Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda Series or its characters. I also do not own "Beauty and the Beast", "Les Miserables", or any other musical or piece of music mentioned in this story. This story is purely for entertainment purposes only.
Hello, everyone! Thank you again for your continued support! As always, please leave a review! I'd love to hear what you think! Enjoy chapter 19! ~Opal
Chapter 19: The Confession
As Sally slowly made her way out of Eleanor's bedroom, her head was bent down to the ground, her face nearly expressionless. Eleanor went into a closet and came out with a shovel and a bucket. "You heard what mother said, get to your chores!" She snickered, handing Sally the shovel. "I get to choose what you do first, and I choose the pigpens!"
"I will do that immediately, Eleanor." She replied as she stood with the shovel and bucket in hand.
"Mother and I are going to get ready to head out on the town, we have more shopping to do!" She squealed while jumping up and down. She looked towards me. "Care to join us civilized women, hero?"
I rolled my eyes. "No thanks."
"Suit yourself." She grinned cynically, skipping gleefully to her bedroom.
Sally walked outside the back door to make her way to the pigpens while Tilanya and I followed. She didn't say a word to us as she opened the door to the pigpens.
"Girl, you don't have to do this." Tilanya said sadly. "I'm the one who woke the bear, let me pay for it."
She shook her head. "It is my duty."
I got in front of her, grabbing the shovel and bucket out of her hands. "I'm doing this, and I won't take no for an answer."
Her eyes widened. "Link, no..." She protested, trying to grab the shovel out of my left hand.
I turned around. "I told you that I won't take no for an answer. Those women are treating you like scum; and I don't like it." I was livid with Eleanor and Sally's stepmother at this point. Something is seriously wrong with both of those women.
"Y-you don't have to, Link...you're better than this..." She said quietly.
I started to dig through the crap, putting it into the bucket. "...I can't believe the nerve of them..." I grunted. "...Making you shovel up this shit..." Tilanya didn't say anything, she just stood there watching the scene unfold. I looked at Sally apologetically. "It's about time someone stood up for you."
"I...I'll start to feed the-" She began.
Tilanya cut her off. "Oh, no you don't! I'm doing it!" Tilanya filled another bucket with chicken feed and walked out of the pigpens.
Sally stood up and spoke slowly, sounding like she was on the verge of tears. "T-thank you...Link..." She then shut her eyes and ran out of the pigpens.
Tilanya came back into the pigpens a couple of minutes later while I continued to shovel the first pigpen. I was finally done with the first one and washed my hands in a water basin nearby. "...You told me you like Sally." She said. I looked at her as she put her hands on her hips. "So...go be a man and cheer her up!"
I nodded and began to walk out of the pigpens. I wasn't sure how I was going to cheer her up or what the heck I was doing at all in general, but I figured I'd just be honest and kind to Sally, because she's been having a rough morning. Tilanya put her hand on my shoulder and smiled while giving me thumbs up. I gave her thumbs up in return. I left the pigpens and set out to look for her. She wasn't anywhere around the property, so I went into the woods behind the very back fence. I eventually found her with her hands up against a tree, her head bent and quiet sobs coming from her mouth. I walked up to her and didn't say anything at first, taking a minute to think of what to say. "...Why are you crying?" I finally asked her.
"...Because...because I'm a baby..." She said between jagged breaths.
"No, you're not." I said.
"Yes I am." She sniffled, but didn't look at me.
I remained standing there listening to her cry. I'm not going to lie, I felt sick seeing her so depressed. I wanted to do something, say something...something that would make everything alright for her...but what do I do? What should I say? I care about her, but if I allow my emotions to get too strong, I'll just make things awkward, and I know all too well how that always ends up. "...Do you want to talk about it?" I finally said. Neutral enough...it's a start...
She nodded. "Alright..." She took a deep breath and began to tell me everything that happened:
Flashback (Sally's POV)
Eleanor and Mother sat on Eleanor's bed and mother gestured for me to sit in the armchair facing the bed. Mother looked at me questioningly. "Now, Sally...tell me why you believe we are having this conversation?"
"...Because I woke Eleanor." I said. "...Which was rude of me to do..."
"Yes, yes it was..." She smirked contentedly. "I knew it was not a good idea to have you go away from home with that boy."
"Please don't bring Link into this, he's done nothing wrong; and that's irrelevant." I countered. Why was she trying to bring Link into this?!
"You seem to be quite defensive of him..." She glared at me.
"Hmmmm!" Eleanor hummed with annoyance.
Mother looked in Eleanor's direction. "You'll have your chance to speak, dear...wait patiently... 'good things always come to those who wait.' Now..." She looked once more at me. "...As I was saying...you seem to have become quite defensive of him...perhaps you've allowed yourself to get too carried away with infatuation?" She raised a brow.
"No." I shook my head. "Absolutely not."
She shut her eyes in irritation. "...I don't believe you." She laid her hand on her knee, her long and perfectly manicured nails taunting me; reminding me of her greed and snobbiness. "You have allowed yourself to get too carried away..." She laughed. "...I'm afraid that you've even allowed his charms to influence your judgement..."
I was mad. I stared at her angrily, my mouth quivering from the raw emotions that were ready to bust loose...but I'd have to suppress them. I couldn't do anything...no...I'd be in so much trouble if I really did do anything to combat her! I sighed. "He has not influenced my judgement. He is my friend...and that is all he'll ever be." I paused, expecting her to say something, but she just stared at me while she tapped her fingers on her knee, starting with her pinky, and ending with her thumb.
She then finally decided to end the silence. "...I will see to it that I inform your father of your interests in this young man, and of the risks of allowing you to spend time with him." I nearly gasped, but kept it as silent as I could. She hummed with surprise at my reaction. "...I believe it is in our best interests that you stay home...so you can clear your mind of all these ridiculous fantasies." She cackled. "I mean, really? Like he'd have any interest in you! Sure, you are fair, just like your late mother was, but you are weak and brainless, and beauty only gets you so far..."
I rolled my eyes. "...Says the woman who views her beauty above benevolence..." I growled.
"Excuse me?" Her eyes widened. "Was that a hint of retaliation I just heard?" She stared icily at me. "This proves my point! How do you expect to get through life without discipline?"
"Certainly not by preaching what I don't practice myself!" I argued, giving her a dirty look. I pointed at her. "You ought to be thankful for Link, this 'young man' you speak of...There was one point where I almost died, but HE saved my life." I began to cry while shaking my head. "You should be thanking him for keeping your slave alive!"
"Surely this isn't how you view your mother!" She scoffed. "I've done nothing but love and nurture you!"
"That's a load of bullcrap!" I hissed. "You are NOT my mother, nor will you ever BE my mother! My mother is dead, and irreplaceable! She was capable of love and compassion beyond your abilities! You don't know what love and kindness is! I have NEVER respected you, or your sad excuse for a 'disciplined daughter!' I don't care what you do to punish me; you have already tortured me enough, any more would be like nothing to me!" I was bawling at this point.
"There there, now don't be a baby...a woman does not cry." She laughed, which only made me hate her more. "...Now, Eleanor...what was it you wanted to say?"
"Oh, nothing mother! I think you've covered it all!" She tittered.
"Not quite." Mother stared at me again. "You are despicable. So long as you continue to live in this imaginary world of yours, you will never amount to anything in life, and I can guarantee you that." She paused. "...You are to do your chores while Eleanor and I go shopping. Eleanor will choose what you do first...And listen to me Sally..." She said more loudly. "You are NOT allowed to leave this house, and I will make sure your father is aware that I mean for a LONG TIME." She looked at me in silence as I continued to cry quietly, not making any eye contact with either one of the witches. "Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes." I said obediently, but looked up long enough to stare at her defiantly. They began to stand up, and I summoned my last bit of courage to defend myself. "...I have only one thing to say...you are both wrong about me, I know you are!" I was careful not to escalate my voice, but it still held intensity with every word I said. "You can take my pride and my freedom, but you will NEVER take my heart and my will!"
"Whatever!" Eleanor giggled. Mother didn't say a word as we all began to exit the room.
End Flashback
Link's POV
"That's what happened." She turned around to look at me, making me see the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I know that what they say to me is wrong, but it still hurts...how they view me as nothing but a pile of crap..."
"...I'm so sorry..." I said to her while shaking my head. Honestly, I was pissed off! I was ready to beat the living hell out of those women, and I'm not violent to most women! How DARE they treat Sally with such disrespect?! "They are SO wrong about you...your stepmother is a bitch, I'm just going to flat out say it! She is worthless!" I shouted. I stopped for a moment to regain my composure. "...Sally, you can be whoever and whatever you want to be, so long as you set your mind to it. Don't let people like them tell you otherwise."
"Thank you, Link...your words are very kind...I'm lucky to have a friend like you." She smiled slightly, but it was half-hearted and faded quickly. I could tell that she was still upset. She looked down at the ground for a moment. "I...I have a question for you..." I looked at her and nodded and she continued. "...Why did you do the pigpens for me?"
"I didn't want you to do them." I replied calmly.
She glared at me suspiciously. "...Why?"
I reddened and looked away from her. "I...I didn't want someone as beautiful as you to do it..." I took a deep breath and held it, unsure of how she'd react.
Her eyes widened in shock, but then she smiled warmly, more tears coming from her eyes. She walked up to me and gave me a big hug as she sobbed. I put my hand on her back as she cried. After a couple of minutes she looked at me. "I hope I won't be taken as too abrupt..." She said as she leaned closer to me.
"Huh...?" I said while blushing, seeing a blush come onto her face as well.
She pressed her lips to mine for a second, and then pulled away. "It's probably best that no one knows what just happened..." She smiled.
"Agreed." I grinned. "But trust me..." I held her chin in my hand and gently moved her face to look at me. "You weren't too abrupt..." I gently kissed her lips. "...I actually really liked it..." I cleared my throat.
"Me too..." She laughed, taking a hold of my hand. "Maybe we...maybe we should head back?" I nodded and we walked back to the house.
Tilanya was leaning against the back fence, noticing us holding hands. We let go as soon as we saw her, our faces turning red like tomatoes. She smirked. "Any reason for the hand-holding?"
"Long story..." I mumbled.
"I've got all day." She said as we both looked away from her. "I'm kidding, you don't have to tell!" She laughed. "You two make a cute couple! Just sayin'..." She winked.
I went back to the pigpens expecting to need to finish them, but they were all cleaned out. "What?" I looked at Tilanya.
"I finished them..." She said proudly. "I figured you two would be gone for a while, so I thought I'd kill time."
"Thank you, Tilanya." I said gratefully.
"You bet." She replied as Sally gave her a hug.
"Thanks, Tilanya!" She smiled at her.
"Yep!" She tittered. "Quit hugging me and go hug your boyfriend!"
"He's not my-" She argued.
"Shut up and hug him! He took a big risk admitting how much he likes you!"
Sally came up and embraced me and I embraced her back. "I really like you too, Link...you're such a sweet man...and let's not forget handsome!" She giggled as she nuzzled her face into my chest. I kissed the top of her head.
"DAAAWWWWW!" Tilanya squealed.
"Don't tell a soul, Tilanya." I said to her, "I don't want all the publicity yet..."
"I won't!" She huffed. "But let me know when you want to announce your relationship, I'd be more than happy to spread the word!"
Sally and I just blushed again. "You know what?" I said as I looked at Sally. "Let's ignore the rest of the 'chores...' We have a mission to finish!"
Sally looked unsure. "But..."
"We're leaving! Go get your stuff!" I grinned. "Weren't you excited to go to the City in the Sky, anyway?"
"Well...yes..." She answered.
"Then what are we waiting for?!" I moaned playfully.
"Okay!" She smiled. She looked back at Tilanya. "What about the whole issue with Martha?"
"No biggie. Just go have fun adventuring!" She beamed. "I'll handle it for ya, Sal!" By the time we went to grab the rest of our stuff and leave, Eleanor and Sally's stepmother had already gone out shopping. This was good, because then we could leave unnoticed. Tilanya waved good-bye as we left the village on our two horses.
"Next stop, Lake Hylia!" I shouted.
"Tally, ho!" Sally chuckled.