Author's note: Someone asked a question regarding the ages of Zelda and Link. During chapter 1 when Ganondorf takes over Zelda is 13. Chapter 2 takes place five years later so Zelda is 18 and so is Link. Sorry for any confusion! Let me know what you guys think of this chapter, reviews are always appreciated and please if anybody notices any mistakes let me know about that too!
"I don't think this is normal." Zelda squinted against the afternoon sun and casted a look around her, wiping the sweat that was starting to accumulate on her brow.
"I hardly think normal applies to us." Link said, while slowly rolling his shoulders.
Zelda wrinkled her nose and settled her gaze on the targets ahead of them.
"I would hate to embarrass you in front of your men." There was a round of laughter from the surrounding knights.
Link smiled, as he tossed her a bow. "Ladies first."
This was an interesting turn of events.
"I have often heard how good the Shiekah are with knives, but how good are you with a bow?" Link teased, while gently placing a quiver over her shoulders.
"It has been awhile since I handled a bow as fine as this, but I'm sure I'll manage."
"Alright, lovebirds are you gonna flirt or shoot?" A gruff voice shouted from behind them.
Link rolled his eyes. "Rusl, I would think you would have learned something, considering how badly my lovely fiancee just beat you at the very same game."
Another round of laughter erupted from the surrounding knights.
"Whatever, boy. The bow is hardly my strength. I wont be losing much sleep over it."
"I'll be more then happy to show you how good I am with a sword." Zelda said, as she adjusted her arm guard.
"I'm trembling in my boots princess…Now why don't you show the king some of that fancy shooting." Rusl smiled at the couple, his eyes crinkling from silent laughter.
Zelda returned the smile. She felt far more comfortable out here surrounded by dirt and sharp things then she did being stuffed into dresses made of tulle.
"Call your shot, my dear." Link stood back and reached for his own bow.
"The target on the far left." Zelda straightened her back and took a deep breath. Pulling her bow string tight, relishing the straining of her muscles.
A solid thunk rang out across the field.
"Don't go easy on me now." Link said, nocking his arrow into place. He took a slight pause before releasing it.
"Good shot, Link!" A young boy yelled.
"It seems we have accumulated quite the audience." Zelda's eyes took in the growing crowd. It seemed that the whole castle was clamoring to see them.
"Well then we shouldn't disappoint them should we?" Link smiled down at her. "That tree to the east," He pointed his chin in the direction. "The knot in the middle." He took his stance and in a second his arrow sliced through the air.
Zelda could scarcely see this knot he spoke of. She had to squint to even make out his arrow.
"Good choice." Zelda felt the eyes of everyone on her back as she drew her bow. She let out a slow breath before firing. Her arrow quickly found it's target, embedding itself into Link's arrow, sending splintering wood in all directions.
The crowd let out a synchronized gasp, then applauded.
"Ah," Link stroked his chin.
"Feeling nervous?"
He turned towards her, a gentle smile on his face. "A bit yes," Zelda felt laughter bubble out of her. "Rusl is never going to let me live this down."
"We still have one more shot to take." Zelda looked around the clearing. "How about through the hands of that statue?" Link's smile grew.
"Alright, princess."
The statue in question stood on one of the lower towers of the castle directly behind them. A goddess staring towards the heavens hands stretched high above her head, finger tips touching, forming a small triangle.
Zelda turned and faced the crowd and drew her bow. This had turned into quite the spectacle. She could feel Impa's presence at the edge of the crowd and wondered if a scolding would be in her future.
Zelda took one last steading breath. Link was very good. Better then anyone she faced from the Shiekah. He was right, they did prefer knives, but Zelda always had a love for the bow. She remembered trailing after her older brothers begging them to teach her.
A quiet stillness had settled over the crowd. Despite the number of people the sound of her bow's release filled the clearing. The crowd craned their necks to watch her arrow's trajectory as it flew soundlessly through the hands of the statue, dead center.
A chorus of cheers erupted and Zelda felt her cheeks flush.
"You don't stand a chance boy!" Rusl shouted.
Link placed his hands on his hips. "I would watch that tongue of yours, my future wife is very handy with a knife." a grouping of maids giggled behind their hands.
Link gave Zelda a wink before drawing his last arrow. The crowd once again grew silent, as he took a slow breath before releasing his shot.
Zelda squinted against the afternoon sun and watched Link's arrow sail effortlessly through the target.
"Looks like a draw, my lady."
The crowd cheered.
Zelda smiled at his gentle tone and she felt a blush once again graze her cheeks. She lied and told herself it was from crowds attention and not his tender gaze.
"Which bouquet my dear." The florist held up two bundles of flowers. "The king mentioned you are quite fond of roses."
Zelda sighed. She was beginning to miss the training grounds.
"I do have a fondness for them," She said. "but does the king have a preference?" Zelda could feel Impa eyeing her.
"He likes tulips your grace." Saria said from behind.
"Then the one with tulips please."
The wedding was five days away.
Zelda stared out her bedroom window nervously fiddling with one of her knives. Dragging the blade over a sharpening steel over and over. Soon guests would start arriving. Nobles she didn't know or trust. She had her doubts on the amount of attendees, but both Impa and Link agreed they needed an audience.
"People need to see you. They need to know you're alive." Impa urged. Zelda could only reluctantly nod in agreement.
Soon the castle will be bustling with even more unfamiliar faces. A thought that caused Zelda's stomach to become unsettled. She had grown quite fond of her quiet lunches with Link.
Zelda gently placed her knife back underneath her pillow. Turning back towards the window admiring the way the sun enhanced the color of her new gown. She ran her hands over the soft fabric of her dress. Tracing the embroidered leaves of the bodice. Zelda admired the soft green underneath her fingertips. The color was really starting to grow on her.
There was a soft knock at her door.
"Come in." Zelda turned and saw a young maid. She gave a quick curtsey.
"The king has requested your presence for tea."
"Thank you." The girl nervously bowed out of the room and Zelda released a sigh. Hopefully, it would just be her and Link. She wanted to enjoy a simple afternoon before the wedding brought new prying eyes and potential threats.
Zelda enjoyed the quiet walk to Link's study, giving small smiles to any staff she passed on the way. They seemed to have warmed up to her significantly since her little competition with Link.
"Link Forrester how could you!?" A young blonde girl exclaimed.
Zelda felt her heart stop at the shouting. Her defenses immediately up.
"Ilia, calm down." An older gentleman gently placed a hand on the young girls shoulder. She had to be the same age as Zelda, with short blonde hair and freckled skin. Her green eyes bore into Link.
Zelda stilled at the end of the hallway.
"Ilia, please just…"
"No, I wont support this!" She pointed a finger at Link, nearly touching his nose.
Link frowned. It was such a strange sight to Zelda, she had never thought to imagine seeing the type of pained expression on Link's face. She blinked and it was gone.
He let out a sigh. "You are always so difficult."
Zelda's eyebrows rose at the statement. She didn't know the nature of their disagreement, but that was definitely the wrong thing to say.
Ilia's chest rose in rapid waves, as she angrily blew air out of her nose.
"Did you not once think of me when you were making this decision." Every word of her sentence was said through gritted teeth. Her hands balled into fists at her side.
The older man squeezed her shoulder gently.
"No." Link crossed his arms over his chest. Zelda felt a chill go through her. His eyes looked cold, his usually expressive face an unreadable mask.
An anguished sigh left the girls lips and her shoulders fell. She looked deflated and small.
Zelda's eyes quickly moved from Link to her.
"I see." Ilia whispered before turning on her heel, soft steps doing nothing to hide her crying.
"She'll come around Link." The man looked to him. "My lady." He bowed, noticing Zelda and taking his leave.
Zelda watched his retreating back.
"How much of that did you hear?" Link whispered.
She moved her eyes to his. His face was its normal self. He looked sad and tired, as he leaned against the oak doors to his study.
"Most of it." She admitted. "Old friend of yours?"
He nodded sadly.
"That was Bo, one of my bannermen and his daughter Ilia."
Zelda looked at the floor where Ilia was just standing. "She loves you." she guessed.
Link nodded glumly and sighed. "Since we were children. She always thought that someday we would wed."
"Oh." Zelda felt her chest constrict. She felt his eyes on her, reading her expression.
"Don't feel guilty, Zelda." He pushed himself from the wall and stretched. "That conversation was a long time coming."
"You don't love her?"
"Not the way she loves me." He said with finality, turning towards the door. "Now, how about some tea?" He pushed it open and entered his study.
Warmth flooded the hallway and Zelda stared at his back as she followed him.
"You don't believe me?" He asked as he poured her a cup.
"No."
He looked back at her, an ever familiar gentle smile forming on his face. "You can be awfully sweet at times, my Zelda."
"Sweet? I have been called many things…" He pulled out her chair and she sat. "never sweet." Zelda picked up the small porcelain cup. She felt one of his hands rest gently on her shoulder.
"Believe me. It's true"
She turned to look up at him. "Believe what? That you're not in love with Ilia or that I'm sweet?"
He looked up thoughtfully. The setting sun casting him in a warm orange light, making his hair look darker and the angles of his face sharper.
"Both." He whispered and leaned towards her. Zelda's hands tightened around the fragile cup, a small crack forming around the handle. She could feel his breathe on her cheek as he closed the distance between them. His lips gently grazing her cheek.
It was an interesting sensation for Zelda, she never felt such an intimate display of affection. Her heartbeat increased slightly and she felt her breath hitch. She was so rarely caught off guard.
It was surprisingly pleasant.