A.N. Welcome back, my fabulous readers. Here I am, finally, with another chapter… another rather long – and long awaited – chapter. I hope all of you are doing well and have had a great start to 2022. Here's to hoping that this year's turns out better than the last, though my year started with yet another brand-new health problem; an infection that was a literal pain in the butt – Aren't I lucky!
Anyway, enough about me. I'm sure your eager to find out what Link and Zelda have gotten up to in the meantime.
As always, your reviews and feedback are very much appreciated. Keep them coming. Thank you all and I hope you enjoy this latest instalment.
And now…
Maestro!
On with the story!
Chapter 31 – Spring Gifts
It was almost four o'clock and the Autumn sun was already well into its descent. Clouds, little more than thin brushstrokes, chased its golden riches, streaking high across the deepening azure. The light, so glaring a mere hour ago, had already softened and the shadows were lengthening rapidly – much to the hero's disappointment.
The race had concluded well over an hour prior, with the hero and princess driving the packed stands into a frenzy by crossing the finish line in perfect synchronicity – almost as if they intended it. That alone was enough to set tongues wagging but proved nothing compared to Link's next acts.
"Brainless! Utterly brainless!" he still silently berated himself.
Oh, what a mess it had been; orchestrated by the treacherous duo of youth and heart – he couldn't think of a more dangerous combination. Nevertheless, he'd dropped his guard.
He'd kept his head with Zelda in the meadow; Ignored her teasing as they'd switch horses once more and stayed cool on the final straight but, unbeknownst to him, the duo had been conspiring. On crossing the finish line, welcomed by the earth-shaking adulation of the passionate crowd, the duo sprang into action. Youth began a relentless campaign, encouraging him to embrace the applause and adoration, sincerely and without guilt. Heart, meanwhile, sought to sow the seeds of hope for his doomed romance with Zelda, dragging his eyes between the adoring crowd and Her Highness, as if to say "See! You arrived together and they love it."
Drunk on the heady concoction of joy, pride and hope they fed him, he'd foolishly relented to their pleas to loosen their leashes. The devious duo, emboldened by their success in hoodwinking their guardians – namely rationality, decency and self-control – had immediately set about testing the boundaries of their new found liberation.
It had started out innocently enough; waving enthusiastically and gorging gluttonously on the adulation and joy emanating from the crowd; face daring to burn, not with humility, but with pride. Such things, while "unnatural" to him, were relatively safe and innocuous – if somewhat immodest in his opinion.
Where the line between innocuous and reckless was crossed however was heart's decision to involve Zelda; sharing a beaming unfettered smile with her in front of not just the crowd but. above them, practically the entire noble court. His improper impetuousness had broken the princess's veil, forcing her to beam too, in front of the whole court! That was surely an egregious crime, yet his heart had dared to go even further; lavishing her with not one but two compliments – one of which could have been construed as praise of her looks! The sole crumb of comfort he had was that it had hopefully been swept away among the raucous cheers without reaching her delicate ears; lost to everyone but himself and his own shamelessness. Certainly, she had shown no signs of catching it. He could but pray that was true.
Even now though, just thinking about what he'd said, his cheeks stubbornly refused to blush in deserved shame for such a comment. He would not so much as think it again! Oh, who was he kidding, of course he would. Heart would make sure of that! The bastard!
Anyway, back to the mess. While words could be lost in the cacophony, there was no hiding gestures in front of hundreds of attentive eyes… so his heart hadn't even bothered trying.
They'd reached the podium were Lord Fairclough waited to congratulate and award them… jointly. Link had alighted from his horse with such elation he could have been forgiven for believing he'd acquired Zelda's ability to float, and then…
It was an act of madness, utterly without thought to the consequences!
Before rationality could step in, he'd found himself brazenly presenting a hand to Zelda to help her down from Sunshine. By the time rationality had strongarmed back the reins away from heart, relinquishing the hand was no longer an option, as the princess's familiar lightning was already coursing up his arm. Obviously, she'd only accepted out of politeness, yet her propriety had magnified the gesture's explosive yield from merely inappropriate to scandalous!
The inevitable carnage that followed had taken Zelda half an hour to clean up, by which time the cavalry had begun stumbling in – bedraggled and sporting wounds to pride, and in some cases, body. Eddengrin, the first to arrive, had acquired a broken nose from his fall – rather apt given he'd broken Link's in their previous bout. The knight had grumbled bitterly but hadn't engage the hero. Zelda, showing her remarkable compassion, had offered to help the knight but he had refused – with unexpected politeness – before stalking off to the mansion without another word, leaving a mud trail in his wake.
The rest returned in drips and drabs but it was enough to hold the hero and princess from their planned escape, much to the hero's frustration. Perhaps it was her propensity for guilt, her extraordinary compassion stirred by their "plight" or part of smoothing over Link's faux pas – though she "had a hand" in that, quite literally, by taking his – but the princess decided to stay until all the suitors had safely returned, even offering small healing spells for the worst of their injuries.
It turned out the hero had unwittingly racked up something of a "body" count; Halshaw's broken nose was soon joined by various cuts, stings and bruises, a fractured wrist, a dislocated shoulder and, possibly, a broken toe – though, according to Atherton, that was self-inflicted; Lord Cole having acquired it from a poorly placed kick at his rival following their escape from the swamp.
It was fortunate that his methods had been so "discrete" because without this plausible deniability he would have likely been branded "court enemy number one" instead of simply "a reckless lunatic". Unlike Cocksure, he couldn't be directly tied to any of their injuries, having not laid so much as a finger on any of them. Thus, despite some suspicious glances and grumbles cast his way, he was charged with no "crime".
Being responsible for such misfortune would normally have triggered his propensity for guilt but the only victim who pricked his conscience was a piebald mare, who, in the panic of the False Hornet debacle, had twisted a fetlock and limped across the line in a most forlorn state. While the suitor's wounds didn't spark any concern for their wellbeing, that didn't mean they didn't interest him… one in particular.
As the stands began to empty, following the dramatic conclusion to the day's racing, hero and princess could finally set off on their much-delayed "tour of the grounds". Trotting languorously back up the vast, gently-inclining lawn, following the track they'd taken just two hours earlier, Link broke the comfortable silence between them to sate his curiosity… and his suspicions.
"So… was Tywin's hand really broken?"
"Hm, of course not! Just bruised at worst. He only did it because he knew I would be obligated to check."
Obligated to check?
Clearly, his bemusement was more obvious than he'd intended because it prompted a sigh. "Healing Lord Boxberry's fractured arm yet refusing to spare a minute to check the apparent injury of a prominent foreign dignitary would not have looked good for our kingdoms' relations, and the duke knew it. He had been itching to claim my hand all day… and he finally got it."
"Oh yeah, believe me, I noticed back at the tent. It's part of the reason I stepped in with that tart."
"And I am truly grateful you did… and not just because they are my favourite."
"Well, I know what my princess likes…" Goddesses, how had he let such a cheesy line pass his lips?! How about a change the subject? "… Ahem, although, I hadn't expected to earn your hand…" Oh boy, even worse! Even worse! "Um, that is to say, you taking my hand like that…" Damn! Heart had really stitched him up, but now he was on the subject… perhaps he could find a resolution to a niggling enigma. It might however take some diplomacy. "Ahem, Zelda, not that I mean to criticise but… and I'm not saying this because I disliked it but… was that a wise move in front of Tywin?"
Zelda looked away. There was a long pause, which Link filled by berating himself. Then the princess gave her answer – and to call it unexpected would be an understatement. "No, you are right. It was not wise. It was short-sighted and petty…"
"Huh?" he blurted.
Sapphire orbs fixed pointedly on him. "You believe me incapable of such things?"
"Well, no but not… um…"
"Link, not that I was ungrateful for your rescue… It gave me more relief than you could imagine… but having put up with suitors' rampant egotism, petulance and greed all morning, of which Tywin was…" she grimaced but didn't elaborate, instead, moving on in ever darker tones. "Needless to say, by the time your rescue came, I was at the end of my tether… twisted and dirty! Like an oil-soaked torch rag, knotted taut to the pole… ready to ignite if I did not do something... something to purge myself."
"I'm sorry. I knew you were suffering but I didn't realise… You, um, you concealed it well."
She shook her head with a rueful smile. "I initially sought your hand for comfort and it was comforting… oh it was… but not enough. Then, it came to me. I would send Tywin a message; send all those gentlemen a message! Show to them all that "I choose whose hand I take! Not you!" and whether they noticed or not, I would have made my case! So, when Tywin turned round, I decided to show him who was truly worthy of my hand…"
"In marriage?" Link's heart chimed hopefully. Fortunately, it was only in his head.
Oh shut up! She was clearly just talking literally… or of the hand of friendship. Seriously, was there no limit to his heart's stupidity? Stupid question… Though this time its stupidity was spurred on by youth, which continued to hang around like a bad rash or a swarm of false hornets… Part of him though – much to his annoyance – was glad for its dogged persistence.
Zelda's plaintive tone, conspicuous in its quiet uncertainty, dragged him from concerns of his own heart to hers. She was little more than a whisper. "… but perhaps I have been pushing too hard?… Perhaps this whole plan was a step too far? I mean… dislocations and broken bones… the risk of far worse… and for what? A few hours peace?..."
Hold up! Had they just swapped personalities?! He knew she had a knack for guilt but he was supposed to be the true master of regret; the Sultan of shame; the king of the overzealous concern. And yet, despite being far more culpable for said injuries, he wasn't the one whose conscience was bleeding.
Zelda bleeding heart continued "… and no doubt this will have done no service to you, Link; particularly with regard to your standing with Tywin…" She hesitated and he could practically see the words on the tip of her tongue. Youth and heart had had enough of her undeserved guilt and rationality found itself in absolute agreement – a particularly disconcerting notion given the number of times they'd agreed today! "Link, I am sor…"
"Oh no, princess, you don't say that! That's my job and you have nothing to apologise for. Just a few Hours peace?! How about payback for the months of misery those blaggards put you through! I may not have witnessed much first hand but, believe me, even without your, ahem, strong words about them at every private lesson you gave, their effects were obvious. The way I see it, they've earned themselves a few weeks discomfort, which is all the grief their injuries are likely to give them, especially with your healing spells – and that's a darn sight more consideration than any of them would offer if positions were reversed. Who knows, maybe they'll learn something from the experience. Heck, we may even have peace from them for the rest of this little vacation here…"
"My, when did you get so optimistic?" Zelda quipped, tone and visage lightening considerable, much to her hero's joy.
"Hey, I'm on vacation. Isn't this what you wanted for me anyway? To relax and stop worrying?" he jibed in return.
"Of course! I am more than glad. I am simply amazed to see such a dramatic transformation undergone so swiftly. Considering how you were before the race, it is quite the remarkable metamorphosis."
"Whoa there, princess! You're making it sound like your hero was some kind of real stick-in-the-mud."
"Hmmm. Not a stick-in-the-mud per say, more of a worrywart."
"Huh! Well, thank you very much!" Link scoffed in feigned indignation.
"You are welcome hero…" Zelda grinned, eyes twinkling. "hmph, if nothing else positive arises from the race at least it has lifted your spirits. Just be careful hero. There is a fine line between optimism and naivety and, frankly, expecting my suitors to learn anything from this whole fiasco is definitely the latter."
"Ok. I'll admit, I was stretching it a bit there but I hardly call delivering just deserts to a bunch of blaggards a fiasco."
"Very well then, I accept that… but outside the race I have still exacerbated your troubles. The fewer enemies you have…"
"if you're worried that you might have soured some friendship between Tywin and me with your "message", rest assured; it was already dead long before you took my hand. All that did was bury it another six feet deeper."
"Link, you do realise your court life would be much easier…"
For a rare moment, he found himself annoyed with his princess "Come on, Zelda!" He snapped. "Do you seriously expect me to pal-up to these pricks who treat you so poorly?! Simply to make my life a little easier?! Nah-ah! Not a chance!"
"But Link! If they conspire with your enemies on the council, they could see you removed from your post."
The point took the wind from his sails, giving him a moment of pause, but it didn't silence him, merely mellow his passion. "Zelda… please…" he spoke softly "You can't ask me to befriend those bastards… not after what I've heard them say about you… the way they treat you. Tywin… Tywin tried to make me promise to ask his permission to… to help you… to touch you… as though you were his property! Heck, he straight up proclaimed you were!"
The princess wrinkled her nose in disgust yet her tone was enigmatic. "And you refused?"
"I promised to be a gentleman. Hmph! Don't think it occurred to him that we may have very different definitions of what that entails."
This earned a hum of approval. "Hmm, a diplomatic handling. Your tutor is impressed. But then, if not my actions, then what soured it?
"Our near brush with the manure."
It took a moment but comprehension quickly lit her features and she nodded. "Aha! Now I see. And then, naturally, he confronted you at the marque, hence your delay and why he had my drink. Goddesses above, that man is such a.. such a… such a…"
"Boar brained bastard?" Link offered helpfully.
"Yes. Rather coarsely put but yes."
"Well, sometimes princess, coarseness is the only honest way of putting it. Try it sometime. Trust me. It'll make you feel better."
"Hmhmhm, I will take that under advisement, my considerate hero."
"But honestly Zelda, is there really no way you could… ya know… kick him out?"
"Ha! If only it were that simple. As princess, I have the ultimate say in whom of my suitors I choose to marry, but I possess neither the authority to designate which suitors to court or outright reject any suitor that has been granted the council's seal of approval, regardless of how unsuitable I personally believe them to be. The only exception to this would be if Tywin attempted to force himself upon me, and by that I am not talking a mere roving hand or lecherous gaze – those, I must endure…" Zelda's tone was growing dark again. "Now, consider the diplomatic angle too; he is a member of foreign royalty – albeit not high in the ranks of succession. As such, he is a representative of his entire kingdom and severing that connection with outright rejection or, worse, some trumped up accusation would be as good as declaring war. Hyrule has already seen too much of that…"
Link nodded solemnly. There really wasn't anything he could say to that, though optimism still sought some silver lining to lift the mood once more.
Zelda continued. "Even if I were capable of extricating myself from the prospect of ever being in that man's presence again, the kingdom's wellbeing necessitates that I persevere and the council demands it. This is not just about marriage, succession or peaceful relations…"
With mention of the council demanding it, Link was struck by a sudden epiphany. "Let me guess, this is about trade agreements, isn't it?" he said with just a pinch of smugness.
Zelda cocked her head. "Yes. How did you know?"
"I recalled Samuel mentioning something about it."
"Ah, in the carriage. So you were listening."
"Vaguely…" He admitted. "though I never caught the details or why it's so vital."
"Vital may be putting too fine a point on it but it is important; the reason being that, as you may have already gathered, the restoration of Hyrule and the refugee crisis significantly drained the coffers, not only of the royal treasury, but also all the noble houses. Many think the nobles contributed little to either, but that is to mistake reluctance for refusal. In truth, they contributed a great deal; some more graciously and generously than others, but they all donated a fair sum of their fortunes – though equally, to credit all of them with doing it for altruistic reasons would be just as false. While some were genuine in their generosity, the main motivation was necessity: the understanding that if the kingdom's infrastructure was left in tatters, then the economy would bleed out, taking all their fortunes with it. Now, with both having been stabilised, and the royal treasury – while far from prosperous – no longer precarious, they are looking to recover all they gave, with interest on top."
It was all falling into place. "And Tywin's offering trade deals that'll help them do just that."
"Precisely! At present, however, these lucrative financial opportunities are unconditionally tied to his marriage proposal and, while the nobles would much prefer to preserve the kingdom's sovereignty and have one of their own take my hand, they are equally keen on clawing back their lost fortunes. Thus, some among the council are eager to "promote that alliance". Now, I have no intention to be sold off for rupees and I would rather die than marry that ghastly man. Hence, my plan and hope…" She paused to release a sigh that was anything but hopeful. "… my plan is to extricate as many deals as I can from his marriage proposal, without committing to any obligation, before choosing my rightful betrothed and bidding farewell to that obnoxious man forever."
It all made perfect sense and so did Zelda's despondency at its contemplation. On any other day he would have joined her in woe… but not today. Today, he would be damned if they were gonna wallow in despair and, luckily, he had an idea that would surely change the mood. "Well then, I suppose it's a good thing it was only false hornets I let loose on him, rather than the real thing."
"Pardon?!" Zelda exclaimed, tugging Sunshine to an abrupt halt in apparent astonishment.
Link stopped smoothly and flashed a sly smirk. "That's how I got him out of the race."
It was rare sight; the princess seemingly struggling to comprehend his words. "I'm sorry Link, you did say… you set "false hornets" on him?... Right?" She seemed slightly… worried
"Yeah. A whole swarm."
"False hornets?" She repeated quizzically and his smirk faltered with the realisation. His intended humorous surprise had backfired because of the foolish assumption that she would know what false hornets actually were! How could he have missed that?!
He was about to explain when Zelda's eyes gained a gleam of enlightenment… and her mouth grew a Cheshire grin. "Link, are you seriously telling me that, in the midst of the race, you ventured into the woods… found a swarm of Harlequin flies… managed to somehow lure them back to the track… and then successfully set them upon my suitors?"
Now he could indulge in smugness. "Yyyyep." He said simply.
Her reaction was disappointingly understated… at least, at first. Giggling behind her hand accented her cute dimples but deprived him of her breath-taking smile. It turned out however, that he'd already stolen hers as she gasped breathlessly "Please, tell me all."
Naturally, there was no way he could refuse a request from his princess so he obliged and quickly came to a shocking revelation. With his standard neurotics and self-consciousness banished by youthful spirit, he discovered an untapped raconteurial streak within him. He had entertained her highness with anecdotes before, yet never to the seemingly spellbinding degree with which he now held her. With her attention galvanising rather than distracting, he regaled her with the thrilling tale of his race; from the moment he took the shortcut right up to Atherton and Cole's ignominious dunking; he spared no details – indeed, just occasionally, he could be rightly accused of a little embellishment for extra flavouring. If it made his princess laugh though, what did a little embellishment matter? It certainly succeeded and the air was thick with melodic mirth, however any delusions of becoming a bard or jester were tempered by the thought that, just like his hysterics in the woods, the enthusiasm of her dancing trills was likely magnified by relief and freedom.
Nevertheless, he didn't let such things dampen his joy in her delightful amusement, basking in its radiance even as the sun's started to wane. Unlike the sun however, such glowing blooms were finite and like all good stories, his had an end. When the climax came, frenzied and fantastical, the breeze picked up, sweeping Zelda's silky chocolate locks up just as she gave a final glorious yet understated giggle to the sky; the perfect encapsulation of his princess's seemingly contradictory yet captivating duality; regal dignity and deep but restrained passion, entwined.
His spell on her was dissipating but, as his tale ended and his mind lost its distractions, he found her effect on him growing.
As her last dulcet titter faded, she set her sparkling sapphire orbs upon him and cooed admiringly. "Why Link, you really are a wonder…"
As expected, he had just one response; turning away to hide his face, burning with such bashfulness even his childhood boldness could not supress it. "Ahem, thank you princess." He mumbled.
"Buuuut… I am curious about one thing? How did you know it would work?"
"Erm…" Link shifted awkwardly in the saddle, hesitant to answer… hesitant to confess his "dark secret". He didn't want to make her think less of him and pranks like that are childish, not to mention reckless and hardly befitting a so-called hero. Youth dismissed his embarrassment and shame airily – but then again, it was the very culprit of such mischief, so of course it would. It had already caused plenty of trouble and after years of ignoring it why was he so reluctant to return it to exile now?!
With her hero providing no answer, Zelda decided to elaborate on her question. "Now, I am acquainted with the folklore surrounding Harlequin flies and their obsession with the lauded fairy queen mushroom but I had never encountered any evidence to substantiate their claims as anything more than fable. Given the tale you told I cannot imagine you would initiate such a strategy based merely on hunches or old wife's tales. So, tell me, how did you know?"
There was something in her voice and daring to glance across he caught a knowing impish glint in her eyes. Oh well, it seems she already suspected the truth. He might as well face her judgement.
"Um, well I did, sort of, do it as a prank…" he mumbled and then added hastily "when I was much younger, of course!"
Zelda chortled yet gained a somewhat pensive gaze. "Hmhm. Oh, of course. Indeed, before the race I would not have pictured you as a prankster…"
"I wasn't a prankster, more that I just had a… a mischievous streak."
"And that bothers you?" It was more statement than question.
He bit his lip. "Well, yeah."
"Why?"
"Pardon?"
"Why does it bother you so much?"
That… That was a good question. Why was he so bothered by it? Duh! Wasn't it obvious? He'd already given himself three perfectly good reasons; it was childish, it was reckless and it went against his principles… so why did these points all feel like excuses? No answer readily arrived but Zelda's expectant gaze never wavered. He had to give her something.
"Well, I mean… it's just… well it is rather childish."
"So?"
"So?! I'm an adult now, with responsibilities… and a title… and a reputation… and… and…"
"So, if you were not my Royal Shield, you would not be ashamed of your mischievous streak?"
Again, a question he could not answer to himself, let alone her. "Yes. No… Maybe… I… I don't know." He mumbled.
"People are far to quick to scoff at all that is deemed childish, yet many a pearl of wisdom has been gained from supposed childishness. Hmph! That is actually especially true given how much of the court considers any curiosity not directed towards the destruction of their political rivals to be a puerile pursuit. Curiosity, the very core of learning and progress, dismissed as juvenile!"
"Ok, I get curiosity but you can't make the same argument for mischief."
"Oh, can't I?" Again, he spied an impish gleam in her eye and his focus was torn between two princesses; the bewitching presence of one and the ghost of another. "I think it will be remarkably easy, particularly since you provided the perfect example yourself. After all, was it not your childhood mischief that supplied the vital key to simultaneously saving a princess from almost certain intolerability and a hero from scurrilous accusations? Could there be a stronger, nobler case to be made for the importance of a little mischief."
Well, that was a point of view… a point of view he could have picked a dozen holes in if he really tried, but her argument appealed too much to youth and her playful smirk arrested his fuzzy heart such that logic had little hope of prevailing.
"Well, hmm, I guess when you put it that way… you could be right." He attempted to present begrudging resignation within his agreement but its expression was undermined by a crooked smile that insisted on growing.
Zelda gave a triumphant crow. "Of course I am right. I am, after all, the princess of wisdom."
"Doesn't mean you're always right." The hero replied drolly.
"Huh?!" With a girlish gasp, the princess placed her hand to her head and slumped backwards in such dramatic fashion that Link's hand was already instinctively reaching to catch her when she suddenly sprung back up into perfect posture and wailed dolefully. "Oh, cruel hero, how you wound me so! My fragile feminine mind! My delicate ego! My…"
"Well, excuuuuse me princess!" Her cruel hero sneered.
Zelda's act ceased and she gave him a disapproving eye and quirked brow, undercut by her smirk. "Link, the first time you said that, it possessed a certain charm. Unless I am very much mistaken, this is the third and its charms are starting to wear thin. Make it a habit and I may have to punish you." she chided.
Heart and youth loved her playful side and accepted her challenge. Rationality cringed, but could only do so internally, unable to halt the next awful line from escaping. "Oooooh, well if it's anything like my last punishment, I'll start saying it weekly."
"Do that and I will have no recourse but to send you to the dungeon so I will be spared hearing it."
"Ah, but you don't know how loud I can shout. Besides…" He was about to make a witty jibe at her being the one to get him in to the court in the first place, when the threat of Vanhorn's scheme to oust him suddenly loomed large in his mind and he stopped himself. His position was precarious but now wasn't the time to remind either of them of that. They were supposed to be relaxing. "… Besides you still haven't answered my most important question."
"Hmm?"
"How did you beat me to the meadow?"
"All in good time hero. As promised, I will show you but we are not there yet."
They approached the end of the lawn and the forest entrance yawned open at the top of the slope, behind which, the mighty cliff that marked the valley's end. Many small waterfalls cascaded down the craggy rock face and disappeared behind the treeline but Link knew the far grander falls lay just below; their familiar roar steadily rising as they drew closer. As they passed into the cliff's shadow, the princess sighed. "A pity. It looks even prettier in the sun. No matter, I intend to return tomorrow, should the weather hold. I will pray it remains as glorious as today."
"Yeah, let's hope for that… but what are you planning?"
"All will become clear in time." Zelda said enigmatically.
"Fine princess. I'll let you keep your mystery… for now." he muttered wryly, guiding his horse, a new palomino mare – Guy's replacement – towards the bridge; the gush of cascading torrents on the left ringing with increasing exuberance through the trees.
Soon they emerged onto the stone bridge and could take in the falls in all their majestic splendour; three towering giant steps, each veiled in shimmering sheets of water and submerged in a seething broth of white foam, producing clouds of steam and spraying glassy pearls of moisture many feet into the air. The power displayed was humbling and the falls thunderous voice was exhilarating… and deafening.
For a moment he just admired the spectacle. Then he vaguely heard Zelda's raised voice, just audible over the water's booming choir, and turning, saw her dismount and lead Sunshine over to the end of the bridge. There, she tied his reins to a wooden signpost on the left side of the path; opposite to the opening of the shortcut he'd taken earlier. He hadn't caught all her words but what he had caught brought both bemusement and, for heart and youth, excitement and apparent vindication.
He hesitated briefly and, noticing his hesitancy, the princess waved him over and repeated her call. Being further away though, he caught even less this time yet what he could decipher did seem to align with his prior translation. His heart skipped a beat at the prospect of "a gift".
"Don't get any funny ideas!" logic snapped, seeking to quash its stupidity!
Nevertheless, it was with nervous excitement that he dismounted and led his mare to the post. Zelda did not wait for him, squeezing between the post and the bridge and making her way upriver along the high narrow bank, overhung by several beautiful weeping willows. His protective urges were twinged seeing her traversing the precarious ledge but her steps were assured enough to comfort him and he followed calmly, brushing through the curtains of drooping amber-hued leaves, his enigmatic pink princess flickering in and out of sight ahead of him. The waterfalls' mighty roar grew yet louder and soon he emerged on to a small rocky outcrop directly overlooking their majestic presence.
In the centre of the outcrop lay a flat boulder – that didn't naturally belong – upon which Zelda sat with demure elegance, gloved hands tucked to her lap as she gazed, first to the falls and then to him. He saw her lips move to say his name but the sound was drowned in the crashing waves.
Not bothering to compete with such a force of nature, Link simply pointed to his ears and shook his head.
He received an obliging nod, a coy smile and a wave to come closer. He knew how this would play out. He would hesitate awkwardly and then later he would receive her frustrated chastisement – arguably deserved. How about he surprise her by not doing that? Shake things up. Heck, he'd surprise himself if he actually made the move!
And blow down the barn door, he did!
Stepping forward, something very strange happened. As he passed through some invisible threshold, the roar of the waterfalls became a muffled murmur; the whistling wind in the willows hushed and the birds suddenly receded into the distance.
He blinked in amazement.
"How about now?" Zelda asked placidly, though her smile carried a hint of amusement.
"Er, yeah. I can… er, ok what did you just do?"
Her initial reply was so subtle he nearly missed it; a simply turn of her palm. The movement revealed a familiar egg-shaped still nestled lightly in her hand. "Some keepsakes don't just keep sound in. Some can keep it out if one so chooses. Both spells have their efficacious applications… as you can see."
"Very handy."
"Indeed." Zelda said, her manner still secretive – however there was also a hint of nervousness. She patted the flat boulder beside her. "Sit Link, I have something for you. A gift."
Aha, he'd heard right! His heart soared and, with its exuberance, stirred indecency from its dark recess. "Well, well. What did I say? I knew there'd be a gift! And would you look at the scene. We've even got steam! Remind you of anything, eeeehhh? Now all that's left is to find out if she painted those luscious l…"
"Oh no you don't! Not again!" Logic barked adamantly.
Despite, or perhaps because of his internal debate, he obeyed her order to sit with such uncharacteristically eagerness that the princess was temporarily taken aback with astonishment. The sight brought out the burning cheeks he'd been resisting and he glanced away, mumbling an apology. Even the waterfalls' cool spray, now tickling his face, could do little to extinguish the flame.
Zelda tittered lightly. "Goddesses, Link, you were doing so well; but there you go again, letting bashfulness shake you. Do you really think I would disapprove of you finally doing what I have wished for months? For you to sit beside me without such reticence as to think you were committing some grievous sin, as malapropos as flashing your 'personal jewellery' to a priestess…" Well, that comment certainly didn't help his red face, but that may have been the point of it. "… I was simply surprised at this abrupt but welcome change. Yet the instant I express as such, you revert to form and apologise."
"Sorry." he mumbled again.
Zelda just shook her head with droll resignation, a silent statement along the lines of "Oh, what am I going to do with you?"
"I know, I know. I apologise too much. I'm working on that. Anyway, ahem, I sat down quick cos, well, I've never had a gift from a princess before… Oh, not that I mean to diminish all that you've already, um, bestowed on me princess, but…"
A gloved hand raised to silence his blathering. "No, no I understand. Those were rewards for your service. A gift carries entirely different sentiment and, of course, what you are really saying is if I wish for you to sit quickly, I should simply offer a gift each time, correct?"
Could his cheeks burn any hotter? Despite this, his reply came without stammer or deflection thanks to the persistent rash of youth which advocated fighting back. Fight fire with fire as the saying goes – or something like that. "Me?! As if I'd ever suggest such a thing. Sounds like blatant bribery, princess!" He quipped blithely.
"As indeed it would be." She agreed placidly but again there was her sly smile. "That is not to say that it would be unsuccessful in its results."
"Oh, and just what results are you implying, princess? Training me like a dog?"
"No, of course not. Not a dog. More like domesticating a wolf."
Oh, ha dee haha! Ok, he practically handed her that one, but he wasn't done yet. "Hey, if anything I'm too domesticated! Need to get the wild spirit back if I'm gonna sit next to you all willy-nilly without a blush."
This earned a wry chuckle yet it was tinged with sudden sombreness. "Well, seeing you let loose would certainly be marvellously entertaining… however I doubt the court would stand for it."
"Screw the court!"
"Not literally, I hope." The joke was obvious but its delivery laboured with worry. She let out a sigh. "I had originally intended this as a simple handy gift, however what with recent developments, it appears to have become a necessity." Turning over her other hand, she presented him with a strange carved triangle, seemingly made from a smooth jade-like rock, engraved with mysterious glyphs at each tip.
Link gazed at it, intrigued but perplexed.
"Your very own keepsake." she explained, adding with a hint of sudden and uncharacteristic diffidence "I, errrr, I made it for you."
"Wow. I, um, I… Thank you. I'm honoured." He picked up the curious artifact and explored it, taking in its featherweight lightness, its polished smoothness and the intricacy of its contours. It was a remarkable construct, beautiful in its own way, yet it raised a question. "But why does it look so different to yours?"
"Oh, keepsakes – despite all being formed from the same basic ingredients – can vary in shape, based on functionality, aesthetic taste and the skill of the sculptor…" She held up her featureless egg-shaped one. "My sculpting skills have improved considerably since I made my own. Also, given that unlike me, you will not be able to impart direct mental commands, I had to fashion an "interface" of sorts to allow you to control its various functions."
This was rather a lot of extraordinary information to take in in one go. "Woah! woah! Hold up! You control yours with your mind?! And what's this about functions? As in plural?"
Zelda quirked an eyebrow. "I am frankly amazed any of this astounds you, after all that you have experienced. Nevertheless, I am glad I can produce something that astonishes my hero so. Anyway, to answer your queries; yes, my keepsake is controlled by my thoughts, and mine alone; and yes, both our keepsakes possess multiple abilities. Keepsakes are among the simplest of magical artifacts, yet arguably the most versatile – though do not conflate simple with common, as keepsakes of any stripe are still phenomenally rare. Anyway, while at their most basic they are merely devices to supress sound, one more skilled in magic can turn them into a platform on which to imbue a number of useful enchantments. Of course, once completed, new spells cannot simply be piled on. Creating a keepsake is like… Well, making a cake would be a good analogy. Pretty much all cakes are born from the same essential ingredients, however a skilled culinary artisan can supplement or augment the recipe – to a degree – but only during the mixing stage. Once baked, while you can add flourishes to its appearance, there is no altering the filling."
Link nodded. "How long did this "cake" take you to bake?"
"Oh, about a month. Had I kept it simple, it could have been done in a few days but… I wanted to challenge myself."
She spent a whole month making this… just for him! He'd received a few small hand-crafted presents in his time but nothing like this! "Wow… Thank you… I don't… I don't know what to say but… thank you so much!"
Again, Zelda displayed uncommon bashfulness in response, blushing and bowing reverently, momentarily sharing in his loss of words. "Oh, ahem, you are most welcome but, ahem, as I said, this gift is now a necessity and I could scarcely leave my dear hero defenceless."
"Well, whatever the reason, I'm grateful, princess."
"Most, um, most gracious of you hero and your enthusiasm is appreciated, ahem, however, before you can "wield" it you must understand its functions. Firstly, how to activate it. Now, as you will have no doubt observed, being triangular in shape, your keepsake has three tips, each one marked by a unique glyph, which symbolise each of the three enchantments with which it is imbued. Now, see the tips. Notice the small divots in the end of each?"
Link nodded.
"These are how you activate or switch the function of your keepsake. Press your finger into one of them and count to three."
"Ok, One… Tw…"
"Link, there's no need to count aloud." She gave a titter of amusement "Indeed, it compromises its very purpose: to maintain discrete secrecy. All you need to do is press it for three seconds and, there you go, the enchantment will activate."
"Ok, but how do I know if it's… Wait… is the glyph glowing?" The glyph seemed to glint but the effect was so slight he could have mistaken it for a trick of the light. Woah! Wait, what light? The sun was in shadow yet the glorious waterfalls were sparkling… along with Zelda's jewellery. He glanced skywards and saw a rare and magical sight. Through the gap in the trees carved by the river, the moon was making an extraordinary daytime appearance, peeking over the far horizon and casting its soft silver radiance across the valley. What's more, it seemed bigger than usual. He wasn't sure whether it was a remnant of his wolf form but he always found the moon mesmerizing, now even more so.
The princess, oblivious to her hero's entranced state, answered his already forgotten query. "Yes. It is a subtle sign but deliberately so. It is all a matter of… ahem, Link, are you… Ah, a daylight supermoon. Fascinating!" For a moment, she too simply soaked in the natural wonder. Then her gaze turned to her spellbound hero and, unbeknownst to him, her impish smirk returned. "So Link… feel like a good howl?"
Another wolf joke! It broke the moon's spell and Link tore his eyes from the moon to bring a disapproving gaze to bare on the princess but she was already laughing. Disapproval gave way to entrancement again. It wasn't just her jewellery that was sparkling; her eyes were dazzling too and, in the moon's silvery rays, the waterfalls' spray twinkled like shooting stars as it danced between them. Some drops brushed and bejewelled her laughing lips… moistened them. They were so close… and her scent… and the steam…
Her eyes…
Her lips…
Steam…
Eyes…
Lips…
GAHHH!
Link wrench his eyes away, reaching an arm to scratch his neck and simultaneously hide his shamed face; ashamed at the almost "feral" thoughts that had pervaded his mind in that brief moment; and which, unlike his anger, could not be blamed on a beast – at least he bloody well hoped not!
His gaze on the waterfalls, he berated himself, but youth and heart adamantly protested such self-flagellation.
"Oh, come on, you puritanical killjoy. Even you can't deny just how beautiful she looks." His heart argued emphatically and as much as rationality and decency hated it, neither could disagree with it. Lowering his arm, he couldn't help a guilty glance at her from corner of his eye.
"See! There's no shame accepting the simple fact she's beautiful." Heart reassured him chummily.
Well, he might as well be a man and admit it. "Beautiful…" He sighed wistfully.
…
"Pardon?"
Link almost fell off the boulder in shock. Crap! He'd said it aloud! Quick, think of something. "Oh, just, um, just, er, the scene is quite lovely."
"Oh yes indeed…" Zelda agreed, ignoring his brief panic attack either out of politeness or not noticing it. She seemed a little preoccupied. "Indeed, it is a particularly beautiful spot…" She faltered and he caught a brief glimpse of the same wistful melancholy she'd shared with her "father figure" earlier that day. "Ahem, but also a highly practical choice with regard to the topic at hand, namely your keepsake and its functions."
The divergence in subject was obvious but Link was glad of it. Still, as she gave him a meaningful gaze, he failed to see her point. "Oh, errrr, how so?"
"Well, do you recall how it is that we are able to hold this conversation in this beautiful but vociferous environment."
Ah, now he got it! – despite her fancy language. "Your keepsake."
Zelda wagged an ivory clad finger and smiled. "Correction. It was… until I turned it off."
"But then ho… Oh, so now it's my keepsake that's doing it."
"Hm hm…" She gave an affirmative hum. "Take a look at the glyph and memorise it." Link did so. The glyph looked vaguely like a depiction of the sun or a flower, with a circle at the centre and lines emanating out from it. "That filters noise coming in. That one…" She then pointed to one which looked like a cart wheel with an outer circle and then a series of lines or "spokes" converging on the centre. "That one filters sound coming out."
"How does it work exactly? Does it form a sort of, er, magic sound bubble?"
"Put simply, yes. There is more to it than that but you do not need to know the complexities. All you need to know is how big the bubble is…" she gave a click of her fingers and suddenly the world around them seemed to frost over, almost as though they'd suddenly been sealed in a giant snow globe. "Log this in your mind, Link. Remember this "bubble", its circumference when you use it, as this could prove the vital difference between secrets being kept or lost. Unfortunately, unlike mine which can be adjusted in size using my thoughts, I could find no practical way of allowing you to do the same. Your "bubble" is static. It cannot grow, nor shrink. Its effects will only ever occur within the same four-yard radius."
"Ok, I get that, but you said it filters the sound. Why not block it completely?"
"Becaaauuuse, not only would it invalidate one of its primary assets, namely its discreteness, but also rather more practically, the spell would be transformed from a passive to an active form."
"And that's bad?"
"Yes. Active spells gain physical presence, meaning we would now be trapped in this bubble…" Well, he could think of worse fates; trapped alone with Zelda, in a magic crystal ball, sparkling in the moonlight. Heck, it was almost romant… "and in minutes we would both be suffocating." Ok, not so romantic! Logic and rationality thanked the princess for thoroughly crushing that daydream before it started. She, blissfully unaware of the internal conflict she'd unwittingly stirred, continued her explanation. "The same effect would be produced by having multiple enchantments operating simultaneously, so I added a safeguard which prevents that. Switching from one enchantment to another will automatically deactivate the previous one…" She trailed off and eyed him sceptically "Er, Link? Are you following?"
Great! he'd zoned out again. Quick, pick up your brain hero, before you worry your princess! "Oh, ahem yeah. Basically, you're saying I can't filter sound in and out at the same time, correct?"
"Precisely. Also, related to the matter of discretion, be careful where and when you use it. Keep it secret and turn it off when it is not required."
"Turn it off? Is that what this third glyph's for?" He pointed to the third tip upon which was engraved a spiral, somewhat like a whirlpool.
"No, though you could certainly be forgiven for thinking that. The divot in the centre is where you press to switch off. That third glyph is the reason it took six weeks to make, rather than two. To be honest, I doubt this enchantment will ever be of any practical purpose to you. Indeed, I hope fortunate never places you in a situation where you do require it but…" Zelda fiddled with her gloves and glanced away "… Ahem, better safe than sorry as the old aphorism goes, and I wanted to expand my enchanting skills. As such, I created an enchantment which suppresses any "active" magic which enters the bubble: "active" magic only, to be clear."
It wasn't clear. "Um, active magic?"
"Oh, of course. Spells and enchantments are divided into passive and active, dependant on their power and effect. To keep things simple, active spells tend to be spells that conjure or express themselves in the form of a physical manifestation, detectable by the senses."
That's simple Zelda?! "Sooo, active magic is any spell I can see?"
The princess faltered. "Um, well not any spell you can see, as pretty much ever spell will produce some visible, if subtle, sign. Healing, for example, is passive yet produces a tell-tale glow. The main distinction with active magic is that it generally produces far more immediate and dramatic effects and, unlike most passive magic, can be dangerous. All offensive projectile spells are active; fireballs, blizzards, energy blasts, plus other conjuration or teleportation magic…"
"So it's a magic shield?"
"Sort of…" Zelda faltered again and the hero noticed her bite her lip, face slightly flushed. He was perplexed as to why. "It is more accurate to describe it at as a suppression field. As I was about to explain, depending on the strength of the spell the field may only reduce its power, not banish it entirely. The only exception to this is illusion spells, which, regardless of strength, will be broken. Also, it can protect against any magic that attempts to separate your soul from your body…" She gave an uncharacteristically nervous laugh, pink cheeks deepening their charming hue and when the princess continued, she could almost be accused of babbling. "Not that I would expect you to encounter any such dangers again. Of course not! We do not need to worry about such things. It was purely that I felt like experimenting and expanding my magical capabilities…"
Hold up! Was this all because she was worried for his safety and was reluctant or embarrassed to admit it? The possibility ignited his own cheeks and a swell of warm contentment surged through his veins; a sensation reminiscent of how Shad had once described drinking hot chocolate. While the realisation inevitably inspired his heart to get carried away on flights of fancy, both mind and youth could still agree; this moment and her gift – regardless of the fact of its supposed necessity – were among the precious he'd ever received. Her rare bashfulness in giving it only made the gift, and the moment, sweeter. It also stirred both youthful boldness and "the hero within" to do the right thing and rescue his damsel in diffident distress.
How? As usual, brain's ideas seemed too stuffy and clinical. Youth had plenty of vigour but that came at the expense of comprehension. That just left heart, which had been jumping and shout for his attention for the last minute – well, to be fair, it always jumped in Zelda's presence. He knew better than to listen to it though. Ha! As if he'd let heart do the talking… His mouth opened. "Well, regardless its reasons, necessity or… whatever, that changes naught mi'lady. It'll remain to me, a precious gift from my princess." Mi'lady! Please, no! How could he have let such a mortifying line off his tongue, let alone have the nerve to add a second.
So aghast had he been at his heart's sly hijacking of his mouth for its foul romantic drivel, that it took him a moment to register his princess's confounding – and seemingly confounded – reaction. There remained a hint of uncharacteristic diffidence in the pink of her cheeks but her expression spoke of rather different emotions. Her squinting sapphire peepers combined with a quirked brow and cocked head to give an impression of… perplexed astonishment? Maybe? But why? True, his line had been pure saccharine stupidity but was that really so unexpected? She was the smart and articulate one, not him!
Painted lips parted…
Then pursed…
Then suddenly, the conflict between smile and smirk was resolved with such devastating sweetness it almost knocked the bedazzled hero off the boulder they'd been sharing. Lips parted once more. "Well thank you, dear hero. It doth warm my heart to know it is so fondly appreciated." The line was clearly spoken in jest, yet bashfulness continued to tint her voice and face. "Honestly though Link, it really does mean a lot to hear that. it is… it is actually the first truly gift I have ever given anyone… personally, that is."
"Then I'm truly honoured." Link could only mumble.
While the hero burned bright with chagrin, Zelda's demeanour steadily returned to the familiar princess veil. "Ahem, now, I believe I promised to show you my shortcut and the daylight is now fleeting." She said, rising elegantly from her "seat" and dusting down the folds of her skirt. Then, with a click of her fingers, the crystal ball encasing them melted away, though the roar of the waterfall remained a whisper. "I take it you recall how to turn off your keepsake, Link?"
He nodded.
"Very well."
Ah, she wanted him to demonstrate. He pressed the centre as she'd instructed and the waterfall's sonorous tones crashed over them like rolling thunder.
With any hope of speech drowned out by the roar, Zelda simply gestured for him to follow. They made their way back through the willow curtains and back to their horses, who, it seemed, had just been enjoying a quick nap but now greeted them with enthusiasm born of impatience. Just how long had they sat there together?
Before, such a question would have bothered him, yet today it was discarded on the scrap pile of worthless irrelevancy. It was time to stop feeling guilty about being with her – ahem, as a friend of course! After all, had he not promised himself earlier that he'd live in the moment, and just moments ago he'd been bestowed a precious gift from the princess – not counting the sweet blush that still held the faintest tint in her cheeks.
Said sweet blush did supply something else to ponder however, namely why she'd been so seemingly "nervous" in giving it to him. She'd implied her reasons but he smelt a lie of omission. It wasn't suspicion of her motives that drove his pondering but concern for her wellbeing. Unthinkingly, his hand went to her gift and he gave it a squeeze of both appreciation and reassurance. Come on, he trusted her and if there was really a problem, she'd tell him… right? Of course, she would.
Zelda, unaware of her hero's ruminations, appeared content to ride in silence and soak up the forest atmosphere; above which the mighty escarpment of the valley wall rose, grey stone gleaming silver in the moonlight; the sun, though out of sight, still threw parting rays of soft yellow over the peak. The roar of the waterfall slowly faded behind them, replaced by the hush of the breeze in the trees and tweeting birds; calling their mates and allies in to roost.
Then came a sudden question. "So, Link, does this landscape remind you of home? Your childhood?"
"Um, pardon princess?"
"The woods here. Do they not remind you of Ordon?"
Zelda's question was innocent, yet it seemed to sting him for reasons he could not fathom, let alone explain to her. Even youth's best efforts couldn't sooth the sensation of a metaphorical dagger spearing between his ribs. Nevertheless, he hid the pain as he replied with a noncommittal "I suppose."
He sensed her disappoint at his reticence but it was quickly overshadowed by the palpable aura of melancholy which had befallen her; no longer a faint hint, it pervaded her entire demeanour. Her lips parted but for a moment all they imparted was a deep quivering breath until… "For me… this estate… this place… was a sanctuary for me… and my father…" Another deep breath. "… This is where he would come to find peace, the one place where we could truly spend time together… away from lessons or politics… We spent many happy days here…"
Link's heartstrings were tugged at her sadness, yet a greater pain was the phantom dagger seemingly being twisted deeper into his chest… and all at the mention of time with her father.
He never had time with his father…
Heck, he'd never even met the man…
Whoever he was…
From within the dagger wound, something stirred… with a growl. The beast? But Zelda wasn't in danger!
Anger, bitterness and resentment; these three simmered into a toxic broth in his gut and he hated himself for it.
But who were these poisonous emotions directed at? It couldn't be Zelda… or her father.
His father… ?
Or himself?
"I'm glad you are here, Link." Zelda's voice brought him back to the moment, though the dagger and the troubling feelings it raised didn't vanish, merely fading into the background. Youth did its best to drive them away entirely yet even it seemed shaken by such raw and "disturbing" emotions. It was only the look Zelda gave him which allowed him to bury them deep, for her sake more than his.
"I'm… glad to be with you too" he stumbled before hastily clarifying "ahem, here I mean."
His foot was in his mouth again but his princess seemed to preoccupied to notice, suddenly fixated on the cliff ahead.
…
She was silent and the gap was only filled by the sudden jeering laugh of magpie, seemingly mocking their discomfort.
Then she spoke, voice little more than the murmuring leaves. "I might not have come… if not for you."
"Zelda?" Then he understood and it was his heart that felt stabbed. "… How long has it been since… I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have ask…"
"Almost seven years. I tried to return twice and at the house… I could bare it… but here…" She shook her head and finally returned her gaze to him, her eyes moist yet devoid of tears despite the slight tremor in her voice. "Father loved the house but it was the woods that truly fulfilled him. Our destination was actually my father's favourite spot in all the kingdom and the setting of many precious childhood memories…"
"Look, Zelda. If this is too painful, I mean, I know I said I wanted to see how you beat my but if…"
"No. I am alright, Link. I am." She reassured him with swift insistence punctuated by another deep breath followed by a sigh and finally a bittersweet smile. "Do not worry yourself, my considerate hero. It is an old wound and while time may not be the perfect healer, it is undeniably a superb anaesthetic. Besides, while there is no shame in mourning the loss of treasured moments and loved ones, there must come a time to let go of the pain and just be glad you had them…"
A lump came to Link's throat and he suddenly found himself furiously blinking back misty eyes. For reasons unknown to him, her words struck him like a blow from King Bokoblin's mighty axe, knocking the wind from him. This was quickly followed by another familiar sensation; a familiar chill down his spine and he began scanning the shadows desperately.
Unaware of the power of her words, Zelda continued with rueful amusement. "… but… it is one thing to possess such wisdom and another to actually follow it… hmhmhm, one of my few faults, I suppose." Then she noticed his strange behaviour. "Link, are you alright?"
Link's head whipped round so fast his eyes were briefly lost beneath his ash brown mop. Hastily, he brushed them aside. "Oh, I'm fine! I'm here!"
This odd turn of phrase naturally raised an eyebrow. "Hmm, did you see something?"
"Oh, um, No, nothing. Thought I might have but turned out to be nothing." He wasn't lying. His search had found only ordinary shadows.
"Oh… good… well, nice to see my guardian is so vigilant… but you'll find no danger here." Link couldn't be sure but he could have sworn there was hint of hurt in her voice. What she'd shared couldn't have been easy to say and yet she probably thought he hadn't been listening, distracted by nothing but a non-existent phantom; perhaps even a figment of his imagination. She could certainly be forgiven for thinking that. No wonder she was upset.
While his distraction was true, he had still heard her, a fact he swiftly moved to reassure her of. "I know. Sorry. Force of habit princess; one of my many faults, you might say…" he flashed her a smile. "… but frankly, given all we've been through, neither of us can be blamed. After all, we're only Hylian…" He prepared a line about how hard letting go could be yet found himself unable to release it. The was a lump in his throat again which even clearing his throat failed to dislodge. He dropped the line and the stranglehold on his voice was instantly relaxed. "Ahem, anyway, I'm glad to be here to help you through this, Zelda. I know…" He tried again but choked on the words before the left his mouth. "… I know… how hard it can be." he gulped and cleared his throat. "Ahem, as I said, I'm here and if there's anything I can do, just ask."
Without warning, Zelda pulled her horse to a halt and then elegantly slid down from her saddle to the gold leaf carpeted ground below, inspiring the barest rustle with her dainty feet. This abrupt dismount was an unexpected reaction and he worried he'd offended her somehow.
On turning her face to him however, it was with the hint of a blush, though that could simply be a remnant of her baring her soul. "That… is most sweet of you… um, however your presence should prove be more than sufficient." She said softly.
With her lack of offence seemingly confirmed, Link turned his attention to the scenery and suddenly realised just how far they must have come. The steep escarpment of the valley wall, once rising so majestically before them, now towered on their left side and the path was actually curving back away from it towards the river. They were somewhere near the end of the great arc. Why would Zelda stop here?
Zelda promptly answered that unspoken query. "You asked me, Link, how I beat you, despite taking a longer route. Well, the truth is, it is only longer if you ignore this." She wafted, with a gentle swish, over to an unassuming tangled curtain of vines… and pulled them back.
Link's breath hitched and his mouth fell open. Through a natural archway of a couple of maple trees, turned a spectacular fiery red by the changing season, he caught sight of possibly the prettiest forest glade he'd ever seen – almost supernatural in its beauty. It was only a glimpse but it was enough to leave him stunned. Unbeknownst to him in his astonishment, Zelda's face lit up at his reaction and she wordlessly yet eagerly invited him to enter.
On accepting her invitation and slipping through the radiant red arch the glade's full miraculous glory revealed itself, its magical aura magnified by the shining silver of the rare mid-autumn supermoon. To the left of the perfectly circular clearing, a pristine spring gently burbled and sparkled in the moonlight; its surplus bounty of crystal-clear water cutting in a fine twinkling ribbon across the glades immaculate grass carpet and out into the forest. Behind the spring the valley cliff rose majestically while the rest of the circle was flanked by grand trees.
The moonlight, shining through the softly swaying branches, illuminated an almost unbroken border of flowers, both wild and domestic, all in perfect harmony and all inexplicably still in bloom despite the lateness of the season. Their vibrant hues dazzled yet dodged gaudiness and, while their multiple fragrant perfumes permeated the air, they miraculously never clashed or overwhelmed one another – or indeed, the hero's sensitive nose. Several bright berry bushes added to this vivid display.
It was so calming… so perfect… too perfect to be natural. The flowers shouldn't have all been in bloom. Perhaps it was something in the spring? His ponderings, however, were quickly interrupted by a question.
"So, Link… what do you think?"
There was only one word he could think of "… wow." he breathed.
Zelda was silent and pensive for a moment only to suddenly give him a mock curtsey, complete with ingratiating smile. "Welcome, dear hero, to Medaria's spring, named after a great fairy fabled to have once called it home. Rumour has it some of her magic still remains within its waters."
"I can believe that." he murmured. It would certainly explain the glade's miraculous nature.
"Indeed. It's one of the reasons I loved this place… as did my father…"
"Look, Zelda, if…"
"No, Link. I am alright. While spectres of old beloved memories may still haunt this place, they do not define it. Not anymore… I wont let them!" Her voice spoke of determination. When she looked back to him, her gaze was bittersweet, yet glistened not with sadness but hope and gratitude. Link felt a lump in his throat again. "Besides…" She continued "do you know the best way to banish spectral memories, hero?"
"No." he croaked.
"By celebrating the old but also making new ones to treasure – just as much if not more – with friends you trust and…" She trailed off, seemingly conflicted about a word – or words – on the tip of her tongue, eyes briefly darting too and through fro, without focus. Then, as quick as she'd lost her voice, she found it again. "… and that is why I brought you, Link. I cannot think of anyone I would rather make those memories with." The words tumbling from her lips set his heart soaring, yet he sensed they weren't the ones she truly wanted to say. Her words were sincere; of that much he was certain but she seemed almost disappointed in herself. Why?
His heart naturally groped for some romantic connotation but its efforts were clearly delusional. Regardless of her possible disappointment in herself, there was no questioning her disappointment when glancing up at the waning daylight. "What a pity we couldn't start today."
"And why not?" Link countered boldly; encouraged by heart and youth and "begrudgingly" obligated by his prior self-imposed promise to stop moping and seize opportunities whenever they arise. "It wouldn't be the first moment we've shared by the light of the moon."
Zelda gave a wry chuckle. "Yes, and what an upheaval that caused!"
"The morning after maybe, but that night… was special… to me at least."
The princess glanced to the moon. "To me as well, Link… To me as well." Her reply was wistful and gaze glazed with a thoughtful nostalgia. "Hmhm, I had not felt so peaceful or rested in years."
"Gee, thanks Zelda! Glad to know the most memorable part of our reunion was your sleep."
"Link, I didn't mean it like that!" She blurted only to notice his expression. "Oh… you were… joking…" She bit her lip and fiddled awkwardly with her skirts and the hero, even as chivalrous as he was, couldn't deny his warm satisfaction at this rare display from his usually unflappable princess. "Ahem, well, regardless of your amusem. Oh, stop looking so smug! Need I remind you of all the many times I have gotten you…"
"I know. That's why I smug. It's so rare and, no, I won't apologise, princess."
"My, you really have changed. Regardless, as I was going to say… that night was special to me too, not least because without it, you would have never come to the castle and I would have never had the pleasure of your company."
"And what a shame that would have been… for both of us."
"Indeed…" Zelda broke off and for a moment she just absorbed the essence of the magical glade in the moonlight, gaze fondly caressing the flowers, admiring the crystal spring or chasing its babbling stream. Then, with a gentle cough, she returned to her speech. "However, while your company was more than worth the repercussions of that fateful night, I would prefer to avoid a repeat performance, which could happen if we linger much longer. So would my dear hero care to escort his princess back before the sun sets and tongues start wagging."
"When aren't they wagging?"
Zelda giggled. "Very true. Nevertheless, would my hero be so kind?"
"It would be my honour, princess…" He gave an ingratiating theatrical bow but rose with a forthright finger. "however, before we go, I do have a couple of questions."
"Of course, ask away."
"Ok, you brought me here and it's undeniably pretty and precious to you… but I still don't get how this place helped you in the race."
"Aha I see. You may find it hard to spot from here but over there, between those two great oaks, is a hidden path connecting directly to the cliff trail. Indeed, it is so direct that the route is actually shorter than the woodland web, if a little less picturesque."
"And you didn't feel like mentioning this before the race becaaauuuse?"
"Because it would have deprived me of your stunned expression, which may I say, was a delight to behold."
"Well, thank you very much, princess." Link drawled sarcastically.
"Please. You are quite welcome hero…" Zelda replied with a smirk "now, you said you had "a couple" of questions. Care to share the second?"
It was a question that had been niggling in the back of his mind for a while. Something told him she'd been playing coy with this one as well. "Alright. What's the plan for tomorrow?"
"Who says I have a plan?" she simpered coyly.
He simply fixed her with a pointed look. "You always have a plan."
"Hmph. A flattering overstatement, but I suppose you do deserve to know…" Great! it was as he suspected. She had something up her sleeve and he wasn't going to like it. "Tomorrow may not be the most enthralling of experiences but it is something I believe should be done and would be a nice way of commemorating the occasion and your accomplishments."
Well, that was cryptic. "Er, my accomplishments?"
"Yes."
"For what occasion?"
"The end of the twilight invasion."
"What? But that's like three…"
"Yes, three months away but paintings take a long time to do."
"Wait. Are you going to paint me?"
"Oh no, no, no. While I do enjoy it on rare occasions, I am neither skilled nor practiced enough to do you justice. I have commissioned the finest court artist to paint a suitably stately and heroic scene which I hope to unveil on the anniversary of your victory."
A commission? A stately and heroic scene? That all sounded very formal, serious… and time consuming. He'd never actually witnessed it but he had it on good authority that such endeavours required a lot of standing or sitting around… for long periods… without moving! Yes, that did indeed sound like a recurring nightmare. Link's eyes bulged and Zelda clearly noticed, judging by her ill-restrained giggle.
"Hehehm, Please Link. Don't be such a drama queen. It will not be as bad as you envision. After all, should the weather hold, I intend to have it painted here by the spring and I cannot imagine more pleasant surroundings…"
"It's not the surroundings that bother me. It's the time I'll have to stand still!"
"Come now. It will likely only be a few hours; four at most…"
"Four!" the hero exploded.
The princess however was unphased "… and I'll be there for company…"
This news quickly quelled his eruption. Hm, perhaps this wouldn't be so bad. After all, he'd spent many dull hours standing in empty corridor while on guard duty – and that was without Zelda's company. Indeed, if it was just him and her… oh, and that so called "great artist" – really such an unnecessary nuisance they could do without. Come on, embrace the opportunity.
"… unless I get forcibly inveigled by some of my insufferable suitors, that is… Oh, and our interactions will likely be somewhat constrained by the presence of the court…" Damnit, princess! Why'd you have to get my hopes up like that?! "Time, however, may work in our favour in that regard as most will not tarry too long, out of boredom, and should hopeful vacate in search of more stimulating sport."
Oh well, there was a small ray of hope. Fingers crossed.
At this point, youth jumped in to remind him to stop being "a pernickety pessimist" – which shocked him that he actually possessed such a word as pernickety in his vocabulary – and "see it as an opportunity" – reminding him yet again of the promise he now deeply regretted making. Yet again though, he found himself with no valid reasons against it.
It was soon left by the wayside however, as he was hit by a sudden realisation. "Wait a minute! You said it would be unveiled on the anniversary of my victory. Don't you mean our victory?"
"Oh, do not worry. Your resistance allies will be getting their own…"
"That's not what I meant…" Indeed, the resistance hadn't even crossed his mind, much to his shame. Great way to honour your friends and comrades, ah Hero! He grimaced and sought to discard the thought. "I meant you!" he snapped, adding awkwardly "… and Midna."
"Well, I was considering Midna, hence why I asked you to bring those sketches you have of her. That could prove somewhat complicated but she could be added later."
"And what about you?"
Zelda's lips twitched and her eye strayed. "What about me?"
"Well, you should be in it too."
"Oh, there are plenty of paintings of me already." She dismissed airily but he couldn't miss her gaze carefully avoiding meeting his.
He could see what she was doing and he wasn't about to let her get away with it. "None of those were to commemorate the heroes of the twilight invasion, princess…" he retorted swiftly "and before you argue, yes, you're one of them. Without you I'd have failed; Midna would have died and Ganondorf would now rule a Hyrule bathed in eternal twilight."
"Its kind of you to say…"
"No, it's not kind, Zelda. It's simply the truth. You deserve to be in it just as much as me…" He took a deep breath and summoned all the boldness he could muster – he certainly needed it if he was going to bargain with her. "… and if you aren't in it then I wont be either."
That certainly got her gaze back on him "Link?!"
Just stand firm! Don't give in to those sparkling sapphires. "That is my offer princess. Either we're both in it or it wont happen."
Zelda tried a wordless imploring appeal but, much to his surprise and pride, he resisted her silent pleas, even adding "Besides, if you're being painted then none of those insufferable suitors can drag you away." That point was, naturally, entirely for her benefit and absolutely nothing to do with his stomach when he pictured those scoundrels with her.
The princess maintained her imploring visage for a lingering moment, but with her hero displaying no signs of wavering to its effects, her brow gradually creased in contemplation. Finally, she released a drawn out sigh of resignation "Very well Link, if those are truly the only terms to which you will agree, I guess I must acquiesce… Provided you honour those terms. You will honour your terms, will you not?"
Ok, why did she even need to ask that? "Errr, of course."
"If I agree to be in the painting, so will you?"
"Yes." Had he not been clear? That is what he'd said. Why did she seem to doubt it?
She cocked her head, still sceptical "Shake on it?"
"Yes!" Link snapped and took her hand rather more roughly then was polite, slighty insulted at her seemingly questioning his integrity. Of course, he instantly regretted it when he caught her apologetic expression.
"My apologies Link. It was not my intent to question your honour. I merely sought clarification."
He thought he'd already made himself quite clear the first time… but then again, he wasn't the best with his words… and he couldn't bare the sight of her all rueful and self-conscious. "Ahem, no. No need to apologise princess. I simply overreacted."
Relief washed over her worried visage. "Oh thank you. It is most heartening to know you are not mad with me." Then, in a flash, her princess veil came down and she turned on her heel. "Now that that has been settled, let us return."
Zelda wafted away but Link was frozen; suddenly struck by an inexplicable dread – as if he'd just signed a dodgy loan. There was something "off" about her voice. It seemed placid and enigmatic and yet… did his ear spy a stealthy smirk lurking amidst her pristine consonants?
His eyes shot to her face but all he got was a sliver of her profile as she glided away… with something of a spring in her step.
But what did she have to smirk about, unless… He ran through their conversation in his mind. It halted at one line. "If I agree to be in the painting, so will you?" The line repeated, rattling round his cranium like a loose cannonball. Then the cannonball dropped… along with his stomach.
She'd flipped it!
She's stitched him up!
Instead of her agreeing to be in it if he was, she'd just got him to agree to be in it if she was! What's more she'd gotten him to… no, let's be honest about this, she'd tricked him into shaking hands on it, even staking his honour on it!
But why would she feel the need to resort to such underhanded tactics… unless she was sure he'd try to back out of being painted!
But why would she think…
Oh…
There was something else about this painting session that she'd kept from him; something even more disturbing the hours of tedium and embarrassment; even worse than the critical eye and constricting company of the court! He could bare the hours and the court would hopefully sod-off at some stage…
So what could…
Wait…
Oh no!
His trickster of a princess was almost at her horse when he dashed after her with a shout. "Hey Zelda, who's the artist?"
"Pardon?" She turned with a sweet smile, but her sapphires didn't match.
"Who's the artist?" he repeated.
"Oh, do not worry Link, he's very esteemed and…"
"Zelda!" He growled through gritted teeth.
This fierce display only served to split her sweet princess façade to reveal the smirk beneath, yet even then, she delayed her answer until his eyebrows started twitching. Then she struck her killer blow. "The great artist…"
Come on!
"Is…"
Please! Put me out of my…
"Basil." The name sounded so harmless, slipping out in such dulcet tones from such delicate lips.
It took several seconds for the bomb to go off.
Basil.
…
Basil!
…
BASIL!
…
"If he cuts off my hair, I'll cut off his…"