Like I promised, here it is. I should wait until chapters 13 and 14 are done...but here you go. Have a famous Gerudo dancer and another fight. Time to demonstrate how I portray Link.
9
Lunch Time. Johara the Dancer. Stop, Thieves!
Glurak and Link stepped back into the noon sunlight. They made their way to the central square.
''Oi!'' a familiar voice called.
Link turned to see Ashlyn striding up to them. ''Hello Ashlyn,'' he said.
''So, you've been busy, I see.''
''I suppose,'' Link answered. Really, he hadn't done much today.
''Hey, getting to know the city counts as being busy. You're going to lunch now, I bet.''
''Yes. Are you going to come?''
''Sure, why not? Let's go,'' she said.
''Are we going to Telea's?'' Glurak inquired.
''I guess. Ashlyn?'' Link said, directing a questioning look to her.
''Well, if you two want to eat elsewhere... Let's see, what's around here that serves good food?''
''Telea's is fine. I was just wondering,'' Glurak said.
''Right, then. Let's go.''
They walked until they reached the street they wanted. Ashlyn opened the door and they went in. The tavern was about a quarter full.
''Hey, Telea!'' she called.
The teal haired woman smiled. ''Hey yourselves.''
Ashlyn went over to a table and dropped into a chair. Link and Glurak did the same.
''Do we all know what we want?'' Ashlyn asked.
''Yes,'' Link replied.
''I believe so,'' Glurak responded.
Several minutes later, their food was on the table. Ashlyn was eating spiced pork. Link was cutting his steak. Glurak also had a steak.
''Mmm. So good,'' Ashlyn said between bites.
''Spiced pork... I might try that,'' Link commented.
''You should.''
''I had forgotten how good the food is here,'' Glurak said.
''You really need to come here more often,'' Ashlyn replied.
''Right.'' Glurak finished his food. ''Well, I need to return to the Amalgam. I still have to give Lux the book I got for him. Link, I'll await your return, though you need not hurry.''
Telea walked over. ''You're going?''
''Yes, unfortunately. Here,'' he said, handing her two red rupees.
''Honestly, Glurak, you overpay me...'' she said.
Glurak shrugged. ''You deserve it. See you soon.'' He waved and walked out of the building.
Ashlyn was taking noticeably longer to finish her lunch, normally she would have finished before anyone else. Noticing Link's look of surprise, she said, ''What? I'm savoring it.''
Link tried to hide a laugh as he cut another piece of steak with the knife. ''Say, did you have any fights with soldiers today?''
''One. It was too easy. Rather disappointing, really.''
Telea chuckled. ''Well, I know something that won't disappoint. A certain someone is here.'' She pointed across the room.
Ashlyn gasped. Link turned to see what she was looking at.
A Gerudo woman was standing in a cleared area. She was rather pretty, with tanned skin and red hair pulled into a ponytail. Link flushed in shock when he noticed what she was wearing. A red covering hid her chest while a long skirt hung from her waist. Her midriff was exposed. She wore lots of jewelery: a gold necklace, earrings and bangles. There were two small slits in her skirt at the hips, revealing a hip piercing on each side. Those looked painful.
''Uh... Who is she?'' he asked, still embarrassed at seeing so much of her skin. He wasn't used to seeing such immodest clothes on a girl. Sure, he knew that the Gerudo culture was different. But he hadn't seen a Gerudo woman before, either.
''Johara. She's a famous dancer,'' Telea replied.
''Ah.''
''Haha. Look at you, Link. You're such a prude. You look so shocked to see her skin,'' Ashlyn said with a laugh. ''Some uncouth boys would be staring.''
''Well, that's not how I was raised.''
Ashlyn smiled. ''Good boy. And really, thank goodness most men still go by the soldier code of honor and respect.''
Link nodded. ''That was what father taught me. Honor and respect. Politeness, not to objectify women, not to hit women... My father said that a man is a coward if he strikes a female.''
''Agreed.''
Johara waved at Telea. Then she started to dance. Link had never seen someone so graceful. She moved fluidly like water. Her hair whipped about her like a trail of flames. She twirled, jewelry glittering in the light, her skirt swirling about her legs with her grace. After several minutes, she ended her dance with a flourish and walked over to Telea.
''Thanks for letting me use your place,'' she said. Her Gerudo accent was present in her Hyrulean, with clipped vowels.
''Any time.''
Johara turned to look at Link. ''Oh? Is he a friend of yours?''
''Yes. He's in the Resistance,'' Telea replied in a quiet voice.
''I have a great respect for the Resistance. What's your name?''
''Link.''
Johara smiled. ''Ah. Nice.'' She thought of something. ''I heard that the Resistance raided an armory yesterday,'' she said, voice low.
''Yes. I was in the raid, actually, along with Ashlyn here. I would have been caught if I had not hid here,'' he replied, voice equally low.
''Ah. I heard that that's caused the soldiers some trouble.''
''Heh, maybe you could come with us sometime and cause some chaos?'' Ashlyn suggested.
Johara smirked. ''That sounds good to me.''
''Heh. I'll mention it to the boss.'' Ashlyn finished her food. ''Well, I think we should get going.'' She pulled out a red rupee and handed it to Telea.
Link took out his wallet, removed the same amount as Ashlyn and gave it to Telea. They both were overpaying her by about five to ten rupees.
''Tip is included,'' Ashlyn said, interrupting Telea's protest.
The teal haired woman sighed. ''I wish you'd just take a discount for once.''
''You do enough for us.'' Ashlyn sounded as if she had gone through this many times. And Link knew that she most likely had.
Telea shrugged. ''All right. Be careful.''
''Oh, you know we will,'' Ashlyn replied.
Link and Ashlyn walked down the street. Link could not claim that he knew Castle Town like the back of his hand, but he did know that they were going the wrong way.
''Uh, aren't we going to the Amalgam?''
''No. It's just after noon! The day is still young.''
''But Glurak is waiting for my return-''
Ashlyn cut him off. ''He said you didn't have to hurry.''
''True,'' Link admitted.
''Besides, I have something to do in the square. After that, I want to take you to a certain safe house.''
They went north to the central square. Ashlyn scanned the crowd, seemingly looking for something or someone. After a moment, she nodded and pulled out a small piece of paper. ''I will be right back.''
She casually walked over to the entrance to an alley. There was someone waiting for her, looking like he was just an ordinary person at market. She handed him the paper. After a few minutes, she came back.
''Sorry about that. Boss needed me to deliver a message. Another safe house is going to be doing a raid somewhere. The message was about that,'' she explained quietly.
''I see.''
''Well, then. Let's get to that safe house I mentioned.''
They started to head out of the square, passing people, when they heard a feminine cry.
''No! Don't steal my shipment!''
Ashlyn's eyes narrowed. ''Come on.''
They both went quickly to where the voice had come from. A young woman was standing in front of a rather nice looking store, looking upset. A young man was holding on to her, while another was hauling away some crates. It was clear they were stealing them.
''Stop! Give those back!''
Ashlyn ran up to the thief who was taking the crates. She didn't bother to unsheathe her sword, instead, she started to fistfight. Link had never seen her fight hand to hand but he had a feeling she could handle it.
He went over to the thief that was restraining the woman. ''Release her.''
''Sure thing.'' The man let go of her and stepped around, looking ready to fight.
''I would not try,'' Link warned, tapping the hilt of his sword. He actually had no intention of using it on an unarmed opponent, but he was hoping to dissuade the man from fighting.
The man glanced at the sword hilt poking up from behind Link's left shoulder and shrugged. ''You'd use that on someone unarmed, boy?''
''No,'' Link admitted.
The thief nodded. ''I thought so. Sorry about this, but...'' He ran forward, fist raised to strike.
Link put his arm up to block, grabbing the thief's wrist and twisting his arm away. With his free right arm, he drove his elbow into the man's stomach. The thief doubled over, winded and wheezing for breath.
''You should not steal.''
The thief, having regained his breath, looked up. ''Too late for me. You caught us in the act. All you have to do is call for some guards...''
''Maybe I should,'' Link said. But he knew he couldn't. He was Resistance.
Ashlyn finished her fight with the other thief. He looked worse for wear, while she didn't seem to have any bruises. ''That should teach you.'' Both thieves fled.
''Thank you,'' the woman said.
Link and Ashlyn turned to her. Up close, Link noticed that she didn't seem much older then Ashlyn.
''You're welcome,'' he replied.
''Link, this is Dolcia. She owns the Creamery, which sells stuff like cakes and whatnot. Dolcia, this is Link,'' Ashlyn said.
Dolcia had eyes the color of melted chocolate. Her hair was strangely two toned, with her bangs a cream color while the rest was as brown as her eyes. She was wearing a white dress with a sleeveless black blouse over it, with a white apron tied around her waist. A red gem shaped like a cherry was pinned at her folded collar. She seemed to be higher up on the class scale.
''Nice to meet you,'' Link said.
''You as well. Those thieves were trying to steal my latest shipment of Lon Lon Milk. Since you helped me, how about free ice cream with milk?''
Link was about to say that she didn't have to give them anything but Ashlyn grinned and said, ''Yes!''
Dolcia went into the store behind her while they waited outside. After a few minutes, she came back. ''Here you go.'' She handed each of them a glass filled with milk and vanilla ice cream.
''Mmm,'' Ashlyn said as she took a sip.
''You can keep the glasses, I have plenty.'' Dolcia turned her attention to the crates. ''Now then...''
''Do you want me to move those for you?'' Link asked.
''No, thank you. My delivery boy can handle it.''
''All right,'' he said.
Ashlyn and Link left the square and headed towards the city's entrance. While they were walking, Link took a sip from his glass.
''Mmm... This is really good.''
Ashlyn smirked. ''Dolcia makes the best desserts. Her stuff is kind of expensive, but it's worth it.''
''Right.''
''Dolcia makes a lot of money off her desserts. She sells the stuff to nobles too. But I like her. She's honest and helps people out,'' Ashlyn said.
''That's nice of her.''
Ashlyn suddenly stopped, facing a seemingly ordinary building. ''We're here.'' She went up to the door and knocked.
The door opened a crack. ''Ashlyn? Come in.'' The door opened wider, revealing Johann.
''Hey! We came to see you,'' she said to him.
They stepped inside. The entrance room was simple but inviting. Johann was standing there, with his hair so dark Link couldn't really tell what color it was. It seemed almost reddish black or purplish black. He smiled. ''Good to see you both. Link, welcome to the Southgate safe house.''
They stayed later than they thought. It had been fun; Link found himself introduced to people that he liked rather quickly. Johann's energetic attitude was similar to Ashlyn's and yet different. He wasn't blunt but he had the same liveliness that was likeable. They had eaten supper already and now Link noticed that it was starting to get dark.
''It's getting late,'' he pointed out.
Ashlyn looked out the window, seeing that night was falling. ''Well! Look how time passes! I wasn't planning on staying this long.''
''We should return to the Amalgam.''
Ashlyn shook her head. ''It isn't a good idea to go out after dark. Not because we'd get robbed but because of the night patrols.''
''Here, I'll take you to the spare rooms. This is what safe houses are for, yes?'' Johann said.
''Uh huh. Thank goodness we have so many safe houses. I'd hate to be stranded at night without one,'' Ashlyn said.
He led them to a short hall, where the spare rooms were. ''Take your pick. Oh, and there's nightgowns in the drawer.''
Link picked a random door and opened it.
I honestly think Link is such an innocent, prudish boy. He isn't a pervert, that's for sure. At least not how I portray him, yeah. He also wouldn't hit a girl. If every guy were like him, I wouldn't get so annoyed with the male gender. I put Johara in here because she's cool. Her name means ''jewel'' in Arabic. Yeah, I took the time to look up Arabic names. Dolcia's name comes from ''dolce'' Italian for dessert, because that's what she sells.