Dark truly hated coming to court.
He felt about as welcome as a deku scrub in a pottery shop, and as out of his element as a goron in the ocean.
It was the staring, he decided. The lords and ladies of Hyrule's court must lead supremely dull lives. Either that or they were just prejudiced.
The first time he'd come to court, he'd honestly tried to make idle conversation, mingle and whatnot. Hyrule's nobility was changing in recent years—divided between the old families who proudly traced their pure lineage and wealth back to Hyrule's origins, and those who had more recently earned a spot.
Link assured him most of the court-goers were there for business purposes and held no grudge against Dark. But still there were whispers. Snide looks.
The pure nobles were typical. They took one look at his darker skin and strange eyes and turned their backs to discuss him as if he wasn't aware what they were doing. These people came from privileged families who enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the crown.
The others, businessmen, statesmen, landowners, were a bit more accepting, more friendly. But Dark's eerie crimson eyes still put some people off.
Dark decided to keep his own company, enjoying the excellent food provided by the castle cooks and finding a spot by the window. At least he could look out at castle gardens. There was a small grove of fruit trees he thought about exploring. Maybe the guards wouldn't notice if he swiped a few saplings for Silas—he was always talking about planting more trees on the farm.
Surveying the gathered courtiers, Dark pretended not to notice the disappointment he felt at not seeing the Labrynnian ambassador. When Link had asked him to meet here today, he'd been hoping to run into her again. Perhaps she was at the barracks again, wiping the floor with more recruits.
"Dark!"
At the sound of his brother's voice, he glanced up from his window. Link, dressed in his navy blue uniform, was walking towards him. On cue the gathered nobles turned their heads to look, with mixed expressions.
Link looked the part of a pure-blood Hylian, but his connection to Dark and his known low-born status wasn't favourable in some circles. Others watched Link go with clear smiles and admiration, greeting him warmly.
Making his way past his admirers, Link came up to Dark and embraced him. Despite his newly heightened status, Link didn't care what others might think of the display.
"Link," Dark said, giving him a short clap on the shoulder. He lifted his wine goblet for a drink and asked, "Couldn't tear yourself from your admirers any earlier?"
Link grimaced. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I had some business to take care of."
Grinning, Dark teased, "You sound so official. Or perhaps you just wanted to ignore your older brother as long as you could."
Link snorted and shook his head. "If I'd wanted to avoid you, traveling hundreds of miles to see you was a mistake."
Their laughter at the joke died as the room grew abruptly quiet, and the pair turned to see what had caused the fuss.
Lady Elena Baxtry had just entered the hall. A tall, slight woman with dark hair, she wore a black, high-collared dress and walked with sedate steps. She also sported a large amount of cucco feathers stuck in her loose hair and clinging to her gown.
Others stepped aside as she passed, seemingly without noticing them. Her gaze was fixed ahead of her; her hands folded in front of her waist, her elbows bent. As she wandered, she naturally came to stand near the windows, so Dark called out for her to join them. He'd met her a few times, before he'd left Hyrule.
Elena fixed soft grey eyes wandered over them, and then she drifted in their direction. "Dark," she said politely. She nodded at Link. "Captain."
"How are you, Elena?" Link asked, slyly brushing the feathers off her sleeve when she came closer.
Her attention was focused on a spot below Dark's left eye. After a pause of a few seconds, she answered, "Oh, just fine." She fell silent again.
"Elena," Dark said. "You're staring at me."
Grey eyes blinked and trailed onto his shoulder. "Link told me you'd be coming back for a visit. I was thinking you might need somewhere to stay, Dark."
Elena had a quiet, almost distracted quality to her speech, but at times she became very direct and blunt. Others thought her vague and a bit dreamy-headed, but she was as educated and accomplished as any noblewoman. More so, as she enjoyed a prestigious spot at the royal academy.
He shifted uncomfortably at her remark. "I'm not sure how long I'll be staying," he admitted, glancing guiltily at his brother.
Elena shrugged elegantly. "If you decide to stay, my father would be more than happy to have you as a guest at our house for dinner one night."
"Thanks, Elena. That's kind of you to offer."
She looked at Dark with a rare smile; a slight upward curve of her lips. "You're always very kind to me."
Dark rubbed the back his neck. "Of course..."
Link watched their interaction with poorly disguised glee. "Elena," he began, and Dark groaned in anticipation of what he would say next. "The midwinter ball will be coming up next month—why don't you and Dark attend together?"
Dark's head whipped around. He glared at Link, who ignored it—the bastard.
Elena looked nonplussed, so Dark said, "Don't feel like you need to accept, I'm sure there are other men who've asked you."
"No," she replied bluntly. "I think most men find me intimidating."
Dark winced. "Oh."
"It's perfect!" Link grinned, clapping him on the back.
"I think my brother is under the mistaken impression that because he's about to be blissfully wed, I need to be as well," he grumbled.
Elena tapped her chin with a delicate finger. "Maybe he feels bad, seeing you so lonely."
Dark chuckled wryly at her bluntness. "Do I reek of desperation, too?"
Elena leaned in and sniffed at the front of his shirt, her nose wrinkling. "No, I don't detect anything," she told him seriously.
Laughter built up and he couldn't stop it. Link snorted. Puzzled, Elena watched him with narrowed eyes.
"I'm not sure why I have this effect on you," she told Dark. "Do I amuse you?"
He tried to stifle his laughter, not wanting to give her the wrong impression. "You do, but it's a good thing. Friends who make you laugh are the best kind of friends, right?"
Elena's little smile appeared again. "Yes," she agreed. She patted his arm three times. "We are friends."
"So you don't mind going to the party with me?"
"I like your company." She moved closer again as if confessing something. "I don't really want to talk to anyone else either."
Dark fastidiously ignored Link's stupid grin. "Then it's settled. I'll be your escort."
Elena smiled again, smoothing her hands over her skirt before clasping them again. "I'll make arrangements."
Link glanced over her shoulder, motioning to someone. "Please excuse us, we have a meeting."
"A meeting?" Dark arched a brow.
Elena nodded again and walked back towards the window, while Link started at a brisk pace out of the hall.
"What meeting?" Dark inquired, following his brother out of the hall and up the grand staircase.
"Zelda has a meeting in a few minutes she asked me to attend. It shouldn't take long," he added. "Afterwards, we're speaking with Impa about the attack on that village. I thought you'd want to come along."
"I appreciate the thought," Dark said, stopping with him outside a carved mahogany door. Zelda's office, he assumed.
Link gestured to a plush chair against the wall outside the door. "I won't be long," he promised. He knocked and slipped inside, shutting the door behind him.
~oOo~
Lymira was just finished scrawling her return message to Queen Anvi when she heard the knock at her door.
"A moment!" she called, rolling the scrap of paper in her hands. She tied the message to the leg of the patiently waiting, trained hawk and watched it shoot off the balcony before she opened the door.
Dagan stood there, smiling pleasantly. He made a gesture she assumed was some kind of greeting. When she copied him, he grinned and held out his arm for her to follow him.
Dagan whisked them down the maze of hallways to the other side of the castle. Here the halls were even more beautiful. Every wall bearing ceremonial arms, portraits of royal family members, tableaus of significant moments in Hyrulean history. Each ceiling beautifully carved, all the carpets thick and richly embroidered with patterns of flowering vines, leaves, birds and animals.
The door of the princess's study had been molded by an artist, not a craftsman. An oak tree adorned the wooden surface, cradling in its heavy branches the Hylian crest of the bird, wings outstretched, three connected triangles in place of its head. Dagan knocked politely, then ushered Lymira inside once a voice answered.
Dagan stepped in ahead of her, signing to the woman inside seated at the enormous oak desk.
Lymira did her best curtsy after what she hoped was a signed introduction, trying to keep her balance as she stooped.
"Thank you, Dagan. I'll call you when you're needed."
Princess Zelda signed each word she spoke, graciously asking Lymira to have a seat. She rose and moved towards the desk, idly taking in the study. It was a cozy room, with full bookcases, a large, south-facing window and a brazier to keep it comfortably warm. The furniture was all oak, covered with plush cushions.
The future queen of Hyrule watched Lymira as she seated herself on the other side of the desk. The navy, square-necked bodice emphasized the strict posture and bearing that only royalty seemed able to achieve. The blue offset her fair complexion and golden blonde hair well. Her hair was pulled back into an elegant queue and draped artfully over one shoulder—on purpose, Lymira suspected.
She studied the princess's face, sizing her up. If nothing else, the stories of Princess Zelda's beauty and grace were spot on. The woman exuded queenliness.
"Ambassador Talen," she said, with an apologetic smile. "Thank you for allowing me to reschedule our meeting. Please, let me welcome you to Hyrule and our home. I hope you've been comfortable so far."
"Very," Lymira responded. "Everyone's been very kind. Especially Dagan," she added, tilting her head towards the door. "He deserves a promotion, or whatever reward you can give."
A smile flickered across the princess's face. "I'm happy to hear it. Dagan has asked to be your escort during your stay. If you have no objections?"
Lymira grinned. "None. Although I will have to learn some Hylian Sign, I suppose."
Some of the tension left the princess's shoulders, and the carefully neutral expression slipped.
"It's quite easy to learn," the princess assured her. "For instance, this is 'hello' and 'how are you?'" She motioned with her hands, slowly, as she spoke, demonstrating the proper signs.
Lymira imitated her, practicing a few times to ensure she had it right. Princess Zelda watched with approval.
"The reason I wanted to meet was to discuss your stay," she continued. "I understand from Queen Anvi's letter you'll be staying until at least after the wedding."
Shrugging, Lymira said, "I guess so. As long as you'll have me."
That ghost of a smile appeared again. Princess Zelda said, "You're very welcome to stay. Two weeks from now, Hyrule will celebrate the winter solstice. We hold a masked ball at the castle during the festivities. I hope you will come as my guest."
"Of course, your—" Lymira started.
The study door opened and the blond Hylian soldier she'd met on the ferry ride strolled in. Lymira hid her surprise. He wasn't so successful. Zelda smiled at him, seemingly unaware of the byplay.
"Ambassador Talen, allow me to introduce my fiancée, Link."
Link sketched a quick bow, eyeing Lymira with amusement.
Lymira arched her brow. "Shouldn't there be a 'captain' in there? Or should I say 'your highness'?"
Link's expression was somewhere between sheepish and a grimace. "Just Link, please." His eyes narrowed. "You never told me you were the ambassador from Labrynna."
She crossed her arms. "You never told me who you really were, either."
He had the grace to look apologetic. "Sorry, I try not to announce myself everywhere I go. We met on the ferry," he added to Zelda, who was watching with curiosity. He bowed to Lymira again. "It's an honour to welcome you to Hyrule, Mistress Talen."
"Just Lymira."
He grinned. Zelda stood up from her chair, calling for one of the servants waiting outside the door.
"I'll have someone show you back to your room, Ambassador," she said. "And I hope we'll get the chance to speak again soon."
Lymira inclined her head. "Your highness." She turned to Link and smirked. "Link."
Link chuckled and gave her a little wave. Dagan swept into the room, greeting her with a shy smile. Lymira smiled back, allowing him to escort her from the room, though she felt the courtesy entirely unnecessary. She could see herself out.
In the hallway, the tall white-haired woman, Impa, was speaking to Dark, the man she'd met at the training grounds yesterday. She almost stumbled in Dagan in her surprise.
"Lady Talen," Dark said, looking equally surprised.
"Lymira," she corrected automatically, momentarily distracted looking into his eyes.
She'd never seen eyes like that. They reminded Lymira of a dragon's eyes—dark and intense and fathomless. The way he stared at her now sent a shiver of awareness down her spine.
He broke the spell with a smile—the slightest curve of his mouth. "It's good to see you again."
"You as well."
"Forgive the interruption," Impa cut in, glancing at Dark with an expression Lymira didn't understand. "We're expected."
"Until again," Dark said to Lymira, nodding as he followed Impa into the princess's office.
Lymira stared at the closing door. "I wonder what that's all about," she mused aloud. Next to her, Dagan shrugged.
"Do you know him?" she asked the secretary. He shook his head. "Hmm. Do you think you could show me the library? I've heard so many things about the Hyrule Castle library; I've been anxious to see it."
Smiling, Dagan beckoned her and turned right, leading her around a corner and down a corridor. The library was enormous, of course. Rows upon rows of shelves reaching up to the vaulted ceiling. Ladders and stools helped readers access the books at the top, and plush chairs and couches offered ample reading space. On the right wall were tall windows with nooks underneath. The left was taken up by a mural of a forest, in which hid and frolicked characters from popular stories and tales.
Perusing the shelves, which were helpfully labelled by subject matter, Lymira wondered where to begin the search. All the books under 'history' were likely to be of the Hyrulean variety only. When she spied a handful of shelves sequestered behind a cloister, she tried the gate, only to find it locked.
Dagan hurried up to her, scribbling on his notepad.
'Only members of the Royal family can access this section, or permit someone else to access it.'
"Hmm." Lymira frowned. The books in question were old, weathered, with dark leather-bound covers. She had a sneaking suspicion the knowledge she sought lay in one of those forbidden tomes.
Not wanting to arouse Dagan's suspicions, she turned to him with a smile.
"I think I'll spend the rest of the day reading in here. I'm sure you have more important things to do."
Dagan looked reluctant to leave, so she pressed. "Really, I'll be fine on my own. And I can find my way back to my room."
Still looking a bit doubtful, he left her alone in the library. After snooping the stacks for a while, Lymira decided she would need some help. If what she needed was even here, that is.
A short cough drew her attention, and she halted at the end of one row. Peering around the shelf, she spotted a young woman sat in one of the window nooks, curled up with a weighty brick of a book. At Lymira's approach, she hid behind it, completely covering her face.
"Um, excuse me?"
The woman lifted her book higher. Her knees were drawn up close under her dark skirt; only her shoes poked out.
"Sorry to bother you," Lymira said, tapping the top of the book. "I was hoping you could help me find something. You seem to know your way around."
The woman sighed and lowered her shield. Her eyes flicked over Lymira, pausing at the pendant she wore around her neck.
"That's a very rare necklace," she remarked, standing up and leaning over so her nose was nearly touching Lymira's chest.
"Um, thanks."
"I've never seen one in person. Quite remarkable."
Lymira gaped at her, then shook her head. "Could you help me? I'm looking for any books that might be in here about the Clans of Talus."
The woman blinked at her and straightened the reading glasses she wore. "Why are you asking me? Aren't you a member of Clan Talen?"
Lymira's eyes almost popped out. "How could you possibly know that?"
Arching a brow, the woman made a vague gesture. "Your accent is Labrynnan, but your speech is more informal, leading me to believe you come from the highlands and not Lynna City. Your clothes are similar to those said to be worn by the Clans, your complexion and physique suggest you live outdoors and you wear one of the fabled treasures of the Clans around your neck. I suspect you belong to the Talen Clan because of the crest on your belt."
"That's amazing," Lymira laughed. "My name is Lymira Talen."
"You're the ambassador from Labrynna."
"Yes. I see word travels fast."
"Yes. I'm Elena." She shrugged. "Or Lady Elena Baxtry, if you like."
"I'm glad to have met you Elena. It's been hard to find anyone who knows much about the Clans of Talus."
Elena shrugged again. "People forget even the most recent history. But I suppose the Clans were quite reclusive, even when they existed."
"Are there any books here detailing their history?"
"I'm not certain. Not even I've read everything in here," Elena said.
Lymira glanced at the corner she'd been hiding in. "You come here to get away, huh?"
Elene grimaced. "Court doesn't always agree with me."
"Me neither. I'll be your excuse to stay in here all day if you help me navigate this place."
Elena glanced at her. "I suppose I could help."
"Fantastic. We can start with books on the Clans and after that I'm sure I'll need help with something else. If you don't mind me keeping you from court, that is," she added, winking.
Elena's brow furrowed. "We can start in history," she replied, all business. "We may be able to narrow the search."
When Elena whisked off, Lymira followed eagerly. Despite her new friend's brusque manner, she felt they were going to get along just fine.
"Hey Elena?"
"Yes?"
"While we're at it, could you help me find some books on sign language?"