Chapter 23: Pumpkin Soup

Link tried not to limp as he left the training room, but his brow slightly furrowed against his will with every bend of his knee. Well, at least there aren't bruises all over my face this time. Less noticeable.

Link had been walking past the library when the door was flung open, nearly nailing him in the face.

"Sir Link?"

Link looked at the person who had left the room and bowed his head. "Princess."

The princess bit her lip. "Sorry about that." What? Why is she apologizing to me? "I was just a bit… upset. That's all."

There is no need to apologize, Princess. Especially not to me of all people.

"I was actually just about to come and find you." The princess said. "Would you mind joining me in my study again?"

Link shook his head. "Of course not."

"Good, then." The princess said hesitantly. "Come with me?"

You must stop talking to people so casually. Why have you been talking to the princess as you have been? The almighty knight is meant to be formal and proper, right?

Well, yeah, that was true. He needed to stop talking to people. He was going to far out of line. What hero revealed so much about himself? Had friends?

But… he just felt so lonely…

Stop thinking like that. Link scolded himself as they turned a corner. You're a knight. You're a champion. The great hero. You don't need friends, and the princess has it far worse than you, anyway.

At least Link had a choice in failure. He had failed when he had been perfectly capable of succeeding. But the princess… she was so dedicated. She was trying so hard, but her power was still evading her.

Link hadn't tried. Well, he had, but he hadn't tried hard enough. That was obvious. If only he had been smarter. But unfortunately, he still wasn't very smart.

"You're too reckless!" Liari had been joking at that moment, but she was right. Throwing himself into situations headfirst, without taking a moment to think, Someone else can take care of that. It isn't my job. This is a REALLY bad idea.

But he still did them. Yes, Liari. I'm too reckless.

They had reached the princess's study. Link walked ahead of her and pulled open the door with a bow."After you, Princess." Link said emotionlessly. After all, that was the knightly thing to do. And he needed to start acting more knightly.

The princess walked through quickly and towards her table. Link closed the door swiftly and silently before following.

"Do sit." The princess gestured, before sitting down herself.

This is how she got you to talk before.

I can't deny anything of the princess. Link argued internally. I would be breaking my oath.

Link sat. Whatever question she would ask, he was to answer truthfully. Right? After all, his job was to serve her. Who was he to keep secrets?

"They should be bringing the food up soon." The princess said. "In the meantime, is there anything you'd like to ask?"

Um, no. Link thought. I'm not supposed to be curious. I'm a knight for crying out loud.

Or for crying on the inside? Nevermind…that makes me seem depressed.

Actually, maybe he was depressed. Link wasn't sure. Nope, nope, you can't be depressed, you don't have feelings. BLANK HYLIAN CHAMPION, STOP FEELING LONELY! You don't need friends. Nope.

"No questions?" The princess asked.

Link shook his head. Nope, no questions. No curiosity for this knight. I don't have thoughts, nope! No emotions. NOTHING! This brain is blank. Just a tool. Weapon. Nothing, nothing, NOTH-

Is that pumpkin soup I smell?

A knock at the door. "That must be them." The princess said.

OH NO, PUMPKIN SOUP?! LIAAAAAAAAAAAAARIIIIIIII! HOW COULD YOU?! TRAITOR!

Welp, there goes the stiff and silent knight. Link thought as the princess opened the door and carried a pot into the room. Liari had to give the princess my greatest weakness. Because of course it was Liari. NO ONE ELSE KNEW!

Stop freaking out, Link. Deep breaths. It can't be even close to as good as… mother's…

Now Link was feeling really lonely. STOP IT! STOP FEELING LONELY! He screamed internally.

After she had sat, the princess served herself to some of the soup, scooping it into her bowl.

"Feel free to help yourself, Sir Link." She said as she sipped a spoonful.

...Just a little bit. That can't lower my cover. No sir.

Link scooped a lot more than a little bit into his bowl. Well… it's not like the princess is going to eat all of this.

"So, Sir Link…" The princess said hesitantly as Link began eating the soup. On the bright side, he wasn't eating like a complete lunatic for once. "How has your day been so far?"

Now that I have this pumpkin soup, it's been delightful, thank you very much. But Link remembered the ache in his knee as it gave a twinge. He was surprised, but glad, that the princess hadn't noticed his limp.

The princess frowned when he didn't reply.

"Fine." He said quickly. Fine, fine, FINE. Great, even! I deserved every second of that beating!

"If you say so…" The princess said uncertainly. "Do you mind if I… ask you something personal?"

Link shook his head. No. I mean, I'd rather have nobody know about anything, but whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat ever. Obviously Liari's giving away all my secrets anyway.

"Why is it…" The princess hesitated. "...That you rarely speak?"

Link looked back up at the princess. Ohhhh boy.

Link allowed himself to frown. "I am not the best with words." Link took in a deep breath. You asked for this, agreeing to this whole thing. Now answer the princess honestly, you idiot.

"That, and, with so much at stake…" Link looked down at the bowl of soup. "And so many eyes upon me… It is necessary for me to appear as the strong and invincible knight that everyone wishes to see. For who wants a hero-"

...Like me? He nearly said. He quickly cut himself off. That wasn't the way a knight would speak. A hero. "-Who wants a hero that is…as weak as I?" He tried to keep his voice emotionless, but he couldn't help croaking out the last words. Crap, crap, crap, crap, CRAP!

Link looked back up.

The princess looked at him with sorrowful eyes. "You believe you are weak?"

Huh, I guess that wasn't the best wording either. Welp, too late now. "I find honesty quite important. Even to myself." Link said blankly as he spooned some more soup into his mouth. Soooooooooooo good.

With the princess remaining silent, eating her own soup, he sped up faster, and faster, until the next spoonful came up empty.

Link frowned at the empty bowl. "Why, soup? Why did you have to disappear?" He mumbled.

He heard a stifled giggle. "Do you always chastise your food?"

He looked up and blushed slightly. He'd forgotten the princess was there. "Maaaaaaaybe. At least you can't hear the thought side."

The princess looked intrigued. "And what was your 'thought side?'"

Link grew redder. He cleared his throat. "'Where did you go, soup?! I NEED MORE.' And then some screaming, for dramatic effect, of course."

The princess blinked at him before laughing. "I don't think I've ever seen this side of you, Sir Link."

Link frowned. I dropped my cover, didn't I?

...But talking to the princess like this is nice. And somehow my stupidity managed to make her smile. ...But I'm supposed to be the stoic and silent knight! WHAT AM I THINKING? BAD LINK, BAD!

"That's not a bad thing!" The princess said quickly. "I actually find it far more comfortable to be around you when you are like this, not when you're all stiff and quiet."

She does? "You do?" He asked quietly.

The princess nodded with a smile. "I assure you that I would be quite fine with it if you acted like this more often."

For the first time in months, possibly even years, Link smiled a true, full smile.

I was not procrastinating. NOPE! No sir. I am not in denial. In fact, I'm no where near Egypt. Hah, get it? Denial? Egypt? Eh? Eh? No? Okay.

It may have taken a few days, but I think this is one of my favorites so far, so it's totally worth it.

REPLIES!

MeaninglessMayhem: Well, I can't tell you the whole thing... but I can give you a hint. "'If only you were better.' This voice was feminine, and quite bitter. 'Everything I had done, and because of you my life was shortened.'" Just a tiny hint. Shh! Fruitcake... pumpkin soup... I'm seeing a chapter title theme going on here. I'm glad my advice was helpful! UNTIL THE NEXT CHAPTER. DUN, dun, DUUUUUUUUN!

The-Fallen-Spirit: *le gasp* YES! Link, would you like some frog legs?

SmokeyMirrors: Sounds like it! Who cares about weird looks? I'm dressing as BOTW Zelda for Halloween, and I'm totally going to try doing her accent. It's okay! "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Here we've got some cute Link moments. Yeah, I'm totally going to have some kid try and steal Epona or something and then get thrown off. But then Link would get more depressed... huh. Maybe not the best idea. You want a gold star? Here, have another one. Hrrrrrgh I wish I could tell you about his parents, but I can't yet! I know all the secrets. JUST YOU WAIT! Only a matter of time now that Link and Zellie are becoming buddies (kind of). I completely forgot to have Zelda interrogate Link about the fruitcake until I finished writing the chapter! OOPS! I think that she'll ask him about it eventually. Well, his- er, the voice said, "Or should I say the things you've failed to do?" Because it isn't that Link did anything wrong, it's that he blames himself for not doing anything. Does that make sense? OR MAYBE NOT! MUAhAHAHAHAHA! Maybe it refers to his parents' deaths, maybe not. Things will be revealed (Eventually). I actually have only ridden horses Western style, so never the English way. Thanks for the facts! I'm sure they'll be helpful! Yeah, Epona seems a bit stubborn. Good ol' Epona. Frog legs? That's another gold star! Noice. As I say EVERY chapter (I hope this isn't getting annoying), I'm so glad you enjoy it!