Chapter Two: Father's Gift

Disclaimer: I obviously do not own the Legend of Zelda, any of the characters nor Beauty and the Beast. I forgot to put one up for the last chapter. Woops.

Zelda quickly entered the University after speeding off away from Groose. He was just so irritatingly arrogant in her mind and was glad to be rid of him.

"Him, more important than books?" Zelda spoke aloud, "Not a chance."

She blew her bangs in frustrations and made her way to her father's office.

Gaepora was attending to his annual reports for his students. His rubbed his fingertips against his moustache as he paused, thinking of the correct way to word the sentence. The current student, while having good grades didn't not have an active role in the class.

"Fledge..." Gaepora's large white monobrow moved into a frown, "What am I to do with you? If only you had more faith in yourself."

As he put pen to paper, a knock on his door was heard. He bade them permission to enter, and placed the quill in the ink pot as he saw his guest.

"Zelda!" Gaepora grinned as his daughter entered.

"Good morning father!" She chimed, setting her basket down on a chest of drawers.

"Did you have fun at the Bazaar?"

"I guess so," Zelda mumbled.

"Oh dear," Gaepora sighed, pushing his work to the side, "What happened, my darling?"

"Oh, nothing that bad!" Zelda waved his hands to dismiss the notion that someone was horrible to her.

"Something has happened, Zelda. I can tell."

"Oh, don't worry. It's just Groose again."

"Ah, yes... Him. More brawn than brains, I'll say."

"Exactly. He just lacks common sense. It's like he doesn't notice that I don't want to talk to him or be near him."

"Knight Commander Eagus told me that his attitude isn't helped by the group of people he surrounds himself with."

"Yes, they make him think he's the bee's knees but in all honesty, he's not any where near that."

"He does well physically. Eagus can speak for hours on how good he is."

"But that's not the point. He's crude and rude!" Zelda snapped, "He even told me that I should think about getting married. And to stop reading, above all."

"It's understandable that you feel that way. She was just the same."

"You mean, Mother?"

"Yes. She raised in a way that made you as stubborn as a mule and as hard as nails."

"I wouldn't say as hard as nails, father. I get worked up over the silliest thing."

"There's something else isn't there?"

"Yes. Father tell me honestly. Do you think I'm odd?"

"No, my princess, you are not odd. You are just unique; a breath of fresh air which Skyloft has needed for a long time," he then frowned, "Where on this earth did you get that idea?"

"I just... I don't feel like I fit in here..."

"But you can get along with nearly everyone in town, Zelda!" Gaepora chuckled.

"I know I can talk to people, father, but... It's different. There's no one here I can connect to!"

"What about Karane? I thought you two were good friends!"

"Well, we are - it's just, we're going separate ways. She wants to get married, like everyone expects me too as well, but father, I want to travel. Be like the heroes in my stories."

"I understand, my dear daughter. You want more than this. If we had more money, we could pack up now and live in Castle Town,"Gaepora thought for a moment, "Ah, yes before I forget, your long-awaited birthday gift has arrived."

"It has?!" Zelda cried, clapping her hands in glee.

"Here you are," her father presented her a large box, delicately wrapped in tissue paper with red ribbons holding it together. Zelda graciously took the box and placed it down on her father's desk. Like a child at Yuletide, she tore the wrappings apart, throwing them to the side and lifted the lid.

"Oh father..." she sniffed, "It's more beautiful than I imagined!"

She choked back tears as she embraced her father.

"Go on! Have a go with it," he said releasing himself from his daughter's arms.

Zelda grinned as she pulled out the golden lyre and gently strummed it's strings.

"The blacksmith said that it should never go out of tune," Gaepora smiled.

"Father! Oh, this must have cost a fortune! I thought you would have gone to the woodcarver and have it painted gold."

"Do not fear, Zelda. It was worth every rupee to see your face light up like it did. Also, it's not solid gold - only lightly plated."

"But still-"

"Zelda, I barely see you smile genuinely anymore. Allow your father this."

"Okay," Zelda smiled, then hugged her father again.

"I must have told you this a dozen times, but... You look so much like your mother," Gaepora wiped a tear from his left eye, "It makes me glad to see grow into such a clever and beautiful woman."

"Oh, Papa... Don't cry," Zelda whispered, comforting him as the joyous mood was replaced by a foreboding one, "Shall we visit her tonight?"

"Yes, I think she'll appreciate it," Gaepora smiled weakly.

Zelda removed herself from his arms and stood a little further away from him. He cleared his throat, regaining his composure.

"Oh, go on, Zelda. Don't you worry about me. Enjoy the rest of your day!" He smiled at her as he made his way back to his desk.

Zelda picked up her basket, still holding the lyre close to her heart.

"Goodbye Papa," Zelda spoke, facing the door, "I'll see you later."

"Yes, yes," he said, dismissing her.

As Zelda left, she turned to look at him. The haunted look he took after saying or hearing a word about his wife was there. Zelda sighed, her previous joy drooping even further.

Zelda sat on the fountain's edge, drowned in melancholy. Once again, she ran her fingers along her new lyre, feeling the pattern carved into it. She sighed. It was painful to see her father that way for many years - ever since her death, he was depressed. Zelda had figured that if she left, her father would crumple under the weight of it all and no one would be there to help him. While her father was still like this, she couldn't leave Skyloft. She would delay her dreams to see her father well again. She couldn't let anyone else deal with a burden she was willing to carry.

"Hey, what's with that sad face, huh?"

"Wha-?" Zelda looked up finding the flaming red hair and deep-sea blue eyes of her friend.

"Well, where's my answer?" Karane frowned, placing her hands on her hips.

"It's nothing... just my father," Zelda muttered.

"Zel, you know that if you want to leave and go travelling, I'll be more than happy to keep an eye on your old man!" Karane sat herself down next to her.

"I know... but then I feel like I'm taking advantage of our friendship."

"Zelda, we've been friends since we were toddlers. You've done so much for me. Let me return the favour once in a while, 'kay?" Karane winked with the last word.

Zelda shook her head with a small smile at her friend's silly behaviour,
"Okay."

"Hey! What's this?" Karane cried as Zelda saw her eyes latch onto her lyre, "Is that it?!"

"Yes!" Zelda grinned, holding it up for her to see.

"Woah... It's beautiful," she then began to poked her finger together sheepishly, "I feel bad for just getting you those ribbons."

"They were a lovely gift! Besides, I needed some new ones," Zelda patted her on the back gently.

"Well, if you say so."

"Father was intent on getting me this gift this year, instead of for my coming-of-age."

"Your old lyre was kinda falling apart. The wood was chipping and cracking no matter how much paint and ribbon you put on it."

"It was the last thing my mother gave me. I'll still keep it, for sentiment."

"I know, I know. Now, before I ask you to play, I want your opinion on something!" Karane grinned as stood up, twirling around clutching onto her soft round hat.

"Din's fire! Why on earth are you wearing a dress?!" Zelda cried, aghast at the sight. Her friend was a bit of a tomboy and had a bad reputation for it, always wearing boy's clothes or a mock-up hero outfit.

"Today's the day!" Karane jumped up and down.

"What?"

"I'm going to tell Pipit how I feel!"

"But what about Cawlin?" Zelda teased.

"Oi!" Karane smacked her arm, "I never liked him. It was all him liking me!"

"Well, hopefully this will keep him away," Zelda smirked, "Not likely."

"He only likes me as a pretty face. I know he hates who I am. You know... the 'boy-girl'," Karane looked embarrassed, "That's why today I'm making the effort for Pip!"

Pipit was a student at the university. Like Groose, he was relatively young (around 18 or 19) but studied academically and trained for a knighthood. Gaepora had told Zelda that he was a prodigy and perhaps would be the first man to pass both courses with high marks simultaneously. Zelda remembered her sending time with him and Karane at many festivals when they were younger, when he was less busy. She remembered the short, spiked dark-auburn hair, the clouded-blue eyes. He was a good man and she hoped he would accept Karane's feelings like he accepted her initially.

"You like Pipit that much? You know he doesn't mind the-"

"He likes me as a friend. He sees me as a boy!" Karane sighed, "Do I look pretty enough? Tell me honestly."

Zelda took in Karane's appearance. Her hair was still the same, in the two low bunches with two thick strands in front of her Hylian ears. The dress was simple with no embroidery or jewels. It was olive green and reached Karane's knee - it was a popular style for younger girls (specifically under 25, most are married by then) but Zelda wore her as it was more practical as there was less of a trip hazard. She wore thick, cream tights with small slip-on shoes. Karane was always pretty but at this moment, she was more than that. She reeked of feminine beauty.

'No, reeked isn't the right word,' Zelda thought, placing a slender finger on her lips, 'Sounds horrible, but the best way I could put it.'

"Well, you've been staring for an awful long time..." Karane's eyebrows were raised.

"You look very nice. My only suggestion: let your hair down."

"Relax?"

"I mean that you should get your hair out of those pigtails!"

"Oh!" Karane quickly worked the blue bands out of her hair, slipping them onto her wrists. She held her hat in her mouth while she brushed her hair with her fingers, removing a few kinks from the bands.

"Much better," Zelda smiled, holding her lyre to her chest.

Karane crossed her arms and looked at her expectantly.

"I'll play for you later. I need to break this lyre in. Go, get him!" Zelda grinned.

Karane beamed and ran off towards the university, turning a few times to wave which almost had her colliding with a few people. She smiled at her friend as she began to pluck at the strings of the lyre. The sound was very satisfying. And so she played.

Author's note: Thank you Lisa Bug for your reviews. They were very nice, I hope you continue to read and enjoy this story.