A/N: Alrighty, now we kick things into high gear when one of our crew in this delightful story decides to go and get a year older. when a Princess gains a year, what else is there to do but:
Chapter Twenty-One – Party!
It had been a few days since Zelda had come to stay with him. Sarah came and went now and again, as she was needed in the Kokiri Forest. Zelda was doing all right, but it was obvious that she was homesick.
"You know, if you miss the castle this much, maybe it would be better for you if you go back," Link said as he sat down at the table.
"It's a standoff between me and my father. Besides, if I didn't know any better, I'd say it sounded as if you were trying to get rid of me," Zelda said, smiling.
"That's not what I'm saying at all! I love having you over, I just don't like seeing you sad. I can't provide everything your father can, and I never will be able to."
Zelda nodded, understanding. "Maybe you've got a point. That's what I should do. I need to talk to my father as it is. It's getting close to my birthday, and as the princess, a royal party is in order."
"I assume that I can come?" Link asked, grinning.
"I expect you to be there," she replied in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Well then, the question remains. What in the world does one get a princess for her birthday?" Link asked her, hoping that shed give him a straightforward answer.
"You don't have to get me anything, Link," Zelda replied.
Urg. Just the kind of answer one would expect.
"I've got to run to the castle anyway, so if you'd like, I can come with you," Link offered.
Zelda nodded. "The support is appreciated."
"Very well. If we leave after breakfast, we can reach the castle by midday. I figure that I can pick up a few things in the town and we can roll into the castle around four or five. Sound okay?"
Zelda nodded and continued eating.
-
Less than five minutes into the town, Zelda was already excited. Rarely did she get to come down here, and it was a treat when she did. "Look at this!" she exclaimed, rushing to a store window. She pointed to something on a counter as Link walked over. Not surprised, he smiled as he pulled out a small bag. He poured out a handful of orange and purple Rupees and handed the bag to Zelda.
"Meet me back here in an hour. It's not much, but maybe you can get something."
Zelda smiled and walked into the store. Once Link was out of sight, she quickly counted the Rupees and was shocked. There were about four thousand Rupees in it! How Link had gotten this much without her noticing was astounding. It was also astounding how he fit so many Rupees in such a small bag. So, she did what any person would do with almost four thousand Rupees - go on a shopping spree!
Link smiled as he saw Zelda start grabbing things left and right. He then turned andwalked into a small store down an unnoticedalley. The store, darkened by age, didn't seem to even be owned, let aloneopen. The lights flickered on, however, as he closed the door behind him.
-
An hour later, Link and Zelda, both laden with bags, strolled up the castle pathway. Link stopped once they got to the door.
"By the way, you remember how you were gonna organize a party?"
"Yeah..."
"I think it's too late," he replied as he flung open the door, revealing tons of people feasting, dancing, and generally having fun. Zelda rushed forward into the room, followed by Link. He handed his bags to Sarah, who hurried them into the kitchen.
"How did you organize all this?" Zelda asked, astounded by Link's resourcefulness once again.
"Do you really think the King would just let you leave the castle? Especially right after you almost got kidnapped? It was only because I'm the Hero of Time that he even agreed. Besides, what's the fun of a surprise party if you find out?" Link replied.
"Well then, lets go have fun!" she said, excited, as she and Link filtered through the crowd.
-
"Hey, Sarah, have you seen Link?" Zelda asked, plopping down at one of the tables that had been set up around the ballroom.
"I saw him a while ago heading toward the place overlooking the south courtyard. He looked kinda sad. Something happen?" Sarah responded as she sat down across from Zelda.
"I'm not sure. Earlier, we were walking around when my father kidnapped me for what he called 'royal duties.' Link seemed all right, though. Not saddened at all, actually. He was quite happy to escape my fate," she said, laughung slightly.
"Hmm. Wonder what happened."
"I think that I shall go and find out!" Zelda announced, standing up. She walked over to a pair of open large glass doors. Stepping through them, she made her way to a small area set aside from the castle.
The moon's rays fell upon a person who was sitting on the railing above the courtyard. As Zelda approached, the figure continued to look down at the courtyard.
"Hey, Link," Zelda said quietly. She sat down next to him as he turned to look at her.
"Hey, Zellie," Link said, then turned back to the courtyard.
"Something on your mind? You're not always this quiet."
"Nothing for you to worry about."
"You know that every time you say that, I worry."
Link turned to face Zelda. "Have you ever felt like there was something you wanted to do, but in order to get it done, you had to overcome some Everest-like obstacle?"
"I'm a princess. Listening to my father's strict demands is an Everest in itself."
"Yeah, but it's not the same. I, well, no, you wouldn't understand..." Link let his sentence trail into the night.
"Try me," she replied, taking his hand in hers. She looked directly at him, straight into his now sapphire-blue eyes, which seemed to shift shades in the moonlight. They seem so full of sadness... she thought.
"I, um, I-" he tried to say, but merely dropped his head, to look at the railing they were perched on.
Zelda stood and nodded. She silently walked towards the door, but stopped halfway. A melody was echoing all around her. It was unknown to her, and yet it seemed so familiar. She pulled out the treasure of the Hyrule family, the Ocarina of Time. She brought the instrument to her mouth, and seemingly breathed the spark of life into it. Not one hundred percent sure what notes she was playing, she ran her fingers across the holes as she felt necessary. Within moments, her song matched the other, and the two intertwined, rising high into the night sky. The sounds from the music temporarily drowned out the music in the ballroom, not to mention in the rest of the castle. The haunting melody reminded Zelda of her childhood as a princess, not as the cursed child. It reminded her of late nights, when she was a baby and could not sleep. A third instrument joined the song in her mind as she remembered being rocked to sleep.
The music carried on for a few more moments, then faded into the night that seemed to absorb every note to make it last longer. Zelda turned to look at Link. For a split second, their eyes locked, then he replaced the Fairy Ocarina in his pack. Zelda smiled and walked back inside to the noise that she could care less for, Link by her side, their hands latched to each other in an unbreakable bond.
A/N: In the infamous words of Cheryl: Awwww! I hope you enjoyed the little romanticey moment I plugged in. I also hope to have a lot more of them, as well as several embarrasing situations! ;-)
(Not revealing anything... Not revealing anything... Not revealing anything... Not revealing anything...)
