Disclaimer: GrimGrave does not own any of the characters of their respective franchise; Legend of Zelda and Metroid belongs to Nintendo, while Soul Calibur belongs to Namco Bandai. GrimGrave does not earn money for writing fiction.

A Hylian's Harem

Chapter 8

Night of the First Day

"Are the ladies comfortable enough?" Sheik inquired as she walked into the room, a small basket of medical supplies clinging onto her arm containing bandages, ointment and salves.

The room was decorated with a red rug that covered the floor, with only a few armchairs, a table and lastly a fireplace to which Samus sat in front of. With her armour-suit, the only injuries that had been inflicted were on the blonde Athenian warrior Sophitia and the noble Ivy as well as the Gerudo commando Aveil, who all sat on the various armchairs.

"As comfortable as gets…" Aveil muttered loudly, a bitter tone coating her voice as she mended one of the wounds that resided on her arm by the dark apparitions.

"It could've been worse you know." Aveil shot a displeased gaze at the blonde warrior. "You could've lost your arm entirely. That's why it's good to carry a shield…"

"I'm fine without a shield, girl!" Aveil spat back, tending to the bandage around her arm. The wound stung irksomely.

"Ladies please, behave yourselves. Link should be talking to Miss Veran as of this moment." Impa nearly shouted across the room. With only minor injuries in the form of scratches, Sheik had already mended most of them with a single salve whilst the older Sheikah continued to garner everyone's attention. "Be thankful that you only received minor wounds. Shadow Links are a timeless enemy with as much capability as Link himself."

"Yes, well," Ivy snarled. "bloody hell! That woman-"

"I know you are partly to blame for this as well Lady Valentine." Impa retorted. "But we'll talk about that later. Have your injuries patched up in the meantime."

The noblewoman muttered lowly as she applied the healing ointment, grazing her teeth with a hissing sound as the healing proportions began to work. Impa watched her and the others cautiously, including her younger Sheikah colleague.

´The hostility towards one another is as clear as day. Just like animals that try to attract the attention of a mate, they are prone to be hostile against competition… This is only speculation, but these women may harbour something deeper for Link – something that even I am guilty of these days.´

She took a quick look around, silent and unsuspecting. ´I should fear for the worst and wait. As much as I respect and love our Hero, it's no reason to behave immaturely. I must not be brash. Only time will tell who will pull his heartstrings.´

The sound of oaken gates being opened was carried swiftly into their room.

:::::::

"I'm…. I am s…sho…I'm s-so…" Link, Zelda and all the others watched with either mild amusement or bafflement as Veran had knelt down in front of the princess. The two had made their way back to the castle just a short while after the others, and immediately had Link asked for them to gather around.

But even if they knew what Veran was trying to do (the keyword was indeed trying) they remained waiting for the actual words – either the sorceress was pulling their leg or she, for whatever reason they couldn't even fathom, didn't know the words. Judging by her pained expression she wore, it was most likely the latter though it did nothing to ease the frustration they all felt as Veran time and time again attempted to pronounce the word.

´This is so demeaning…´ Veran eyed the princess who stood before her. The royal blonde just watched her intensively, patiently waiting for the words to leave the sorceress lips. She even tapped her index-finger against her arm, crossed over her chest.

"…I am s-sorr…" She let a prolonged, deep sigh of frustration. Even now, Link was actually starting to wear an appalled look due to Veran's inability to apologise. "I…I am… s-s… Sorry! There! I am s-sorry! For ruining your little tour…." She looked back up at Zelda who clearly didn't look pleased at all. She swore under her shallow breath. "And for my… attempt at your lives… What I did was w-…w…wrong. And…"

"You could've killed us." Zelda suddenly said. Her voice was firm, stern and almost spiteful. "Your wicked sorcery could have overwhelmed us, had we been careless. However, what I'm more curious about is your ability to summon Shadow Links. Care to explain?"

Link was about to step forward when Veran immediately began to explain. Either it was the truth, or she was that good of a liar, Link wouldn't know for sure. What he did know was that her origin would sooner or later have to come to light, but for now he remained silent. The last thing he wanted was to create a wider wound that the one Veran had already caused.

"I can create copies of any person using magically infused shadows… And this time I used the image of our … dear little hero because honestly? I have apparently a different sense of humour. So simple, no mystery."

Link pinched the bridge of his nose. There was 50-50 about how plausible her explanation was, and right now his gut-feeling was betting on how unlikely it would be. Yet, as Zelda observed the sorceress with a narrow gaze there was a sign of distraction – was she contemplating whether or not to believe her or was she simply thinking of her answer? The rest of the women didn't seem to buy it though it was most likely because they didn't accept her form of apology.

"Seeing as this started off as a dispute between you and Lady Valentine," Zelda resumed. "I expect you two to sort out your differences in a more mature manner. I will… forgive you this time, Miss Veran. And that is mostly because you are Link's friend. But I will not tolerate another mishap."

Only Link could her the faint mutter Veran let out under her breath. "You're too kind, princess. It… It won't happen again."

"Then your apology is accepted, Miss Veran." Zelda replied. "I can't speak for the others however, but I trust you can sort things out like adults. Impa, Link, would you two be so kind and follow me please? I need to talk to you in privacy if I may."

The two aforementioned individuals nodded as they followed their princess out of the room and further down the hallway, taking a turn to the right to escape from view as effectively as possible.

The moment they were out of sight, Ivy snapped back around towards the sorceress, a fierce glare residing in her eyes. Veran met them head-on with smugness.

"The princess may have forgiven you wench, but I have not. Mark my word; I'll have you beheaded myself!"

"Oh my, but you sound fierce…" Veran replied. She crossed her arms over her chest, feigning a hurt expression. "I am absolutely trembling by your words. Tell me, who was it that tried to commit murder on who again? I want to recall that I merely defended myself in a situation where the odds were against me. Four against one to be exact."

"We stepped in because you proved to be dangerous to face alone." Sophitia said sternly as she too crossed her arms. "I may not have wished for your death Lady Sorceress, but you were out of control at that moment."

"Tch."

"And if I'm not mistaken, you were prepared to kill us without any hesitation. If Link had not intervened when he did-"

"Yes alright, I get the picture!" Veran snapped at the blonde. "I already told the princess I wouldn't do it again, despite how irksome you lot is"

"How reassuring." Everyone turned to the bounty hunter who stood tall against the wall. Her helmet was tucked under her left arm, allowing her icy-blue eyes stare at the rest of the group but particularly at Veran. "I have a hard time believing your words, woman."

´Not that I dare trust the others either for that matter…´ She thought bitterly. ´I suspect they view Link far more than as a friend… I should know. I could be wrong however; I better remain silent and act accordingly. Though that Veran-woman is definitely romantically interested in him.´

::::::

"What's on your mind, Your Highness?" Impa inquired. The princess sighed before checking that the coast was clear of eavesdroppers.

"I would like to ask you two of a favour… No, that's not the right word… I have an important task for you."

"What is it Zelda?" Link asked next. "Is it regarding the others?" Zelda nodded.

"Yes. I can't say I'm proud of having to ask you like this, but I can't sit idle… I want you two to keep a watchful eye on them." Link arched an eyebrow curiously but Zelda seemingly anticipated it and continued ceaselessly. "I know it to be very rude towards your friends Link. But after what happened earlier, I can't just let it slide without a form of insurance. Just keep an eye on them and intervene as soon as something happens… They may be your friends Link, but they are guests at my castle."

"Friends and guests with weapons and magic…" Impa added, her red eyes now shifting over at Link. The blonde Hero sighed with a nod.

"I understand. I'll do it. But shouldn't you tell-"

"Sheik is watching them as we speak." Zelda smiled, to which Link chuckled.

"Always a step ahead. Very well Zelda, consider it done."

"You have my word as well." Impa said. "We'll keep our eyes on them."

The princess bowed lightly with a smile. "Thank you the both of you. Perhaps now I can go to bed without having to worry…"

"Crud!" Impa and Zelda simultaneously looked at Link in his sudden outburst. "I forgot about that! Where will everyone sleep?" He inquired.

Impa patted the young man on the shoulder reassuringly. "The castle has more than enough spare bedrooms. They should be located in the same corridor as yours I believe." ´Which is why I will have to keep a watchful eye out…´

"Oh…" Link replied in relief. "That's good then. I was worried for a moment that there wouldn't be enough room for everyone…"

"It's a castle, Link. If anything, we have too many rooms." The princess giggled at her own little joke. "Still, if we kindly return back to the matters at hand. Our little adventure appears to have devoured time; it's nearly time for dinner."

"Already? It can't possibly be that late already can it?" Link asked sceptically.

Impa turned to him. "It's only early in the evening, but it is still evening. Our little tour took enough time, and then there was the incident…Your Highness, shall I have the cooks begin the meal for tonight?"

"Only if it's not too much trouble Impa." Zelda answered kindly. "Thank you." As the tall Sheikah woman bowed and shortly after left the room, the princess turned to the young blonde.

"Link, before you go there's something I have to ask you…" She began. Link didn't reply, but his eyes were solely focused on her, an indication to that he was fully listening. "It's just a thought that I've had, it only just now occurred to me." She paused herself, allowing her eyes to wander briefly as she did.

"Link, have you ever thought of one day just… settle down? To permanently hang up the mantle and maybe start a family?"

"A family?" Zelda nodded at him. Link scratched his neck, locked in thoughts. His face was nearly dumbstruck and appalled by the sudden question; it was clear that it was definitely new content to think about. Link had probably never even considered the thought of having a child in the future.

"A family… That's… I don't know to be honest. I mean, it's not like I'm against the idea! I would probably love the idea of having a son or a daughter in the future, but it's not something I've ever –"

"If I may inquire further," Zelda abruptly added. "If you ever were to settle down, how do you picture the mother? I mean, what is she like?"

Flushed red like a beetroot with embarrassment, Link looked away. There was a hint of a smile on his lips, but he desperately concealed it without resuming eye-contact. "I don't know… W-what's with the sudden questions, Zelda? Is there something-"

"My apologies Link. Don't mind me. I'm just thinking a lot these days, sometimes sharing my thoughts. You can go back to your friends; we'll let you know when dinner is ready."

He nodded. "Okay then." He promptly left the room, still tinted red with the shyness. Behind him Zelda sighed, arms crossed over her chest as she mused. Maybe Link would need a lot more time than she thought.

:::::::

"Whatever it is, it smells delicious!" Aveil boasted with glee, licking her lips as if to emphasize her hunger for the food that produced such a mouth-watering aroma. While the others agreed wholeheartedly on the subject they still shot the desert-woman with looks of mild distain, though Link didn't seem to mind. Instead, he laughed as he agreed.

"I can tell you this much, the cooks of this castle are more than adept at the culinary arts." He said with a boyish grin. "You will all love it, trust me on that!"

"I'm eagerly looking forward to it." Ivy replied. "It's been a while since I last had a royal dinner. And especially a dinner with such lovely company." It was noticeable wink, but the young hylian didn't appear to catch up on it like the others did. He smiled.

"As a noble, I assume you have dinners like this one then, Ivy? I would love to pay you a visit sometime, taste some foreign cuisine."

The British noblewoman's eyes lit up at once, a sly grin pulling her lips. "You're welcome to try my cuisine anytime Link…"

"Speaking of paying visits, Link would you want to visit Greece sometime?" Sophitia cheerfully inquired. She had run up to him as they all walked through the corridor, eagerly walking beside him. "I would love to show you around my peoples training grounds, and our gods' temples!"

The young hylian smiled at her. "I would be honoured to pay a visit to your protective gods' sanctum, just as I would be honoured to see your culture's warrior-origin." The blonde Greek giggled softly, happily walking next to the Hero casually but blissfully. Ivy let out silent noise of discontent at the scene, but paid it no further mind; Sophitia was her friend, just like she was her rival. She would give her a sporting chance, irksome as it may be. The rest however did not see it that way and merely allowed the dark thoughts breed in their minds, jealousy engulfing them till they reached the dining hall.

An awe inspiring brilliance that was the room washed over them as they entered the vast area. The roof was high above, crowned with chandeliers. On the floor were similar carpets like in the previous room, but richer in colour and adorned with golden outlining whilst a beautifully sculptured ivory table stood proudly in the middle, surrounded by chairs of the same design. A lit fireplace stood proudly at the opposite end of the room.

The gathering all gasped in sheer amazement. Paintings depicting kings and queens of old decorated the walls, equally awe-inspiring. As the stepped into the room and took a closer look at their surroundings, they noticed that the seats had already been served with food, a plate each filled with the richly flavoured feast that awaited them.

Just as they walked over to the table for closer inspection (roasted lamb with rosemary, served with potatoes and fresh vegetables and a whiskey-based sauce) the princess entered the room as well, accompanied by Impa.

"Please, take a seat." She said with a smile. "The food will go cold otherwise. Enjoy it while it's still hot." She watched her guests with mild interest. Her purpose with the dinner was to take notice of how they all behaved at the table, and to see who would sit where. No doubt would they all want to sit close to Link, the unsuspected guest of honour.

Naturally, Link didn't sit too far from Zelda, nor did Impa. With the princess in the middle, Link to the seat to her right while Impa to her left, thus sitting right in front of the Hero.

Zelda watched the others as subtle as she could manage. It was a cross between appalled and shock that expressed itself as she witnessed the not-so-subtle rush; Samus, Sophitia and Sheik were almost comically walking in a quick pace towards the seat next to Link, equally humorously trying to pass it off nonchalantly. It was neck-to-neck with the shoulder-bumping but in the end Sheik managed to get the seat next to Link, followed by Samus and then Sophitia. On the other side sat Ivy next to Impa, with Aveil and Veran.

"Enjoy the food everyone."

"With pleasure!" Aveil exclaimed. "It looks as delicious as it smells!" Zelda smiled at the Gerudo.

"Indeed, this is quite similar to what royalty eat back in my country." Ivy added with a smirk. "And that's a compliment. I can tell already that this will be a very enjoyable meal."

Zelda giggled lightly at the noblewoman. "By all means, help yourselves. Also, I only drink in moderation, but I'm sure those of you who are a little older might enjoy the wine we have to offer. It's from our royal garden's fruits, so the taste might be a bit foreign to you." As if on cue, a few maids carrying bottles stepped in and began pouring most of the guests a glass of wine. The liquid was leaning towards red in colour. Ivy was the first to raise the glass to her nostrils for a light inhale whilst Samus immediately took a sip.

"It has a pleasant aroma." Ivy commented. "It's definitely fruity, kind of reminds me citrus."

Samus eyed the wine with mild interest. "So this is wine… I reckon you're not supposed to drink it down in one go?" She looked over at the princess who shook her head, smiling at her friend's perception.

"That's correct. Wine is supposed to be drinking slowly, a sip at a time to savour the taste." She replied. ´So far, so good… I just pray that they don't begin bickering and ruin the dinner as well…´

"So, Your Highness." Zelda looked over at the Greek blonde who smiled at her. "Any special activities planned for the evening?"

Zelda shook her head. "I'm afraid not. We could head to the parlour and learn more about each other, but no special events have crossed my mind for tonight. So for tonight we will all probably go to bed a bit earlier."

´Bed…´ Samus thought. "Speaking of beds Zelda, I haven't even asked you about where to sleep. If it's too much of a hassle, I still have my ship-"

"There's plenty of rooms Samus, don't you worry." The princess quickly answered. Before she could let out another syllable, all eyes were immediately upon her and the albeit vague murmurs of conversation silenced.

"That's an excellent question, where will we sleep if you don't mind me asking?" Veran inquired, to which Ivy agreed wholeheartedly. Zelda was about to answer when she once again was interrupted, but this time it was untimely Link who beat her to it.

"There are spare guestrooms in the same corridor as mine. I can show you all later." Link replied casually, quickly resuming his own meal as he did. He had yet to notice the stares he was currently receiving.

With the exclusion of Sheik, Impa and the princess, the women all stared at the hero with confident smiles. Even Samus, who were usually cool-headed, wore a light grin as she glanced at him while sipping on her wine.

Zelda sighed silently. Of course, they would have been informed sooner or later, but now was just the most inappropriate of times. Even now she dreaded the thoughts brought by paranoia what might occur when it was time to go to sleep.

´Link you dolt…´ She lamented. Things would surely spiral out of control again, in one form or the other.

What shenanigans can we expect when all suitors are sleeping in the same corridor?