War of a Moment, Love of a Lifetime
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not, and will never own the characters or the company of the Zelda series.
It wasn't long before Link discovered exactly why Zelda had been acting so strangely. And not in an altogether pleasant manner.
With a small sigh he strode down the elegantly carpeted hallway, eyes on the ground with a certain rambling blonde beside him. Week three. No only was Zelda capable of ranting, raving, and raising all around Hell for him, but not she had just gained the ability to talk his ear off.
"-and then I was all like, no way, you give me my chocolate now or die! And then she went-"
Link did his best not to hold in another sigh. Honestly, he really couldn't take much more of this. He would've much preferred the stoic Princess from three weeks back. Or even Malon's stupid chicken. Thie rambling Zelda was almost too much to bear. Especially sicne she was rambling about nothing. At least two weeks ago when Zelda would talk or ramble itw ould actually about something signifigant. But nooo, now this new Zelda had nothing better to do than stand around and ramble about chocolate of all things.
"-and hey do you like chocolate? Cause I like chocolate. And damn it I really want chocolate!"
"Zelda…" He attempted to interject. And at least two weeks ago she'd awknowledge what he was trying to say. Even react violently sometimes. But now? Nope. No chance. No way. Because not even him being rude was enough to shake her mind off of its chocolate fixation.
"You really shouldn't use bad language. I'm allowed to use bad language, well no, I'm not. But I'm allowed to use bad language in the company of my fri-"
"Zelda." Ignored. Again.
"And we're friends right? I've never had a friend before. God I want chocolate so badly…"
"Zelda." He said, a little annoyed that she still managed to block him out. Really, even Malon wasn't this bad. In fact, he would've much rather be talking to Malon than to Zelda at that current moment. Last weeks theory on the two practically being the same was turning out to be an extremely half-baked theory. Malon wouldn't rant about chocolate. Or at least, not like this.
"Chocolate milkshakes are the best. Oh Nayru, I would totally kill for a-"
She was silenced by firm hands on her shoulders and he looked up at an extremely unamused Link. He fixed her with a pointed look that she was sure as hell he'd gotten from Impa.
"Shut up." He said, as gently as possible, relinquishing Zelda from his grasp.
The blonde girl sobered up at that and the two walked down the hall in silence, broken up only by Link's dramatic sighs. From nonstop rambling to complete silence. Was there no happy medium with this girl?
"Sorry." Zelda apologized after long sigh #3. "It's just that-"
"You have a craving for chocolate. I know."
And that was how Link learned self-restraint. And that when it was that time of the month, even princesses wanted their respective chocolate fixes.
Some odd hours later found Link sitting in the library, a book propped open on his lap that made absolutely no sense to him at all. And he had no idea why he supposed to be reading it either. The Military History of Hyrule. Sure, it was nice to know, and he supposed he'd be discussing some military plans in his hopefully-short rule, but weren't there more important things to be learning?
He shook his head free of those and forced himself to continue reading. Hyrule's military exploits were quite impressive, though he was beggining to notice that were a great many gaps in each recollection of war. Typically in the end they would just skip over an entire event.
It was weird.
After reaching the umpteenth one of these points he jerked up in frustration, causing Impa to look at him with one eyebrow raised.
"This doesn't make any sense!" He exclaimed, waving vaguely at the tome on his lap.
"Oh?" Though Impa was Zelda's nursemaid, and a nutty one at that, she was also commander of Hyrule's military forces. Well, actually he sort of was technically… but that wasn't the point.
"It just skips past an entire battle. How the hell did this Ganonpork guy just vanish? It doesn't make any sense at all!"
Impa smiled briefly in amusement at Link's plight as she slouched back against the couch, snapping the book shut and throwing it none-too-carefully at the table in front of him.
"That would be where the Hero of Time comes in."
"So what, this one guy just goes all: I-have-courage-RAWR and kills him?"
"Pretty much."
"GAH! That doesn't make any sense." Link buried his face in the pillow to muffle a rather childish shriek and Impa couldn't help but let that smile on her face widen.
He was really a naïve boy.
The smile faltered. Why had King Harkinian chosen to entrust Hyrule to this simple farm-boy? Yes, he bore the name of the Hero of Time, but that wasn't quite enough to go on. She sighed resolutely as she watched the boy effectively abuse the couch.
She'd just have to have a little faith in their old king. There had to be some sort of reason behind the madness.
Upsetting the rightful line of succession was a risky thing to do, and giving the throne to someone with the experience was downright dangerous.
Her eyes darkened slightly. Especially with the situation they were currently in.
"Sir."
Link lifted his head from the pillow to look at the imposing pan-wielding woman opposite him.
"Your coronation takes place tomorrow. I trust you will be prepared by then."
"Bu-wha-huh? Tomorrow?" He was sitting up straight now.
"Yes. Tomorrow."
"Butbutbut-"
"No buts. You will need to deliver a speech to the Council, and you presence will be require in Castletown to show Hyrule the face of their new ruler."
"But- that's too soon!"
"Nonsense. Do not fear. Zelda will be accompanying you."
At Link's alarmed face Impa couldn't help but add. "Don't worry, she'll probably call for a few chocolate breaks, so you should have nothing to worry about. Besides, she'll be making the speech in the forum."
And with that, Link was left alone in the library to completely stress out over the next day.
A soft rapping at the door awoke Link one the following day. He groaned as his eyes cracked open and shielded himself from the golden morning light with his hand.
The rapping didn't stop.
The King scowled darkly as the irritating noise grew louder and finally managed to summon his energy. He swung his legs off the edge of the bed and all but stormed over to the door, dragging a good amount of the blankets along with him.
His hand landed on the brass knob and he jerked the door open, nearly slamming it into the wall. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?"
He was greeted with the collected face of Impa, who coolly raised an eyebrow at him and raised the frying pan. "Excuse me?"
Link sighed in frustration and hung his head for a brief moment. "Impa?"
"You're late."
Link blinked once, confusion obvious in his cobalt eyes. "Huh?"
"Downstairs." And with that Impa reached in and shut the door on Link's face. It took him approximately half of a second to decipher and register what she'd just said.
His eyes went wide as he scrambled for the closet. "Shit!"
Impa leaned outside the door, lips curving into a smirk as a string of decidedly improper words came flying from the temporary-King's mouth. With a sugary little shrug she made her way downstairs.
The meeting started in an hour.
Poor thing.
Zelda lowered herself onto the velvet cushions of her mother's throne, cyan eyes levelly regarding the currently-empty room. Her eyes slid shut for a short moment as she drew in a deep breath, hands grasping the golden arms on either side of her.
It was supposed to be her day. Her coronation. She was supposed to be sitting in the throne at her right. The throne of the rightful ruler of Hyrule. And instead she sat in her mother's throne. A throne which no princess who bore the name Zelda had ever been forced to sit in before.
A bittersweet smile played at her lips and she lowered her gaze to the magnificent red carpet stretched out beneath her feet. Soon all of the audience chamber around her would be filled with important ambassadors from all of over Hyrule, and representatives of the Gerudo, Goron, and Zora.
Quite an important bunch of people.
She allowed a small sigh to escape her as she allowed her back to rest on the impressive gold backing of the secondary throne. And her eyes slid shut once more, hands clasped in brief prayer.
"Din, Farore, Nayru…" Her voice was small in the large room, and her whispers were scarcely audible to a boy who stood on the balcony just above her. "Please grant Hyrule the strength it needs to make it through this endeavor upon which we are to embark."
Link had half a mind to speak up in offense. It wasn't that bad to have him as a ruler was it? He held back an indignant snort remniscient of the blonde princess herself.
Brat.
Just because he was royal didn't mean he wasn't capable of ruling briefly. He'd been given good instruction after all. A sort of Royal Politics 101 crash course. He felt pretty confident he could handle himself.
Even if he was scared out of his wits. He was never much of a public speaker.
His mouth was open to make some retort, but Zelda's soft voice continued on and he shut his mouth.
"This country is my home, and it has served me well for all these years. Please, give me the wisdom to guide my country." There was another pause in the prayer, but Zelda went on, amending slightly. "And please watch over our King, and grant him the strength to make it through this day."
Link couldn't help the childish smile that grew on his face at her amendment.
"Goddesses, please answer my prayers."
And her blue eyes flickered open, hands still clasped in front of her. She lowered them shakily onto her lap and took a deep steadying breath as the golden doors swung open.
Impa bowed curtly. "Princess Zelda." Her eyes traveled to the balcony and she inclined her head in stiff greeting. "King Link."
She didn't miss the way Zelda jerked in surprise, but to the princess's credit, she resisted the temptation of losing composure and scolding the king.
"I trust you are both ready for the court?"
The two blondes nodded and Impa smiled. "Good."
And she exited the room.
Link made his way down the small staircase that lead him onto the side of the grand audience chamber and he took his seat next to Zelda, grinning down at her from his larger throne.
He was met with stone-faced silence. And then the tiniest of smiles.
"Don't screw up."
He did his best not to.
"Link Kokiri, do you solemnly swear to adhere to the laws of Hyrule and rule with fairness and honesty?"
"Yes." The boy actually managed to look solemn.
"Do you swear to act only in the best interest of Hyrule?"
"I do." What was this, a wedding ceremony?
"Do you swear to withhold personal judgment and guide the people of Hyrule with your own hands? Do you swear to protect and serve Hyrule with your life?"
"I do so swear."
Link was kneeling on the floor before Minister Rauru and each of his soldiers were tapped briefly with an intricately designed sword. It was magnificent actually. Its handle was golden and heavily embellished with jewels of every kind.
Though he couldn't honestly say he wasn't nervous as hell about a sword being that close to his face.
"You knelt before us a simple country-boy, now rise as King Link Kokiri of Hyrule."
Link rose, his face set with determination as he turned to face the filled up room.
For a minute his mouth was dry and he was rendered completely incapable of speaking. However he heard muffled footsteps and a gloved hand was placed gently on his shoulder, subtly indicating that he be seated.
He was nearly upset by this. Was he not a King now?
Did he not yet deserve enough respect to address the ambassadors of Hyrule? Honestly, he'd been put through a rigorous two weeks, and he couldn't even get the payoff.
However a single glance from Zelda stopped his train of thought completely and she lifted her hand from his shoulder as she stepped forward into the center of the room.
Link could do nothing but sit back down in a dumbfounded manner.
"Ambassadors." Zelda greeted, nodding in respect at the audience before her. She took a steadying breath, and Link couldn't help but gaze in awe at how collected she was in front of this group of dignitaries. It wasn't natural.
Yet she made it look just that.
Her movements were filled with a liquid grace as she addressed the room, turning to face certain parts of the chamber as she spoke, the silk material of her gown swishing slightly as she moved.
"I express my deep happiness at the fact that a new ruler has been found to replace one so great as my father. And I rejoice at the new unity of Hyrule,"
As she turned back to the Link he almost gave a start at the look in her eyes. For a moment he could detect… malice. But she offered him a quick friendly smile as she turned back around.
"I know that our new King will serve us well and it is my intention to guide him as," Her voice very nearly cracked. "a royal advisor. These following months will certainly not be easy on us."
She chuckled slightly to alleviate the tension in the room and was greeted with polite laughter.
Link was kind of pissed about that.
"I humbly request your aid." Only now did she turned briefly back to Link, and then in a full circle around the room. "It is my deepest regret to inform you that,"
Link scowled slightly, fists clenching. Was she still talking about him being King? She better not be. Really, he'd gotten the message loud and clear: I think you're a royal screwup. Point made. Affirmed. Understood. Couldn't she just let go of it? He reached for the goblet on the edge of his throne, taking a sip of the complimentary wine placed there to soothe his tension.
"Hyrule has entered a state of war."
The goblet shattered.
A/N: Oh my god. I am so terribly sorry for that miserably long waiting time. What was that, a year? I hope it wasn't any more than that. My deepest apologies. Most of this chapter has been written for the longest time, but I completely forgot to come back and finish it up and upload it. I'm really sorry my dear readers. Honestly I am. I feel so retarded right now.
As an apology I've gone through and reworked the previous chapters. I've nearly re-written the entire last chapter. Again, I'm sorry. Please, forgive me.
I've also written up a few one-shots that will be popping up shortly, so please don't be too mad at me.
Cappucinno