Hey everyone! It has been SO long since I've updated this. Sorry about that. Life has been insane, and I've been on the go constantly to say the very least. However, I woke up this morning and impulsively decided to finish this chapter. Took a big chunk of time, but here I am.
I hope you guys like this one. Again, as I've said before, this chunk of the story is going to be a bit boring because of all the plot build-up. But I'm trying to make it the most entertaining as possible so you guys aren't completely yawning throughout this.
Anyways, enjoy. Have a fantastic day to whoever reads this.
BEHIND THE BOOKSHELF
Revelations in Quiet
Zelda hurried down the steps towards the dining hall, lifting the skirts of her dress so she wouldn't trip. She was in a complete panic, because for the first time in a very long while, she was late.
Never did she allow herself to be late to dinner with her father, especially when he was dining with the important lords and ladies of the castle. It was considered rude to arrive late in the presence of guests, and she was sure she would be scrutinized for it from at least one court member dining with her tonight. Her fiancé would also without a doubt scold her for it.
She hated everything about this prison of a castle. Every single little thing. But she couldn't leave it. She had a duty to attend to, citizens to care for. She wanted to make sure Hyrule's future would be as best as possible, to prevent something like the Twilight Invasion from ever happening again.
Zelda quickly slowed her hurried pace into a graceful walk as she spotted the dining hall room some distance ahead of her. It was a grand, spacious room, with a large, polished wooden table at the centre, and an enormous crystal chandelier that hung over it. The floors beneath were a white marble, which were so well kept that Zelda could see her entire reflection when she looked down.
Zelda was mindful to keep her steps silent as she neared the table. Her father was the first to notice her presence, followed by her fiancé, and then the rest of the lords and ladies that sat at the table. Her heart raced as they all halted their conversations and stared at her in silence, their scrutinizing eyes practically burning straight through her skull.
There were four other guests besides Aiden and her father. Seated across from Zelda was Lord Sinclair and Lady Sinclair, a powerful couple who owned a large plot of land in the east of Castle Town, which had been passed down through Lord Sinclair's family throughout generations. Next to her father sat Count Pernelle and Countess Pernelle, who both also owned a large plot of land, but in the northern plains of Volagio. Dinner had already been served, but however, it seemed that the guests had just began to feast, their plates still noticeably full of food.
Zelda took her seat between her father and her fiancé, not daring to glance at any of the faces that were so obviously looking at her likely in disgust or disapproval. She even felt Aiden's gaze burning into the side of her face in clear irritation.
"Is there a reason why you have arrived late, daughter?" her father's booming voice echoed, breaking the deafening silence that loomed in the large hall. His voice was steady, but she could immediately sense an obvious hint of anger.
Zelda swallowed as she attempted hard to keep her gaze on her plate. "I had many amounts of paperwork to catch up on," she lied, maintaining a passive, casual tone. "I lost track of time."
Her father's expression was controlled, but Zelda could clearly see the sea storm of anger furiously brewing in his blue eyes. It was a look that she had come to frequently recognize as she grew older, a look that told her she was in an enormous amount of trouble.
"Very well." Her father went back to eating his dish, and fortunately, the rest of the guests resumed their conversations and continued to eat as well.
Zelda began to eat her food as well, silently listening to the other guests talk about nonsense that she had not one desire to chat about. Her father and Aiden frequently jumped into their conversations, attempting to be friendly and polite, but Zelda didn't utter a word. She didn't want to speak to people she knew absolutely despised her.
And so, she ate her dinner silently, until she felt cold skin grasp her left hand.
She looked up from her plate and stared back into the dark, placid eyes of her fiancé. He stared at her for a suffocating moment, until he leaned towards her ear and began to whisper.
"You aren't wearing your ring," he spoke, his breath fanning against her neck in the most repulsive way possible.
Zelda fought the urge to just completely squirm away from him. She flicked her gaze quickly to the guests seated nearby and plastered on a fake smile, only to mask her discomfort from them.
"I doubt you care," she murmured back, her smile still plastered to her face.
"I do. They will notice, and will especially take notice of how considerably late you were. It will be assumed that you've been trying to avoid me."
"Maybe I have."
At her snide comment, Aiden's grip on her hand uncomfortably tightened, causing a low grunt of pain to erupt from her lips.
"Let go," she hissed through her clenched smile.
"Do not dare to speak to me that way again," he growled back, his pupils so wide that she could barely see the dark brown color of his eyes. "You need to wear the ring—"
"Please. Spare me." Zelda resisted the urge to snort and chose to keep the smile glued to her face. "You have an easily accessible string of lovers at your hand whom would all be ecstatic to wear that ring. Maybe try one of them."
With that last statement, Aiden dropped her hand and pulled away from her, astonishingly still containing a calm exterior. However, Zelda could see the rage swirling in those dark eyes of his, ready to lash out at the next person that tested him.
And that next person would likely be her.
Zelda went back to eating her plate of food, as if nothing had ever happened. The guests and her father thankfully hadn't actually noticed their tense banter, likely mistaking it for a sweet, private conversation between the two.
"Your Highness, I must say, I am thrilled for the wedding," Countess Pernelle said to Zelda, snapping her out of an irritated trance. "I hear you are hand writing all of the invitations as well. How considerate of you to do so."
Zelda set her gaze steadily on the countess in front of her. "Thank you, Countess Pernelle." She forced herself to smile, despite feeling the burning gaze of her fiancé boring into the side of her skull.
"I've heard there's over three hundred guests attending," Lord Sinclair spoke up. "Lots of invitations to get to, I suppose."
Zelda forced a laugh. "Yes, a lot indeed. I am glad to do it, however. I believe it takes a more personable approach."
The rest of the guests nodded to each other in agreement, except for Lady Sinclair, who sat there in complete silence.
"I only believe that it is good preparation for the inauguration," Count Pernelle chimed in, speaking directly towards her father. "Along with the rest of the diplomatic work you've been giving her, Your Majesty, she should be ready in no time."
Ready in no time. Those words echoed like a bell throughout her mind as she processed the painfully backhanded compliment. They didn't believe that she was ready.
This was no news to her. But it stung every time she heard a comment similar to it.
"Yes, indeed," her father agreed. "She has been working extremely hard."
"I must say, I am grateful to hear that Her Royal Highness has been preparing," Lady Sinclair finally spoke up, who had been silent for most of the conversation. She eyed Zelda as if she was some child, and continued on. "Why, it would be drastic if another incident such as the Twilight Invasion were to ever happen in her hands again."
There it was. Her mistake, once again, being brought to the light.
Her failure.
Zelda fought hard to contain herself, gnawing viciously at the inside of her cheek as the bitter sting of Lady Sinclair's words sunk in. She could feel the stares of everybody burning into her skull, the silence so loud that it was practically deafening, but she refused to look up from her plate. She knew they were all well aware of the low jab Lady Sinclair had taken at her. Anybody with a brain could see it.
"Yes, Lady Sinclair…indeed drastic," her father spoke up, breaking the tense silence. He eyed his daughter quickly, practically pleading with her not to react.
And so she didn't. She stayed completely silent, keeping her eyes glued to her plate until the moment passed and the guests began speaking on another topic.
Minutes felt like hours as the dinner dragged on. She couldn't believe she had endured so many dinners such as these. To swallow any backhanded comment that came her way, or to pretend as if everything in her life was perfect. It was exhausting, because every time, it was as if she was putting on an act.
She thought she could get used to it. She had endured so many poorly hidden insults that she had thought she would grow thick skin to it, but no. It possibly stung worse every time, with every day she neared her inauguration date.
It would never end. She rarely let herself think of it, but she knew she would be trapped in this cycle for the rest of her life, with an absolutely miserable marriage and around miserable people she was forced to tolerate because she had a duty. All she could do was pray that by some miracle, it would be better. Maybe even just a little more tolerable.
The only thing that drove her was how much she cared for her future people. She wanted to keep them safe, to never put them through events similar to the Twilight Invasion ever again. She would make sure that next time, if a situation arose like that, she wouldn't make the same mistake of surrendering like she did before.
About an hour passed and Zelda had not uttered a single word. Her father and Aiden were politely engaging in conversation, and she knew she should have been as well, but she didn't care enough to even try to keep pleasantries. All she could think about was her escape, of her warm, cozy bed she could retreat and hide away to, at least for the night. It was the only way she drew any sort of comfort.
However, the comforting thoughts of her own bed were soon ripped from her as Aiden leaned towards her ear and began to whisper, his voice low and repulsive.
"Why don't you come with me to my chambers after dinner," he murmured, his warm breath fanning against her neck. "It's private. We can talk."
Zelda fought hard to repress the grimace on her face. "Talk about what, exactly?" she hissed back.
"You tell me."
Zelda's stomach churned as she finally realized the hidden implications of his words. She tried to pry away from his presence, but his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, yanking her back close to him.
"Come now, you mustn't be so skittish," he whispered sultrily. "Years ago, you were never like this."
"That was before I realized how much of a vile, twisted man you truly are."
Anger flashed in his dark eyes, but he shockingly held it in. "I will never understand your cruelty to I." He leaned in even closer, his lips now brushing slightly against the shell of her ear. "The things that I could give you…"
Zelda felt as if she was soon to vomit. With that last revolting statement, Aiden slipped his cold fingers under the table and grasped her leg, the hand placement far too high for any sort of remaining decency. Her stomach lurched, and she yanked herself out of his grasp, so forcefully that it made a loud noise against the table, catching the attention of the conversing guests seated near her.
The table went silent as everybody's eyes fell upon her and the future king of Hyrule. Deathly silent.
"Your Highness, are you well?" Lady Sinclair's voice echoed in mock sympathy. "You seem to be in quite a bit of distress."
Her lips curved into a smile of feigned kindness, and Zelda suddenly felt the overbearing need to leave. She had to get out of there. She couldn't bear it for much longer.
"Yes, Lady Sinclair, I am perfectly fine…" Zelda ignored the burning stares of the people around her and rose from her seat. "I…I'm afraid I must take my leave. There is much work to catch up on."
Not even wanting to spare a glance back at her father, she lifted her skirts and took off from the dining hall in a frenzied pace. Her breaths grew more and more ragged as she practically ran to her chambers, weaving in and out through the practically endless hallways. She just kept on walking.
However, as a few more minutes passed, a familiar voice suddenly called her name, stopping her dead in her tracks.
"Stop it right now, Zelda. We need to talk."
She turned and met the cold gaze of her fiancé, his eyes noticeably flared with rage. How on earth did he chase her all the way here?
That had no matter. She was sick of playing his games.
"Talk of what, Aiden?" Zelda snapped, her princess veil now completely gone. "Of how I mustn't react when you practically grope me under a table?"
Aiden took a menacing step towards her, glaring at her intensely under his long lashes.
"You should have seen their faces when you took off like that. They know something is wrong. Especially your father."
Zelda scoffed. "Then let them. Let them know how much of a truly repulsive being you are."
Aiden's eyes flashed threateningly. He suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist, yanking her close to him so he could whisper in her ear.
"I will not have my reputation tainted through the likes of you," he growled through gritted teeth. "Listen to what I say, and for once in your life, keep your goddess damned mouth shut."
Zelda forcefully freed herself from his iron-like grip and took a step back. "You expect me to grovel at your feet like I am just some servant?" she barked back in uncharacteristic rage. "You disrespect me throughout our entire courtship. I know of your mistresses, and I know of your undeniable hatred towards this kingdom. All you want is power—"
She was cut off by a cold slap to the face, which unfortunately, was not unfamiliar. She stumbled back a bit from the impact, her right cheek burning from the sting of his hand, but her gaze didn't waver from his.
"Do not make a scene again," Aiden hissed, his pale skin flushed with rage, "or expect the consequences."
With that last statement, he turned on his heel and took off, his cloak billowing around him as he disappeared into another hall.
"I need you two to do what needs to be done. That is all."
"But, Your Majesty, that is difficult feat to accomplish—"
"And it is still possible. Do it."
Lord Theo silenced and looked to Lord Gilbert with a worried expression. Daphnes could easily sense their discomfort with the plan, but he would not let that get in the way. They would do what needed to be done, and that was final.
"I don't care how difficult it may be," Daphnes continued, shifting slightly in the large, cushiony red chair he sat in at his desk. "Convince the others that Lady Elvira is behind the murder. She cannot look at those archives."
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, what you're asking us to do is almost impossible," Lord Theo pleaded. "How can we—"
"Bribe the others," the king's booming voice cut in. "They will all cave."
Lord Gilbert's mustache twitched in disapproval at that last statement. "I have no doubt that Lord Simon and Lord Aubrey will accept the bribe," he began, "however…Lord Darrien will not be so easy to convince."
Daphnes ran a hand through his thick, white beard as he pondered this notion. Unfortunately, Lord Gilbert was likely correct; Lord Darrien would never accept any sort of bribe that had anything to do with politics. He would likely turn it down, and then report them for even attempting to bribe him in the first place.
Curse his irritating need to always follow rules. It was causing too many problems already.
"Then convince him," Daphnes ordered, beginning to feel annoyed. "Convince him that Lady Elvira was in conspiracy of the murder for Alburnia's throne. Bribe the other two. Get everyone to be on the same page, and have her arrest scheduled as soon as possible."
The two councilmen finally nodded in agreement. Giving a satisfied huff, the king rose from the desk in his studies and began to walk towards the exit.
"Oh, and one last thing." King Daphnes looked over his shoulder at the two councilmen. "When this is all set and done, get rid of Lord Darrien. I need it done before my daughter takes the throne."
It had been three days since Link last met with the princess. Three very long, dull days.
Since he wouldn't be officially promoted until the ball, he basically had nothing to do. He didn't remember the last time he had so much free time on his hands. He spent his uneventful days sketching out random things that he saw, which was something he hadn't done in over a year. He sketched classical sculptures that he had previously seen around the castle, elements of nature, and even the princess herself, which he quickly decided he would never tell a soul about. It was nice to do the hobby that he truly loved, but even with all that free time on his hands, it got a bit boring.
Which motivated him to visit his trustworthy mare, Epona, out at the castle's stables. She had been staying there since he first arrived at the castle a year ago, and he always made an effort to visit her every month.
And he also just needed to be outdoors. He felt trapped, no matter how large and spacious his chambers were.
It was shocking how grand his room was. It was a complete step up from his barracks, and he didn't need to wear socks at all times anymore to avoid splinters, thanks to the lush red carpet that spread around his entire room. He had his own desk, his own enormous king sized bed, and even his own fireplace and lounge that was tucked away into the right corner of his room. He had never been in a place more luxurious.
However, no matter how interesting his chambers were, it could only entertain him for so long. He decided that he needed to visit Epona, and also desperately needed to be outdoors.
Currently, he was at the horse stable, feeding Epona a handful of hay. She had been glad to see him, neighing in delight as she spotted him walking towards her stable. She got even more excited when she noticed the bag of hay he brought with him.
"Hungry, huh?" he asked her gently, running his fingers through her wheat-colored mane.
She simply snorted in response, and continued to gnaw at the hay in Link's hand.
It was a peaceful moment, just the two of them. Link had always found comfort in her presence. In some ways, he could even consider her a friend, even if she was just a horse. They had a strong bond that Link knew would never be broken.
Link continued to feed her hay, enjoying how silent and beautiful it was outdoors. It was winter, but it was an exceptionally warm day, with the sun shining bright and melting the snow caked above the grass. It was a sign that spring was drawing near, a sign that Link had always loved to see.
Unfortunately, his—and Epona's—moment of peace was quickly interrupted by the sight of a large, beefy man running straight towards the stable, seemingly in a state of frenzy. Link interrupted feeding his horse and looked towards the strange man in the distance, confusing blotting his mind as he attempted to figure out who on earth the man was.
"LINNNKYYYYY!" the tall man screeched, sprinting straight towards him. "THERE YA IS!"
Link blinked twice and squinted towards the large man nearing him with every second that ticked. "B…Barnes?"
Link's look of confusion instantly morphed into a look of horror as Barnes continued to sprint, suddenly crashing into him and practically tackling him to the dirt in a suffocating bear hug.
"Barnes…what…what on earth?" Link wiggled his arms hopelessly as he attempting to squirm out of his friends grasp, but no avail. "Get off!"
Barnes finally pried himself off Link's now crushed body and casually brushed himself off, as if nothing out of the ordinary had even occurred.
"Boy, I am sure glad to see ya!" Barnes exclaimed, his grin so wide that Link thought his face would explode. He turned towards Epona, who was watching the entire encounter with a surprisingly protective demeanor. "Oh, Epona! How ya been, ol' gal?"
Barnes reached out a hand to stroke her mane, but it was quickly retracted as Epona attempted to bite one of his fingers.
"Sheesh…" Barnes grumbled, eying the mare cautiously. "I ain't believe yer horse like me very much, Linky."
Link rose from the dirt and began to brush himself off. "She's a bit overprotective," he explained.
"What? From me? I ain't done nothin' wrong."
"Well, you just came out of nowhere and tackled me to the ground. I'd say her judgment is pretty justified."
With that statement, Barnes's eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh, that's right! I had to tell ya somethin!'"
Link raised a brow curiously. "And what might that be?"
Barnes seemed to be at a loss of words. "I…I have…I've…"
He trailed off and began to pace around the stable, to Epona's clear annoyance. She eyed him with disgust and snorted in his direction.
"I have been…" Barnes finally stopped pacing and turned to his friend. "…I've been promoted!"
Link's blue eyes shot open as a wide, uncontrollable smile spread across his face. "P—Promotion?" he sputtered incredulously. "Like knighthood?"
"Yes, yes, it's all true!" Barnes pumped his fist in the air and ran over to Link to give him another bone-crushing embrace, which was actually accepted this time. "We still gon' train together!"
Link laughed heartily and patted his friend on the back. He couldn't help but feel a complete sense of relief that Barnes was being promoted as well. Knighthood was certainly no easy lifestyle, and was even more difficult to adapt to. He was just glad he wouldn't be doing it alone.
He couldn't say that he was surprised Barnes had been promoted. Barnes was an excellent fighter, and was possibly one of the top ranked among all the rest of the trainees. Along with that, his family was extremely wealthy, despite of what his kind, genuine personality reflected. He grew up on a large ranch, in an exceptionally enormous mansion, but he still stayed true to himself despite his wealth.
"I can't express how proud I am of you," Link told him as he managed to pull away from Barnes's embrace. "How'd you get the news?"
Barnes shrugged. "Guard came up to my barrack. Pretty much gave me the announcement by readin' some scroll. And then I got invited to that fancy ol' ball yer goin' to."
Link smiled. "The promotion ball. Unfortunately, that means you're going to have to recite that oath as well."
Barnes's bright attitude suddenly faltered at that statement. "Goddesses be damned, I forgot 'bout that…" He frowned. "I ain't even gettin' no help from the princess neither. Yer one lucky fella ya got that, Linky."
Link shrugged. "I suppose."
Barnes's disappointed expression suddenly morphed into a more playful one as he eyed Link up and down.
"Say…how's that goin,' by the way?" he asked mischievously, his eyes glinting with curiosity.
Link decided to play dumb. "How's what?"
"Ah, ya know what I'm talkin' 'bout, Linky. Don't play stupid."
Link let out a sigh and finally gave in. "It's going well, okay? Nothing out of the ordinary. Just how…normal meetings with the princess go."
"Bah! Normal meetings with the princess? Ain't no meetin' with the princess is normal!"
"Whatever, Barnes," Link grumbled, picking up a handful of hay and feeding it to Epona to distract himself.
He had to admit, it completely surprised him when the princess suggested that they should just forget about the ball and chat instead. He wasn't sure if he was even allowed to speak with the princess if it wasn't about strictly business, but nevertheless, he was glad that they were finally able to talk casually. She was pleasant company, and shockingly enough, had a good sense of humor. Her hilariously poking fun at Lord Clevear's plum perfume proved it.
And when they spoke of Midna…he couldn't help but feel relief that someone felt the same way as he did. The princess didn't speak much on the matter, but he knew how genuinely affected she was by it. Every time Link brought Midna up in the retelling of his journey, the princess's eyes would light up to the level of a thousand fireflies. He had never seen her look so entranced before, which made him all the more happier to tell her all the details of his story. Expressions were not something Link was accustomed for seeing on the princess's face, so it was a rare sight to behold, seeing her so excited.
"I can see it in yer eyes, Linky," Barnes cooed teasingly as he poked Link continuously on the shoulder. "Ya like her!"
Link almost dropped the hay he was feeding to Epona at Barnes's absurd accusation. "What?"
"Uh huh. Ya heard me. Seems to me like ya got yerself a lil' crush."
Link's eyes bulged at the absurd notion. "Are you kidding? That's ridiculous! I've only met with her twice!"
"Yep. And it seems to me yer already under the spell of her beauty…"
"Barnes! Do you realize we would be hanged if anybody were to ever hear what we were talking about?"
"Ah, who cares! We're in a stable full of horses! They ain't gon' tell a soul."
At that statement, Epona glared menacingly at Barnes and snorted harshly in his direction.
"Well, maybe Epona would…" Barnes scratched the back of his neck. "But that's besides the darn point. Just face it, Linky. Ya like her."
Link scoffed as he ran his fingers up and down Epona's neck. "We aren't even friends. And besides, how would you even know? I've given you absolutely no signs to prove this assumption of yours."
Barnes suddenly leaned towards Link suspiciously, his black eyes wide as he studied his friend intensely.
"Maybe there ain't no outward signs…" Barnes squinted at Link harshly. "…But there is somethin' I know. Somethin' that proves it."
Something that proves it? Link gulped as his mind immediately thought of the sketch he had of the princess in his chambers. Could Barnes have possibly been in his chambers and seen it? Goddesses, he would hear no end of it if his suspicions were true.
"Erm…what?" Link squeaked, his eyes wide with anxiety.
Barnes squinted even harder. "I know what it is, Linky. I've seen it."
Link's heart began to race. "Seen what, exactly?"
"I've seen…" Barnes took a long, dramatic pause. "Seen the look of loooooove."
Link balked as his friend suddenly exploded with laughter, howling hysterically as he fell to the ground in amusement.
"Barnes…" Link's eye twitched as he watched his friend continue to laugh. "…Shut up."
"Ya…ya shoulda seen yer face!" Barnes sputtered in between howls of laughter. "Ya looked as if I accused ya of a darn crime!"
Link ignored his friends obnoxious laughter and went back to petting Epona. Finally, after a few moments, Barnes's laughter died down and he rose to his feet.
"I'll tell ya, that was the funniest thing I've done experienced in quite some time," Barnes said, his mouth still curled in an amused smile. "However, by the look on yer face, ya do have somethin' to hide."
Link eyed him cautiously. "No, I don't."
"Mhm…but ya do. I know it."
Barnes inched closer to his friend and squinted in that same way he was just minutes ago. "Tell me," he pleaded. "I know ya got somethin' hidden in there."
Link rolled his eyes and ran his fingers through Epona's mane. "Barnes, go away."
"Come on, Linky. Tell me."
"There's nothing to tell."
"Ah, talk 'bout a load of horse manure."
"I'm serious."
"Fine. I'll have to guess then. Did ya compliment her?"
"No."
"Give her a gift?"
"No."
"Ah, wait, I've got a good one. Did she catch ya starin' at her breasts?"
"Wait, what—no!"
"Aw, come on. Everybody's done it at some darn point."
"Barnes!"
Link was about whack him upside the head when suddenly he heard a soft crunch coming from outside the stable. Him and Barnes halted their conversation—or rather, childish argument—to see what was there.
"Did ya hear that, Linky?" Barnes asked with wide eyes. "Somebody's comin' into the stable."
Link rolled his eyes. "Relax, Barnes. It's not like we're forbidden from being in here."
"Ah, right. Anyways, back to what I was sayin…'"
Barnes was about to jump into another obnoxious guessing game until the person that they had heard prior emerged into the stable. However, as they studied the woman's appearance, they both came to a horrifying realization that it wasn't just any person.
She wore a long, white dress that practically radiated in the sunlight, along with her pale, smooth skin. The dress was much more on the casual side, lacking the usual ruffles and oversized skirts most ladies wore. Her chocolaty hair was let down freely, flowing graciously behind her in the warm breeze. She was beautiful, exceptionally beautiful, and Link soon realized that there was only one person in the entire kingdom that held radiance such as her.
It was the princess herself.
"Oh my goddesses, oh my goddesses, that's the princess!" Barnes hissed, his eyes wide with shock. "What in tarnation brought her here?"
Link stared in awe, also wondering the same thing. Was it possible that she owned a horse as well?
The princess walked into the large stable, now standing on the complete opposite end from where Link and Barnes stood. She carried two buckets, seemingly with ease, Link noted, and walked over to a gray stallion tucked away into the far corner. She placed the buckets down and ran a gloved, petite hand over the stallion's thick mane, whispering something incoherent to him. She was clearly oblivious to Barnes and Link's looming presence at the other end of the stable.
Moments passed as the two knights continued to gawk at the princess, both in a state of shock. However, their awkward staring was quickly interrupted as Epona sneezed in Barnes's direction, splaying a mixture of mucus and spit all over his arm.
"Oh my goddesses, what the hell!" Barnes shrieked, breaking the tense silence. He began to wipe his arm frantically. "I got sneezed on! I just got sneezed on!"
He continued to shout in disgust, which unfortunately, did not go unnoticed by the peaceful princess on the opposite side of the stable. She turned, cocking an eyebrow curiously until her gaze settled on Link standing next to the frantic knight.
"Sir Link?" she called, her gentle, but regal tone carrying all the way across the stable. Her brow was arched at Barnes's strange behavior, but she politely ignored it, leaving her stallion to walk towards the pair standing at Epona's stable. "I didn't notice your presence. You two were so quiet that I thought I was alone."
Link's face flushed a deep shade of red as his friend continued to shriek in panic. "Good afternoon, Your Highness. Sorry about…Barnes over here."
Barnes suddenly perked up at the sound of his name being mentioned, and he quickly stopped trying to frantically wipe Epona's spit off his arm. He turned towards the princess with a sheepish look on his face.
"G—Greetings, yer Royal Highness," Barnes blubbered, extending his hand out for her to shake. "I must say, ya look splendid on this fine afternoon. Ya goin' horseback ridin?'"
Link smacked a palm to his forehead. He knew Barnes was just attempting to be friendly, but that was definitely not how one would greet a princess. Obviously, Link didn't know much about etiquette himself, but at least he knew that wasn't the way to do it.
However, the princess ignored his lack of manners, choosing to give him a polite smile instead.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," she said, returning the handshake. Link immediately noticed that her lips were twitching, like she was trying to hold in a laugh. "I will not be horseback riding today. Ash needs a bit of a break."
"Yer horse's name is Ash?" Barnes blurted. "That's the coolest darn name I've done heard!"
Zelda just gave one of her reserved, passive smiles. "Thank you."
"Yer welcome. Ya know, I hadda horse on my ranch when I was 'bout yay big." Barnes placed his hand beside his hip to demonstrate. "Her name was Goldie. Real nice horse. Used to ride her 'round all the time, 'til she tripped in a ditch and broke both her front ankles. Then, she could barely walk so she ended up gettin' all fat. Poor thing. It got so bad that the ol' gal ended up gettin' diabetes—"
"Okay," Link interrupted, his face burning red from his friend's endless rambling. "That's a nice story. Really nice."
Zelda's gaze flicked between the odd pair, her eyes sparkling with clear mirth, but again, she remained polite.
"What brings you two out to the stables?" she asked politely, clearly attempting to start some small talk.
"Well, I was just lookin' for my ol' pal to tell him 'bout my promotion," Barnes told her, throwing his arm around Link's shoulders. "But Linky was just checkin' on his horse over here."
Link's face turned a deep shade of red at the fact that Barnes had called him "Linky" right in front of the princess. However, Zelda politely ignored it once again, even though he could tell she was attempting to hold in another laugh, considering the faint twitch of her lips.
"Yes, I've heard that my father has sent out his announcements to four trainees who will be granted knighthood," Zelda replied, somehow keeping her expression passive. "I give you my best condolences."
A wide smile cracked across Barnes's face, exposing the large gap between his two front teeth. "I appreciate that, yer Highness," he gushed. "Truly."
"Of course. You should be prideful…"
Zelda suddenly trailed off as she set her eyes on Epona, her dark eyes holding a glint of recognition.
"Is that Epona, Sir Link?" she asked softly, stepping quietly towards the mare.
Link's eyes widened with surprise. He didn't expect her to recognize the horse after all these months.
"Yes, that is her," Link said, watching the princess cautiously as she reached out a hand to pet the horse. He just hoped Epona wouldn't give her the same treatment as Barnes.
"Be careful now!" Barnes blurted in panic as he watched Zelda reach for Epona. "She ain't like people so much…"
Barnes trailed off as he watched the princess gently laid her gloved hand atop Epona's neck, scratching soothingly at the mare's scalp. Epona let out a soft snort and nuzzled further into Zelda's hand.
"I haven't seen her in a long time," the princess said softly, seemingly entranced by the mare. "She's beautiful."
Link suddenly felt himself freeze up as he watched Zelda pet Epona. While the princess was entranced by the his horse, Link was completely entranced by her, how her free flowing chocolate locks waved slightly in the breeze, how radiant her pale skin was in the sunlight. She was graceful, the symbol of royalty, and he realized she was possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. In no way had he ever felt so drawn towards one person alone.
Then, in a quick moment, he snapped himself out of those thoughts, silently scolding himself for thinking such things about a royal. If anybody were to even read his thoughts, he was sure he would be thrown in prison for life. And he would definitely hear no end about it from Barnes.
"Man, it ain't fair," Barnes grumbled miserably as he watched the princess pet Epona. "How come Epona hates me so much? All I got from her today was some slobber on my arm. She ain't even let me get near her."
Zelda halted petting Epona to turn towards Barnes. "Maybe she feels scared by your presence," she suggested.
"Psshhhh, naw." Barnes waved her off. "I ain't one ounce of scary."
"Yes…but you are very tall. Even taller than her, and she's quite a big horse. It's possible that she feels threatened."
Barnes paused to consider this. "Ah, ya might be right, yer Highness," he admitted. "But she ain't intimidated by Linky at all. He might be short, but his grouchiness is somethin' to fear."
Barnes let out a hearty laugh, while Link flushed a deep shade of red for the second time in a span of five minutes. Why did he have to say things like that in front of the princess?
Zelda flicked her gaze to Link, and for a split second, she looked completely amused.
"Well, I better be goin,'" Barnes announced, breaking the brief silence. "Gotta start packin' my things. Prolly gonna leave tomorrow to move into the castle."
Zelda gave him a polite smile. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir Barnes. I hope to see you at the promotion ball."
Barnes's eyes suddenly widened. "Sir Barnes?" he suddenly blubbered. "Holy bloody hell, I got myself a proper title? That's amazin!'"
Link slapped a palm to his forehead for the second time that afternoon at Barnes's foul language.
"Yes, you do," Zelda replied, laughing gently. "That's what you'll be referred to as from now on."
"That sounds fancy." Barnes smiled widely. "Well, I'll see y'all later. Break a leg."
Barnes slapped Link heartily on the back, almost completely toppling him over in the process. Then, just as Barnes was beginning to walk away, he looked over his shoulder and quickly shot Link a devilish look, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Link's face immediately burst aflame, but he ignored the suggestive remark and just hoped Zelda hadn't seen it.
Which, considering his luck, she likely did.
"I must ask, Sir Link," Zelda spoke up as Barnes disappeared around the corner of the stable, "what on earth does 'break a leg' mean?"
Link blinked twice as he processed the question. "Oh, er…it's kind of…a figure of speech. It's basically another saying for 'good luck.'"
"Ah. I see." Zelda raked her fingers gently through Epona's mane. "Your friend is very kind."
Link flushed. "Yeah…sorry about that. He's…um…very himself, I suppose."
"No need to apologize. I found talking with him to be pleasant. He's more interesting than most of the people I converse with on a daily basis."
Link let out a low whistle. "Yeah, I bet. Barnes is a lot of fun. Those people you have to talk with, on the other hand…"
"Are exceedingly dull," Zelda finished for him, which earned a quiet chuckle from Link. "However, you must keep in mind that you will have to converse with them at the ceremony. Especially considering that you are the deemed hero of Hyrule."
Link's disappointment must have registered clearly on his face, because at his expression, the princess let out a gentle laugh.
"Do not worry," she assured him. "I promise, I'll prepare you as much as I can."
"Goddesses, I sure hope so," Link confessed. "This whole thing is honestly freaking me out. The only person I'm looking forwards to seeing is Barnes…and you, if there's a chance we run into each other."
Link's cheeks immediately reddened as he processed what he just admitted. However, Zelda didn't seem to mind, giving him another one of her usual polite smiles.
"I think there is a good chance we may see one another," she told him. "Unless if guests aren't completely bombarding me with questions about my wedding, that is…"
Zelda trailed off as her expression noticeably darkened. However, Link didn't speak on it and decided to continue their conversation. Maybe he could lighten whatever bad mood she had just fallen into.
"The court is just nosy." Link waved it off. "If I were you, I'd tell them to move along and go converse with those other gossip-infested snobs."
A genuine smile cracked across Zelda's face before she burst into a surprised fit of laughter, the dark look she had previously held suddenly gone. Link chuckled with her, secretly proud of himself that he had made her genuinely laugh.
"Oh, if only I could be so blunt, Sir Link," Zelda admitted after her small laughing fit. "If only."
Link snickered. "Why not?"
"Why not?" Zelda repeated incredulously. "My father would kill me! He is a man of honor, after all. He likely believes that if I were to ever make a fool of myself, he would too be seen as a fool."
Link processed her words thoughtfully. That was possibly the first time she had ever spoken of her father in front of him, and if he had to guess from that short statement, he would say that her father was likely a strict man. Link couldn't really blame him for it, admittedly. He had a kingdom to run, and soon enough, so would his daughter.
He just hoped that the king wasn't too hard on the princess. She was under a lot of fire, and had been since the Twilight Invasion. Since her decision to surrender the kingdom, many citizens were in disapproval of her taking the throne. Link even remembered a few people in Ordon who weren't very fond of her.
He believed that it wasn't very fair to expect so much from someone who had barely experienced adulthood. After all, her decision to surrender the kingdom had ultimately kept most citizens much safer from harm, although the psychological aftermaths of being trapped as a spirit for months were quite drastic. Link had heard many stories of some citizens who became so mentally disturbed that they still believed they were living in the war.
It was very sad, but a difficult situation. Link believed that the only person who was at fault was Zant, and nobody else. The princess was not the cause of Hyrule's destruction; evil was.
"Anyway, enough of that topic," Zelda quickly said, seemingly eager to get away from the topic of her father. "Would you like to meet my horse, Sir Link? He is very kind."
Link nodded, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. "I would like that, Your Highness." He looked back at Epona and began to gently stroke her neck. "I'll be back soon, okay girl?"
Epona snorted and nuzzled further into his hand. Then, the princess began to walk towards the other side of the stable, so Link quickly followed her. As they drew nearer to Zelda's horse, Link realized how exceptionally large Ash truly was. He was even bigger than Epona, but he was a beautiful horse, with a silvery gray coat and a white mane. Link was sure if he had attempted to buy a horse like that back in Ordon, it would have costed a fortune.
"Ash's size may be intimidating, but he wouldn't hurt a fly," Zelda told Link as she ran a gloved hand through the stallion's thick mane. "He certainly is not a biter, either. No offense to Epona."
Link laughed and began to pet her horse, who nuzzled affectionately into his hand. "He's a beautiful horse," he remarked. "A stallion like him would have costed a fortune back in my hometown."
Zelda took her hand from Ash and knelt towards the two buckets she had been previously carrying, which held water and a pile of oats. "Yes, Ash is quite a rare breed." She picked a handful of oats and began to feed the stallion. "Would you like to feed him?"
Link shrugged indifferently. "Sure. Why not?"
Zelda gave him a smile and placed the rest of the oats she held in his hand. As she placed it in his hand, he couldn't help but notice how small her hand was in comparison to his. Hers was small and dainty, while his was large and calloused, almost twice the size. He didn't want to admit it, but he couldn't deny the chill that ran up his arm as her gloved fingers slightly brushed against his own.
And he couldn't deny the odd longing to be in contact with her again as she pulled her hand away.
Goddesses, he was pathetic.
Link brushed his admittedly embarrassing intrusive thoughts to the side as he began to feed Ash. A brief silence followed, until Zelda spoke up to politely start another conversation.
"Sir Link, I was wondering if there was anybody you would like to personally invite to the promotion ceremony?" she asked curiously. "Knighthood is a high accomplishment, so many of the promoted are able to bring certain guests that they would like to be accompanied by."
Link felt his body freeze at the question. His mind had immediately jumped to his family, but his fears quickly talked him out of it. He knew eventually he had to speak with them, but he was so afraid if they were still angry with him for leaving without notice. The person he was most fearful of was Ilia, because in contrast to the rest of his family, he knew she was upset about it. He couldn't blame her much. He told her he would come back, but he never did. His promises were nothing but empty.
But a part of him genuinely wanted to invite them to the promotion ceremony, a part of him that longed to see his family again. But he was afraid.
Terrified.
"I…I don't believe I do, Your Highness," Link mumbled awkwardly.
Zelda gave him a knowing look, one that made him feel like she was reading his mind. "Not anybody at all?"
Link swallowed. "No, Your Highness. Not that I can think of."
An awkward silence fell between the pair, as Zelda studied him in a way that made him feel that she was magically seeing his thoughts. After a few tense moments, the princess let out a sigh and slumped her shoulders.
"Sir Link…I do not mean to pry into your private life, but I am positive your family would love to come."
Link swallowed. He figured she would bring that up.
"I don't really…" Link cleared his throat. "I don't…I don't know…"
"Do not invite them if you truly don't feel comfortable. But I will tell you that they do want to see you."
Goddesses, she really seemed sure of herself. Why was that?
Link raised an eyebrow at her, suddenly beginning to feel his walls form up. "No, you don't know that," he snapped defensively.
A look of hurt immediately flashed across those dark, unreadable eyes of hers. Link felt his cheeks redden with shame, appalled at the fact that he had snapped at the princess, and likely hurt her feelings, no less. He quickly scrambled for a way to apologize.
"I—I'm sorry, Your…Your Highness," he mumbled awkwardly. "I didn't mean to be short—"
"Sir Link. I completely understand." Zelda waved him off, but he couldn't help but notice that she seemed a little on edge. "I am sorry that I brought it up." Her expression darkened and she looked away from him. "But…there is something that I must confess. I shouldn't have kept it from you."
Link swallowed nervously as his mind raced to guess what she was talking about. What on earth could she have possibly hidden from him?
"I…I do not mean to pry into your private life, but this is something that unfortunately involves me as well…" Zelda trailed off for a quick moment. Shockingly enough, she was the one who looked nervous. "Your…your father, Rusl, sent my father a letter. About you."
At that moment, time seemed to stand completely still. Link suddenly felt that it was hard to stay upright, feeling as if his knees were soon to buckle. He couldn't even begin to believe what the princess had just said. His mind wouldn't let him.
Rusl sent the king a letter. About him.
His own father, who he hadn't spoken to in a year. His own father, who he missed with every day that passed.
"…What?" was all Link could choke out, his eyes wide.
Zelda glanced at him uneasily. "Yes…he said he didn't know how to reach you, so he resorted to sending my father a message instead. He just wanted ask my father how you were doing. I believe he's a bit worried."
Link ran a hand through his messy locks and began to pace around the stable. His father was worried about him. His family was worried about him.
"What did he…" Link stopped pacing and set his gaze upon the princess. "What did he say? In the letter?"
Zelda gazed back at him, a noticeable hint of uneasiness in those dark eyes of hers.
"He essentially told my father that he understood why you left home," Zelda told him quietly, "and he understood why you have been keeping to yourself all these months. He just wants to know if you are okay."
Okay. His father wanted to know if he was okay.
Was he even okay?
"I just believe you had the right to know, before my father gave him a response," Zelda went on. "I didn't want to bring it up in our prior meeting. You have a lot of things on your plate. It just wasn't the right time."
Link let out an exasperated sigh and slumped his shoulders forward. "This is…thank you, Your Highness. It's a lot to take in…but I'm glad you told me about it first."
Zelda looked at him with a slight hint of concern in her eyes. "You deserved to know. If you'd like, you can write your own response to the letter instead of my father and I. It can be easily arranged."
A wave of nerves flooded Link's body. Of course he wanted to give his father a response, but what could he say? There was so much to tell, so much he wanted to apologize for. He didn't think he could even fit everything he wanted to say in one short letter.
He just wanted to tell Rusl everything. He had longed for it, whether he would like to admit it or not. He longed for the familiar, comforting presence of his father—of his family.
"Your Highness…of course I would like to give him a response." Link gave her a kind smile, now finally beginning to feel a bit more calmed down about the situation. "I've wanted nothing more than to talk to him again."
Zelda looked relieved. "I am glad. Family is very important. I'm sure yours means the absolute world to you."
"They do. More than anything."
Link smiled—genuinely smiled—suddenly feeling as if an enormous weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He had worried for so long that his family hated him for what he did, hated him for never coming back, but of course, he was proved wrong. His family still loved him, no matter what. They understood him like nobody else ever could.
Zelda was right the entire time.
"Thank…thank you so much, Your Highness," Link said after a few moments of silence, his tone full of genuine gratitude. "I…I could not be more happy that you contacted me before you gave him a response. Truly."
Zelda's lips slightly upturned in a veiled smile. "It was the right thing to do," she told him softly, her dark eyes piercing into his. "I am just glad I could be of help."
Link stared back at her, suddenly feeling as if he was becoming lost in those strange, complex eyes of hers. They had only just recently become acquaintances, and yet she was sympathetic towards his situation like an old friend would be. She genuinely wanted to help him. He could see it when he first spoke to her about his family, he could see it when she offered to help prepare him for the promotion ceremony, and he could see it now.
She wasn't the cold, emotionless princess everybody described her to be. Hidden beneath was a woman who cared deeply without reason to, who put everybody first before herself. She was a guarded woman, surely, but her ability to genuinely sympathize towards other's situations completely melted that icy exterior she held.
And that ability would make her out to be a wonderful queen. Link knew it.
"Your Highness…" Link trailed off as he stumbled over his words. "…thank you."
Zelda let out a soft laugh, possibly at his stuttering, and ran a hand down Ash's neck. Her expression was passive, as usual. "I only bring Ash oats as a treat on special occasions," she said, suddenly changing the topic for some unrevealed reason. "Apparently, hay is much better for horses."
"So I've heard." Link set his gaze at the bucket of water on the ground. "Don't you want to give him the water, though?"
Zelda followed his gaze towards the water bucket. "Oh! I was just going to use the water if I needed to clean him, which I don't. He already has plenty water in his stable."
Zelda picked up another handful of oats and held it up to Ash's muzzle. He neighed in delight and happily began to munch on the food, which Link thought was extremely adorable. Ash was a sweet horse.
"Sir Link, I must say, I am curious about your family," Zelda suddenly spoke up, drawing Link's attention from Ash. "I was told that you do not hold a surname."
Link scratched the back of his neck timidly.
"Ah, yeah…about that. My family sort of…took me in when I was young."
Zelda looked intrigued. "How old were you?"
"Hmmm…let's see…" Link looked to the ceiling thoughtfully. "I believe I was about the age of five."
Zelda raised her eyebrows in interest. "Your family sounds like it is full of wonderful individuals. To take in somebody so young and raise them as their own."
"Yeah, they're great. Most genuine people I've ever met."
Zelda gave him a soft smile. "Where were you before they took you in? An orphanage, I presume?"
Link gulped nervously at the question, realizing that their conversation was quickly spiraling towards a topic he had no desire to speak about.
"I…well…I lived with my dad," Link mumbled in reply. "My real dad."
Zelda's eyes flashed with shock, but she quickly masked it. "You remember your real father?"
Link's blue gaze darkened. "I wouldn't even consider him my real father," he said lowly.
His biological father was not apart of his life. And to be frank, he was glad it was that way.
And that was the end of that conversation. Zelda eyed him with concern but pressed no further, which Link was immensely grateful for. He suddenly felt glad that the princess could read him so well.
"What was Ordon like?" she asked, clearly attempting to change the topic.
Link felt relieved that they were talking of something else. "It's beautiful," he told her softly. "It's a very poor province, of course, but I'll always love it. You've never been?"
Zelda shook her head. "Unfortunately, I have not. I wish I could."
"Why can't you?"
Zelda let out a sigh. "My father claims it is a pointless venture."
Link studied her for a moment, realizing that she almost looked a bit…sad. He came to the conclusion that she was likely a bit isolated, which he didn't think was fair to her at all. If she was soon to rule an entire kingdom, she might as well travel and get to know it. She likely longed to do so.
"Ah, that's nonsense," Link said, waving her off. "It's not pointless at all."
"Tell that to my father," Zelda joked, laughing gently. However, her veil was slightly cracked, revealing a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
Link suddenly felt the need to cheer her up. "I could always take you," he blurted without a thought.
Zelda raised a questionable brow at him, which made Link feel as if he was shrinking to the floor in embarrassment. Why did he even say that?
Link quickly scrambled for a way to redeem himself. "I…I mean…hypothetically?" he squeaked. "Like, maybe in the future, or like…I dunno…when you have free time?"
Link's face was now burning red, mortified at how awkward he was making this situation. However, Zelda's curious look had quickly turned into a more amused one, the corners of her lips twitching slightly, and her eyes sparkling with clear mirth.
"Maybe in the future, Sir Link…" Zelda stared at him knowingly, her mouth now curled into an amused smirk. "Maybe."
Link swallowed thickly. "Yes, Your Highness. Maybe."
Zelda let out a small laugh and went back to petting Ash, thankfully not speaking on Link's rambling. "By the way, Sir Link, I don't require of you to call me by my formal title. 'Princess Zelda,' or just simply 'Zelda' would be fine in private."
Link's brows practically shot to the top of his head. "I can call you by your first name?"
"If you are comfortable with it, then yes. I don't mind."
"But only in private?"
Zelda laughed again and turned back towards him. "Unfortunately, yes. It is considered to be disrespectful by the court, and I don't want you receiving any sort of resentment from them for it."
Link nodded. "Ah, yeah. That would be bad."
"Dreadful indeed." Zelda smiled and focused her attention back on Ash, stroking the side of his neck soothingly.
Link smiled to himself as another thought came to him. "So…if I'm allowed to call you by your first name…does that mean you can just call me 'Link?'"
Zelda turned back towards him once again, her dark eyes sparkling with playfulness. "Hmmm…no. I like 'Sir Link' much better."
Link gawked at her. "What?" he blurted loudly. "C'mon. If I get to refer to you with just your name, you have to do the same. It's part of the deal!"
"I don't believe there was a deal to begin with, Sir Link." She raised a brow at him, her pink lips curled into a playful smirk.
"Deal or no deal, Sir Link is a little too fancy for my taste," Link told her. "I'd prefer Link."
"And I'd prefer Sir Link."
Link rolled his eyes playfully. "Sir Link is boring. Makes me sound like a pompous ass."
That earned a small burst of giggles to erupt from the princess's lips, her melodious laughter like music to his ears. He was convinced that it was the best sound he had ever heard.
"Maybe Link is a bit better," Zelda said in between laughs.
Link snorted. "Agreed, Zelda."
Zelda's eyes softened at Link calling her by her first name, and she gave him a small smile. Link smiled back, again becoming lost in those haunting, dark eyes of hers—eyes that he deemed were the most entrancing thing he had ever laid his gaze upon.
Then, abruptly, Link heard the sound of a man's voice behind them, snapping him out of his spell-like trance.
"Zelda, my love. There you are."
Link and Zelda both turned to see a man walking into the stable, wearing an finely embellished brown tunic with gold lacings lining the shoulders, and a simple black cloak that waved gently in the breeze. Every physical feature of his was completely perfect—his dark curls that sat flawlessly atop his head, his brows that were manicured to perfection, and his smooth, pale skin that seemed practically untouched. He was strangely faultless, almost making him seem a bit more feminine than the average man.
It took Link a moment to recognize the man, and when he did, his eyes shot wide with shock.
Prince Aiden. Zelda's fiancé.
Aiden walked towards them, almost gracefully, Link would dare to say, and stopped a few feet in front of them. He flicked his gaze to Link for a split second, his eyes holding an indescribable emotion, before he settled his attention back at the princess standing before him.
"Who is this?" he asked her, not even sparing Link another glance.
Link eyed the princess, who for some odd reason, seemed extremely tense. Her posture was overly rigid, and her expression was placid, her mouth formed into a straight line.
"This is Sir Link, hero of Hyrule," Zelda introduced, the tone of her voice strangely hardened. "I just happened to see him when I was walking down here. He is a friend of mine."
A friend? Link forced a smile off his face as he did an internal cheer. They were friends. She said they were friends.
However, his silent moment of celebration was quickly interrupted as he noticed that Prince Aiden was eying him again, in possibly the most bizarre and uncomfortable way he had ever experienced. Link instantly recoiled from his strange gaze and looked away, unable to even meet the prince's eye.
Goddesses, why was this so tense? Even the princess seemed on edge, which didn't make any sense. It was her fiancé, not some stranger.
Or maybe, yet again, he was just overthinking things. He could be a bit too observant at times.
"…Very well," Prince Aiden said, finally ripping his gaze from Link. "Your father told me you were here. He wanted to inform you that we will be dining soon."
Zelda almost looked as if she had gotten paler. "What specific time?"
"In about thirty minutes. Come, your ladies in waiting will help you prepare."
Zelda visibly swallowed. Link was suddenly beginning to feel wary by the minute, because by goddesses, he had never seen the princess look so anxious before. She was always so composed, but now she looked as if she was struggling to hold back something.
"Just…give me a few more minutes with my horse," she finally said, almost sounding a bit irritated.
Aiden immediately shook his head. "Not possible. I don't wish for you to be late. Again."
Link's ears perked at the clear bite in the prince's tone. Was he referring to when Link had made her late to dinner a few days prior? She seemed a bit anxious about it, but she had told him that it wasn't a big deal. Had she lied to him then?
Zelda's eyes closed as she drew a silent breath, her thick, delicate lashes fluttering against her pale skin. It seemed that she was growing more irritated by the seconds.
"If I could just stay with Ash for a bit more, it wouldn't make a difference—"
"Zelda. Get ready. Now."
Link suddenly felt awkward as he watched the strangely tense confrontation, feeling as if he was eavesdropping on a conversation he wasn't supposed to be hearing. There must have been some elephant in the room, because the way Zelda was glaring at her fiancé almost made Link himself want to recoil in fear.
Goddesses, Link really could not figure out what the hell was going on. There was something odd between the two, clearly, but he had no idea what that might be. After all, he had always heard that they were such a happy couple. Maybe they were both just having a rough day?
Whatever it might have been, it was weird. Link wanted nothing more than to leave that stable and head back to his chambers for the night.
"That is…fine," Zelda mumbled, finally setting her gaze to her feet. "You can begin heading up. I will see you soon."
Aiden gave her a wide smile, showing off his perfectly aligned pearly teeth. It was almost too perfect, to the point where it seemed almost fake.
"See you soon, my love." He gently grasped her fingers and pressed a kiss to her gloved hand, his lips lingering there for a bit longer than usual. Then, he pulled away and walked off, his finely embellished cloak billowing around his feet.
Zelda seemed stiff with annoyance, and possibly a slight hint of fear. Link studied her cautiously as she silently picked up the two buckets off the ground, her delicate jaw seemingly a bit tighter than usual.
A few awkward moments of silence passed as Zelda continued to feed Ash some oats. Link honestly didn't know what to say, or what to even ask, because a thousand questions were swirling in his mind with every second that ticked.
It was possibly the oddest interaction he had seen in quite some time. He just couldn't figure it out.
"Your High—Zelda," Link spoke up, breaking the tense silence. "If…if it was a problem when I made you late to dinner with your father a few nights prior, why didn't you just tell me—"
"That matter has nothing to do with your concern," the princess interrupted coldly.
She stopped feeding Ash and turned back towards Link, setting her impossibly cold gaze upon him. It was then that he suddenly understood why people called her the ice princess. A set jaw, dark eyes void of any emotion, and a bitter, callous voice were all the people had ever known from her. He was looking at it now; the face of a guarded, unfeeling young woman of royalty, a woman who was born to rule.
Then, her expression softened, and the moment passed. Her face resorted to her naturally passive look, and she let out a deep sigh.
"I will…I will arrange a meeting soon so we can discuss more of your knighthood," Zelda said mechanically. "Good day."
With that, the princess turned on her heel and quickly stalked off, carrying the two buckets at her sides. Link just watched her go in astonishment.
He had absolutely no idea what had just happened. All he knew was that there was likely so much he didn't know, so much that she hadn't told him.
And he was determined to find out.
