Chapter Three Prince of Hyrule
Link rode off angrily; apart from being in pain where his face could still feel the welt, he did not like being treated as if he were less of a person than anyone else. If there was one thing he had learned from all his adventures, it was that everyone had worth; whatever their station in life. He had met good and bad in all races but it had never depended on how or where they lived; Link had realised that, even amongst those who were his enemies.
The air rushing past his face made the cut sting, but Link was used to physical pain and dismissed it easily, however mental pain was not so easy. Ever since his days as the only child without a fairy in the Kokiri Forest, being different and ostracised for a lot of the time had always hurt. Nayru's Love wrapped around his heart had it's disadvantages as well, Link often thought; he should be immune to personal slights by now.
Giving himself a mental shake and putting the incident behind him; Link rode into the castle stables and got Epona's tack ready, to give her a rub down. As he was taking off her bridle; Epona gave a gentle snort and blew into her master's hair, offering her own brand of comfort. She knew most of Link's moods after being with him for so long and was very protective of him. She rubbed the top of his head with her chin and whickered softly at him, until he smiled and offered her an apple; reciprocating her caress by running his hand through her mane.
Link had just about finished grooming his horse when his and Epona's ears pricked. Clattering along the cobbles of the stables were the horses of the castle's guests, in the care of their riders. Turning his back and walking out without acknowledging the newcomers, Link started to leave; when a by now, familiar voice attempted to call a halt to his progress.
"Ah, so boy, you work in the stables; obviously you do have some uses and you know how to look after the horses well, I see. You will groom ours for us." The tone was slightly mocking and condescending, making Link's hackles rise. However he did not turn around, he just kept walking as he answered.
"You will have to care for your own horses; I have a prior engagement with my lady, who is by now waiting for me." His tone was firm; but he was not prepared for what came next, he was halted by the groom's hand and spun around.
"You jumped up lackey, how dare you refuse to do your job and give yourself such airs and graces. Your 'lady' indeed; she can be no more than your slut, not a lady and as such she will wait until you are dismissed." The angry man then knocked the small posy of flowers from Link's hand and ground his heel onto the flower heads. "Now, you have no need to hurry to her, do you boy?" he said with a nasty smirk and well satisfied with the look on Link's white, angry face.
Link was at a bit of a loss, he did not have the Master Sword on him as he had got out of the habit of being armed for his morning rides, besides he was not in any real danger from this man. Although, he had been surrounded by the other groomsmen by now all looking as if they were blocking him from leaving; Link laughed to himself, the Hero was not at all intimidated . The group was closing in on him and starting to jostle him with their elbows; when a large voice called them all to task, demanding to know what was going on.
The men surrounding Link all dropped to one knee in response to the voice and Link recognised their Lord as Zelda's cousin; however, he did not recognise Link at all, if the blank expression on the Prince's face was anything to go by. Prince Tarin was a good looking man with a congenial face, although at the moment it was stern and commanding of respect. His eyes had taken in the threatening stance of his men and the small, crushed bouquet at Link's feet; he also saw the marks on his face and firmly gripped Link's chin to better see the damage.
Running his finger gently alongside the cut, his eyes showed anger and he turned and asked Link if it were his men who were responsible for this assault.
"It's nothing, I've had worse; now if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment to keep." Link turned away from the small crowd, intending to clean up before he had to meet the Prince formally. Once again he found himself held back; although this time, the hand was friendly;
"I do not approve of my men's behaviour and I shall get to the bottom of it Lad, now please take this in exchange for your ruined flowers to give to your girl." Tarin was holding out a splendid rose that he had taken out of a bouquet of the most exquisite flowers that Link had ever seen.
"Take it child, the Lady these are meant for will approve of the sacrifice." Link took the rose and bowed, leaving the stables quickly his face staining crimson at the sense of humiliation at the term 'child'. Damn it, Tarin was not that many years older than himself. By the time he reached his chambers, stopping to speak to no one; his sense of the ludicrous was in full force and he was laughing to himself and then, still laughing he bounced in to kiss his wife.
Forestalling her barrage of questions at the sight of his damaged face, by presenting the rose and informing her that soon she would have the rest of the blooms; he found himself being fussed over by Impa, as he told them of his eventful morning. Zelda was furious and was all for marching straight to her cousin and letting him have a piece of her mind about the way his servants thought they could treat her subjects.
Link pulled away from Impa's ministering hands to go to his wife and try and calm her agitated pacing. His heart swelled with love for his Princess, she truly loved her people and justice was the same for all; she let nobody ride roughshod over her jurisdiction. He grabbed her arms gently and swung her round to face him, giving her a powerful kiss that took their breath away. Her eyes were sparking with anger once again when she saw the bruise forming on his cheek, but they soon flooded with tears over his pain.
"Hush my love, there is no need for all this anguish, just think of their faces when they see who I really am." He smiled at her and they ended up laughing together. It did not take long for Link to get bathed and dressed; the plan being to greet their guests before lunch after they'd had the chance to settle into the guest rooms. Zelda smiled to herself when she saw Link in his final outfit.
Normally he did not dress to impress anybody; wearing only the minimal finery required for the situation, but today he had pulled out all the regal stops. He wore a silver and blue tunic over blue trousers with a midnight blue cape that clasped over one shoulder and his hair was loosed to his shoulders but bound on his brow with his Prince's coronet. On his back was sheathed the Master Sword, yes; Link planned on making a statement.
Zelda of course was always stunning in anything that she wore, so Link thought and Impa was proud of them both, but Zelda had added the perfect finishing touch in the rose that Link had been given. Link escorted his Lady formally down to the reception that was being held for the guests luncheon and was ready and waiting on the raised dais as Prince Tarin and his sisters were announced.
Zelda was getting excited to see them all again and her two cousins were soon running up to greet her, ahead of their brother and soon they were chatting away as if no time had passed for them. Link was gratified and secretly amused at the reaction that was elicited from the Prince when he saw Link properly for the first time and noticed the rose that Zelda had fastened to her breast.
A wry grin crossed the man's face in almost an exact replica of the one on Link's own face. He stood still and started to laugh as Zelda rushed up to him and took his gift of exotic flowers from his arms.
"I see some of my gift preceeded me, my little Zelda. I am sorry Link, but I really didn't recognise you earlier."
"That's no surprise, we hardly met at the wedding." Link moved to accept the caresses of the two Princesses Sarah and Julia while Zelda moved to berate Tarin over the treatment of the supposed peasant, Link had been.
"They acted without my authority to hit Link, Zelda; but our provinces are not as safe for travelling nobility as yours and none may approach the coaches without permission. Still the actions were not justified and certainly not those that came later in the stable. I do apologise for the conduct of my men."
"Well there is no need to dwell on it, now is a happy time for us so lets sit down and eat because my excursions this morning have made me hungry."
"Good idea Link; but I think I will send my groomsman in later to see the Prince of Hyrule with a message and then you can put him in his place; he deserves to be shaken."
Link laughed, but he felt he would enjoy that, so he agreed. Lunch was a longer affair than had been anticipated; due to all the 'catching up' to do, but it was happy and there was much laughter between the cousins. Link was not left out either, as the details of his adventures were not yet so well known abroad and so he was answering questions for a long time.
However, once the luncheon broke up to allow the guests to relax and unpack for the evening festivities; Link and Zelda remained in the reception room. There was still business to attend to, affairs of state didn't stand still for reunions. Towards the end of the afternoon, as the tail end of petitioners had all but died out, Link noticed the firm and direct walk of Tarin's servants; there were two of them, but the main antagonist of that day for Link was striding up the carpet ahead of his colleague and sure in his purpose.
He had a small gift to offer to their Hignesses on behalf of his Prince, a thankyou for the good care of staff and horses and traditionally offered by the top servant. Link had turned his back at the approach and spoke to Zelda who just smiled at him; her eyes glittering in fun but also in anger, that still burned at the sight of the cut on her husband's face.
Sure of his favourable reception, the groom strode confidently with the gift in his hands only to be halted rather abruptly with the Master Sword levelled at his neck. Link had moved so fast the man had not seen him but he was very aware of the sword at his throat. Link did not face him as he spoke;
"You take your life in your hands when you dare to approach the royal couple so informally, servant."
"I ask forgiveness, I come on behalf of my Master, my Lord."
"I was not aware that I had given you permission to approach, I could have you flogged for your impertinance." Link smirked at Zelda, he was enjoying his game and he could tell by her face that she too was amused. The servant behind him, now on his knees on the floor; was not amused however. The Prince was not even looking at him to see where the sword was. The groom was afraid with good reason; he knew by reputation just how good with a sword this man was, as the Hero and he appealed for clemency.
"You had none for one of her majesty's own subjects earlier on today, I understand; you threatened and assaulted a harmless young man did you not? Then you used threatening behaviour to him demanding that he do your jobs for you when he mentioned he had a pressing engagement."
How did the Prince know of these things, had the stable brat ratted to someone important? Time to turn on the obsequious behaviour.
"Sire, I have to protect my Prince and I am sure the boy was not harmed, Our Prince himself was not best pleased with our teasing of the lad in the stables. I apologise but no harm was done, perhaps the boy was a little too sensitive for the barracking."
"I think you lie servant, I know if you had not been interrupted, the boy was going to be beaten more than he had been already. You insulted his young lady and ruined the posy of flowers, you would have attempted to cause him injury had you not been stopped. Is this not so? I think I will take your head for your transgression."
"Please Sire, do you take the word of a frightened child over that of a respected servant? Perhaps I was too harsh with the lad; but it will not harm him surely, to learn to be a bit tougher. Please, do not deprive your guest of one of his valued servants." By now, the groom's head was on the floor and Link turned around.
"So you think I should be tougher do you? I'm too sensitive? Interesting." At these words, the man looked up and paled to the point of passing out as he recognised, the Prince. "Take him away, I do not wish to see him again." The other servant who also had been staring at Link, hurried to assist his friend to leave the royal presences. The man's discomposure was revenge enough for Link, especially when he realised that the groom had also lost his bladder control. Once they had gone, Link and Zelda collapsed; laughing in each others arms.