Contains sexual insinuations, references, what have you. No swearing or major violence this time, so it's gone sexual instead.

The Legend of Link:

The Bastard Prince

4. Castle Town

The two reined in their mounts as they approached the bridge into Hyrule town. They'd galloped pretty much solidly across the rest of the field, utterly silent as they did. Pulling up to the bridge and gate into town, Zoelda was feeling more than a little saddle-worn, sweat was dripping on her brow by the intensity of her first prolonged gallop.

Her tiredness was completely forgotten as she looked up at the entrance into the main town of Hyrule.

Foreboding and incredibly tall, Zoelda felt a little dwarfed in comparison to the gates, and that was while she was sat tall on Rogue. Like many things, she'd seen so far, the wall around the town had also barely changed, still made of cut stone looking sturdy enough to block a horde of raging Gorons.

Beside her, she noticed Alarink had dismounted and walked Malanya over to a picket her, making sure she had plenty of water and straw. Hastily, Zoelda started doing the same, dismounting from Rogue much more elegantly this time and walking him over to stand with Malanya. Without even a glance over at her, Alarink prepared food and water for her horse as well as his, making her suspect that he was likely the village stable boy back in Ordon. It came as a bit of a surprise for her to realise that she hadn't asked him what he did for a living yet.

"You'll want to remove your cloak and weapons," he said as he began to undo the straps on his chest having already removed his heavy cloak. "The guards won't take favourably to having us walk around armed in town."

"Right," she mumbled as she removed her own cloak and weapons, storing them in Rogue's bags as instructed.

"Alright, listen up, there's going to be a few things I'll need you to do here and they are non-negotiable," Alarink said suddenly, looking her full in the eye with a stern expression. It was all she could do to nod, letting him know to continue, staring a little scared at his sudden change of expression. "First thing first, absolutely no talking. There are going to be even more names shouted at me in town than there are in Ordon and it'll work to both of our advantages if you don't question me on them and don't try and make conversation with anyone."

"Okay…" Zoelda said in response, thinking it sounded a little strict but assuming he had a good reason.

"Second, let me speak when we get to the castle. I'm imagining you don't have any experience with royalty and it'll make things much smoother if you just follow my lead." Once again, Zoelda nodded in response. "Finally, as we walk around town, smile like a mad woman. When we get to the palace, return to your resting bitch face."

"I do not have a resting bitch face." She was shocked that he would even suggest such a thing as she glared at him.

"Sure you don't, Zo," he mussed her hair with a smile, despite her protests. "And don't change that, it'll help with your appearance of being last night's lover."

"I'm sorry," said she as he took her arm in his and guided her across the bridge. "I'm appearing as what now?"

"Last night's lover," Alarink said simply through a large grin. "Now, hush up, and smile like you've had the best night of your life." He sighed briefly as he pushed the gate open. "By the Goddess, I hate Hyrule town…"

A little scared at how particular Alarink was being in his descriptions of how they needed to act - and by the saddened way with which he said the last statement - Zoelda smiled a little stupidly as they entered the town, preparing herself for a repeat of Ordon village, just with more people. That ended up being under preparation, though she doubted she'd ever have been able to prepare herself for the events in Hyrule Town.

It started slowly.

First, the guards in the town called him "bastard lover" and her "foolish slut". It took all of her strength not to glare at that as the town opened out before them.

Its initial architecture reminded her of a maze-like town leading to a castle, everyone living in the maze walls so they could protect themselves if and when war came. The shops were all little market stalls that stopped their calling for customers as the pair past. There were a few "philandering hero's son" and "bastard hero" calls shouted as they passed by Goron merchants and Hylian towns people. Zoelda thought she might have even seen a Gerudo or two as they parted the crowd of shoppers like Moses did the Red sea, though these waves were filled with gossiping Hyrulians who didn't know the meaning of the term 'whispering'.

The name calling reached a crescendo as they had made their way to the central fountain plaza.

People stopped their coffee dates as they called out profanities and horrid names to the two of them. In the plaza, the crowd didn't part, it flocked to them like sheep, getting in their faces to call Alarink "bastard hero" or "immature child". Some of them even tried to push him, grabbing at his tunic and herding them towards the fountain. It was at this point that she realised just how much taller her and Alarink were compared to almost everyone else in Hyrule.

The whole time, Alarink kept a grin on his face, only his white knuckles gripping Zoelda's forearm to keep her close showed any sign that the names were affecting him. She, on the other hand, had lost her smile shortly after they parted the market crowd, mildly horrified at how easily he was letting the names wash over him. By the time they were skirting the edge of the fountain, desperately avoiding being thrown in, she had settled for a sad smile and shocked eyes, doing her best not to let the situation get to her any more than that.

As they skirted the fountain, a few Zoras accompanied them from within the fountain itself. Two female Zoras seemed to be fighting for Alarink's attention, lovingly trying to grab his free left arm. A third male Zora was with them, looking awestruck at him, his mouth slightly agape as he trailed behind his female friends looking for words to say yet finding none.

It was about then that Zoelda remembered Alarink having his tunic torn.

One of the more violent accusers had grabbed at him, attempting to push him over, or maybe pull him head over heels backwards. Either way, the accuser managed to tear a large gap in the back of his tunic. When Zoelda looked at it later, she realised that they had actually only retorn open a tear from before that he had likely sewn up after a former excursion in Hyrule town.

At this, Alarink turned quite suddenly, the accuser behind him looking both shocked and challenging, as if to say "yeah, I didn't really mean to do that, but what are you going to do about it, bastard child?" Alarink's smile faltered and his eyes glared for all of a second before he readjusted himself, turning instead to smile a winning smile and drop a wink at the male Zora in the fountain. It was enough to make the trio of Zoras flustered, squealing like school girls while the rest of the crowd backed off a little, clearly having taken note of his glare.

Zoelda was grateful for his hand on her arm as he all but pulled them the rest of the way through the crowd to the Castle, she didn't like the idea of getting stuck in that crowd alone.

When they started to near the stairs up to the Castle, the crowd fell away. Now they whispered their name calling, muttering in hushed tones what the two of them might be going into the Castle to do. It was at this time that Zoelda first clearly heard the name she thought had been whispered under all the others ever since they'd arrived in Hyrule Castle Town.

"Bastard Prince."

It took every fibre of her being not to ask about that then, knowing full well it would be pointless and he wouldn't bother to answer.

As the guards let them pass through the gates into the corridor that lead to the Castle gardens - not without calling him a few names first, one of which was 'Bastard Prince' - Alarink let go of her arm and turned to her, his eyes a little pained as he asked, "How bad is the tear?"

Turning to look at his back, she saw how it had ripped all the way up from his hips to shoulder-blades very cleanly on a seam. She turned back to him and smiled, though it didn't disguise the worry clouding her eyes. "It's fixable."

"Zoelda…" His lips quivered a bit, and for all of a moment, she thought he might cry. In her mind's eye, she could see how he had gone through that kind of ridicule every time he had gone into Town since he seemingly appeared out of nowhere to inherit his father's house eight years ago. She saw him as a child, barely over ten, going into Town for the first time and having the folk simply view him from afar, muttering unpleasantries under their breath; then she saw him coming back from the Castle dejected and afraid going through the same thing, but on a much louder scale. She could picture it only getting worse with each appearance in Town until he was the entire Kingdom's whipping boy.

For the first time since she had met him, this charming and confident flirt, her heart went out to him in a wave of empathy.

Alarink was smiling again as he smoothed her hair back down - linking her arm though his once again as they walked down the hall to the gardens - though it was a sad smile. "I'm used to it by now, I'm simply sorry you had to see that at some of its worse."

Zoelda was about to respond when he pushed the doors open and she saw the Castle courtyard. A large fountain dominated the scene, a tall pole with the Triforce atop stood in its centre. All the stained-glass windows she had seen from outside the walls of town were now easier to read and they did in fact show key moments in history: from the Sky era all the way to the more recent Twilight era. Guards were training to their left, but they momentarily paused to see the two walk through the courtyard up to the Castle doors.

"Remember what I said about your resting bitch face?" Alarink asked as the door-guards let them through with only a slight smirk in their direction.

"How can I possibly forget?" Zoelda replied, starting at a normal volume until she heard it echo in the empty front room. It turned out that he had been right about the insides being grand yet hallow, everywhere was draped in royal, expensive furnishings, yet the only people they saw were maids, butlers and the occasional guard or courtier. She wasn't even surprised when the maids turned their noses up at Alarink.

"This way." He guided her up the main stairs after waiting a moment to see if they would be escorted. They navigated the Castle in silence, which is to say that her companion lead the way through the Castle expertly as though he had been walking royal halls for all of his life, never even pausing to wonder if it was the left or right door as they made their way to the heart of the Castle.

"Bastard Prince."

The name rang in Zoelda's mind as they passed halls of armour that she recalled spontaneously turning into Darknuts when she last explored it in pixels.

Perhaps Twilight Link had slept with Queen Zelda back in the day. It would explain how Alarink knew the way around the Castle so well. Though, if he was royalty, shouldn't everyone treat him better, even with his… Interesting life choices?

Finally, they approached the Throne room, the huge double doors of which were closed and closely guarded. With only a few rude prods at Alarink that everyone seemed inclined to make, they opened the doors that allowed the duo to pass. As the doors closed behind them, Alarink's polite smile fled and his arm was removed from hers, causing her to look over at him and see a slightly spiteful man, his charming smile almost hiding the unbidden hate in his eyes.

It was a look almost more terrifying than the comments she'd heard through town. A look that made her wonder for the first time if where he had tightly held her arm would bruise.

Regardless of the look on his face, Zoelda could hardly turn back now as they made their way up to the Throne room.

Despite all her efforts, Zoelda could remember nothing about the Twilight era's Throne room, aside from the image of Ganondorf sitting menacingly on the throne and Zant walking in and demanding the surrender of the Princess. So, she couldn't say if it had changed, but she suspected it hadn't much. It was a large squarish room with a high ceiling and tall windows spread evenly around the perimeter. There were a few benches set near the windows too, with two large desks set on either side of the throne which dominated the back wall of the room, flanked either side with stained glass.

On one of those window benches sat a blonde young man, likely not much older than Zoelda herself. At a glance, she could tell that he was trying a little too hard to look like the Hero from Legend, his guard gear dyed a deep green and hair cut in a similar style to all the Links of the past. His pale blue eyes were glaring a little as he looked at the two of them walking into the room.

On the huge throne sat the Princess herself.

She was incredibly regal looking in a floor-length purple gown, embroidered here and there with the likeness of the Triforce, its long sleeves almost covering her gloved hands entirely. A tiara like circlet rested on her forehead, forcing her pale blonde hair back quite severely from her face and letting it fall straight down her back.

The Princess Zelda before her looked like almost any other, aside from the hatred that marred her features when she looked at Alarink. It was a look that was reciprocated somewhat sarcastically on Alarink's part as they left the hallway into the room and finally entered.

"Zeldy, Darling!" He all but shouted as he walked in, his arms spread wide open as though he was expecting a hug. The looks of both the Princess and suspected Link suggested neither one was in the hugging mood. "Oh wait, do I need to be calling you Queen Zeldy yet, or is that still a few months away?"

"It's still a few months away," the Princess said coolly and regally, her chin slightly lifted as though to show her superiority. In that moment, the Princess contradicted all views that Zoelda had of the royal family of Hyrule from her video games. "What are you-"

"And Alarink, nice to see you too, my man!" Alarink all but ignored the Princess as he walked over to where the man dressed as Link was sat at the window. He clapped his shoulder and laughed. "Oh, whoops, forgot you're going by my name aren't you, Mr. Hero 'Link'! Gained your Triforce yet?"

"Alarink, what are you-" The Princess tried to start again, raising herself in her seat a little.

"Ah, man. I tell you what, Linky, you've got it good here," Alarink continued, massaging Link's shoulders as he talked. Link was squirming, obviously trying to get out of his grip, but Zoelda could see Alarink's white knuckles even from where she was standing awkwardly at the entrance of the room and knew all of the blonde man's attempts would be futile. "If they had any idea that you had no right to the name of the hero, they'd rip you to pieces out there! By the Goddesses, I'm Link's son and that doesn't stop them ripping a hole in my tunic!"

"Alarink-"

Once again, he wasn't listening to the Princess as he leaned his head over Link's shoulder in a move that Zoelda found heavily reminiscent of Ghirahim from Skyward Sword. Even Link's shocked face was the same. "What do you have to say about that, 'Link'?" He whispered menacingly, but loud enough that everyone could hear.

Link made no response as the princess tried to gain Alarink's attention once again, "Alarink, I command-"

"Not talking anymore? Didja finally take that vow of silence?" Alarink was smiling over Link's shoulder, gazing almost lovingly out into the room. "I remember the day I first came here, my, how you spoke and spoke!" He was cackling now, his hands still gripping Link's shoulders. "You taught me a few words that I didn't know back then, Linky. They're a part of my regular vocabulary now, though I shouldn't thank you alone for that. I've heard many people shout them in the throes of passion since then…"

Link was still making no noise or movement as Alarink turned to look at him, his eyes wild and smile insane. It was quite the sight for Zoelda to behold considering she'd been told earlier to be silent in the Throne room and follow his lead. She had absolutely no idea what she was doing there as she stood in the centre of the room, her hands crossed in front of her as she watched the scene play out, not knowing if she should make a move to stop it.

"Alarink, why are you-" The Princess was cut off yet again as she began to stand in front of her throne.

"I wonder if I could get you to exclaim in passion~" Alarink practically purred into Link's ear. His insinuations and placement of his lips on Link's ear were obviously all too much for the blonde who forcefully removed himself from Alarink's grip and turned a well concealed sword on him.

"Oh ho ho," chuckled Alarink, putting his hands in the air mockingly. "I thought we wouldn't get to the swordplay until much later." He winked and bent down a little to Link's height, keeping his hands in the air, making him much more nervous. "But if you insist, go ahead, have your way with me…"

"LINK!" The Princess shouted at them, her gaze hard and unwavering.

The boys both turned to face her, Alarink smiling a little lustily. "Yes, Dear?"

"You will both cease this at once," snapped she as she picked her way down the stairs to her throne, hiking her dress up so she wouldn't trip in her heels. "Link, put your sword away and Alarink… Just stop and tell me why you requested such an urgent audience."

"Will you accept the excuse of me coming to see 'Link' here?" Alarink ruffled Link's hair much to his annoyance as he put his sword away.

"Considering that you've brought another woman with you, I sincerely doubt that's why you requested such an important audience."

"Well, threeways are always on the menu…" Muttered he as he looked over at Zoelda who was now standing awkwardly some distance from them. "Zo, what are you doing all the way over there, come here!"

"If you're proposing threesomes, I think I'd rather stay here." Zoelda responded a little rigidly, not moving from her spot.

"Fine. It'll be me, 'Link' and the Princess."

"No." The Princess responded sharply, slapping away the hand that he moved to wrap around her. "And get your hands off Link."

"Goddesses Blood," Alarink mumbled as he put his hands behind his back. "Such prudes…"

"Now," the Princess began in a rather commanding voice. "What did you want to see me for, and be quick about it, I am once again at my wits end with you."

"When are you not at your wits end with me, Zeldy?" Alarink joked, still amused by everything, it seemed. "Well, I wanted you to meet this woman. Zelda, get over here."

"She's not allowed to be called Zelda." The Princess said automatically, sizing Zoelda up as she tentatively made her way over to them.

"Such a commanding rule you give, Princess," said Alarink a little disappointedly. "Well, either way, she's going by Zoelda to appease you, your Highness."

"...Please say that's not all you wanted to tell me."

"Oh ho, no," he chuckled as he grabbed the girls' right hands, despite their protests. "This is much more interesting. Oh, and 'Link', do join in if you have a Triforce!"

Link glared as Alarink grinned.

"What are we-" The Princess started only to be cut off when a golden light surrounded the three of them.

It came seemingly out of nowhere, catching the girls off guard as a figure appeared in front of the three of them. Bathed in a golden light itself, it seemed to simply smile at them, its hair a mass of flames and eyes an unfathomable sea of white. Its presence in front of them seemed to echo the presence that Zoelda had felt in her sleep the night before and she was shocked when she saw it smile, a dark and haunting smile that had been in the back of her mind ever before and ever since.

Demise disappeared shortly after, leaving his smile to haunt them as the Princess gazed over at the mark on Zoelda's hand, her mouth agape. Zoelda happened to notice that the Princess had the other half of the leftmost triangle lit on her own dominant hand. Confused by the sudden appearance of Demise, Zoelda looked up at Alarink for guidance and was surprised once more.

Momentarily, he wore a saddened smile and watery eyes as though seeing Demise had confirmed what he had always suspected yet never wanted to know for certainty. He was grinning again by the time he spoke.

"I requested an audience with you, Princess, because I believe we have another timeline altering event in our hands."

AN:

What's up nine people? Have a nice week? Awesome, glad to hear it! (Yes, these author's notes have turned slightly passive aggressive, oh well!)

So, early August, late July, I think. I know it only took me one or two sittings. You know when you have a scene that's constantly on your mind and you just have to write? The Alarink/Link scene in this was the first of those in this story for me. The next one isn't until like Chapter 10 or 11 and then there's the entirety of 12 and, well, something happened in my life after 12 so everything after is slightly different in tone and style. But that's a long way off yet, we're only on 4 now, after all.

Anyway, Link and the Princess, our other two major characters. I didn't like them much when I first wrote them, the Princess' entire purpose was to continually piss off Alarink and vice versa while Link's just kinda there. I had more plans for Link, admittedly, but they just didn't fit by the time I came to write them (they were meant to be post 12 so, hey, things change) but, we do see more of both his and the Princess' story in the final 3ish chapters. So, if you're still with me then, you'll get to see Link's background.

Just so we're clear: Link, our blonde dude, was originally called Alarink before he exchanged names with Link - our flirt. So, Alarink is actually called Link and Link is actually called Alarink but they'll only be called their true names on occasion by other characters, almost never in the description (by which I mean we have a name change in the penultimate chapter, but, long way away yet). Similarly, Princess Zelda is always referred to as 'the Princess' or 'Princess Zelda' to distinguish from the few times I call Zoelda Zelda in the main text. It should make sense in the context, but in case you're confused, here's an even more confusing way of putting it.

As for the Princess, our next chapter is named after her and just kinda gives you all you need to know about her (it's about double the length of this chapter, there's no good reason for that, just more fact establishing).

Finally, Alarink. He's great. So many sides to him that I just loved writing. It's been like 4 weeks since I finished writing this and he's still constantly on my mind, I still find myself influenced by him and every new character I write has an element of him within.

If you take nothing else from this story, take just a splash of Alarink's character with you - perhaps not his overtly sexual side but one of his others that's revealed later on.

So, I'd say follow, review, chat to me, what have you, but, let's face it, no one's doing that. Shout out to the two peeps following this though! You're both awesome, thanks! And, you know, if any of you do want to say anything at all to me, you know how to do that.

Have a nice week, see you next one.

~The-progressively-more-passive-aggressive-in-her-notes WWQ