#ch.21

It was a simple plan. And for Link it was incredibly easy.

He had never thought that his keen senses would come in handy once again. But here he was, sniffing and hearing hallways, rooms and roads, evading people like they were bokoblins. Link made sure to remain low profile, tried his best to not let things get to him, but it only took two days to sour his mood. He saw almost ten people looking for him, knocking at his door, and then leaving with haste.

Link was chewing on a piece of jerky he had snatched from the kitchens when Ashei walked into the hallway. She knocked on Link's door, called his name and then looked up and down the hallway, "You do realize that people are thinking you left, right? That you actually worried Her Majesty because there is a turmoil now since the Hero left the Castle."

Link chewed his jerky.

"And don't get me wrong, I think this plan of yours is pretty solid, but don't do it so well. Show up in some places. Don't give the people who want you gone the satisfaction of thinking they did, yeah?"

Link turned on his spot, planning to just glare at Ashei and leave her be, but Ashei heard the rustling of clothes and turned to him, "How did you get there?" Link was atop one of the many beams that graced the ceilings, serving as supports for the chandeliers. The beams were wide enough to hide Link's body completely, only his face could be seen, and Ashei was sure it was for her satisfaction.

Link was on his stomach, with his brows scrunched together "I'm good at climbing."

Ashei huffed, amused at Link's antics, "Go greet Auru, he's somewhere in the castle, and Telma wants to see you, too."

Link didn't move.

"Go out, yeah? You're going crazy."

Link glared at Ashei's back, bit down some witty remark about him being fine where he was, born out of pure boredom and the certainty that Ashei was right. Facing a problem and not being able to fix it immediatly was driving him mad. Especially when the answer was easy but the means to do it were extremely convoluted.

Link found Auru in his office, surrounded with papers and a somber look on his face, "May I?" Link knocked on Auru's door.

Auru looked up - with the intent to ask the newcomer to leave, Link was sure - but when recognition dawned on the old man, Auru left his papers and greeted Link, "The Hero comes to see me, huh?"

It was really uncomfortable to greet a man you knew but act as if you didn't. And Link was getting tired of this, so when he left and without losing his smile, he said, "This is fucking stupid, you know that, right?"

Auru smiled, tried to control the laughter that was coming, "Please tell me that you did this with the other councilpeople. Please."

And Link was about to scream in frustration. Hylia, they all were annoying, "Send one of your underlings to check, won't you?"

Link heard Auru's guffaw as he walked away. There were eyes on him, too many for Link's liking. He was getting angry and he couldn't know why. Link made sure to be seen walking around and left the next moment.

Telma's bar was empty, and Louise - Telma's white fluffy cat - came out before Link could walk down the stairs to the little space that worked as the front of the bar.

"Ahh," Link lamented, "Louise, please, save me," the cat let Link pick her up but put her paw on his chest, letting him know that just that was acceptable. Link treaded his fingers through Louise's fur and entered the bar.

"Lo and behold, the Hero!" Telma wore a bright smile and opened her arms in a big arch, "an honor to have you here, as always."

Link let Louise on the floor, scanned the room for patrons and sat in front of Telma, "An honor to be here, as always."

"Oh, you," Telma blew a kiss to Link, who blushed and hid his face, "Ashei delivered my message, I suppose?"

Link let out a long sigh, "She told me to get out of the Castle or else I'd go mad."

Telma took another glass and started to dry it, "Good, because she's right. You almost killed a noble a while ago, didn't you?"

Link's face was telling and Telma couldn't help but laugh, "Oh, I knew it was a big fat lie, but gossip is like that, don't mind it too much."

Link looked away.

"I know you're worried about your Princess, but let her do her magic, all right?" Link turned to protest her remarks but Telma put a big glass of beer in front of him, "On the house, love."

Link eyed the liquid, as if it had the blame for everything. He took one big gulp, behind him sounded a metalic clank and Link turned immediatly. Louise looked at him, her paw was up and a ball was bouncing back after hitting a dust pan.

"Tense, huh?"

Link shook his head, "Can I come live in here? The Castle is eating at me."

Telma gave him a sultry look and winked at him, "We can share my bed."

"Never mind, then."

Link got up and walked to Louise. Telma laughed to herself, "You know you're always welcome, sweetie." Link was walking to his stool, looking every now and then around him. "And you're the only customer now, stop being so skittish."

"He was so impolite, Telma, he was trying to get a rise out of me." Louise was looking rather displeased as Link brought her to his arms. "He did, actually, in the end, when things were going to shit anyway."

"Yes, yes, I heard that. But for what it's worth," Link paced in front of Telma, a pout in place, "the peasants are liking you much more now."

"Because I fought with a noble. Great." Louise couldn't stand Link anymore and she jumped to the counter, Link's arm held out to the cat for a second, "The thing is, now nobles don't like me as much."

"Oh, but they never liked you."

Link breathed in, acted as if these news were surprising, and then he deflated, "Yeah, I knew that."

"Never took you for someone who cared much about what others thought."

Link shrugged, "I don't."

Telma hummed a romantic tune and Link feared what she would say, "Now I need to meet our Princess. Invite her here, sometime."

Link could have given Telma a list of reasons why that was improbable but he realized he rather liked the idea of taking Zelda out of the Castle, so he just gave a noncommittal hum.

"Did they tell you that Auru is now part of the councilpeople and he wanted for me to make as if I didn't know him?" Link still couldn't get his head around the reasons Auru must have had.

Telma took her time with the glasses she was drying, "He's a good man." Link muttered, "Kinda crazy," and Telma swatted his arm with a cloth.

"I mean," Link stood away from Telma and her cloth, "the man launched me to the desert," he opened his eyes as if that was reason enough, "I liked him better back then." Link inspected his beer, "I'm so pissed off, and I don't even know why."

Telma put her hand on her hip, "You don't know? Want me to make a list?"

Link twirled his beer a little, got caught in its tiny whirlpools, "I can't do much about it and it pisses me off."

"I'm sure the Princess is glad you're here."

"Yeah?"

"I would be giddy with happines if a handsome strong swordman were so eager to help me."

Link had to fight his smile, "Shut up."

"Ohh," cooed Telma, "Is that a blush I see?"

"Shut up," Link gulped his beer, "It's not like that."

"Just give it time, all right? Enjoy yourself a little, there is a world out here. You should know that."

Link raised his head, his face a mask of shock, "Wow."

"Yes, I know. Words of wisdom. Just try not to hit too many people, okay?"

Link was slaw jacked, "Can't believe I got so sucked up on that."

Telma looked as Link shook his head in dibelief, "That Castle is a monster in its own right." Link kept on muttering under his breath and then locked eyes with Telma.

"Thank you."

And Telma could see it had been eating at him.

"Thank you so much," Link left too many rupees on Telma's counter and left with Telma telling him to take his money with him.

Link breathed out and jumped the stairs to the street. He didn't have to stay at that castle, he had been so absorbed in its workings he had forgotten there were things outside. He felt lighter and he walked with purpose. He was going to relax for a while.

Link felt eyes on him again, but there were more important things at hand, "Agitha! Let's go catch bugs!"

Agitha turned delicately and gave out a delighted cry, "More friends for the ball?"

"Sure," Link was up to anything at this point.

It was after spending all afternoon with Agitha and after having tea with her - to get Link acquainted with the new guests to her castle - that Link returned to his guest room.

He had a whole new attitude towards entering the Castle. He felt... fresh. Sir Keen could be in front of him and Link would - probably - smile. Also it was night and nobody was in sight and Link always felt more at home in solitude.

The guards were more warm, and Link could swear they were smiling at him - of him? No. No. Link was relaxed.

Link got to his room, opened his window and took his sketch book. It was filled with Ordon sheeps, the villagers, the children, Illia, Uli and Rusl's family and a sketch of his house. Zelda had found his home cozy. Zelda had found it relaxing. Zelda had told him that Ordon was beautiful and peaceful-looking and Link had only regarded those words as mere pleasantries.

He had to get Zelda out of here. They were eating her alive.

Three knocks on the door and Link kept on sketching the night view of the towers from his window.

Two knocks on his door and Link had to fight the urge to tell her to leave him alone.

Two more knock on his door and Link decided that he had to talk to somebody about it because it was ridiculous.

One tentative turn of the knob and Link rose and walked to the door. "As I've told you before, I do not want to do anything with this. I will not let you into my room. I, in no way, have shown any type of affection and-"

"Link?"

Link stopped dead on his tracks and opened his door with a haste that made him clumsy. In front of him was Princess Zelda of Hyrule, holding a small candle between her hands and looking at him wide-eyed and expectant.

"Can I have a moment with you?"

The only reason Link grabbed Her Majesty by her shoulder and guided her inside his room was the sure knowledge that letting her stay outside could be more damaging that hiding her in his room. Right? If someone saw her standing outside a filthy-

Zelda let out a soft gasp, surprised at Link's sudden movements.

-peasant made Hero's room, rumors would be flying around-

Link had grasped her shoulder and pushed her against him, he was warm and, indeed, she was a few centimeters taller than him.

-and he couldn't let that happen.

Zelda looked at Link, and she heard the click of the door's lock.

Link could smell Zelda now. He had pushed her inside his room because-

Because-

"Link," Zelda whispered. Not because she was afraid others' were at hearing range, but because they were close together and it was dark outside, and she could still feel his hand on her shoulders.

Link could feel his heart on his ears. The Princess of Hyrule was in his room and she was wearing a light robe, and if someone found her here-

"I'm so sorry."

Link saw the shame on her eyes, "No," Zelda breathed in a shudder, "Hey, hey, it's all right." Link lead her to his bed, kneeled in front of her, "Everything's all right."

But Zelda knew better. She closed her eyes, steeled her hands, she had to let go. She had to let go. When Zelda opened her eyes, Link was waiting for her to speak, eyes clear and brows arched in worry. Zelda looked away, "You're so young, so young. They have no right to be like this. If only they knew, if only I could've- But I can't, see? I should be protecting you, and I don't, and, and-"

Zelda hid her face with her hands and Link waited a second, "Hey..."

"I'm so sorry."

"Zelda..."

"I'm so very sorry. I do nothing but bring you trouble." Zelda massaged her temple, "To you," she said, "To you," as if she couldn't believe it.

Link was a statue in front of her. Zelda was shaking her head, and Link couldn't stomach it, "Zelda..."

Zelda let her head fall to her knees, "I can't make you face this." Link swallowed. "I can't have you- I can't-"

Zelda made fists of her hands, a string of mumbled sorries left her mouth, too low to be intelligible. Link pondered whether he was allowed to touch her or not, whether he would be crossing something he shouldn't be. He worried he would break something he wanted to protect. But then Zelda trembled and Link decided that no. No.

"Would you rather have me leave?" He asked, and there was a bout of silence. Link couldn't hear anything, anything. The room was too dark and Zelda's small candle barely lit her feet. And maybe he should have told her that he didn't want to, but Zelda wouldn't move and Link felt he was hanging from the highest of precipices. Link moved his hand, because if he was leaving at least he would do it right.

Link touched Zelda's hand, let his fingers find their way around hers. And when Zelda opened her hand and grabbed Link's index and middle fingers, she faced him. There were questions on her face, worries on her eyes, and she had the certainty that she wasn't going to be able to protect him at all. She knew she had to say yes, free him of her, of this. Let him go. But her fingers were holding him tight, and all she wanted was to bare her soul there, have him with her. She knew better. She knew better. But she needed him, "Stay with me."

Zelda shrugged at her request. Link felt relief wash over him, let out a breath that came out more as a shudder, "Yes. Okay" he answered, and all his muscles relaxed at once and he couldn't hold in a nervous laughter that Zelda mimicked.