Author's Note: Welcome back everyone and welcome to Book II! A few little housekeeping things before we get started:
The honorific "-chan" in the context of this story is being used in a diminutive, affectionate way. The character that uses it is basically using it to be close with the character they're addressing since it implies closeness and friendship. And as a quick reminder "-san" is just a general sign of respect (i.e. Mr. or Ms.) and "-sama" is for honoring somebody above your station, like Royalty.
That's all I wanted to clear up at the front this time! I hope you enjoy the start of the new arc!
Book II – Family
Chapter 10 – Little Sister
Winter had well and truly descended upon Hateno Village a week and a half into the new year. The temperature had dropped significantly and the potential for snowfall loomed on the horizon. Though the skies remained fairly clear, it was quite common this time of year for the town to wake up one morning to find itself blanketed in light, fluffy snow. It was likely just a matter of time until it happened again.
The young farming village, though still recovering from the Yiga Clan's attack, had managed to come together in the face of their new struggles and support one another valiantly. Link's students were practicing harder than ever, Glenne and Anya had welcomed Celene and Syd into their home until a new house could be built for them, and the villagers stopped whatever they were doing when someone else passed to check in on their wellbeing.
Ira, who had taken it upon herself to handle most of the aftermath of the end of year attack, had contacted the building company that had been responsible for her restaurant and general store combination: Bolson Construction. It was a relatively young organization, but their track record was already impressive and the quality of their work was undeniable. With them in charge of building the replacement house, it wouldn't be long before Celene and Syd had a home of their own once more.
On the second day of the new year, Hyrulean soldiers from Fort Hateno had arrived in the village, responding to the request that had been delivered on the final eve of the past month. They had taken Melo and the other five members of the Yiga Clan into custody and presumably transferred them to the holding cells in the fort itself. Though Ira had been pretty badly affected by everything that had happened, everyone took notice of the fact that her face looked a bit less pained when she saw her brother off one last time.
Perhaps they had been able to sort through everything after all.
All things considered, Zelda found herself doing fairly well at the start of the new year. She still had nightmares occasionally but none of them were about the kidnapping ordeal, just the usual visions her mind plagued her with some nights. But, given that she was almost taken away by the accursed Yiga Clan just ten days prior, she was settling into life at home again quite easily.
'Home…'
Ever since Link had told her he wanted her to stay, ever since she had finally admitted that she wanted with all her heart to live in Hateno alongside him, she had found it easier to think of Link's home as her own. She didn't believe herself entitled to anything inside it, of course, but she was becoming comfortable and confident enough to treat it as a place she wasn't simply a guest in.
It was a strange feeling, that sense of real belonging.
Zelda had felt not like a guest at the Castle but instead like an intruder. Hilda had chased her from guest room to guest room until she had been given no choice but to join the servants at the bottom of the Castle. After that, her presence had been tolerated at best and bemoaned at worst.
But that wasn't the case anymore.
Here, Link was happy to have her around. He greeted her with a smile every morning. His words were warm when he addressed her. His face was relaxed and content when she tied his hair to start each day. His eyes were bright and his smile infectious.
Zelda caught herself smiling a lot more lately. It wasn't because her past had suddenly evaporated. No, it was because her present had improved so dramatically. And her future might just keep improving.
She had believed the arranged marriage her father had proposed between herself and Link would end in failure. She had been convinced that Link would tire of her almost immediately and reject her, even though she was a member of the Royal Family. Even her father and sister would have to accept his unhappiness with her; they felt the same way themselves, after all.
But now, Zelda wasn't sure what to think. It was looking increasingly likely that her arranged marriage would pan out in full. So Link was to be…her husband? The word tickled her tongue, as if an unfamiliar spice had been applied to her breakfast. It wasn't unpleasant but it was something she had never considered would be possible for herself. It seemed more and more feasible the longer she stayed with Link though. He had assured her every time she had been consumed by doubt that she was safe and welcome with him here in Hateno Village and that he would never let someone take her away again.
It made her heart soar when she thought about that. She didn't yet dwell on why that was the case.
And so, on the Tenth Moon of the First Month, Zelda wanted to venture into town that afternoon to check in on Ira. She had been relatively hesitant to do so at first but Link had encouraged her, offering to accompany her and back her up. His support really did go a long way to helping her come out of her shell little by little. To that end, the pair donned their winter attire – Zelda in her white jacket and Link in a fitted olive coat – and journeyed out into the brisk air, headed for the general store to pay a visit to its owner.
"Don't be so nervous," Link offered, trying to encourage her with a smile and nod.
Zelda just took a quick breath and managed to nod. She had been trembling lightly with uncertainty for the entire walk so far...
"Really," he continued, "she'll be thrilled to see you. You don't even have to talk about Melo at all. Just chat with her and treat her like normal. She'll open up to you when she's ready."
"You're…absolutely right. I worry she might think I want her to talk about Melo with me, but truly I only…want her to be okay."
"She's very lucky to have you worrying about her like that. Even if she's having a pretty rough day, I know your presence will cheer her up."
"Do you really think so?"
"I'm positive."
As it turned out, however, Ira was all smiles when they arrived. Zelda was a little surprised – the woman had been pretty quiet and melancholic since Melo had been taken away. But now it seemed like she had returned to the person Zelda had met that day Link had first taken her into town.
"Hey Ira," Link called out.
The shop owner looked up from her counter and grinned brightly.
"Hey! How are you two?"
"Um…q-quiet well, thank you," Zelda managed. She was a little thrown off by just how chipper Ira was today.
"That's wonderful to hear! You two came just in time!"
Link raised an eyebrow as a wary grin appeared on his face.
"Just in time for what?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just a little surprise."
"Ira…? I get the feeling I should be more worried about this than you're leading me to believe."
Zelda watched as Ira laughed jovially and shook her head.
"Nah, not at all! Have I ever lied to you, Link?"
"…how honest do you want me to be right now?"
Ira just waved her hand.
"Ah, I promise it's nothing to worry about! Besides, it's not going to be a secret for long."
"What do you-"
Link was interrupted as an arm flew around his shoulder and pulled him closer. Zelda tried to turn towards the source of this arm but was shocked to feel another wrap around her own shoulders. Taken completely by surprise, she glanced back and forth, unable to decide which way to look.
When she finally collected herself enough to glance to her right, her eyes fell on the face of a beautiful young woman. Her hair was blonde in much the same way Link's was, cut relatively short and pulled into a small ponytail on the left side of her head. She was close enough – far too close, honestly – that Zelda could easily make out her blue eyes. They looked so familiar but she wasn't sure why.
By the time she took in the rest of her appearance, Zelda still couldn't figure out who she was from sight alone. She was slightly shorter than herself and wore a sapphire blue winter coat. Her outfit didn't suggest any particular village or town of origin but she was quite certain she would remember someone with such a dazzling smile had they lived here in Hateno. Who was she?
"Ari? What are you doing here?"
Link's voice was filled with abject surprise. Zelda had been around him long enough now that she could tell he was truly taken aback by this development…whatever it was. The most she could ascertain was that he knew this person.
The mystery woman spoke in a cheerful voice a moment later.
"Yep, it's me! And what do you mean 'what am I doing here?' I missed you so I came to see you!"
'She…missed him?'
Zelda tried not to dwell on the fact that those words made her feel an inexplicable pang of jealousy.
"No, I mean what are you doing here at Ira's? You didn't even drop by to let me know you were in town first?"
The young woman grinned and averted her eyes, tightening her hold on both of them.
"Oh, oops! When I got here, I smelled lunch cooking at Ira's place and decided I'd come eat first then drop by and say hi! Besides, I wasn't sure if you were even home today. You go out a lot, you know."
"Um," Zelda finally managed, her voice almost nonexistent in the face of this energetic newcomer.
The young woman turned towards her with wide eyes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm totally ignoring you!" she apologized, flashing her bright smile towards Zelda. "You must be Link's fiancée, right? Wow, you're so pretty! Who does your hair? I wish my hair looked like that!"
Zelda's cheeks flushed almost immediately as the stranger's compliments washed over her ears. She had never heard things like that before and it was all she could do not to dissolve into a stammering mess.
"Easy, Ari," Link cautioned her, finally extricating himself from her grip. "Don't overwhelm her."
'Ari' removed her arm from Zelda's shoulders at last and fixed her with an enormous, toothy grin. Her teeth were flawless.
"My bad! I just wanted to surprise the two of you! When Ira saw you coming across town, I asked her to keep the fact that I was here a secret so I could sneak up on you!"
Ira laughed from behind the counter once more, raising her arms and pressing her wrists together.
"Sorry about that. My hands were tied!"
Link sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose before addressing the newcomer again.
"You know you shouldn't sneak up on people like that. What if someone thought you were attacking them and drew a weapon on you?"
She waved her hand and raised an eyebrow, though.
"You don't have a weapon on you anyway, right? I'm good enough to assess my targets before I strike, you know. It's not like Dad skimped out on teaching me the same things he taught you."
Zelda, however, latched onto her wording and spoke at last.
"'Dad?' D-did your father…perhaps help instruct Link at some point?"
The young woman's face changed for the first time, her bright smile being replaced by utter confusion. Link, however, stepped forward and gave Zelda an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, Zelda. This must all be taking you by surprise, huh?"
"Y-yes…"
Link gestured to the beautiful young woman with the short blonde hair and the cheery disposition.
"This is my little sister, Aryll. I call her Ari for short."
"Little…sister…?"
Zelda was completely baffled by this revelation. She had known Link's father had once been a knight in service to the Kingdom, but she had been entirely unaware of the rest of his family. This total bewilderment wasn't lost on Aryll as she turned to Link, an exaggerated scowl on her face.
"You didn't tell her about me, did you!? Look at that reaction – she had absolutely no idea I existed before this moment!"
Link gave her an apologetic smile.
"It's not like I was trying to keep you a secret, but there's been a lot going on since Zelda first got here and you never really came up."
"I never came up!?" she cried, lifting a wrist to her forehead in quite the dramatic fashion. "I'm your only sister, Link! Why wouldn't you tell the woman you're going to marry about me?"
Zelda's face burned scarlet as Aryll said those particular words.
"Like I said," Link continued, "it wasn't personal or anything. There's still a lot we're learning about each other. But you shouldn't make a scene here at Ira's."
The shop owner just laughed and waved her hand.
"Nah, cause a scene if you like! This is the most fun I've had in days!"
"Ira, you're not helping," Link muttered, sighing heavily.
"Well, fine then," Aryll huffed, rolling her eyes. "I guess I'm just not important enough to tell your new fiancée about at any point in the first…oh, how long has it been, two months since you met her."
"O-oh, it…wasn't as if he refused to tell me," Zelda added quickly, her heart beating a bit faster now. "I…should've asked what his family was like…"
Aryll stepped forward and seized her hands, giving her a blindingly bright grin.
"Don't blame yourself at all; it's not your fault! It's my scatterbrained brother who never realized you might be interested in his family!"
"Ari," Link sighed heavily, "you're overwhelming her again. Relax a little."
"I'm perfectly relaxed! I'm just so excited to meet her! You know what, I can't just keep calling her 'your fiancée,' either," she added, turning her attention back to Zelda. "So! Tell me your name!"
"Uh, um, I, uh…I'm Z-Zelda."
"Zelda! What a lovely name! Everything about you is so lovely! And beautiful too!"
The heat that rushed to Zelda's face was so powerful she was worried she might pass out.
"Ari," Link cautioned, physically pulling her away from Zelda, "that's enough for now, okay? I may be used to your antics but Zelda's not. Be easier with her."
Aryll finally took a step back and nodded, but her smile never faded.
"Okay, okay, fine. Sorry if I was a little too intense there, Zel-chan!"
"Z-Zel-chan?" she repeated, completely taken by surprise.
"Of course! Do you mind? I figured we should be relaxed with each other since you're gonna be my sister!"
All Zelda could manage to do was stutter and stammer as words failed her.
"Ari, you've got to calm down some," Link chided her, an annoyed frown on his face.
She was undeterred though and raised an eyebrow, throwing a mischievous gaze at him.
"Oh, come on! You've got to lighten up! If she doesn't like it, I won't use it, don't worry. Course, she'd have had a much better idea of what to expect from me if she'd, I dunno, known I exist before five minutes ago."
"Okay, fine. I'm sorry I didn't tell her about you before now." There was a fair amount of resignation in Link's voice.
"Thanks! Next question, though – you keep saying relax and be easy with her, but how exactly am I supposed to be then? If my normal self is too much, then does that mean I'm supposed to be all stiff and formal and obedient?"
"No, you don't have-"
Link couldn't even finish his words before Aryll fell into a kneeling position and lowered her head to Zelda, who was completely beside herself in shock.
"Exalted Princess Zelda-sama! My name is Aryll, a lowly denizen of Lurelin Village in the south of this province. I am incredibly humbled and deeply honored to make your acquaintance today and apologize profusely if my behavior has left you feeling any manner of discomfort. One such as myself is hardly worthy to lay a hand on your shoulder and I shall never again forsake my place at your feet, regardless of your marital status with my hardheaded brother."
Before anyone could respond, she jerked her head around and met Link's gaze, raising an eyebrow and flashing a grin yet again.
"Like that?"
"You really are incorrigible…" Link sighed again, rolling his eyes.
Zelda, however, was stricken by a strange realization. She had a decent idea now that everything Aryll had just said was hyperbole. She had been proving a point and exaggerating it to a ridiculous degree. But…if Zelda had been treated as a real Princess her entire life, would this be how people behaved around her? Subservient to a fault and constantly demeaning themselves before her?
She didn't like that at all.
It was uncomfortably similar to how she had been expected to present herself to her own sister for most of her life. And although she would never say it out loud so soon, the idea that Aryll wanted to be her sister and had so loudly proclaimed it a moment ago made her happy. Very happy. And while it also embarrassed her, she would never let someone who wanted to see her as a real sister behave the way she had been made to with Hilda.
Even though she was well aware it was all a joke to Aryll, she couldn't stop herself from kneeling down, drawing the blonde woman's gaze.
"Y-you…s-shouldn't ever be that way…with me. I'd…much prefer you be your normal self. Please...feel free t-to use that nickname. I don't want…anyone to ever demean themselves like that in front of me…"
Aryll and Link gazed at her in surprise before the former's face lit up.
"Oh, you are just so sweet and cute and thoughtful!" she squealed, throwing her arms around Zelda and pulling her into a hug.
Zelda was so startled by the sudden contact she couldn't even blush.
"Zel-chan, you're so nice! I was just proving a point, don't worry! I won't be that way with you; I'm sure you wouldn't like it, right?"
"N-no, I…I wouldn't," she admitted.
Aryll nodded vigorously, still hugging her close and nuzzling her with her cheek.
"I knew it! I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable but you are so sweet to say all that to me! Ahh! I love you!"
This time, Zelda's face caught fire and her words failed her completely.
"Link!" Aryll exclaimed, turning her eyes to her older brother. "She's so wonderful! Can I take her home with me!?"
"Absolutely not," Link shot back. Though his tone wasn't harsh, his eyes seemed a bit more intense than a simple joke would have suggested.
"Please?"
"Not a chance."
"Aw, lighten up," Aryll teased, still hugging Zelda in their kneeling position, "I was just teasing! But I guess it's good to know that my stoic, loner older brother is protective of his fiancée and wouldn't want to let her go away with anyone but him!"
It was Link's turn for his cheeks to turn red. Zelda wondered if it had more to do with his sister's words than the temperature of the room this time…
"A-Ari," Link began weakly, but trailed off.
Finally, Aryll released Zelda and leaped to her feet, offering her a hand. Zelda timidly took it before being hefted to her own feet as well. She was a bit startled by how suddenly she flew upwards; Link's sister was deceptively strong.
"Welp, I think my surprise was a big success! Did you have fun, Ira?" Aryll called across the shop.
Ira, whose smile was brighter than it had been in days, nodded, stifling her amused laughter.
"If I'd known I was going to get a show that good, I'd have paid you admission for it!"
Aryll winked across the room and flashed another dazzling smile.
"I can always accept payment retroactively."
Ira laughed again but Zelda wasn't sure how serious the two of them were being.
"Anyway," Link began again, having finally recovered enough to speak, "we were just here to see how Ira's doing but are you staying for the afternoon, Ari?"
"I am! I came up here to see you after all! And to meet Zel-chan!"
Zelda still found herself caught by surprise every time Aryll referred to her so affectionately, but it was…rather nice too.
"Well, we can head back home soon if you like," Link offered. "We can't intrude on Ira all day, can we?"
Ira just dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand but Aryll nodded in agreement.
"I'd say I've already had plenty of fun at her expense before you two got here. Hey, would you help me grab my plates from outside so Ira doesn't have to?"
"Why were you eating outside in this weather?" he asked, his face tinged with surprise.
Aryll just laughed.
"You know I love winter! Besides, is there anything better than hot soup on a cold day?"
"…I'm not sure I entirely agree, but I at least understand."
"Right!? Anyway, gimme a hand?"
"Sure," Link agreed at last.
Ira tried to protest but Aryll just shook her head and smiled.
"It's the least I can do to repay you for keeping me a secret earlier! We'll be right back!"
Zelda moved to follow the two out to the terrace but Link stepped beside her and spoke in a low voice.
"Let us take care of it. Why don't you check in on Ira?"
"O-oh…okay. Thank you. That's a…good idea."
"And I'm sorry about Ari. I'll tell you more about her once she heads home for the evening but I hope she's not too much for you to deal with."
"I-it's okay! Really. She's lovely. And…I'd love to hear more about her."
Link smiled and gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze before following his sister out onto the balcony. Zelda took a steadying breath and approached the counter, hoping she would be able to speak to Ira with a bit of composure as opposed to their first real chat back at the inn a few days prior.
"You okay, Zelda? Aryll really does like to put people through their paces, doesn't she?"
"O-oh, yes. I…I'm okay. She's very…energetic, but also very kind."
"Isn't she? Before you and Link got here, she was talking my ear off and teasing me like crazy! I missed that girl."
"Has Aryll-san come here often over the years?"
"She used to come by once every week or two before you got here. I think she took a break for a while so Link could settle into his new life with you."
"O-oh…I hope…I didn't make her feel like she wasn't welcome…"
"Nah, it wasn't anything like that, I'm sure. She's pretty aggressive but she's a very thoughtful and sweet girl. I'm sure she just wanted the two of you to be able to get to know each other without her being in the middle of it all. At least for a little bit. Seems like she's here to stay for how much a liking she just took to you!"
Zelda felt her cheeks darken but still managed to smile.
"I…would be quite glad…for the chance to get to know her."
"I'm sure she would be too."
"A-and…how are you…Ira? Are you doing…okay?"
The shop owner gave her a smile that was a bit more somber than it had been but she didn't completely succumb to sadness.
"I'm doing okay, yeah. After Melo and I talked about everything that day, I really started to understand just how much he's done for me over the years. He may not have gone about it the right way and those choices put you in danger and I'm still very upset about that. But I know he just wanted me to be safe and happy. It's strange…I'm so torn over whether to feel sad or hurt or heartbroken or betrayed or…any number of things."
"F-forgive me for being presumptuous…but…I don't think…you have to know just yet. I-it's only been…ten days and that's…not much time. S-so…you should just take your time and…let your emotions change as they need to."
Ira gave her a much warmer smile in response.
"Thank you, Zelda. I agree completely but it always helps to hear it from you, a lot more than just telling myself things like that. For today, though, don't worry about me – I'm just fine! You should just focus on actually getting to know Aryll! But if it's alright with you, I'd love to talk to you a little more sometime soon about…how you dealt with things involving your own sister, if you're okay talking about that."
Zelda felt her heart do a nervous flip but nodded all the same.
"I would…be happy to talk to you about anything. Especially…if it can help you some."
"You're very kind, Zelda. Thank you."
"O-oh, not at all."
About that time, Link and Aryll reentered the shop, several plates in hand. Link was muttering to his sister in disbelief.
"I can't believe you wouldn't even tell me you were here before lunch. I was less important than food?"
"Hey, can you really blame me? Ira's the best chef around! I haven't had her cooking in two months now! I was dying without it!"
Link gave her a grin and turned his collection of plates towards her.
"Yeah, I can tell. You sure ate enough to back up those words."
Aryll scowled at him and huffed indignantly.
"Don't you know you're never supposed to comment on how much a lady eats? It's rude!"
Link laughed lightly.
"A lady, yes. But you're my sister so it's my right as your older brother to make fun of you sometimes."
Aryll threw up an eyebrow and grinned at him.
"I'm gonna remind you you said that the next time you get on my case for teasing you."
"Not like anything I said would've made you stop anyway, would it?"
"Not a chance!"
Zelda watched the two with a smile. Aryll had been with them for only a handful of minutes and already she was seeing a different side to Link than she had witnessed so far. She had seen him be a calm, encouraging force in her own life, a stoic, guiding figure for many people in the village, and even an incomparably frightening warrior.
But this was new. Link was being a big brother today, with his usual composure nowhere to be found. He was relaxed and cracking jokes like she'd never heard before. This playful nature of his was really something to behold.
Zelda found it to be quite endearing.
A short time later, Link, Aryll, and Zelda had all returned to the house. Zelda was still reeling a little from finding out that Link had a sister at all, much less meeting her randomly the way she had, but Aryll was a very sweet person.
And extremely energetic.
As they entered the house, she vaulted the back of the couch and flopped down on the cushions, stretching out and making herself quite comfortable as she glanced around the room.
"Link, you still can't decorate to save your life," she noted. It didn't even really sound like a criticism, just a lazy observation.
"So you've said," he sighed, glancing at Zelda and rolling his eyes.
She couldn't fight the smile that stole her lips. It was very still so different to see Link behaving this way.
"Seriously, you ought to get some color in here! Change out these dull white curtains, get some brighter accents around the place. It's all white and brown and boring. Doesn't it make you insane, Zel-chan?"
"O-oh, no, not at all. I, um, I'm perfectly happy with however Link chooses to decorate."
"You're just being nice, though; you're a Princess and a woman of fine taste. In fact, maybe you could finally help my brother liven up this lifeless place!"
"M-me?"
"Yeah!" Aryll insisted, an excited smile on her face. "If you wanted to change things up, I bet he'd do it in a heartbeat!"
"Ari, what are you saying?" Link demanded. His voice was a little defensive, as if she'd said something to get under his skin.
'But what could that be…?'
"Just throwing out some suggestions. Anything to make your life a bit better than it was before. I don't know how you've survived living alone for so long now."
Link pinched the bridge of his nose before pulling out one of the chairs at the dining table and collapsing into it more heavily than usual. Zelda, lowering herself into a chair across from him, silently wondered if Aryll's presence was something he actually found tiring or if he was exaggerating things a little to give her a sense of satisfaction.
"You just came here to mess with me, huh?" Link asked at last, a somewhat amused grin on his face.
His sister waved a hand lazily from the couch, still sprawled out and relaxing without a care.
"Sure did. And to meet Zel-chan, of course!"
"Well, you met her. When are you going home?" Though his word choice was rather harsh, his subtle grin was still there and his tone was relaxed.
"Ouch, so cold!" she grumbled, though her bright smile never faded. "I haven't seen my only brother in two months and he wants to throw me out so quickly! Can you believe this, Zel-chan?"
"Don't drag her into the middle," Link huffed, his face growing serious at once. He was being oddly protective today.
"I'm not dragging her anywhere, don't worry. But it'd make sense if she thought it was strange that you aren't happy to see me after so long, right?"
"O-on that subject," Zelda began, earning both siblings' gaze, "I…am very sorry, Aryll-san, if my being here…made you feel like you weren't welcome these last two months. That was never my intention…"
Aryll sat up at last, an aggressive motion that rocked the entire couch.
"Okay, first off," she began, meeting Zelda's eyes with an enormous smile, "stop that formal stuff! If I get to call you Zel-chan, you should at least call me by my name alone. But you can even use Ari like Link if you want to! I don't mind!"
Zelda sputtered for a moment.
"Um, I, uh…I…m-may I just use your given name then?"
Aryll laughed lightly.
"Sure! I'd love it if you did! But second, you didn't do anything wrong! I'm the one who decided to not come by for a while to give you two a chance to settle in together. So you have nothing to apologize to me for at all!"
"I-if…you're certain…"
"Course I am! The list of things you'd ever have to apologize to me for is…really small. And it's things like burn my house down or kill my brother or something else terrible like that."
Zelda was horrified at Aryll's words.
"I-I would never! O-of course not!"
Link reached out and laid a comforting hand on her arm.
"Don't worry, Zelda; she's just making a point. You don't have to take her so seriously."
"O…okay…"
"Yeah, my bad!" Aryll continued. "I didn't realize you'd take that literally. Point is, you really have nothing to be sorry about. But my, this is a surprise!" She raised a hand to her mouth in mock wonder.
Link raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What is?"
"I've never seen you touch anyone so familiarly and caringly like that! Ooh, my little big brother's growing up so fast!"
Link's cheeks turned red in an instant.
"Ari!"
"What?" Her smile was still unabashed.
"If you really only came here to tease us all day, maybe I can find some way to make you useful at least," he huffed.
Aryll snapped her fingers suddenly, her eyes widening.
"Oh! That's right! I did have another reason for coming here today! I have to tell you something!"
Link met Zelda's eyes before drawing a steadying breath and bracing himself. He turned back towards his sister, his voice much calmer now that he'd recovered from her teasing a bit.
"I'm all ears then. If you'd come all the way here, it must be something important right?"
"Mm, probably not anything to really worry about. But since you're, you know, you, I figured you should know."
"Tell me what's up then," Link insisted, settling into the conversation a bit more. He really did seem quite at ease with her when she wasn't deliberately teasing him. It was very nice to witness.
Aryll leaned forward and a look of confusion spread across her face as she spoke.
"Well, the strangest thing happened on the last day of the year. These two Yiga goons snuck into Lurelin and tried to steal one of our fishing boats. I didn't realize who they were at the time and tried to stop 'em from sailing into the storm like idiots, but then they attacked me I guess to silence me or something. So I took care of 'em and that was that. But I figured you might want to know the Yiga are operating in the area for some reason. I doubt anything will come of it, but…what?"
She trailed off and raised an eyebrow as she noted the stunned looks on Zelda's and Link's faces. It was as if an enormous puzzle piece had been slotted into place at long last. Before Zelda could find the words to comment on the revelation, Link spoke, his voice bewildered.
"Wait, wait. So…you stopped the Yiga Clan from stealing a boat?"
"Yep."
"From Lurelin?"
"Duh."
"On the last day of the year?"
"Uh huh. What, were you spacing out or something?"
"No…sorry," he murmured, a thoughtful frown crossing his face. Aryll keyed into this immediately.
"What? Did I say something strange?"
Once Link remained silent for a moment, Zelda decided she'd do her best to answer Aryll's question. It was probably something Link felt a little hesitant to force her to relive as well, knowing how kind he was.
"Um," she began, earning the young woman's gaze, "y-you see…on the last day of this past year, I…was kidnapped by the Yiga while Link was returning home…from a summons to the Castle."
Aryll gasped loudly and shot out of her seat, rushing across the room and yanking out another chair beside Zelda. She fell into it and seized Zelda's hands, her eyes intense.
"What!? What happened!? Those rat-faced scum! I'll hunt them each and every one down myself for hurting my new sister! Where are they!?"
Zelda was a bit overwhelmed by Aryll's sudden intensity but was also flattered that she felt so strongly about her safety. Link, finally having recovered, answered in her stead.
"It's okay, Ari; I already took care of it. Only the leader got away. The rest have been imprisoned in Fort Hateno."
"Good," she huffed, squeezing Zelda's hands a little tighter. "I realize we met like an hour ago but I'm so glad you're okay, Zel-chan."
"T-thank you."
"So should I assume that boat was important to them or something?" Aryll continued, glancing over at Link. "Sounds like they might've been gearing up for an escape on the seas instead of hoofing it on foot and risking running into you."
"I may give you a hard time sometimes, but you're every bit as perceptive as I've ever managed to be," Link conceded, smiling at his sister. "That's exactly what was going on. The only reason I managed to get to Zelda and save her before they escaped was because that boat of theirs never showed up."
"Sounds about right," she agreed, frowning thoughtfully. "Then…me taking care of those two thieving losers actually helped you and I didn't even know it."
"M-more than 'helped,'" Zelda insisted, finally managing to muster the courage to squeeze Aryll's hands a little tighter herself. "You…probably saved my life that day…just like Link and all of his students did."
Aryll's mouth fell open.
"I can't believe something so small and strange in Lurelin was actually part of something so much bigger happening here…" she murmured.
Link nodded.
"It's funny the way things work out sometimes, isn't it?"
Aryll, however, rounded on Link a second later.
"And you didn't tell me!? Your fiancée almost gets kidnapped by the Yiga and the first I'm hearing about it is because I accidentally brought it up myself!?"
Link was dumbfounded and seemed at a loss for words entirely, a very rare sight indeed. Zelda once again decided to draw Aryll's attention away to give him time to recover.
"Um, I…was a little shaken by the whole ordeal. Link has…been trying not to bring it up for my sake," she managed. It wasn't entirely true – she didn't really mind when people mentioned it…but it was a good way to diffuse Aryll's temper with Link.
It worked almost immediately as the blonde woman turned back to Zelda with large, sad eyes.
"Zel-chan! You poor thing!"
A moment later, a deceptively strong hug engulfed her and Zelda found herself much too close to Aryll once again.
"I can't believe you went through so much! Thank the Goddess Link actually managed to get to you. And I'm so glad I happened upon those Yiga cronies that day. If I managed to do something to protect you, I couldn't be happier! But I'm so sorry you had to go through something like that."
Aryll wasn't being too loud, though the intensity of her words was obvious. Her tone was sparkling with sincerity and her hug was tighter than any she'd experienced from her real sister since they were children. It felt comforting in a way she hadn't felt from anyone aside from Link himself.
Across the table, he had finally recovered and spoke again.
"I know it was mostly just a happy coincidence…but thank you, Ari. You made it possible for me to rescue Zelda that day. I'd have been beside myself if anything had happened to her."
She finally withdrew and released Zelda, a bright smile on her face.
"You're welcome. Not that I'd need any thanks even if I did know what was going on back then. I'm just really glad Zel-chan's okay."
"Me too," Link agreed.
"U-um, I should…thank you too, Aryll. I know you weren't aware that you were saving me from being stolen away…but I couldn't be luckier that you were looking out for me that day as well."
"I'm so happy I was able to help you."
A comfortable silence fell over the group for a moment while Aryll sorted through her thoughts. She spoke again at last, her eyes shimmering with curiosity.
"So they probably wanted you as a hostage to…make demands of the King or something, yeah? A Princess is a pretty hard bargaining chip to resist," she mused.
Zelda gave her a soft smile.
"T-that's what Link and I were told…yes. But…I don't…think that plan would've worked in the end, even if they did manage to take me away from here…"
"Hm? Why not?"
Link interjected again from nearby, his face somewhat somber.
"There's…a lot to that story, Ari. Sometimes it's hard for her to relive it. But it's not mine to tell either, so it's Zelda's choice when she's ready to share."
Aryll nodded a few times.
"I see, I see. Then in that case," she continued, turning back to Zelda, "I won't pressure you for anything at all. But if you ever feel like confiding in me, I'd be glad to hear you out! Like I said, I really want to treat you like the sister I never had, so it'd make me really happy if you relied on me. Only once you're ready, of course!"
"Um!"
Aryll's wide eyes waited patiently as Zelda found her words.
"I…would like to tell you…at least a little, if that's okay."
Her surprise settled back into relaxed joy.
"I'd love to hear anything you're willing to share with me."
In the end, Zelda didn't tell Aryll very much. Link was rather impressed with what she did reveal, though. She had explained that her relationship with Hilda was very strained and that she had been all but banished from her standing in the Royal Family at the Castle because of her. She stopped after admitting she had been treated as Hilda's servant, though. Aryll didn't hear anything about being chased between guest rooms, the burning of her first diary, or that traumatic night in the dungeons.
But it was still enough to give his sister an idea of why Zelda was as timid as she was. Aryll was smart; she'd put two and two together quickly enough. Unfortunately, she began to speak before she also put together that she ought to use a bit of tact when discussing Zelda's family with her.
"Wow…your own sister did that to you huh?"
"Y-yes," Zelda admitted, though she didn't avert her eyes this time. She really had come a long way already.
"I can't even imagine doing that to someone I love…seriously, what a bi-"
"Ari," Link interrupted loudly enough to stop her in her tracks.
She scrambled quickly and recovered…less than gracefully.
"B-big jerk! Yeah!"
Link couldn't suppress a sigh nor a small grin. His sister had always had quite the mouth on her. Zelda didn't need to hear that, at least not so early.
Truth be told, it was very nice to see Aryll again. She had frequently come to Hateno Village to visit following her own move out to Lurelin just over a year ago. She had always had a fascination with the ocean and wanted nothing more than to live by the seaside their entire childhood. That she was able to do so now really did make Link happy.
He was, however, a little worried for Zelda's sake. He was used to his sister's antics – they had grown up together quite literally his entire life. But Zelda was a much more withdrawn person. She was starting to open up but he was afraid Aryll's intensity and playful nature might cause her to draw into herself even further after he'd tried so hard to get her to relax around him.
As he was starting to realize, though, that wasn't the case. If anything, Zelda was warming up to Aryll even faster than she had with Mipha. Maybe she was susceptible to natural charisma…something his sister had always had in spades.
"I…never liked criticizing Hilda before," Zelda admitted. "But…lately I feel…a little differently. I…think I agree with you."
"Well, duh! Of course you should agree! You didn't deserve anything that happened to you! You're like a little rabbit!"
Zelda's eyes widened in surprise.
"I…I am?"
"Yeah!" Aryll insisted, her voice growing more passionate by the word. "You're this sweet, innocent, pure little ball of kindness and joy! Anyone that could be mean to you is a real piece of-"
"Ari."
"Work! A real piece of work!" A much more graceful recovery that time.
Zelda seemed to be hung up on something else, though.
"Um…Aryll…?"
"Yeah?"
"When you say…I'm a little ball…do you mean to imply that my…physical shape is round or...otherwise unbecoming? I…apologize if that's the case…I'll try to fix it…"
Link grimaced. Zelda was still unconfident in a lot of ways but her physical appearance always seemed to be a huge sticking point for her. She had apologized for her hair and her eyes at varying times the past two months. She had deliberately worn her hair up the morning of their first journey into town together because she thought it revolting and she had even described herself as repulsive and unsightly several times.
Of course, none of that was true. But it wasn't as simple as just saying that to her and assuming that fixed everything, as if she hadn't so deeply internalized the insults that had led to her believing such things in the first place. Another curse Hilda had left her with before discarding her completely.
Aryll's eyes shot open immediately and she seized Zelda's hands yet again, shaking her head emphatically.
"Not at all! It's a compliment, I promise! I want to be a little ball! It's adorable!"
A priceless look of absolute confusion stole Zelda's face.
"Um…I…t-think I don't understand…?"
Link laughed lightly, leaning forward and drawing Zelda's gaze.
"She's trying to say she thinks you're cute. She's not saying your round; she's saying you're something she wants to hold and squeeze and cuddle…I think."
"Yeah, that's it!" Aryll insisted, a fervent nod drawing his fiancée's gaze again. "I'm so sorry if it sounded like I was saying something bad about you! I'd never do that!"
"O-oh. I-in that case…um…t-thank you."
"Ahh," she sighed heavily, hanging her head. "I really shoved my foot in my mouth with that one. I'm sorry, Zel-chan."
"Not at all. I…was the one who misunderstood you. I'm sorry if I made you feel guilty…"
"You're way too apologetic!" Aryll insisted a second later.
While Link was inclined to agree, he did so silently. Zelda would open up more with time and come to trust herself in the long run. He wasn't going to rush her into changing who she was.
"I…I've been told…"
"Well if I ever do that again, feel free to just turn it around on me instead of apologizing!"
"O-oh, I would never."
"You ought to try it sometime," Link interjected, a smirk on his face. "It's pretty fun to throw a jab or two Ari's way."
"Yeah, yeah, make fun of your poor, sweet little sister all you want. Just remember who's always had your back!"
Link laughed and gave her a more genuine smile.
"Of course I remember. Besides, you've had mine and Zelda's back lately and you only just met her today."
A goofy little smile played across Aryll's lips.
"Jeez, if you get all sappy like that, I can't even pretend I'm really annoyed."
Zelda watched the entire exchange with a small smile…but there was something else in her eyes. Link couldn't decide exactly what it was he was seeing. It didn't look like she was upset or dejected. What was it?
Was she…maybe envious?
"Zelda?" Link began, reaching out and placing a hand on her wrist. She gasped lightly and snapped back to reality, meeting his eyes.
"Y-yes?"
"Are you okay?"
Aryll, to her credit, stayed quiet while Link spoke with Zelda. He appreciated that gesture. Despite her wild and socially reckless tendencies, she really did know how to read a room.
"I-I'm okay, don't worry," she insisted.
"If you're sure. But you know, I could understand if seeing Ari and I together like this is a little…upsetting."
"H…huh?"
"After everything you've had to go through, I'm sure it's not the easiest thing to watch, right?"
After a moment of stunned silence, Zelda shook her head slowly.
"T-that's not entirely it. To be honest…I've really enjoyed seeing you with Aryll today. It's been nice to watch you in a new role I never knew about. But…I suppose it makes me feel uncertain."
"Uncertain? What about?"
"Family."
Link felt his eyebrows rise involuntarily.
"How so?"
"I…guess I don't really know what family is anymore. Maybe I never did. My sister hasn't been close with me for more than twelve years now and…Father has never really been there for me either. After…Mother passed away when I was little…I never really had much guidance after that. So…I keep wondering if Hilda and I would ever have ended up more like you and Aryll. Maybe there was something broken about our relationship from the very start…"
"Zelda…"
"I don't think there's only one right answer, Zel-chan," Aryll began, drawing her attention again. Her voice was gentler than it had been all day.
"You…don't?"
"Not at all. Link and I usually have a playfully aggressive relationship but sometimes we're sincere like we just were. Other siblings I've met are totally different. Sometimes they're fiercely protective and other times they're totally independent. The only right part is that they care about each other and show that they do. That's where your own sister has failed you."
"But…you said you want to be my sister too…right?"
"I did! I do! But what's wrong with that?"
"I…don't know how to treat you in that role…other than being your servant. I'm afraid I could never be good enough for you to look at as your real sister…"
It was Link's turn to reach out and take her hand in his.
"You certainly won't be her servant but you don't have to figure out exactly how to be with her right now either."
"I…don't?"
"Not at all. You just met her today. Siblings are more than just liking or disliking each other. It's about the environment you grew up in. You share the same space, the same circumstances, the same parents, almost the same lives. You can relate to a sibling more deeply just by virtue of growing up with them. But that isn't something siblings decide for themselves; it's something that just happens. So just let it happen naturally between you and Ari too. You'll find your own comfortable spot with her before you know it."
"Do you...really think so?"
Link gave a firm nod and a gentle smile.
"I do."
"Wow," Aryll murmured, turning to face him. "I forget you can be that way sometimes."
"What way?"
"More honest and vulnerable like that. You've put on that stoic, detached face for so long now that it feels like a surprise when the big softie you really are underneath comes out of hiding."
"Um," Zelda interjected, "I…don't think it's that rare. I've…seen Link be very kind to me every day since I came here."
"Ahh, I see now," Aryll noted, nodding in the manner of a sage imparting her knowledge to the world around her. "He's softer with you because he's-"
"Hey Ari! Would you like to stay for dinner tonight?" Link interrupted forcefully. Zelda was glancing between the two of them with a bewildered expression on her face but his sister, blessedly, took the hint.
"Sure! Ira may be the best cook in Hateno, but I'll never pass up the opportunity for a home cooked meal by my own brother! What are we having?"
"We don't really have anything planned, actually. We still have a few hours till dinner anyway, but what sounds good to you?"
"Fish." That was always her answer.
"I don't think we have any fish," he admitted.
"Zel-chan! My own brother's going to leave me to starve!" she whined, her voice loud.
"I am not going to let you starve."
"I guess that counts for something then…but you got my hopes up then dashed them! The only thing worse would be if you didn't feed me at all."
Zelda giggled suddenly, her eyes shining as she watched them. Link felt his heart skip a beat; it had been a few days since she'd made that adorable, amused sound.
"W-we might be able to pick up some fish from Ira," Zelda proposed.
Aryll quickly waved her hand.
"Nah, I've put you out enough today already. I stole precious time away from you and Link that you could've been using to go on a date instead!"
"A d-date?" she stammered.
Link felt his face heat up but chose not to comment on it. Maybe if he just ignored her teasing, she would get bored and stop. But unfortunately, that didn't seem to be what was happening.
"Hey, Zel-chan. Want to hear about Link's first date?"
"Ari!" he chided, his voice more aggressive than he'd meant it to be.
She didn't bat an eye. Her playful little smirk might have even grown as Zelda managed to respond.
"His…f-first date?"
"Yep! There was this girl who lived near us and she had this massive crush on Link back when he was thirteen!"
Link considered begging his sister to stop this and spare him the humiliation but he knew the truth – there were no words in any language that would dissuade Aryll from sharing this embarrassing little story with his fiancée.
"T-there was? That…doesn't seem too surprising."
"Right? But get this. She asked him to go have lunch a few times and he kept thinking it was just as a couple of friends relaxing together. So he turned her down each time so he could stay home and practice with that dumb ol' sword of his."
"Ari, practice with the Master Sword was important."
"Yeah, yeah," she waved him off, turning back to Zelda. "So anyway, she finally got the courage up to ask him on a real date. And guess what he said?"
"U-um…I'd imagine…he said yes?"
"Wrong! He turned her down again! For the same reason!"
Link felt his cheeks heat up a bit more as the story progressed.
"But then Dad found out and made him take her on at least one date to be a gentleman."
Link leaned forward and threw an accusatory glance at his sister.
"And would you like to tell her why Dad found out in the first place?"
"Oh, sure! It was all my fault!" she sang, completely undeterred. "I tattled to Dad because I was jealous that girls were asking my brother out but boys weren't asking me out. And I was annoyed that Link didn't seem to care nearly as much as I did."
"B…but," Zelda began, tilting her head, "didn't…that mean Link did accept the date you didn't want him to go on?"
"Hah! It sure did! My own words came back to bite me in the a-"
"Ari."
"Cat! Bite me like a cat! That's what I said!"
"H…how was that date in the end?" Zelda asked, strangely curious it seemed.
Link wanted to beg her to drop it now…but she did look like she was having fun. He could stand to let Aryll finish this one story at least if it made Zelda happy.
"Bad. He talked about sword stuff the whole time and she tried to pretend like she was interested all afternoon. Then she went home and never wanted to be alone with him again."
Link turned his face deliberately away before speaking again.
"Look, we were both kids. I didn't know what to talk about so I just focused on the only thing I knew. I'll give her credit, though – she faked like she cared all the way till the end."
"She sure did! That poor girl! I can't imagine anything more boring than listening to you spout sword lessons if you're not a warrior yourself."
Zelda spoke again, her voice rather small still but her gaze unflinching.
"I…would l-love to hear…how you approach your sword technique. Especially after seeing you…actually use the Master Sword the other day."
Link gazed at her in amazement for several seconds before Aryll…ruined the moment.
"Oh, that's so cute! I was worried my brother might not be opening up enough to you, Zel-chan, but it seems like you're doing a great job dragging him out of his shell all by yourself! The two are doing just fine without my help!"
Zelda's face was very red now and Link knew his was as well.
"Exactly," he insisted, "we're doing just fine. So please, don't help."
"You say that but I'm the one who scored you your first date! Maybe I really could help here!"
"You can't."
"You don't know that."
"Yes I do."
"What if I tried anyway?"
"I won't make you dinner."
"See, Zel-chan!? He wants me to starve!"
Zelda began to giggle lightly again. And after a few seconds, it grew into a much more genuine and unguarded laugh. It was so infectious, in fact, that Link and Aryll both joined in with her before they even realized what was happening. It made Link's heart soar to be spending time with Zelda like this. It was everything he'd wanted for and with her for the last few months.
As their laughter died down, Link marveled at the genuine smile on Zelda's face. He had been graced with the sight a few times before but it always took his breath away. That dazzling smile of hers…
"Well, we still have a few hours till dinner, right?" Aryll asked.
Link nodded at her, glancing out the window.
"Yeah, I'll probably start cooking once the sun sets."
"Perfect," she sang, turning back to Zelda. "Zel-chan! How would you like to hear more embarrassing stories about Link as a child?"
Link turned slowly and stared at her.
"How would you like to go home and never come back?"
"I'd hate it!"
"Then don't embarrass me too much."
"Too much? Then I can tell her some!?"
He sighed heavily before offering a resigned smile.
"Yeah, sure. Go ahead."
"Really? Thanks!"
"But I get to tell her some about you too."
Aryll's face twisted in surprise.
"M-me? What stories could you possibly have to tell about me? I was an angel growing up!"
"Oh, I'm sure I can think of a few. The apple tree comes to mind."
"Y-you don't have to tell Zel-chan that story!"
Link smiled at her.
"Okay, I won't. As long as you don't tell the stories I don't want to relive either."
"Fine. You're no fun."
"I'm plenty of fun."
Zelda's delighted laughter rang out through the room again. Link was decidedly aware that he was a very different person with Aryll than he was with basically everyone else in his life but it seemed Zelda was quite amused by this fact. It made him happy that she was so open with her joy these days.
In truth, it also made him happy that Aryll had taken such a liking to her. Though he would never have let anyone make Zelda feel unwelcome, there was an incredibly high chance that she really would be marrying into his family someday sooner than later. The fact that she got along so well with his sister already made him smile.
Despite their playfully hostile attitudes with each other, he really did care about Aryll too.
"Let's go sit down on the couch and I'll tell you all the stories I can think of, Zel-chan!" Aryll insisted.
As they all rose to their feet, Link made it a point to grab an apple from a nearby collection of fruit and toss it lazily in his hand, following his fiancée and his sister. Aryll scowled before grinning once more.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell you all the stories I'm allowed to tell you."
Zelda nodded, her smile even brighter as they all lowered themselves onto the couch.
"I…I would be thrilled to hear stories from both of you!"
Link had to admit, after all the uncertainty that had plagued Zelda since she'd first come to Hateno and all the unwanted excitement that had gripped the village since the end of the year…this change of pace was lovely. Maybe they'd even be doing things like this consistently across the next many years.
Or even across the next several decades.
That thought made Link smile uncontrollably even as Aryll started her next tale.
9/22/2023
Post-Chapter Note: Welcome back everyone and thank you for reading Chapter 10! Obviously things slowed down a bit this time compared to the last several chapters, but I hope it was enjoyable all the same!
Welp, now you've met Aryll! She is a FORCE of a character, especially from a writing perspective. Every line she has, every scene and moment she's in, she demands center stage and she's a ton of fun to write! She's almost the polar opposite to Link and Zelda respectively too so that makes for some entertaining moments between them all. Not to pat myself on the back, but I had a great time writing her into situations where Link would try to preemptively correct her language for Zelda's sake - I was fairly pleased with that. Anyway, I hope you had fun meeting her and getting to know her some! She'll definitely be back!
As a fun little note, Link calls her "Ari" because in Japanese her name is "Ariru," so I just took the first two syllables of that and used it as a nickname for her. I wondered if she should have a nickname for Link too but it's kinda hard to shorten his name or do anything too different with it so at least for now I decided against it. But the big question now is do you think Zelda will ever use Aryll's nickname herself?
To pull the curtain back, this chapter was a bit of a challenge to get off the ground. I wasn't very happy with it when I finished the first scene at Ira's place and when I finished the rest of it, I wasn't sure I liked it at all. But after going through and editing/fixing up some of things I didn't like, I actually felt a lot more confident about it in the end. All that is to say, I hope you enjoyed what this chapter ultimately came to be! It's a bit shorter than the last several on purpose - since we're starting a new arc with new characters, I wanted to make sure it was digestible and enjoyable for everyone!
I also wonder if part of my struggle with getting this chapter going was because it *is* a new arc. I've basically been writing the climax and resolution of Book I for nearly a month now so I think maybe it was a bit of a challenge to put myself in the mindset of starting anew with the plot and goings on of this world. But like I said, I do think I managed to land in a place I was mostly pleased with at the very least, so I hope all of you were as well.
As of now, it's looking like each Book is going to wind up being 9 chapters just like the first Book was. I think that's a pretty good number all in all but if it fluctuates a little, that's okay too. I figured I'd set some expectations since we're starting fresh with a new story arc! Obviously this one is called "Family," so you can probably assume what some of the struggles and challenges for Zelda to overcome will look like, but I hope I might be able to surprise you and keep you entertained all the way through!
But anyway, that's enough out of me for now. Thank you all so much for reading the latest chapter and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Take care and I'll see you all in the next one!