Discalimer: All rights of the game belong to Nintendo. I only own the plot and my OCs
Close Encounters
Ravio is leaving. Not leaving in the sense that he isn't coming back, but leaving in the sense he would be gone for a while. Ravio had secured himself a job on a trading vessel as a merchant, and now he is leaving to start his new job.
The whole family gathers at the docks to wish him farewell. Even Zelda is there to see him off. She glances at the faces around her. All of them are proud yet at the same time sombre. Tears shed from eyes, even as the mouths beneath them smile. The face of San has a tight expression which one gets when they try not to cry, but despite his efforts, she notices a single tear leaking through.
The man of the hour himself isn't composed any better. His usually sunny smile refuses to reach his eyes. Invisible grey clouds overshadow his happy-go-lucky attitude, and the light in his usually bright eyes has dimmed. As if the weather sympathizes with the family, tangible grey clouds are gathering in the sky. A cool draft of air sweeps throughout the docks.
San approaches his son, and Zelda watches as the old farmer hands his boy a bag full of rupees. Ravio seems to hesitate before slowly taking the bag. The son embraces his father and openly cries onto his shoulder. Zelda looks away, unable to watch such an intimate exchange of familial love without feeling an ever-increasing wave of envy for something she herself would never experience.
The two men part, and Ravio moves among his family, embracing them one at a time. He even embraces Zelda, but moves on before she could return it, having been shocked by the gesture.
He slings his small pack of clothes over his shoulder and wraps himself in his new travel cloak that Helga and Arlette had weaved for him. As he walks up the plank onto the ship, he looks back at his family and smiles one last time before disappearing over the rail as the first drop of rain falls.
The walk home had been uneventful. There had been no conversation except for the pounding of the rain. When they return to the house, everyone goes inside. Everyone except for Link. He stays out, and Zelda watches from a window as he heads into the woods. She sighs to herself, looking away.
Ever since the harvest festival, she feels that she and Link are drifting apart again-not because she is placing distance between them like before but rather because Link is placing distance between them. These days, during training is the only time they spend together. Apart from that, Link doesn't so much as say a word to her. When she tries to reach out, he pushes her away-not physically, but he might as well have. He's even been opting for bathing on bath day instead of in the spring after training, much to the shock of his family.
After an hour of reading her book, Zelda glances outside through her window. It is still raining, and Link has not returned yet. A sense of unease grows inside Zelda. What if something has happened to Link? What if he's in trouble? What if he was set upon by bandits or a wild animal? He could be hurt! ...Or worse.. She furiously shakes her head. No! She tries reassuring herself. Link is fine. He is perfectly capable of defending himself. Worry gnaws at her. But..if there were too many..or if he encountered a bear, or wolves! ..Link. Her feet pace across the floor as her eyees stare forlornly out the window. He'll be alright. He'll be alright. A sense of dread grows inside of her. No, he's not alright. Something bad has happened. He could be seriously hurt! ...I have to do something! She slips on her leather shoes and flings a hooded cloak over her shoulders. She rushes out the door, calling Link's name every step of the way in the hopes he would hear her.
She stumbles blindly through the rain, silently praying that Link will be alright. Too worried to look where she's going, she trips over a root and falls into the mud. Groaning in pain, she rises to her knees and, after blinking away tears, finds that she recognizes her location. She has subconsciously wandered into the clearing where she and Link practice sword fighting.
She scans her surroundings for any signs of Link but finds none. Just then, she is startled by a rustling in the brush. She backs away, readying for a predator or a villain, snatching a nearby stick to defend herself.
A wave of immense relief washes over her when she sees Link emerge, his clothes waterlogged and muddy, and his hair is plastered to his face. She rushes towards him, but her joy and relief evaporate when she catches the sternness in his cold eyes.
"What are you doing here?" he coldly asks her. His voice grates on her ears like gravel and is void of emotion.
She outwardly flinches and takes a step back as if she had been struck. "When you didn't return, I was worried, so I came looking for you."
He's silent for a moment, but when he speaks, his voice holds a slight growl and slowly rises. "You shouldn't have come."
A cold chill grips Zelda-one that has nothing to do with the rain-and a small whimper rises from her throat as she takes another step back. "Why? Is there something wrong?"
"No," he growls. He looks down, and his hair blocks his eyes from view. "There's nothing wrong. You shouldn't have bothered, just leave me alone."
Zelda feels like she's been punched. Why is Link being so cold with me? Tears begin to leak from her eyes once more, but she doesn't try to stop them. "Why are you saying this? What's wrong with you?" Reaching forward, she dares to take Link's hand in her own. "Link, if there's something, anything, troubling you, please tell me; maybe I can help."
Link stands still and seems to be thinking deeply, but he shakes his head fiercely, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he snatches his hand away. "You wouldn't understand," he tells her, but it sounds more like he's talking to himself.
Her body starts to shake all over. "I would understand if you only told me!"
He lifts his head, his eyes blazing. "THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY! There's nothing to be done! Go back home."
A deep pain—deeper than any she has felt before—digs deep into her heart and she wants to cry out, it hurts so much. "Why are you pushing me away?" she sobs.
Link says nothing. He turns around and looks the other way, presenting his back to Zelda. A long, heavy silence falls upon them. When Link speaks again, his voice is cold and dead. "What does it matter to you? Why do you give a damn?"
She can't take anymore. She falls to her knees and cries. Her tears drip from her lashes, lost to the rain. Whimpering, she whispers, "All I want is to have my friend back."
He must have heard her, for he gives a pause as if deeply considering her words, but the moment passes, and he walks away without another word.
Zelda collapses on the ground further, feeling utterly emotionally drained. She curls into herself and cries herself to sleep in the rain.
The crow of a rooster rouses her. She awakens slowly, blinking sleep from her heavy eyes. She feels surrounded by warmth and softness which confuses her, for she recalls collapsing on the hard, cold ground. Furthermore, it had been raining, but she doesn't feel wet at all.
Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she takes in her surroundings and finds she is in her room on the farm. Looking down at herself, she sees she is wearing a chemise instead of her wet clothes, and she had been wrapped not just in her blankets, but also in a plaid-patterned cloak. She sniffs it and finds she likes the smell—very outdoorsy: a mix of pine, fresh air, cut grass, and animals. Realizing just what she is doing, she blushes fiercely, glad no one is in the room with her.
After rolling out of bed, she takes her time getting dressed before heading out to start her day, but as she leaves, her eyes return to the cloak where it rests on her bedside. She contemplates for a moment what to do with it, whether to leave it or take it with her. Deciding there would be no harm in doing so, she grabs the cloak and wraps it around her, clasping it at her shoulder.
The pleasing smell of roasted meat greets her nose. Drifting into the kitchen, she sights some slabs of pork on a wooden plate with a cup of water beside it. Sliding into her chair, she hungrily devours the meat, washing it down with the water, letting out a contented sigh afterwards.
The front door creaks open, and Zelda is surprised to see Arlette walk in for she is usually already at work by now. A small smile crosses Arlette's face when she sees Zelda, but there is no light in her eyes. They are dull and cloudy.
"It's good to see you're awake," she says. Her eyes wander over the younger woman and they seem to linger upon the cloak she is wearing.
"When Link brought you back yesterday, we feared the worst. I'm happy to see that isn't the case."
At the mention of Link's name, Zelda shrinks back in her seat, hugging herself tightly and keeping her gaze downcast.
Arlette's smile disappears. "I knew something happened." Her face suddenly hardens and her narrow brows knit together. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"No!" Zelda hurriedly says, rising out of her seat, but when she sees anger in Arlette's eyes, she shrinks back into her previous position.
Arlette's eyes soften and she rests a hand on Zelda's shoulder. "I didn't mean physically, Zelda."
A tear escapes Zelda's eye and before she knows it, she is crying openly. She feels Arlette pull her into her arms to embrace her. Zelda hugs the older woman, resting her head on her bosom as she cries into Arlette's apron. As she cries, she hears a light cooing in her ear, and every now and then she would her some light humming. Somehow, these sounds calm her down. Her crying stops, but she remains attached to Arlette, for she feels safe in her motherly embrace.
"How do you feel?" Arlette whispers.
Zelda lightly smiles. "Better," she murmurs. "Thank you, mother."
She feels Arlette stiffen, and upon realizing what she said breaks the embrace, standing up to take a step back, her face red.
But Arlette doesn't look upset. She's actually smiling, but it is a sad smile, and her eyes reflect both pity and understanding. "Do not feel ashamed child," she assures Zelda, caressing her face gently. "Feel free to call me mother if you want to. I don't mind."
Zelda's smile returns, and it feels bigger than before. She gently nods her head as a single tear rolls down her cheek into Arlette's hand.
Arlette smiles back at her, brushing her cheek with her thumb. "Alright. Now, let's get going. We still have work to do, and we're already late."
Zelda sighs as she checks her stitch-work. She notices a mistake and growls in frustration as she realizes she must undo a good portion of it.
"Are you alright, Zelda?" Holly asks from her seat beside her. "That's the fifth time today—a new record for you. And if I'm not mistaken, it's in the same area as before. At this rate, the mayor won't have his new trousers in time for his anniversary."
"I'm alright, Holly," she says hastily. Feeling she might have come off as rude, she apologizes. "I'm sorry. I have been under a lot of stress recently."
Holly frowns. "Perhaps you should take a day off? Some rest and relaxation might be what you need."
"Maybe you're right," Zelda murmurs as she stares down at her half-finished work.
"The floozy hasn't been giving you any trouble lately, has she?"
Zelda shakes her head. "No. Aside from the usual angry glares, she's tried nothing. I think she's too afraid to since I live with her employer."
Holly smiles. "Good." She then lays a hand on Zelda's shoulder. "If she tries anything, you can count on me for support." She then looks around the room a bit. "I think we should get back to work. Our boss is looking this way."
They continue sewing, and Zelda eventually finishes the trousers for mayor Ruul. As she moves onto her next piece of work, she freezes in horror as two men, clad in the gear of Castletown Guards, stride into the room escorted by Link who has a sword strapped to his back.
"Good day. How may I help you, gentlemen?" Arlette greets them, but she wears an emotionless mask on her face, and her gaze is piercing.
"Are you the guild mistress?" one of the guards ask.
Arlette straightens her posture, keeping her gaze fixed on them. "Indeed I am."
"We have come from Hyrule," he continues, "in search of her Highness the Princess Griselda. A reliable source has lead us here, to Holodrum. Since this establishment hires only women, we figured it to be the most logical place to look."
At this, all work comes to a halt and all conversation dies down, the room becoming so quiet you could here a sewing pin drop. All the seamstresses glance at one another as if trying to decipher who is the missing princess.
"However," the other guard speaks up. "If you are able to recognize the girl in this picture, it could save us a lot of time and trouble." He hands Arlette a piece of parchment, and Zelda's heart sinks as it's all too clear just what—or rather who—it is a picture of. Arlette studies the picture with scrutiny. Her eyebrows furrow, and her features harden. Zelda holds her breath as she feels her heartbeat quicken. Arlette looks up from the picture, handing it to the guards and says, "I do not recognize this girl."
Zelda lets out a breath, blinking stupidly, dumbfounded.
"Are you sure?" a guard asks, sounding just as surprised as Zelda looks.
"I am," Arlette smoothly responds. She sweeps her arm, motioning about the room. "Feel free to examine all the girls here. I guarantee you none of them match the girl in the picture."
One of them looks like he wants to argue, but a growl from Link turns him white. The two guards wander from table to table, examining each girl thoroughly. Zelda does her best to appear innocent, focusing solely on her work as best as she can. When they appear in front of her, they look back between herself and what is obviously a photo of herself as princess of Hyrule. They frown, murmuring to each other and squinting at both her and the photo.
Zelda worries this is it, that her freedom will end there and then, but much to her relief, the guards shrug and move on, skipping over Holly whose ebony hair makes it impossible for her to be confused for the princess. After all other girls have been checked, they bid good day, and Link shows them the way out.
The rest of her shift goes by without further incident, but she feels Arlette's eyes on her the whole time. When her shift is over, she flies out the guild house, nearly crashing into Merari as she does so.
"Oh! Forgive me, Merari. I did not see you."
He smiles politely, giving a small bow in greeting. "Apology accepted, lady Zelda."
As much as Zelda would have loved to stay and chat, the visit from the guards has left her on edge. Her eyes dart from side to side, and she mistrusts every dark corner and window, and she fidgeted where she stood.
Merari raises a brow at her behaviour, looking her up and down. "Are you alright? You seem rather impatient," he asks while examining her. His eyes land on the cloak she wears and a shadow descends over his face, but it disappears shortly after as if it had never been there in the first place.
"Sorry. I'm in a hurry. I have a lot of chores to do when I get home," she lies.
Merari nods his head, stroking his chin with a bemused look on his face. "I see. No rest for the young maiden, it would appear." He takes her hands in his own, and Zelda feels her face heat up. "In that case, I will not keep you here; however before you go, I will like to invite you to my residence for dinner tomorrow."
"Yes, I would love to," she replies hastily.
Merari smiles, but there is something off about it that Zelda cannot place, and a triumphant gleam flickers in his eyes. "Until then." He kisses her hands before retreating, allowing Zelda to make her own hasty retreat.
When she arrives home, she lets out a sigh of relief and slides down to the floor, suddenly feeling exhausted. After a moment, she slowly pulls herself up and wanders into the kitchen for a bite to eat. A small cough alerts her to not being alone. Waiting for her in the kitchen, a mask of indifference—cold and calculating—on her face, stands Arlette.
"We need to talk, your Highness."
DUH, DUH, DUUUUUUUUUUUH! The cat is out of the bag! Stay tuned to find out what happens next!
As of this chapter, we are officially halfway through the story! HUZZAH! Only twelve chapters to go. Start the countdown.!