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Link was fuming, positively livid, he passed the room back and forth looking out the windows of his house repeatedly. His frustrations were on the edge of his mind, pulling him even faster. It had been four weeks since he proposed to Zelda. It had been almost four weeks since he’s has seen his love. The pacing through his house, did nothing but bring focus on these thoughts. Those three old men have not left them a moment’s peace. Sure, maybe he needed to learn a bit about how to navigate court, his pacing slowed as his train of thought continued. He will be the first to admit to not being the smartest person out there, that would be Zelda. However, before sunrise, every morning, his uncle has him up and out in the yard practicing forms he’s known for years. Then, they perform the normal daily maintenance of the orchard, which has been anything but normal lately.
In the past 4 weeks, they have only had a glimpse of each other. Enough time to say “I love you” before being whisked off on some other errand or task. All this cumulating to an ache in his chest, something primal and strong. Something he had not felt since the final task the Triforce sent him on. It was something he could not ignore any longer, something he needed to rectify.
The sun had begun its decent, searching for her companion the moon. And the first of the orange and purples started to dance across the sky. He had 10 minutes, 10 hard-fought minutes to enact his plan.
His chests were flung open, rummaging through took no time at all. He was quick to find what he was looking for. The woven gold threads of the Titan’s Mitts, and the gleaming, unscratchable chrome of his Hookshot. He flipped his bright red cloak across his shoulders and headed out the door.
Sticking his head out the door, he surveyed the area, confirming that his uncle had not arrived yet. With the coast clear he fled the house, eschewing the common path for the darkening forest. The light filtering through the branches was beautiful, in the back of his mind he preserved the image to show Zelda, however he could not linger. Arriving on the other side of the woods, he skirted along the edge, just out of sight of everyone surrounding the castle proper. Passing the entrance to the castle and the land bridge that led to it.
He watched the guards patrolling the edges of the moat, waiting for the perfect moment. He knew their routes and that there was a few seconds where both of their backs were turned away. Making the coast clear for him to make it without being seen. Once that moment arrived, he sent his hook across, latching onto a random shrubbery, he yanked himself across. Not waiting to look around, he flipped his cape’s hood over his head. He had 30, fleeting, seconds to move, silently along the wall. Guard after guard passed in his peripheral as he skirted along the wall, picking his way through the castle greenery. He could feel the magic flow through him as the cape concealed him, as his goal came into view. As he leapt behind the familiar foliage as the last of his magic fizzled, his, now visible, body thudding to the ground behind the now memorized secret escape.
He waited, eyes peeking over the bushes, waiting for the guard to turn his back. Link watched him making sure the man does not reverse course. Once satisfied and safe, he picked his way into the shrubbery and found the new obsidian stone that blocked off the old passageway. Flexing the golden threads of his mitts, he hefted the stone above his head. Stepping into the hole, the stone fell sealing the way behind him. His feet splashed in the water, the fall almost forcing him to roll. Once settles, he pulled the lantern out, illuminating his way forward.
He hated this part of the castle, this one passage, something happened here once, but he forced those thought out of his mind as he moved on. Soon he moved past the old storeroom and crept up the stone stairs leading to the east garden. Discretion took its hold on him, forcing him to peek his head out. The area was unchanged Tables and chairs still sat there from a month ago. It seemed as if no one other than the three of them knew of the old garden’s special feature.
Thoughts for another time perhaps, it was probably just as well that no one knew at the moment. Anyway, there were much more important things that he needed to do. He looked up and found the inner walls missing all the protective features found on the outer walls. More importantly they do not prevent him from using his hookshot. Above him, he saw a single windowed balcony, glimmering in a sea of darkened glass. He knew whose suite that was, and with a smile on his lips, he took aim and let it loose. Guiding it with it with all his love
Zelda sat there in her study, rifling through sheet after sheet of boring paperwork. A task that has become all too familiar as of late. Her father now teaching Link what was to be expected of him in the future and thus she had been left with the bulk of their combined duties. The last time she complained of this, he talked of a time when he will no longer be able to assist with the work. The comments were innocent, alluding to a time when he would retire. At the minimum pertaining to the time when he took an extended vacation set to begin on eve of the newlyweds return from their honeymoon. But the thoughts those remarks invoke, the memories that haunted them, were too hard to bear. She thought it best if she never asked again. Happy to still have her father in her life, she would shoulder this burden.
And so it was that during the mornings she held a small council, the small group of people necessary to plan the royal wedding of the princess of the land and her most beloved hero. On days she was not planning her wedding, she was planning the coronation of that very same couple. Then afternoon court, where people from all over the kingdom would air grievances, suggestions and, quite often, gossip about the newly engaged couple along with the many going ons about the county.
It was to that end that her betrothed had been usurped, filched, stolen from her presence. All under the guise of teaching him the ways of the Royal, the Scholar and the Worldly, three old men who have monopolized her beloved’s time. If it were not for the fact that it had been the happiest time of her life, she would probably not remember the last time she truly saw him. She reviled his absence, his distance, and the required decorum they were required in the few passing moments they had with each other. The only thing that made those moments bearable was the fact that he was there. Unable to even holding hands, their closeness was pulled apart by the machinations of the court, and the three old men who controlled their schedules.
Initially she did not see any reason that he would need the knowledge of how to run his orchard, and she was more than happy to teach Link how to deal with the nobles of her court, and the skills needed to study and learn were only a stone’s throw away from his already existing intelligence. Furthermore, Link had seen more of this world than any other person in Hyrule, probably even outside of Hyrule as well.
Link’s uncle was the first to explain, Link’s worldliness was much broader than the average man’s, no one could debate this. However, his business sense was significantly lacking. Unfortunately, with all her wisdom, she was unable to refute this. He had never mentioned being cheated in the past, but that he would perform some task, or find more rupees to purchase whatever he needed. He had probably never haggled once in any of his adventures, and the art of negotiation is something he would need a King.
Sahasrahla was next, he explained that Link was a bright young man, but that he was not prone to spontaneous research or discovery, nor did he have the discipline needed for such work. She argued that Link had had no need for such skill, so he simply had not learned what he had not needed. His reply was simple; the boy needed to be taught to read at the age of twelve. She could not refute this, she herself taught him to read so that he could translate the text on the monument using the Book of Mudora. He learned quick, but his other pursuits took priority to his education.
Her father was the last to argue his simple case. Link needed to learn the rules and nature of the court and her nobles. If she were honest with herself, Link was too nice, and probably a little too naive for her court. Yet, she would not be able to just give him the title of ‘Crown Prince’ and have him sit next to her like some pretty little trophy. He would not be content to sit here and let her do all the work, he would want to help. They could not change that any more than they could stop him from saving others, it’s in his nature, a part of who he is, and she would not have it any other way. He will want to share the burden of the crown and the weight of ruling the Kingdom. For that, he would need to learn to identify and deal with people of a less than savory nature.
Her last effort to pull back any time she could with him, “I can teach him these things.” She could, they learn well from each other. He had taught her to play an ocarina, while she had taught him to read and write well.
The three men look at her with kind, knowing smile, yet it was her father who spoke. “My dear, when you two are in the same room alone for too long, all works ceases. Once someone notices, we find the two of you staring into each other’s eyes with so much love that it almost hurts to look at.” He did this with loving understanding in his eyes, but the other two old men behind him, hiding snickers behind wrinkled hands, did not improve her mood over the matter.
The thought of it caused her face to heat, even safely in her room, though she was never sure if that was because of the embarrassment over the true statement, or the thought of her love sitting in front of her with all the adoration in his eyes he always had. So it was, here she sat, her eyes passing over every petition and plea, every case and consternation the people of Hyrule had to offer. All in hopes of drowning out her loneliness, or at least the work would make the time of their reunion seem all that much sooner.
Weeks ago, she found that the best way to tackle the work was to separate the work into piles. At first there were many, but ultimately, she found that she only needed two. She poured over each of them and placed it in its pile. In one, she has several pieces of parchment, a scroll or two and even a few sheets of papyrus containing the problems and concerns of her people. Presently, Flik’s penmen ship scrawled across a rare roll of papyrus. His petition stated that because Link was the one who caught him, he could not be the one to try him citing a conflict of interest. It was an amusing attempt to have his pen succeed where his feet had failed. However, her father approved of each of Link’s decisions and the verdict would stand. She was even penning him a reply stating that the normal sentence for his offence was much harsher, but she will let Link’s judgement and sentencing stand.
She needed to talk with Link about going easy on people even if they are acquaintances. If he were not already lenient in general, it would be a problem.
For a moment, she glared at the other pile. Far too many sheets and scrolls of papyrus and vellum, not even a hint of the wood pulp paper used by most people. So much of the opulence stacked in the correspondence of her conceded nobility. She dreaded even looking at the pile, each of them believing they were a match or better than the hero who saved them from Ganon’s machinations. Fools the whole lot of them, Sons of lords who all forget that Link himself is one of their number. The fact that he owns land just outside the castle should be all the information these people should need. Her father had informed her that she would need to respond to each in turn. The minimum to maintain goodwill with her nobles civil, as well as reasonable relations with the little princelings that their neighbors were trying to foster onto her. Name by name, both familiar and family, she added to her list of responses, contemplating the easiest way to reply to each of them. She did not want to waste a scribe’s time creating letters for her to sign. Her mind turned to the witch in the east who was friendly with the Zora of their rivers. She might have an answer available for the magically inclined, maybe she should have Link introduce them.
Her list complete, she tied some twine around the paperwork, binding it together. She grabbed it, contemplating on what to do with the opulence. She glanced at the flames in the fireplace, dancing with the shadows of it’s own making. Burning velum smelled bad and the fumes of burning papyrus gave her headaches.
The warbling light of the fire brought her mind to her balcony. The sun has dipped to the forest in the east, casting Din’s fire across the sky, caught her attention. Her previous reservations. Were momentarily forgotten, she tossed the bundle into the fire. Her eyes turned to the mountains in the east, the haven of the ancient Eastern Palace. The onetime home of the pendant of courage. Nayru’s Calm hovering on the edges of the sky, beginning her transition into a peaceful night. The peace of her balcony beaconing her as it had done so many times before.
Idly she stood, leaning on the railing, watching the lingering fires pass from the sky. A soft metallic ‘tink’ alerted her to an incoming presence. Shortly, she heard a metallic rattling grow closer as a chain, driven by long lost magic and technology, drew close. Something she had heard before, when they were just friends and he was still healing, seeking only the solace of her companionship. They had grown so much since those days, and she could not help the smile that drew across her lips. It turned out that her loneliness had company and resourceful company at that. Confirmation came when the whirring and the accompaniment of gears added a quiet murmur to the background noise he provided. A blur of movement flipped up her patio railing perching on the stone beam. She found a look of determined love beholding her. An infectious smile spread across his face as he propped himself on her railing, the same smile that he had when they first met. The same one she sees every time they are together.
Perched on the railing, he waved at her, that same, shy, gentle wave he always uses only for her. It was enough, however, to cause him to wobble. His balance, lost, he tumbled from the railing, landing hard on the flagstones. He looked up from his landing spot, and his smile started to waver, stifling the snicker that was attempting to develop. “I guess I fell head over heels for you all over again.” He tried to stifle his laughter as he picked himself up but failed as he was brushing off his leggings.
She shouldn’t have laughed, she knows that laughter will only encourage him as much as groaning. Never-the-less she found herself hiding behind her hands once again. “Link,” she chided through her giggles, “That was really bad.” His own chuckle mixed with her giggles and made pleasant music that they both loved.
“But your smiling,” his words were a balm on her soul. So much worry wafted away in the breeze whenever he spoke.
They were drawn to each other, an incredibly irresistible pull that they happily followed. Arms finding each other to hold tight with the softest of touch and the gentlest of pull. “I have missed you so much,” They almost sung, the harmony of their voices resounded off the walls. Smiles were soon to follow, beaming at each other. The smallest amount of space was all that was left between as they leaned into each other, eyes meeting in love and adoration. Her smile was his sun, brilliant as her golden hair. She has the power to banish the dark things that leach on his soul. His smile was her moon, soft and kind, her guide in the darkest of times. Together they loved each other as dusk and dawn, their vibrancy blending in a beautiful radiance.
Of the same mind, they closed that small space, bringing their lips together in a tender kiss. Letting their love for each other come together as the colors in the sky. Arms tightening, they pulled each other closer. Their hands wandering as they are wont to do. Her’s found the short hair at the back of his neck, playing with it as she’s like to do. His resting around her lower back, hands clasped, locked, keeping her to him. Neither wanted to back away at their contentment. Then her hands tightened, pulling him deeper, dragging a small moan from his throat. The noise pulling her from the haze they had descended into. “L-Link,” she stammered, “I-I.” Both flushed and muddled from the headiness of their hearts’ desires.
His just brought a hand up to her cheek, “I know,” she leaned into his hand, closing her eyes, “I feel the same way.” They had to be so careful to keep up appearances. Too many nobles were waiting for them to do something to cause a scandal. Something to tarnish their names and feed the ever-present rumor mill.
It was only after their fires died down, did they let each other loose. Letting go was never really an option, however, but much to contrary of their wishes, they could not hold each other indefinitely. “It is not that I do not enjoy your company, but,” she worried her lip some, “what if someone saw you?” She stood there, her hands clasped in worry. He pulled her close to him once again, gently kissing her lip to stop her from worrying at it.
He brought her in as close as he could, pulling his cape around her. Kissing her again, he pulled the hood over his head, the magic taking hold once again. Her giggle resounded around them as they vanished in his personal magic. He hand found his cheek, she brought his face to hers, joining their lips once again. They knew each other by some other sense, they had long since stop needing their eyes for that. “Of course,” she sighed as she melted further into his embrace, “you have a tool for every situation.” He felt the heat rise on his cheeks in his embarrassment, thankful for the magic concealing them. That was until he felt the fizzle of his magical reservoir drain. Her hand still had him, keeping him still as she pressed her cool lips against his other cheek.
She got to see his incandescence as she flicked off his hood and kissed him again, stopping at an edge they’ve looked over so many times. “So, to what do I owe for this wonderful visit?” They collectively shuddered, collecting themselves.
“Well,” he hemmed and hawed as he shrugged his cape behind him, searching his pockets and pouches until he pulled out his ocarina and blew a few notes. “I hoped we might practice our music.” His blush drew a deep crimson that disappeared below the collar of his tunic. His smile drew across his features, shy, but bright, like a full moon guiding a raft home after being gone for far too long.
As much as she liked to tease him, she granted him a reprieve, “I would love to make wonderful music with you.” Her mercy taking the form of her search for her own ocarina, she rushed to her room to retrieve it while he calmed down. On her return she echoed the notes he had played, the opening of the song they shared together just one month ago.
Together they played, letting their love shine through the notes of their song. They knew it, almost as if they had known it their whole lives. It was from their hearts and about their hearts. With them together, something that was finally whole.
As the moon tracked her path across the sky as they played, letting time pass by them, enjoying the closeness the duet brings them. Time for giggles, time for cracked notes, time for tiny kisses given when they least expected it.
Time for love.
The vibrant fires in the sky of Farore’s Exuberance found them sitting close on a settee. Watching the sun return to the sky, hand in hand, leaning into each other.
Time is a funny thing whenever they are together. All too often is passed in the blink of an eye. Confusion etched on Zelda’s face as there came a light tap on her door in the glimmering hours of the morning. Halfway to her door, her confusion shifted to panic as it was followed by three knocks. She turned to Link, to tell him to hide, but he had already vanished. Only the telltale presence she felt when he was near told her that he had not jumped off the balcony, a genuine fear when dealing with him.
She opened the door, fighting down the nerves building upon the sight of her father on the other side of the door. “Good morning, father,” he forced her voice to even out, maintaining a pleasant tone, “do you wish to have breakfast this morning?”
“I would love to daughter, but there are other things I must see to this morning.” His voice was kind, but alert, he remained respectful, however, he was obviously glancing into her room. “May I come in?”
She had no choice but to hope her love was alert. Opening the door, she risked a glance at where Link was sitting only to find that the depression in his seat had vanished. Opening the door the rest of the way, she let her father pass through. He swept into the room, obviously searching for something, or someone. A gentle hand pressed to her back, adding to his presence that he was still there.
“My dear, have you seen Link?” her father asked as he spun to meet her, “There are some things that we must discuss.”
“I have not,” through sheer force of will she forced her blush away, “it is a little early for him to be about, right?”
“You are indeed correct,” while her father spoke, she heard the slights of movement next to her. The sound of cork on glass tickled the edge of her ear. “However, we have decided to change some things about his schedule that he will need to know about.”
“Oh, what kind of changes?” she continued, hoping the quiet pop of the cork releasing was covered by her voice.
The smile that drew across her father’s face as his eyes flicked to where Link stood next to her could only be described as sly, “Oh, nothing too drastic. Certainty not anything to worry about.” His expression turned kind as he focused on her again. Probably misunderstanding her worried look, he continued, “His uncle has simply informed me that he has taught him all he could. So, we have decided to move up the time he meets with me.”
“D-does,” she didn’t mean to sound so hopeful. As wonderful as last night was, she did want to see him more, “does that mean he will note be so busy?”
His kind smile widened, and mischief twinkled in the old man’s eyes. “Miss him that much, do you?” The Goddesses cursed her, eighteen years and she sounded like a child asking to spend time with him. But all she could do was shake her head. Even with the time last night, she missed him terribly every day. “Let’s see what we can do then.” He smiled at her and gave her a hug.
She returned her father's hug as an elated ‘Really?’ rang through her mind. She tingled as Link’s joy infused hers. Her father let go and made for the door.
Taking the handle, he paused for a moment, the, “Zelda, I think I’ve changed my mind.”
Her heart dropped. ‘What?’ her thought lashed out causing Link to shuffle while out of sight. The idea that they were so close to spending more time with each other only for it to …
“I think I will join you for breakfast, if you can wait for a half an hour that is.” He smiled. It was a smile that did not know the momentary heart ache he had just caused. Her emotions were in such a state that she could only nod.
“Good,” he started through the door, “Oh,” he stopped and turned back. She could feel Link straining to hold onto the magic, “If you see Link, tell him to meet me in my study in about 30 minutes.” He stepped began through the door, “Preferably through the front gate,” he chuckled as he closed the door.
The moment the door closed, Link’s magic fizzled out, in the process returning him to visibility with a crackling protest. ‘Do you think he knows?.’ His thought was full of caution, as if her father would reappear through the door any moment.
She stared at the door, taking his hand in hers, ‘Most likely.’ Her nervousness responded to his in kind, ‘I do not see how he could not.’