To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 21 – The Tour Begins

A month passed, and another Roundtable meeting came and went. At this particular gathering, the majority of the discussion had been focused on the Princess's upcoming tour across the Kingdom. By this point, most of the preparations for the tour had been made, and the scheduling had been finalized. All they needed to do now was make sure that the leaders of the civilizations would be prepared for the Princess's arrival.

The tour was expected to last for a couple of weeks. According to the schedule, the Princess would first travel to Kakariko Village, followed by Death Mountain and Zora's Domain, before finally concluding at Ordon Village. Zelda would spend at least a day in each of these locations, greeting the public and seeing the sights. This wouldn't exactly be a vacation, but Zelda did still plan to enjoy her time abroad.

It was soon announced that the Hero of Twilight would be accompanying the Princess on the tour as well. This information caught the interest of many people, especially the general populace. There were still a lot of citizens who didn't even know anything about this mysterious new Hero, so they were excited to finally meet him and learn more.

As for Zelda, she couldn't deny that she still felt a bit conflicted about having the Hero join her on this trip. On the one hand, she knew that his presence would serve as an inspiration for their recovering Kingdom, and she would be glad to have a trusted friend by her side at all times. On the other hand, Zelda was still feeling a bit sad about her current circumstances in relation to Link, and she feared that her ridiculously impromptu behavior around him might ruin the trip.

Fortunately, Zelda had at least managed to gain a better control on such things throughout the last month. She had an easier time reining in her emotions as well as her awkwardness around him. As it turned out, all it had taken was a little time and practice, and Zelda soon felt like their relationship had managed to return to something resembling normalcy. Of course, she still wasn't infallible though. Despite her best efforts, the Princess did still blush and stutter around the Hero on occasion, and when she was alone, she did feel a heavy depression weighing on her heart. Nevertheless, Zelda tried to take solace in the fact that she was improving. With each passing day, things became notably easier, and Zelda felt like she had made substantial progress throughout her extended period of grief. She just hoped that things would continue to improve as the day of the tour approached.

In addition to Link, there were also a handful of others that had expressed interest in joining the Princess on the tour. The first of which was Ashei, who had unashamedly implored the Princess to bring her along. Naturally, this surprised Zelda a bit.

"Why exactly do you want to go?" she asked the Knight.

"Because," Ashei stated boldly, "I don't want you and Link to have all the fun. I want to get out of the castle and see the sights too!"

Zelda just sighed. "Ashei, this isn't going to be a trip for leisure, you know. We can't just bring someone along because they want to 'have fun'."

Ashei frowned and crossed her arms. "Let me serve as a guard then. I'll make sure that the caravan stays safe, yeah?"

Zelda shook her head. "I'm afraid that Captain Zander has already assigned a number of soldiers to accompany us. We won't require anyone else."

Ashei scoffed. "You mean the castle soldiers? You can't rely on them!"

"Link will be accompanying us as well, and I myself am also perfectly capable of defending our company if the need arises."

Ashei frowned a bit before she surprisingly started to pout. "But it's not fair! I should be allowed to go to the reekfish feast too!"

Zelda could only release an exasperated sigh as she listened to her. "Ashei…"

Aside from the Knight, Minister Fost had also asked to join the tour. Zelda found this request to be a bit peculiar, as she assumed that the short Minister's time would be better spent at the castle as opposed to a trip across the Kingdom. Zelda had already planned to handle most of the diplomatic affairs by herself. She didn't feel that she would need anyone else to assist with that.

However, Zelda soon discovered the Minister's true motive when her father randomly asked her to visit him in the infirmary one day. She ended up walking in to find Caius and Fost conversing together, but their attention turned towards the Princess as soon as they spotted her.

"Ah, Your Highness, excellent timing," Fost said as he clasped his hands together. "His Majesty and I were just discussing the details of the tour, and we both agreed that it would be in your best interest if I accompanied you."

Zelda just took a moment to stare at the two of them. "This again? I told you before, Fost, I will not have need of your talents on this trip. I should be able to handle everything myself."

Fost nodded. "Of course, Princess, and believe me when I say that no one has more faith in your abilities than myself. However…" He paused before glancing at the King. "We believe that it would be best if I accompanied you anyway, just in case you should have need of my services."

Zelda gave the man a curious look. "Services? What services?"

Fost gave another small nod. "Allow me to clarify. I would be serving you directly as your caretaker throughout this journey."

"My caretaker!?" Zelda repeated, hardly believing her ears. "You would like to take care of me throughout this trip?"

"That is correct."

Zelda just looked appalled. "You cannot be serious."

"I am very serious," the tiny man said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Additionally, His Majesty has already agreed to it."

Zelda gawked before turning to the man in bed, who had been silent up to this point. "Father, is this true?"

Caius flashed a bit of a guilty expression, but he soon nodded. "Yes, I actually agree with Fost on this matter. I think it would be best if he joined you on the tour."

Zelda quickly frowned and gave her father a mild glare. "I am a grown woman. I won't require a caretaker."

"I understand," the King said with a nod. "However, seeing as how I cannot accompany you on this journey, I know that I would feel better if we had someone close to us looking after you. Fost is very responsible and trustworthy, and I know that he'll make sure that you are kept safe and free from harm."

"But this is entirely unnecessary!" Zelda retorted. "It's not like I'll be on my own. I'll be accompanied by a number of guards as well as a chef and Link. I can assure you that I will be well cared for!"

Caius sighed. "Be that as it may, you've never been away from home for this long before, at least not without me by your side. I know that you're a mature young woman now, but as your father, I still can't help but feel a little worried about you. It's just in my nature."

Zelda frowned some more, growing frustrated. "This is unbelievable. So just because you're worried, I have to be treated like a child?"

At this point, Fost decided to interject. "Oh, don't be so exaggerative, Your Highness. I'm simply going to be keeping an eye on you and making sure that nothing falls out of place during the tour. It's not like I'm going to fawn over you every second of the day."

Yeah right, Zelda's mind snapped back. She had known Fost ever since she was little, and she knew his nature even better. If he had his way, he would most certainly dote on her throughout the entire trip. And not only that, but the Princess expected that he might nag her quite a bit too. If she didn't perform her duties to perfection, she had a feeling that she would probably hear about it later.

"I don't like this," she eventually replied, folding her arms and flashing a dissatisfied frown.

Caius soon sighed again. Much like himself, he knew that his daughter could be incredibly stubborn at times. "How about this then? If you agree to take Fost with you on the tour, then I will promise to behave myself here while you are gone. That way, neither one of us should have to worry about the other."

Zelda just shot her father a sharp glare. "Father, you already made that promise! A month ago, you said that you would rest and listen to the doctor's instructions. Have you forgotten that commitment so soon? Do your oaths mean nothing?"

Caius produced a guilty smile. "I…have still been following that promise, of course. I was just…offering to continue the deal even while you are away."

Zelda frowned some more. She could see right through her father. "It's more like you are threatening to break your vow if I do not agree to this."

"I'd say that's a more…pessimistic way of looking at it," he replied, trying to smile innocently.

"You mean realistic?" Zelda shot back. "How about this then? I'll refuse to let Fost accompany me, and then he can stay here and make sure that you behave yourself in my absence. Wouldn't that be a better solution for everyone involved?"

Caius's face paled a bit. Much like Zelda, he had known Fost since he was very young, and he too knew just how excessive his care could be. "I don't think that will be necessary," he said, sounding doubtful.

"I agree," Fost chimed in. "His Majesty is in very capable hands here. If anything, my time will be best spent serving you, Princess."

"I am hardly convinced," Zelda said, taking a second to eye each of the men in turn. "I know for a fact that I will be perfectly fine on my own. You two are simply worrying too much."

Caius just sighed. "Come now, Zelda. Surely you realize that this isn't just for your sake, but mine as well?" He soon paused before coughing a bit. He then turned to his daughter with tired, soft eyes. "Oh, my lovely daughter, won't you do me this simple kindness? Won't you ease the heart of your dear, sick father?"

Zelda just stared him, looking perplexed. Had he just faked that cough? And why did he suddenly look so sad and distraught? It only took a second for her to determine the answer. He was trying to perform the same trick that she had pulled on him a month ago! Fortunately, she was wise enough to see past his deception.

"Nice try, father, but that performance of yours won't work on me."

The King coughed a few more times. "What performance?" he managed to choke out.

Zelda just glanced at him again. The cough hadn't sounded as fake that time…Had his phony attempts to cough actually coerced him into a real cough? If so, it served him right for trying to play tricks. However, Zelda did still feel a pang of sympathy for the man.

"Father, just try to relax," she said softly. She then placed an encouraging hand on her hacking father's shoulder.

Nevertheless, Caius tried to speak as the air was violently forced from his lungs. "H-How can I relax? Especially when my only daughter will be so far away from my side? Oh, I'm not sure I can handle what this stress will do to my health…"

Zelda closed her eyes as she felt another pang of sympathy strike at her heart. She knew that her father was purposefully laying it on thick, but she couldn't stop herself from wanting to set him at ease. "Fine, I'll allow it," she whispered.

Caius quickly stifled his next cough. "Hmm? Allow what?"

"I'll allow Fost to accompany me on the tour," she stated clearly.

Caius eyed his daughter for a second. He then coughed a few more times before the hacking fit finally petered out. As soon as it did, he flashed a bright smile while his hopeless demeanor from mere seconds ago faded away. "Excellent. Hearing this really makes me feel better. Thank you, Zelda."

Zelda just scowled at her father and his suddenly chipper expression. She soon released a sigh. "Why do I allow myself to be so easily manipulated like this?"

The King smirked. "Because you care about me, and I greatly appreciate that."

Zelda closed her eyes again. She couldn't deny that what he said was true, but she still felt like a complete fool. Now she would have to come to terms with what she had just agreed to. She soon reopened her eyes and turned to the short Minister.

"Fost, if you insist on coming along on the tour, then you must promise to uphold the claim that you made earlier. I really don't want to have you doting on me every second of the day."

Fost simply smiled at her acceptance, and gave a quick bow. "Of course, Princess. You have my word."

Zelda just looked away as she rolled her eyes. Like that means anything…

Over the next week, the final preparations for the tour were made. Men were assembled and briefed, provisions were packed, and a few wagons were readied for travel. The castle constantly felt like it was bustling with activity. Fortunately, Zelda, Fost, and Enzo took it upon themselves to oversee all of the preparations, and everything proceeded smoothly and quickly because of it. By the time the day of their departure rolled around, everything was perfectly accounted for. The only thing left to do now was complete a quick double-check to make sure that everything was assembled properly, and then the procession would finally be able to hit the road.

On this morning, Zelda smiled a bit as she led her white horse, Reina, out of the stables. They stepped out into the sun, and Zelda had to hold a hand over her eyes as she stared up at the cloudless sky. It was a beautiful day, which was usually recognized as a good omen during times of travel. It was believed that good weather indicated that your journey had been blessed by the Goddesses themselves.

Zelda soon turned to her mare, and rubbed her neck a bit as they walked. "I'll bet you're looking forward to getting outside and running around, hmm? It's been a while since we've left the castle."

The horse snorted in response, showing that she was glad to be free of the stable for a change.

Zelda just laughed a little. "Forgive me, my love. I can promise that you won't have to return to the stables for a while, at least."

The Princess led her horse over to where the procession was gathered. The entourage consisted of a dozen guards who would all be riding their own horses, followed by two wagons full of provisions that would be driven by servants, and finally a carriage for those that wished to travel in a more comfortable manner. Truth be told, Zelda had a feeling that the carriage had been specifically reserved for herself, but she honestly had no intention of riding in such luxury, and that was exactly what she told Fost when he brought it up.

"What do you mean you're not going to be riding in the carriage?" the short man exclaimed with a huff.

"You heard me," Zelda insisted, trying to sound stern. "I plan to travel on horseback throughout the entire journey."

Fost just seemed like he was at a loss for words. "B-But Princess, surely you can understand the nonnecessity of such a thing? That is to say, the carriage should provide a much more comfortable ride than simply riding on horseback."

Zelda scowled a bit at this. "If you think that I'm going to drag Reina along on this journey and choose not to ride her, then you must be mad."

Fost frowned a bit in return, the Princess's stubbornness already wearing on him. "Yes, but surely you understand that riding a horse all day can be tiring. And we are going to experience numerous days of travel…"

Zelda merely shrugged. "All the better for building up my stamina. I'm sure that I can handle it."

Fost sighed. "Your Highness, the only reason that I had this carriage prepared was for your sake."

"I never asked you to do that," she replied bluntly. "And besides, was my comfort really the only reason that you went to all this trouble? Are you sure that you weren't trying to accommodate someone other than myself?"

Fost leaned back a bit, looking like he was caught off guard. "Er, well, yes, I suppose I was intending to ride in the carriage as well, along with our chef and Master Link. But I only made it a priority because I assumed that you would be joining us!"

Zelda smirked a bit at his frustration. "Well, you assumed incorrectly. I plan to travel alongside Reina, and that's final."

Fost just scowled as he balled his tiny hands into fists. He clearly wasn't pleased with this result. "Very well then! By all means, do as you please! However, don't be surprised when this journey exhausts you and you must retreat to the luxury of the carriage. When that time comes, I will be more than happy to provide you with a well-deserved 'I told you so'!"

"If the time comes," Zelda corrected him, "then I will gladly issue an apology and beg for your forgiveness."

Fost just stared up at her before grumbling a bit. "Oh, you'll see…"

Zelda smiled at him. She soon turned to leave, but not before adding one final note for the Minister. "Oh, and by the way, Fost, something tells me that Link won't be so keen to join you in the carriage either. I believe his mindset will be quite similar to my own."

Out of the corner of her eye, Zelda watched as the short man's brow furrowed and his mouth fell open. She quickly stifled a giggle as she walked away. She didn't intend to antagonize him so much, but she couldn't help herself. The Minister's way of thinking was always so stiff, so it was just nice to hit him with a dose of reality every once in a while.

Zelda brought Reina around the back of the procession, so they were now on the other side of the wagons. There, she managed to spot Link, who seemed to be in the middle of feeding Epona. With a small smile, she decided to approach him. The Hero had arrived at the castle earlier that morning, so the two of them had already greeted each other, but the Princess was still more than happy to share his company again.

"Are you about ready to go?" she asked as she walked up behind him.

Link soon turned to her and smiled. "Sure am. And Epona's ready to hit the road too."

Upon hearing her name, the chestnut horse gave an excited whinny, causing both Link and Zelda to laugh.

"I think Reina's looking forward to this as well. It'll be nice to get out and ride for a change."

"Agreed," Link said with a nod. "I'm sure the journey will be just as much fun as the destination."

Zelda smiled at him. "By the way, I should probably give you a fair warning. Fost might try to convince you to ride in the carriage with him."

Link frowned a bit at this. "In the carriage? But I was planning on riding Epona the whole way there."

"And I told him as much," Zelda said with a nod. "But I've never known the Minister to be so easily dissuaded, so don't be surprised if he still tries to convince you to join him."

Link glanced at the Princess, looking a little curious. "Wait, aren't you going to ride in the carriage?"

Zelda shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I plan to travel in the same manner as you: with just myself and Reina."

Upon hearing this, Link smiled. "In that case, I definitely don't plan on riding in the carriage."

Zelda raised her eyebrows. "You mean to say that you were considering it?"

"I would have," Link said with a shrug. "If I had known that you were planning on riding in there, at least."

Zelda couldn't help but blush a bit at this comment. Over the last month, she had learned to control herself pretty well when it came to situations like this, but a nervous trait would still pop up every once in a while. It was a little embarrassing, but Zelda was honestly just glad that she at least managed to keep her heart and her eyes under control.

"You would have been willing to ride alongside me?" she asked quietly.

"Sure," Link said with a smile. "I mean, I probably wouldn't have preferred to ride in the carriage at all, but having your presence there would have at least made things bearable."

Zelda smiled back, feeling pleased at this comment. "And I take it that you would rather not ride in the company of Fost?"

"Not particularly," he admitted, looking a little guilty.

"A wise choice," Zelda said with a small giggle. "I hope that he doesn't prove himself to be too annoying on this journey. Otherwise, I'll have to consider minimizing the amount of time I spend in his company as well."

"He's not that bad," Link said, still looking guilty. "I mean, it's not like I'm not trying to avoid him or anything."

Zelda simply smirked. "Give it some time, Link. Once we've been on this journey for long enough, he'll start to wear on you. And when that time comes, we'll see if you've changed your tune."

Link seemed a bit surprised at this, but he soon accepted her challenge with a confident grin. "We'll see. I like to think that I can be pretty patient at times."

More like stubborn, Zelda thought as she shook her head. She then paused as she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She soon glanced over to the castle's entryway, only to watch someone slowly walk outside the halls and into the courtyard. And it wasn't just anybody either…

"Oh my goodness," Zelda breathed as she stood up straight. "I…I can't believe this!"

Upon catching her tone, Link immediately looked concerned. "What is it?"

"It's my father!" she exclaimed. "He's leaving the castle!"

Link glanced over and immediately spotted the man as well. Sure enough, it was King Caius, and he seemed to be slowly making his way towards the procession.

"He's supposed to be resting in the infirmary!" Zelda said incredulously. "What does that fool think he's doing?"

Link just frowned a bit. "Do you think that something's wrong?"

Zelda shook her head. "I don't know, but I intend to find out." She then turned to Link. "Would you watch Reina for me?"

"Of course," Link replied, nodding and taking the white mare's reins.

Zelda gave him an appreciative nod back and then started running across the courtyard. It only took a few seconds before she managed to reach the sick man. As she did, she extended her arms out towards him, ready to catch him at a moment's notice should he stumble.

"Father!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with worry. "What are you doing out here? You should be resting in bed!"

To her surprise, Caius just smiled before laughing and waving her off. "Relax, Zelda. I'm only a little sick, remember? It's not like I'm dying."

"Not yet!" she snapped back. "And I believe that a poisoning should be considered worse than just being 'a little sick'."

Caius laughed some more. "Trust me, I'm fine. I'll admit that the walk here has made me a little tired, but it's nothing to fret over."

Zelda just sighed as she looked at him. She honestly couldn't believe how nonchalant he was. "Does Roswald know that you're out here?"

"Of course not," Caius said with another wave of his hand. "He would've never allowed it."

Zelda scowled at him. "Then why are you out here?"

The King sighed a bit before reaching up and placing a hand on her shoulder. "I just wanted to see my daughter off before she departs on this long journey away from home."

Zelda just stared at him for a second before allowing her demeanor to soften. She could see the affection in his eyes, as well as hear the sincerity in his voice. "You abandoned the infirmary just for that?" she asked with another sigh.

"Well, I had hoped that you would visit me on your own this morning, but I was disappointed to see that you never showed up."

Zelda released a guilty frown. "I intended to before we departed, but I haven't been able to find the time. This morning has been rather busy…"

Caius laughed a bit. "I know, Zelda. You don't have to explain yourself." He then paused before smirking. "However, if you believed that you were going to leave without giving me a proper farewell, then you're sadly mistaken."

Zelda couldn't help but smile at this. "Yes, you're right. Forgive me, father."

She soon leaned in and hugged the man. He gladly hugged her back, and even ran his fingers through her hair a bit.

"Promise me that you'll stay safe," he whispered.

"I will."

"And promise that if you need anything, you'll go to Fost for help."

Zelda sighed a bit, but nodded. "I will."

Caius patted her on the back before pulling away a bit. "And last but not least, promise me that you'll have fun," he said with a grin. "I want you to come back with some exciting stories to share! The Goddesses know that I could use them."

Zelda laughed a bit. "Of course. I promise to tell you everything once I return."

"That's my girl," he said softly, before rubbing her shoulder a bit. "And Zelda, just know that I am very proud of you. And if your mother were still with us…then I'm sure that she would feel the same."

Zelda looked towards the ground with a sad smile. His words truly meant a lot to her. "Thank you, daddy," she whispered, accidentally referring to him by the name that she used back when she was a child.

Fortunately, Caius didn't seem to mind. If anything, he seemed rather pleased to hear her say it again after all this time. "I love you," he said, embracing her once more.

She hugged him back. "I love you too," she assured him. They continued to hold each other for a few seconds, before Zelda decided to playfully push him away with a smile. "There, I've made my promises. Now, I believe it is your turn. Will you promise to behave yourself while I'm gone? The last thing I want to hear when I get back is that you abandoned the infirmary so you could go on escapades around the castle."

Caius just laughed. "This was a special occasion, but I see your point. I promise to stay in bed and follow the doctor's every word."

"With no complaints?" Zelda asked, eyeing him.

"I'll keep it to a minimum," he said with a grin.

Zelda just smiled before shaking her head. "I suppose that's all I can ask for. Now let's get you back into bed before Roswald decides to kill you."

The King just laughed before coughing a bit. He then sighed. "Aye, that would probably be best."

Zelda ended up tracking down a nearby guard and requested that he escort her father back to the infirmary. Caius had assured her that he could get back on his own just fine, but she wasn't going to risk it. She could already see how fatigued he was just by walking all the way out here. It was better to have someone keep an eye on him until he was safely back in bed.

Once that was settled, Zelda returned to Link's side, and gladly took Reina off his hands. "Thanks for that."

"No problem," he replied. "Was everything okay?"

"Yes. My father just wanted to say farewell," she said while sheepishly smiling towards the ground. "I wish that he hadn't foolishly decided to leave his bed for such a thing though."

Link smiled as well. "That just shows how much he cares about you."

"Indeed," Zelda agreed, closing her eyes. She didn't want to admit it, but she was secretly glad that her father had made the journey outside just for her. It really had been sweet of him to do so.

As the morning's preparations were finalized, the only other person who came to wish them farewell was Ashei, who was rather blunt and to the point.

"Will you guys at least bring me back some reekfish from Zora's Domain?"

Link just gave her a weird look. "No, it'll have started to spoil by the time we return."

"That's when reekfish tastes best!" Ashei exclaimed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "That's why they call it reekfish!"

Zelda just sighed. This was just about the last thing that she wanted to deal with before their departure. "Ashei, if it will make you feel better, I can ask Ralis if any of the Zora would be interested in selling their aquatic fare in the Castle Town market. Then you'll have access to all the reekfish you could ever want."

The Knight just smirked. "That would be lovely. Thank you, Zelda."

Meanwhile, Link just turned his curious expression towards the Princess, and gave her a long, hard stare.

"What?" she said with a shrug. "There could be a demand here for such things. You never know."

Link just smiled and shook his head. He then noticed that the Knight was walking away. "Hey, wait a second, Ashei. Is that all you had to say to us?"

The Knight just paused before glancing backwards. "Oh, and uh, have a good trip, yeah?"

Link just felt his shoulders sag while the Princess smirked a bit. "Take care of the castle while we're gone, Ashei," she told the Knight. "We're counting on you to keep it safe."

Ashei just waved a hand back as she continued to walk away. "Yes, Your Highness."

Link could only frown as he watched her go. He turned to the Princess once more. "She's a bit scatterbrained, isn't she?"

Zelda smiled back at him. "Let's just be thankful that we won't have to see her for a few weeks."

Before long, the final preparations were finished, and everyone was instructed to mount their steeds. Those who planned to ride in the wagons and carriage climbed inside their respective vehicles as the servants took the reins. Zelda pulled herself onto Reina's saddle and Link did the same with Epona. They soon trotted over to their place in the procession where they stood side by side.

Once everyone was properly lined up and situated, a guard at the front of the line blew a small horn, the sound of which erupted out in a single roaring note. He then lowered his horn, before calling out in a loud voice.

"Let the Princess's tour across the Kingdom of Hyrule commence!"

I'm sure that many of you have picked up on this by now, but I've chosen to mostly write this story from Zelda's point-of-view. We still get glimpses of Link's POV from time to time, but I really only try to do that when it feels necessary. I've done this intentionally so that all of you readers are mostly left in the dark about what the Hero is thinking or feeling as the story progresses. I feel that it makes the story more interesting that way, especially since Zelda is being kept in the dark along with you.

I had always intended to mostly write this story from Zelda's POV, but I actually surprised myself in the earlier chapters by deferring to Link a lot of the time. It just felt so natural to let him take the lead at certain parts of the story, and even now, there are still scenes where I feel like delving into his thoughts. But as I said, I only try to do it when it feels necessary. Or fun. I don't mind switching to the Hero's perspective if it'll make the scene more fun lol.