Chapter Three
"Fix your posture, boy. That is no way to stand before the king."
At the guard's beside him harsh tone, Link unconsciously straightened his back, but then a frown claimed his mouth, as he looked at the stern man at the corner of his eye, his lips suddenly curving upwards.
"Somebody's jealous that they're aren't standing next to his majesty."
He swore he could hear the gnashing of the fellow's teeth, his grip on his spear apparently tightening. With a pleased expression, Link patted his arms at his sides profoundly, adjusting the long, brown cloak he was made to wear over his tunic, looking slightly at the king who stood several feet away from him, the older man's hands clasped together as he gazed off into the horizon.
The sky had turned a dull blue now, as the sunset was not too far off. If the message they had received was correct, the carriage would arrive soon before the nightfall. However, Link had been standing near the king in his chamber merely waiting for two hours- in silence, with dirty glares from the guards surrounding him. The boy fidgeted in place, the muscles in his arms hurting from trying to maintain a firm stance for so long.
"My king, would you like us to assist you in any way? You must be exhausted."
Link shifted his gaze to the disapproving guard next to him, a soft chuckle leaving his mouth. Yet, the king had heard the man's insistence, and he gently shook his head in response.
"I am fine, thank you. I'm not as lazy as I appear. I am quite comfortable sitting here."
Link laughed, the guard frowned.
"Do not mock the king."
His majesty raised a brow, leaning against the decorative arm rest, his look towards his worker peculiar. "Perhaps you should learn to smile once and a while, my servant. You might be a little happier."
The man in armor fumbled at the king's request, biting his lower lip in apprehension as he seemed to hold his spear less sturdily.
"I'm sorry, your highness, but this peasant-"
"My king, we have just opened the gates. The princess's carriage has arrived!"
The side conversation was relinquished when they noticed an identical looking guard running towards them, as he approached the king with as much grace as he could muster, rather sloppily bowing before him. His armor seemed to rattle while he inhaled and released his breath rapidly.
At this, the man of authority rose from his seat carefully, a serious, yet pleased, expression consuming his visage. A rather satisfied grin curved his lips. "So my daughter is finally here," he breathed, his cheeks reddening from his inward excitement. Slowly he looked at Link, nodding accordingly.
"I will have the peasant escort me."
The young man grinned mischievously, purposely avoiding the befuddled, fuming glance of the guard who stood beside him. Link jumped at the king's proposal, immediately leading him out, with more excitement that he was able to admit even to himself.
One year since he had seen the princess, his friend.
A lot had occurred during that time, as the boy matured, grew up...and developed a tender relationship with the Lon Lon Ranch owner's daughter. He developed into a more devout young man, from the age of sixteen to seventeen. And now he would see the princess, who must have changed as well from her Gerudo training.
"Don't become heartless and man-eating," he had playfully warned the thin girl before she had departed. She only had smiled at him, a tiny blush tinting her cheeks. "I could never become heartless, Link," she promised with that same, intimidating tone, "because I will always think of my family, and you."
The Gerudo were not considered ladylike in Hylian standards, as Zelda had grown around the strict rules of propriety in the castle. It still amazed the young hero how her father had allowed her to go, as everyone else in the castle and royal court were very much against the fragile princess living and learning from a group of very conniving, quick-witted women.
The Gerudo were temptresses, no doubt, and queens of seduction. Only one man would be born from the tribe every one hundred years -the last, Ganondorf- and to satisfy themselves, the women would take Hylian men as their lovers.
Link could only imagine the influence the ladies had on the innocent princess. Zelda was probably scarred for life.
He felt awkward walking alongside the king, a shakiness taking over his knees. As they stepped out of the castle and towards the courtyard, the light of the sun dulled, the air above them turning more grey, hinting at the eventual sunset. Link kept his hands clasped behind his back as they moved steadily, concealed by the cloak draped over his shoulders.
They were soon halted by a row of guards, whom bowed before the king in a very dramatic manner, then lifting themselves up to stand sturdily, their arms compactly by their sides. Their armor made them all look almost identical.
"Your highness, the princess has arrived."
The uniformed men parted before them, Link gulping from the reluctant respect he received from the guards he knew were not at all fond of him. He could, in fact, see the Hylian carriage only meters away from him and the king, two gallant, white horses saddled to the lovely ride.
"Stand up straight son, and greet the princess as you usually would."
Link shifted his gaze down to the king, who kept his focus forward, not paying any notable attention to the young man next to him. Clearing his throat, the boy elongated his back, holding his hands desperately behind him, his apprehension rising.
Why did he feel so nervous to see her? It had only been a year, yet he greatly missed her, more than he realized until this moment. She was always such a pleasant company to him, had been since the day they had met. He never felt strange around her, being able to act very naturally towards the mild tempered girl.
So why was his heart beating so vehemently when he saw a servant open the carriage door? Why did he feel even more anxious when Lady Impa was the first one to come out? She seemed rather flustered as she stepped out, the strong woman adjusting her white braid fretfully, a massive grin devouring her face as she breathed the fresh, Hyrule air. Turning back to the carriage, she then assisted the next pair of feminine legs that sprang out rather exuberantly.
Nabooru emerged, in all her glory, dressed more wholesomely than she usually would, what was expected of her. The dark Gerudo beauty allowed her flaming red hair to freely flow down her back, her body covered in a tight, black one piece apparel, flaunting her shapely figure. While the foreigner grinned at Zelda's Sheikan adviser, Impa could only frown slightly at her, her arms crossed boldly over her chest before a heavy sigh escaped her mouth, as she went before the carriage directly.
Delicately, she extended her hand, and was startled when a petite, milky white palm peeked out from within, clutching onto Impa's securely, as a pair of shorter, more rounded legs soon followed.
All bowed as she emerged from the carriage. Link scuttled to hit the ground on his knee to mimic the act, nearly tripping on his cloak, his gaze did not focus downwards, but on the beauty that released right then.
He almost didn't recognize her, except for her short frame and lavish blonde locks, now pulled up into a tight, Gerudo-style high ponytail, as well as her eyes, so blue and intense that even from afar seemed blinding and hypnotic.
She stood tall after coming out, yet there was a coolness about her posture, as she relaxed her shoulders, but maintained a straight, firm back. A smile was not present upon her darkened lips, which seemed to have grown fuller now, but it was apparent that she seemed pleased, in a collective manner.
The princess was adorned in nearly the traditional Gerudo warrior garb, the small purple garb tugging at the full swells of her breasts, revealing the bare delicate curve of her waist, as her legs were adorned in tight, ragged leggings rather than the typical baggy bottoms.
And it was then when he noticed, was completely and utterly aware, how how the princess had actually changed.
No longer did he behold the skinny, lankly girl he had known before. Her legs were strong, and there existed a sharp curve to her hips so drastic it rather bewildered him. Though her legs were short, her thighs were powerful. He had never seen other Hylian ladies with legs so full and round, and it was apparent that her vigorous Gerudo training had shaped her thighs.
The inward curves to her waist were beautiful, adding the the hourglass shape of her body, as she appeared slender and lean, yet still so soft and tender to touch, that he felt he needed to reach out and touch her just then, a desperateness taking over him.
She had turned her body so that her side profile was in his clear view, where he observed and took heed of the unfamiliar, rather distracting bump of her derriere. It protruded from the rest of her body, separating itself from her thighs, profoundly declaring a territory of its own.
And her flesh remained as he had always remembered: white, milky. So pale and seemingly untouched by the sun. They had trained during the night, it seemed.
She was impeccably beautiful.
And he was speechless.
Well, almost.
"Damn the goddesses..."
His curse came out a little louder than he intended, and the king who stood firmly beside the kneeling, drooling young man looked down at the boy with interest, his eye brows raised, hands clasped together.
"Close your mouth, young man. It is not proper to gawk at the princess."
Link shook his head swiftly, blushing ferociously as he tried to regain his composure, wiping his mouth on his shoulder. Lady Impa, Nabooru, and the lovely princess slowly approached the highest authority of Hyrule, the servants and guards rising from the ground, as Link scrambled to quickly stand up before they had gotten to them.
Hastily he adjusted his cloak, elongating his body a tad too obviously.
"Your highness, King Harkinian, we are so pleased to have returned."
Impa bowed before the king respectably, for a short moment, and before she could completely and steadily raise herself, Nabooru gleefully pushed the older woman out of her way, swinging her hip bone to nudge her.
Graciously, and with a heaping grin, the Gerudo took the king's palm, kissing atop his knuckles, curtseying before him.
Harkinian blushed at her daring gesture, and the guards surrounding him seemed to be too transfixed to make a move to stop her.
"It is a privilege again, your excellence," she beamed with her deep, exotic voice, a coy glimmer in her dark eyes.
Rather loudly, the king cleared his throat, prying his hand away from her gently, while he collectively nodded his head. "It is nice for you to visit once more, Miss Nabooru-"
"Daddy!"
No one had time to think, or immediately make sense and process what occurred before Harkinian could properly greet the Gerudo leader. Zelda had ceased keeping her respectable silence, jumping into her father's arms, nearly sending the old man down as he struggled to keep his balance.
Her embrace towards him was tight and affectionate, as she seemed to rock herself slightly, sighing on his shoulder. Carefully, he eased into his daughter's hug, holding her against him gently, patting at her bare back.
"Welcome home, my princess."
She was so close to him now, and all Link could do was stare at her tender moment with the king, suddenly feeling his heartbeat accelerate to a very uncomfortable velocity. The reddening of his cheeks boiled at his flesh, the quiver in his knees almost causing him to topple over.
"Link, you seem...awkward."
His attempts at keeping his balance almost proved fruitless, as the young Hylian hastily removed his fixation from Zelda, looking at the Sheikan woman who shared his height. It was odd looking directly at her, as he had become accustomed to shifting his gaze downwards whenever he spoke to the fairer sex.
"Er, welcome back, Miss Impa."
Impa had an amused expression built on her face, her concealed smile slowly spreading on her mouth. With her arms crossed over her chest, she stood by his side discreetly, studying him from head to toe.
"Someone looks very noble," she mused, pinching the cloth of his cloak with her fingertips.
"And very handsome."
Nabooru took the fellow by surprise when she scooped him in her arms suddenly, pressing her fiery mouth against his cheek. Whatever composure he had managed to maintain, it disappeared now.
Link had tumbled backwards, landing directly on his bum.
He didn't know how to react, or whether he should have felt embarrassed or laughed the incident off. He could only sit there, on the grasses, dumbfounded. And much to his dismay, this caught the attention of both the king and the princess.
Her hair bounced in her ponytail, at last releasing her grip on her father, and curtseying before him in a somewhat proper manner, rather hastily. However, she quickly refocused her complete attention on the young man garbed in green, who sat messily on the ground, his cloak completely disheveled. It was difficult for him to block out the chuckles that arose from Impa and Nabooru, as well as some of the guards.
Zelda only smiled however, rather sweetly, and his cheeks burned a deeper level of crimson in return. Rather briskly, she kneeled herself on the ground, both of her knees resting on the grasses, and they sat there for an odd moment, staring at each other.
"Um, hello Princess Zelda," he stated bashfully, leaning back against his elbows.
His hat began to tilt off his head, and the younger girl reached out her palm to readjust it for him. She didn't pull back right away, but leaned closer to him, and her sweet, gingery scent flamed his nostrils. At last she smiled, stroking her knuckles against his cheek.
"Hello, Link," she replied.
Then she pushed herself against him, kissing his mouth swiftly.