'I...why?'
I stayed silent for a while, as did everyone else.
Eventually, Zelda cleared her throat.
"Well, no matter!" she said, happily. "You've remembered this much, who is to say you won't remember more? Things take time."
I nodded, sad and frustrated. Why would the goddesses send me here, just to have me forget? I sighed. Link looked down to me, and gave a reassuring smile.
Suddenly then, Zelda gasped. Then, laughed.
Link and I both looked to her, confused. She calmly slowed her laughter, then said;
"I was so caught up with your story, I haven't even asked your name!"
Her laughter became contagious, as Link and I both joined in.
"Aella."
She smiled, then gave a bow only a princess could muster.
"A pleasure to meet you." she said, smiling.
And before I could reply, the Princess of Hyrule dropped what to her was obviously an act, and took my hand, running as fast as she could in her fancy dress and heels.
"Zelda!" Link called after us.
"No time! I have a lot of work to do! You'll see her soon enough, lover boy!"
Link gave an audible rejection to the name, and I turned around long enough to see him awkwardly wave goodbye.
"Ah, see you soon Link!" I called, almost tripping after Zelda stumbled in her heels, saying something that definitely shouldn't come from a princesses mouth.
After following Zelda through numerous halls, up a flight of spiral stairs, and apologizing to quite a few bystanders that we bumped into, we ended up in a huge bedroom inside the tallest tower of the castle. The giant bay window with a nicely cushioned seat now seemed so perfect. Without a second thought, I went over and plopped down, Zelda following suit. She immediately kicked off her heels, stretching. I looked at my feet, looking a bit dirty now. Zelda looked over and smiled at me.
"Well, this is my bedroom." she said, glancing around. "Mind helping me change? This dress is a nightmare."
She then stood, walking over to the large standing mirror in the corner of the room after checking the door to make sure it was locked.
She started by removing all of the fancy adornments on the dress, tossing them to the floor.
She then removed her gloves, and her crown. She was about to simply toss it aside, but after some thought, hung it on the mirror.
"Well, this is where you come in." she said, laughing.
I came up behind her, loosening the laces on the corset back of the dress. The top fell down, but that was all. Confused, I pulled a little.
She laughed.
"You're gonna have to go from underneath."
I got on my knees, and nervously lifted the skirt of the dress, and the three petticoats.
And was greeted by thin metal.
'Metal?!' I thought, astounded.
Zelda laughed.
Under the cage, she wore padded breeches. I realized what the cage was for. It was to make her dress look fuller!
"Why do you torture yourself so?!" I exclaimed.
She sighed, and mocked an unknown voice;
"Royal attire must always be worn by the Princess!"
She snorted.
"Trust me, I hate this ridiculous crinoline. I can hardly move in it, as you witnessed."
I shook my head, and reached up to unbuckle the leather latch at her waist. It fell to the floor with a light clang.
With a breath of relief, Zelda stepped out of the horrid contraption.
I then helped her pull out of the dress, and she handled the petticoats.
She sighed, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Sometimes, I wish I could just wear these breeches, and a tunic, like the knights."
She smiled.
"I would give anything to dress like Link. He doesn't even wear chain mail, unlike the knights."
I laughed.
"He's brave, not wearing any protection." I said.
She looked at me, a proud look in her eyes.
"He wouldn't need it even if he did wear it. He is skilled in combat beyond belief."
I smiled.
"Yes, I know. I was granted that information, at least."
She looked away to the window, in thought.
"And without an ounce of training. It was all instinct.." she said, softly.
She walked over the the little window seat, picking up the rose I'd gently sat down there.
She suddenly had a mischievous grin.
"Say.." she began, walking over and handing it to me. "What do you think of Link?"
I looked at her, confused.
"Well, he is very kind. He has done too much for me already.." I said, stroking one of the petals.
Her grin turned to a smile, and she laughed, turning to go to her large armoire to find a new dress.
"Yes, yes, that's nice and all, but hat isn't what I meant." she said.
She pulled open the large doors, and began shuffling through what had to be hundreds of dresses.
"Then what?" I asked.
Suddenly, it hit me. I blushed a little, but let her answer.
"Like, well, you know!" she said, picking out a pretty lavender dress.
She turned around, smiled at my face, then went to her mirror. She let the breeches drop, and began pulling on the lighter, much less fancy dress. I helped her to get it settled.
"Well, I don't know.." I began. "I've only just met him."
She laughed.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean much when it comes to an opinion on someones appearance."
I giggled.
"Well, he is quite handsome I suppose."
"I knew it!" she said, spinning around.
I huffed at her, as I wasn't done tying the bow in the back.
"Sorry." she said, turning back around.
I restarted my bow, and asked her what she thought of Link.
She only laughed.
"Oh, I will agree he's very good looking," she said. "But he's too much of a brother to me. I've never thought of him in a romantic way. Although, for a while, many people believed it would happen."
She sighed.
"I don't believe he's ever thought of me in that way either. Though, he's much more formal with me than I wish for him to be."
I looked to her, finished tying.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well," she said. "Like earlier. Calling me 'princess', and bowing to me. He doesn't need to do that! If anything, I should be bowing to him. But, he's so humble about what he's done. He hates ceremony. He hated the ceremony of when I knighted him, and celebrated his title of 'Hero'."
She sighed, going to sit at the window seat with a sad look in her eye.
"I know he doesn't regret anything, unlike me. But I feel as if he doesn't want to be called a hero. That he just wants to be Link. Any other knight. I think he just wants to live the rest of his life like any other normal person. To put the past behind him, but never forget. And if, ever hoping that it's an if, evil ever arose again, I know he'd step up once more."
I sighed, feeling bad for her. I knew what she went through, and what Link did. I also had no doubts he would fight once more, if ever he needed to.
I tried to be light.
"Evil is no more. You have succeeded, as Link did. Hyrule is whole. The sages are awake.
You can let the past go, as he has tried. What is it you regret, Zelda?"
She looked at me then, her soul was old.
"Not knowing Gannondorf's true plan. Not taking the time I had to realize Link may not have been old enough."
She looked out the window, out at her kingdom.
"But then again, I had no time. The day I gave him the Ocarina, Gannondorf had already attacked Hyrule. We could not squander any more time."
"And I also regret not being able to give Link his freedom. I could've, being the Seventh Sage. But he refused. I understand why. He knows too much. He has lost a child's innocence. I would have had to let him keep his memories, so he could warn me, and keep this from ever happening. And he didn't want that. He didn't want those seven years back. I am in debt to him, and it's something I can never repay."
She had tears in her eyes now.
I put a hand on her shoulder, at a loss for words.
"And what he said to me, when I offered to send him back. It's what broke my heart the most. Believe it or not, he's the type who keeps his feelings to himself. Today was honestly the first time in a while I've heard him talk so much. He's rather mute..."
She shook her head, and continued.
"He said, 'Princess, I greatly appreciate what you are offering me. But I cannot accept it. I know it would only bring the both of us pain. But I want you to know this. I do not blame you for any of this. And I do not want you to blame yourself. What has happened was beyond us. So, at that, I say this; I refuse to be sent back.'"
"And then he just walked away."
She was crying now. Silent, small tears flowed from her eyes, filled with regret and sadness.
I hugged her, and she buried her head in my shoulder. I felt her tears soak my skin, but soon after, she lifted herself from me. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and stopped sniffling.
"I'm sorry, I've just not really had anyone to talk about this with that would understand. Other than Link, but as I said, he doesn't talk feelings."
She smiled weakly.
"I find myself dwelling in the past, when I need to look forward to the future."
I shook my head, smiling.
"The future is no place to place your better days," I began. "But you should leave the past where it is. It has nothing new to say."
She looked at me, surprised. Then, she smiled. And smiled for real.
"So, enjoy the present, then..." she said, softly. "Thank you."
She stood, and offered me a hand. I took it, and stood with her.
She walked over to her armoire, then turned to me.
"How about we pick you out something, now?"
-end chapter-
Ahhh! I finally updated. Oh well. I'm really excited for IndyPopCon, my friend and I are cosplaying as Link and Dark Link, me being Dark.
Like this story so far? I have big plans for it. And I promise to finish Water's Mirror. I'm just really stuck right now, I don't know how to move past this point, because we kind of have turning point soon.
~bye