shot out behind him, just stopping himself from toppling over. Finally, he broke the crowd, releasing a breath he hadn't realised he was holding.

Taking a second to compose himself, he hardly needed to look for Zelda. Her blue light stood out against the drabness of the crowds, gently floating next to an ornate set of shelves lining a sturdy wooden kiosk. He trundled over, careful not to get swept up in another disorienting crowd.

Before he was even halfway there, Zelda had spun around, gesturing wildly for him to come over. If he was careful, he was sure he could hear her voice breaking the ocean of noise around them.

Finally reaching her side, he made a passive wave to the shop keeper as she greeted him, her blonde top not shaking with each wave, then went back to polishing something in her hands. He glanced about the shelves. Scattered about were figures of all shapes and sizes collected into neat little groups. One consisted of trees with an oddly human face, another a pair of blue and red frogs riding clouds and another a giant golden crab with a twisted red shell.

But that wasn't where Zelda was looking. Instead her gaze was focused on one of the larger shelves hidden partially behind the looming shop keeper. Nestled on it, central and proudly displayed, was a small model sailing ship.

While it was only the size of his palm, he had to admire the details. Each plank of wood was clear, worn and grooved. It only had a single mast, but with a grand sail, two swords inked into its fabric. Finally, along the side it was laced with intricate gold patterns, imitating waves as they rolled.

"It's beautiful" he muttered.

Zelda leapt into his face, pulling him from his daze.

"You think so too? I think it's based on the old ships our grandparents used back before the castle was first created. You can tell by the golden markings on the side. They're the symbol of a craftsman from a small island in the Great Sea. He didn't travel here, so you can't find that on any modern ships." She finally paused, shaking with energy.

Looking at her face, it was odd. The cool relaxed blue of her ghostly form contrasted the sheer eagerness that danced in her eyes. Her smile, bouncy and quivering as it failed to hold back her words. For just a moment, everything slowed, as if he'd been stuck underwater and finally got to take a soothing breath. Then, her words finally hit his ears.

"Oh. I didn't mean to- I mean sorry about that. Sometimes I get carried away." Her shoulders dropped. As she turned away, he caught a glimpse of her sullen eyes and ever so slight frown. And as he watched her deflate, for just a moment, a cold current washed over him.

"Why are you apologising?" he said, cocking his head so she'd look at him.

Zelda, for possibly the first time since he met her, seemed lost for words. She sputtered, twisting her words as she started floating higher.

"Well… I guess I'm not really sure." She thought for a moment, muttering more to herself than him. "I thought you wouldn't care."

Now if he was being honest, he wasn't really sure what to make of that. "I did though. Think it was interesting I mean."

"You like that ship then, boy?" A booming voice echoed over from the far side of the shop, halting their conversation. Link glanced over, eyes darting to find its source. As he did, the shop keeper stopped polishing the statue in her bear like paws. Gently placing it onto one of the front shelves with a delicacy out of place with her size. She made her way over.

He took another glance to Zelda's sullen face. "Can we buy that ship?" he asked, speaking up before his mind started to form the words.

The woman was thrown, but took his words in stride with a laugh. "Not likely, that would be far too boring." She reached under the counter, pulling out a stack of postcards. "Instead, why don't you take a chance with these." She handed one over to him.

He flipped the card a couple of times, looking it over. It was ornate, a mixture of yellows, reds and greens, all framing a finely etched white envelope that took up the centre.

"It's a prize card." She explained. "Scratch of the envelope and see if you win a prize."

He slowly dragged his fingers across the card, scraping at the film. As it peeled back, a small symbol revealed itself. A disappointing red cross.

"Nothing this time, unfortunately." The woman's voice boomed again. To be honest, it was starting to grate his nerves. "Beginner's luck isn't all it's cracked up to be." She held up the rest of the pile. "But maybe fortune will bend your way next time, for only 10 rupees a go."

Link barely hid a scoff. Nice as the statues were, that was basically robbery. Besides, they barely had any rupees left, it was unlikely they'd win in just a few tries. He was about to turn away when Zelda flew in front of him, sparkle back in her eyes.

"Let's do it Link, we'll definitely win."

He was shocked. He hadn't taken her for the gambling type. Or was it that passion leaking through again? Either way the last of their rupees landed on the counter before he took another step.

"Excellent choice young man." The woman boomed again. She pointed to the rectangular sign above her stall. "Just compare the symbol to the sign to see what you win."

With a quiet thank you Link took four cards, slowly stepping over to the fountain in the centre of the square. Zelda floated ahead of him, practically dancing through the air.

"Come on Link, let's see what we won."

He couldn't deny her optimism, if anything it was starting to convince him this was a worthwhile investment. He dropped onto the fountains rim, getting comfortable as Zelda fell next to him.

Again he began to slowly scratch at the film, this time a little easier than the first. But as the film peeled away, the same taunting cross bared itself again. Despite his growing optimism, he still doubted they'd win that easily.

He repeated the action again, and call him mad but he wasn't expecting another red cross to appear. Zelda gasped a little next to him, seemingly not as good at hiding her annoyance as she liked to believe.

He pulled out the last two cards, white envelopes taunting him as he looked down at them. He felt Zelda's head float next to his own, the soft warmth spreading across his face. The two glared at the envelopes as if they could intimidate them into giving them a winning prize. Losing his nerve, he whipped his fingers across the card, tearing the thin film away.

Taking a second to come into focus, the symbols finally revealed themselves. Sitting perfectly in the middle of both was two different symbols. One was a simple brown shield, the other a bright yellow bell. Two winning tickets.

Zelda shot up. "Ha, I knew it! I'm always right about these things."

She spun and danced above his head, cool blues contrasting the orange sky behind her. A smile popped onto his face. Before he had even noticed, the day had turned to evening. He sighed, clearly they stayed far longer than he'd intended. And as he sat there watching Zelda continue to celebrate he realised, maybe he didn't mind coming here as much as he thought. Still, it did bring up one awkward point. He had no idea how to tell her that they'd won some figures, not the ship.