A/N: Hello! The first chapter was mostly a preface, and chapter two is where the story truly begins. I am not sure yet how many chapters this story will be, but I don't plan on making it very long since I have some other stories in mind that I am anxious to write/publish. But I am enjoying creating this little piece and honestly just love Twilight Princess's versions of Link and Zelda. I hope you enjoy!
-Ximnah
Chapter 2
And so, the tradition began.
The Hero of Twilight no longer shuddered and shoved the thought of the imitating Arbiter's Grounds from his mind, but rather made effort to visit it on a regular occasion with the most esteemed woman of Hyrule. Their solemn visits often consisted with reverent silence filled with remembrance as well as gratitude to each other's company. Each day of the full moon they would set out from their individual lives to retire to the silent grounds that had witnessed so much action and history. Their differing statuses—that of a princess versus a goat herder—were quickly forgotten and their mourning and understanding toward one another consumed each silent visit. Though they hardly uttered a single word to each other since their initially visit, they both noticed that they felt a bond and inexplicable sense of peace begin to develop between each other. Several more months passed until a sly year had snuck by since their tradition began when their comfortable and equaled silence was finally broken.
"Have you any interest in returning to Castletown?"
The Princess's voice was soft, sounding almost nervous to break their habit. Her blue, almost violet eyes removed themselves from the rock that stood solidly in the sand and looked instead to the stoic face of the hero whom saved her kingdom. For a moment, she thought he had not heard her inquiry and was perhaps too absorbed in thought. But his piercing blue eyes recovered from a distracted glaze and met hers. He hesitated and pondered, and the Princess of Hyrule felt strangely shy and anxious under his analytical stare that she was not used to feeling—she normally was not on the receiving end of an intimidating gaze with her being royalty. But after a pondering moment he gave a nod that caused his faintly golden locks to glint in the setting sun. She smiled warmly.
"I would quite like to see you there; I'm sure the people of Castletown would as well. I hear curious whispers and rumors of where the courageous Hero has wandered off to." She cocked her head fondly, as she met his gaze. A gentle smile spread across his features, still speaking nothing as they stood in the dying sunlight. She was intrigued by his constant silence that seemed to speak so loudly.
"The festival of the Goddess Farore will be taking place starting this week. It would be fitting for you to go." A humble hue of red reached his face and tips of his pointed ears and he gave another soft grin as she referenced his relation to the Goddess of Courage, which portion of the Triforce he bore upon his left hand. "You are too humble, dear Hero. Any regular person would boast in pride and take advantage of their heroism if they were in your position. It is comforting to see such fame to be placed upon a soul so caring and selfless." The red deepened on his face; always a humble hero. Her attention was caught by the last rays of sunlight beginning to slip behind the horizon, and she turned to leave after offering a farewell to the courageous man. He stopped her, however, and offered to escort her through the Arbiter's Grounds and out into the desert heat that was just beginning to lower its sweltering ways for the night.
The two reached the bottom of the hastily carved pathway at Lake Hylia, and each mounted their horses. With a swift movement of her hands, the Princess pulled a hood over her head and faced the Hero one last time for the day as he picked the reigns up of his steed.
"I dearly look forward to seeing you at the festivities," she said softly in her ever-thoughtful voice, though an odd look of almost regret flickered on her pristine features for the quickest moment before it was replaced again by a friendly smile. "Farewell, Hero." She too picked up her horse's reigns and began to trot away but was interrupted mid-trot by a deep voice that sent chills through her graceful frame.
"Please, call me Link."
The quiet hero set off toward the bustling Castletown when the sun was just barely peeking into the land. He packed his enchanted packs with small portions of food and water for his trip, as well as a few rupees he hoped to give to the townspeople. The early morning brought a biting chill, so he wrapped a warm coat around his body as he climbed atop Epona and headed toward the looming castle in the distance.
He arrived in the ever-busy town in the late hours of the afternoon, and was kindly welcomed as people were moving about and setting up festive decorations for the events this week, which were starting in today's evening. Banners of the crest of Hyrule were hung proudly above each shop, and the streamers hung from the stone supports were a forest green in honor of the Goddess Farore. Hyrule's Hero handed over his horse to the local stables and set off to Telma's bar to rent a bed for the week. He had hardly stepped into the cozy bar when a booming voice filled the entire room.
"Link! Come in, come in! Where have you been so long, sweetie?" The broad woman practically leaped over her counter to crush Link into a strong hug. After she finally released him, he stumbled back and gave a chuckle, happy to see an old friend.
"Here to rent your room, I assume?" Telma quirked a red eyebrow as Link nodded. She wandered back to her counter and tossed him a pair of worn keys and smiled. The blond hero took a look around the bar, happy to see that Telma had a bit of business—a few men sat upon barrels with drinks in their hands and were glancing curiously in Link's direction. He bowed his head slightly to her in a thanking manner, and walked to his small room toward the back of the bar. The space was far from roomy, but the wooden rafters and bedframe along with the flickering fireplace made it feel homey. Link unloaded his small pack onto the hand-carved table against the right wall and stopped for a moment to allow memories to swell in his mind as he recalled several nights spent in the cozy room while on his journey. Some nights were filled with relief and triumph as he made progress in his quest where other nights were brimming with exhaustion as he just returned from a long week spent in a dungeon and collapsed upon the small quilt and tried to ignore his wounds.
This visit, however, was a much more pleasant occurrence. He planned to set out tomorrow afternoon to witness the festivities that were promised by the citizens he passed on his way to Telma's. Though he knew it wasn't likely, the Hero hoped that he would be able to observe the events without being noticed, for he much preferred to blend in with the crowds and he wanted to be treated like any other townsperson, even though he was grateful for the kindness he received. As long as he could keep his red ears and face under control, he could perhaps tolerate the attention.
After unloading his few possessions onto the worn bed and table, he joined Telma at her counter so she could fill him in on what had happened the past year since he had last visited. In her tale telling, she paused frequently to scold him for not visiting Castletown more often, to which he shrugged sheepishly and quickly changed the topic. The lady was so unpredictable, giving tight embraces and smiles one moment and scolding with furrowed eyebrows the next. Despite her wild changing, Link loved her like she was his aunt and appreciated her large heart.
The night became late and drunkards slowly stumbled out of the bar when the blond hero bade Telma good-night and retired to his warm room. The bed welcomed him after the long day of travel despite its creaking frame that was short enough for Link's feet to hang over the edge, he became comfortable. Sleep came quickly as always, and he dreamt of excited faces of Castletown and the gentle smile of a princess.
Castletown's atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and cheer as soon as Link walked into the round central area the next afternoon. The high sun caused the fountain to sparkle as it bubbled water over its stone tiers, and small children tossed single green rupees into the pool that sat at the bottom of the cascading water. Temporary booths were being set up for carnival games, as well as ones for trinkets or food that sent wafting smells of roasted Hyrule bass and spices into the warm air. Every face was adorned with intricate smears of green paint that matched the streamers—as well as content smiles as they wandered through booths. A local group of people were playing upbeat music off to the side of the bustling center, and people danced with energy to the playful notes.
The pure cheerfulness infected the Hero as well—a broad smile stretched across his face as he wandered along the stone ground. As he passed a booth, a woman with turquoise hair and a rosy face grabbed his arm and pulled him to a seat with a giggle and began painting green onto his face without a moment of hesitation. She took only a few moments before she pulled a mirror in front of him with a "ta-da!". He stared at his own reflection, admiring the two intricate lines of green that extended from the top of his forehead and met between his eyebrows in an V shape. An additional swirl on each side of his face laid just below the outer edges of his eyes. With a thanking smile, he handed the girl a blue rupee despite her protests to being paid since he was "Hyrule's Hero", and he set off again around the plaza.
He tried his best to ignore the stares he got from nearly every person he passed, and was often stopped by excited people to either compliment him or ask about his journey to save Hyrule. Though he responded with friendly grins and "thank-you"s, he couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of irritation to feeling like he was being treated like a celebrity when he wanted to badly to blend in with the energetic crowd.
Link was in the middle of insisting to pay himself for a small wooden-carved replica of the Hyrule Castle when loud trumpets sounded in the distance. The merchant turned to look and Link took advantage of his distraction to place a yellow rupee on the counter for the trinket and walked to get a better view of what was happening in front of the entrance to the castle's grounds.
Several guards clinked forward in shining armor from under the grand stone archway, soon followed by a sweeping figure clad in a forest green gown for the occasion. She stepped out in the open with the acute grace that belonged only to the ruler of Hyrule. The Princess held her head high with pride for her people as she began speaking, her face set in an unreadable look.
"Dear people of Hyrule, we are gathered this lovely day to celebrate the generous Goddess, Farore." She bowed her head of brunette hair in respect, as many others did in the crowd. "May we keep our thoughts in respect to Farore over her gift of life and races in our celebrations, and enjoy this week by enjoying the life she so graciously gave us." Her gloved fingers reach up to touch a small golden ornament of the Mark of Farore upon the collar of her dress. "Please, resume in your celebrations and cherish the festivities." Her expression remained regal and straight as the people cheered and the music picked back up. The violet-blue of her calculating eyes skimmed the crowd, and stopped abruptly upon Link. She gave no hint of recognition nor friendliness, and continued gazing after a few moments. The Hero was slightly taken aback for her hard expression, but simply brushed it off and assumed she must keep stone-faced as Princess.
The day was long and eventful, and too soon the sun began to rush to hide behind the horizon. The plaza was nearly empty now; families had retired to their homes to make way for the adults who planned to drink the night away in the western part of Castletown. Link had no interest in such wasteful behavior; he remained out in the plaza sat upon the stone steps of the familiar empty building, save for the few Gorons that occasionally occupied it to sell their goods. The warm air began to mingle with a cooler breeze, and Link breathed the fresh wind with a content face as he leaned back onto his elbows and listened to the faint laughter erupting from Telma's bar in the distance. He marveled at the giant castle that loomed over Castletown, and compared his own carving he purchased earlier that day to the actual structure.
"It looks so much grander from here." A voice startled him and he spun around to see the Princess standing a few steps behind him with her eyes pondering the castle.
He dropped his hand into his lap and stared back at the majestic architecture as well. "May I sit with you?" She stepped forward hesitantly, her face still carved in a professional look. He gave her a welcoming nod and patted the stone step next to him. She gracefully swept down and seated herself just inches from him, and she could swear she felt electric particles crackling between the small distance of their arms.
"I hoped you enjoyed the festivities. The townspeople are quite fond of their celebrations. They do a wonderful job of making the entirety of Castletown burst with life and joy. "
He gave her a smile that assured he enjoyed every moment of the day in response. She gazed out to the shadows stretching onto the stone ground of the circular plaza as the sun continued to slip behind the hills in the distance. Link wondered where her guards were, and was surprised that they would allow the Princess to be without protection. He vowed to stay alert for her sake in case any trouble arose.
"I tasked my guards with staying near Telma's bar for the evening," she said, as if reading his mind. "The townspeople also know how to get themselves into quite the drunken stupor when these kinds of events are taking place." Her stone face faltered, and a familiar smile broke through. Link smiled with her, happy to see the friendly girl from the desert make an appearance that he knew the Princess to be. The single smile seemed to break her formal atmosphere, and she leaned back onto her elbows like Link and sighed.
"Are the people treating you well, Her—Link?" She caught herself and said his name with an uncertain tone.
He looked at her gratefully. At least one person was making an effort to make him to feel like a normal person.
"Very."
His voice once again threatened to send shivers through the Princess. "Good," she nodded. The two sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, and the Princess was reminded of their time spent in the desert in quiet without speaking a word.
"There is a ball on the last night of the celebration," she broke the silence. "I would be delighted if you would be able to attend, Link."
He met her gaze. "Of course, Princess. I would love to."
She smiled, then looked thoughtful for a moment. "We are friends, Link. If you insist on me using your name, then I must insist you use mine. You may call me Zelda." She grinned.
"Of course, Zelda." He returned the smile with his own, his piercing eyes crinkling slightly.
She had heard her name said out of the mouths of numberless people a numberless amount of times. But the way it flowed from his lips with a gentle yet friendly tone made her chest swell with heat, and it was as if she had never heard her name said aloud before.
A clattering noise abruptly came from the street behind them, followed by a chorus of clumsy laughter. The two jumped to their feet and stared down the street where the noises originated, and spotted the Princess's guards laughing as one of them picked up his spear with humorous embarrassment. The guards chuckled about being too tired to even hold their weapons, but soon silenced and came at attention once they spotted the Princess standing a ways from them.
The Princess shook her head with a smile. "My guards are exhausted. Full day events like this wear them out from being at attention for so long." She turned to look at Link. "I must bid you farewell for the night so I may cycle my guards out and allow them to rest," she gestured to the clueless men standing in armor. Link nodded and said his good-byes for the evening and watched as the Princess's serious carved face returned and she made her way to the castle with her exhausted guards.
The upbeat week kept Hyrule's Hero occupied during his entire stay, whether he was catching up with familiar faces like Agitha or the Resistance or trying to help with the townspeople as they prepared for big events like the archery contest or wooden sword fights. Link refrained from attending any of the combat competitions, however; he did not want to call any more attention to himself and he humbly knew full well that he would win each one. He was content instead on helping set up the weapons or teaching the curious children how to string and shoot a bow.
The day of the ball quickly arrived, and Link realized the day of that he had no proper attire for such a formal occasion. He sought out Agitha to help him find some clothing that might fit the matter, considering she was always raving about "the bug ball" she invited a bunch of insects to. Despite her odd interest in the creatures, she was very knowledgeable about the best clothing shops in Castletown and helped him to find a shop that would best fit the event.
"How about this one?" Agitha squealed as she found an intricately embroidered vest with bright colors that nearly hurt the Hero's eyes. With an uncertain "um" and the shake of his head, he continued searching for something that would better suit his simple taste in clothing. Agitha shrugged and continued to sort through the frilly vests and tunics, occasionally offering one to Link to which we would decline and attempt to steer her more towards less flashy attire. After what seemed like hours of searching, Agitha finally found something that caught his eye: a formal, forest green tunic—perfect color for the festivities—with simple yet well-sewn golden embroideries around the collar and hem. Though it was much simpler than the other formal wear, it would be perfect for the ball. He requested the tunic to be tailored to his size and purchased it along with a leather belt with a Triforce clasp on the front.
Armed with the reassurance of an acceptable outfit, Link returned to Telma's bar to prepare for the night.
The moment he walked into the castle yard with newly polished boots, nervousness swept through the Hero. Wretched memories of pushing the grand wooden doors and stepping into the very place in front of the castle flooded his mind, and he recalled the nervous pounding of his heart and numb fingers as he set off to the castle through the rain to finally take on the King of Evil over a year ago. He had to remind himself he was visiting the castle in a much more relaxed note this time, but the echoes of his tension from fighting through the castle rung in the back of his mind as he stepped forward to the main open room of the castle which was littered with balconies and chandeliers. The once empty room was now filled with chattering people dressed in elegant gowns and tunics, each enjoying the final night of festivities. Link attempted to ignore the memory of using his clawshot on the elegant chandeliers to reach the balconies perched on the tall walls of the ball room as he wandered around the room, conversing with familiar faces he had seen around Castletown.
After a long while of conversing, an announcing voice bellowed to the crowd of people that the Princess Zelda had now arrived. Within moments the entire room silenced, and only the soft clack of heels was heard from the Princess's careful steps as she walked into the room. Every person bowed, Link included as he admired her delicate gown. It was a deep green, much like his tunic, with golden jewels lining the waist and hem of the skirt. The collar was wide and displayed the tops of her shoulders and too was lined in the glistening gold jewels, and the full skirt was embroidered with lighter green swirls that resembled wind gusts to honor Farore. Her hair was pulled up in an intricate bun of curls, and locks of her brunette hair were wrapped around the gold headpiece that extended from her forehead to the back of her head.
She was truly a stunning sight, and every soul gasped silently as their Princess descended the wide staircase with all the dainty grace of royalty. She came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, and looked upon her people with her familiar regal expression.
"I would like to thank you all for attending this ball in honor of Goddess Farore. I appreciate the effort each of you have put into making this week full of cheer, as well as your continuing efforts to the rebuilding of Hyrule the past year." She bowed her head back to her subjects. "Enjoy the ball and the last night of the festivities. Please resume."
The chatter slowly trickled back into the room, and bodies began to move around. Now that the Princess had arrived, a small group of musicians began playing wind instruments—themed as such to stay in spirit of the cause of the celebration. Link was chatting with Ashei from the Resistance when a woman bluntly pulled him into the dance area to dance with the Hero of Hyrule. She explained that her name was Kili, and she was slightly younger than he with a mess of red hair piled on top of her head, and she had a gleaming smile that caused her dark eyes to crinkle. After the waltz, she hurriedly bowed in thanks to Link, then rushed to a pair of girls and promptly began to squeal with them. The Hero shook his head and smiled, and began to make his way back to Ashei but was snatched again by another woman and dragged to the next dance.
The night was long for Link, who rarely was allowed any time to rest before another girl requested a dance from him. He appreciated the excitement, but fatigue and weariness began to sag on his shoulders when the ball was nearly ended. To escape the anxious girls, he climbed a staircase to one of the many balconies and found it led to an outside railed ledge that faced the castle grounds. He was grateful for the newly built staircases to each of the balconies, and was more than happy to walk instead of clawshot up to the landing. The cool night air swept across his hair that he had attempted the smooth with water before the ball, but to no avail. His dirty blond locks shifted in the night breeze and he allowed his eyes to stare at the round moon nestled among the stars, which was only a few phases after the full moon from a few nights ago. Gratitude and relief filled his heart as he leaned comfortably against the railing, for he was happy to be in the castle on a trip to attend a ball rather than a trip that could have cost his life. He felt no edginess nor fear of the possibility of an enemy creeping up on him, and hear no distant sounds of the clanking armor of Darknuts roaming the empty hallways. The castle was much more enjoyable without the stress of possibly losing his life on his mind.
Link felt at ease and welcomed the utter content that poured into his mind. Hyrule was safe. The Twilight Realm was separated from their own, and no longer infected the light land he loved. The greedy Gerudo King no longer sat upon the throne that belonged to the Princess Zelda. Peace filled the land once again, and Link hoped it would stay that way for as long as he lived.
He heard the quiet taps of a woman's heeled shoes behind him, and he frowned at the moon slightly. He was too polite to ever turn down someone that asked him to dance, but he still dreaded to be asked for what seemed like the hundredth time tonight.
The Hero was quite shocked to see the Princess of Hyrule arrive at his side instead, her hands clasped behind her back as she too stared off into the night sky. Her features were flawless; not a single curl strayed from its place. Link was suddenly very aware of his messy blond hair that refused to lay neatly. He shrugged it off and they stood in familiar silence for several minutes.
"Thank you for inviting me; the ball has been wonderful." Link was the first to break the silence for once.
"Of course, Link. It wouldn't be the same without you," Zelda allowed a quick smile to break her stone face for a moment. "Though I noticed you have had very little time to yourself this evening." Her smile widened into a humorous smirk. Link was surprised to see such emotion upon Zelda's face when they were so near other people, but he smiled back and gave a soft chuckle.
"The girls in Castletown are very sociable," he shrugged.
"Or they are very fond of the dashing hero that save Hyrule," she laughed. Her laugh was infectious and matched her stunning features nicely, and Link couldn't help but let his smile grow.
"Or that."
Zelda heard the song end back in the ballroom. "The final dance of the night will be starting in a few moments," she stated mindlessly.
Link suddenly felt very courageous
"May I have this dance, Zelda?" He extended his hand and waited, an odd nervousness causing his heard to thud.
She met his eyes with her own curious ones. "Of course." She placed her white-gloved hand in his, and the two walked down to the dance floor. The music began, and the pair began moving in graceful steps to the waltzing beat of the song. The two pairs of blue eyes met, and they conversed comfortably as they swept across the marble floor. Now that they had returned among other people, the Princess's stone expression returned, though Link could make out a faint shimmer of a smile in her eyes as they spoke and danced. He felt a sense of honor that she was comfortable enough to show her true expressions and personality around him. His heart warmed.
"May I ask you a question, Hero?" She gave a slight apologetic look to him for having to call him with a formal title. He squeezed her hand softly in reassurance.
"Of course, your Highness."
Her voice lowered. "How are your feelings on being treated as a hero by the townspeople?"
Link didn't expect that question. He pondered for a moment. "I am very honored and grateful to be treated with such kindness by Castletown's people."
The Princess seemed to sense there was more to be said about the matter, and waited expectantly.
He gave a sheepish look. "…but I must admit I am treated a little too kindly at moments. For example: I would like to be able to pay for my own souvenirs and be treated as any regular Hylian." He shrugged. "But like I said, I appreciate their intentions. Though I do have to be a bit sneaky about giving the shop owners rupees when they aren't looking," he chuckled.
She nodded, a laugh gleaming in her violet-blue eyes, though her face remained stone.
"I understand. Being royalty has its disadvantages; I would like to blend in with the townspeople and tell the people to treat me as any regular person." She glanced around at the crowds of people staring at the pair curiously. "The attention gets a bit overwhelming at times."
Link too looked around at the eyes staring at the Princess waltzing with her Hero. A small blush of heat touched the tips of his ears. The Princess showed no sign of embarrassment, but she internally felt the pressure of so many eyes bearing over her. She was relieved, however, to learn that Link felt the same way as she, and felt a deep understanding of his frustration over the treatment he received for being Hero. Though she was royalty and he was a simple farm boy, the two had much more in common with each other than anyone else in the room.
Too soon, the final dance of the ball ended. Link stepped back with his hand still holding the Princess's and leaned down to press his lips gently onto the knuckles of her gloved hand. Princess Zelda once again felt the electric sparks zap from the contact, and warmth extended from her hand that was held in his and spread through her arm and to her face, and to her surprise she felt a blush touch her cheeks. He straightened his posture and released her hand softly, and gave her a lopsided smile that made her heart quiver like the wings of a butterfly.
"Thank you, Princess." He bowed, his muted golden hair swinging over his piercing sapphire eyes.
"Of course, Hero." She curtsied in return.
"Until next time." And with that, he disappeared into the crowd that was exiting the ballroom.
The Princess stared blankly at the space he moments ago inhabited. She touched her hand over her heart and marveled, the faint warmth from his kiss still tingling on her knuckles. She tried unsuccessfully to organize her racing thoughts.
What was wrong with her?