Chapter 14: My first kiss
"Come on Link! Show us you're not a weakling!" Link's father kept yelling even though Link made his exercises without complaining or slowing down.
"Yeah, come on Link!" Navi shouted. She was now like a member in the family and got awfully well along with Link's father. Right know she was contently hovering over his left shoulder.
Link had turned thirteen a couple of months ago and was now allowed to train with the royal army and under his father's command too. As expected he didn't get any special treatment at all. You could actually say he had it worse than any of the others.
He had never felt better than when he sat down to eat his mother's home cooked dinner later that evening.
"Link, what do we say when your mother has made you all this food?" His father scowled. Link looked up from the plate with his mouth full.
"ank ou oh-er" he said as he tried to chew the food down.
"You're so polite my sweet deku flower", his mother cooed. Navi and Link's father looked at each other with raised eyebrows. What was polite about talking with your mouth full?
"You're disgusting", Navi said to Link who swallowed.
"So are you!"
Navi zapped him and Link's father laughed as if seeing his son being abused by a three inches tall fairy was the funniest he had ever seen. After they had eaten, Link's father rose quickly, as if eager to get going.
"Well then, let's go to another healthy practice with the boys.
"No!" Link grabbed the chair he sat on. "Mum! Don't let him take me!"
"No!" Link screamed again as his father dragged him out the door. Navi flew up close to Link's face.
"I remember a certain someone saying he would train twice as hard, three years ago if I'm not mistaken."
Once outside she stopped and hovered for a while. "Oh, it looks like rain!" She quickly searched for shelter inside of Link's cap. He looked up at the sky to see the first raindrops fall.
Zelda put on the cloak Rauru offered her. The rain was pouring down and once she got outside she felt the raindrops hit her face like sharp needles. She entered the carriage. Once again she was on her way to the castle. She had kept herself informed but it wasn't the same as being there. She hoped they had been on their guard towards Ganondorf in the castle.
Once the carriage had passed the castle gates the wind brought the sound of voices to Zelda and she looked out to see the soldiers practice in the rain.
I thought only Impa would be cruel enough to let someone exercise in this weather, she thought. One man caught her eye for some reason. It was hard to see through the rain and he was facing the ground. She could make out the sight of how much effort he had to put in lifting his own weight up and down when doing push-ups in the mud.
Is Link in the army now, she thought. It had to be him, that blonde boy. She leant back and sighed. It had been so long.
This sort of rain was the worst, Link thought as he did his push-ups. It wasn't the gentle soothing rain that comforted. The speed of the raindrops made it hurt when they hit the skin and the mud was deep.
He had his eyes closed and felt the sweat and his own body heat. When he looked around he could make out Navi shining dimly through the rain and then he heard a carriage. He didn't notice that he stopped and lay down on the ground. He looked after the carriage disappearing into the distance.
Navi noticed that Link had stopped. It was hard to fly through these winds but she managed to make her way over to him to yell at him for his laziness but then she noticed what he was looking at.
It had become a habit for Link to stare, try to look into or follow all carriages that arrived to the castle, as if that wasn't enough he had been caught a million times by the guards that guarded the part of the garden that was below Zelda's room. All disturbed guests and irritated guards had meant many visits to the king for Link's parents.
"You're obsessed Link!" Navi yelled as loud as she could but despite that he barely heard her in this weather.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He shouted back. Now when he wasn't moving he started shuddering from the cold.
"You're completely obsessed! Can't you think about anything else than that stupid princess?" Navi yelled.
"Stay out of this Navi!"
"Healthy people don't act like you do! For Din's sake! You're thirteen!"
The next day was sunny but the grass was still wet from yesterday. Link had noticed that when he accidentally slipped and was caught by the guards again.
"You'll never get to Zelda's window! Face it", Navi told him.
"Shut up Navi!"
He finally had a day off from the cruel practice and then he had to check if it had been Zelda who came back to the castle in that carriage yesterday.
About lunchtime the sun shined brightly and no one could tell it had been such a rainstorm yesterday. It was warm and pleasant now.
In the end forced to give up Link had leant his back against a tree and played his ocarina. He had come up with the beginning for Zelda's song now.
"You know what Link? I'm sick of that beginning! You always play it over and over and over and then when it's over you play something completely random that is as enjoyable as a Goron's singing!"
"Jeez, you're in a good mood Navi."
"I'm just trying to save you from your addiction. Don't you have any other goals that don't include Zelda?"
"I'm going to kick Sheik's ass!"
"Poetic as always, is that all you can come up with?"
"I'm going to become the best knight in Hyrule, you know that."
"…and save the princess", Navi mocked. "Are you going to run after her your whole life? You're more than old enough for your first kiss but do you take any interest in the girls around here? No!"
"K-k-kiss?"
"Yeah, well, that's something to remember. Either you can save the kiss and risk it going to some one-night-lasting relationship or you can kiss someone you trust and can remember with joy."
"Kiss a girl?"
"What else? A Deku? Won't it be embarrassing when you grow older to never have kissed a girl?"
"Link?" Link looked in the direction of the voice and Navi quickly flied inside his cap.
"Z-Zelda?"
"H-hi…"
He got up from his place beneath the tree to greet her but strangely enough he could think of nothing to say after all this time. Both stared at the ground.
I didn't think it would get this awkward, Zelda thought. She hoped she didn't blush. No, she encouraged herself. This was Link! She had nothing to be shy about.
"I can't believe it was you who played that song. You're really good, mind if I sit down?" She asked and smiled, hoping it would look natural. Link immediately sat down again and Zelda sat down next to him by the tree.
"Uhm, Zelda, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time…" He mumbled while fidgeting and Zelda swallowed.
"Y-yes?"
"Do you know anyone named Sheik?"
Zelda couldn't help that she fell flat to the ground. That wasn't what she had expected. She hadn't thought about that he didn't know she was Sheik. She didn't want to be dishonest. It could actually be fun if he knew.
"Sheik is… like a part of me…" She began as she searched for words.
"L-like a part of you?"
Link looked as if he had been struck by lightning. "Is he closer to you than me?" An anger he had never felt before bubbled up inside of him. Zelda didn't notice Link's grimacing. Not really thinking about what she was saying while she thought about how to explain this Sheik-thing she answered:
"Yeah, I guess you could say that…" She was Sheik so Sheik was always closest, both physically and mentally.
Link didn't know why but he was so angry that he had to hold his breath not to yell. His face turned red because he wasn't breathing and his body trembled as he tried to hide how angry he was.
That cocky, mean Sheik was closer to Zelda than him?
"Oh, really? He's most important to you?" Link exhaled and crossed his arms.
"Most important?" Zelda woke up from her thoughts and stared at him. "No! You're a lot more important! Sheik is bound to me but Sheik is only… Sheik wants to be your friend!"
"I'll never be friends with that… that Sheikah!"
"Oh", was all Zelda could say. This was probably payback from the goddesses because she was so mean to her only friend when she met him as Sheik.
"So, I'm most important?" He grinned at her, his anger blown away.
"Stop it Link! You can't just decide which people who are most important! Everyone is worth just as much." She grinned back.
"But I'm most important?"
Zelda sighed. "Can't you play something for me?"
"The ocarina?" He picked it up. "S-sure." Again he could feel himself blush. How pathetic he was. If his father had seen him… but this was important. If he played her song and she didn't like it… What if Sheik had told her the promise was broken. What if she didn't remember?
"Z-Zelda, do you, I mean… me playing… you know… don't you?" He swallowed. Zelda didn't have a clue what he was talking about.
"…No?"
Of course she didn't remember the promise, he thought. Maybe he could tell her when the song was done but it felt wrong to say it now. He began to play the beginning of her song.
Zelda occupied herself with staring dreamily off into the sky's vivid blue as he played. She herself had made sure that the stupid promise was broken so that it wouldn't ruin their friendship but did Link remember it at all? She was about to ask him but the words wouldn't come. Since when am I such a coward, she thought. It would be nice if this song was only for me. At that moment Link came to the part where he hadn't gotten any further. I can't stop now, he thought, Farore, save me from embarrassing myself. Give me her song! He inhaled and began to play.
Zelda fell to the ground again. That must have been the worst thing she'd ever heard. Link stopped playing and glared at the sky.
"T-that was… special… I loved the beginning", Zelda said as she leant against the tree again.
"I have written it myself but I haven't gotten further than the beginning", Link muttered in embarrassment.
"Are you writing it for someone special?" The words had slipped her mouth. Link stuttered something that Zelda couldn't make out for an answer.
He didn't know what to say. He couldn't just tell her that he was writing a song for her to make her marry him. He'd rather let the goddesses strike him down right then and there.
"Sorry, I was just teasing you, I shouldn't have asked", Zelda quickly added. He doesn't remember she told herself again.
She doesn't remember, Link thought. Then he felt something against his shoulder. Zelda was leaning against him with her eyes closed.
"A-are you sleeping Zelda?"
"…no…" She whispered.
Link closed his eyes too. The sun warmed his face and it was comfortable sitting there with Zelda like no time had passed at all since they last saw each other. He sighed happily. As if she had read his mind Zelda said: "I wish we could sit like this forever, it feels like we can do that right now…"
"Yeah, it's like time is standing still."
A leaf fell from the tree they were leaning against and landed on Link's nose. He picked it up. When he moved Zelda opened her eyes and pulled back.
"You caught a falling leaf", she said happily. "Make a wish!"
She was just the same, in high spirits and eager to believe. In that moment she was more adorable than she had ever been to him before.
"Zelda, close your eyes…"
She cocked her head to the side but did as he told her. She giggled.
"Why?" she said with her eyes closed.
He knew he was blushing again. He slowly started to lean forward. If there was anyone he wanted to share his first kiss with it was her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He was sweating and trembling and cursing himself for being such a coward. Maybe he should have asked her first? How would she react? He shook his head and leant forward again. Their lips was about to contact when something pulled his hair really hard so he flew backwards.
"Ouch!" He yelled and Zelda opened her eyes to see Link lying on the ground with a small light hovering above his head.
"Did you have to pull my hair so hard Navi?"
"I wasn't pulling your hair… I just tripped and grabbed a hold…"
"Yeah, right!" He glared at her. "It was you who began with all of this so why did you interrupt?"
"I didn't mean her of course! I meant m-m-m… I meant… I didn't mean her you idiot!"
"What?" Zelda asked. "A fairy?" She beamed at them.
"Stay away!" Navi yelled.
"Navi you… you…" Link glared at Navi again. "Sorry Zelda, she is pretty mean and selfish and…"
"We get the picture", Navi said.
"She is adorable!" Zelda said, eager to get Link's fairy to like her.
"We should go and eat lunch Link", Navi said and flew closer to him, taking visible distance from Zelda.
Link grabbed the fairy and put her inside his cap.
"Don't listen to her Zelda", he smiled. "No one ever understands her! I never do!"
Zelda giggled but then her smile faltered. She knew Navi was right and that Link had to go now.
"Maybe I can see you later Link?"
"But I'm not going yet!" He quickly told her.
"You should go before your parents start to worry… I'll see you soon…"
"B-but wait Zelda!" but she had already started to run and soon she wasn't in sight anymore.
"Stupid Navi", Link muttered.
It was afternoon when Zelda finally could get away from her duties. She was on her way to the garden again to see if Link was there when she spotted him through a window. He was out in the yard and there were several others there too, some soldiers and workers in the castle.
She sat down by the window, hidden by a coffer standing in the corridor when two maidens came and dusted off the decorations.
"You don't remember? That's a lie! All girls remember!"
"No, I don't, I swear! I don't remember my first kiss!"
"Stop it! Of course you do. I'll tell you about mine. It was a boy in the stable and I was only ten years old", Zelda heard the woman giggle.
"Fine… I waited really long and then I kissed a guy I had a crush on and then it was over three weeks later…"
"No?"
"Yes!"
They dusted off the chest a bit hastily and continued down the hall without noticing Zelda. As soon as they were Zelda looked out the window again. Link was still there, she was content with that, but the yard was still filled with people too. As the princess she couldn't just walk out there. Then it hit her. She could change into Sheik!
Soon she was out and on her way over to Link looking like a Sheikah boy. "Be nice", she told herself.
"Hi Link!" She shouted. Link turned around and growled. Not Sheik!
"I'm so glad to see you!" Sheik exclaimed. Link grabbed the collar on Zelda's white tunic and pulled her closer the moment she had reached him.
"I've wanted to see you too! Now it's payback time!" He snarled and raised a fist. Zelda was shocked. Had she been so mean that he wanted to hit her?
"S-so impolite… I only want to be friends!"
Link let go of the collar and glared at her instead. His blonde hair fell into his eyes and he quickly pushed it back in place.
"Sorry about last time", Zelda, as Sheik, said and smiled sheepishly. "We don't have to talk about Zelda at all, okay?"
As soon as Zelda was mentioned Link flung forwards to push Sheik to the ground but she automatically took a step to the side so he fell to the ground alone.
"Oops, my bad!" She said. Link quickly got up.
"You're going to stay away from her!" Link shouted and aimed a fist at Sheik.
"Sorry, can't do that", Zelda said and dodged. But not to being able to get a hit in made Link even more frustrated.
"Come on Link! You are Zelda's best friend! I am not her friend, I am…" That was it for Link. If Sheik wasn't her friend it had to mean…
He punched so fast that Zelda didn't react. She thought he would cool down when she said that he was her best friend instead of her alter ego and wasn't ready for the hit. The fist hit her stomach hard. She gasped for air as she bent over in pain.
"Heh, can't take one hit. You're a sad excuse of a man", Link said with satisfaction as he brushed some sweat off his brow.
Hitting a girl? She glared at him. Link flinched. Sheik's eyes were like blazing fire.
She slapped him multiple times before she realized what she was doing. This wasn't right! She was going to become his friend, not beat him senseless!
"Sorry Linky…" She let go and smiled sheepishly. Link couldn't believe his ears. He got up with his swollen cheeks and glared at Sheik.
"ou figh ike a ihl", he said. His cheeks were so puffed-up that he couldn't speak properly but Sheik knew what he had intended to say: You fight like a girl.
How could she have this much trouble befriending someone like Link? Time to change method.
"Hey, Linky, if there's something you want to say to Zelda you can always tell me. I swear that your message will reach her through me."
She stood with legs astride and her back straight and then crossed her arms, trying to look boyish and reliable. Link seemed to relax a little but suspicion was still there.
"Hou a-eh ohny e-shing ee…"
"I'm not teasing you! I swore, didn't I? I'll even swear in the name of our holy goddess Nayru… Believing me now?"
Link got up from his fighting stance.
"What's with you anyway? I'm Zelda's key to freedom, that's all! Let's be friends", she held out a hand for him to shake. Link hesitated but he couldn't help but to like this boy. Link shook hands with him and Sheik smiled mischievously.
"What's with that smile?"
"I see this as a victory, friend", Sheik answered. "But what is my price?" She looked at his face and smiled wider. Link was her best friend and the most wonderful boy she knew. She wouldn't regret it if he was the one that she…
She smirked and Link raised an eyebrow at her.
"You're one weird guy you know!" he said.
Then Zelda pulled down the cloth that was resting on her shoulders and went up over her nose with her index finger and then caressed his face with her hands and kissed him. Link's eyes widened and then it ended, as quickly as it had begun. Link's face was scarlet and his eyes wide when Sheik pulled away. It had all happened in the blink of an eye.
"Y-y-y-y-you… you..." He pointed at her. "Gah! I got kissed by a guy! I just got kissed by a guy!" He started to run around in small circles as Zelda quickly pulled the cloth back up so that he wouldn't be able to recognize her. She still did have the same facial features as before after all.
I forgot! I'm not Zelda now, I'm Sheik! Zelda thought, I forgot that he thinks Sheik is a boy! She slapped her forehead.
"Sheeeeik!" Link clamped towards her with huge steps. He must have been inspired by Impa's way of expressing discontent.
"eh… See ya' Linky…" She said uneasily and then quickly ran to escape her friend's wrath. There's no way I'm staying here, she thought.
Sheik sprinted off and Link stood there in the middle of the yard while the other people there started whispering to each other and glancing at him.
"M-my first kiss!" he uttered, still blushing furiously. He had wanted Zelda to be the one he kissed first and now he had been kissed by Sheik! Who was a boy! "Next time I see him, he's dead!" Link's eyes narrowed. "Sheik has ruined my life!" He exclaimed as he shook one fist at the sky and received even weirder gazes than for the kiss.
Navi flew out from his cap.
"Oh, what a life!" She laughed. "You were kissed by a guy?" She laughed even harder. "Wait till your father hears about this! I think I'm starting to like Sheik!"
"Shut up Navi!"
"Calm down, if he touches you again, I'll punish that pretty boy!"
Link touched his lips, Sheik's had been so soft.
Ha, that went fast! If it annoys you that I complain about myself I can only ask of you to ignore it. It works to boost my self-confidence. I wouldn't have the guts to post this if I hadn't apologized for all that might bother you.
I have always taken hard on criticism (one of the reasons why I feel that I have to apologize to you all the time) and I'm so happy that there are still those of you who read this and that everyone has been so positive and supportive! It means a lot!
I can understand if you're getting impatient for romance (so am I)! But now when I changed this to drama I don't feel so pushed anymore. They're still young, they'll get older soon. But I want romance! So I'll get it if it's the last thing I do! (Please, don't let it be the last thing…)
I have never believed that Sheik and Zelda are two different persons but I don't know how all that change-stuff works so I just came up with something for my story. I'm pretty satisfied actually… It's my story so I don't have to bother about the truth.
I don't know why but no matter how hard I try I can only get Zelda to act superior, or something like that, as Sheik! I'll have to work on that.