A.N: Hey everyone! Hope you're still enjoying the story. Sorry for the delay getting this one out. I was vacation and every estimation of this chapter's size seemed to be woefully inadequate. Thus this chapter, which melted my brain at various points due to its monumental number of ideas required, is my longest so far. I just hope the quantity hasn't compromised the quality. That's up to you to decide.
As always have fun and any feedback is greatly appreciated.
Chapter 13 – Out of the frying pan, into the sun
The situation was heating up, quite literally…
Logs were added to smouldering embers, closely followed by a pinch of black powder and flames leapt forth. A poker was thrust into the reignited fire and held there as the predator surveyed his hunting ground with manic eyes. His gaze eventually came to rest on a table on the opposite side of the room, under which a certain handmaiden was crouched and above which a chosen hero squatted among the roof beams.
Link, from his hiding place, observed the cook apprehensively, watching the man squint in their direction, grateful for the blades of harsh sunlight that helped conceal them. The dancing hot orange glow wasn't been enough to consume all the shadowy hiding spots, but it certainly limited their numbers and effectiveness. Link was safe for the moment in his high perch, however Dezalleena wasn't likely so fortunate, as he witnessed the creeping light from the still growing fire edging along the floor towards her temporary bolthole.
Either Master Romah had spotted the handmaiden or he simply had a hunch, as his eyes remained locked on the platter that had once held the chocolate tart. It was likely that if he knew the "rat's" position he'd likely be calling the guards, nevertheless it was safe to assume that the only thing preventing him from spotting her was the slashing knives of sunlight stabbing his prying eyes, exacerbating the shadows by contrast. If he moved out of their glare then, at the very least, she was done for, and with his hat just a couple of feet behind her, he would surely be scuppered as well.
The end of the long metal spike emerged an angry red when Master Romah removed it from the burning logs and, eyes never leaving the target, he brought it up to inspect its searing point. His face split into a disturbing feral grin and, with a snort of satisfaction, he began to prowl down the line of tables, still fixated on the platter.
Link had to repress the urge to reach for his sword as this hunter stalked them. He knew it wasn't a credible solution to their problems but the man's rabid demeanour put him more than a little on edge. He may have been a stickler for justice, but he could never allow a maid, even one with a penchant for food theft to suffer such a fate as to be caught by that beast.
That left him with a monumental dilemma. The 5 rows of tables ran lengthways from the front to the back of the kitchen, with aisle between each. He and Dezalleena were hidden above and below the outermost row by the outer wall while their nemesis was rapidly approaching the front end of the row closest to the inner wall where the fireplaces were. They were closer to the main entrance than the ladder or the servant's corridor, however the main entrance was currently covered by two armed guards and would soon be further blocked off by the demon cook, who'd just rounded the boundary of his line of tables and was stalking up the heads of the rows towards their position.
They had no chance of escaping out the back way because they were guaranteed to be spotted, they couldn't get out the front for the same reason and if Link didn't magic up a plan in the next few seconds then Romah would soon be in a prime position to see both of them. He needed a distraction!
Romah passed the first row…
How could he create a distraction? Simple, find a way to make a noise somewhere else. But how?
Romah passed the second…
The only possible solution would be to throw something. But what did he have to throw? Links struggled to concentrate when he registers the steady rise in his unwitting charge's heartrate as the hot poker and its owner drew ever closer.
Romah passed the third…
Come on, come on!... Of course! The bones he'd collected from his earlier "snack". By no means the ideal projectile for the task but he'd have to make do because if he didn't, he could kiss his new castle life goodbye… and possibly get skewered up the arse with a red-hot poker!
Romah reached the fourth…
With the handmaiden's pulse pounding like a drum, he knew it was now or never!
With all his strength, Link lobbed a pork rib at one of the furthest, most heavily packed cooking tables at the back of the room. The bone struck its target cleanly, successfully dislodging a spoon and a ladle, which crashed to the ground with considerable fanfare, while the bone itself skidded off into the dark, effectively hiding any direct evidence.
The demon cook whipped his head towards the sound, halting his advance. Just in time too, as Link estimated it would have taken just a couple more steps and they would have been spotted. His distraction had worked… for now at least.
One bone down. Four more left. He'd have to use them wisely.
As the human boulder lumbered off towards the fallen utensils, Link was vaguely aware of Dezalleena taking advantage of the distraction by crawling up the row of tables, retreating from the direct light of the fire, which illuminated the rooms centre. The corners still held their ground on enforcing the blanket of darkness, however that could all change should the other fire be lit. The distraction may have bought them precious breathing room but unless he could figure out an escape plan, not only for himself but also his unknowing partner in crime, then it was simply prolonging the inevitable.
Master Ramoh knelt down to paw over the utensils, regarding each with interrogatory stare as though by doing so he could scare a confession from them. With no useful information forthcoming from the kitchenware, he turned his wild gaze to the rest of the room, head twitching reminiscent of a hawk scanning a field for mice. This man may have donned the demeanour of an animal, but Link was grateful to be the only one gifted with the superior senses of one.
Frantic sweeps uncovering nothing, the cook suddenly froze, before throwing a glance over his shoulder to the main door. "Grrr I know you're still in here and I will find you" The words came out as a low guttural growl of frustration, followed by a violent bark "Zorran, Borri, Get in here! I need some extra pairs of eyes!"
Answering the call, the two guards burst in. "Have you found something Master Ramoh?!"
Now it was Links turn to have his heart in his mouth as one of the guards halted mere feet from Dezalleena's current position. Link spied the edge of her dress pooling out from under the table. All the guard need do would be to glance down and it would be all over for her.
"No, of course I haven't!" spat the cook, brandishing the poker. "Why do you think I asked for more eyes?!"
"Well our duty is to guard the door and…"
"Your duty is to guard this room. This room! THE ROYAL KITCHEN! A duty that you and your fellow soldiers have clearly taken rather laxly in recent months. Do you know how many times I had desserts stolen since the twilight?"
At the mention of the twilight, Link saw both the guards shudder and their gazes fell to their boots as they gave no answer. How had they not spotted her?!
"Five! That's five times someone slipped by you and made off with some of Hyrule's very finest confections. Cakes and sponges only worthy of the highest and most noble pallets in the land, and you let them get pilfered by a common thief!"
"Hey we're not the only ones who perform this guard posting, there are…" The guard above Dezalleena's hiding place tried to protest but was cut off by Romah's furious response. "Four of those instances happened on your watch, Borri!" He snarled "Now you're going to make up for it by helping me catch the vermin!"
Link listened to their argument in stunned amazement. Had this mysterious handmaiden been responsible for all these instances of stolen food? He may not condone Master Romah's chosen form of punishment but he could understand his frustration, though admittedly not to the degree of turning into a rabid dog.
Even though he could sympathise with the man's anger, he couldn't bring himself to even consider letting her be discovered, partly for the fact that it would, of course, make him a hypocrite, but also because of an overwhelming compulsion to protect her. He guessed an urge to save damsels in distress just came with the hero title and, by their current situation, this damsel was certainly in need of urgent assistance. Every second he failed to act was another chance for her to be caught.
Link picked out another pork rib from his stash and chucked it at a different table directly behind the cook. Unlike his first shot, it failed to budge the assortment of knives resting atop it, and the continued argument of the trio drowned out the quiet clatter of the bone rattling to a stop.
"How do you know it wasn't a rat, you know, the rodent kind?" Zorran, who up till this point had stay silent, enquired awkwardly.
"Because rats can't lift lids off platters you Pillock!" Romah bellowed in exasperation "and they certainly don't replace them afterwards…"
With the cooks barking tones ringing round the kitchen, Link decided to chance using his slingshot, which he'd avoided previously due to it not being silent. It would have the power to guarantee a distraction though. He loaded the third bone into the slingshot and began scanning the space for the best target as his opponents squabbling carried on, showing little signs of abating. There were plenty of choices of target. The question was, which would be most likely to result in attracting their attention to the optimum position for obscuring their view?
His deliberations were cut short when he released that Borri had left the heated debate and fallen uncharacteristically silent. Link glanced sideways at him and his heart, still in his mouth, almost stopped. Borri's eyes were fixed on the small patch of blue fabric peeking out from beneath the table. He began to reach for it.
Throwing caution to the winds, Link picked a target by instinct, pulled back the slingshot to near breaking point and released.
Thwack!
The bone collided heavily with a silver platter directly in front of the recently reignited fireplace. On Impact it splintered into several shards, which ricocheted off in multiple directions, the majority finding their way into the flames. Both the lid and the platter beneath tumbled from their resting place, crashing to the ground, with a clang that echoed through the roof beams. It was joined almost immediately by a piercing shriek as Zorran, proud member of the hyrule army, screamed like a castrated canary.
Borri jerked backwards in bewilderment and his sights snapped towards the commotion. After a moment of stunned silence as they all just stared, he dashed off to investigate the disturbance and Link breathed a sigh of relief. Dezalleena took the distraction as her cue to move, slipping out from her hidey-hole into the light. The hero was briefly startled as to her intentions until he noticed the main entrance left wide open and unguarded following Zorran and Borri's haphazard summoning.
Link perched on tenterhooks as the handmaiden crept nervously for the doorway, her knuckles white as she clutched at her dress to prevent herself from tripping. As he watched her progress towards escape, their three opponents started a new debate over what had just happened as they crouched in a circle round the fallen platter.
"What in Hyrules name was that?!" Borri started incredulously
Zorran started to babble almost feverishly his voice significantly higher than a minute ago. "I saw sparks, sparks mean magic right. Right! I mean it could…"
Borri groaned "Don't start all that again mate, now is not the time for one of your supernatural conspiracies"
"Actually, now is the perfect time! Think about it. Mysterious disappearing food, strange sounds, objects flying. Sounds just like a case from Madame Safi's…"
"You really shouldn't read that mad old coots tripe column!" Borri snorted, with a slightly baffling combination of derision and worry.
"Mad old coot! Tripe!" Zorran protested indignantly, clearly wounded at the slight to his clearly admire Madam Safi. He was about to launch into to more defense of her, when a roar from the demon cook, apoplectic with rage, effectively neutered him. Even Link was drawn away from his vigil of the escaping handmaiden to look across to the ballistic boulder of a man.
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" Romah exploded, gesticulating like a demented windmill, nearly spearing the two guards with the poker with wild swings. In the immediate light of the lively flame dancing next to him, his eyes seemed to glow as though he really was a demon. Unfortunately for the "demon", any hope for an imposing image was undercut by his display of impotent and almost infantile ranting and raving, like baby Talo when he had his favourite stick taken away.
Link was fast coming to the impression that, while he should still fear the consequences of getting caught, he certainly shouldn't have any fear at all of those trying to catch him. He had come to suspect that, for all his impressive stature and wild-eyed madness, Master Romah was a man of great bluster but little bite and his poker was just for show.
The fire flickered, the men bickered and Link found himself suppressing a snigger at the sight. He turned back to the main entrance to see that Dezalleena had successfully slipped away. One damsel saved. With the knowledge that he was no longer responsible for the safety of the handmaiden, he felt a great weight lift from his shoulders and the heady thrill of danger combined with that victory suddenly elevated him to a state of elation. Now he just needed to save himself.
He gave a hasty glance back to his opponents to find the cook still raving and very much occupied. he concluded his best shot at escaping was to follow the handmaidens simple plan of "sneak out the main door when no one is looking." Dropping down stealthily into the dark recess between the table and the wall, where the shadows still held their strangle hold, Link retrieved his hat and was about to make for the exit when, rather worryingly, his opponents appeared to reach an accord and organise themselves.
"Good, now that that's out of the way…" Master Romah growled "perhaps you two can demonstrate why you deserve your positions in the grand army of Hyrule by…"
"Err, we don't have positions, we're just grunts"
"Even grunts must require a certain level of competency and discipline…" The cook hissed through gritted teeth trying to avoid another explosion. "and I expect you to show it by following these very simple tasks. Zorran you will patrol the room and search under ever table, starting at this end and working across…"
"But…" Zorran started.
"No arguing! Borri, you will go over to the dessert tables over there and check ever platter. if any of them are empty then that proves there is a thief. You are to then do as I ordered Zorran, however working from that end back towards our current position. Is that clear?"
"Well technically as we're military you can't…" Borri attempted to interject
"Is that clear?!" Romah growled, holding up the searing poker for extra motivation.
"Yes, Master Romah." "Absolutely Master Romah."
Link, who had been listening intently to this exchange, ducked to prone, pressed up against the chilly uneven stone floor as Borri turned and sloped his way. Skulking in the dark narrow gap between the table and wall, he found himself uncomfortably limited in both manoeuvrability and visibility, only able to watch the boots of his opponents as they moved through the forest of table legs. This view was obscured further by the reflecting light of the dancing orange flames on the stone floor that when viewed this low to the ground created an almost mirage like effect.
With Borri's footsteps fast approaching and the realisation that not even the shadows could conceal him from such close scrutiny, Link was forced to commit to a momentary retreat. Twisting and wriggling in the confined space, he was able to reverse his direction and he began to slither towards the back of the kitchen, just as to heavy steel boots pulled up to the table he had just been hunkered behind.
As he squeezed away from the guard, like a snail caught in a waterpipe, he could hear the clinking of the inspection of the platters, hoping they would buy time for him to reach the other end. The tables towards the rear of the kitchen were still shrouded in darkness and for his newly formulated plan to work he'd need to be able to wait without being easily spotted.
He was halfway there when Borri triumphantly called out "Aha, looks like we've got three empty platters!"
"THREE! The thief usually only takes one… unless… It would seem the thief's got themselves an accomplice."
"Either that or his appetite's tripled!" The guard quipped drolly..
"Enough! Start you sweep of the tables." Growled the cook. "Oh, and don't even think about taking so much as a bite for yourself!"
Crap! He could be close! Link twisted to note his opponents' positions and was instantly grateful for the standard soldiers' armour as he watched Borri struggling laboriously to crouch sufficiently to look beneath the table, the heavy steel protesting, reminiscent of rusted gate hinges. That would certainly work in his favour along with the guard's foolish choice not to remove his helmet. Nevertheless, he wanted to make sure he had time, so, producing the forth bone from his pocket, he waited for Borri to rise to his feet, before chucking it right where the man had just been looking.
The distraction worked and Link reached the rear most table on his row, untouched by either the sunlight or glow of the fire. He could now undertake the next part of his brand new and improved escape plan, which involved sneaking across to the next row of tables and waiting for Borri, counting on the fact that the guard seemed to be following his orders to an unhelpfully literal degree, fixating entirely on the one row he was searching. Link would simply wait for him to pass and then slip behind him and back to his hiding place against the wall, safe in the knowledge that Borri wouldn't think of checking the same place twice. From there on it should be relatively straightforward to just creep back up towards the main doorway, create another commotion and then waltz out to freedom. Couldn't be much simpler…
"Could be quicker though!" Link thought irritably, after setting up his ambush position, only to find that his opposition was still three tables down from him. He began to wonder just how long he had been trapped in this kitchen. The adrenaline bursts, followed by dreary lulls had render his judgement less than useless and he found himself having to restrain the urge to shift restlessly as he waited, feeling the atmosphere grow increasingly warm and smoky as the fire heated the room.
He was running short on patience by the time the guard finally arrived and he could mercifully begin the last leg of his bid for freedom. Picking the opportune moment when Borri crouched to peer into shadowy emptiness once more, he slithered round him and back into the crevice.
Impatience overruling caution, Link abandoned his snail technique, opting instead for a monkey like approach, shimmying along on hands and feet, his eyes peaking over the table tops keeping a watch on his opponents. Reaching the end of the line, his exit now less than 20 steps away, he prepared his last bone for the ultimate distraction.
A dramatic gasp suddenly rent the quiet murky air and the hero hastily dropped to the ground, thinking one of the adversaries may have glimpsed him.
"I've. Found. IT!" Zorran cried with a mixture of wonder and fear. Link peeped out to check whether he should be bolting or staying and instantly relaxed upon noticing the reason for the proclamation.
"What is it?! What is it you've found?!" Master Romah barrelled over as fast as his legs could carry him, his ponderous foot falls echoing like thunder in the rafters. His booming voice was laced with urgency and a hint of excitement, excitement that quickly died at the sight before him.
"It's a sign! an omen! It's a…" The guard held the mystical item aloft.
"IT'S A PORK RIB, YOU MORON!" Boomed the cook, his hard-won state of stability cracking in the face of such abject stupidity.
"Yes, the bone of a dead animal, the remains of a forgotten spirit…" Zorran's voice quaked.
"And the last remnant of a once great dish! Yet more evidence of the thief in our midst. Just like this one." Romah produced one of his own.
Link decided to take advantage of his opponent's preoccupation and tip toed towards the door.
"You found one too?" Zorran asked tremulously.
"Yeah, found it over by one of the ovens."
"Hey, I found one as well." Borri stomped over.
"What? Where?"
"Over by the desserts"
"Three bones! It must be a sign. A SIGN! Give me your bones!" There was the sound of a scuffle but Link didn't risk glancing back as he was so close to escape.
"Get off me, you idiot!"
"We must figure out the message if we're to save ourselves! We must…" Zorran shouted feverishly.
"Shut up!"
"I'm sorry Master Romah, He's had these… "episodes" ever since the twilight invasion." Link had just slipped out the doorway when Borri's comment, casting off the guard's usual flippant meathead attitude for genuine concern, brought the hero to a halt just out of sight, surprisingly shaken.
Then Zorran's cries faded to quivering whimpers as he repeated desperately "We must… We must… we must" broken by the occasional ragged breath.
"It's alright, you're safe. They're just bones, just bones, just bones… you're safe, you're safe" Borri said with what, to Link, seemed to be an entirely foreign softness.
"No, no, no we're not safe. We must…" There was the sound of wood grating on stone, closely followed by the clatter of an armour-clad body sinking slowly to the floor.
Borri continued to comfort his friend with a confident calmness that could only be from experience and soon the whimpering died. Master Romah, from his fiery rage, had fallen inexplicably silent since Zorran's "episode" had begun. When he finally spoke, it was devoid of the rabid fury that had gripped him prior, replaced with awkward yet sincere sympathy as he enquired hesitantly. "What, err… what happened to him?"
"He was… well he's one of the only members of the guard who actually faced the shadow beasts… and came out alive and… in one piece, at least physically. Many of our friends weren't so lucky." Link's stomach lurched and he slumped heavily against the cold stone of the corridor, staring at the candlelit clock as he absorbed what he was hearing.
There was a long pause in which the only sound heard was the crackling of the fire. "I'm… sorry" the massive cook mumbled feebly.
There was another moment of emptiness broken when Borri asked "Hey, err, got anything to drink?"
"Why? you're on duty, and I took you as very by the book."
"Yeah, usually I am, but our shift is almost over, if not already finished and… drink helps to calm him down and if there's one thing we don't do in the army, it's drink alone. So… how about it?"
"Well… I can't offer you anything destined for the royal table but…" Romah paused again in consideration before releasing a huff "Ah, what the heck! I have my own private stash of premium brandy. You can have a swig of that."
"Thanks, but also do you mind putting that poker away before you have one of our eyes out or something?"
"Oh sorry" Came the gruff reply, succeeded by the cook's signature earthquake-esque rumble as he moved and disposed of his deadly weapon with a sigh.
There was more motion and Link soon picked up the creaking of a cupboard door and the chinking of glass. "Now as I said, this is high quality stuff and very hard to come by so I wont accept you two just necking it."
"Err, Thanks. We'll keep that in mind" Borri said, voice carrying a hint of wariness. "So um, what brought on this sudden change of heart, I mean, not 5 minutes ago you were raging at us, calling us both morons and brandishing a poker at us. Now you're offering us your best premium brandy. What's the deal? I mean, we didn't even find the thief for you."
There was a moment of lingering stillness punctuated by the uninterrupted chatter of the dancing flame.
When the gruff cook eventually replied it was marked with a deep heaving breath. "Let's just say that the twilight left a mark on me too, and I lost a friend too."
"Do you know anything about what actually happened with the twilight?" Borri asked.
"Not really. You?"
"No, in fact that's why Zorran's become so obsessed with the supernatural. He's been searching for answers. I don't think what he's finding is helping though. Rumour has it though that a lot of people have gotten similar ideas. Madam Safi's so called "mystic insights" have become incredibly popular since the Twilight invasion… incident… whatever you want to call it. You know, the chosen hero who was apparently responsible for saving the kingdom has joined the guard."
"So I've heard. I actually helped prepare a meal for him when he had an audience with her royal highness. He actually insisted on having his compliments relayed to the kitchen staff for our fantastic work. One of the only guests to have ever done so." Romah spoke with a swell of pride and gratitude. On hearing this, Link racked his brain to try and recall himself doing such a thing. He certainly did compliment the marvellous cooking and even the service but he never stated any particular wish for them to be passed on. Had Zelda decided to pass it on for him? But why?
His attention was brought back as Borri snorted "Really, all the times I've met him he always seemed to have a stick up his arse about something. Don't get me wrong, I respect him and I happen to believe the claims of his heroism to be largely true. He just ain't a people person. I just wonder whether he's always been like that or whether he's got his own scars from the twilight. That's why none of us at the barracks ask him about it."
Link's mind was spinning from the multitude of revelations that been uncovered by their conversation and he would have wished to continue listening, however the sound of approaching footsteps from down the corridor signalled that it was time to make a swift exit. His eye's darted to the clock and he noted, to his relief, that he still had a fair bit of time to kill before his lectures on command. He'd certainly need it, so as to properly process all the information from what he'd just witnessed.
He slipped out into the bright sunlight of the gardens, sheltering his eyes from the glare with one hand and was about to return his hat to his head when he registered the dust all over it. Time to use the fountain again! A bell was ringing in his brain screaming for his attention but as it clearly wasn't a warning bell he ignored it. He had more urgent matters to attend to.
His feet carried him across the sun-drenched lawn towards the ornamental flower garden where the dramatic water feature, depicting the Goddess Nayru, resided at its centre, encircled by a narrow grass path and hemmed in by firework displays of colour from many flower beds. The majestic stone Goddess wore a long flowing dress that billowed out allowing tiny streams of trickle down the stone folds. In one hand she held a distinctive circular harp, while the other pressed a jug to her side, tipped just far forward enough to enable the endless stream of gurgling water that cascaded into the wide pool that surrounded her.
While he could probably do with some of her wisdom right now, having just had much of his understanding of his new comrades in arms turned on its head, that wasn't what he was here for. Link dunked his dusty hat unceremoniously into the pool and splashed it round for a moment, ruminating on the conversation he'd just overheard. Watching the ripples and swirls pulsing across the surface, he began to realise that his view of the world was just as out of focus as the fractured sun bobbing on the miniature sea.
Given his own key role in the events of the Twilight, Link had never really stopped to wonder just how much the average citizen knew of the calamity and what caused it. He knew that his friends back home knew little of such things but he'd assumed it was due to them being in a remote village. Now he'd discovered that many among the citizenry had little clue as to what really occurred or why, but from the sound of it, many of them were desperate for answers, no matter how far-fetched.
In his previous acquaintances with Zorran, he had dismissed the man as a somewhat obsessive eccentric and nothing more. With his past and its scars uncovered, Link saw someone not unlike himself, lost and drowning in the same underground cavern. Then there was the friend, the only one giving him a lifeline, Borri, characterised by Link initially as a thoughtless, careless meathead who didn't give a damn about anything, except maybe the rule book. It appeared that he would need to reassess that judgement from today onwards.
Even the cook, who he'd never seen before, had managed to completely overturn his preliminary charge of being a rabid animal by the end of his encounter. Indeed, could his erratic behaviour be explained as a parting gift from the twilight too. It seemed all too neat for three people all damaged by the horrific events would all happen upon one another, however it left him with only three possible conclusions to draw from it. Either he was seeing connections where there were none, he'd just witnessed a truly miraculous coincidence, or the twilight left its mark on countless more people than he'd ever considered. For all his desire to help those who suffer, how could he be so blind as to miss the signs of so many tormented souls, especially given his affinity for finding souls, spirits and what have you. Had he been so fixated on his own demons that he'd completely missed the wood for the trees?
Link scowled at his distorted reflection, which returned it, twisted and contemptable, appearing much older with sunken eyes and wrinkles pervading gaunt cheeks. The vision of a faded world-weary warrior who's lost any sense of joy or caring. A man with a whole forests worth of sticks up his arse. Was that to be his future?!
NO! He refused to accept such a fate. He removed his hat from the water and began wringing it vigorously, as if trying to squeeze the negative thoughts from his mind. He WAS going to find joy again! He WAS going to make the most of his new life and he WAS going to help as many in need as possible… including the Princess!
The bell that had been constantly ringing since he emerged into the green outdoors suddenly made sense. Among the concoction of floral fragrances that drifted to his highly sensitive nose, was a unique perfume that, while different from the one he'd previously known her to wear, was unmistakably Zelda. She was here!
It should have been obvious given that Dezalleena had carried a strong trace of it, yet possessed a strange metallic overtone to her scent that the princess lacked. There was no mistaking her scent though, even with a different perfume.
If his nose was right with its directions then it would seem that the rumours were true. She really did enjoy spending her time hidden away among the green alcoves of the maze. Hunting her down within the leafy labyrinth would be a cinch and he could finally, hopefully, get some answers.
He was about to set off when, glancing at his reflection again he was suddenly struck by a pang of self-consciousness as he registered the dust and cobwebs remaining in his hair. It would be practically a crime to meet the princess with that dirty mop. After a minute's furious raking and scrubbing that produced little effect other than to make his hair look like a porcupine that's been sat on, he was left with just two choices; leave his hair as the cobweb filled mess that it was, or dunk his head in the pool and accept whatever monstrosity emerged. With all the deliberation of a drunkard offered a lifetime free tab, Link plumped for the latter, as wet hair was likely the less of the two evils. It wasn't like she'd never seen him looking stupid before.
The result, as he pulled his head from the water, wasn't half as bad as he had envisioned, certainly not laugh inducing. It was somewhat dishevelled but that was an inevitable conclusion, and it was miles from what he now simply referred to as "The Bernard". His hat was unfortunately unwearable as it was still damp but his appearance was at least passable… if the princess even cared. His earlier worries began to resurface and lurking gremlins of apprehension awoke from their slumber to test his resolve. Would she welcome him or cast him off?
There was only one way of finding out, and he wasn't going to let this worry shackle him like his other demons. Whether or not their brief friendship would live on or die out, he would know sooner rather than later.
Trusting his nose, Link marched with determination into the maze with absolute confidence that this royal amusement would be a cakewalk. Confidence soon evaporated, supplanted by growing frustration as he met with naught but dead ends, colourful blooms, and statues, many of whom seemed to have forgotten the majority of their clothing. He had been trying to gain access to the mazes centre, where his nose insisted the princess was, however he was thwarted at every turn. Having apologised for baring witness to yet another nubile maid's bare breast and wondering how such uptight nobility even tolerated such obscenity within castle grounds, he found himself fixated on the nipple… and not for the reason most would think. He was a man of principle after all. He knew that spending his time staring at watermelons was both improper and impractical, regardless of many soldiers who professed how fun it could be… a sentiment that he'd probably end up having to agree with… once he caught a glimpse of the real thing. Anyway, he was getting slightly off topic! Back to the statue's suspicious nipple.
Link surveyed the immediate area to double check his hunch. He was as close to the seemingly closed off inner sanctum of the centre as he'd been able to get, with a section of stone wall, unique to this particular spot, separating him from his target. Behind him was nothing but winding pathways, while ahead stood the lewd stone maid with the poorly positioned robe with the wall next to it. Another examination of the nipple confirmed that he hadn't been imagining what looked like a heat haze rising from what should be cool stonework. He reached out to touch it, tentative in his approach, partly for the risk of being burnt and partly due to the crudeness of such an action.
He pressed the nipple… and waited.
He was about to lambast himself for being an idiot when a low rumble caught his attention and the wall shifted, creating a small opening, not wide enough for a proper doorway, but just enough for a single person to fit through. Link slipped through the gap, which closed up again the instant he was safely on the other side.
Before he could ponder whether the door would have closed with him still in it, he was greeted by a familiar bell-like voice to his left, calm yet ringing with genuine joy at his presence. "Link, what a pleasure to see you!"
Link cast a brief eye across his surroundings before turning his gaze to her direction. The secluded sanctum, almost a perfect square in shape, was bordered by various displays of rare and delicate orchids, along with more standard but no less attractive flowers such as roses, while the centre was marked with a smaller version of the fountain in the ornamental garden. A lone cherry tree, the only in the garden, stood guard in a corner, its branches hanging protectively over a small bench next to it, it's delicate pink blossoms in full bloom, creating a blanket of dappled sunlight beneath. It would seem that the princess had taken to feeding the birds, as in front of the bench a multitude of small songbirds squabbled over scraps of unidentifiable food.
The princess herself sat, demure and elegant as ever, a book resting on her lap as she met his gaze with her classic veiled smile, yet he noticed, rather pleasingly, that she was having to restrain it, guessing by the corners of her lips twitching almost imperceptibly skywards. Something, however, was off about her image. Not in a negative way, just different. It did nothing to detract from her beauty, indeed these changes combined with the dappled light through the cherry blossom only served to enhance it. Gone were the braids that had always framed her face, instead joining the rest of her luscious locks flowing down her back with, he presumed, her characteristic braided end to keep it sleek and controlled. This, of course, exposed the full extent of her slender neck and her long pointy ears that were decorated with intricate earrings sparkling with pink rubies and diamonds. Her lips also been painted a lighter shade of pink and although it could have been a trick of the light, he could swear that her cheeks had been given a more prominent dash of rogue.
Her outfit, while in general concept the same as always, also reflected this theme of pink with it replacing the usual lavender on her dress, her white skirts and gloves remaining. The classic gold pauldrons had also substituted for smaller more intricate ones. These changes, united with the charmingly intimate sanctuary and the birds at her feet, all culminated in the quintessential image of your classic fairy tale princess; delicate, graceful and unapologetically feminine.
"Link is something wrong?" The fairy tale vision asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Oh goddesses, had he just been gawking?! "Ah, err… no your highness, not at all. Not at all. I was just surprised, you look… different." Link quickly recognised the wrinkling of her nose at his use of her title
"Hmm, so a simple change of outfits enough to render you speechless?" Zelda's eyes twinkled.
"Well no, it's just… not what I was expecting."
"and what DID you expect?"
Damn it. Of course that would be her response! With Zelda's continued coyness threatening to capsize the conversation before it even left harbour, Link had no choice but to face potentially turbulent waters with blunt honesty… within reason of course. "To be honest, I simply never envisioned you choosing something so…" He paused trying to think of something other than girly or feminine, both of which could be taken as criticism. Failing to find an alternative he went for what he deemed the less insulting. "… Feminine. Not to say that your other outfit wasn't feminine, but it had a sort of… sort of…"
"Regal strength?" Zelda suggested helpfully.
"yes that, where as your current appearance conjures up thoughts of a princess from old fairy tales. A damsel in distress who waits in a tower for a knight in shine armour to rescue her…"
"Well I did wait in a tower and was rescued by a dashing hero." the princess interjected wryly.
Link fought to keep the heat from his cheeks at the dashing hero tease and tried to set the subject back on track. "The point I'm trying to make is that I'd expect, given my experience of the nobles, that would be the last impression you'd wish to give them. You know, the whole "sensitive sensibilities" schtick. I mean…" He tailed off at the sight of her expression.
There was a pause as Zelda regarded him with a lopsided smirk and the "dashing" hero was suddenly worried he'd just placed his head in the dragon's mouth. Fortunately, the charming twinkle remained in her sapphire eyes.
"Oh courteous hero, I am touched by your concern for my image and admire such an astute observation from one not versed in politics, however there are two things you fail to consider. Firstly, the majority of the court have known me since I was young and have already formed their opinions of me, which are unlikely to change regardless of my choice of attire, and those who's do, aren't the type worth associating oneself with. Secondly but far more importantly, I may be a princess but I am also a lady who relishes in fine and unashamedly feminine fashion, and I will not relinquish such joys to save face in front of some pompous backwards aristocrats. I will naturally compromise for official state events or visits from foreign dignitaries and I would not besmirch the name of practicality should the situation require it, however contrary to some ladies who live under the delusion that aping men is the only way to be seen equal, I much prefer a dress to trousers and do not frown on riding side saddle!"
There was the briefest of pauses as she released her frown that had built up over the course of her little rant, ardent yet dignified as only she could pull off. "Oh, I apologise, I've somewhat drifted from the topic at hand. Not two hours ago, I was caught in an intense debate with a certain single-minded captain of the guard, and I fear I did not have the chance to state my case adequately. Needless to say, the sole opinions I truly value when it comes to my appearance are those of my friends, so… what do you think?"
Link found himself once again floored by the princess's capability to succinctly bullseye every possible question he could think of. He was so swept up by Zelda's speech, in fact, that it took him a few seconds to register that he was expected to answer. The question was how?
He had little to no experience when it came to complimenting ladies on their looks and as a result his vocabulary in that regard could be said to be drier than a priest's throat at an ale house. He had just three words that sprung readily to mind; pretty, beautiful and gorgeous. Pretty didn't seem to do her justice, while gorgeous made it sound like he was coming on too strong… Coming on too strong?! Why did his bloody brain have to settle on that phrase! it's not like he has any actual thoughts of courting her.
Beautiful was the blandest and arguably safest option, and yet was also very fitting. The princess was undeniably beautiful. It was a well-known fact, some might say Indisputable even.
"Well I err, I think you look… beautiful… although I have the strangest feeling that pink would suit you even better with blonde hair." Link was shocked by his own boldness, though he braced himself for reprisal.
"Hmmm, an interesting proposal. I may have to test that theory with an illusion spell at some time. You did seem rather cautious in your compliment, if you do not mind me saying. Why? I value your honesty Link. It's something I get to experience so rarely. Please don't discard it."
"No Zelda, I meant what I said. I just wasn't sure whether you'd bring up some rule that man can only compliment a lady if they're courting them."
"Ah, I see. You were trying to avoid another accidental marriage proposal." The princess chuckled. "Well rest assured, you will not be forcibly marched to the altar for complimenting me. I greatly appreciate your compliment, though I would advise you to work on your delivery for when you do start courting a lady. Also, many men, as far as I've experienced, lack any variety in their flattery. Widen your vocabulary and women will flock to you, just like these birds."
Was the royal princess of Hyrule just giving him courting advice?! As if this day couldn't get any more bizarre. Link held back his incredibly dour response that he doubted he'd ever get a chance with the right lady, instead opting for a simple nod in reply.
Zelda began to shuffle along the bench towards the blossoming cherry tree before patting the space next to her. "Come Link, sit with me and let us dispense with such frivolous things and we can discuss what really matters, namely, how are you settling in to life at the castle?"
He knew better by now than to argue with her command. There was probably even a paragraph in the guard handbook that such an act was a dismissible offence so he complied, albeit in a slightly bashful manner, tiptoeing round the birds still feeding and planting himself on the other end of the bench leaving space for a third possible sitter, even Lord Halshaw, to slip between them.
Zelda shook her head and tutted. "Link, am I really that terrifying? Not but a moment ago you called me beautiful. We are alone and I will not be scoring you for court etiquette, indeed if I see any I'll be deducting points from your friend score." Her quip, while trying to be jovial, carried a tinge of annoyance and hurt.
Link shuffled to within arm's reach and then stopped, hoping this would be enough to earn her approval. "Better" Zelda spoke, seemingly satisfied. "So…" she began only for her gaze to drift up to his hair, still damp from it's earlier wash. "Actually, before we leave the topic of appearances behind, where is your hat and what happened to your hair?"
Of course she would notice! How could he answer and not arouse further curiosity from the princess? Surprisingly the perfect response sprang to mind, a rare spark of wit during the conversation itself, rather than the usual routine of arriving just after the moment slipped by. "Well I was on guard duty so long I started collecting cobwebs, however I doubt the court would approve of me naked so I simply dusted off my tunic and gave my hair and hat a wash."
Zelda tittered with amusement even as she eyed him dubiously. "Then please explain how you came to be here if you had to wash. Not that I am displeased with your company, quite the opposite in fact, but the barracks is on the other side of the castle and I was not aware of any duty on your schedule that would bring you to this area. Moreover, I'm rather curious as to how you managed to find me?"
"I have my ways" Link replied, giving his best attempt at being enigmatic and mysterious. It took a few seconds for him to pick up the full implication of her words, but when they finally clicked He couldn't resist blurting in surprise. "Wait, you know my schedule?!"
"Naturally, I wanted to see how you were getting on and had hoped to find an opportunity to meet you sooner. Alas both my work and the council conspired to prevent that from happening and given your coyness to answer my question, I can thank only fate for the fortune of this miraculous rendezvous."
"So, you've actually been trying to meet me? You're not mad at me?"
Zelda seemed genuinely thrown by such a suggestion. "Mad… why would I be mad at you Link? How could I be mad at you?" she said, utterly bewildered. "If anything, I was worried that you would resent me?"
This left Link just as befuddled as he'd left the princess. "W…What? Why?!" he exclaimed, louder than intended.
"Because I have brought you into a life away from all you know. One of rigidity, monotony and ceaseless duty, surrounded by strangers, many with less than noble backgrounds or intents and trapped in a castle that, to a man like you, could feel like a prison." Zelda turned her gaze to the last bird cleaning up the final scraps of whatever they'd been feeding on and he visibly caught her shoulders slumping.
Silence fell as Link absorbed this confession. As the moment dragged on the princess began to pick at her fine white gloves. This wouldn't do at all. He wasn't about to leave Zelda feeling guilty. "Now let me make one thing perfectly clear princess. I made this choice of my own accord and you weren't shy about what I was getting into, so if anyone deserves the blame for it, that would be me. My choice, my responsibility and to be honest, while these first weeks have been bumpy, I do not regret my decision. In fact, to answer your earlier question I'm settling in very well, thank you." To say he was settling in "very well" may have been exaggerating but if it helped cheer her up, a little white lie wouldn't hurt.
"it's kind of you to say that, but it has not yet been a month. In time that may change. I fear that… in a rare moment of weakness I may have applied undue pressure on you to accept the position."
What undue pressure could she possibly be referring to? Her collapse?! Surely, she couldn't be blaming herself for that?! "Zelda, that's not your fault, if anything it's on me for giving you that letter."
Zelda's eyes, wide with confusion, shot up to meet his. "Pardon? No, no Link, I'm grateful to you for delivering it… wait, why would that effect your decision?"
"I was worried about you and from your farewell speech you made it sound like should I reject I would never see you again. I had to be sure you were alright."
"So, you threw away your old life of freedom and a chance at potential happiness simply to check up on me?!" The Princess was aghast.
"Hey, you had just almost fainted and you would have done, had I not caught you in my arms, which by the way, makes that the second time in three days I had to save you from falling! Besides, I never said that was the main reason I took the job. In truth, I'd been turning over what you'd said to me on that moonlight night outside my house, that I was no longer who I once was, and I couldn't deny it. That life had lost its joy. I needed a purpose, a duty and that is exactly what you offered me…" Link realised he'd already said more than he'd intended but decided he might as well finish, as the thought of her feeling guilty for this was unbearable and would likely lead him to the same. "I'm not saying I had no doubts or reservations, but in the end, I decided that perhaps a little more rigidity and order was what I needed."
Zelda still looked reserved as though she wished to dig deeper, so Link resorted to a flattering little white lie, well at least he told himself it was a lie, to hopefully put the matter to rest. "If you had any further influence on my decision, it was only in the chance to see you again… without having to breaking into the castle, of course. Not to check up on you, just to meet with you, a good friend. I'd call that quite the bonus."
Even the rouge already painted on her cheeks couldn't entirely conceal the fresh layer of pink added by his final comment and for a second her smile was almost bashful, before her veil reasserted itself. Nevertheless, the hero could count his reassurance as a success and his heart lightened at the thought as well as the knowledge that his previous worries of her potential ire were entirely unfounded.
After a minute composing herself, with nothing but the trickling of the fountain and the buzzing of bees as their soundscape, the dappled sunlight flickering on her gold and sapphire circlet, Zelda found her voice again. "Thank you Link, that's… one of the kindest things anyone's ever said to me."
She reached out her gloved hand and placed it on his, resting next him on the bench, and Link could swear a bolt of lightning had just leapt up his arm and set fire to his face. It was certainly burning bright red and unlike the princess, he had nothing to hide it. The luminous glow of happiness from her eyes was enough to blind him and to save his brain from melting, he turned to the fountain.
The seconds passed and contact was broken, the princess following his example and admiring the dancing reflection of the sun on the surface of the fountain. There was both a sense of déjà vu and a strangely comforting familiarity to the situation. The scenery may have been different but it reminded him of the moment of peace they'd shared that moonlight night, admiring the view… just before she'd passed out and almost fallen off the ledge. Link shot a glance across at her just to double check he wouldn't need to save her again. Fortunately, she was still very much conscious.
The strange familiarity he felt though, as if this scenario had been played out many times prior, lost in faded memories that aren't truly his, dogged and yet somehow consoled him. He watched the main water flow from the fountain, reflecting on all that had happened and wondering whether to let this peace continue or risk breaking it with the mystery that's concerned him ever since their last meeting.
"Princess…" He began with some resignation "you asked me earlier why I thought you might be mad at me…" blue orbs dashed from the rippling surface and anchored their attention upon his face. "well it's related to that letter…"
"Link, I've already…" the young royal tried to interject but Link didn't let her.
"I know, Zelda, I know now. You're not mad at me, at least not for me giving it to you. That doesn't change the fact though that you collapsed, and don't brush me off with the same excuse you used with Basil. You… you had me really worried Zelda."
"I appreciate your concern but it is nothing for you to threat over. I am fine."
"It was the letter though, wasn't it?"
The princess nodded, her countenance losing the glow that had been so bright, until he'd chosen to dig too deep into a matter that was probably none of his business. "It brought back some painful memories." Zelda spoke, voice hushed with sombre sorrow but also something else beneath.
"I… I'm sorry princess. I shouldn't have brought it up. Let's…" Link's apology was cut short with a piercing look from Zelda.
"No Link, I told you before that sharing can be the first step to healing past wounds. Well this is something I have never shared. It was never the right time, never the right person. I believe that now is perhaps… the right time and… you are the right person."
Link was stunned. How could she have such faith in him when she knew him so little. "Princess, I… I don't know what to say."
"Well then I'll do the talking." Zelda said with a rueful smile. "One thing I ask of you, dear hero, is promise me that whatever I say here… it stays between us."
"You have my word…" His answer was as reassuring and sincere as he could ever hope to be, but in an effort to lift the mood he couldn't resist added "Of course, if that's not enough for you, you could always through in a potential charge of treason for a little extra motivation."
Zelda responded with a half-hearted chuckle "I'm sure that will not be necessary but I'll keep it in mind for the future." His lame quip did little to elevate her spirits, her eyes down cast.
"Zelda, you can count on me… I'm not one to talk" Link tried once more to reassure her.
Her gaze rose up to meet him and he knew instantly that his message had gotten through by the warmth emanating from it. "I know… and thank you."
"You're welcome. I may not be wise like you but I know the value of trust and could not forgive myself for losing yours. Besides I've considered all our meetings to be just between us. You know… confi… confi… oh what is that word, I can't remember"
"Confidential, Link. hmm, wisdom comes in many forms and I think you'll find you are more knowledgeable than you realise." Zelda paused and took a deep calming breath as her brows descended, weighed down with sombre resignation. "Now I believe I offered you some explanation of my collapse and the letter you gave me. The letter told me Alfonzo had met you directly and asked for you to deliver it. Did he offer any explanation of his intentions, or hints as to its contents?"
Link was perplexed? Was she asking simply to clarify how much he knew or was she looking to see whether he'd practiced… what did his instructor call it… due diligence? Had the seemingly jovial old man had a sinister agenda? The possibility that he'd allowed such a thing turned his stomach, but all he could do was answer her honestly. "No, in fact he made me promise not to read it, as he said it was personal, for you and you alone. The one thing he did tell me was that he'd tried to send you others before but he never received a reply."
"Did he tell you who he was? Who he was to ME?"
"Well he said he was a member of the royal guard up until about ten years ago and that he was close to you and your father."
"He was more than close. I called him Uncle Fonz' and he called me Zelly." A mist fell over her gaze as she spoke and she turned back to the fountain as she continued. "My father saw him as a brother and treated him as such, at least in private. This was not well received by the courts, though I was too young to comprehend the petty and despicable reasoning behind it at the time. Nothing came of it, however, as no one defy my father. I knew father's tremendous kindness but the court knew his temper. Things were peaceful… happy."
She bit her lip "and then… It all fell apart… two days after my tenth birthday, my father fell ill, and so began, what I foolishly told myself, aged seventeen, was the longest month of my life." With a click of the tongue she shook her head ruefully, muttering, more to herself than to him. "Oh how little I knew of the torment that was yet to come." She took another steadying breath, her tone remarkably placid, yet unable to completely conceal the pain that lurked beneath. "In that month I watched my father, once so healthful and bold, fade with each passing day until, after twenty-nine days of suffering, he passed away in the night. I'd never known my mother. She'd passed from my birth. I had no other blood relatives but my parents. By age ten I had lost all my blood family. All I had left was my surrogates and it seemed fate was conspiring to wrench them from me too."
Link knew what was coming next… or at least he thought he did.
"A month after my father's passing, a week after his funeral, Alfonzo was sent off as part of a scouting party to patrol the northern border. The following week I was informed by a droning near-sighted courtier that Cpt. Alfonzo had "made a true sacrifice for the safety of the kingdom" of which I… should be proud." Bitterness oozed from her last words as she spat them like molten missiles from the mouth of a volcano.
Shock bypassed his rational brain and Link blurted "Wait what?! Then who did I meet at…"
"Oh, you met the real Alfonzo and indeed I believe he already gave you the true story. A little girl, however, was sold a lie. Three "noble" council members decided to tell a little girl who'd just lost her father, that the only other soul she'd called family had perished… and why?!" Zelda give a derisive laugh. "to save me the distress of concerning myself with a delicate but necessary decision, made for the sake of my standing, but which I wouldn't understand!"
Zelda's jaw and hands clenched as she continued, somehow capable of maintaining her flow and restraining her voice as she ranted with ever increasing momentum. "They spared no expense supporting their fiction, going so far as to grant him a hero's funeral, a month after my father's! I had lost everyone I held dear, with the one exception of my nursemaid but even she was moved on within a year for "not supplying sufficient focus to my education", an absurd notion. Even long after the council had forgotten about their narrative of Alfonzo, the fallen hero, simply neglecting to pay a groundsman enough to tend to his grave, I was there trying to keep his memory alive. I spent ten years tending the grave of a man who was still alive. It must have been such a joke to them. The stupid gullible little princess, visiting an empty monument to a fable! Then, a decade later, I finally discover the deception, not through my own intelligence, but due to extraordinary cosmic coincidence that you happened to meet the man at Telma's bar and agreed, out of the kindness of your heart, to trust this stranger to deliver his letter. An understated letter, that spoke so little of his own plight, instead showing the same unwavering caring and compassion that he had always given me, his primary concern my safety. As I wasted my days preserving a meaningless shrine to the duplicity and pettiness of the elite, my ever faithful and loving Uncle was forced to endure ten years of poverty and misery, and all because I let childhood grief blind me. What would father have thought."
The princess fell silent, hanging her head, her circlet that had shone like a halo in the afternoons dappled rays, no longer catching the light. The last of the birds had departed leaving just the bees and the miniature goddess to keep them company. Her eyes were slammed shut as he chest rose and fell in a slow and laboured fashion as she tried to find her calm. Link watched as the usually confident young royal shrank into herself, gathering her hands into her lap, her fingers weaving together in attempted consolation, as her shoulders sagged beneath years of pain, much of which he suspected remained unexpressed, and the inescapable weight of her responsibilities. His heart bled for her and his mind was a maelstrom, whirling as he struggled to comprehend the full implications of her tragic tale. The emotions he'd seen embedded in her gaze when she'd collapsed all made sense and yet this entire conversation had only served to raise even more questions.
That was all pushed aside as the same inexplicable feral instinct to protect her tugged hard on his thoughts, and insisted with untameable fervour to do something, anything to try and bring her some sense of comfort. So strong was this urge that he found himself considering embracing Zelda, although that idea was quickly quashed by fears of how she'd react. He deliberated a gentle hand resting on her shoulder however they were already weighed down with her pain and her pauldrons. He didn't want to place more pressure on her burdened shoulders and he wondered whether she'd even notice his touch through the ornate gold armour.
As the mournful atmosphere appeared to possess the tree above, making it sink over their heads, Link decided to act. He reached out and rested a hand calmly against her bare arm just below the pauldron. He considered relinquishing when it was met with a shiver, but kept it in place as there was no recoil from it. Instead she moved into it gently and she turned to look upon him, her eyes moist yet lacking any tears. Perhaps she had shed them all long ago. His own connected with hers and he endeavoured to convey his sympathies and promise her that she was not alone. But a look would not be enough. He had to find the words, and as his brain was rather behind, his heart would have to suffice.
"Zelda, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what it must have been like to suffer through that and I would not wish to… I may never truly understand what you went through and I cannot change the past but know that if there's anything I can do to help ease your burdens, anything at all, then all you have to do is ask… When we talked that night outside my house, you said you'd help me, but you never asked me for anything in return. Well, as a friend, I can tell you I refuse that deal… because… because if you're gonna help me, there's no way I'm not returning the favour! And let me start by telling you… you shouldn't blame yourself! You were just a child, a child that was lied to by cowardly snakes… and to think I'd considered apologising to that prick Halshaw…"
Link may not have been an oratorical master, but with each ardent appeal, no matter how bungled in delivery, the glow that had graced the princess, until he'd fatefully chosen to pry, returned anew and slightly more vibrant. By the time he'd started to lose steam, the sweet subtle quirk of her lips had reappeared along with her prim princessly posture complete with shining gold halo. The rejuvenation of the young confident lady he knew was miraculous, however there remained a trace of the bitterness of her rant in her voice as she interrupted. "Link, words cannot express how much I appreciate your sentiments and admire your earnestness truly, however I must correct you on your last statement, if for no other reason than to save a prick from being strangled and a hero from being manacled. As despicable as Lord Halshaw has become, he wasn't involved in that particular deception. I have already demonstrated a small slice of my father's legendary temper in addressing the perpetrators, and have left them in no doubt where they stand. It's just unfortunate there was no particular law they had broken that could allow me to imprison them."
"Really, after that. But you're the princess! Surely you can…"
"Being royal doesn't give you free license to imprison whoever you wish, or at least, it hasn't for the last two hundred years. A law must be proven to have been broken for me to pass a sentence and I, unlike them, am not so conniving and despicable as to frame them for something. Be careful Link, for there are many slimy creatures that ooze their way around the castle and the court in particular. Not that all among the ranks of the court and the council are so treacherous but as a general rule; never apologise to a noble. Those who deserve one will not require it or if they do, will at least give a fair trial, while those who don't deserve one will skip the trial and move straight to the execution."
"So where does Lord Halshaw rank between those?"
"Would it shock you to know that, until roughly three years ago when he sank into a bottle of gin, I would have described the man as my most amicable adversary. We've rarely ever seen eye to eye, however he did actually show me a modicum of respect. That all changed when some unknown catalyst drove him to drink and he began a steady descent to becoming what he is now, a pitiable man, but not worthy of such courtesies as apologies. He did, after all, try to smear both of our reputations and use the threat of scandal to try and leverage power over me, regarding those with whom I choose to acquaint myself."
"What was his problem with me though?! Was it really my low social status? my poor etiquette? My…"
"No, Link, not that he approves of your humble roots, however, the main reason why he attacked you when we met at Ordon, why he tried to slander both of us, is the same reason Alfonzo was sent away. Many on the council see any connections I have, that cannot be controlled by them, to be a threat. Halshaw saw our connection and sought to sever it. His criticisms were simply pretence. His hope was likely to goad you into hitting him, so as to then paint you as violent and therefore, unsuitable for me to associate with. Luckily you didn't buckle and with your new position and a few good words from me and my network, your reputation is stable. Thus, those who play against me have taken a different tack, and have been pulling the strings to engineer our schedules so that we never cross paths."
This avalanche of revelations left Link's mind reeling for the nth time in so many hours, his cranium working overtime to compile an inquisition to untangle his befuddlement. From the intimations of her news, it would seem that he was already wrapped in a web of courtly intrigue without even realising. It would go some way to explaining his less than practical guard postings and his oddly sporadic timetable while many of his fellow soldiers had a pretty solid, unchanging routine each week. This dynamite discovery threatened to blow away any feelings of being comfortable at his new home and he began to wonder whether the princess was right and that he would soon live to regret his decision. He was fine protecting himself with prowess in combat with sword and shield, but a war of words, deception and manipulation couldn't be further from his forte.
Yet Zelda had just said that his reputation was stable, partly due his position but also with "a few good words from me and my network", a line that came as both support and enigma. Had she been constructing some manner of protection for him, without his knowledge. If so he'd have to add that to the pile of things to thank her for. Speaking of thanks…
"Zelda, did you tell the cooks that I'd insisted on thanking them for the meal after our meeting?"
"Yes, your glowing reviews of their culinary creations were numerous enough that I felt justified in extending them to the staff and a little positivity can go a long way. I simply decided to… stretch the truth slightly to boost your reputation among the staff. It always pays to be on good terms regardless of station, and the more goodwill you have with anyone in the court the less mud flung by unscrupulous individuals is likely to stick."
"Well then I thank you for looking out for me and my reputation."
"Don't mention it Link. After all, did I not say that I would protect you back at Ordon?"
"Yeah but I'm not really used to it. I've always been the one protecting people. It just feels weird… with the shoe on the other foot. I mean if someone comes at me with a sword I know what to do, but words… words have never been my strength. I came into this job thinking I was the protector, not the protectee. It seems all my arrival has done is add to your workload princess."
"Oh Link, you have done far more for me than you realise, not least releasing me from a toxic lie and reuniting me with long lost family among many other things."
"That wasn't really my… wait, so you've met Alfonzo since…"
"Absolutely, upon recovering from the shock and composing myself, shortly after Ashei showed you out, I commanded her to then return and escort me to Telma's bar, without informing the council. They had, after all, banned me from visiting it following just two meetings with the resistance, on accounting that "it was unsafe". Now of course, I know the real reason. It turns out that they had been keeping tabs on Alfonzo and they wished to avoid any chances of us running into one another. Clearly their spy had relayed my arrival back to them as they had already prepared their defence, no matter how flimsy…" The Princess, detecting the return of her earlier dour bitterness, swiftly and seamlessly made an about face to more cheery subjects, with just the briefest of dips of the brows to mark her momentary annoyance. "Nevertheless, they couldn't stop me in my quest and to my great fortune he was still there. Our reunion was… emotional. He has changed so much, yet so little…"
There was a brief pause as the Princess contemplated whether to elaborate as to the details, but again she swerved into another related topic. "It was also a pleasure to see Telma again. Such a spirited woman, particularly now that she's engaged. Incidentally, she wished for me to relay to you her invitation to her wedding day, just as she invited me. She also asked that I make it clear that she expects you to attend, that she will accept absolutely no excuses and that she will expect you to bring, in your company, a date."
Oh goddesses! Links eyes glazed over in horror. He did not get on well with big parties and celebration and the thought of requiring a companion of the attractive female variety had his stomach turning like a waterwheel in a downpour. How could he find a date? His duties as a soldier certainly gave very few opportunities to fraternise with the fairer sex and his wooing skills were greener than the hedges that currently surrounded him. Who did he know who fitted into that category who would ever consider him as a suitable beau? He ran through his list of female and friends and acquaintances in his head.
There was Ashei, of course, but she had already given the characteristics of her dream guy and while he met her base level qualification of being able to best her in combat, he fell rather short, no pun intended, in her other desired traits; tall, confident and cocky yet with a sensitive side. Personally, Link felt she was setting herself up to be disappointed, on multiple fronts, given only two men had ever beaten her, one being himself, who was much too short for her tastes, the other being a mystery man who, while certainly fulfilling the height and cockiness, had been described in her own words as being "giving arseholes a bad name!"
There was Neela, Zelda's ever cheery handmaiden, but her overly peppy demeanour and endless mile-a-minute chit-chat, bearable, even smile inducing in small doses would soon drive him to madness if he had to spend an entire evening exposed to it. Fellow handmaiden Dezalleena was most definitely out of the question, with the antics he'd bore witness to earlier.
Ilia was beyond consideration too. That left him with vague acquaintances he'd met on his adventures or servant girls at the castle. He supposed, particularly as she was the one who'd invited him with such demands, he could take up Telma's offer to introduce him to one of the three T's, as she referred to them.
"Oh, I think we know who Telma would much prefer you to date." Came a devious little whisper from inside his head. Not you again! Never the less this rogue element seemed to hijack his brain, directing his gaze to the epitome of elegance, beauty and wisdom that sat beside him, demurely smiling at him awaiting a reply.
He found himself once again taking in every aspect of her profile from the flawless ivory skin of her slender neck moving up through the rouge of her soft cheeks to the tips of her pointy ears and as his eyes met her sapphire blues he was suddenly struck be the bewildering sensation of being drawn into them by some unstoppable force. "There's no denying, all others pale in comparison to her."
The spell was broken as he blinked and registered her expression as she peered at him questioningly, with one eyebrow quirked in amusement. Had he just been gawking again? What was wrong with him?
Link fast found himself performing his know familiar impression of a tomato-fish hybrid, prompting a wonderfully melodious laugh from Zelda. "Do not worry Link, the wedding is not for another nine months, plenty of time to find a suitably beautiful young lady to match your fine features. I'm sure if you just let it be known that you seek a belle for the ball, then I'm sure you'll have most of Hyrule's eligible ladies throwing themselves at you."
Spluttering like a clogged up waterpipe, he fumbled for a worthy riposte to her obvious yet nevertheless devastating teasing. Fortune mercifully intervened a few seconds later with the ringing of a bell, not just in his mind this time, signalling the hour, which happened to mean that he had just five minutes to get back to barracks if he didn't want to be late.
Despite saving him from his embarrassment, Link couldn't help but berate fate for yet again bringing another conversation with Zelda to a premature close. She had answered much, yet that only opened up a multitude more questions. Frustratingly they would all have to wait as all he had time for was an apology for his abrupt departure.
He was about to bolt to his feet when he realised one foot was entangled in what felt like a strap of some kind from something tucked beneath the bench, possibly a bag or satchel. It made sense since the princess had brought a book and those crumbs for the birds had to come from somewhere.
Extricating his limb from the offending accoutrement, he opened his mouth to explain his sudden retreat, hopefully without admitting defeat in the face of her teasing, but the princess beat him to it, demonstrating that she hadn't been lying about her knowledge of his schedule. "Do not apologise for leaving, Link, I know you have your duties, of which I believe your current one is getting to your command training punctually, so I will not keep you. Just know that I greatly appreciate our meeting and would hope to do so again in the not so distant future. You will always be welcome here, so please, call upon my garden sanctum again should a suitable occasion arise. Perhaps fortune will gift us another moment where you find me here, and not trapped in the castle dealing with petty nobles."
"Thank you, Princess. I too hope we can meet again soon." Link bowed and turned for the "door", only to discover that there was no discernible means of "unlocking" the heavy stone work to move it. He was about to ask when, as if in reaction to his thoughts, it rumbled open of its own accord. A quick glance back revealed, as he suspected, that it was a little magic from the princess, rather than his wishes, that powered the door.
He gave a quick nod of thanks and started for the gap only for Zelda's voice to stall him. "Oh and Hero, do not overly concern yourself with actions and opinions of the court. Keep your nose clean, avoid any direct insults and they can't touch you. Plus, you will always have my support. Remember that."
"And you have mine." He replied and promptly slipped away, the stone wall closing behind him, yet beneath its distinctive low tones he caught her whisper "I know" as he shot off to face a, likely irate captain. As he hurtled back into the main castle, barrelling down the corridors like a man possessed, he attempted to put some of his many epiphanies and revelations in order.
So, what had he discovered in the last few hours? Well, there was the fact that most of Hyrule's populace knew very little about what actually happened during the Twilight invasion or even what it really was, and that many were desperate for answers, some carrying scars similar to his own. Then there was Zelda's tragic past but just as important her willingness to share it with him, and him alone. He couldn't help feeling both honoured and confused by that.
Following that came the discovery of the games being played behind the scenes regarding him, along with the unscrupulous motivations behind them.
Finally, there was this whole business with Telma's impending wedding day and his task to find a date. Quite frankly, he probably had a better chance of becoming a master politician than wooing a damsel, particularly in just nine months. He may have improved since leaving Ordon but he still had a long way to go to consider himself worthy of courting any lady.
"Oh, and we've learnt you have a little crush on Zelda" Midna's voice sailed merrily into his mind.
Link who had been in the process of making particularly tight turn, almost crashed into in strategically placed suit of armour as he skidded to a halt in shock. He looked up to see mischief's impish avatar smirking down at him.
"Come on, don't deny it! it certainly fits the diagnosis." The imp chimed seeming to enjoy this revelation far too much.
Link wished to argue… but he couldn't. The diagnosis certainly fitted what he knew about crushes.
"Add that to the list of discoveries and move on" his rational mind coaxed and, after a moment's flustered pacing, he set off for the barracks once more, reassuring himself of its utter triviality.
"I mean… It's just a crush right… give it a month or two and it will fade away… that's what crushes do…" Realising his stupidity at being so shaken by such banal problem, he laughed "It's not like I'd be foolish enough to fall in love with her, pine over her, like in all those soppy ballads the ladies love… utterly ridiculous!"
And so it was…