When he woke up again, it was because of a noise outside of the carriage. Link snapped awake in seconds, looking around with narrowed eyes, relaxing again when he realized all was safe. The guards lowered the stairs to the carriage, hopping out. "Your Highness," one called. "We've arrived."
Zelda groaned and opened her eyes. Link helped her stand up in the carriage, helping her descend first. He hopped down after her, Zelda smoothing her skirts. "Do I look okay?" She peered into Link's face, and he nodded, averting his eyes quickly so that the guards wouldn't catch him.
"Yes, you look… fine." He turned his face towards the house.
Mansion, really. The sprawling estate was all marble columns and wide porches, massive windows that were aglow with light. The sounds he heard were people cheering and laughing, and loud music thrumming through the open windows. He looked around at the guards, in attire similar to the Royal Guards but for their banner colors of the Duke's family. They saluted when they saw it was the princess, and opened the doors for them. Link took Zelda's arm in his as the guards stepped into the party.
"Introducing, Her Highness the Princess Zelda, and Master Link Tolrose!"
The wild party went quiet for the announcement, and picked back up quickly, even louder. Link took Zelda's arm and smiled at her, and they walked forward into the party.
The inside of the mansion was massive, and flooded with women and men in a fascinating variety of colors. He could easily see that all his lessons on keeping in line and holding form were not going to matter an ounce. While people were dancing, they certainly weren't holding any sense of a line or a pattern. They swapped partners indiscriminately with each other, sometimes two of the same sex dancing. Zelda nudged him gently with a grin. "Relax, Link, it's a party."
They stepped out of the doorway and into the main party. People waved and applauded to see their princess standing among them, and Zelda laughed, waving. Link turned his head. The massive room was lit with chandeliers made of faceted glass, lending a warm glow to the cream walls. There was a band at one end of the room made of five people, playing a fast beat on violins and acoustic guitars.
Zelda pulled Link along by the hand, merging slowly into the crowd. A brief sensation of panic engulfed him among the loud, cheering group, but Zelda's warm hand kept him under control. Something shrieked in his ear and Link panicked, his heart pounding in his chest. But when he whirled around to see who it was, he jumped in surprise.
"Link!" Ruto screamed, her eyes bright. She was wrapped in a soft yellow dress with long gauzy sleeves that billowed around her arms and fins, the satin body of the dress almost off shoulder and hanging to the floor with a narrow skirt, a thin layer of chiffon overlay floating along the floor. She had an elegant head dress of gold filigree and long, dangling earrings that touched her shoulders. As she looked him over, her eyes glowing in approval, he wondered if she remembered, or thought they had not seen each other in over seven years. But instead she turned and hugged Zelda as well, and they kissed each other's cheeks. "Goddesses, don't you both look wonderful? There's an amazing buffet at the other end of the hall, if you want I'll take you to it."
"Sure, sure," replied Zelda. They cut a path through the dancers, people offering hellos and greetings, eyeing Link after smiling at the queen. As they got farther from the music, the crowd and noise petered out. There was an elaborate buffet set up, and Ruto helped herself to a tall glass of water ("It's the only way I can stay at this party for longer than an hour") with a small plate of wilted spinach and strawberry salad. Zelda took up a bite-size portion of flame-cooked steak bruschetta, holding the plate close and very mindful of her cream underdress. Link took as much as he dared; cooked cold shrimp with cocktail sauce, the aforementioned bruschetta, slices of poached pears skewered on toothpicks, and something that was wrapped in bacon and squelched between his teeth. When he asked Zelda what they were in a soft whisper, she replied, "Scallops."
They lingered at the edge of the party, eating their fill and wiping their hands on cloth napkins. Really, the food for the trip hadn't been enough. Zelda grabbed them both a glass of glittering champagne, taking Link by the wrist and pulling him slowly back into the crowd.
"Is this what these parties are like?" he asked her, shouting in the direction of her ear.
"Yes!" she replied. "It's fun, but I'd recommend drinking a bit if you get nervous easy! Makes it better!"
So he did. They both did, actually, and Ruto only encouraged it, hanging around them. Link met dozens of people, all of which Zelda somehow knew, but Link struggled with their names after about his fourth or so glass of some sugary punch concoction.
He stood around with a circle of other men for a bit, feeling out of place and understanding why the girl that morning had insisted on makeup; all of them were wearing some to a degree, and they eyed him as the odd man out.
"Who is that fellow?"
"Who?"
"The one that came in with Her Highness."
"Oh, his name is Torlose or something."
"Tilross?"
"That sounds right."
"I've never seen him before, where's he from?"
"Says he's a Viscount in the North?"
"What the hell is the princess doing with a Viscount?"
"At least he's not a Baron."
He wandered along the edge of the teeming mass, eyeing it warily, feeling horribly naked without a weapon. The edges of his vision were turning fuzzy and soft, and he had a good, light, swaying sort of motion going on in his limbs. Zelda grabbed his hand, smiling, her eyes brighter and her lips red from punch.
"Come on! Show me your dance moves." She pulled him in close, putting her arms around his neck. Link hesitated before putting his hands on her waist, looking around to try and get a cue from the crowd. Zelda sighed in frustration and suddenly dipped down in a circle, coming up again close to his face. "Relax, Link! Nothing bad is going to happen!"
He nodded weakly, and she dipped again. This time when she came up, he held onto her tight, moving with her in and out, careful of her toes and the edge of her dress. They were pressed close together by the throng of people, and Link dared to pull her in a little more, his arms going around her waist. "There," she encouraged, "now you've got it."
They danced close, Link breathing gently on Zelda's face, his eyes low and focusing on her mouth, her neck, the edge of her dress. Zelda was staring at him, willing him to raise his eyes. When he did, hesitant, like he was avoiding it, she pulled him in and kissed him hard.
When the kiss broke, Link looked around, excited and feeling guilty all at once. Zelda grabbed his chin. "Link, don't worry about it." He nodded, a little dumbstruck. Zelda pulled him back in and kissed him again, holding him hostage with her arms around his neck, his arms around her waist, one hand creeping up to cup the back of her head and his fingers tangling in her hair. She finally let him back up for air, resting her cheek against his. They danced this way a little while longer, Link's heart pounding.
"Mm," Zelda mumbled against his ear. "I'm thirsty. I'm… gonna get a drink, do you want anything?"
"Ah, no, I'm alright," he replied. She nodded and detached herself from his grip, sashaying unevenly through the crowd to the refreshments table. Link stared after her, awkward and stuck in place. Thankfully, Ruto came up to rescue him, taking his hands and settling against him to dance.
"You and Zelda seem to have gotten pretty close," she muttered in his ear. Link tensed, and she grinned at him, winking. "Don't worry, I won't tell. Although I guess I should be sad to lose my fiancé." She poked his chest gently with one finger before laughing at Link's suddenly panicked face. "Don't worry! Everyone here is so drunk that I doubt many even care that you were both kissing pretty heavily. Aren't you her bodyguard, though?" Ruto was smirking, teasing him. Link looked away. She kissed his cheek lightly. "Go find your girl, alright Master Bodyguard?"
She helped push him out of the crowd, and Link used the opportunity to grab himself another drink and try to find where Zelda had wandered to.
The rest of the house was rather quiet, and just as impressive. Long woven tapestries lined the halls, along with massive paintings of what he assumed was the family that owned the building. Antique solid wood dressers, chairs, tables, velvet upholstered loveseats and couches were everywhere. He wandered for roughly fifteen minutes before he found Zelda sitting at such a table with a group of well-dressed women and men, playing cards and talking while they drank. She looked up in delight when she saw him, waving him over and using one leg to pull over a spare seat next to herself from a neighboring table.
"Link! Link! Sit down! I was just telling um… these folks about some of your adventures. Like um, Termina and that."
Link looked around the table at the rather unimpressed-looking group. They flipped their chips idly around, looking over the game. Zelda dealt a hand for Link, and he had a passing familiarity with it; it was one of the ways he'd made money before. So they started playing, and kept drinking, and Link started talking, all of it flowing back to him like a song.
-
"So I'm froze up, yeah, an' starin' down into the meaty gullet o' this massive Dodongo, th' king of all of 'em, an' he opens his jaws, an' he's got teeth like a damn table leg or sommat."
As Link had gotten more and more inebriated, his country accent had also become more and more profound. But his listeners had also become more and more spellbound, to the point where one of the women had long forgotten about her cigarette, a good inch or so of ash hanging on the end. Even Zelda was listening; she had not known about this.
"So, I get a bomb flower, righ', an' I heave it with all my strength, an' it slides down his gullet!"
"He swallowed it?" asked Cigarette Girl.
"Bloody swallowed it whole!"
"Then what?" asked one of the young men.
"Then… it went off, an'… well, y'ever planted a bomb flower field next to your cow pasture?"
The people around him had not, in fact, done any such thing, but still they shuddered and recoiled. Link took an offered cigarette and lit it with an equally offered match. He'd embellished a smidge, and changed some facts; told them all this was only a year or so ago, and that he'd fallen into the pit while exploring the northern lands with his father for a suitable place for their home.
Link sighed around his cigarette, exhaling smoke. "Yep, that's that." He put down his cards, revealing the best hand, a full strike. "I think I'll get some air now though, if ye don't mind. Your Highness, would you join me?" Zelda thanked them all for the conversation and stood up, following Link out, her eyes all wide with amazement. Once they were out of the room he lost the cigarette on the wood floor, crushing it under his boot.
Link was feeling good; he and Zelda popped into the main dance hall again, grabbed more drinks (two each) and snuck off again through the beautiful home. They got to the back of the house where few people (and guards) were, and settled down on the grand staircase leading to the gardens.
Link drank most of his first glass as they stared out at the gardens. "It's beautiful out here," Zelda spoke finally, sipping at her first drink.
"Yeah," Link muttered in agreement. They stared up at the stars, calming down, coming off the high of having kissed and danced and finally been able to be close to each other. Link got up from his sprawling spot on the stairs and went over to Zelda, stretching back out next to her. She smiled at him and put her hand on his.
"I'm glad that I could bring you to this," she spoke quietly.
Link looked up at her. "Oh yeah?"
"Yes."
Link stared at her for a few minutes before shifting and sitting up. He took her drink from her hand and set it down on one of the steps before pulling her close and kissing her again. Zelda sighed and wrapped her arms around him. He put his hands to her face, cupping it, moving his lips from hers to her forehead, the bridge of her nose, her cheeks just below her eyes, even her eyelids. Zelda worried the skin along his jawline with her teeth, kissing it lightly after. They stayed out there for a while, kissing until they were cold and their drinks were gone. Zelda sniffled, the icy air making her nose run, and they untangled themselves, getting up and heading back into the warm building.
-
More drinking, and more dancing. Link had a feeling he was far more drunk than he'd been the night the Grand Duke and Duchess had visited, but he felt better about it. This time he wasn't sick with worry and uncomfortable panic. They met up again with Ruto, lingering over a dessert tray and talking. A gentleman came up and greeted them, kissing Ruto's hand. He had a southern estate, and as such was good neighbors with the Zora population.
"Mm!" She finished licking a bit of chocolate from her hand, and gestured to Link and Zelda. "Ambrose, this is Her Highness and my friend Zelda, and this is our other friend, Link."
"Ah," said Ambrose in a cool tone. "You're the Viscount from the Northern area?"
Before either of them could reply, Ruto snorted and raised an eyebrow. "Link's not a Viscount."
Ambrose looked them over again. "Oh, no? Well," he muttered, turning and heading back into the crowd.
Zelda felt cold panic settle in her chest. Link stood frozen, his hand wrapped so tightly around his wine glass that it cracked.
"Ruto," Zelda whispered. Ruto looked towards her, calm and unconcerned.
"We've been telling everyone that Link is a Viscount so that he could stay as my bodyguard. Only nobility can be my bodyguard!" Her eyes were wide.
"Oh don't worry about it," Ruto replied, waving one hand. "Everyone here is so soused that I'm surprised they remember where they are."
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"Seems someone's a bit of a fibber."
"Who?"
"Master Tolise."
"Who?"
"Her Highness' date!"
"Oh, I thought it was Telis."
"Anyway. Apparently he's master of nothing but tall tales."
"Oh really?"
"Indeed, I heard it from the Duchess of Farlon, who was talking to the Margrave of Ordos, who heard it from…"
Because of his staunch refusal to wear makeup or those awful shoes, Link had become an easy target to remember, and Ruto had grossly overestimated how inebriated the company was. Thankfully, Link kept himself wet with drink, so that he didn't really notice the whispers around him, or the blatant stares.
At around one in the morning, Zelda yawned and leaned heavily on Link's shoulder. He wasn't in much better condition, but managed to stay upright. They said their goodbyes to Ruto, who hugged them both tight, and staggered out into the front yard of the mansion. Zelda easily spied her carriage (the biggest and most beautiful, of course), and they struggled into it, the guards helping them in, but choosing instead to "perch on the back, in case of highway bandits, Your Highness."
Zelda considered it a blessing, and she wrapped her arms around Link, resting her cheek on his shoulder and closing her eyes. Link put his arm around her, pulling her in tight and resting his cheek on the top of her head. They rode like that all the way home, not really sleeping and not totally awake, but drunk and delirious and happy, and just a little bit in love.
-
The betting pools were mostly asleep around the kitchens by the time Zelda and Link got back to the castle. The kitchen door that they'd propped open had fallen shut, probably when a guard kicked it on accident while trying to avoid Cook's cleaver for being found cheating at cards, and they slept on, scattered around the kitchen with their heads on the tables or (in one person's case), a loaf of old bread.
The guards that followed them lingered outside to smoke and debate whether or not the princess and her guard had Done Anything, so Link, still drunk, had to help Zelda into the castle. She giggled and stumbled, going around barefoot and wearing holes in the feet of her stockings, carrying her shoes in the other hand. Link weaved and wobbled with her to the staircase leading to her rooms, and Zelda made a fake crying noise when they got there. "I have to climb all those staaaaaaaaiiirs," she moaned, flailing her arms.
"W… well I'll help you, okay Zelda?" Link offered. She put her arm around his waist, and he hers, and they climbed the stairs awkwardly like that, Link trying not to step on her dress and Zelda trying not to miss a step. When they finally got to her doors, Zelda pushed them open herself, wobbling.
"I'll uh, I'll see you in the morning, okay?" Link turned to make what would be for him a slow descent.
"No, wait," she groaned. "My dress… it… I can't sleep in it, and I can't undo it alone…"
Well, a very sound argument for him to stay. Link followed her into her private chambers and closed the door behind them. Zelda managed to get the front of her dress unlaced well enough, and Link pulled it off her shoulders from behind, carefully and slowly hanging it up in her wardrobe. He stared at her back when he turned around again, the curve of her shoulder blades and the narrow, tight, tapering waist.
"It unhooks," she mumbled, pointing with one awkward thumb. Link stepped forward, brushing his fingers along Zelda's back as he started to unhook the cream underdress, exposing more and more of Zelda's underpinnings as he went. Finally, it was unhooked, and she stepped out of the dress with a sigh, Link picking it up slowly and staring at Zelda as she bent over with a grumble, unhooking her stockings from her garter.
"Would you help me unlace my corset?" she mumbled. "They tie it so tight, it hurts to do it myself…"
If they had both not been so drunk, Link would have been convinced that she was doing this on purpose (and he would have been only half-right; Zelda was helpless once fully dressed) and would have refused when she first asked. But as it was, he wanted to let the maids sleep in for once, and he wanted to hang around her, to breathe her essence and be close, touching her.
Once her corset was unlaced, she unhooked the front, sighing and casting it off. Before she got her sleep shift on, Link stole a few glances, ones that he would definitely savor later. Zelda turned around when dressed and smiled sleepily at him, her lash stain having run a little, her hair disheveled as she started pulling out the long pins holding it in place. Link reached up and worked with her, watching as her hairdo slowly came apart, curls slowly falling over her shoulders. When they got them all, Link assuring her of this by running his fingers through her hair, Zelda pulled him close and hugged him, kissing his cheek. "Thank you for your help," she mumbled sleepily.
"You're welcome," he replied, hugging her back. Quickly, a hangover was starting to catch up with his drunkenness. "I should go," he added, taking Zelda over to her bed.
"Oh come on, let's talk."
"We can… we can have lunch together tomorrow, and then we'll talk. Okay?" A headache was starting its awful beat in tune to his heart at the back of his head.
Zelda sighed and rolled over. "Fine, we'll talk at lunch."
Link bent down and kissed her cheek, straightening again and heading to the door.
-
Down in the kitchens, one groggy maid stirred awake. She glanced at the sky, turning from black to a deep purple in the light of the rising sun, and gasped in horror. They hadn't been awake for the princess' reentry! Panicked, she woke up, kicking the person next to her on accident. They mumbled and cuddled back up with their empty ale mug.
The maid ran barefoot through the castle, taking the stairs to Zelda's room two at a time, though there was a cramp in her side and she couldn't breathe. So it was that she nearly ran into Link, who was trying to make a quiet exit. Both of them froze; the maid had been caught not doing her duty, and Link had been caught breaking one of the rules of never entering the princess' rooms alone. They stared at each other.
"We shall tell no one of this, okay?" Link finally whispered. The maid nodded her agreement and went into Zelda's rooms to straighten them, Link rushing down the stairs to his own.