Foolish Thoughts: Part IV
By SP

Dust kicks up in my eyes, as the smell of body odor and horse shit invades my nose. I'm usually able to deal with it. At least when it comes in small, tolerable amounts. I travel on horseback all the time. I should be fine.

But all this talking is driving me insane. It's infuriating. Two people aren't trouble. And I can ignore ten people. When two thousand people are laughing and screaming and shouting all at the same time, it's horrible. It's so loud, even people in Ordona could probably hear us. I don't know how the older officers have done this for years. I don't know if I'll get through this without wanting to stab myself in the jugular. Getting Major Latt drunk was not my brightest idea.

Not all parts are obnoxiously loud. The regiment in the front is silent, like they were leading a funeral train. They're mostly soldiers I've been training, so they know I appreciate silent obedience. Though I'd appreciate if one of them would crack a fucking smile every so often. No big deal or anything. The gaggle of noblemen and their families follow behind, with no clear distinction between the lesser and greater ones. I couldn't even tell the difference. They're all mixed together, drinking and hollering like they're already at Lake Hylia. I don't even know where the Court is staying. I think I've been told whom, but I don't want to wrack my brains at this very moment. I'm slightly behind them, almost in the middle of the train.

I have to watch this whole catastrophe and make sure it doesn't blow up in my face. What an honor. One small mistake, like if someone fell off their horse, and my ass is on the line.

Litters and carriages of the Princess' ladies roll and jerk on the dirt roads. Many of them hold handkerchiefs to their faces. As if the slightest speck of dust would give them the plague.

Women.

I risk checking on what is happening behind me. The line of ladies continues for a little, and a gap separates the Princess from her ladies.

There is another slit between Zelda and the servants. They straggle towards the end, carrying and pulling luggage and furniture. Every time I look back I yearn to help them. But doing so would destroy what little reputation I have.

It's not that people don't like her. They adore her. People always have that blind allegiance to their ruler. Zelda just doesn't like people. At least I think so. Calling her a misanthrope would be the most accurate statement. Many of her ladies invited her to ride in their carriages this morning, but she declined. She rides in the open air, not complaining for a second. I offered an escort of guards for her, and she said no. I offered my own company, and she rejected that too. It's just her and her thoughts, as she peers around the scenery of her kingdom. She drinks it in; like this is the first and last time she has been outside those castle walls.

Numerous children and their parents tumble out of picturesque farmhouses along the roads, eager to see the spectacle. Every household looks the same after awhile – sunken cheeks, raggedy clothes, and too many mouths to fill. They all have a glimmer in their eyes, something like hope, if that's not too cliché. They want to see if their Princess is everything that they dreamed she is. It's not like they'll have second and third chances to see her. When they get a glare from a snobby nobleman, they drop to one knee in reverence. Their heads still perk up, waiting for a glimpse of her. Zelda moves over every single person, memorizing them, seeing what Hyrule truly is like.

She breaks out of the train to hand small purses of rupees to the families. Did she plan this beforehand? Or is it just some publicity stunt? They thank her and shout her praises, and the Princess moves on, vapidly waving her hand in reply. She does enough to temporarily win the hearts of her populace, but it's not enough. At least not until all the roads are fixed, the bridges reconstructed, and the markets reopened. Maybe then they'll hold her in higher regard. The councilmen take notice of this and whisper among one another. She is beyond caring about their snide comments. Her eyes meet mine for a moment, and then we both look away.

I'm not really sure where or who I should ride with. I shouldn't go to the very front, or I won't be able to see any mishaps. There's no way I could survive with the nobles. It'd be a very awkward ride for everyone, and I don't want to put myself through that. I couldn't get through riding with the Princess' ladies. They'd have millions of questions for me that I don't really want to answer.

That leaves the Princess. It's not a great idea. We could only talk of simple topics, like the weather, knowing the entire court is craning their necks to watch us. She could ignore me. Or she could throw caution to the wind and act like she doesn't care about anything. Just for once.

I grin and steer Epona to the side of the road into the mud, knowing that I'm acting like a madman. But that's okay. The yards and yards of horses and carriages and litters pass by me. Most women stare as they go by. I self-consciously dust off my jerkin, just in case there's muck on it. A few of them smile, while the rare ones throw out comments to me.

"Sir Link! You're looking mighty handsome today!"
"Come join us in our carriage, Sir!"
"Sir Link, you must come ride with us!" A woman leans out of her carriage window to shout. Her auburn hair is stretched to the back of her skull, as her chest nearly falls out of her gown. I would be lying if I said she wasn't pretty, but it's not enough for me. She reminds me of one of the women you see lurking in the alleys of Castle Town when the sun goes down, willing to do anything to a man for a Rupee.

She whips around to say something to a figure next to her, and the area rings with her laughter. It is not pleasant-sounding, that you could listen to all day. It's forced, or fake. The lady smiles coquettishly, expecting an affirmative answer.

"I have my duties to attend to, miss. Good day." Her lip juts out in a pout as she disappears in her carriage. That would've been a few hours of hell if I said yes. I should know her name by name, to not be as rude. Oh well. Life goes on.

Another peal of laughter goes by. It's not the throaty gargle that the previous woman had. It's melodious and echoing, but then it's gone. I wipe the dazed smile off my face, as I motion Epona to catch up to a figure all in white.

The Princess and her ladies are only separated by a few yards, so I merge right in. The Princess pointedly looks away, and her horse mimics her, ignoring me. She definitely notes my proximity, but doesn't comment on my arrival. I loudly sigh, showing my annoyance with her.

"Shouldn't you be doing something productive, Sir Link?" She gazes on ahead, judging everyone in front of us. I know that look all too well.

"I think checking up on your well-being counts as doing something productive" I shoot back. "Unless you want me not to care."

"I appreciate your concern." Zelda calmly replies.

She's acting like we're strangers. One day we can talk about anything, the next she treats me no better than a kitchen boy. I think she can't decide how to act around me. I'm somewhat confused on how to be around her, too.

"I hate this." She fingers her bridle while muttering, mostly to herself.

"Hmm?" I was barely paying attention. I mean, I was, but I was lost in my own thoughts.

She slightly gestures in front of her. "All this. It sickens me. Does everyone have to put on their worst behavior on display for the whole Kingdom?" She does have a point. Curses and bawdy comments dominate the train's noise, even all the way back here.

"They might just want to loosen up for a few hours."

She scoffs. "Can they wait until we actually get to Count Yankoski's estate?"

I grin, just to tease her. Zelda slumps her shoulders and fumes, letting her guard down. "Besides, weren't you complaining earlier about this?"

"I was just saying it takes me a quarter of the time to travel from Castle Town to Lake Hylia than the speed we're going now."

"Would you not get exhausted?" Zelda furrows her brow in concern – almost like she cares about me.

"It's not like I was allowed to rest."

Comprehension dawns on her face. "Oh. Right. You were saving Hyrule and everything."

"Yeah." We lapse into an uncomfortable silence. The sun beats down, making my skin prickle with sweat. Men toss their jackets to their stewards and beg for water. I move to wipe my own brow, but thin fingers stop me.

"Here, let me…" Zelda nudges her mare closer. She peels my hair away from my forehead and wipes the sweat with a handkerchief. Her other hand stays on my arm, and looks at every part of my face but my eyes, yet again. She uses me as a support from falling off her horse. Zelda feels like nothing at all. Her touch doesn't feel like a mop or a sponge, scrubbing away the dirt and grime. It's light and airy. She makes me sweat even more. What a counterproductive action.

The Princess finally slowly draws her hand away, lingering by my chin, and regains her rigid posture in her own saddle. Is she reluctant? Or scared? My hand grasps hers at the last moment.

"Link, I am fine." Zelda doesn't say it harshly, but strongly enough to draw attention. A few ladies briefly look back at us as I release her.

I try to dab the perspiration off to no avail. At the same time, I don't want to take Zelda's lingering touch from my face. I want it to last forever, or have access to it regularly. But neither of those things is possible. She purses her lips tightly, eyebrows drawn in thought. It's that look when she's contemplating the risks of speaking her mind, rather than just bottling every damn thing up.

"What was your incentive to save Hyrule?" She blurts out, eyes trained to the ground. If she asked any other question, I could answer it properly. Not this one.

"Like… my motivation?"

"Yes, that is what incentive means." I hate that condescending tone. "Everyone says it is this thing or that thing. But since no one has seriously asked you, I decided to inquire."

"You make it sound like it's some dreadful task that people wouldn't want to do."

"Maybe it is."

"Why?"

"I am afraid of what your answer could be." She purses her lips, not knowing what to say next.

I shift uncomfortably. We've rode for hours without stopping, and my legs are numb from the strain.

"Why do you care?" This time, it seems like I was the one who was being condescending.

Zelda lets out a deep breath. Her forehead creases with inner turmoil and pain. "I care for you. So I want to know why you think the way that you do. Is that enough?"

It's not exactly a declaration of affection, but it's probably the best I'll ever get, or that she'll ever give. I tug at my collar, letting the slick beads of sweat slide down my neck. "I only wanted to do something important. That could help others, something that mattered. When the opportunity came, I grabbed it."

"Oh," Zelda says softly, almost like a whisper. She seems almost sad at my response. "So nothing else?"

My brain doesn't process that I'm talking and opening my idiot mouth, putting myself in the most vulnerable state I've ever been in. "Maybe… there was you. It's not like I thought you were a damsel in distress or anything. You kept pushing and fighting for Hyrule, but you were beaten back a little more each time you tried. And I wanted to save you before it was too late."

She slowly raises her head and gives a rare smile. "You just have that hero complex going for you."

"Elaborate, O wise one." I couldn't resist the sarcasm.

"You always think you have to save people. You think you can solve everyone's problems, and that is purely impossible. Some people are broken beyond repair. They're gone." Zelda tightly grips her reins until the leather starts cracking.

"We both know you don't need my comfort, Princess." I pause to figure out the right words. She stares blankly ahead, giving the impression that her thoughts have strayed from me.

"Excuse me?" I know that tone very well. She uses it sparingly, only when berating an advisor on some poor decision. I've seen her rage from afar, but I've never been the target of it – until now.

"You're lonely. You're surrounded by people that claim they are your closest confidants, but you're unable to converse on a deeper level with anyone. You crave some connection, and you will never claim it." And that, my Princess, is why I feel sorry for you. And why I hope I never feel pain like you have to.

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Sir Link." She mocks me now.

"It's why you're so cold. You don't let anyone in."

"I am not cold!" The Princess snaps back.

"Brrr."

Zelda takes a deep breath. "Before you make any judgments about my character, Sir Link, be aware that you barely know me. You could not possibly know anything of value, and therefore you have no business asserting your own thoughts in front of my person."

"Are you always like this?"

Zelda swivels almost too tightly, her horse squealing in protest. "Pardon?"

"Let me clarify in terms that you could possibly comprehend, Princess," I spit out the title with as much contempt as I can muster. "You know I'm not just another councilman or nobleman you can roll right over. I'm not a piece of shit either. We both know I'm better than that. You know you care for me more than that. So start acting like you do."

I know I hurt her. Someone has to tell her the truth, right? I nudge Epona forward to put some distance between the Princess and me. Let her know everything isn't all fucking fine-and-dandy. Let her feel pain for once in her carefree life.

She sputters in protest as she tries to catch up with me. "I-I have to give you equal treatment as everyone else-"

I call back to her over my shoulder, beyond the point of being furtive under the gazes of the rest of the train. "I can leave."

There. I deliver my ultimatum. I really have no right to be giving one, since Zelda has done no serious injury to me. I wouldn't leave her side, not in a thousand years, even if she commanded me to on the battlefield. I would never leave her.

However, I want to test how far I can take this, how thin the ice is. I want to see if she actually cares about me, who should mean nothing to her. Zelda's face looks like something akin to shock, but she wipes it away and replaces it with a passive expression. Her eyes look unfocused, as moisture dangles off her eyelashes.

Way to go. I made my sovereign and the target of my affections cry because of a noncommittal threat. Excuse me while I go fall upon my sword.

"Zelda…" I tentatively start. I reach a hand to her arm, but she jerks away before I even touch her.

"I would like to ride alone for the remainder of the trip, Sir Link. Please ensure that everyone is aware of this." Her posture straightens, and her face is composed in her naturally regal, elegant appearance.

Who am I kidding? How am I supposed to expect that this she would hold romantic attachment to me, a man far beneath her station? She probably doesn't even remember the library. I initiated the kiss, after all. I'm the one at fault. I messed up.

"Zelda, if you would just listen-"

"You're dismissed." There she goes, into bitch mode once again.

I see that I have no choice. "As you wish, your Majesty." I kick Epona's sides to trot ahead, attempting to not leave too much dust in my wake.

I try to be the strong, noble man, going forth into the unknown darkness and leaving all that he knows behind, like in fairytales. Maybe I'll come back, and receive a Hero's welcome that I've always craved.

I know I won't get that.

I spare a look behind me before the crowd engulfs me. Zelda has been watching my retreating back, and her eyes flick up to mine. Her chin trembles, and she opens her lips to shout something. She thinks better of it, and closes her mouth, pointedly looking away. As usual.

The Court is too distracted to detect their wavering Princess, tipped over like a chess piece by a man that no one has heard of.
I don't dare to look back for the remainder of the journey.

xxx

I stroll behind of a pack of giggling, simpering girls. I'm supposed to be escorting these urchins on the coast of Lake Hylia. It's more like babysitting, like I used to do in Ordon. But I'm not getting paid for it, which makes this even worse. I have no motivation to spend more than five minutes of my attention on these girls who are barely pubescent.

Now, if she was with them, this would be a very different day. I would make an effort to be interested in what she could be doing. I haven't seen her since we arrived at this snooty Count's estate. All I want to do is apologize, even though I'm not sorry. Hell, I don't even think I'm at fault. She's the one to blame. She's made me fall for her this hard. If I have to sacrifice my livelihood just to talk to Zelda again, I'll do it.

On the other hand, she's been avoiding me. Actually, she's just avoiding everyone. The courtiers whisper that she's taken up a lover in the past few days and only reappears at the nighttime festivities. Other rumors swirl about, none of which I really want to remember.

I mean nothing to her. I'm supposed to mean nothing to her, at the least. And vice versa. Every day, I try to convince myself that Zelda is insignificant. I'm fighting a losing battle, and she defeats me a little more each day.

It's difficult to take my mind off her. While I'm swallowed up in my thoughts, I'm content to letting mal-intentioned noblemen's sons to walk and flirt with the gaggle. It's not like they're doing anything that will get me, their chaperone, in trouble so far. I scan the coastline and patches of trees for any sign of the Princess, if she would even come down here.

"Sir Link? Link? Earth to Sir Link?" I jump when one of the ladies appears in front of me. I almost run into her! Cheeky girl. She could barely be a teenager, but her face looks like it's been painted on by dozens of make-up brushes and powders. Whatever those women use. Her bodice is tight; it looks as if she could be suffocating.

"Yes, what is it?" I think I sound a little annoyed, but I couldn't care less.

The lady-in-waiting does a little throat-clearing cough. "You see, Sir Link, it's an awfully nice day out, and a few of us were wondering - "

"- if you could take some boats out to the lake." I finish for her in a mocking tone. I've already been asked this before by another one of her little friends, and my response was the same. "No."

"But why?" She simpers loudly. This draws the attention of the group on us, with all of them shooting daggers in my direction. I think they bribed the girl to ask me on their behalf. Typical. The brats of Hyrule's noblest lineages, making the weakest do their dirty work. Do they not realize that begging will get them nowhere in life?

"What may I call you, Lady…?"

"Wingate." The girl beams broadly. I wouldn't be too happy that a simple knight just asked me for my surname.

"Well, Lady Wingate," I take her by the shoulder and turn her towards the pack of vibrantly dressed men and women. They hurriedly walk a ways ahead, leaving the poor girl to fend for herself. "You see all those boys up there?"

"They're not boys, they're men!"

"That's not my point." Her answer sparks my interest a bit. I decide to prod her a bit to somehow learn the ways of the nobility. "But in your eyes, what makes them men?"

"They can get married!" She offers immediately.

I sigh in obvious exasperation. "Is marriage all you women think about?"

"What else is there to think of?" She looks up at me with innocent eyes. Is she pulling my leg?

"You know. You could read…write… do stuff," I finish lamely.

Lady Wingate's eyes become wider than a suffocating bullfrog. "The Princess does all that. I think I'll be okay if I don't."

"Oh really?" My breath gets caught midway in my throat. Just the mere mention of her turns me into a withering vegetable. I need help.

"Yep. She always says that since she's never gonna get married, she wants to be good at other things."

I feel deflated. "I thought the Princess has dozens of suitors. Can't she just, ya know… pick one?"

The girl laughs at my idiocy. "Of course not. She doesn't want to marry any of them."

Hope flutters in my chest. "How come?"

Lady Wingate shifts her balance back and forth. "She says the one man she would even consider marriage with does not desire her at all. So, she doesn't want to marry at all."

All of my bodily functions seem to have stopped for that moment. A sledgehammer of emotion hits me. "That's quite interesting," I mutter, trying to keep my voice level.

"It sure is. But you didn't hear it from me!" She puts a finger to her lips.

"Why does she not want to talk about it?" I try to wheel more information out of the girl.

"Couldn't tell you. When we ask her who this mystery man is, she gets super red and changes the topic of conversation." Lady Wingate attempts a very unladylike shrug. "It's almost like they can never be together."

"Sounds like her."

"Sure is. She sighs and daydreams all day. She writes and writes and writes, but burns every page. She also – hey, how do you even know the Princess?"

Damn! "Why don't you have one of those men row you out to the center of the Lake? It's beautiful at this time of day." If she manages to put the pieces together (which I sincerely doubt she will), I'll definitely have more to deal with that what I bargained for.

She doesn't quite take the bait. "I thought you didn't want us to go…"

"I think it'd be good exercise for you. Go on!" I push her lightly away from me.

Lady Wingate curtseys and dashes away to her semi-friends. The group opens up to welcome her back, and all walk towards the pier. More than one staggers off to the side, only to be roped back in by their counterparts. I knew I shouldn't have tried to stop them. Getting rid of them is better than having to watch over them.

They clamor and stumble into the boats, with squeals and hoots emitting. They look like birds, flocking and hitting each other over carrion. It's a stretch to hide my amusement, but I'm doing it. The sons and daughters of each family all fight over whom gets to sit with whom. I force myself to walk away before I yell at one of them for their incompetence.

I don't go too far across the wet sand until my reverie is interrupted once again. I usually have tunnel vision when walking. I focus on the goal ahead, not on the unnecessary details. Lately, I've been doing quite the opposite of that. Amid the countless trees, a small piece of yellow stands out. At first I thought it was a flower. But that piece of yellow increases as I walk towards it, turning it into a simple dress that is haphazardly spread out across the ground.

As much as I guess, the Princess has escaped from the clutches of Court for a few hours to herself. Lucky her. She hunches up against a tree, protecting her body from the scorching sun. Her shoes are a few yards away from her, possibly kicked away when she chose this spot. Even from behind her, I can tell that Zelda's face is buried in a leather-bound book, like she is trying to drown her face in the musty pages. I stop to soak in every detail of this pristine moment. A breeze picks up, and the light linen of her dress turns in my direction. The simplicity of her frock contrasts with the gaudy costumes of everyone else in Court – almost like Zelda purposely tries to set herself apart from them.

I wish this moment would freeze. That I could just bottle it up and keep it in the back of my mind for eternity. I don't want to break the silence.

Luckily, Zelda does so before I have to. Her eyes flick over in my direction, and then she glues herself to her novel before too long.

"Don't you have some ladies-in-waiting to be chaperoning?" The Princess' curt voice cuts the silence like a knife. The coldness is almost undetectable. But I'm used to her. I know every hidden thought behind her words, every hidden motive behind her actions.

"Shouldn't you be showing Hyrule that you're not some crazy recluse who can't be social to normal people?"

"You really should not be so rude to me," Zelda points out. She doesn't even look up. It's almost to the point where she wouldn't care if I stripped in front of her and started doing acrobatics. Well, maybe she would, but I doubt it. I slowly tiptoe behind the tree, forgetting that I look like an absolute fool if anyone were paying attention to us. I crouch right behind her, using part of the trunk as a shield, until I can clearly read over her shoulder. The symbols are faded, and barely legible. Her shoulders tense up, obviously registering my nearness. The funny thing is that she doesn't do anything about it. She stays silent. Zelda deeply breathes in and out, almost like she's savoring this moment just as much as I am. Her head tilts up, slowly but surely. Curious. I have never expected that from her before.

"Do you really think I care about your opinion of me?" I reach in front of her and snatch the book from her hands. I leap to the side as she whirls around, anger flashing in her eyes. She stands up clumsily, squinting in the sunlight, as I smirk at her predicament.

"Now what do we have here? What could possibly be more interesting than me?" I mockingly flip through the book. The pages are rough and scrape my hands like sandpaper.

"A lot, believe it or not. Give it here, Link." She dives back for her sandals and throws one at me. I lazily grab it – the more hostages, the better.

"What's all this about? The Crown Princess of Hyrule, attacking a mere soldier in her military? The Council will not be too pleased to hear about this."

Zelda grabs her other shoe, ready to chuck it in similar fashion. "Please give me my book." Strands of hair begin to stick to her forehead as the sun beats down. Her face is murderous, even scary. If this predicament wasn't as amusing I might even be frightened.

"Shouldn't you be more preoccupied that I have your shoe?" I wiggle my other hand, holding it up. "We wouldn't want your little toes to get cut, now would we?"

She sighs, mouthing Nayru to the sky ever so quickly. "What do I have to do get to my sandal and book back?" Zelda makes another swipe for her possessions, and I have to hold them behind my back to avoid her. She reaches around my torso, locking me in her grasp. Many courtiers would jump to conclusions right now.

How I wish that most of those conclusions were real. I fight to maintain self-control, instead of pouncing on her like a rabid animal.

"You'll have to do two things for me," I keep my voice light and try to disentangle myself from the web of our bodies. "One. Tell me the title and subject of your book."

"Translated or not?" A smirk spreads across her features like soft butter.

I frown. "You're really going to play this game, Princess?"

Zelda rests her cheek on my chest and stops clawing at my back. Such an intimate gesture from her has me worried. "It's in ancient Hylian. I just use it for translating practice. It's just a collection of fairytales."

"What's this, a Princess reading children's stories?"

"I needed some light reading. Don't judge me." She looks up and sticks her tongue out childishly. I doubt my reading is much more mature, so I'll let that one go. "What's my second task?"

An idea comes to my mind immediately and it tumbles out of my mouth before I can stop myself. "Come out to the Lake with me." I squeeze my eyes shut, preparing myself for the incoming diatribe.

She noticeably tightens her grip on me. Her fingernails have definitely left their mark on my back. "I-I beg your pardon?"

"Well, you wouldn't be doing the rowing." My previously shaky voice gains strength as the lie goes on. "You'd be sitting pretty while I do all the work."

"What would make you think I would even want to?" Good point.

"The rest of your ladies were wondering where you were. They thought you were missing out on the fun, so I came to rescue you." This half-assed lie better work, or she'll squash my hopes like a bug.

"Is that so?" Zelda stands up on her toes, but it's not enough to be at my eye level.

"Yes." I hope my blank face is enough to convince her.

"You have no ulterior motive?"

"I am just looking out for your own good, your majesty." It's hard to remind myself that I have to stop acting out of selfish reasons. It's going to be the end of me.

"Very well, if you insist. You may row me out to the center of the Lake and back."

I step back, and Zelda reluctantly drops her arms. The warmth that was raging within me now feels snuffed out like a burnt-up candle wick. I hold out the deteriorating book and her shoe, dangling them from my fingertips. "Follow me, if you would."

She seizes them from my hands greedily and stays close to my heels. Surprisingly, she has no comments on the scenery or barbs at my dirty outfit as we walk across the pebbly beach. What's more surprising is the fact that Zelda is still here. She hasn't been put off by anything that I've said so far. She sashays behind me, almost skipping along. Almost enjoying herself.

Almost.

I pause in the sand, waiting for her to catch up. My eyes wander over her hair, her body, everywhere but her eyes. It was surprising that a guard or five wasn't trailing us right now. "How did you manage to get alone?" My question is unneeded, but better asked than to let silence reign over us.

Zelda prances ahead, turning back to me. "As any other woman world." Her eyes, full of mirth, sparkled in the sunlight. "I told the Council and my private retinue that I would be in the library."

"And no one bothered to check?"

Her laughter rings in my ears. "No one is smart enough to know where the library even is."

We reach the derelict wooden dock, a pathetic sight in itself. Slats are missing, and I help Zelda step over them. She looks at me with puzzlement in her eyes at my kindness. Is it really so surprising that I can be kind every so often?

A single boat is left, somewhat bobbing in the waves. I gingerly step down into it, only to lose my balance. I windmill my arms as Zelda shields her snickering behind her book.

"Princess," I mutter and hold out my hand.

"I do not require your assistance, Sir Link. In fact-Din dammit!" Zelda stumbles into the boat, throwing herself forward. I process the fact that the Princess has a pottymouth, and I grab her waist before she throws herself in. We sway dangerously back and forth, and Zelda clings to me for support. This pose would belong on the cover of five-rupee romance novels. Her lithe form is encased in my own, like two puzzle pieces finally fitting together.

This always seems to happen. Zelda gets her own ass – butt, as I should say, and others' in trouble. And I bail her out over and over again. It's a sick cycle.

Zelda looks up, searching in my eyes, looking for something that never can be found. She stares down into my core, almost as if she's trying to communicate without speaking. Our long ears may pick up some indistinct noises, but I'm getting nothing form her. Weird. Failing, she sighs and sits down a creaky seat, placing her shoes underneath her. Zelda crosses her ankles and opens her book up. The very picture of tranquility.

Zelda snaps up her head after a few moments. "You're supposed to be rowing, are you not?"

I grin, feeling the blush creep into my cheeks. After undoing the ropes from the docks, I use the oars to help us jetty farther and farther out, without a word spoken between us.

"You miss out on a lot when you're keeping your nose in a book," I hint. I steal a glance at Zelda, but her face is obscured by her book. She's almost deliberately trying not to have fun. Drops of water fly from the oar as I switch paddling on either side. If they get on Zelda, she doesn't notice it.

We slowly gliding through the jumble of boats that contain the Court's "finest" men and women. Shrieks and catcalls ring through the area, bottles are swapped between neighboring boats, and acts that should be kept in the bedroom are on full display here. More than one person is soaking wet, too. Zelda hasn't turned a page at all. I thought she was a faster reader than this. It must take her ages to do paperwork at this rate…

The conclusion dawns on me as we pass another boat. She is noticing everything that is going on. She just chooses not to remark on it, to save her ladies' reputation. This must happen every day, if she does it so discreetly. The Ice Princess has a heart of gold after all.

"This seems like your kind of party, doesn't it?" We edge past the group and the noise grows softer and softer. Zelda snaps her book shut and drops it in her lap. Her eyebrows are drawn together, like I'm just another book to translate for her. At least this is interaction between us, more than I could ask for.

"Why would you even ask that?" The Princess tries to keep her tone at a normal timbre, but anger shakes her. Zelda has a cold, icy sort of anger. A fury that manifests itself in narrowed eyes, tight lips, and short, clipped, carefully calculated sentences.

"It's a simple question with a simple answer. You just had to say yes or no." The sun rises ever higher in the sky. A sheet of sweat covers my skin and soaks through my linen shirt. Zelda fusses with a barrette in her hair – the sole accessory on her today. She bites her lip, and I can almost see the cogs turning in her head.

"I can never say what I truly desire to say," she begins. "It has been like this for a bit. Ever since you applied for your position, actually."

"What does that have to do with anything?" I stop rowing and I take the oar out of the water, laying it below my seat. It is sort of random, coming from her. Then again, the Princess doesn't really get social cues either. "It's not my fault that you don't have competent social skills," I say without hesitation. Think before you speak, idiot.

Zelda glares at me, but her expression softens. "That's not my point. It's just that…" She sighs and clasps her hands together in earnest. Sighing seems to be a new thing for her. Some people bite their nails, some people suck their thumbs. But the Princess sighs. "It's hard for me to… concentrate while you're around."

I grow frustrated. "Are you seriously blaming your personal problems on me? Wow. Keeping it classy, Princess."

"No no no!" Zelda takes my hands in mine. She must be disgusted by how rough and calloused they are, compared to hers. "Please don't take it like that." Her hands are as freezing and as soft as always. The childlike naivety inside the coldness of adulthood.

"I just…" she pauses and looks at everything but me. What is it with her and eye contact? I always thought eye contact was a major part of etiquette. Guess she was sick on that day of "princess lessons."

"Princess," I barely mutter. I unclip the barrette from her hair and tuck a few strands behind her ear. Her stare is inquisitive as I twirl the hair piece in my fingers. "I like your hair more like this. Not pulled up in some traditional bullshit, diadems and ribbons everywhere. Just wild. Free. Like you're free to make your own choices."

"But I want to-"

"Do what you want." Concern manages to leak into my words. Fuck. Shit. Damn it all.

"I just wish you could be at the gala tonight," Zelda blurts out. A pregnant pause follows, creeping between us and driving us further and further apart.

"Really?" I'm too stunned to say much else.

Zelda's face seems to take on years in a few seconds. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

"I mean, I'll definitely be there - "

"Seeing you once or twice all night because you're on patrol does not qualify as "being there." It's not the same thing. I want you to a-actually b-be there, w-with me."

This is new. This is good. "Since when did you actually want to be around me in public?" I grin and lean on my knees, coaxing her into spitting out the words. Her eyes are open and alive, yet scared.

"When I-I," she sighs. I gotta admit, she's pretty adorable when she stutters. Most people think that the Princess is calm, cool, and collected all the time. But when Zelda is all flustered like so, she stutters like a milkmaid. It's quite fun doing that to her. "Realized what you m-meant t-to m-me."

A few moments pass.

Then a few more.

"I can't get through lunch with some suitor without thinking of what you would say to him. I can't wear green without knowing it's your favorite color. You've forced Pumpkin soup on me too many times for me to not crave it every time I walk by the kitchens." Her fingers leave my hands and rub circles on the fabric of her dress, a clear sign of her increasing anxiety. "Every time I step outside the castle walls I hear your praises sung. You've given bread and donations to everyone I couldn't reach. I drop practically half my purse into the collection tin at worship because I know you would do the same. I can't even read about the Hero of Time without comparing his deeds to yours." The timbre of her voice, usually so calm and steady, weakly shakes and wavers, and all but sputtering out by the end of her little speech.

I can't make my body move. I'm too dumbstruck to say or do anything. It's not the shock someone would feel as if they learned an elderly relative died. It's a shock that begins bubbling at your toes, then warmly spreads to every part of your being. It holds the person in a state of unabashed, pleasant paralysis. And that person doesn't want it to ever end.

Luckily for me, Zelda helps me during my plight. Her face goes into the smallest of frowns, and then she clasps her hands on either side of my face. Not having the slightest clue if this is a good idea, I slowly kneel down on the bottom of the boat to close the distance between us, with Zelda's legs framing my body. Her book drops down to the hull, unnoticed. She draws her face down to me, and locates my mouth.

In any normal circumstances, I would've gotten out of this situation as soon as possible. I would maintain a clear head, and realize that this isn't the smartest decision on either of our parts. There are danger signs all around us – public place, lots of people nearby, awkward position - you know, the usual hints that would let a commoner know that kissing your Princess is a bad idea.

However, there's no stopping her. Oh boy, she can kiss. I didn't realize that in the library, but I sure understand that now. I feel like putty in her hands, or liquid. She could do anything to me and I couldn't be more pleased to do to her bidding.

My tongue settles into a rhythm that she eventually cedes to, and her thin fingers dip beneath the collar of my shirt, slowly unlacing the ties, and starts exploring my chest. She traces my scars and bruises, old and new. I grip the sides tightly to stop myself from thinking about lewd things, but I can't. It's impossible. I trace her jawbone with faint pecks, and gently nibble her side of her neck, where it's typically covered by her hair. I remind myself of what could happen if such a mark is seen on her, so I go back to trailing down to her collarbone with my lips. Zelda seems to enjoy it, as she wraps her legs around my torso, bringing me even closer to her, muttering my name all the while. My hands helplessly squeeze her hips, too scared to go any further down. Her mouth finds mine again, and we both plunge into territory where neither of us has ventured before.

Our euphoria only lasts for so long. She nips my lips with her teeth, and a low noise like a growl erupts from my throat.

"Link…" Zelda moves about half an inch away, her breath ragged. "People can hear." She touches her forehead to mine, not wanting to pull away. Her sapphire spheres stare into my own.

"And they've probably seen enough too," I can hear myself panting too, for equal reasons.

Zelda manages a smile, and presses her lips to my forehead. "Try to look normal now. If you can."

I grin, and somewhat reluctantly sit back onto my seat. "I'm not just some filthy goatherd anymore? Have I been elevated from swine to clean enough to kiss?" I'm surprised that my sarcasm is so biting, I can't even brush it away.

Zelda tries to comb out her hair with her fingers in vain. It is plain on her face that she took my wisecrack seriously. "Link, I never thought that."

"But you still think that I'm beneath you." My accusation hits home. I can see it in her eyes.

"Please, we shouldn't be arguing."

"Since we've now had a good and proper kiss?" I take up the oar and slowly paddle the boat around, quietly, as to not make my intentions blatant. "Since I've moved up in your hierarchy of importance?"

She half-smiles, the in-between stage that I love to see on her. "Maybe."

The lake is much more hushed. The other boats must have gone in. The men and women on the shore are barely bigger than pinpricks from this distance. I start rowing back towards the docks, on the opposite side.

Zelda looks alarmed. "What are you doing?" She sounds oddly high-pitched, almost stressed.

"I'm bringing you back." I look over my shoulder to navigate. It's also a useful way to avoid eye contact.

"I didn't ask you to do so," she says accusatorily.

"It'll get suspicious if you spend any more time with me."

Zelda's shoulders slump, defeated. "That's right. The Council."

"Your entire court" I add.

"Everyone," she whispers with a sense of finality.

"Is it really your destiny to be a doormat?"

She is shocked. "I beg your pardon?" She doesn't understand the insult at first. "I doubt you have an inside look on the gods' plans for me."

I shrug. "I don't. You destiny is yours. Your choices are the only ones that matter. You need to stop worrying about what everyone else wants for you."

Zelda stiffens. "You don't get it. You don't know what it's like."

"Yeah I do." My rowing pace increases, mostly from my rising anger. "Choose what you want to wear for once. Tell your cooks what you like, not just what's in the pantry. Tell your Councilmen to shove it and take the pay cut. Make unwanted suitors leave when asked. Think about your personal life for once, if that's not too hard for you."

Her face glazes over, as if she is attempting to pay attention during a particularly boring Council meeting. I've seen that face too many times to know that I've lost her attention. She picks her book up and traces the letters on the cover.

A few minutes pass in silence, only interrupted by the breaking of the water against the oars. I peek at her from the corner of my eye, seeing her study every inch of my body, almost trying to memorize it. I let my eyes sweep over her while she thinks I'm too preoccupied rowing. Strands of hair stick to her perspiring neck. Her chest rises and falls rhythmically, still out of breath from our last encounter. The linen of her dress clings to her waifish body.

She's the pinnacle of desire. The Princess could have any man in creation under her spell in a matter of seconds.

Yet she chose me. The untouchable one, who was enchanted by her long before this.

The boat glides smoothly next to the dock, knocking into the barnacle-heavy posts. I lazily tie the boat to one, wasting as much time as possible. Zelda raps her fingers against her book, signaling her impatience. It's truly funny. She's unwilling to leave, yet unable to stay. She will never admit to it, which makes our relationship ever so harder.

Zelda stands up, but pauses. She's trying to discover a ladylike maneuver to get out.

"Let me…" I leap up to the docks in front of her, attempting to not rock the boat too much. She clutches the book to her chest, as if it was a shield, guarding her from reality, from me. Her fantasies do naught to block out her problems.

I reach out my hand to her still form, like any gentleman should. Her eyes flit between my hand and eyes before she tentatively takes it. The dock isn't much higher than her waist as she steps up, leaning heavily on me. Her grasp is tighter than mine. Zelda regains her bearings and turns to face me. Sometimes I feel that she just looks straight through me. I study her face, and she does the same. Her cheeks are becoming hollow and bony. The shadows under her eyes have gotten darker and larger as the sleepless nights catch up to her.

Who else sees her in such a vulnerable state? Who else notices that the Princess is slowly drowning to the bottom of her despair?

I wonder what Zelda is thinking of me as she takes in my appearance. The bruises and scars that never disappear must alarm her. My unkempt hair, dirty trousers, and still untucked shirt make me look like a street rat. These moments take months and years to pass.

I wish they would never end.

I want to scoop up these minutes and put them in a little box, where I can relive them over and over again when I'm old and gray. When Hyrule – and she – doesn't need me anymore.

Everything ends anyway.

Zelda takes it upon herself to end the silence. "Will I be able to see you tonight, Sir Link?"

"I'll be patrolling the perimeter, so maybe."

She huffs in exasperation. "You know that's not what I mean."

"Put it in simpler terms for the dumb soldier."

Zelda grasps my hand. She examines the various bumps and marks on it with her thumb, running over them again and again. "I want to talk, dance, or walk with you without others speculating about us. I need to know that you're tangible. Not just when it's the two of us."

"What do you think I've been trying to do?" I feel irritated, with barely any right to be.

"Please, just answer my question." Zelda's eyebrows contract, giving her voice the strength not to break. She seems liable to tears lately.

I nod. "I'll come find you during the gala, your majesty."

"I'd like that." Her voice drops to a whisper.

"Me too."

A moment passes. "You ought to be heading back," I gently remind her. My shoulders droop in a lazy manner. I would be given so much grief if any other officer saw my posture at the current moment.

She agrees. "Thank you."

"For what?" I am genuinely puzzled.

"For the most enjoyable few hours I've had in many weeks."

So the crown Princess of Hyrule believes that a quick… interlude on an awkward boat ride counts as enjoyable? She has her balls, gowns, outings, and libraries. Surely something is slightly entertaining for her? Or is she too cold, too loveless to even feel the fire of joy in her heart?

I raise her tiny hand to my lips. I make contacts with her knuckle, perhaps for a second longer than what decorum dictates.

I know she enjoys it. A faint, but perceptible blush colors her pale skin, melting her icy exterior. Zelda grudgingly draws her hand back as I let go. She opens and closes her mouth to say something, but strolls off before anything comes out. The Princess looks back at me as she steps off the wooden planks. There is so much hurt and longing in her expression that I just want to sprint over and kiss the pain away. I want to hold her, guard her until all her woes are driven back. I want her to experience everything that she's been hidden from all her life, and for her to not regret a single moment.

I want to be right there beside her when she does.

I feel my legs carrying my body to her, stopping a few inches in front of her. Zelda watches me halt with anticipation, clutching her silly little book in bony arms.

"Will you at least try to talk to them?" I speak lowly, despite the voices in my head telling me not to mention that particular subject in the first place. I never really believed that Hylians' long ears could hear the gods until now.

Zelda looks up from the ground, confusion etched on her face. "What do you think I've been trying to do for the past few weeks?" Her nose is wrinkled, creating lines on her face. "It's not like it's especially easy to get a word in edgewise with the Council and the nobility."

"You're the Princess of Hyrule. I'm sure you can figure something out." How many languages is Zelda fluent in? Because I'm pretty sure I am in sarcasm.

A hint of a smile graces her features before she walks away from me, and my arm shoots out before she gets too far. Her face is surprised, but smiling. "I can't do anything unless you let go of me, Sir Link."

"Just promise me something." Her skin, pampered and manicured from birth for her life of privilege, is soft beneath my fingers.

A girlish giggle is let out before she can cover it up. "If it involves me visiting your chambers every night henceforth, you should be prepared to be sorely disappointed."

My serious expression gives her the hint to sober up. "I just need to know that you'll bring us up to your Council." I tug her closer, closing the distance between us. "Something to promise me that you will."

Zelda hesitates for a moment, then wraps her arms around my neck. The book falls to the sand unnoticed. "Anything?"

"Anything." My hands settle on the narrowest part of her waist, feeling the folds of her dress in my palms. "But I don't expect anything foolish from you, Princess." I set my lips on her forehead, nose, and then the side of her neck which arched up to me. "I don't like to see my expectations not met." I keep my movements subtle, just in case we had a shadow lurking about the Lake with the setting sun.

"I'm sorry to inform you," she manages to mutter, "but that's already happened." With a smile on her face, and not a care in the world, she presses her lips to mine.

And I don't dare to refuse her. Now that would be the most foolish thing of all.

AN: And we're done!

Whew, it feels so weird to be finally through this. Not in a bad way, of course. Thank you so much if you've been one of the few patiently waiting for the last update, or if you've just picked this up for the first time. I've written, scrapped, and rewritten this final part, and I'm about satisfied with it. I hope you guys are too! I want to just give a shout-out to my lovely sister, who's given me so much grief for not giving her credit for all her beta-ing and editing and being the general voice of reason in my writing. Couldn't have done it without you. ;)

In all, I'm probably just going to be doing one-shots until the summer holidays. I don't have any great ideas right now, but you'll know if I do!

Please review, I appreciate any sort of feedback (even though I'm horrible at responding to said reviews), and thank you for staying until the end!

Thanks,
SP

P.S: If you kinda-sorta liked this, please check out To Build a Home!