Two Chapters in two days? Lucky you. If you are reading this, please do review! I always like to hear people's opinions, be they good or bad. I don't own the LOZ etc.
Chapter Six – Revelry
Mali's POV
The farm is so quiet now. As I wander through the overgrown fields and clamber over the broken fences I feel tears brushing my cheeks. I stop under a big oak tree and remember how Link and I used to sit here in the summer, talking for hours and hours whilst around us his pets grazed.
I never thought I would lose him.
His horses were commandeered long ago. They were taken to the castle. The animals my father couldn't sell were slaughtered. Everything that Link had loved was gone. Even his tiny farm shack was falling into disrepair. Only I visit these days. I come here to remember.
Nobody wanted to buy the farm. It was good land but the people feared it was cursed. So many bad things had happened here culminating with Link's arrest I can hardly blame them.
On the top of the old cow barn I see a cat watching me. I could never share Link's passion for animals but I was the one that saved his precious Athena and her kittens. They are practically wild now, living on this once prosperous farm. I fed them at first but they soon learned to fend for themselves. There are many rats and birds that have made this their home so they are well fed.
I wonder what Link would say if he could see his home now? I can almost picture him strolling across the field. His golden hair would shine in the sun; his blue eyes would be filled with anxiety. He would see me - his dear Mali and his expression would relax. Together we could restore the farm to its former glory. We would wipe away the years of neglect. It would be our home.
I laugh bitterly as I imagine this. Link is not coming home. He cannot come home. He is gone. It is all the fault of that Princess. She is like rust. She corrupts and destroys everything.
The rumours are clear on this. Link was taken to the castle because of the Princess. I know all about the way they humiliated him. How could they expect a farmer to understand how to fight? He wouldn't know. I feel tears of bitter rage chocking me and I let them fall.
Link was taken to the court to be her plaything and when he could not deliver he was taken away. He has not been seen or heard of since. I could not bear to attend the celebration of her birthday last year. I think I would have killed her. My grief was too strong to see her last year. But this year, I am to attend. I am determined to let her know she has destroyed my happiness.
Castletown is a world away from Ordona Village. I love the buzz of conversation bubbling away in my mind like a steam in a forest. The constant noise and visual delights vying for my attention are exciting. I feel the familiar bubble of happiness in my stomach as I gaze around. I have avoided coming here for fear of seeing her but I realise now what I have been missing.
Today I come as the emissary from Ordona Village. My father, the celebrated Mayor Silas Bo, is too ill to attend this year's celebration. It is the first time I have been here alone. My brother's, both in the throws of courting and first love are far too preoccupied for the task at hand. My mother is busy caring for my father and there is no other person in the village that possesses the social skills to do this.
I walk with my head held high. When I have my hair cut by the fabled Madam Rosana herself, I hold my head up even higher. I know I stand out in a crowd. My bright red hair and intense green eyes make sure of that. Knowing that people are looking at me, I make sure that nobody will ever suspect that I am a farm girl.
I am determined that I shall outshine the Princess tonight. With this in mind I stroll into Cremea's boutique. She is expecting me. I placed my order many months ago, when I realised my father would not be able to make the journey to Castletown this year.
Cremea is a red head like myself. She speaks with an exaggerated Terminian accent and knows exactly how to make herself the centre of attention. I could learn much from her. She smiles at me as I enter the boutique accompanied by the soft jingling of her doorbell.
"Ah, Mayor Bo, good day to you." She extends both hands in welcome and kisses my cheeks one after the other. Her blue eyes gleam as she looks over me. "The dress, it will be perfect, no?"
As I haven't yet seen the said dress I cannot comment but I nod excitedly. Ever since Cremea designed the Princesses sixteenth birthday dress, she has become the toast of Hylian design. She is world-renowned and her prices reflect that. Her fame is well deserved though. I have never yet seen a 'Cremea' that has looked ill on the wearer.
She flits around the showroom with exaggerated animation and quickly lifts a couple of dresses on the rails. "You have colouring like me." She explains. "It is hard to match but when it is good, it is perfect."
I wonder how long it took her to develop this bird like restlessness. From what I heard Cremea's family are ranchers back in Termina. I couldn't imagine her working on a farm though. She seems so spontaneous and her skin is perfectly soft and smooth.
I suppose it is part of her attraction. The key to being attractive is to be something different from the rest - somebody that grabs attention.
Cremea holds the two dresses against my frame and studies them closely. She is frowning slightly, which is worrying. I have to say, neither the soft green or yellow are colours I would chose for myself and I hope that she doesn't sell me either.
"Ah, you are difficult." She explains as she takes the dresses away. "Your hair is so, so red and your eyes so green I cannot decide how best to, how to say…compliment you." Her mouth twists into a frown as she studies me.
"You have tan skin too." She adds. I don't think she is being flattering and I feel my stomach sinking. My hopes of outshining the Princess are rapidly diminishing. Her blue eyes twinkle as she gazes at me. "Ah, don't be upset, Mayor Bo." She laughs. "You are unusual. That is a good thing, no? I just have to think a little harder before dressing you properly."
She flits around her fitting room one more time. This time as she pulls the dresses from their hangers she holds them to her eye level and gazes at me. "Ah, no-no. This will not do." She casts aside the dresses she has picked up. From nowhere I see a little assistant dart out and pick them up.
"Madame…" The assistant speaks nervously as she carefully smoothes the silk of the dresses back on their hangers. Cremea swings around. The assistant almost jumps out of her skin as her boss's gaze fixes on her. "um…how about the…um…bronze…?"
"Ah. Of course! It will be the perfect…" Out of nowhere, she swoops on her poor assistant and firmly plants a kiss on each cheek. "Fetch it at once."
A moment later I am swirled into the fitting room, my clothes are stripped off me and a delicious creation of bronze coloured silk is flung over my head. There is no mirror in this room and I can only stand perfectly still as Cremea nips bits of material in, pins the hem up slightly and then holds a necklace against my neck.
Suddenly she grins. "It is perfect." She twirls me out of the room and makes me stand before a curtain. "Behold!" On cue her assistant whips the curtain to one side, revealing a mirror and I gasp.
I swear I have never seen such a gorgeous dress. I don't care how much this costs. I don't care whom I have to kill to get this. I must own this dress. It is amazing.
The bronze silk under-dress is low across the chest, tight across the waist and hangs in loose folds to the floor. The sleeves are attached to the bodice by small gold chains and they drape across my arms and fall to the floor. The bodice is in two parts – a tightly laced corset that reaches to my chest and a soft silken roll that just about covers my assets. The over-skirt is black lace, embroidered with gold thread. There are tiny golden patterns around the hem and neckline.
I take a step forward. I have read about things like this in books – how one dress can suddenly turn an ugly duckling into a swan but never believed it could happen until now. I cannot hide the smile on my face, nor do I want to. For the first time in my life I know I look absolutely beautiful. If I could, I would take the dress from the shop now and run around Castletown, just so that everybody could see me and marvel at my beauty.
Fortunately for Castletown, I am neither exhibitionist nor so conceited that I need people telling me that I am beautiful. I just wish Link could see me now. Perhaps then he would have seen me as something other than his little childhood friend. I sigh at the thought.
"You don't like?" Cremea's anxious voice drives my thought of Link away.
I look at her and smile. "It is amazing. How could I dislike it?"
My answer makes her smile with relief. She signals to her assistant to bring forward some accessories to go with the dress. I choose black velvet slippers and a necklace made of gold and ebony. I dread to think how much this is going to cost me. But it will be worth every single rupee.
When Cremea told me (in a very delicate manner) the price of my outfit I almost fainted. It was only the knowledge that the dress was worth it that kept me conscious. That and the fact that there were another three customers in the shop by this point. I handed over the required number of gold rupees and left as unobtrusively as I could.
This is the single most expensive thing I have ever purchased.
I smile as another Hylian Lord whispers complements into my ear. As yet the Princess has not made an appearance and until she does, and no doubt outshines us all, I am the most sought after lady at the ball and boy does that feel good! This dress is worth every single rupee.
The birthday celebrations have gone well this year. The Princess looked pale and unhappy as she addressed the crowd. I have to be fair and admit that her speech was very good and she seems well liked. If I compare her performance today to that of two years ago I can see the improvement myself. She has developed the knack of caring for her people.
That doesn't mean that I like her though.
It is because of her that Link has gone and for that I will never forgive her. There is a slight commotion at the head of the room. Inwardly I roll my eyes knowing what this means. Sure enough there is a fanfare and the King and Princess finally put in an appearance.
This effectively halts the ball and spoils my fun. I curtsey as low as any other courtier as they pass by but I cannot prevent my eyes from glancing up at her. I am pleased to note she is wearing a white dress. It is not a colour that suits her. She looks pale and frightened and I can see how tightly she grips her father's arm.
What ails her? She is the Princess of a prosperous kingdom. She is beautiful. She is rich. She is loved by her people – what more could she want?
I know I am staring at her as she takes her seat at her father's side and I know it is rude to stare but I cannot help myself. She glances at her father and smiles weakly. Her hands are gripped tightly together in her lap. She looks out on the crowd and seems surprised to see that we are still respectfully bowing.
"Do rise." She says. Her voice is so calm and serene it belies the disquiet that I can see in her face. "Please, this is a celebration. You must enjoy yourselves."
Her words are the cue for the musicians to start up again with a merry tune and the bubble of conversation fills the room once more. I am invited to dance by the Lord who had been whispering to me earlier. I smile.
Where the Princess is quiet and thoughtful, I shall be laughing and merry. Where she sits in silence, I shall dance the night away. That is how I shall outshine her. I shall become everything she is not. This night will be my night of glory. I stroke the silk and lace of my skirts and curtsey to my lord. I cast a deliberately provocative look up at him. He grins in response.
He is my first conquest. As the night goes on I find more and more men flocking to my side like bees to honey. I smile brilliantly upon them all. I allow myself to glance occasionally at the throne and confess to a feeling of glee when I see that Zelda is still sitting silently on her throne, hands clasped together, despair and fear writ on her pale face.
Tonight I have triumphed over her. Tonight I hope she sees me and feels jealousy just like I have so many times when I have seen her.
I wonder how many times people believe their lives are perfect just before something horrendous happens?
The evening has been just perfect. I even danced with King Daphnes. He complemented me on my dancing too and all the while the Princess sat silently on her throne. Sometimes I caught her looking at me but never once did I see her expression change. I wondered what ailed her.
I was soon to find my answer.
My new my new friend, Lord Bekis, had just run off to get me a refreshing glass of lemonade. I was sat close to the doors laughing at a story one of my companions was telling when it happened. A soldier ran into the room. Ignoring us, he headed directly towards the king and bowed.
The conversation and music faltered as we all watched. Every ear was straining to catch the soldier's whispered words. Every eye was trained on the King to see his reaction. It was a shock to us all.
He smiled.
Before we had time to react, another man appeared. He stood at the threshold of the ballroom wearing the full armour of a Hylian guard and casually swept his eyes over us all.
"Well, I suppose since nobody wishes to announce my presence, I must do it myself." I gasp. I know that voice. At least I think I do. I cannot breath. I cannot see his face for his helmet visor is down.
"No need." Another man appears at his side, "I'll announce you, Sir Link of Ordon Province."
Link?
I jump to my feet as he peels the helmet from his head revealing the face of a man I thought dead. A man I loved dearly. I scream and the world goes black.
I can't believe I actually fainted.
My eyes flicker open and I almost faint again. A pair of very intense, very familiar blue eyes stare down at me.
"Link?" I murmur.
"Mali?" His voice is different to how I remember and his face is a little older but he is still my Link. I smile weakly at him.
"I thought you were dead…" I don't care that I know I have begun to cry. I don't care that I am surrounded by people and am acting like an idiot. Link is alive and that is all that matters.
"I am alive." He reassures me by embracing me softly and wiping away my tears. I can only gaze up at him in wonder. "I've just been training."
He helps me to my feet and I feel the strength in his arms. His hair is shorter and neater than I recall but it is still unruly. And I still want to run my hands through it. I smile through my tears.
"Sir Link?" A soft voice arrests his attention and he turns abruptly from me.
The bow he executes is worthy of the King himself as he shows his deference to the Crown Princess. I wonder if I am glaring at her? If I am, I hope she sees. She is taking him away from me again.
"Princess." Link straightens himself but keeps his head bowed.
"You were right, Sir Link." Her words are so soft that I only hear them because I am standing so close. "You were right about me." She holds her hand out to him, "I did not see until you showed me how wrong I was." Link raises his head and gazes at her. His back is to me so can't see how he looks at this point but I see him take her hand. Very slowly and deliberately he raises it to his lips.
"I beg that you forgive me for my rudeness, Princess." He still has the trace of his Ordonian accent in his soft voice but he speaks with all the mannerisms of a courtier. Just what kind of training has he had?
The Princess is blushing ever so slightly and a smile curls her lips. "We must talk." She says. I am forgotten as they cross the room together.
"Aw, that was so sweet." I hear a voice by my ear and I swing around. I'm in no mood to get distracted. I must discover what Link and Zelda are talking about. I will find out even if it kills me. I am confronted by a tall man with black hair. He looks familiar but I don't think we have met before. He smiles down at me and I see that his eyes are blood red. This strikes a chord of recognition within me but I don't recall why.
"Hello, I am Varjo." He says.
"I'm Mali." I extend my hand and he bows gallantly and presses a warm kiss against my palm. I quickly remove my hand from his vicinity. I'm in no mood for flirting. I must find out what Link is doing.
"You know, it is considered impolite to be constantly staring over the shoulder of a man who is trying to talk to you." He remarks. "Link is going nowhere?"
I gasp in surprise. Talk about perceptive! I force myself to give him more of my attention and try to forget the spectacle I can see before me of Link in deep conversation with that… I mean with Princess Zelda.
Discounting Link, of course, he is quite the most handsome man I have met. I shall grant him that. And his voice is extremely attractive. If I have to have my attention distracted I suppose I don't mind if he is the one to distract me. This decided, I study his face.
I don't think he can be much older than Link, yet his manner is that of a man of the world. His hair is jet-black and tied neatly away from his face. His lips are thin and in some strange way, he reminds me of Link. Of course, his eyes are the feature that attracts the most attention. Somewhere in the back of my mind I remember one of Link's stories.
"Are you one of the Sheikah?"
Varjo looks surprised. "Where did you hear about Sheikah?" I can't tell whether his voice is angry or merely bored.
"Link told me." Seeing that Varjo is still frowning, I hastily add that Link knew a lot of the old legends of Hyrule and had told me the Sheikah tribe were known for their secretive ways and distinctive for their blood red eyes.
"I had no idea that this Link was so knowledgeable." He remarks as I finish. I am not sure I trust the smile on his face. He glances over to where Link is still deep in conversation with the Princess and his smile widens. His eyes narrow slightly. "I wonder what else he knows…" I hear him mutter.
As soon as it appears, the strange look vanishes. A genuine smile appears back on his face. I glance over his shoulder again and see that Link is approaching. He is coming back to me. I feel a little bubble of happiness gurgling within me. I can see he looks pleased with himself and hope it has nothing to do with the Princess.
"Mali." My name on his lips is heaven. It just rolls of his tongue in perfect harmony. I smile up at him. I am safe in the knowledge that I have never looked so beautiful before in my life. "Would you care to dance?"
This is magical.
I can only nod as he sweeps me onto the dance floor. I suppose this was part of his training too for I know for certain he has never danced before and whilst he is certainly not the best dance partner I have ever had, this is the most perfect moment of my life.
For a while he is silent, concentrating on the dance, I suppose. I don't mind. I am enjoying the sensation of his arms around me and the sound of enchanting music in my ears. I gaze up at him, admiring his clear jaw line and the beauty of his face. I don't think any girl has felt like I do at this moment. He is my Link, brought back from the dead and he loves me.
Doesn't he?
"Link…?" He glances down at me. I see for the first time how distant his gaze is. His mind is clearly elsewhere. "Why were you taken away?"
"Because of who I am." He replies. His voice is still the same soft voice I grew to love but he no longer sounds like a farmer.
"What do you mean?"
"Mali, do you remember the night I left?"
I nod, how could I forget that night? But why is he bringing it up now?
"You remember what we were talking about?"
Again I nod. I cannot bring myself to speak. Although part of me is anxious to know what he will say, after all we were discussing marriage then and maybe, just maybe, he was going to ask me… another part of me is dreading what is coming.
"I think…it is better if you forgot that conversation."
What? I think my heart has just dropped into my stomach. I know I have stopped breathing. Why? Why? Why? I don't realise but I have stopped moving. Everything around me is black. There is just Link and I standing here. I stare up at him. No smile warms my face this time.
"I am staying in the castle, Mali." He says softly. My thoughts are so troubled I can hardly hear him. "I was brought here to serve the Princess. This is my home now. It is not fair on you to give you false hope. I will never be returning to Ordon."
Every word is like a stab wound to my heart. Oh, it hurts. I feel my whole body trembling with pain and anger. I cannot speak. I cannot cry. I can only stand here staring up at him.
"I'm sorry."
Finally my body begins to move again. I break away from his soft clasp and run from him. I don't know where I am going but I know I must run and run until I get away from this heartbreak. I don't know if Link is following me. I don't care. I must get away from him.
It's all her fault.
It is all Zelda's fault.
She has taken him away.
I crash onto a bench in the gardens and my body gives way to tears. I didn't even cry this much when I thought Link had died. This night was so perfect and now it is ruined.
I do not see Varjo approaching. It is probably fortunate for him that I didn't. When he sat next to me, I thought for a moment it was Link and I raised my hand to strike out at him.
He caught both of my wrists in a strong hold. I glared up at him, expecting to see Link. My furious words died on my lips as I saw it was only Varjo. He grinned at me. If my hands had not been so securely held I would have hit him. Perhaps that was why he was holding me so tightly.
"Listen to me!" His voice had a strange calming effect on me. His red eyes were glistening so eerily in the moonlight, it made him look malicious. That frightened me into silence. I nodded dumbly. "I can help you."
I wanted to ask how and why he would help me but the strange look was still present on his face and that scared me into silence.
"I shall not tell you why or how yet."
His trick of reading my mind was alarming. Just who is he?
His voice was soft and sweet as he leaned forward. "When the time comes, call for me and I shall show you how to regain what you have lost." He raises my hands to his mouth and kisses them both. "You are far too pretty to be wasted on him…come with me!" He mutters.
The next instant he has gone and I am alone. My tears have dried and I am left with nothing but the bitterness of anger and lost hope. It is her fault.
And I swear to the gods I shall have my revenge. I follow Varjo into the night.