AN: I do not own Legend of Zelda, all legal and intellectual rights for source belong to Nintendo
Chapter 1 – Trial by Candlelight
Link knocked twice and waited. There was a moments silence and he considered knocking again when Zelda's reply drifted through the wood, few clues as to her temperament as she uttered just three words "Enter sir Link". His one sign that she wasn't over the moon with whatever had prompted his summoning was her use of his title, which she had a habit of dropping if she was excited or happy, at least in private.
The elaborate wooden door yawned and creaked as he slipped into the study, closing it behind him. "Your highness?" Link called uncertainly as he surveyed the study in search of her. He knew the room well as his meetings with the princess had become almost a weekly tradition since his knighting ten months prior. He was not used to seeing it in this light however. The room, usually bathed in sunlight, was now only illuminated by an intricate gold chandelier in the centre of the perfectly square room and a hearty flame crackling beneath a finely carved stone fireplace. A fine oak writing desk sat off to the left the fireplace, from which the princess herself was noticeably absent. A waist high stack of papers next to the desk marked the princess's work for the day.
Every available wall was concealed by rows of mahogany book cases filled to the brim with volumes on every aspect of Hyrule law, along with the occasional out of place novel for Zelda's rare but much valued moments of rest.
While the walls were overpopulated floor space was sparsely covered. The floor was bedecked in deep red carpet, a luxury compared to those of stone and wood in the rest of the castle, however there was little in the way of furniture to conceal it. Apart from Zelda's desk in the corner accompanied by stately chair on each side, the only other furniture was a low round table and a strange chair that Zelda had once informed him was called a Méridienne.
While still scanning the room, now sure where his Princess was, his attention was caught by two items on the round table, glinting in the flickering glow of the fire. A bottle of wine and a wine glass. Did the Princess drink in the evenings? Given her regular sparring matches with the council and the endless floods of paper work he couldn't blame her, but he'd frankly never taken her as the type to indulge in such things.
Link picked up the bottle and glass and examined them. The bottle was clearly opened however the glass had not been use. He gave a sniff and his heightened senses, a remnant of his time as a wolf picked up the scent of a fine sweet vintage, obviously of the highest quality and expense.
His nose then picked up the tell-tale perfume of the lady who summoned him, carried by a soft cool breeze, guiding his eyes up to the open doorway to the balcony. He knew the fragrance far better than he should and its effects were far more potent than they'd any right to be. Leaning over the end of the balcony, silhouetted against the expanse of Hyrule fields by the last red rays of the setting sun, the sky above a deep purple was Princess Zelda gazing out over the landscape.
Link, forgetting the bottle and glass still in his hands, stepped into the doorway, casting a shadow out onto the twilit balcony. "I trust I did not disturb your rest at this hour, Sir Link" came Zelda's bell like voice from the dark figure and he noticed the movement of her briefly glance at him over her shoulder, before returning to the sight of Hyrule field rapidly fading into the approaching night. Her tone was hospitable and carried the barest trace of mirth and yet there seemed to be something missing, something he'd noticed at their last two meetings. And there was his title again!?
"I do not consider it disturbance if I can aid you, my lady" he responded in his, now signature, gruff baritone, another gift from his wolf days, trying to mask any sense of unease he may have felt with her address. "Always the dutiful and noble hero…" she quipped wryly before adding "and yet, here you stand, blocking my entry to my warm home on this cold evening, carrying a bottle of the finest wine no less. Some might think you were trying to tempt me Sir."
Link narrowly avoided dropping the bottle in shock but failed to save his jaw, which fell to the floor. He had on several occasions been under the misapprehension the Zelda was flirting with him, but had always dismissed them as his lovesick heart playing tricks on him.
His pure and innocent princess's uncharacteristic smirk as she emerged into the light almost had him questioning that assertion. Already in shock from her comment, he then did a double take when he saw her attire. The dress was essentially the same however her golden ornamental Pauldrons were missing leaving her shoulders and neck bare while her white skirt seemed to be missing its underlayers, making it almost slightly transparent. The effect was positively scandalous and could almost be mistaken for a nightgown!
Mind still spinning from the reveal, Links eyes found the almost empty glass of wine in her hand. "You drink?!" Link squeaked about an octave higher than his natural voice. Of course, he'd seen her drink at formal balls and celebrations but this was quite different. Drinking in public was one thing, drinking in private, in the evening, in what could count as nightwear was something else entirely.
Zelda merely held out the glass before nonchalantly replying "are you offering a refill, sir?" Link was too stunned to refuse her, pour her half a glass of the rose-coloured liquid. With that she nodded thanks and then, without another word, glided almost ethereally past him, her bare shoulder accidently brushing up against his clothed one. Link shivered but it wasn't from the cool breeze.
Turning and watching her graceful steps as she made her way to her writing desk, he was painfully aware that she seemed to have a little extra sway in her hips. That was an image that would be permanently burned into his brain. Did the Princess not realise what she was doing to him. With that Link made an executive decision. He may be the barer of the Tri-force of courage, who had fought all manner of beasts without quaking, but even he required some liquid courage on occasion.
His glass was quickly filled and was half way to his lips, ready to be swallowed in one swig, when Zelda, without even looking, mildly chided him "that wine is for indulging in, not drowning in hero, savour it". Zelda always seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to him. She always knew when he was near and often what he was doing without needing to see. Was this due to the tri-force of wisdom tipping her off or was it an unseen bond between them due to both baring pieces of it?
Whatever it was he was resigned to the fact that he'd never be able to keep any secrets from her. Not that he'd generally desire to, however there are some situations where discretion could require it. He just prayed that she hadn't figured out his feelings for her. Oh the scandal if it ever got out. A former goatherd falling for the royal princess. Only in fairy tales would that have a happy ending. He would be a laughing stock and she would probably receive a share of the ridicule by association, that was if she wasn't laughing as well.
With those thoughts dampening his mood, he found himself no longer in need of the whole glass and so took her advice and sipped. He had to admit it would have been a great disservice to consume too quickly. It was a deliciously delectable vintage. One thing he could say of his transformation from goatherder to knight, his vocabulary had certainly improved.
"Have you savoured that wine enough to perhaps sit, Sir link?" Came Zelda's slightly impatient voice, snapping Link back to reality. The reality that Princess Zelda had requested his presence at night, in her private study, in what could constitute a night dress "Sorry your highness" Link hurriedly apologised and rushed to the seat across the desk from Zelda, in the vain hope that sitting down would subdue the butterflies in his stomach or bring a sense of normality to the current situation.
"You are forgiven" Zelda said in a far warmer tone and briefly he saw the light that had been missing every since her whole marriage reveal. Well actually it was after he'd foolishly let his foolish heart talk him into taking her stargazing. There was a brief pause before Zelda continued "indeed it would be hard to find a situation for which I could not forgive you…" and then with sigh "provided you are willing to confess."
Link appreciated her words; however, he couldn't shake the feeling that her final words had been implying something. Indeed, she seemed to be waiting expectantly for some sort of response as her sapphire blue eyes gazed almost imploringly into his, begging him to answer. Unfortunately, no answer was forthcoming, as Link racked his brains for anything the Princess may wish for him to confess, only to come back emptier handed than Fado trying to round up goats.
The silence hung between them as she continued to wait in misguided hope and link continued to flounder for the answer she sought. None was produced, not even the wrong one. She only gave up when she noticed that Link's eyes suddenly fixed, trance-like, on one of her fingers tracing the rim of her wine glass. At least that's what Link hoped she'd thought to be his reason for staring rather than the faint pink lipstick mark on the glass.
Zelda sighed again and glanced round them room before focusing back on him with an unreadable expression and asked "Link, how do you feel about marrying… I mean, me getting married?" Alarm bells went off in Link's brain and he instantly scrambled for a way to redirect the question lest he reveal his desire to wring the lucky groom's neck for stealing her away or his hopeless dreams of being the groom himself.
Link decided the best response was to question the question, otherwise known as playing dumb. "What do you mean?" he asked with feigned gormlessness.
Zelda blinked in disbelief but never the less tried rephrasing "how do you feel about the idea of me getting married?"
"I'm not sure, it depends" Link dodged.
"Depends on what, Link?" Zelda pursued.
"The Suitor" Link stated bluntly.
"And why does that concern you" Zelda probed.
Part of him wanted to say "because I love you and if that suitor were anyone but me, my heart would break" however the bigger part of him didn't feeling like demolishing his life and reputation just yet. Instead he simply opted for being honest while omitting certain details, stating "because the suitor would have to be worthy of you, and I'm not just talked about class or rank. Marriage should be just as much about happiness as about duty and your suitor should be one who can achieve both. If anyone deserves to be happy, it's you Zelda!" he finished with unintended passion.
Link realised it was soppy sentimentality but most things that come from the heart are, or at least from his heart. He just hoped he hadn't revealed too much. His Princess was giving him a probing look as if trying to decipher some ancient puzzle, making him feel as though she was trying to read his mind.
After a long pause Zelda said "Would it interest you to know that I have not yet picked a suitor." Link was shocked and without thinking launched into another passionate speech "Why, have none proposed? I would have thought every eligible bachelor, and even some less eligible, would be lining up for the honour. Any man would be…"
"And what about you, Link?" Zelda cut him off, continuing what began to feel like some kind of interrogation.
Time to play dumb again "I don't quite follow, Princess."
Zelda's eyebrows knitted together and with a clipped tone of growing frustration asked "Would you consider it an honour to take my hand in marriage?"
"I stand by what I said" Link equivocated, not meeting Zelda's piercing gaze.
"Which you didn't finish" Zelda snapped.
"Because you didn't let me!" Link barked back before remembering his place and mumbling an apology.
Zelda waved away his apology as unnecessary, taking a breath to calm herself and making her own apology before making a simple plaintive entreaty "Please, finish."
"I merely meant to say that any man would be incredibly lucky to have you as their wife" Link mumbled realising the potential implications of such an admission but unable to refuse the Princess's imploring tone.
"And would you?" She probed again.
"I stand by what I said" He deflected again.
"And you have nothing more to add, nothing you'd like to admit?"
"No, your highness"
Zelda's eyebrows had joined once more and with a tone of growing exasperation she decide to change tack. "Would it interest you to know that I have plenty of suitors?" she asked followed by a pregnant pause, that she was clearly expecting him to fill with a response.
He offered none.
Pressure was clearly building as she cut the silence once more "it just so happens that none of them would fulfil the dual qualities you so passionately expressed." Emphasising the final words and waiting once again. Link went slightly red but did not interject.
"I have, however, found someone who, I believe, holds the ability to balance duty and happiness." Links could feel his heart crack at that statement, trying to mask it from his face. It couldn't get much worse. Never the less it would do him no good to say it now.
"Unfortunately" Zelda continued, exasperation reaching critical levels "I cannot deal with this matter of the suitor until I've dealt with the matter of the crime…"
"What?!" Link exclaimed
"Committed by you!"
It just got worse!