Chapter 2
Sheik is a guy but when Zelda is Sheik, I will use 'she' and 'her'.
She had been vaguely aware of lips brushing against her cheek just moments ago. She smiled at the sensation and rolled her shoulders happily, earning a quiet chuckle from her love. She could hear his almost inaudible footsteps as he crossed the room and went to the window. The hinges squeaked just slightly and then there was no more.
The princess sat up in bed, clutching the sheets around her naked body. The window was still open and she sighed seeing that she was alone. Scurrying to her feet she went to the window, tucking the sheet securely around her. If she looked hard enough she could see his figure moving through the field swiftly. She blew a kiss into the air but knew he hadn't seen it.
Once she could no longer see him she closed the window and went to her dresser to pick out her attire for the day. She rummaged through the drawers until she came upon one of her many dresses and let the sheet drop, replacing it with her underclothes and dress. She smoothed out any wrinkles and rolled up the sleeves a couple of times so they wouldn't get in her way.
She then set about brushing her long hair colored like golden rays from the sun. It flowed in waves down her body, falling to the small of her back. Instead of pulling it back like she had the night before she left it alone after the knots and static were gone.
Then she was finished readying herself for the day, dabbing a bit of perfume behind her ears and splashing some onto the base of her neck. She rubbed it in as she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.
Link usually returned to his small house in the market place after spending the night with her, sleeping for another hour or two before returning for his duties at the castle. In this time, Zelda usually ate a quick breakfast and went about getting down to business with her father or practicing her sword fighting in the courtyard. That morning she decided on the second.
She was about to open the door to the dining room when she heard raised voices already inside. By the sound of it, they were coming towards the door. Zelda scampered into the throne room just cattycorner to the dining hall and hid inside, cracking the doors open to listen.
"…just isn't working out! I have tried wooing your daughter and am unable to…to melt her icy personality." That voice belonged to Erik. He sounded very upset.
"Zelda really is not an icy person…she just has trouble with all of the suitors." King Harkanian's voice came next.
"Well from my experience here I can say this with utmost confidence – it would be easier to marry Princess Luna of Thornbrook then it would be to marry Zelda. I leave at once."
Zelda was appalled. She had met Princess Luna once before and had never in her life encountered someone who could be so snobby. She had not spoken a word to any male at the ball they had been attending, only powdering her nose and looking at herself in a small piece of glass she carried with her. How could Princess Luna be easier to marry?
She listened until both footsteps had faded before opening the doors and going straight for the doors that led out of the castle. Outside the sun was shining and the sky was clear and blue, a promise for a beautiful day. It seemed to take away from the harsh words spoken by Erik. Though Zelda didn't care of any of the suitors it still hurt to hear those kinds of things said about her. And she had heard them a lot.
She circled the castle and headed into the courtyard. There she transformed into Sheik, ready to practice all of her moves to vent her frustration and anger. She always fought as herself unless she needed to be in disguise but right now didn't feel like being herself. Anyone but her would have been perfect.
King Harkanian had never been very strict with her. He had allowed her to learn the ways of magic and to be trained by Impa. After Link reappeared at the age of fourteen, after going to find Navi, the king even allowed him to teach the princess how to defend herself and how to fight with weapons.
The only ones who knew about Link saving Hyrule from Ganondorf were the Sages and Zelda. Then, she and the Sages explained to the king what had happened and who exactly Link was. After this, the king had employed Link as Zelda's bodyguard and mentor as well as a soldier in the Hylian army.
The king had always liked Link but, as mentioned, though he was never strict with his daughter, there was one thing he demanded she do: marry a prince. It was part of tradition that royalty marry royalty and so on and so forth. It was also customary that the suitor be chosen before the eve of the eighteenth birthday. Sadly, Zelda's eighteenth birthday was growing rapidly closer and she had still turned down every suitor that had come her way.
Sheik used another Deku Nut to 'escape', making her agile way up into a tree. From there she back flipped off and landed on her feet, pulling her sword and swinging it in a complete circle. Only to be met with another blade. At the sound of the two blades meeting, Sheik looked up to see an unfamiliar face looming over her.
He wore a silver chest plate and a brown cloak around his neck, draping down his shoulders. His hair was colored a deep red and was longish in front but cut shorter in the back. His eyes were of a dark brown, almost the same color as his cloak. His facial expression appeared to be amused but there was something about the way he looked down at Sheik that made her antsy.
"Who are you?" Sheik growled, pushing the stranger off. She swung her blade threateningly and watched him fall on his behind, her blade know poking his throat.
"Zelda stop it!" King Harkanian cried, rushing into the courtyard. He shot a wave of magic at her sword and it flew from her hands. She turned to glare at him as he stopped beside the two.
"It seems I have frightened your daughter." The strange man said, his voice almost lulling. He grinned in a sly, cunning way before getting to his feet. He dusted himself off and eyed Sheik over.
"Zelda, this is Prince Garin of Alcott." King Harkanian explained, waiting for his daughter to pull away the shell. He was embarrassed about the possible future prince seeing her this way.
Sheik suddenly moved a hand out, refusing to let this newcomer prematurely end her practice. She grinned evilly and cocked her head to the side while Garin shook Sheik's hand. She 'accidentally' let a surge of power rush through and right into his hand. She saw him wince but kept the smile on his face.
"Zelda." She said as their hands parted.
"My name is Prince Garin but you may call me Garin." He told him, his voice still sounded oddly peculiar. It was as if he was trying to cast a spell on her. But it would never work, for not only did Link have Zelda's heart but magic could be fought with magic.
"Well Garin it was nice to meet you but I have work to do so perhaps I'll see you later." Sheik then turned and moved away from her father and Garin, hearing her father apologize for his daughter's rude behavior and Garin promising that there was no harm done.
When the two men had left the courtyard, Sheik wasted no time in returning to Zelda's form. She hiked up her dress and, clutching the skirts in both fists, raced across the grass and made her way out and to the front of the castle. She sprinted across the field, ducking into the small space adjoining the gate. Inside she grabbed a hold of the ladder and climbed up, reaching the top only to drop down quickly onto the other side. The guards hadn't seen her. She smirked.
From there, she continued down the dirt path leading into the market place, thanking the Goddesses that she had taken the risk in wearing boots with her dress instead of heels. Her feet would have been in severe pain had she worn those death traps.
The market place was bustling with people as always, friendly faces smiling and gossiping while they grocery shopped or bargained. Little kids played with the stray dogs running about and amused themselves by running about and hiding from each other. Men and women mingled and married couples bickered openly. It was all so warm and comforting.
Spying a rack of shawls and headscarves, Zelda lowered her face from the merchant and paid for a shawl, turning away to quickly cover herself. She wrapped it around her shoulders but pulled it up over the back of her head as well. It draped down onto her forehead but kept her face visible.
She then pushed her way through the crowd and walked down the alley towards Link's house. There were many small houses down that alley and even more on the other side. There were a few people outside and they smiled politely as Zelda passed. Had they known who she was…
Link's house was the third from the last. The door was painted a forest green color and letters engraved in the stone proclaimed it to be his house. The window was covered by a thin curtain and she could peek in and see her hero working at a bench wearing an open chested shirt over his leggings. His blonde hair was messy and his cap was nowhere in sight. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he worked.
"So this is where the Hero of Time works." Zelda said, giggling when she saw him jolt at the sound of her voice. The look of surprise on his face disappeared as he saw her through the curtain. He smiled.
"What brings your lovely highness here?" He asked, rubbing his hands off on a rag. He then went to the door and opened it. He was about to say something particularly witty when she flung herself at him, kissing him deeply while her fingers dug into his crazy mane.
He didn't object. He moved a strong arm around her waist and pulled her away from the door, kicking it closed with his foot. When it slammed close, he moved his other hand to cup her cheek while still kissing her, walking backwards towards the bed. They sat down and broke apart for air every other second or so.
"What. Is. Wrong. Zel?" He asked between kisses.
"Erik. Is. Gone. But. Another. Came." She answered breathlessly. Her response was a snarl slash groan and Link pulled away. He held her face in his large, callused hands.
"Your birthday is growing near." He said softly, stroking beneath her sea green eyes.
"I know." She said sadly, trying to hang her head. But he wouldn't let her. He kept her eyes locked onto his and spoke again to try and soothe her.
"I'll find a way. I promise I will." He whispered.
"But how can you be sure?" She seemed about ready to explode from the frustration of keeping her love for him secret. From the prospect of having to marry another.
"A wise friend of mine, Wesley was his name, once said that something like true love doesn't happen everyday. It will all work out." Link reassured his other half, smiling when she did. He kissed her lips once more before rising.
"Let's go for a walk."
"That sounds refreshing." She stood up and watched as he pulled off his dirtied shirt, throwing it in a pile of other soiled clothes.
"I'll do your laundry for you tonight." She moved towards his work bench and spied a lump hidden underneath a white cloth. Intrigued, she went to remove it when Link's hand caught hers.
"Ah, ah, ah. No peeking." He grinned. She saw that he had put on his green tunic and his cap was tucked into his hair once more.
The couple left the house and walked into the market place, breaking apart sadly. Link moved through the crowd on one side of the fountain while Zelda walked along the other side. They cast short glances at each other every once in awhile. Though she wore a shawl, if she were recognized and anyone saw her with Link holding hands then the secret would be out.
She sighed and saw through the crowd a small family sitting underneath a tree. The husband was talking to his wife, who appeared to be with child, and the discussion seemed to be heated. Two small kids danced around their legs and a dog yapped at them. Suddenly the wife playfully swatted her husband and they laughed, sharing a chaste kiss.
Zelda smiled and pictured something else in her head. She could see her and Link like that one day. He would work at the bench or come home from a long debate at the castle, kissing her on the cheek and greeting their kids with a bear hug. They would live in the small house as one happy family.
She was suddenly brought from her daydream when she felt a hand take hers. She looked to her side to see Link smiling down at her. The look on her face must have given her surprised and worry away.
"I don't care." He mouthed to her. This silenced her fear and they kissed at the end of the fountain, him gently tugging at the shawl as if taking it off to tease her. She squealed and ran, only to be caught around the waist before she could get away.