Chapter 4: Happy Birthday
A week of hell passed for Link. At least he was much faster now because of the long runs he was chased by his father every now and then. He also got use of his reflexes during his music classes, thanks to Flat who accidentally was near to poke his eye out with his baton at least one time each lesson and the same thing with Sharp, with the exception that Sharp tried on purpose.
As Link saw it, he seemed to have a good chance at becoming a warrior, but he made no progress in music.
In her chamber, Zelda had woken up early as usual and this day was Link's birthday so she was more than excited. The sunrays shone through the window and she felt it was a much too beautiful day to be still.
She opened her wardrobe and dug as far into it that she could get. Behind all the dresses and skirts, all clothes a princess could dream of, she had her own secret set of clothes. She carefully chose between two simpler dresses and decided for the blue one that went down to her knees. It had a small flower pattern following the collar which she always had found very cute.
When she managed to escape the closet without getting strangled by the dresses she fell out of it, her hair all tangled. She noticed a pair of feet she recognized and looked up at the person who had entered her room without an invitation.
"Hi Impa…" The young princess's greeted and her face lit up.
"Good morning princess…" Impa replied with a hint of a smile as she glanced down at the princess on the floor, half of her still inside the closet.
Impa cast one look at the dress in the princess's hand and there wasn't really any need to say anything.
Zelda shyly met her gaze. Impa was one of the few who wouldn't shy away when looking into Zelda's deep, blue eyes. Zelda couldn't understand why people evaded her gaze. She kept watching Impa, silently begging for her permission, but Impa stood as firm as before with her arms crossed.
Impa, Zelda's bodyguard and caretaker, was a middle-aged woman but she had a somewhat timeless appearance. Her hair was like the whiteness of the snow, or maybe that would be to lie. White as the cold snow or more silvery as the hard steel, it didn't matter. Most eye-catching were the red eyes. Steel and snow were good words to describe her personality too. No one could tell what she felt or thought, she was tall and muscular for a woman and she was steady, loyal and unbreakable like a mountain.
She was also a survivor of the Sheikah, a people of shadows with a dark past.
Hyrule had a peaceful history but there had been wars. The Sheikah were skilled warriors, trained in the traditional arts of their people since birth and faithful servants of the royal family of Hyrule. But through the years they had been used and destroyed, almost none remained and many thought them all to be dead, at least that what the rumors said. It was the easiest way to explain what had happened afterwards…
There had been a time when Hylians were mysteriously and brutally killed after the Sheikah's disappearance and many blamed the People of Shadows. But… Why would the most faithful people in Hyrule, those who were said to be unable to feel emotions, and thus could never have a reason, turn against their own masters? They were mysterious, yes, but they worked as tools and tools never disobeyed. But not many thought they were innocent. The murders had gradually stopped but the people who blamed the Sheikah strongly believed that they were still out there waiting to destroy the Hylians. The truth is that no one really knew much about the Sheikah and no one missed them. What really happened to them no one bothered to ponder about.
Zelda turned around and stepped behind a draper to change.
"I figured I could take this instead of one with three layers that I usually have to wear", she said as she made one arm visible to gesture towards several pieces of clothing, which obviously would be one dress when wearing it all together, lying neatly on a chair. "…As you know it is his birthday today, and I can't be running around in…that! Besides, if I wear this I can make a quick change later"
Impa kept a straight face, as usual. "Princess, I assume I can't question this being well planned…"
"Of course it's well planned, I got an excuse to be gone all day, I got a present for him and I got the prepared surprise." The princess bounced out from behind the draper with a smile on her small lips. She skipped over to the clothes on the chair and put them on, piece by piece, clothing by clothing, over her blue dress.
"Impa, why do you want me to put these on myself?" She questioned as she struggled with ribbons and buttons. "Everyone else says I shouldn't and they act as if I'm doing something bad… I don't want to be a bad girl." Zelda inspected her reflection in the mirror and went over to her bed.
"You care too much about what people consider right", Impa said and sat down behind her with a hairbrush.
"I don't like right and wrong Impa", Zelda replied and crossed her legs while Impa brushed her hair. She didn't get any answer. "…Impa?"
"You should leave for breakfast."
The little princess quickly fixed her hair so it wasn't loose and left for breakfast. As she went trough the dark and long corridors she thought through her plan once more. She would eat breakfast with her father as usual; she was in no hurry as Link always slept in late. She would excuse herself so that no one searched for her, this would be highly necessary and also require a good excuse since she had important classes as usual and as the princess should never be left alone.
She had convinced Impa not to follow her today. Impa was always around but usually kept herself hidden so there wouldn't be much difference on that point. She knew she could trust Impa who had never seen Link since Zelda requested to be alone with him. Impa respected her wish, but only because she judged the situation to be without danger, it was against her orders not to have the princess within eyesight.
This morning Link woke up and stretched his arms as he yawned, the sunlight shone through the window, promising a beautiful day. Summer was beginning to give in to autumn.
The warm sunrays made the bed feel particularly comfortable so Link stayed in bed for a while, he had a nagging feeling that something wasn't as usual. Then it hit him, his father hadn't been there chasing him out of bed at sunset. Both father and son were impossible to wake up and could sleep until lunch if they got the chance but when it was concerning Link's future as a warrior his father forced both himself and Link out of bed to make sure his son got the training he needed.
He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard footsteps and only a few seconds later his parents entered, his mother carrying a big cake and his father with a bunch of presents.
"Good morning sunshine", his mother said cheerfully and sat down on the edge of his bed. His father sat down next to her and handed Link one of the presents.
"That one is from me my cute fairy spirit", his mother chimed and watched her son eagerly rip off the paper to find a small book.
"What is this Mum?"
"I've written down how to play all my favorite songs in that book", she began but Link's father quickly put another gift in his hands to change the subject.
"Thanks Mum, I'll try to play them later", Link said and opened the other gift. It was a short knife.
"You're not old enough for a real sword yet but I think you have been fighting well enough lately so I give you this. It is very sharp", his father stated and took it from Link's hand. He used it to make a small cut in his own finger with the sharp tip, causing blood to drip from the small wound. "Just imagine what you can kill with this, let me show you something funny", he excitedly said, a shimmer visible in his eyes, and was about to rise from the bed when his wife with a swift move snatched the knife from him.
"A knife? He's only six years old!"
"Umm, I'm seven now Mum", Link commented.
It ended with that he was allowed to carry the knife, but he had to be very careful, and under no circumstances use it in combat.
Link had followed his father to the training grounds where the soldiers of the Hylian army were busy with their training. He wasn't old enough to practice with them yet but it was one of the few places where he could, if yet unintentionally, meet Zelda. He hoped that she would be there today. It would be great to spend time with her on his birthday.
"Ouch!" he yelped as something hit his head. He looked around and noticed a Deku nut on the ground. It didn't take long till he noticed the princess smirking at him from behind a few bushes nearby. Happily he ran over and hid too.
"Hi Zelda!"
She giggled at his beaming face and handed him a small gift.
"Open it", she whispered and he carefully opened it to find a book. "I figured you might want one since we both are being taught how to read. It's too bad we can't learn together, it would be a lot more fun."
"But my mum is finally letting me take a break from schoolwork now Zelda, I don't want to read!"
Oh, how he loathed having to sit on a chair for hours with his mother strictly keeping him there until he had tried to read what she felt was enough. He grimaced at the book.
The princess excitement changed to utter disappointment in a second. Link noticed her hurt look and quickly thought about something nice to say. However, his mind was blank so he followed the first thought that came to his mind and looked down on the cover of the book, hesitantly trying to read the title.
"Uhm… F-A-I-R-Y-T-…" he glanced up from the book and saw that he had caught her interest. "What is it for some kind of book Zelda?" He asked and she lit up before she quickly answered. "It's fairy tales! It's one of my favorite books! Impa always reads them for me when I'm about to go to sleep but I want you to have it."
"Oh, I like fairy tales", he said. "Impa?"
"Impa… She works in the castle" Zelda didn't really wish to linger on the subject so she continued. "Why do you like fairy tales?"
He grinned. "Because there are always a hero and a princess living happily ever after."
She couldn't help but to smile when she heard his reason. "Link, you always say such good things. That's what I like about you!" She suddenly remembered something. "Link, I'm free for the whole day, can't we go to Castle Town?"
"Sure, but how are we supposed to get you out? And who will come with us?"
She inched a little closer. "You can go anywhere you want, if I just sweep this around me", she whispered and held up a long piece of clothing matching her dress. "The guards won't look twice at me and we can walk out right below their noses."
"But Zelda, we can't go on ourselves… And what's so special about Castle Town?" He whispered and watched her uncertainly.
"Link, I've only been there once or twice. You can find your way there. It won't be dangerous. It'll be like a small adventure! You always say you want to go on an adventure… Did you lie to me?" Her gaze darted to the ground. "I thought it'd be a nice present to go to town together, but…"
"No, no Zelda, of course I want to go with you… And I'd never lie to you…" He grabbed her hand and waited for her answer. She laughed.
"Don't look like that! I'm doing this for you so don't come if you don't want to", she told him.
So both children walked hand in hand along the way to the gate and entered Hyrule Castle Town.
Zelda's eyes sparkled with delight. Everything she laid eyes upon was color and happiness. There was so much she wanted to do and see but she remembered that this was Link's day.
"What do you want to do Link?"
Link himself wasn't very interested, he had been shopping in town with his mother several times and Castle Town wasn't a big place so he'd practically seen everything.
"Don't know really", he said indifferently and lazily kicked a rock lying before his feet.
Zelda spotted a young girl wearing a pretty yellow dress and a white apron. She had brown hair with curled ends that reached down to her shoulders. A restless cucco was running around her legs.
"This will make you happy! Take a look at this!" The little girl shouted and held up something in her small hand. The cucco flapped its wings and jumped to reach the object while she tried to catch everyone's attention.
"Let's take a look at that Link", Zelda exclaimed excitedly. She grabbed his tunic and pulled him over to the little girl who ran around in circles to get the mask back from her cucco. But it wouldn't let itself be caught now when it finally had achieved to get a hold of the object.
The cucco would have run into Zelda if she hadn't simply picked it up when it came close enough. She took the object from the cucco and looked at it. Link also wanted to see and peered at it over her shoulder. Zelda found herself gazing down at a shimmering blue façade, empty lilac eyes gazing back. She felt hypnotized.
The little girl ran up to them.
"Puh, thank you! I never thought I'd catch him", she said and lifted the cucco from Zelda's arms and hugged it. "Oh, do you like that mask?"
Zelda met the girl's eyes. "…Mask?" She slowly handed the object over to the girl. "It's beautiful."
Link patted the impatient cucco on the head and it immediately relaxed in its owners grasp. The little girl looked surprised. "He has never been this calm before. You're good with animals!"
"Thanks, I like animals", Link answered and looked over at a bag leaning against the edge of the fountain in the middle of the market. "That's were you stood before, is it yours?"
The girl looked over his shoulder. "Hmm, oh, yes it is!" She answered and turned back to them. "You see, I'm a happy mask salesman! In that bag I have all the masks I'm going to sell!"
"May we see them?" Zelda asked and the girl giggled.
"You talk funny!" Then she blushed as she caught herself being rude and quickly added. "Of course I'll show you"
Link had taken the cucco from the girl's arms and swung it around in some sort of silly game.
"Come on Link! She'll show us the masks!" Zelda urged him on impatiently.
The girl opened the bag and picked up four masks which she lined up on the edge of the fountain. Both girls waited impatiently for Link to come over. When he finally did the little girl sighed and pointed at the mask in her hand. "This is the Zora Mask." Then she pointed at the first one of the lined up masks.
"This", she said. "Is the Bunny Hood, with swinging rabbit ears, ain't it cute?" She put it on top of her head to show it off. "I know it doesn't cover your face but…" She shook her head a little and the ears swung along.
"I've never seen a rabbit", Zelda said with a hint of sadness. The girl stared at her.
"Never? You're one weird girl"
"Hey!" Link glared at her but she simply ignored him and pointed to the next mask while she took off the Bunny Hood.
"This is the Skull Mask, check out the horns! And it really makes you feel like a monster when you wear it!" She had caught Link's interest with the plain skull mask. "And this…" She continued. "Is the Keaton Mask, you must have heard about the Keaton!" The girl pointed to the fourth mask which caught Zelda's interest immediately. "This is the Mask of Truth. It is a mysterious mask passed down by the Sheikah."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen", Link said and laughed.
"Oh, you should not judge it by its looks", said the girl and lowered her voice. "With this mask you can see into other people's minds." She changed her voice back to normal. "At least that's what the owner of the Happy Mask Shop says." She pointed to a small shop with a big sign.
"Check out people's minds? Cool!" Link said and let his thoughts wander.
"Yeah", the girl agreed. "Then it wouldn't be hard to find out people's secrets!"
"Or what people will give you when it's your birthday", Link said.
"What if you could speak to animals", the girl went on.
Zelda listened to them while she studied the Mask. It had a pale shimmering surface, its brilliance the one of the moon, and patterns, red as a blooming rose or spilt blood, swirled across it. In the middle was one big eye, also piercing red. Zelda leant down and stroke the surface with one finger. It sent chills down her spine and she quickly pulled away, the trance broken.
"See into other people's minds", she thought. How could Link and the little girl act so childishly? How could they see it as something good?
"It could be so useful!" The little girl squealed.
"I think it's scary!" Zelda spoke. Both Link and the girl fell silent and looked at her with puzzled expressions.
"Why is it scary?" Link asked but Zelda didn't answer.
"Hey, he asked you something", the girl said and crossed her arms. Zelda slowly rose and met the girl's irritated stare. The girl flinched as their eyes met. She found herself staring into the deepest blue she had ever seen. Zelda's gaze seemed to reach the deepest corner of her soul. She couldn't move. She felt scared, she felt petrified. Who was she? What was she?
Link stared at them in shock, Zelda simply stood there, watching, with a frown on her face and the girl looked petrified.
"Zelda!" he cried and grabbed her shoulders. She lifted her head and met his eyes. He froze. His heart raced and he felt like there was nothing he could keep secret from her.
"Zelda?"
Finally she snapped out of it and stared back at him, looking as if she had woken up from a dream.
"Link?"
Link turned to the girl who had sunk to the ground in her shocked state with her cucco cackling and running around her.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he helped her get to her feet. The girl smiled gratefully and then her gaze hardened as she walked over to Zelda.
"What's wrong with you!" she yelled. Zelda tried her best to think of an answer. People were beginning to stare. She had to make the girl calm down before people discovered that she was the princess.
"I would like to buy some masks", she said and picked up two red rupees from her pocket. The girl's eyes sparkled as she laid eyes on the glittering rupees in Zelda's hand.
"Of course, which one do you want?" She said and seemed to have already forgotten about the whole incident.
Zelda picked up the Bunny Hood. "This one", she picked up the Mask of Truth. "…And this one."
"Zelda, why would you want that one, wouldn't you be much cuter in the Zora Mask?" Link asked. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter. You did get the bunny ears so aren't you going to put them on?"
Zelda smirked at him. "This is for you!" She quickly put the hood on his head and he immediately tried to take it off.
"Link, don't you want my present?" she asked, doing her best to look sad and hurt.
"I loooooove them!" He quickly ensured her and smiled widely, a little too widely to be honest.
Time flied and the rest of the day passed in a hurry. It turned out that Zelda was very lucky when it came to games and Link was… unlucky. However he did manage to win a stuffed Deku at the shooting gallery.
They bought fried Deku nuts and had a really great time. At sunset they finally headed back to the castle.
"Why couldn't you give me the Skull Mask instead?" Link whined as he stared bitterly at the flapping bunny ears on top of his head.
"Aww, but you're so cute in that Bunny Hood!" she responded and poked one of the long ears with her finger, causing it to bounce from side to side.
He pouted but she merely smiled in return. Zelda's good spirit was the best thing he knew. He'd had a really great day thanks to her. He felt that it was harder to keep the sulky look on his face when she smiled.
"Umm, Zelda?" he mumbled as he shyly looked down at the stuffed Deku. "You can have this." He handed it over to her and she gasped.
"Really? But it's your birthday!"
"It's okay, Zelda, I wanted to thank you anyway."
"Thank you", she whispered and hugged it close. They walked silent side by side until Zelda stopped.
"Huh? Why did you stop Zelda?"
"This is where we part."
None spoke another word. The two children stood silently, not understanding, but definitely feeling the ache parting meant.
"Oh… well, bye then…"
"Bye…"
They turned separated ways and went home, Link in deep thoughts and Zelda with the Deku in her arms. Link didn't know why, but he wished to look into Zelda's eyes one more time. Just once more feel the connection, as if they were one instead of separate. He reached for the door handle.
"What's that on top of your head boy?" Link's father shouted and approached him with long strides as soon as he opened the door. Link felt on top of his head and noticed the Bunny Hood.
"Oh-uh!"
This really doesn't turn out the way I want it! I want more romance! Maybe I should change the genre, but I haven't decided what's going to happen yet so how will I know what to change it to?
Well, maybe I don't think it's that bad but at least you'll know I'm sorry if you think you're wasting your time here. I'm still getting a few reviews for each chapter and it makes me so happy (happier than I thought actually). And about the girl, (you did notice it was the girl from the market in OOT, didn't you? please...) I know that she looks younger than Link and Zelda and now when they're so young the girl should be... younger... but anyway, it's my story and I wanted characters from the game to show up so she's just about as old as when she runs around the market in the game.