Translated by MissQuestions-LaAmazingNabo
Beta reader: Chameleon Eyes
Thanks to both of them for their work. And thank you all for your reviews, follows and favorites.
The Legend of Zelda series and its characters are property of Nintendo.
Chapter 2
Preparations
Zelda and Link were now in Link's room, sitting on a comfortable couch, a tea table covered in papers before them. It wasn't adequate for a woman of high birth, much less a princess, to be alone in the same room as a man who was not their husband, but, even though they hadn't made it public yet, they have been engaged for two weeks now, so whatever was said about them had Zelda without a care.
"So the ceremony is in seven months? Both the wedding and the coronation?" Link asked while going over some papers on the table.
"Yes, it will be celebrated on the ninth day of the tenth month of the year. It may not be the prettiest season compared to spring, but the council insisted on celebrating as early as possible."
"Autumn works just as well. I like the color of the leaves during the season."
If she thought about it with detail she could see that he was right. Within the castle and in town were some maples, their leaves turning a precious red during fall. Zelda imagined herself walking over the crunchy fallen leaves as she marched towards the altar.
"And when will it become public?" Link's question brought her out of her reverie.
"I thought of organizing a minor ball to announce it." Zelda searched for some papers in specific and passed them to the hero. "It will be held within two weeks. We shall invite the representatives of different noble houses and the mayors of towns throughout the kingdom. In the morning of the following day, a missive would proceed to be delivered to announce the compromise to the rest of the people."
"I see the invitations includes a guest."
"Of course, it is customary. We must not stop the nobles' wives from parading their ostentatious dresses and serpentine tongues at such an event."
Link could not help laugh at the princess's sarcastic remark. Zelda had commentated several times how the majority of noble women's conversations were reprehensible. They did nothing more than criticize each other, and once, Zelda had heard one of their critiques about her person: about how unrefined she was for a princess, how she should have found a husband by now and pass the crown to him, how she should have given him at least one heir already, things of the sort. The law in Hyrule contemplated a woman to govern the kingdom, why couldn't the nobles accept that? Those type comments and gossip among supposed ladies only served to enrage her.
"That is true, Your Highness. We must make everything possible for the ladies to become scandalized and gossip in face of the occasion." His dramatic tone and exaggerated gestures made the princess laugh. "'How scandalous! A woman on the throne! And not only that, she decides to marry a commoner, a goat herder! By all gods! What is the princess thinking?' They would say something like that, don't you think?"
Zelda's cackles echoed throughout the room and Link couldn't help imitating her. When she finally managed to calm down, she turned towards him and placed her gloved hands over the sides of his face.
"Do not worry, Link. I am sure that each and one of them will be smitten by your beautiful face, and their blood will boil with envy for not acquiring such a handsome man." Zelda could see how Link's cheeks began to burn. "Or are you going to tell me you do not break feminine hearts wherever you walk by?"
Link looked away from her, red as a tomato, from his neck to the tips of his ears. Zelda thought that reaction adorable.
"There is no need to exaggerate." Link's voice revealed his embarrassment. "It is possible that some or other girl from town confessed to me, but to the extent of breaking hearts…"
Zelda could not help but laugh by such statement, Link could be adorably innocent sometimes. She pulled one of her hands away from his face and pinched his cheek with the other.
"You are so naive."
"What do you mean by that?"
But she did not answer. Zelda limited to smile and continued to work on the task in front of her. She grabbed some papers and examined them, frowning slightly.
"I believe we must consider of the outfit you shall wear, Link."
"You are changing the subject," Link said, leaning his head on his left hand while placing his elbow on the couch's arm. His only response from her was a soft giggle. He sighed. "What necessity is there in deciding what I'll wear? I always dress in the hero's clothes for these type of things."
The green clothes of the hero had become his uniform as the princess's guard. Zelda had ordered identical spares to be made so that Link would have many changes and store the original and worn one away.
"Normally you attend balls as my guardian, but now you shall go as my fiancé. You ought to wear adequate clothing for the occasion, although I want it to continue to reflect your guardian status. No one must know you are my betrothed until the announcement."
"What a way to complicate things."
Zelda laughed and thought for an instant, considering the options they had.
"It is a shame we do not have that armor…" she muttered to herself.
"What armor?"
"An armor my ancestors had made for the hero of old," she answered thoughtfully. "Until some years ago, when I was little, we had it here in the castle, but some servants sold it by mistake. Such a shame, it was magnificent, and it would have looked good on you, moreover, it seemed to have had magical properties."
Link looked contemplative for a moment, resting his chin over his hand.
"An armor with magical properties… Wait a moment, Your Highness."
He stood up and headed towards a chest, where he stored all the things he acquired during his adventure. He opened it and began to take out stuff: his bow, his iron boots, the spinner… until he finally found what he was looking for. With a big smile he took out the breastplate of an armor from inside the chest and showed it to Zelda. It was golden with varied motifs carved on it and one engrained emerald.
"Is it this one?"
Zelda stood from the couch and walked towards the young hero, she took the breastplate and observed it while he took out the rest of its parts. No doubt, this was the armor.
"Where did you get this, Link? It must have cost you a fortune."
"They were selling it at one of the shops in Castle Town. The shop had ridiculously expensive prices, but fortunately Malo did with it and reduced them. Thanks to that I was able to obtain it at a modest price."
Zelda examined each and every piece that made up the armor, carefully: the breastplate, the mail, the shoulder pads, the armbraces, the greaves, etc. They shone as if they were new, without a single scratch, and were surprisingly light. She grabbed the pinafore again and traced its patterns delicately with her fingers. She saw Link, who was besides her, inspecting the mail and could not help imagining him with the armor on. Surely he would look handsome with it.
"Link, why don't you try them? I want to see how it suits you."
"Now?" Zelda nodded. "But it is difficult to put it on my own."
"Then we shall ask one of the guards to help you."
Link sighed and began to place the pieces of armor on the table. Zelda came near the chest to take a peek and saw that, next to the Zora Tunic, were many pieces of black and red clothing, including a red cap with golden designs."
"And this?"
"It came with the armor."
"Wear it also." The only reply from Link was a supplicating look. "Do not look at me like that, Link. I need to see how it looks with the ensemble to determine if it fits the occasion."
Link sighed once more and went towards the chest to take out the clothes. He took them one by one, careful not to mess the rest of its contents. Next he turned towards the princess and extended his hand with the intention of receiving the cap. Zelda gave it to him but he continued to stare.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
"Well… you see… I have to change and…"
"I see," Zelda replied with a giggle. His hesitation and embarrassment were cute. "But it is rude of your part to expect me to wait in the hallway, don't you think?"
"Yes… but…" he said with blush on his cheeks. "I believe it is not appropriate to change in front of you…"
"But that is why you have a folding screen for occasions like this," she said, looking at the folding screen at the other side of the room. "If that is not sufficient, there is also a nice and spacious bathroom over there."
Link's cheeks darkened in color, he had forgotten about that completely. He placed all the clothes on his right arm in a manner in which none would fall off and headed towards the bathroom.
"I will notify the guard while you change," Zelda said before he entered the bathroom, and he nodded in return before closing the door behind him.
Zelda watched as Link put on different pieces of the armor with the guard's help. Honestly, the only help the hero needed had been tightening a few straps that were out of his reach. Now that she thought about it, she could have done it herself, without bothering one of the guards posted in the hallway.
After the job was done, the guard bowed to both of them and exited the room. Link finished adjusting the straps of his armbrace and put on the red cap.
Zelda had to admit the result was better than she had imagined. Link was absolutely stunning, with that armor no one could tell he was from a humble family. How strange, it seemed as if it was made for a member of royalty than a warrior.
After fitting everything on, Link took one more object out of the chest.
"This also came with the armor." Link said, showing it to her. It was a golden diadem. "I just now realized how similar it is to yours."
It was true that they did look alike. Zelda grabbed the diadem and placed it in front of Link. This accessory made the armor look more like something for royalty. But she didn't want to dwell on that, she simply contemplated her hero in armor and diadem fitting of a prince. It was then she remembered with a smile that the title he would receive once they married was that of Prince Consort.
"You look splendid, Link," Zelda said, looking him up and down. "Ladies will faint at the mere sight of you."
"You are exaggerating," he said with a strong blush, which made Zelda laugh.
"Perhaps a little, but you really are attractive dressed this way."
"Oh, so I am only attractive in this armor?" Link crossed his arms, feigning indignation. Zelda laughed again.
"Of course not." The princess placed her hands on each side of his face. "Wear what you wear, you shall always be attractive. You have beautiful eyes, they have such an intense and wild shine that would make any woman swoon at your feet."
"Does that include you, Zelda?"
Link's eyes bore into hers. Zelda was speechless by such question. Of course that included her, since the moment she met him she had noticed the irresistible attraction she felt for the young hero, an attraction that time had evolved into something more. But she couldn't explain it to him, so she adopted a casual tone, as if she was saying something obvious and logical, while she slid her hands until they rested on the pinafore of the armor.
"Not only am I a princess, Link, I am also a woman, and us women are enticed by good-looking men."
"You just want me for my looks then?" Link said in a jesting tone. "I did not expect that from you, Your Highness, I did not know you were so superficial."
Zelda laughed and hugged him. Normally it was him who initiated such "improper" gestures, but she couldn't help it. Neither did she help feeling disappointed at the barrier the armor made in between them.
She pulled away from him and examined him from head to toe. Yes, the result was more than adequate for her purpose, except for one detail. She took the diadem off his forehead.
"You should not wear this at the moment. I do not want anyone suspecting about our engagement until the announcement. You must be there as my bodyguard."
"Why so secretive?" he asked, while taking off the pieces of armor.
"There is no reason in particular," she said while helping. "I simply want it to be a surprise."
Link seemed much more comfortable and relax once the armor was fully off. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck side to side while breathing a barely audible "Much better." Sitting on the couch once again, Zelda observed how the young hero's muscles stretched and relaxed through his tight-fit black shirt. It wasn't the first time she observed him that way and she always had to fight against herself to look away, but she was human, and as such it was difficult to resist temptation. Besides, it wasn't that bad, it wasn't like he was naked or something… She could not help notice the heat rising in her cheeks at thought of it.
Link looked at her curiously with an arched eyebrow, he sat on the couch and touched her forehead.
"Are you all right, Your Highness? You are red as a tomato."
"I am fine, do not worry," she said, backing from the hand on her forehead. "Let us continue with the ball's preparations. Do you know how to dance?"
"You expect me to dance?" he asked, horrified.
"Of course! It is a ball, after all. By your answer I take it you do not."
"Well… I know a few dances we use to perform during Ordon's festivals, but they are not as refined as those here in the castle."
"And how good are you?"
"I don't believe it is bad, though I am no expert."
"Well then, I shall find someone to teach you." Link pouted with puppy-dog eyes. "You know that does not work on me, Link."
In truth, it did work. Each time she saw those pure and shining eyes pleading she could not help but feel like giving him all he asked for, for that reason she had to gather all her strength to not fall for his charms.
Link looked away, sighing, and rested his head over the back of the couch, frustrated for not having his way. Zelda laughed discreetly at his antic. Link typically behaved maturely, but sometimes he reacted like a child, which Zelda thought to be cute.
They continued to review papers for a while. Zelda started to feel tired. She had spent many days creating those documents, thinking of all they needed to do for the wedding without rest, and it seemed it was taking a toll on her. Her vision was beginning to blur, and she noticed that she had difficulty opening her eyes when she blinked. She turned towards Link, who didn't seem to notice his fiancé's weariness. Not being able to resist any longer, the princess rested her head on his right shoulder, and closed her eyes, she needed to sleep. Link didn't seem bothered by this, as he placed an arm around her and stroked her hair gently, encouraging her to sleep, which didn't take long for her to do.
She didn't know how much time had passed since she fell asleep. When she woke up, she first noticed a familiar smell, she wasn't sure where she recognized it from at that moment, but it was pleasant, so she inhaled it, relishing in its aroma. It was then she realized she was not sitting, resting her head over Link's shoulder, but lying down with her head over something. She also noticed something warm on her cheek. Opening her eyes she saw black fabric. She turned her gaze upwards and saw Link with his back to the couch and his head leaning to a side, sleeping. It seemed like she fell while she slept and ended up lying over the couch with her head on his lap. The smell she had sensed was Link's, the warmth on her cheeks came from his hand, and the black fabric was the shirt he had on.
Zelda stiffened, conscious of their positions, but soon relaxed, they were alone in the room, and no one could see them. She scooted closer and rested her head on his stomach, enjoying its warmth and smell. She liked how he smelled, it was a natural smell, without a pitch of perfume. Not that she didn't like perfume, but some nobles would overdo them and numb the princess's sense of smell completely. And though it was mixed with sweat, Zelda didn't mind it, it was much more pleasant in comparison.