Bloody hell, this took me entirely too long... I really do want to apologize... My creativity is currently a tad difficult to fish out from all the rest that wants my attention.
In any case, this will be the last 'follow-up-chapter' for now... the next one will have a considerable leap in time, so the story can finally progress...
All in all, I'm relatively pleased with how this came out... Also, it's pretty long, so at least that kinda sorta not really makes up for the long wait.
Finally: This chapter contains citrus fruit of the yellow kind. Should you not want to read this, it will be pretty apparent when it starts, so you can still enjoy the rest.
Chapter 44
Saria
Saria tried her very hardest to think of a place she would rather be than the maproom of castle Hyrule when a bunch of old, fat men patted themselves on the back for their magnificent strategic acumen. A difficult endeavour… mostly because every single spot imaginable came to mind, from the bottom-freezing peak of the highest mountain to the depths of the odorous mires to the west.
These complacent old fools weren't even discussing strategy any more! The army and all the doubtlessly highly important bits and bobs around it were assembled and would march tomorrow… Everything important had already taken place, this today's extravaganza was little more than a self-congratulatory group hug of those insufferable noble fops that had made little more than agreeing nods while Alistair and the King had done all the actual planning.
Naturally these blabbermouths had not invited her to this nerve centre of all war efforts while actual tactics were discussed, possibly in fear that she might embarrass them. No, instead she had been carted to this event by her father, undoubtedly in hopes that she might catch the eye of some 30 to 40 year old oaf who was foolish enough to approach her. By now she almost wished for someone to try, it would at least dispel the boredom for a few minutes… But naturally she had no need for such nonsense… and she totally wasn't thinking about someone else almost every night… and day…
Oh, good! Her father was giving a toast to the assembled luminaries. He hadn't even started yet and she already felt a yawn at the brink of erupting.
"My King! Fellow lords and ladies! Allow me a few words!"
No. We don't. Sit back down.
"We stand at the gates of an expedition into the unknown. The enemy that has attacked our border… and our southern friends…" he added almost as an afterthought. Sure, border first, women and children second… welcome to the priorities at court, Saria thought, frowning. While her father droned on about the glorious battle 'they' would win, she looked at Shahi, the Gerudo ambassador, who seemed equally sceptical about this whole affair. Or maybe she was just shaken about that recent attack on that caravan. News had arrived earlier today and wasn't to leave the war room… so naturally Sally had gotten wind of it. Getting information out of some pompous young lord's son required little more than making big, fascinated eyes and a tactical giggle here and there.
She had learned a lot over the past week… All of them things that would be kept from her, which, of course, was precisely why she had chosen to learn them. She knew of the increased monster sightings around Kakariko village, the almost daily skirmishes along the northern border and the rising unease of small villages all around the country… Whatever was happening, it wasn't just happening in the south…
Thankfully Alistair had, after a very heated discussion, been able to convince all those would-be military strategists that it would be madness to send all divisions into the desert… These empty-headed buffoons already saw themselves riding at the front of a vast, glorious army! Now they had to humble themselves with 'only' 5000 men and women, roughly an eighth of the force.
…her father was STILL talking! Honestly, how many empty platitudes fit in that man? Judging by his ever growing belly, he still had another 15 minutes in him… What an embarrassing display of self-adulation!
He made a dramatic pause and looked in her direction with a soft smile… which froze when she wasn't quick enough to hide her disapproving sneer. Thankfully he rallied masterfully and continued, but… Damn it all! Now she felt guilty, despite her utter rejection of the notion that that was even a possibility.
Recently Saria and her parents found little common ground, which was, of course, in part her fault… but very understandably so! Especially her lord father was so complacent, so all-knowing, so… infuriating! …but despite the blackness of her heart, she didn't want to hurt him…
A weird shimmer made her look towards the door… she thought she had seen odd movement in the corner of her eye, but now it was gone. Sally sighed and rubbed her eyes.
She was tired… She had barely allowed herself any free time since they had left, but had instead pored over dozens, if not hundreds, of old, dusty, boring, never-ending books, trying her utmost to find anything remotely useful. No wonder her eyes were playing tricks on her… she was honestly surprised that she wasn't tormented by hallucinations of narrow yet meaningless script on every surface. Zelda hadn't specifically asked her to be so diligent in her research… but out of the goodness of her heart, which some people still insisted she had, she was trying her utmost to be able to present the two heroes with new discoveries, once they return.
…There was no fairness in this world! While she had to sit here in this ridiculously uncomfortable dress, playing at being even remotely ladylike and routinely ruining her eyesight with these man-made, brain-rotting, foul-smelling horrors called books, her dear cousin and her beau was out there in freedom, experiencing limitless adventure and, probably, getting up to continuous hanky-panky. All the while her most fiery romance happened whenever she nodded off over some particularly boring tome and woke up with the rather unsatisfactory taste of dusty paper in her mouth… not quite the type of kiss she was interested in.
Of course, it wasn't like she missed little miss perfect, not her! ...now at least she was the most desirable lady in the vicinity, and…
Oh, who was she kidding?! She missed Zelda more than she could put into words! Now she had no-one to join her in unscrupulously making fun of everybody else, no-one to be naughty with, no-one to keep her from doing something rash or stupid! Currently Sally had to do that last part herself, which was incredibly tedious and frustrating… prudence was not something she wanted to be bothered with herself… or something she had any talent for… For the first time in nearly ten years she had no blonde angel to be her chaperone… and no blonde angel to slowly corrupt with her wicked ideas and twisted plans.
Right now, not even Uncle Alistair was here to assist her in ridiculing the assembled nobility… something that absolutely needed to be done to keep the cosmic balance, or so she was convinced. He had done the smart thing and stayed away from this incredibly forced get-together. He was probably inspecting and/or terrorizing the guards, as he was wont to do lately.
Din's hellfire, her father was STILL at it! She watched him, keeping her face carefully neutral this time. Internally, however, she was shaking her head. At least, judging by his speech melody he was nearing the end of his masterful hymn to boredom. Were others looking as languid as she felt? With difficulty she wrenched her eyes away from her old man's swaying gut to judge other people's reactions, then instantly snapped her gaze back and froze. Saria had seen it again! An odd, warped shade just visible from the corners of her eyes. It had been standing right behind her father…
Her skin turned cold and her heart started thumping… Link had mentioned that he hadn't been able to see them until it had almost been too late.
Quickly, she tried to provoke the phenomenon again, slowly, deliberately, looking away until she could barely see the side of the room where the king and her heavy-bellied progenitor stood.
For a second she thought she might have lost it… in more than one meaning of the phrase… Then she saw distinct movement where none should be! A rising arm! And a hand holding something pointy.
"Watch out!" she screamed as she turned to look at the spectre fully. She jumped up from her seat and pointed at… the now dreadfully empty spot behind her uncle the king. Sally could see all heads turning as one towards her, towards the point that was now so gut-wrenchingly devoid of anything, then back to her. She didn't even have to look at their poncey faces to see their sneering, judgemental expressions… Her father ogled her with aghast features that slowly turned to anger.
Other people might shy back from further embarrassment, some might even put their sanity in question… Luckily, that was something that couldn't happen to Saria!
She grabbed a heavy goblet from the table next to her, threw it with all the force her thrice-damned dress allowed her and prayed that she had remembered the right spot. Ten years of throwing everything nasty she could find at her majestically squealing cousin must have paid off!
The silver cup, still sloshing water, flew a beautiful arc, then hit thin air with a resounding clang and a muffled yelp of pain.
A victorious smile spread on her face, but it only lasted a second. As if they had just blinked into existence, four dark-robed and masked beings stood among the assembled guests… one behind the king, about to regain his balance, one behind her father, one dangerously close and looking directly at her. The fourth one was quickest to react. He, or indeed she, reached into the folds of his clothes and pulled out and with one knife in each hand stabbed the two royal guards at the door in the neck before they could react.
Their last, twitching movements and gurgling, dying breaths were what caused the entire crowd to erupt in panic. Several of the men reached for their swords, while a lot more of them floundered to get away from the attackers… noble indeed!
A hundred things happened at once, far too much for her to keep track of. Her father ducked away from his assailant just in time, but the wicked looking blade still imbedded itself in his shoulder. A frightened squeal escaped her mouth when she saw his features twist in pain and she began to run to his aid, but was stopped almost instantly by the attacker closest to her. The masked villain cut his way indiscriminately through the few men and women who were between them, most of which where still too stunned or panicked to react.
Sally herself could barely move… the sheer, overpowering bloodlust the assassin radiated rooted her to the spot and nearly drove the breath from her lungs. The terrifying man had cut a brutal swathe through the crowd, and now had an unobstructed path to her… some of his victims were moaning or screaming on the ground… some were dreadfully silent.
Only one more step and she would be in range of his wicked, blood-spattered knives! She already saw them being thrust terribly slowly towards her throat, yet still her muscles refused to obey. The world moved ludicrously laggardly… she could see the dark red sheen of blood glistening in the warm light of the torches and, strangely, her brain trying to evade the absolute terror, thought how magnificently beautiful the colour was…
Only a few centimetres from her throat… She closed her eyes…
Something crashed into her, something that was decidedly no blade. With an undignified groan she hit the floor, then, still breathless, saw someone fight the assailant… someone broad and distinctly looking like…
"Father?" she breathed, wide-eyed and still stunned. She was looking at his back, the wound in his shoulder bleeding so much his entire left side was drenched in red… yet nonetheless, with furious growls and surprisingly quick movements of his blade, he pushed the attacker back from her. Saria had heard that her old man had been a competent swordsman in his youth, before he had developed such an appetite… but she had never given much credence to such claims.
Unfortunately, the assassin who had stabbed him was now joining his brother in fighting the panting older man. They were relentless, weaving and dancing around his increasingly tired swings, probing his defences… She could see it was just a matter of time before they got through… and then…
With an angry hiss at her own deplorable weakness she finally shook off her stupor and half crawled, half stumbled for the door. She needed to open it, shout for more guards! Maybe even Uncle Alistair would hear in time! There had to be something she could do!
In her blind haste to help she had nearly forgotten the fourth murderer at the door… Sally crashed into his back, as he had been busy locking the heavily reinforced door from the inside. Not thinking straight, she tried to reach past him to unlock it again, desperate to get help for her father, fighting for his life, but the man simply batted her hand away, then in one quick and brutal move gave her a backhanded slap across the face. Shrieking more in shock than in pain she fell backwards and landed painfully on her elbows. Her vision was spinning, but the fear of the dark shadow looming above her filled her with icy clarity. He was already bowing down, the wicked blade of his dagger shooting towards her. Acting on pure reflex, she yanked her right foot upwards, meeting his groin, making him recoil in pain against the door, but not nearly enough to incapacitate him.
"Bitch!" he screamed, holding his wounded parts, the fire of deadly anger flaring in his eyes. She knew she wouldn't survive the next second as his muscles tensed, ready to pounce at her. She had failed… and her father's sacrifice would be in vain.
He gave a pained growl, then… suddenly his eyes widened in shock and the tension from his body was gone. Moaning weakly he tried to fumble with something in his back, which he apparently couldn't reach. Half a second later he fell forward and Saria saw the bloodied blade of a sword sticking through the door the assassin had leaned against.
This time she reacted instantly. She knew precisely who was at the other side, the only one she knew who was this accurate and strong with a sword to punch through a reinforced oak door like this.
Moving with the speed and dexterity of sheer panic and teary hope at once, she undid the three locking mechanisms that held the door shut, turned the handle and ripped it open while jumping to the side.
"Help him!" she wailed, unable to keep the desperation from her voice when she looked back at her father, whose entire white coat was now red and whose skin seemed deathly pale. There was an enormous cut on his belly and by now his breath game in laboured, short gasps.
Like a blur of pure efficient death Alistair darted past her dad and descended upon the two assassins. The first was cut down before he could even raise his arms in defence, the second followed suit after her uncle, never stopping his fluid motion, had sliced off the fingers holding the wicked knife, then, with frightful accuracy, pierced through his ribs and stabbed his heart. With his free hand the blademaster caught the falling stiletto and instantly, with an underhanded throw, sent it towards the last of the four, occupied by the two royal guards and the king, where it imbedded itself neatly in his back. The assassin gasped out, then was immediately finished by the king's men.
Before Sally could even breathe a sigh of relief, her father had already dropped his blade and stumbled towards her. His eyes were wide with abject fear and he was so out of breath that he couldn't say a single word between his great, heaving inhalations. Hastily he checked her with his eyes and hands, obviously desperate to ensure that she was unhurt. She barely had the strength to deflect these intrusions, and right now she couldn't care less.
Relief settled on his face when his furiously buzzing mind had made sure that his daughter was well… She couldn't help herself and smiled with a little snort, which was somewhere between laughing and crying.
He closed his eyes… and fell forward. With a surprised yelp she caught him, but she lacked the strength to hold him so she did her best not to let him slip from her fingers.
"Father?" she asked, her voice high and fearful. Panic rose again when he didn't move. She could feel the warm wetness of his blood already soaking through her dress where their bodies touched.
"Father!" she cried, letting him down and shaking him to no avail. No… please no…
Alistair was with her in a flash, throwing a quick glance over the stricken man's wounds. He pinched a spot behind her father's ear and, to her sobbing relief, he moved, albeit weakly.
"Making such a show in front of your daughter, Bartolo, you should be ashamed. Wake up!" her uncle rasped, produced his handkerchief and pressed it against the wound of his belly.
The addressed slowly, tiredly, opened his eyes again and Saria held his cheeks, both laughing and crying. He smiled at her, relief obvious in his eyes, still breathing heavily.
"I'm so sorry…" she whined silently. She didn't know exactly what for… a lot of things, she supposed.
"Don't worry, those few scratches won't kill him." the blademaster croaked. "Some carry their armour with them wherever they go, eh, Bartolo?" he jeered with a nasty grin, gently patting her father's luxurious belly.
He snorted a pained laugh. "Fuck you, Alistair!"
Sally laughed like a maniac, infinite relief flooding her like a storm surge. She remained at his side when they carried him to the infirmary and spat fire and acid at the idiots who suggested she leave for their trauma management. She was fucking covered in blood from her hair to her toes, why in Din's hells would she care about seeing more?!
Only when his wounds were dressed and he was sleeping soundly did she allow her uncle to lead her away, since he insisted that brave warriors needed their rest. Just for once, she was about as far from making a scalding remark as she could conceive.
She had felt… not exactly safe within the castle walls now that Zelda was gone, but at least protected… Evidently, that had been an illusion. Saria had no idea what the assassins' goal had been… regicide, the taking of hostages or just sewing chaos… and she was far too tired to try and figure it out now. The memory of at least ten men and women, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters lying dead in the map-room rose nauseatingly in her mind. They weren't safe… Far from it…
Ricco
This was just bloody ridiculous! How was a man to focus on serving these beautiful young ladies that were currently sitting in his father's inn when only one face was constantly flittering through his mind?! And to his utmost annoyance, it wasn't even Saria's beautifully sneering face!
No, instead it was his uncle's, the right honourable mayor Boro's heavy-jowled visage that caused a storm of fairly unpleasant emotion. Ric wiped the few tables that had been used today so aggressively that they shined as if polished.
Yesterday he'd had a lengthy discussion with him and his old man. He had thought the matter would be easily solved between father and son, and that his uncle would know not to interfere in matters that didn't concern him. Din's flaming nipples, what a mistake that had been! He had once again underestimated the immense meddling power of the foremost and only politician in the sprawling metropolis of Ord!
Ricco wanted to discuss his return to Hyrule City. Quite frankly, he had loved it there! The busyness that seemed to never end, the markets where everything imaginable was available, the magnificent architecture, the sheer overwhelming culture the place exuded… and yes, of course, the considerable closeness of a certain someone… But that honestly wasn't his entire reasoning for wanting to escape this boring hole of a village. First off, he would easily find a place that would hire him as a cook, which meant that he wouldn't just leech off of his father's business any longer. Secondly, he would be at the beating heart of Hyrule and would see and hear every newsworthy bit of information concerning war, safety or even finance immediately and could relay them to Ord. That way, his village wouldn't be dependent on the often slanted, incomplete or just uncaring opinions of travellers and merchants about what was actually going on. Thirdly… well, alright! Thirdly he would at least have a chance of seeing Saria again, instead of letting her delightful snoot rob him his sleep… figuratively and literally.
He could see his father wasn't completely opposed to the idea… Ricco had been sure that they would come to some sort of agreement… After all, his father always bragged that that was what he had done in his youth, set off into the big city to start a life there… And, judging by the old man's sardonic little smile, he had a pretty good idea about one of Ric's reasons to suddenly be so eager to escape boring village life… he wasn't a complete fool after all…
Uncle Boro on the other hand… Farore's mercy, the old self-important, meddling, swanky, nosy, know-all politician's name alone caused his blood to come to a boil! Ric swept the floor so vigorously that the remaining guests eyed him fearfully, as if they were afraid that he might just sweep them away with the rest of the dross. He had not only obnoxiously listened in on the private father-son conversation, but had elected to…opine before his dad could even utter a word! "Th-th-that's a complete impossibility, young man! How can you even suggest such a thing at a time like this?!"
Because despite your constant efforts I have retained a speck of free will? He should have said that… not that it would have helped, but at least he wouldn't be as angry at himself now…
Naturally, his uncle had immediately launched into a blustering political speech about how it would be 'most irresponsible' and 'downright barbaric' to 'abandon house and home' now, in a time of 'brewing unrest'… Not even his and his father's pointedly obvious eye-rolling had had any chance of staunching the flow of thoroughly unwanted election speech. "At a time of crisis, a man must stay where he is needed most, defending his home from danger, not run off to frolic around in the city and be a further worry!"
Ricco fiercely cleaned the cups at the bar as he remembered the utter nonsense he had been subjected to yesterday. Listening to Mayer Blather-much had been bad enough… But the truly aggravating thing was that the old fool had a point, damn it! Two of the young men of age had been drafted, Link was gone, Sir Russel was getting more ancient by the second… the number of people who could be relied on in a fight was growing thin. The frequency of monster sightings seemed to be ever increasing… the obvious pseudo-heroic exaggeration of many accounts aside, hardly a day passed without someone wanting to have seen something. People were starting to be afraid… and he had been so blinded by the prospect of topsy-turvifying the big city that he had completely forgotten about anything else… His father hadn't outright forbidden him to go, but Ric had seen the doubt creeping onto his face… Additionally, he himself now put the greatness of his plan into question, which was a lamentable state of affairs… Damn it bloody all!
If he left now, he would almost assuredly feel like he had abandoned Ord the whole time… all because of that Hinox-faced, holier-than-thou uncle of his!
The plate he had been washing snapped in two under his hands. For a second he was dearly tempted to just throw the halves against the wall as hard as he could, but he managed to compose himself. Ricco gave a big, heartfelt sigh. Where was Link when you needed him… what he needed right now was a good ol' distracting fistfight. Which he would win, naturally… but getting smacked in the face by Link's spindly arms had a way of setting the world right side up again. Marten was of little help there, the beanpole. He was even slighter than the baby-faced blondie. One of Ric's sneezes could knock him over!
Damn it all, he needed a distraction from… his thoughts, her face, his uncle, her grin, this town, her bum, you name it. That he was reduced to such a pathetic, moping state annoyed him even more! He was supposed to be the big stable one, Ricco the tower of strength, now crushed to rubble by a pair of cheekily swaying hips. What was this stygian magic of women that turned even the most stalwart of men into slavering mush?! …Goddess, I really should write poetry!
Thankfully, the world was spared this particular mortal threat by the appearance of a duo so unlikely that for a good minute, Ricco just stared and completely forgot the innkeeperly automatisms that had been drilled into him from early on.
A Rito female and a Goron… with them it was nearly impossible to tell… Now, that alone was unconventional, but hardly worth the befuddlement. The fact that the Rito was sitting cross-legged on the Goron's huge head with an air of complete boredom certainly was, though. For a humorous moment Ric wondered, whether the large rocky fellow had even noticed the feathered hitchhiker…
"You sure you want to stop already? 's barely evening…" the deep, gravelly voiced Goron muttered, scratching his chin thoughtfully while turning his head this way and that, causing the Rito to very nearly fall off.
"I told you, I'm not making another step today. My feet hurt and my wings are sore from all the scouting I did while you were just plodding along at your snail's pace." the woman's melodic voice resounded over the central square.
"Fair enough…" the large rock rumbled. "Had enough of your bony butt drilling into my skull anyway. Who'd have thought you poultry were so heavy?"
"Excuse me?!" she blustered. "Well, maybe I should have found a companion who isn't just a wimpy pebble with delusions of grandeur!"
The 'pebble' smiled broadly at his obvious success in annoying his passenger, then slowly trudged closer to the 'Dinnery', swaying deliberately from side to side with each step so the girl had to hold on for dear life.
Finally, Ric's entrepreneurial spirit kicked through the veil of amused shock.
"So! What can I get the cute newlyweds?" he called as he approached them, presenting his best inviting smile. His father probably would have clouted his ear, if he had heard such potentially business-ruining cheek from his son, but no force in the world could have dissuaded him from using such a precious opportunity for a joke.
Thankfully, he seemed to have judged their characters correctly. The Goron reared up and let out a deep, booming laugh that finally managed to dislodge his passenger with a surprised squawk, forcing her to hang precariously from his thick neck.
"How about a divorce, and right quick!" she quacked in annoyance as she fluttered gracelessly to the ground, but then showed a slight grin anyway as she smoothened her purple feathers.
They seated themselves, one elegantly and soundlessly like a soft breeze, the other with a heavy 'thwump' that made every piece of crockery in the Dinnery clatter.
"Now, other than priestly duties, how may I serve those of air and earth?" Ric asked with a considerable helping of pathos.
"Don't imagine you got any thiophene, do you?" the Goron rumbled with a doubtful expression.
Ricco made an appreciative face. "Going right for the heavy stuff, I see! You're in luck… my father always keeps a few containers around for the odd earthquake passing by and wanting a good night's sleep or six."
The large guy released another one of his booming laughs and gave Ric an amiable pat on the back which nearly sent him flying over the table… not something that happens often. "You can handle your sulphur, I take it?" he wheezed, gingerly rubbing his stinging back.
"He thinks so…" the purple-feathered Rito beauty chuckled. "I'll have water and… hmmm…"
"How about our assorted nut-and-berry platter? Something light for the evening?" he asked, steering her to a dish that quite probably wouldn't be enough after a day of travelling.
He brought a tray with the ordered food and drink, feeling the weight of the quite enormous stone mug that contained the Goron equivalent of booze. His father would be overjoyed… so far from Death Mountain, they could charge exorbitant prices for the Rock-people's foodstuffs. The big guy must know… he hadn't ordered anything to eat…
Kronbo, son of Yoro, as Ricco found out after they had introduced themselves, took a huge gulp of the strong Goron liquor, then sighed and smacked his lips contentedly. "Haha! Been asking in every waterin' hole for the last 400 kilometres… knew it'd pay off at some point!"
Ric bristled at having his family tavern called a "waterin' hole", but chose to brush it off for diplomatic reasons. Normally, no self respecting innkeep of certain standards would ever dream of asking his guests personal questions… So, naturally, Ricco adhered to that most absolute of gastronomic laws, totally
"Now, of course you're aware that, after that entrance you made, there is no chance I wouldn't ask why the mountain and the wind travel together in such a conspicuous fashion…"
The unlikely pair did their best to appear unfazed by his prying, but the sudden drop in room-temperature was quite noticeable nonetheless… Krombo took another hearty swig, his cheeks already a tad flushed, while Vrilly, the feathered beauty, seemed to find particular interest in one of the chickaloo nuts.
The future proprietor, seeing that he had misjudged the earlier carelessness of the situation, found it wisest to pull back… without giving up, naturally! "I am sorry… I can see I have stumbled upon painful territory?" he very carefully worded it as an apology, yet let his inflection turn it into a further question.
The big guy made a low grumble, sounding about as harmless as a mudslide. " 's a secret, innit?"
"Which you just made quite a bit more obvious, you big oaf…" his purple-white companion sighed with a dramatic eye-rolling that seemed to betray this lapse in secrecy as hardly a singular occurrence.
"I apologize… I did not mean to pry…" Ric lied so unabashedly that Nayru herself probably threw a fit.
"Never understood why it should be secret anyway…" the living boulder mused, then looked disapprovingly at the rapidly draining contents of his mug.
"Fluttering feathers, you are so… argh!" the Rito croaked, chattering with her exquisite beak, the equivalent of an angry gnashing of teeth.
"Thing is, little Hylian…" felt odd being called that standing at about 1 metre 90… "…we and a few others are fighters,…" he intoned heroically with his impressive bass. "…valiant warriors for the good of all races and peoples!" he pronounced, flexing the muscles of his arms, each the size of a bushel of hydromelons, in a triumphant pose.
The equally heroic eye-rolling of his annoyed companion could almost be felt in the air. "Mercenaries, more like…"
"Oh hush, you overgrown cucco! Don't listen to her, boy!" He leaned down towards him conspiratorially, raised his hand to block her off and whispered in his ear. His voice still echoed off the mountains… "She is just as concerned and brave as the rest of us. This one just likes to appear more… aloof. Or should I say, aloft! HAHAHA!" Ricco cringed, in part at the joke, but mostly to save his ear from being blasted away by the enormous, earth-shaking laughter.
"Oh, don't strain that geode of a skull of yours, trying to come up with witticisms…" she shot back, unable to hide an amused twinkle from her eyes. She then sighed grandly, betraying her mastery in overacting. "Since it has come to this anyway, I better continue… partly so the whole village doesn't have to listen, but mostly so what you hear is actually correct and not bragging and exaggeration. And you won't try to poke your fleshy nose in further once I am done talking…" There was a tangible menace in her voice that told Ric that, for once, this situation did not warrant a witty comeback. He confined himself to nodding.
"Something… odd happened in the sanctuaries of our people… Goronia high on Death mountain, Zora Fountain in the Lanayru Mountains… a light appeared about two weeks ago, seemingly out of nowhere. And with it came the monster attacks…" Ricco noted how she had carefully avoided mentioning the Rito sanctuary, a place deliberately shrouded in mystery. As far as he knew, the proud semi-nomadic avians had never shared the location, or even the name of their nesting grounds, with anyone. It was so shrouded in secrecy that, unsurprisingly, many legends had sprouted around the place… and twice as many opinions, diverging anywhere between it being the richest of all places due to all the gold stolen by magpies, to it not existing at all.
"We in the periphery have always had to contend with occasional raids and forays into our territory… unlike you Hylians here at the centre." There was a strong bitterness in her voice, a notion that many Rito seemed to harbour for the people of Hylia. "But this new wave… relentless, brutal… and above all: coordinated. No longer are these the desperate little forays of three or four Bokoblins, half crazed from hunger... these are planned assaults, testing our defences and our ability to adapt… and their numbers only seem to swell…"
Ric felt a most uncomfortable shudder creep up his spine… something in the woman's eyes and voice… she was deeply troubled, despite not wanting to appear so.
"Same in Goronia… Number of Lizalfos seems to have doubled over night… the night that weird light shone from our temple… 's almost as if they were… drawn to it… but it didn't seem evil or nothin'. No idea!" Kronbo spoke into his mug before draining the last few drops from it.
"Do tell…" Vrilly replied dryly. "Still, he's right. All of us, Goron, Rito and Zora, have experienced this sudden dramatic increase in activity. Our scaled brethren seem to have it particularly bad… the male we two met to discuss our course of action didn't dare to leave for Hyrule City with us, but instead had to urgently return to his people."
"What's more…" the large guy interjected. "I've never seen Bokos fight like this… all mindless like… Lizalfos, sure, they're dumber'n rock, but… for those piggies to fight to the last? Not run away screamin' when things turn sour? 's unnatural, 's what this is! 's like they're possessed!" For the first time since they had met, Ric saw something like true worry on the behemoth's face… and regret… He had the distinct feeling that the gentle giant was deeply troubled by all of this… And once even the stoic, almost lethargic Gorons were unsettled, you know you had cause for alarm.
A thought niggled in Ricco's brain. "When, did you say, did this strange light occur?"
"Precisely 15 days ago." the Rito hummed.
Judging by Marten's barely coherent recounting of what Link had told, that would be… when he found the whatchamacallit… Master's Sword?
"And… where exactly did this light come from?"
Kronbo visibly started to answer but Vrilly cut him off. "I will not tell you." she simply said.
"Hmm… and what is your business in the city?"
"I will not tell you." she repeated, equally deadpan.
"Aaand… what is the purpose of your secret society of Brave Heroes?" he asked, unable to hide a tiny smirk.
"Guess…" she replied with a similar expression, which was considerably harder to identify with a beak.
"To be pointlessly secretive about their own purpose, therefore achieving maximum recursiveness?"
"Look, we really are just mercenaries. We are a few Zora, Rito and Goron warriors trying to find their way in Hyrule. And currently we are aiding our homes… free of charge, I might add!" she explained, as if the very concept were positively alien to her. "And we two have been sent to the city to enlist help. And, should they be willing to listen, to inform the Government of our situation. Not the impressive, valorous, exotic tale of adventure you expected, eh? Mister nosy?"
It made sense. It was coherent. He didn't believe a single word. Ricco could feel that there was quite a lot more hidden behind the rather lax narrative she had presented… but he was also certain that he would get no more information from her and that she would, if anything, become a good deal more hostile, should he attempt to poke further. Also regrettably, he was relatively sure that behind the gormless grin on Kronbo's face was a rather keen mind and that there was little chance of getting him to reveal something that he didn't want to… even with nearly a litre of strong liquor in him.
Ric strongly suspected that all the two strange travellers had described, the increased number of attacks, their secret association of valorous mercenarism and especially the odd magical 'light', was in some way connected to whatever it was Link and Zelda were doing… All of this happening in such rapid progression would otherwise be a tad too coincidental. But any information he might pry loose from the unlikely pair might come at the prize of revealing something about their quest, which was the very last thing he wanted… they were in enough bloody danger already, judging from what he had heard of nightly attacks and the haunted, startled look on his friend's face when last he had seen him, the night they had left the city.
So, despite his burning curiosity, Ricco decided to abort his interrogation for the sake of Link's and the princess' safety. He wouldn't be able to inform them anyway, even if he were to gain any valuable intelligence.
"Very well… in that case, let me ask you just one more question!" he announced with a dramatically raised index finger. "Will you require a room for the night?" he quickly continued before the Rito's face could turn completely dour. "I'm sorry, Kronbo son or Yoro, but our rooms are all in the first floor… the repair fees would be exorbitant!"
The big lug had himself another hearty laugh that could be felt in one's soles. "Your houses are all too frail for someone of my… character! One sneeze an' it's missin' a wall!" he roared, obviously very pleased with his probably very accurate observation. Ric liked Gorons in general… not only because people accused him of being half of one, but also because they usually were so refreshingly uncomplicated.
"You could, however, sleep on the stone terrace next to the furnace. The heat lasts well through the night so your mightiness doesn't have to freeze his rocks off." He explained and earned another big chuckle as well as a tortured groan from Vrilly.
He got up and, after payment naturally, showed his Goron guest around the house to the designated spot. He was just about to bid him a good night when a huge hand dropped heavily, but surprisingly gently on his shoulder. "Do not be angry with my companion, young Ricco. She is tired and feels the responsibility on her shoulders… and I regret being unable to tell you more, despite feeling that you are deserving of it." Kronbo rumbled thoughtfully.
Ric was momentarily nonplussed at the deep sorrow in his voice and also the sudden change in the guy's speech pattern. "It's, uhh… we all have secrets, don't we?" he managed, sounding annoyingly lame to his own ears.
The large boulder, however, nodded sagely. "Be very mindful who you share yours with… before long, secrets might be the only defence left to us…"
Ricco lay awake that night, his mind abuzz with puzzling out the meaning behind the Goron's warning. When he awoke early in the morning they had already left, bafflingly silently in the gloom. It would be many weeks before the significance of his words became apparent.
Link
The sun was already setting, giving the vast, softly rolling grasslands beyond the Ochre belt a magnificent palette of green and golden hues. The endless woods were behind them, giving way to the sheer endless hills and plains with wonderfully aromatic grass wafting gently in the wind, like a complex and intensely beautiful dance between earth and air. These steppes were the habitat of the famously excellent horses of Hyrule, which were one of the country's natural riches. He thought he could see some of them far, far in the distance, but couldn't be sure in the waning light.
A cool wind tousled his hair, doing its best to keep him invigorated. He knew he would absolutely love these lands, with their fascinating distances he had never experienced before… he would… if he weren't so mind-numbingly tired. And that blonde-haired, cutely snoring piece of baggage currently securely strapped to Celeste was of no help either. Zelda had fallen asleep about an hour ago, despite her serious, and almost painful to watch, efforts to keep herself awake. When he had noticed her horse suddenly plod off in a different direction, he had almost come too late to keep her from falling off. Link would have loved to stop right there, but he felt very uncomfortable setting up camp in the middle of the plains, completely exposed to all sides, visible to everybody and everything who might throw a casual glance.
So instead he took his blanket and wrapped it around both Zelda's sleeping body and Celeste's belly, securing one to the other. Thusly secured, his softly smacking princess, who hadn't even bothered waking up during all of this, could be lead to their destination for today, a small copse due north. Link had thought it much closer, but the unfamiliar vastness must have played tricks on his eyes… That, at least, was his excuse for his misjudgement, which had once again lead to forcing poor Zelda on a forced march like this. This guilty conscience, combined with the fact that he didn't fully trust his Princess-Catching-Construction caused him to twist his back in order to look back at her every ten seconds, irritating his still healing wounds until they stung viciously again.
The copse was only minutes away now… hardly more than a narrow strip of a few elm and oak trees, but still infinitely more cover than everything around. A big, hearty yawn escaped him and he rubbed his tired eyes. Goddess, he looked forward to lying down… on his belly, preferably… He hoped that he hadn't torn any stitches... the impeded mobility which came from the cuts was bad enough, but if it healed badly… Zelda might have to re-suture it and he knew that this, despite her admirable determination, would drive her precious heart to near bursting with fear. A soft, tender smile played on his lips and he couldn't resist but look at her again, despite seeing almost nothing but horse. He really should stop getting himself hurt. If she had one character flaw, it was that she thought herself responsible for everything. That little fool had stretched herself thin the three days they had allowed themselves to stay in Valewyn. Learning from books, learning from Doctor Rask, caring for him and, apparently, organizing their silent and unhindered exit from the barracks. Link had rather helplessly wondered how they would escape the garrison commander's increasingly urgent questions and how they might secure their horses, their supplies and, ultimately, passage through the north gate… As it turned out, Zelda had already done all that with a tiny bit of help from Lairy and, therefore, the grumbling assistance from the doctor. Apparently he had even given her the precious book that she had been devouring the past few days… Not for the first time he realized that there was something about her, something elusive, yet very powerful, that drew people under her spell, that made them love her…
Still, the overzealous girl had tried to learn everything and be everywhere all at once… Link had noticed how little she slept… always still reading when his healing flesh demanded slumber and, disappointingly, already up when he awoke. Doubtlessly she was still coping with this wrongly, absurdly perceived guilt of hers, but… he was reasonably certain that he had set her back on the right path.
A low hanging branch knocked his head brutally out of his reverie and he only just kept himself from flying off the handle with a torrent of abuses at every ligneous entity and their descendents. Gritting his teeth and rubbing the back of his head he dismounted, nonetheless glad to have finally reached the little grove. He led the horses another ten metres in, then began thinking about how he should unload his most adorable piece of luggage. Keeping one hand on her back for safety, he untied the blanket. "Zelda, sweetling…" he whispered and gave her a gentle kiss on her cheek. "We're here!"
A very faint hum was all he got, but he didn't really need more. Very slowly, so that she could react and wouldn't be startled in her sleepy state he more or less rolled her out of the saddle until she was nestled in his arms. The little blonde angel woke just enough to wrap her arms around his neck and snuggle her face into his chest. Goddess, her adorableness took his breath away… which was a shame, because he couldn't get enough of her scent when he held her this close.
With his dexterity rather hindered by the princess-shaped dumpling in his hands, it took him a while to spread out the blanket with his feet… thank the Three she was so light.
With all the softness he could muster he set her down, then stroked up her arm to signal her that she could let go. She, however, didn't seem to want to…
"Zelda… you can let go now." he whispered, brushing through her slightly ruffled, yet still radiant hair. With her cheek firmly pressed to his chest she shook her head slightly, making a low, disapproving growl.
Link had to giggle and gave her a long, loving peck on the forehead. "Come on… only briefly… I need to see to the horses, hm?" he explained, letting his index finger trace lightly over her cheek.
"Mm-mm!" she hummed, sounding delightfully petulant. "Can wait…" it came mumbling from her mouth.
Dear Nayru's love, now he was torn. Lying down, right now, with her pressed closely to him sounded like the absolutely most compelling idea in all of time and space… how could he possibly say no to such an invitation?! Only a madman would… or a man fearing the terrible, unpredictable and most likely very smelly wrath of Janna the horse.
"You're not making this easy for me, you know…" he complained, chuckling, hating his bloody reasonable brain right now.
"Mm-hm!" she purred, nodding and showing a decidedly self-contented smile.
"You are lucky that you are this cute, you minx!" he gnarled, then, with a wicked smirk, jabbed his finger under her armpit and tickled her without remorse.
A girly squeak and a quick ducking of his head and he was free from the monster's grasp. "No fair!" she pouted and rolled over, presenting him with her back, obviously in punishment.
"I'll be quick, your snuggliness!" he chuckled, cursing his stupidity (or lack thereof) and hoping the she wasn't actually miffed at him.
Celeste and Janna were already stamping around impatiently when Link got back to them. Remove saddlebags, remove saddle, give water and food, rub down… it was all going infuriatingly slowly to his mind! Partly because he was tired, but probably mostly because of not wanting to wait another moment before holding her in his arms again… and being held in hers. At least a decent amount of light still shone through the trees… The sun was low enough that it beamed through the wide gaps between the trunks, and not the canopies.
When everything was finally in order, a sigh of relief escaped his lips and he turned back towards the haphazardly spread out bivouac. However, another surprise awaited his weary eyes…
Zelda, apparently sufficiently awoken by his tickling attack, had finished laying out the mat and was lying right in the centre. And… maybe it was just his exhausted mind playing tricks on him but… her gracile posture, the slightly coquettish grin, the sparkle in her breathtaking eyes… it all seemed terribly… inviting!
Subconsciously, he swallowed… The tiny bit of his brain which still worked adequately marvelled at her ability to blast all tiredness from his spirit with nothing but a single look from those two blue oceans of loveliness. The rest of him just marvelled…
"Don't you want to join me?" she asked with a muted voice, a shimmer of red appearing on her nose and cheeks.
'Want' was nowhere near a strong enough word… The sheer force of the desire she had conjured felt enough to level mountains and move continents. Almost of its own accord, his body moved, pulling off his boots so hastily they nearly flew off into the shrubbery, then walking up next to her. He stood there a while longer, unable to wrest his eyes from her stunning beauty… and wanting to savour the sweet torment of being so close yet just out of reach for a few seconds more.
He was breathless just by staring at her… his heart stormed as if he had just fought for his dear life… his fingers trembled and tingled at the thought of being so tantalizingly close to feeling her skin again.
More than anything… her sky-blue eyes shone in the evening light like the purest mountain lakes, becharming his very soul to undying servitude, showing him a silent promise of endless trust and devotion. He knew he would be a slave to these two perfect crystal windows to her anima until the end of time… and no fate had ever sounded as sweet…
Zelda thought she had waited long enough… While she admittedly enjoyed the entranced, goofy way he looked at her, it was decidedly not enough.
Drawing herself up ever so slightly, she took his hand and pulled ever so gently. She delighted in the way this nimble, strong boy traipsed over, helplessly entrapped before her. He sunk on his knees at her side, his beautiful eyes wide, his delicious lips parted to all his heavy breath to pass, obviously just as heart-stoppingly nervous as she felt. Seeing him like this made her skin tingle in the most fantastical way… it remembered the last time, remembered the feeling of his hands roaming wherever they pleased, all control surrendered to him. Her own fingers remembered as well, recalled the electricity that coursed through them when she had sent them on a journey on their own, exploring him as he did her. And while she had yielded all she had to him, the feeling of his quavering flesh being like putty under her ministrations had been of paramount delight. They had become one, both in charge of either… She yearned to experience this again… Link's beautiful, salving words had brought her spirit out of whatever depths it had caught itself in. But now she needed, she wanted that to feel this wholeness again to mend it completely.
Still guiding his every move, Zelda directed his hand to her cheek, where its warmth caused her to shiver in the most pleasurable way. Her second hand she placed just above his knee… far enough to be still innocent… close enough to be sure to drive him mad. She could see the quiet marvelling in his eyes slowly turn to the almost animalistic hunger that sent currents of fear, excitement and lust through every cell in her body. Goddess, they were on the brink… if none of them stopped now, there would be no return… But why on earth would either of them want to stop?
Finally, the spell that had seemed to hold him broke and he grabbed her behind the head and on her back and pulled her towards him, kissing her with the ferocity of a starved wolf, making her feel weak and strong at the same time. Oh how easy it would be to just surrender to his mouth and hands… she longed for it more than she could put into words… But not right now!
Giggling in pure, eager anticipation she wriggled out of his embrace, only to lunge back at him and press him down to the floor, resuming the so dearly needed contact of their lips instantly.
She could feel his surprise… and his excitement! It reverberated through her, creating an infinite loop of steadily rising thrill, threatening to devour them at any moment. She pushed his hands against the blanket and straddled his belly, immobilizing him under her will. She was not yet ready to relinquish control… Right now, the thought of holding absolute power over this much stronger man, purely because he trusted her completely, caused her no end of arousal. She could feel him melt under her, sensed both his deep relaxation and the marvellous tension she caused in him.
Zelda giggled and squeaked and gasped in anticipation… It drove her out of her mind. Mostly because what she had planned nearly took her breath away and made her head spin with nervousness… and naughtiness. She still had to work up a lot of courage to go on… Thankfully, he was there to give her just that.
Link's mind was very close to being blank from the intense assault on his lips, her intoxicating scent, the ferocity with which she kept him pinned and the warm weight of her lying on his body. If all they did tonight was this, he would be happy… not fulfilled maybe, but happy still.
Occasionally he briefly opened his eyes for just an instant… Somehow he still had trouble believing that all this was no dream, that all this amazing luck was indeed bestowed upon him… and seeing the last few rays of the sun sparkling through her hair, setting it on fire with the most stunning hues of red and gold, gave him just enough faith to go on.
Slowly her hips began to move, very subtly at first, grinding so infuriatingly close to his own groin. Goddesses above, she drove him wild. He wanted to flip her around, to pin her down as well, to rip the clothing from her body and make squeal with magical delight… but it seemed she had a plan… She wanted to be in control and he was rapt to be her plaything.
One of her small, elegant hands left his wrist and travelled straight down to his belly. He gasped, his senses already overtaxed and his nerves taut to their breaking point. Gripping the fabric of his tunic she pulled it upwards with such eagerness that she nearly fell off. Giggling in an adorably child-like way at her own clumsiness, she let go of his mouth, nearly breaking his heart. "Help me, you buffoon!" she whispered in his ear, her delicious breath tickling his skin, sending goosebumps down his arms. Eager to do just that he sat up and with the haste of a desperate man ripped his tunic over his head. Using the moment herself, the very flushed angel undid the topmost button of her blouse, then unceremoniously pulled it off as well.
Seeing her being just as hasty and reckless fanned the flames of his lust even stronger. Already his manhood strained in its confines, begging for release… but seeing the perfect ivory skin of her shoulders, arms and belly nearly sent him hurtling towards a terribly premature goal. Link bit his lips in a hopeless attempt to calm down… he might as well have tried to stop time itself.
His awe was kept short by the girl of his life, as she dove back for yet another, even more wolfish kiss. Her naked skin pressed against his, the tiny hip movements she made, her soft fingers massaging his shoulders… if he had not once before experienced this pure act of bliss with her, he might have thought this heaven on earth…
Zelda felt like her chest was about to burst. It was absolute madness… and she loved it! The feeling of his nude body under hers was as electrifying as she remembered, as magnificent as she had hoped. But she wasn't satisfied… nowhere near.
His hands, no longer held, slowly and tenderly travelled to her waist… holding, supporting… ecstasizing. She wanted those wonderful, beloved hands of his everywhere, just as her fingers yearned to explore every spot of his skin… and not just her fingers…
With the utmost self-restraint she pulled her lips off his, giving him another little nibble or two as solace. She felt brave enough now… and… prurient enough…Zelda felt herself blush, as ridiculous as this was… she hoped he didn't see, as ludicrous as that was… and she hoped he wouldn't be disconcerted… as laughable as that seemed.
Placing a quick peck on his chin she began her nerve-racking track downwards. One for his Adam's apple, one for his lower neck, one for his collar bone… she could feel him tremble with lust under her soft kisses and it provided all the encouragement she needed.
With fingers so quivering it seemed impossible to use them, she traced her hands over his naked chest, past his belly with its tense muscles and all the way down to his pants. She felt his palms squeeze her skin where they held her, not painfully, just firm enough to tell how wild she was driving him.
Undoing his belt seemed to take an eternity and she cursed her clumsiness. Very gently she bit the powerful muscle on his chest, before then showering it once more with kisses. She heard him gasp whenever her inept fingers brushed against the straining hardness hidden behind the damned cloth that refused to follow her bidding. When all pesky seals holding him in were finally opened, she pulled them down with one urgent sweep… and felt him spring free and lightly brush against her belly. Another quavering gasp from her lover's mouth and the sense of his hardness and vividness emboldened her even further.
Tantalizingly slowly she began her travel downwards again... kiss after kiss, nibble after sensual nibble her lips trailed lower and lower… and lower…
Link didn't know what to do… all his senses were hopelessly overcharged, his mouth was dry, his chest was heaving… and she just didn't stop! Was she really…?! Did she actually…?! Dear goddesses in heaven…
His fingers brushed over the smooth skin of her belly, then her chest as she progressed ever further, tormenting him with kiss after kiss until all of his body seemed to burn with excitement. He didn't know what to do… could he really let this happen? Was she even doing what he thought about, or was it just his perverted fantasies that ravaged his brain? But if… if she truly was... The mere thought threatened to cause him to explode in lustful climax right then and there!
But… it also caused him worry… he hadn't pressured her into this, had he? He wasn't forcing her into doing something, was he?
No… he had never said anything regarding this… Frankly, he wouldn't have dared to. And she had been control from the very start… This was her doing, her will… This was his infinitely precious, beautiful, magnificent angel who managed to always astound him anew every day.
Link relaxed… a bit… He still had no idea how to react… But… maybe he didn't have to know… maybe, once again, they both would simply understand even after their meddling brains had been banned to be a mere spectator. And who knew? Maybe this would open the doors for other… experiments?
Her lips had found his bellybutton and… dear goddess…
Zelda more than relished the boundless excitement she sensed building up within him… and she knew she had reached the goal of her journey when he tensed up so much she felt the muscles in his abdomen turn rock hard.
She could feel him against her chin… dear Nayru's mercy, her heart raced as if it meant to run away! Was she mad? Definitely! Naughty? Absolutely! Did it fill her with so much vibrating exhilaration that she felt maximally alive? Unquestionably! Plus, judging by his reactions, up until now she was doing just fine… she had felt him right at the breaking point multiple times, without ever having touched him down there directly! The realization of just how much power she had over him made her giggle like a lunatic.
She knew he was probably watching her, marvelling and wondering how it was possible that she chose to do such a thing… But the answer was so very simple: To thank him, to show him her love, because it made her feel wonderful to see him to utterly lost in an ocean of pleasure… in short, because she wanted to!
Zelda couldn't help herself and shot him a mischievous grin that was sure to set his brain on fire.
Then, finally, she kissed him where her lewd mind had remained for longer than she cared to admit. The soft, helpless little whimper her Link responded with was the sweetest reward she could hope for. After her lips had left him again, she looked at his manhood more closely than she had previously dared. It lay nearly flat on his belly, pulsing, alive and inviting. Thoughts that, with anyone else, would have seemed repulsive were now appealing, arousing… natural even. Everything of his was hers, just as everything of hers was his… and every spot of him deserved her undying love… and she was eager to give it.
Her first little kiss had been little more than the lightest brush of her lips on his sensitive skin… Now she planned for something quite more aggressive. Sending another mind-numbing glance up at him, she lowered her face once more, but made her mouth just miss it, kissing his sparse hairs instead, her cheek brushing against it not at all accidentally. Then the other side, another miss… she knew she must be driving him absolutely insane, but, she silently promised him, she would do her best to make it worth it. Truly, she had absolutely no idea what she was doing… Her own brain was little more than a jittery pudding of nerves, barely keeping her lust in check. But last time everything had worked out, hadn't it?
Goddess, his scent… masculine, clean, deeply alluring… it was stronger here than anywhere else on him… it rippled through her body and mind, sending surges of liquid fire from head to toe with every breath.
Her resistance was spent… the next kiss was on his wonderful hardness, right at the base, long and intense, her nose brushing back and forth over it, taking every opportunity to sample his magnificent bouquet. The next one was aimed a little higher, just above the first… the third higher still, slowly making her way towards the tip.
"Zelda… oh goddess…" he whimpered and moaned, writhing under her lips, groaning in powerless ecstasy at every tender nibble she bestowed. She knew he was lost… lost in an inescapable labyrinth of pleasure, a place of her design, filling her with childish pride and unbridled lust. And slowly but surely he was nearing the centre of the labyrinth… and she would be there, awarding him his prize.
Ever higher she travelled, occasionally letting her tongue trail a little back the way she had already passed. His panting was quickening… she knew he must be close… Zelda toyed with the thought of tormenting him a tiny while longer, but decided against such cruelty. Her own body and soul craved his release just as much as his…
Her soft, gentle lips reached the tip, a last, much more passionate kiss would lead to both their reward. A smooth nibble, a tiny bit of pull on his apex…
The high, crumbling dams of pleasure burst with one earth-shattering surge, drowning Link in wave after wave of violent, convulsive orgasm, his knees and hips bending involuntarily, dragging her body back closer to his delightfully senseless face. She could feel his spasming muscles on her belly, as well as his manhood shooting stream after stream between them. She didn't mind, why would she? It had been her doing after all…
Zelda watched his features which she loved so much contort to delicious grimaces of pleasure, each wave of ecstasy bringing a new one.
When slowly his climax subsided, she was little disappointed, but mostly immensely pleased. She playfully rested her cheek on his chest and waited until he was back to his senses… Relief, too, was certainly among her feelings… She had, naturally, been most concerned that whatever she was going to do might turn out off-putting to him… or possibly even playful… As per usual, purely theoretic discussions about such a topic with her cousin Sally were not enough to allow you to truly grasp… anything! ...Goddess, Sally would laugh maliciously if she could see her now… and Zelda would die of embarrassment.
Finally, his beautiful deep-blue eyes found hers… and judging by his immediate crimson blushing her playful smile had just the effect she wanted.
"Already back?" she cooed, feeling, to her delight, his manhood slowly begin to swell once more.
He just nodded… 'Seems like I blasted his mind cleanly away!' she thought, feeling a blush of her own.
"Would you like… another?" she tentatively asked, much of her boldness turning to sheepish devotion under his affectionate gaze.
"I could… you know… do the same…" he offered, his handsome face going from crimson to dark red.
Goddess above, wasn't that an enticing proposal… something she had silently hoped for, but probably wouldn't have dared to ask. Still…
"No…" she whispered and moved towards him so she could kiss him as deeply and tenderly as she ever had. "Tonight is only about you, my sweet prince!" she mumbled feeling almost overwhelmed with emotion.
"But… why?" Link asked, visibly confused.
"Because I want it so…" she simply replied and kissed him again and he asked no further.
Zelda was about to once again start on her journey down, but two strong, gently hands stopped her and caressed her cheeks.
"I would… much rather look into your eyes… when we…" he muttered. Her heart melted at his gaze, so full of unmistakable love and caring. Tears threatened to invade her eyes, so moved was she by his sentiment. Naturally, she wanted this more than anything…
In a surge of raw, unmarred emotion she lunged back at him, burying him in one passionate kiss after the other. The distracted, yet hasty way they shed the rest of their clothes was a testament to their persistent arousal.
When their first joining was wild and unbridled like a flaming inferno, today it was more akin to a roaring bonfire… no less fierce and intense, but more controlled, more by design…
Not another word was uttered for the rest of the night… none were needed. Even if Zelda had still been able to speak as he parted her, sending them both through thunderstorms of lust and pleasure, she wouldn't have wasted her breath on speaking. Instead she thought, but only one thing, repeatedly.
'I love you… I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you' with every wave of pure, sparkling, sensational bliss that coursed through her every cell she reiterated it in her mind. She wished from the bottom of her heart that he could feel it, sense but a fraction of the words that flew in such a, unadulterated, elementary through her very soul. Zelda thought he could… every time she thought it she believed she could see a sparkle in his perfect eyes…
So... what do you think? I went a tad more... saucy with this, but not overly so, I think... Don't worry, this will not turn more and more into a mere kink-fest, there is a definitive limit to how far I want to take this. But, I thought, why not let them progress in this area of their lives as well?
Thoughts? Worries? Criticisms?