Chapter 10: Per Diem

Link crunched another Ember Seed between his teeth, its fizzy burn popping around his mouth and coating his throat. He leaned against the window ledge of Zelda's office as a deep breath flew from his nose, embracing the sting. He dug into the satchel, fishing around to no avail. His head sagged into his chest. The sack that once held an endless supply of treats was now totally empty.

"I swear you're addicted to those things." Zelda commented absently, staying focused on the shelf in front of her. She delicately placed a figure in-between the myriad of others sat along the shelf. She took a second to admire her placement, but quickly frowned and began fiddling with the small statues once again.

"Says the one who spent 80 rupees on figure raffles again, you already had two of them right?"

Despite his needling, she stayed focused on her arrangement, merely throwing him a reply, "Oh please, it's hardly the same, at least I get to keep these."

Well he had to admit she had him there. He sighed, the heat finally leaving his mouth, and just as quickly a chill ran down his spine like a drop of water. No wait, that was a drop of water.

"It's raining." He muttered, staring at the clump of darkness moving above the castle, his mind wandering into the aether with his words. Maybe if it hadn't he'd have reacted quicker.

He barely kept from falling over as the bundle of energy flew into place, the pink and blonde blur that was Zelda leaning into him. As he steadied himself, he took in the scene before him. Zelda balancing on tiptoes, dangerously close to falling out the window, grip wrapped around his shoulder for support as her other fancily gloved hand wafted around in the quickly dampening air.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking that it's raining."

"I literally just said it was, do you really trust me so little?"

"I mean actual rain, not the dribble you think counts – yes!" She laughed as the clouds shattered and the pitter patter grew into a rumble.

He braced himself as she yanked her way back in, safely landing next to him. She let out a noise that vaguely sounded like "Come on!" as she nearly pulled his arm off his shoulder, the rest of his body soon following. They dashed through the castle, it's ornate hallways reduced to a blur as the two burst into the garden foyer. Zelda's grip left his grasp as she continued, flying into the downpour.

He followed her for a step, but found himself stuck at his covers edge, watching as she basked in the shower. Within seconds she was drenched, her once flowing hair sticking to her face.

"You having fun?"

She turned to him, daft grin plastered across her face. "I've missed this, it's been far too long since I've felt rain." She cocked her head to the side, her eyebrows knitted together. "You're not going to stay under there are you?"

"I don't plan to look as ridiculous as you, so yes."

The grin on her face grew a tinge of madness at his words. He blinked, and as he opened his eyes, Zelda was in the air. She landed with thunder and the ground exploding around him. Water covered his vision, it's chill invading his once warm sanctuary and piercing his bones. Zelda's giggles echoed around the foyer as the droplets returned his vision.

"There you go, now you have no excuse."

He shook off what few drops he could. So she wanted to play that game then? Fine. His eyes fell to the grassy garden behind her, it's once baked soil now a thick, soupy mud. To her credit, Zelda caught on quick, only needing a glance to figure out his plan.

"No, that's different. Water dries off, mud sticks." She took a step back, unconfident in her ability to negotiate with him. The two studied each other, looking for any movement, any sign, a twitch. Zelda shifted her weight, and the flag was waved.

He dove for the mud, but Zelda was gone, sprinting down the garden as fast as her dress would allow. He gave chase, scooping up a dollop of mud as he went.

He was faster, that much was clear, the wonders of not having a sodden dress weighing him down. But as she hopped around the hedges, it was soon clear that her knowledge of the garden far outweighed his advantage. He rounded another corner, but she was gone. Something bumped his leg and the ground flew into his face.

Darkness surrounded him, mud and mess filling his ears, but Zelda's snorts still found their way through. He broke free from the darkness, flipping onto his back to the cooling relief of rain on his face. Apparently Zelda's sense had left her, as she stood over him, hand covering her mouth in a failed attempt to hide her laughter. Seeing his chance, his arm shot out, yanking on her exposed ankle.

She fell, splashing into the mud like a dog into a puddle. He froze for a moment. Had he gone too far? Looking her over, her once pristine pink dress now acted as perfect camouflage, with only spatters of blonde hair still shining through. Zelda sat up, dark eyes focused on him. They sat staring for a moment. Then Zelda grinned. Soon the sound of laughter overpowered the rain.

Alfonzo rounded the castle halls, scanning for his wayward apprentice. It was nearly evening already; they'd be lucky to get back before nightfall at this rate. One of the green clad guards turned the corner, shrinking away in the presence of the massive retired swordsman. Alfonzo gave a passive salute, more out of habit than anything else, but he didn't miss the grateful smile on the young man's face as he marched away.

Continuing on, his mind drifted as he rounded the corner, years of patrols guiding his legs. Truthfully, he was a little taken aback when Link had actually asked to visit the market with him, doubly so when The Princess of all people had met the two at the station. He wasn't exactly sure when the two had gotten so close. Then again, he'd suspected Link hadn't quite told him everything about his adventure, it was rare the typically open boy wouldn't tell him something, but that didn't make it any less clear when he didn't. Still, he'd payed it no mind when the two ran off together. True, he knew better than most The Princess' tendency to sneak off of her own accord, but seeing as she'd somehow managed to get Link here, maybe that kind of influence is what the boy needed… or maybe he'd just created a second menace.

The roar of rain pulled his attention as he approached the open roof. He spun. No chance he was going out in that. As he strode back down the hallway, cries - faint but familiar - broke through the odd drop of rain.

The burly man craned over the window ledge, nearly braking the frame as he pushed through in an effort to glance below. There he saw them, two brown globs that vaguely resembled The Princess and apprentice he was looking for. They ran around the castle gardens, volleying mud and grass back and forth. The apprentice lobbed a shot, but it missed its target, careening into the distance. Then the Princess glob bounced towards the other, toppling them both to the ground as it stuffed its latest shot down the others shirt.

Alfonzo pulled himself back into the dry cover, taking a second to conceal his soft smile. Maybe he'd visit Russel. The man would no doubt have stopped training for the day given the weather, and it'd been far too long since the two had caught up. Yes, he may even lose track of time if they got talking. And if those two got to spend more time together, well that was a lucky coincidence right?

That was fun to write, just a lighthearted chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Out of interest, do people prefer light hearted or serious chapters? I think I have a tendency to naturally do serious stuff, but overcompensate to not, so I'm interested in what you guys generally prefer?