#ch.54

Link entangled his fingers with Zelda's and frowned. Zelda had been praised for dealing with Odolwa as fast as they did, and people had long forgotten their hate towards Link - they usually had only words of praise for him - though Link was sure that it was half meant to get into Her Majesty's good side.

Zelda shrugged, tired, "I shouldn't care this much."

And Link understood why she said that, the mussings of a few old people were nothing, especially after having to deal with her Council the past year. Zelda ought to be used to it, ought to know that their opinions were nothing of consequence. That was what she had been trying to make herself believe. But Link could see the tension in her shoulders and the way her patience grew thin.

She had proved herself to her people, she had proved herself to her Council, she had proved herself to herself and it still was not enough.

Link scooped closer to her, rested his chin on her shoulder, pecked her cheek, "Let's go out."

Zelda still couldn't believe the easiness into which she had fallen into. Link would find her brooding alone on her room and she would do her best to hide it, and still he knew. He always did.

The cold of the night would bite into her skin but it bothered her only a second. Link would make sure to close her window and his hand would find her waist. The first time, his touch had been electricity, his warmth a firework that lit up all of her alarms in her head. Again. Zelda had fought it off with a calmness she wasn't sure she had had before.

This time, when Link brought her close to him, Zelda let her head fall to his neck, one arm grabbing his back and the other the hand that neared her bellybutton. The next moment she only felt the wind humming around her and Link's lips on her forehead.

Zelda could see the city with so much clarity at night it made her remember everything she had ever loved about it, and judging by Link's calm demeanor when walking around she was sure he had taken many strolls himself at night.

People still walked around but they were hurrying home or talking in hushed voices under trees. None ever paid attention to the couple walking around. Zelda walked with a cape around but Link didn't even cover his head.

Zelda had worried at first, trying to walk without bringing attention to themselves and being bad at it. Link had been reassuring, "Walk like you own the place," he had grinned, "One, it's true," Zelda had squeezed his hand in amusement, "two, people will care less about someone who looks like they know what they're doing."

Link brought her to a garden and sat with her. Zelda closed her eyes and let the sounds of the crickets tune her worries out.

"Have you ever thought of practicing more magic?"

Zelda nodded, "But people are scared of it, so I never really bothered much with it."

"That fireball was amazing, though."

Zelda shook her head, "And dangerous, one sudden movement and it could have exploded right in my face."

Link huffed and looked to the sky, "Yeah, maybe not so great." Link perked his ears and turned in place, "What about your Light Magic?"

Zelda twiddled with her fingers, "Granted by the Light Spirits."

"Could you use it again?"

Zelda nodded slowly, "I think so, I remember the feeling."

"Feeling, huh?"

Zelda perked her head and saw Link tending a hand to her. There was faint music around them, carried by the wind from what Zelda thought was Telma's direction.

"Care to dance with me?"

"What was all this talk about magic, though?"

"I was thinking that you could maybe scare the people you don't like with it."

Zelda let a laugh out to the sky and hit Link on the chest, "Real funny, Link."

Link cocked his head, "You could always tell them that they can have a duel with me for whatever reason."

Zelda thought for a second, "As in, for example, Sir Luco saying I'm still to young to know about ruling?" Link nodded. "I'll have you know, Sir Luco," Zelda's voice was high-pitched and her noise was pointing upward in mock disdain, "that your words are meriting of fighting for my honor, your opponent shall be Sir Link," Zelda fluttered her eyes and Link nodded with strenght.

"You could always add a 'prepare to die' at the end to be more dramatic."

Zelda hid her face on Link's neck and crossed her arms behind his head, "You'll have a queue forming by the end of the week."

"And I wouldn't mind it one tiny bit."

Zelda twirled with Link under the moon, surrounded by faint laughter from afar and the smell of food. When her legs wobbled and her head felt light Link pushed her to himself, "Easy, now." Her hands were on his chest and her head pounded slightly but Link was swaying her with care and Zelda closed her eyes.

She felt she was fading out, so she clinged to him.

Robert had started to look around whenever he found a group of people. It was almost a sure way to find Link. He had been helping around as always but now people wanted to look at Her Majesty's favorite, at the Council's approved, at the monster slayer, at the - only in hushes  - next king, at the Hero.

Their Hero.

Whether they believed or not was of little importance. Others did and others approved, and that's what mattered.

And though Link always shared with him how difficult it was to deal with so many people he always had a smile in place, he always handled himself perfectly and now, as Robert walked to him, Link was talking amicably with a woman and her little son.

William was next to Link, just a little farther to give him space, but overlooking his every movement, his every words, his-

Link caught sight of Robert and bowed slightly to come to him. The woman looked back and smiled to Robert, the little boy looked awestruck and Link trotted the last steps to him.

"Hey."

Robert patted Link on the shoulder, William walked to them with his hands behind his back, "Gaining more favor among the people, huh?"

Link made a face, "I'm going to help her father harvest some pumpkins, actually, could use an extra hand."

Robert smirked, "Isn't that what William is for?"

William made a point to make his shoes clink together, "You know why I'm here, Rob."

Robert bared his teeth with disgust, like every other time William called him by that nickname, "Actually, and if it isn't a bother, could I have some time alone with Link?"

William nodded, "As long as you don't make a scene."

Link elbowed William, but the man dodged with a sidestep.

Robert stayed silent till William had walked far enough, "So," he started, "everything all right with your babysitter?"

Link snickered, "Yes, everything's great."

"I still can't believe you have someone tailing you."

"It's necessary."

Robert sighed. It was common knowledge that Link was the only man Her Highness was willing to accept, and as soon as the Council had begun to fix the paperwork to hold the wedding it had been decided that someone had to counsel and protect Link from doing anything 'unapproved of'.

Link had been too happy to oblige and if his relaxed demeanor wasn't telling, the way he just lighted up when seeing Zelda was enough for Robert to keep his mouth shut.

"You'll be a great King."

Link snorted, "Thanks."

Robert squinted his eyes, "I'm being serious."

Link nodded, straightened himself, "I know, I appreciate it." Link glanced back at William, he was concentrated on the far off mountains, "So, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

Robert coughed into his fist, "Well, It's... not really complicated, but I worry how it could be perceived, so I wanted to at least make it clear to you, because we both know people love gossip and-"

"Robert."

Robert breathed in, "My mother asked me to come back."

Robert said it in one breath, slow enough to be heard but with the desire for it to be done fast, his heart was calm but his mind was jumbled. How was he supposed to explain to Link that he wanted but also detested even thinking of going back?

"Oh, that's good."

Robert looked up, "What?"

Link tried his best to sound unconcerned, "Robert, it's been almost a year now, you can't... you shouldn't be like that with your family."

Robert opened his mouth, but Link spoke faster.

"And I'm not saying forgive them, I'm not saying make it as if nothing happened. But... be at peace with what you choose. Do it for yourself."

Robert frowned, "I know." He knew, it was just...

Link rested his arm over Robert's back, "Are you worried about what I would think about it?"

Robert's heart screamed and Robert couldn't meet Link's eyes, "I-"

"Because now, frankly, you could get you surname back and it wouldn't change a thing between us, all right?"

Robert didn't dare look up. He nodded.

"I mean, don't you agree? You've followed me through literal mounts of lava, that changes things, doesn't it?"

'Thank you', thought Robert, but he could only nod with his head.

Link squeezed Robert's shoulder, "So go back and see your family, if you want to stay you can."

"And if I want to come back?"

Link made a face, "Buddy, you don't even have to ask."

William had his eyebrow up, "People are coming and you've already made him cry, great job."

Link looked up with an apology on his face, "He's happy crying."

"Sure," William answered, "but you already have a date with some pumpkins that need harvesting, so maybe you should go there now. Let me take care of him."

Link looked at Robert, "You okay?"

Robert snorted, "Yeah, happy crying, you know? Go and be busy."

Link walked away but looked back a few times before disappearing.

"Aren't you worried he'll mess up?"

"He doesn't. He has never messed up, not since the talk about marriage started."

Robert sniffled, "Are you happy?"

"Ecstatic," William gave Robert a once-over and then handed him a handkerchief. "If you really go back to your family..."

Robert readied himself to William's next words. Words born out of worry for Link, for Her Highness, for the Kingdom. Words Robert already knew would arise.

"...do come back to see him, I'm sure he'll miss you."

Robert looked up, and he felt he wanted to cry again. "Ha," he mocked, "even you fell for him?"