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Chapter Text

The river’s water was as crystal clear as ever. Its blue emulated the glittering sapphires you could find in any Gerudo shop. Its temperature was just as sweet. Your sore feet were instantly soothed and refreshed as soon as they dipped into the river’s bliss.

The dock itself was nothing special, though. It was made of some wood that has been weathered smooth, turned dark by time. Still, it was dry and kept you above water until your company came.

Your eyes wandered behind you towards your cottage. It wasn’t anything special either. Yet, it wasn’t run down or extremely cramped. Your humble abode was firm and had enough space for you to live and your writing desk to work. ‘Dainty’ is the word that could best describe it. Especially with all of the flowers outside.

You sighed at that. The Silent Princess flowers have nearly taken over your poor Cool Safflina. It is hard to imagine such a time where seeing a blue and white bloom was a rarity. Now they are more like… weeds.

“Well that isn’t a pleasant face.”

You turned around to see a red head poking out of the water. His two yellow eyes glistened at you expectantly. Turning your face to a more pleasant smile, you greeted him. “It’s good to see you, Prince Sidon.”

Though, his eyes dimmed a little as he appeared to shrink before you. “You can just refer to me as Sidon. We’ve more than had enough time for formalities.”

You shook your head. “It’s not proper to address a prince with any less than what he is.”

Seeing as though he couldn’t get through to you, he turned his attention back to the previously stared at spot. “I think it’s wonderful to see the Silent Princess so abundant. Your lawn has become a favorite spot of theirs.”

You rolled your eyes at his comment. “They are choking my poor Cool Safflina flowers. An epidemic is what they are becoming.”

The prince swam up to the dock and rested his arms on the wood. Water dripped off his fins and arms. Those crystal drops called out to you to just...stare. Only the prince’s voice redirected your eyes. “They say that Silent Princess flowers grow where magic is dense. Don’t tell me you’re a fairy.”

You shook your head and blushed. “I’m not pretty enough to be a fairy,” you confessed.

“Why do you do that?”

You blinked and looked over to the frowning Zora. “W...what?”

Sidon pushed himself along the dock to be in front of you, looking up. His face was full of disbelief and disappointment. Pins pricked guilt into your heartstrings. Had you offended him in some way? “You are beautiful, (Y/N). I’m not a Hylian, but I know beauty when I see it.” A blush laid itself across your cheeks. “I can’t let my friend think that way.”

One word in that sentence snapped a bit of sense back into your swirling torrent of emotions. “A...alright.” A simple word that carried the burden of moving on to something more pleasant.

The prince’s eyes softened once more. “(Y/N), the children in the Domain mentioned something about a crown of flowers. Apparently, one of the merchants showed them one and the little ones can’t stop talking about it. Would you...would you be so kind as to show me how to make them?”

A small smile came to your face. “So you can look cool, my prince?”

Now it was the crowned prince’s turn to blush. “W...well a prince must be knowledgeable in all things! You would be doing me and subsequently the Domain a great favor!” Every time Prince Sidon got like this, he became...insistent? But, it was in an adorable way. Like how a puppy will shove its toy into your leg when it wants to play. Insistent...but cute.

With a small chuckle you pushed yourself from your seating position. You began walking along the smooth boards towards your Silent Princess infested lawn. The prince lifted himself out of the water as well to follow. But, you did sneak a peak or two to catch the water dripping off. A harmless crush is all it was.

You refocused to the flowers. Kneeling down, you began plucking flower after flower and putting them in the crux of your arm. Just by picking a few, you soon realized how many there really were. An infestation indeed.

The prince observed you for a tick and then joined you on your retrieval of materials. You soon realized that you didn’t have to work as hard. The prince would pick up two or three flowers at a time with his large hands. By the time you picked one flower, he picked five to eight! Though, it might be because of his enthusiasm in this task. The Zora was grinning like a fool and would might as well be dancing like one. You couldn’t help but let out a giggle or two. “For a prince, I’m surprised you’re this keen on manual labor.”

Prince Sidon looked over at you and smiled his fool smile. “I am very capable in all things, (Y/N). Even ‘normal’ things. Well, as you like to call them.”

That teasing bone in your body began to tingle. “Oh really, what sort of things is the grand Prince of the Zora capable of?”

The prince lifted his head to make himself appear more haughty than normal. “Well, I do enjoy a good book from time to time.”

Your eyes could have rolled out of your head! “Reading tedious volumes of Zora history is not a normal thing to do, Prince Sidon.”

He stood up and began admiring his recent acquisition of flowers. “I do read other books, you know. There is one I am reading right now that is quite popular with the common folk. Tales of Prince Rilo -”

You began a coughing fit as air seemed to catch in your throat. Your hands snapped to your mouth to keep the embarrassment to a minimum. The prince immediately dropped his flowers and rushed to your side. “My lady…(Y/N) are you alright? Do you have allergies? Oh, I am so sorry to trouble you in my selfish quest to impress children! Do forgive me…”

You shook your head in disagreement. “N...no. I just got something caught in my throat. I...I think we have enough. Why don’t we sit down and I can teach you how to make these...” You held the blossoms tight to your beating chest. The flowers nearly wilted at the fiery heat your body was radiating. Goddess, your cheeks probably could keep a family warm for the whole winter! Out of all the books he could be reading…

...why did it have to be yours?

Your butt hit the grass hard as you flopped down. The prince leaned down and gracefully sat beside you. “(Y/N)...If I did something wrong, please tell me. I meant no offence for...well...whatever I did to upset you.”

You adamantly shook your head, sending your hair flying. “N..No not at all! I simply coughed and got really warm for a second.” Unconsciously, you touched your red cheeks to feel for yourself the depth of embarrassment harbored within them. Making flower crowns shouldn’t lead to such a depressing encounter. “So, how you do these is you take two flowers. Now you wrap one flower around the other one.” You looked over to the prince who tried to follow your instructions the best he could. However, he never accounted for his...large stature. The small flowers slipped between his clawed fingers and onto the ground where he would pick them up, try it again, and end up with the same result. The poor fish.

You brought your hands up to his own and fumbled around with gripping the stems of the flowers. Slowly, your heart began to settle from the previous revelation. Now, the air seemed to be of the same kind you were used to. His red fingers desperately tried to twist the flowers around each other. Each time they slipped and the flower would fall until you placed it back between his fingers. The prince sighed. “I guess I am too large to do this…”

You looked at the poorly knit chain of flowers. The petals were crushed and the stems were all but broken. Prince Sidon took it from your guiding fingers and tossed it into the river. Your hand shot out in a feign attempt to save it. The chain floated for a second before it was sucked under the current. It was never coming back into your hand. Or above water, for that matter. A piece of you sunk with it. The prince was never one to just give up on something. Was something wrong? Scratch that...ever since he mentioned his reading hobby, there was tension.

“I do think I bothered you enough for one day. Please, excuse me.” The prince bowed, making his grand feather dip with him, and proceeded to the river.

You sighed as he jumped above the clear water. With a small splash, the blurry red spot moved upstream towards the Domain. After a minute or two, you picked yourself up from the grass. The piles of Silent Princess now laid at your feet, unused.

Chapter Text

You dipped your quill into the glass pot of ink. Although, you couldn’t tell that it was glass by this point. Over the years the ink dribbles slowly covered the cut glass, drying it into a messy blob of black and caught dust. If only this job would pay better, then you could afford a new one. Maybe even one of those sapphire ones. It would be larger too so you didn’t have to keep making fresh ink. There were even ones that had a matching glass topper instead of a cork. But, the cork you had was one that was left over from a bottle of wine the prince and you shared.

Which one was more precious?

You smiled as memories filled your head of lovely talks by the riverbed. They were pleasant and rich conversations. Completely contrary to the events of yesterday. A small howl of the wind finally pulled you from your running thoughts. Of course, the next book was due soon and you needed to focus.

But now that thought led to others. Prince Sidon...the PRINCE of the Zora was now reading your series. There was no way he could have caught on to whom the main character was modeled after...right? For years you used him as a catalyst to create stories and put them on paper. If he found out, it would be the end for you. There would be no way to face the embarrassment.

Come on, come on (Y/N)....you need to focus. You inhaled air, held it, and released into a new feeling of determination. Grabbing your quill, you began again.

Prince Rilos continued to climb up the mountain, despite the rain. The proud prince was not to be trifled with. Even if his opponent is a force of nature. His determination was finally rewarded with the first glimpse of the peak. And what a sight it was, for there in the pouring rain was the Tri-horned Lynel. Its red eyes slowly turned to take vision of the smaller Hylian prince. With a mighty roar, the beast flashed his heavy sword at Prince Rilos. Though, could such a thing even be called a sword? It’s broad axe-like shape melded into a sword handle. If the prince could put his head next to it, the sword would dwarf him like a child. Prince Rilos didn’t have any intention of testing it with that measurement.

The prince pulled out his own meager weapon. Upon inspection, the Lynel appeared to grin at his choice of weaponry. Being a hot-headed creature, it looked down upon anyone smaller than itself. And Prince Rilos was going to use this to his advantage. He-

“Oh crap!” The tipped over inkwell was generously washing ink onto the papers. You quickly snatched them away as the ink began to soak into the parchment, blacking out your words. “I’m so clumsy! It didn’t damage it too much, right?” Luckily, only a corner really felt the brunt of the flood. You quickly rushed outside to let the breeze dry out the mistake. “Maybe getting a bigger inkwell isn’t the best idea...second time this week, really?” You found the hangers for the clothing line. Nowadays, they simply double as page hangers. A few dry ink spots dotted them from previous use. From far away, they look like a Spotted Flapper sitting on the clothesline. “I wonder if the birds mistake them for kin. That would be a sad story. A small bird falling in love with a clothespin…”

Once the last of the pages were hung up to dry, you sat down in your blue-infested lawn. There was no way you could leave your prized thoughts out here alone. There were so many dangers! Birds, rain, and not to mention the travelers that pass by on the path by the river! There was no way you were going to allow your next book to have rumors flying around it before publication.

To pass the time, you reached for one of the blue weeds and plucked it. Then, you did the same to another one. You twisted the stems around each other before grabbing a third flower. The repeated practice helped your boredom and focused your thoughts… I could have him trick the Lynel into running off the cliff. Have him taunt the beast until he gets angry and charges. Rilos is fast enough...he can dodge to the side. Or should I have him get in a fair fight? No, that’s too against his character development. You finished off the crown and placed it on your head. The thoughts were too good to cut off tough, so you started a second crown. He could use a fire arrow to light the grass on fire. Oh wait, it is raining. Shock arrows maybe?

“Hello, my fairy.”

Fairies come to save the day- You snapped your head up as the red price began to walk over to you. “I knew you would look just like a fairy in one of those!” Your heart beat too fast in your chest, as you stood up. Your vision then flashed a storm of black and white. “Woah, (Y/N) are you feeling alright?”

You finally got a hold of your body. “Y...yes. I’m fine. I stood up too fast.” Please don’t look up…

And he did. “Ah, I see you are doing the Hylian tradition of laundry! But, those are not clothes now that I look at them closer.”

You pushed at his leg with what strength you could muster. “P...please don’t look! It’s private!” A blush came to the prince’s cheeks which quickly faded and was replaced with a smile. “Is it a love letter?” He teased. You looked up to his golden eyes with your pitiful ones. “S...something like that.” The prince took a step back and turned around, facing the river. “I won’t peak (Y/N). Go and retrieve your letters of affection.”

You quickly took him up on his offer and snatched the papers from the line, ran inside, shoved them in your desk, and ran back out.

Upon hearing the sound of frantic footsteps, the prince chuckled. “Finished with your task?” You pouted. “It is rude to tease someone about what they write, my prince.” With a sigh, and not from your scolding, the prince turned around to face you. “And still you address me formally. Even though I am a naughty boy who looked at your love letter, you still call me by my title.”

Tears were brought to your eyes. “Y...you saw !” The act put up by the prince was dropped and shattered at the sight of your tears. “(Y/N), I would never peak into your privacy like that. I simply saw the papers and assumed what it was. Never was this teasing meant to hurt you or cause you stress. Please, forgive me. Goddess, I...I have done nothing but hurt you since yesterday.” Prince Sidon kept his eyes downcast at the discarded chain you made. “It is bad luck to offend a fairy,” he whispered. He bent his knee to reach you a little more on your own level. “I’m sorry.” His eyes glittered with regret and sadness that made a few teardrops fall from your own eyes. Quickly wiping them away, you smiled at your prince. “I forgive you, my prince.”

Prince Sidon clutched at his heart and fell backwards onto the grass. “And she still wounds me!” You chuckled and rolled your eyes. Grabbing a fistful of flowers, you then laid them on his chest. “Here lies Prince Sidon of the Zora. Crowned Prince of the Zora, slayer of the giant Octorok, and-”

“-slowly dying from my titles passing through your lips. The only thing that can save me is my first name.” His eyes still stayed closed, but a smile ran across his face. You picked one more flower and laid it on his chest. “May he rest in peace.” The prince opened his eyes and frowned at you. A cheeky smile is what you gave him in return. “The grand-” you leaned in slightly- “prince-” a bit further into his space- “of the Zora.”

Suddenly, you felt two hands around your midsection that hoisted you up into the air. “And he lives by some miracle!” He swung you around and then set you back in a similar spot to where you gave your eulogy. “Must be a fairy’s magic.” Once he let you go, you stumbled around while the rest of the world kept spinning. You took a tumble in the field of flowers. One nice thing about the accursed weeds was that they made an excellent cushion for landing. The prince laid down next to you on the ground, placing an arm behind his head so his tail didn’t bend at an uncomfortable angle. “That whole thing reminded me of the book I’m reading where the prince is saved by a small pink fairy. It truly is a pleasure to read. I could lend you the first two books sometime.”

Adrenaline surged through your veins. Thankfully, he was staring at the clouds above. If he were to see your face, well, all that trouble with the pages were for nothing. “S...sure. I would love to.” Hopefully that was a sufficient enough answer.

“The prince in the story is so smart and quick witted. Battling monsters without need for sheer strength. Plus, he is so brave to risk himself for the people of Village Heights. If I could be him, I would have nothing to worry about.” Sidon turned his head to look at your blushing face. “Are you sure you don’t have allergies?”

“N...No! I’m just...This prince sounds really cool.”

Prince Sidon smiled. “Maybe I shouldn’t give you a copy. I can’t have you devoting yourself to a fictional prince. Though, by those letters there is already someone else competing for your time.” He gave you an amused smile to dig his words deep into your psyche.

You desperately were trying to avoid such a topic. Surely he would have noticed all the stolen glances and amorous looks you showered upon him. And yet, he always gave no indication of noticing anything of the sort. Think… “W..well there is. It is private though…” Just a bit...I’m not giving him too much information. However, the reaction the prince gave you was...unexpected?

Prince Sidon’s eyes widened as his mouth dropped. It mimicked the signs of disappointed shock. Or, was it a genuine shock? He avoided your questioning look and took more interest in the Silent Princess next to him. He pressed the delicate petal between his two fingers until a divot formed. You blinked a few times to see if you were seeing him correctly. Was he...mad?

“D...did I say something that upset you?” You leaned in slightly, emphasizing how you didn’t intend any ill will.

His eyes flashed back to your own. “N...no! Of course not! I...I...I was just not expecting that answer. After all, you are almost always here when I stop by and...well...I’m surprised I’ve never seen you with......someone that has claimed your affection.” He turned back to the petal he nearly crushed and began to play with it once more. The flower now began to weep blue juices onto the prince’s finger.

I need to save this conversation before I lose him forever… “My prince, I’m surprised you come so often, anyway. Don’t tell me you are getting out of your royal duties again.”

The prince smiled at the flower. “Maybe…” His voice ran deep and smoothed it out like butter. It was the prince’s usual tactic for when he wants to keep his real reasons a secret. You gave him ‘the look’ which meant for him to tell you what was really going on. The prince sighed and settled back onto his arm, allowing for the flower to recover from the abuse of the pinches. “I may have, and I’m not saying I did, avoid a meeting about trade.”

“You are a naughty boy, my prince.”

He smiled at your teasing and rolled over onto his stomach. Placing his hands under his chin, he looked up at you innocently. “First I look at your letters and then avoided a meeting. I guess I’m not vary princely.”

You smirked at him. “I’m still calling you by your title, Prince Sidon. No matter how naughty you are.”

Chapter Text

“And you are all done sweetie!”

You looked at the mirror on the wall and smiled. It has been a while since you got your hair cut. Feeling the fresh ends of your hair gave you a feeling of pure happiness. No more split ends for you!

Reaching into your pocket, you pulled out a red rupee to pay the hairstylist. She was always worth the extra rupees. The quality of work was unmatched compared with any other in the area. You felt your hair and flounced it a bit. I look good.

You stepped out into the village square and sighed. The sun was high above, gleaming a gentle warmth on the earth. The wind was not too strong either! Just a gentle breeze that caresses the leaves, making them flutter slightly on the trees. The sound of Hylians bustling and running about was a welcome sound to someone who lived a fair distance away. Though, it did provide you with some anxiety. Quickly, you scurried towards the edge of town with your new haircut and a fresh bottle of ink you purchased before your appointment.

With the sounds fading away, a sense of calm washed away the adrenaline. Crowds were never a friendly setting for you. Too many sounds, too many people...just too many everything. In moderation you can handle it, but if you were in that sea for too long… Well, tears and the need to pass out would overtake you.

The sun now hung halfway between the direct above and the horizon. Your sweet and warm cottage welcomed you after such a long walk. Now, it was time for a nice cup of tea and then onto cooking dinner-

“(Y/N)! Hylia above!”

Sidon shot out of the water and ran over to you. He knelt down, eyes frantically looking over you. The roots of your hair were then tickled by the prince’s fingers caressing the back of your head. “Who did this? Who hurt you?” Now baring his teeth, you were feeling scared for the hairdresser. You thought you looked good! Was the haircut really that bad?

“I...I got my hair cut…” was all you could say under the intense gaze from the prince.

But that gaze soon turned into pity. “You...did this to yourself? Hylia, (Y/N) don’t tell me it was because of me…”

You shook your head. “No, I needed to get it cut. The ends where-” The prince took his other hand and grabbed the back of your waist. Then, you were pressed against his chest. His strong heartbeat made your own flutter. The smoothness of his chest hid the well defined muscles underneath only slightly. Never in your life have you ever been held like this by a man. One hand in your hair, the other against the small of your back... Hylia…

His throat trembled. “You need to value yourself more. If it wasn’t because of me then...then...then is it the one who holds your affection?” His voice cracked, like his words were breaking before you. “I can’t allow this! I won’t let him hurt you. I won’t let you hurt yourself over him!”

Hurt? You pushed against his chest to give you enough space to look into his eyes. “My prince, what are talking about? Hurt? What part of me is hurt?” Maybe my pride after all this…

Confusion passed though his eyes. “Y...your hair.”

That is when the clouds parted. Hylia herself came down and handed you your answer on a golden plate decorated with the Silent Princess. “My prince, Hylians regularly cut their hair. It keeps growing out until you cut it.” The prince’s face twisted in pure horror. “I can’t feel it! Really, I can’t feel a thing. It isn’t like a headtail. Here…” You took the hand placed on your head and took his thumb and index finger. You placed a few strands of hair in between them and rested them together. “Go ahead and squeeze as hard as you can.” The prince was hesitant. Though, with some encouragement he fulfilled your request. Carefully, though. At first it was light, enough to only observe slight discomfort. With each level of pressure he put between his fingers, the more (to his surprise) he was convinced that you indeed did not feel anything.

“Amazing.” The prince went to pull away, but your hair caught on his claw.

“Ouch!” you yipped. A hailstorm of confused apologies and worries rained down on you. The poor Zora felt so bad. “N..no. It was from the tugging. You just can’t tug on the hair. I promise you that I felt no pain from you squeezing my hair or when I got it cut.”

The prince gave a sad half smile. “Are you sure you are alright?”

You nodded your head to his statement. “Of course. But tell me, are you skipping out on another meeting.” The avoiding gaze and twiddling of fingers answered your question completely. You sighed at his actions. “Alright, my prince, why don’t you come inside and have some tea.” Prince Sidon perked up at your offer. Now he’s back to his usual spunky self. You smiled at him and ushered him into your small cottage.

The prince had to duck low, but he made it inside. He took his usual cushioned chair and sat at the table while you began prepping the teapot. You began to pour the water out of the small bucket. However, the water did not pour. You tilted the bucket back up and looked inside.

“YA HA HA!” A small tan...thing with a leaf for a face jumped out of the bucket. It landed on the kitchen counter and jumped out the open window.

“Get back here!” you yelled after the running leaf. Your fist hit the wood of the counter in anger. “Oh those tree children make me so mad! They always pull pranks on me. Second time this week...errrrrrr!” You blushed when you remember whose company you had. The slow turn to face him was painful. But, the sight was unexpected.

The prince held a hand in front of his mouth and chuckled behind it. “I’m...I’m terribly sorry...hehhe...but that was quite humorous.” You relaxed in front of him and placed a hand on your hip. “If you like them so much, please take them home with you.” A sigh left your lips as the bucket came into your vision. “So much for tea. It made sure to drink every last drop.”

The prince’s hand pushed the bucked towards him until all ten of his webbed fingers clasped around it. “If I may, I would like to replenish this for you.” You smiled. The prince was always so kind. Even if he was a guest, he would always insist on helping you with the smallest of tasks. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble,” you replied.

Prince Sidon ducked down and out of your house. Gosh he is so tall. That little feather atop his head added even more height. You turned back and pulled out two cups. One big and one that was much, much smaller. The prince has been over so many times that he ‘gifted’ you a Zora teacup. Though, you only use it for his visits. The first time you made him tea, the prince downed it in a single gulp. Gosh, your blush was probably hotter the tea that day.

You picked up the tin of tea leaves that adorned your window sill. Armoranth tea was his favorite. He was a prince, after all. Fancy is as fancy does and that tea is FANCY. Each tin was nearly a quarter of your last book royalties. Maybe you could convince him to buy the next one. Guest or not...you needed to eat too. So, it was probably not a good idea to just leave it on the window sill where anyone could see. Good one Miss (Y/N). Get you are going to get yourself robbed. 

You placed a spoonful in your teacup strainer. As for the prince’s...one, two, three, four, five, goddess this is expensive…

The prince came back through the door with the bucket in hand. “Here you are. Tree free, I promise.” You chuckled at his joke and took the bucket from him. With all your strength, you poured the water into your tea kettle. It was another gift from the prince. A much larger, almost restaurant-like tea kettle to accompany the prince’s large teacup. You started up the fire underneath in the stove. Since it was warm today, you didn’t want to start the oven too soon.

You sat across from the prince at the table. “So, how is you fancy life, my prince?”

He sighed and gave you a half smile. “I keep telling you that just because it is fancy, doesn't mean that it is easy. To be honest, I would rather have your quaint life here. Being the heir to the throne...is a lot of pressure. Oh, sorry. I’m rambling…” You shook your head in response. “Not at all,” you begun. “If you feel stressed, you feel stressed. Nothing wrong with that...no matter how fancy you are.”

The prince chuckled at your little punch. “Well, I enjoy your non-fancy life. That’s probably why I enjoy your company so much. You make me feel...normal.”

Oh, now you got why he gets so upset. “Is that why you want me to call you by your first name?” The prince gave a sad smile and the smallest of nods. Well, now you just felt like a jerk. Just ‘Sidon’ huh? You were about to speak the name before the kettle whistled.

You quickly stood up and grabbed the tea pot. Using all your strength, you lifted the teapot. “(Y/N), please.” A hand reached over you and took the teapot from your grasp. “I understand you are an independent woman. But please, I would feel terrible if you would hurt yourself over tea.” You blushed and let the prince continue pouring the boiling water into the teacups. “There, now you may have your tea.” You smiled and took your Hylian-sized cup.

“How valiant, the prince helping out a common girl like me.” You chuckled until you remembered the previous conversation. Jabs like that just came out so naturally. Have they...hurt him this whole time? “I...I’m sorry.”

The prince tilted his head to the side as he sat down. “For what?” You blushed at his reaction. “W...well we were just talking about how you want to be treated as normal here.” You plucked the cup off its saucer and brought it to your lips. A shutter ran down you as the heat began to smart your tongue. “(Y/N)! Please, for the love of Hylia stop all this worry about offending me.” The prince brought his fingers to your lips. You opened your mouth, allowing him in. This wasn’t the first time he has healed you for a quick tea-burn. Still, it was embarrassing whenever he felt the need to. The Zora said he reads...has he ever read a raunchy Hylian romance novel? Your cheeks burned at those thoughts. If anyone were to peek in right now...

“All done!” The prince removed his fingers from your mouth. “Please do wait until the tea is the appropriate temperature.” You covered your mouth with your hand as the blush danced at full blaze across your cheeks. Now is the time… “Thank you, Sidon.”

The prince’s mouth dropped as he blinked a few times. You avoided eye contact for a few seconds before coming back to his eyes. Sidon smiled deeply. “Of course.” Those golden eyes of his were going to make you melt. He always found a way to show his adoration of you. Whether it is with words...or looks.

“We better drink this tea before it goes cold.”

Chapter Text

Drip, drip, drip.

You watched the ink drop from your pen onto the paper below. Unfortunately, ideas for the continuation of this book was...hard to come by. Maybe that was too kind. Really, it was impossible. The prince was to return home after his last journey. It was nearly the end of this book and yet...you didn’t know how to end it. 

Prince Rilos could just be received by his countrymen. Coming in on his trusty steed and waving his way to the palace. But, that was the ending to the last book. He could….he could…

No ideas were flowing. None, not one idea was coming to your empty shell of a head. The breeze flowed in through your open window. Its curls of air kissed your face and made you sigh. There was no point in being a writer if there was nothing to write about. You tapped the point of your now dry quill on the bottom of the paper. “Maybe I should just give up.”

“Trouble with your lover?”

Sidon’s voice made you jump. The Zora propped his arms on the windowsill. He gave you two little bats of his eyes before sticking his head further into the cottage. You immediately covered the pages with your arms to keep him from reading. Sidon made a small pout in response. “I have always been curious about what you write on those pages.”

Your cheeks lit up. “I told you it was private. Stop being such a naughty little boy peeking in on a woman’s private life.”

Sidon chuckled in response. “No, no. I meant your prose, how you write and what you end with.” You slumped a little at his last curiosity. The man meant no harm, you knew that. But, unbeknownst to him, it was eating away at you. Endings...it is always about the endings. Sidon’s yellow eyes flashed in concern, then softened. “I mean...if it is not too much trouble, of course, is...would you write me something?”

You raised an eyebrow at his request. “You can have anyone in your palace write you beautiful poems.” The prince tilted his head and smiled. “Well, it still wouldn’t be your writing. Or are you telling me a simple poem is too much of a challenge?” With a huff of air, you placed the papers face down onto a table next to your desk. Grabbing a fresh sheet, dipping your quill, and sitting up straight, you proceeded to indulge your prince in writing-

I ThInk You’Re NeAT!

You handed the still wet paper to the leaning prince. Sidon took it lacklusterly and gave you a fake smile. “I think you are most interesting as well.” His haughty and fancy words lifted off of his tongue with such grace that suddenly you were debating on whether it really was appropriate to tease The Prince of the Zora . That worry quickly dissipated once he receded from the window and held the paper up to the sky. “A true treasure from my dearest friend. Oh, how her lover will quiver knowing that she thinks I’m neat.” He turned back around to you and smiled. It was infectious as one began to grace your mouth.

“He’s not my lover, my prince.” 

His mouth turned down, but couldn’t help smiling just a bit. A mix of emotions passed through him. “My prince?” he asked. You smiled sweetly at him and chuckled just a bit. “Sidon…” you corrected. Now his smile was bigger than ever. He wandered back over to your little window and leaned against its ledge once more. “So, not a lover quite yet. Simply exchanging romantic gazes and words of the flirtatious nature?” 

You gave him a look before standing up. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” The floorboards creaked with each step into the house and each step out. From the wood of the floor to your blue-infested lawn, you now stood in the shadow of the large, red Zora. Normally this wouldn’t happen, but the man was slightly leaning over you. You knew this stance well. Sidon only does it when he wants to know something. The height advantage really was something. Subconsciously, it made him more intimidating, more commanding.

But, this was one thing you couldn’t bend to. The silence dragged on between you. Both parties waiting patiently for the other to crack. Thankfully, the prince had a short attention span. He rose up to his normal height. Now, he began his predator mannerisms. The Zora slowly began to walk in a circle around you. “Is he handsome?” he asked. An amused puff of air escaped your mouth. “You could say that.” “Ah, but how would I know? Do I know him?” You smiled at his prodding. “Maybe. Though, I cannot keep up with the amount of relations that you have. You could have crossed paths. Or, you simply have never seen him the way I do.”

Sidon completed one rotation around you. “I sure would like to meet him. If he has caught the attention of my beautiful fairy, then he must be quite the man.” You chuckled as he continued his stalking. Watching him with your eyes, you decided to indulge him, “Yes, he is quite the gentleman.” The frequency of his steps increased.

Then, he stopped directly in front of you. “Does he have scales?” Sidon smiled eagerly. You placed one hand on your hip. “In regards to the contents of the parchment, no.” The prince’s energy faltered slightly. His eyes searched yours for any sign of trickery. When he saw none, he smiled gently and turned around. “I won’t press you further. After all, there is still plenty of time in the day.”

“Another day off?” you questioned. You doubt it was an authentic ‘day off’ as the prince liked to claim. Lately, they have been more common. More often than not, the red Zora would show up at your door wanting to talk late into the night. 

You smiled as the memories of those late night talks began to fill your mind. Yet, the last time it ended with a certain Zora captain coming to collect his prince when the moon rose too high above the horizon. “Don’t tell me I’m going to be hosting two Zoras tonight.” Sidon chuckled at that last part.

“I don’t think I can bring myself to share you with Bazz again. He is...a lively talker about my more...embarrassing encounters.” You chuckled at his slightly pink cheeks. Bazz was a fine Zora, really. His levelheadedness was a distinct difference from Sidon’s more frivolous behavior. And boy, did Bazz talk about that frivolousness the when he was here. The prince turned completely red from embarrassment. The story about the young prince trying to command fish had you laughing till the sun shone. “ Just because he was a prince, he thought everything obeyed his command, ” Bazz teased.

The prince once again faced you. “What are we going to do today?” 

You brought your hand to your chin to think. Last time he was here you served him tea. Another chat perhaps? No, no, then you would be returning to the subject of your papers again. Flower crowns? No, you had enough of staring at blue. Blue sky, blue river, and a blue front lawn. You looked back to the prince. “I have no idea, to be honest.”

Sidon shifted his stance and smiled. “Well then, how about something more...classy?” You cocked your head in slight confusion as to what he was referring to. The prince leaned down to your level. “As much as I enjoy this treasure that you gave me-” he held up the note- “I do wish to see one written in a more proper time frame. What do you say?”

You smiled coyly at your friend. “Is this a challenge?” The Zora shrugged and continued to wave the paper, taunting you. With a sly smile, you nodded. “Alright then. I will go get us some quills and parchment.” With one more look, you turned and moved back into the house. In your desk you pulled out a small quill and larger, more fancy one. Sidon “gifted” this to you a few months prior. Though, it has never been used. A small smile tugged at your lips. “When did you begin to plan this scheme, Prince Sidon?” you whispered to yourself.

With the bundle of supplies in your arms, you exited through the doorway and knelt by the sitting Zora. You carefully placed the instruments down onto the grass, as not to spill the ink (again). “So, Sidon, what are the parameters of this? Is it poetry, a letter, short story…?” You trailed off your sentence to gauge the prince’s interest. He placed a hand to his chin and hummed deep. “I think poetry would be a grand task to undertake. Like they say, poetry opens up even the tightest of clams.”

Is that a Zora saying or did he just make that up? The prince never ceased to amaze you when proudly showing off his fancy words. You shifted your position to be able to write in the grass. Thankfully, the lack of a breeze allowed your paper to stay exactly where you wanted it. Something finally went right today. Score one for team (Y/N). You dipped your quill in the ink and placed it on the paper.

And kept it there.

Oh...that’s right...I suck at poems… Your wide eyes yanked to Sidon. The sight and sound of quill on paper had you sweating. He’s writing a lot. The prince fluidly wrote line after line on his parchment. You snapped your eyes down to your own paper. Think! Think! You’re running out of time! He’s almost-

“Done,” Sidon gleamed. “I’ll just wait a few seconds for the ink to dry and then we can share them. Oh, wait. I just thought of another line...or two.”

Your focus returned to the dry ink spot on the paper. Just pick something! You looked in the surrounding area. It was just all so blue! 

Wait…

That’s it!

Fiercely you scribbled down your thoughts. Your handwriting suffered a bit, sure. However, the words just flowed through your mind and onto the paper. It was a melting glacier to a river, a cloud to rain. A grand smile ran across your face as the confidence welled in your chest. Yes...you were going to win this battle of words against the almighty fluffer of speech! 

The quill was set down, and you beamed up at the prince. “I’m done too.” Sidon smiled and nodded. You held onto that confidence like a lifeline. Sidon always had a way of unraveling you. Princely charm, you guessed. “W...who would you like to go first?” you managed to stumble out. Sidon held up his paper. “Well, since my ink is dry and not...dripping onto the grass, I can go first.” 

You looked down at the puddle in front of you. So much for that confidence. When did you even begin to tip the sheet? Of course…   Now those words were dragged down to the bottom of the paper. Slaughtered the words and slaughtered your chance at reading this poem even half-decently. Sidon merely chuckled at your flustered face. With a cough he began:

Golden light cast upon my place of dreams

So that clouds will never appear

My heart rests in fragile petals wrapped around sharpness

Lifted above woes

Safe above worry

Sidon brought his paper back down onto the grass. You hollowly looked at his brilliant penmanship and words written with such grace. How could you even speak after that? It was as if his words wrapped you in arms and tossed you into the clouds. They were filled with such soft emotion. Sidon waved his hand in front of you. “(Y/N)...are you alright?” You blinked a few times before coming back to reality.

“O..Oh yes. That...that was wonderful. I kind of feel embarrassed to share mine. It’s not nearly as beautiful as yours.” Sidon sighed slightly. He took the sheet and squeezed it together so that it made a ball. That crumpled piece of paper was tossed over his shoulder. With a jaded edge, he looked towards the river...away from you. Personally, you didn’t know what to make of this. In the time that you have known the prince, not once has he acted...unpleasant. You walked on your knees over to him. This was enough to get the Zora to look at you. Frustration and anger glittered in his eyes. “Sidon, what did I do to upset you?” That look of anger turned to shock, then pity.

“Oh, no, no my fairy. You didn’t do anything wrong...I...I just lost my temper.” The prince sighed and took your hand into his own. “Sometimes...A lot of the time, other Zora won’t even attempt to do something I just did, because...well...they never think they are enough for me.” You gave the man a pitiful smile in return. “If I didn’t think I was enough for you, I wouldn’t even let you near my blue infested lawn, let alone into my house to serve you tea.” You placed your other hand on top of his. It was a comfortable understanding. Your fingers felt the hard yet smooth scales covering his hand as the prince gave yours a gentle squeeze.

“Oh my, am I interrupting something?” 

You had to duck to avoid the tail of the prince. Getting hit once by that was enough...had a large headache the week following. You leaned around the prince’s large body to look towards the river. There, a black and white Zora bobbed in the water. “I do sincerely apologize Miss (Y/N), but the Domain is missing a certain red prince who skipped out on a council meeting...again.” The Captain of the Royal Guard glared at Sidon. You could only begin to imagine what the poor Zora had to put up with in defense of his prince. Whatever he was dealing with, Bazz made sure the prince felt it though his eyes.

Sidon sheepishly turned to you. “I’m sorry (Y/N).” You shake your head. “No, don’t be! You have a lot to do. Ummm, here. You can take this and read it when you have the time.” Sidon took the paper that was offered. With a sad smile, he hurried over to the water and met up with his captain. You waved as both Zora swam upstream.

“So loverboy, what did she give you?” Bazz gave his prince a smug smile complete with an air kiss. Sidon rolled his eyes. “We were writing poems before you came along. She’s a good friend and...besides, she already has someone else.” His heart pulled him down into the river until only the hand that was holding the paper was above water. But, the poem was soon snatched out of his hand. Bazz held up the paper and began to read as the prince re-surfaced. “Bazz, give me that! She wrote it for me!” 

Bazz swam a little faster. “Oh, wow...are you sure you aren't more than friends? Don’t tell me the real reason you are there till late at night is because you are actually bedding huahhhh-” Sidon retracted his fist from Bazz’s stomach as he reclaimed his poem. The captain held his stomach and pouted at his prince. “I was only kidding.”

“That was going a bit too far. Besides, shouldn’t a captain have better reflexes?” Bazz glared as the two continued to swim up the river. Sidon allowed himself to look over the poem his friend so rudely took the first glance of. 

In a sea of blue 

I look for different colors

But, I am drowning.

A hint of red, then white lifts me above

So that I can see the sun.

The prince’s cheeks dusted pink. Never has he felt so moved by a few words. The prince sighed at the thought that drifted through his mind. Her lover must get these all the time. Sidon stared blankly at the sheet. However, his eyes caught a few words that were not fully visible and...backwards? He flipped the sheet over to see more words written on the back. The prince’s head tilted to the left in confusion. Was this some part of a story? The writing looks similar to…

The Tales of Prince Rilos. Oh no...

Did she not have enough paper that she had to sacrifice a page in a book? Oh goddess, he knew she was not well off, but this… Did she spend all her money on buying the book series that she didn’t have enough for paper? Next time...Next time I promise I will bring you as much paper as I can carry!

Chapter Text

“Where is it? Where is it!” You frantically looked through the mounds of papers on your desk. Out of all the things to lose, OF COURSE it had to be a page from your new book. Papers were thrown off the desk, now gently floating to the floor as leaves would from a tree. Though, this whirlwind was more violent that the summer breeze outside. Goddess, you were just going to enjoy a nice cup of tea out in the sunshine after working so hard to complete this latest project! Last night when your editor showed up unannounced asking for a missing page, you nearly broke down crying. 

Now you were really going to cry, because you can’t find it. You wiped away falling tears as you tried looking through your papers once more, desperate and hoping you missed it. “How did this happen?” 

“Just write it again. After all, a second draft is usually better,” your editor said. That was easy for her to say. You spent months editing and rewriting that particular page. It wasn’t just some traveling page. It wasn’t just a scene of the prince fighting off a random monster. Heck, you would have even preferred losing the last page of the book!

Why, out of nearly two hundred pages, did it have to be the confession scene! Five volumes, years of work, and for what? Something that happens to be gone now. Ire always wanted to confess her love to the prince. Now, after hundreds of pages, she did it. 

And now it’s gone!

Something like a love confession can’t be written the same way twice. It has to be organic, come from the heart. Hours and days were logged so that the prose, tone, and even word choice flowed seamlessly. As an author, you wanted to punch your reader in the gut with feelings. Apparently, the universe was the one throwing the punches. Your breath tickled the tips of your lips as you sighed. One night was all you had to fix this. The book was scheduled to print tomorrow. “It’s probably gone for good….” A few more tears were caught on the fallen papers. “I only have one night. If it is gone, then it can’t be helped.” You stood up and took a deep breath in. 

You had to do this.

It was for the book!

With clenched fists and flushed cheeks you nodded. The only way you were to acquire any ideas from your imagination...“It’s time to role play.” You did it once, you can do it again.

The evening sun shone through the window of your workroom that lit up the sack of flour that was currently sitting on your desk. It had a smiley face on it, courtesy of your own artistic abilities. Though, the quality of it wavered with its slouched smile. Nevertheless, it was something to throw your frivolous fantasies at. With a deep breath, you began. “My prince, I...I need to tell you something.” Good so far…. Yes! You quickly dipped your ink in the well and set the scene.

Ire clasped her hands over her heart, afraid that it would leap out of her chest if not held. A constant shake in her legs threatened to send her to the floor. Even the cicadas with their droning sound seemed to mock her feelings. But, she had to. With the tale that the prince had told her, he almost returned not on a horse, but in a casket. What if this was the Hylia’s way of telling her that time was short. That it needed to be taken seriously for those brave enough to hold it. She wasn’t a brave girl, she knew. But, the prince gave her strength. Rilos could be called a magician for the amount of miracles he performed. She was able to beat a raider with only a broom. He taught her to hunt her first rabbit and how to speak up when needed. And now, with his eyes fully focused on her, she had to speak. 

She need not rely on the strength he gave her, but her own, cultivated strength. Gods help her, this is it. “My prince I...I need to tell you something.”

You quickly wrote down the songs of prose and paragraph on the yellowed paper below. When finished, you leaned back to admire the splendid piece of dialogue you have crafted. “This is good. Alright, next part…” You turned back to your sad sack of flower under the windowsill. It began to lean to one side, nearly confused as to why you were talking to it. With half a frown, you walked over to it and began to straighten it up. Now, fully fluffed and poised, just like to whom it was representing, you continued. Hands together, blush across my cheeks… In your mind’s eye, that sack of flour soon turned into something more handsome. Someone worthy of a confession...A Zora, in fact. Your heart frantically beat in your chest. “We have known each other for some time now and...I...I need to tell you that...I love you.” Perfect… now to look shyly up at -

You froze as the actual prince looked at you through the other side of the glass. Tears filled your eyes, you covered your mouth in a desperate attempt to shove all those words back in your mouth. Your heart dropped. You felt nauseous. How could this happen?

Sidon’s shocked expression slowly turned into a gentle, understanding smile. Though slightly muffled, you could still hear his words. “I must say, every day I turn more envious of your lover. I have never seen more honest eyes in my life. I...I do apologize for coming at a bad time though. I just...I have these papers, you see. I had no idea that you didn’t have enough and had to tear a page out just to humor me in writing poems. So I wanted to make sure you had enough in case we continue our writing adventure.”

You blinked a few times to get the tears out of your eyes before unlocking the window and opening it up. “S...Sidon-” *hiccup* “-what are you talking about? I have p- plenty of paper.” Sidon cocked his head slightly to the side. “Then, my fairy, why is there writing from The Tales of Prince Rilos on the back side? Although, I must say I haven't seen this scene yet. Did another volume come out without me noticing?”

Oh sweet merciful Hylia…

The prince held up the page for you to look at, then back down to read. His eyes moved from left to right, following the words on the page. Before you could even think, words of desperation fell out of your mouth. “Stop reading it!” Sidon sharply looked up. “I...I didn’t mean any offence, I just am confused at this scene. Here, take it. I’m so sorry.” The paper nearly threatened to tear when you snatched it out of the prince’s hand. Sidon’s eyes flashed wide, startled at the sudden abrasiveness of your vigor.

You swallowed hard. How were you going to get out of this one? Thoughts and a million excuses passed through your filter. Yet, only one seemed plausible. You dreaded the excuse you came up with...but it had to be done. “I...I actually wrote it. I love the series so much that I...starting writing what I want to happen.” Not a complete lie. “That’s also why I was doing that confession...I wanted to get a real feeling of it.”

The prince’s shoulders dipped down. Not out of sadness but...relief? “I’m happy to hear it. T..that you have enough paper. And, you didn’t damage your set of books. Yes. I am most glad.” He quickly ducked out of sight before coming back to the windowsill with a stack of paper. “Please, accept these. I know now that you have enough, but you could always use a little more, right?” Your eyes widened upon seeing the finely stacked paper. Never have you seen such a beautiful sight. It surely would cost a book’s royalties to get so much. Not to mention the quality of it. It was white... white ! Have you ever seen white writing paper? Yours was mostly the color of bark or sand. Normally, white paper was reserved for books or important documents. The rich do live in a different realm, don’t they?

You placed your small hand over his. “Sidon, I can’t accept this. I would feel awful accepting something so valuable.” The reaction you received upon finishing your sentence was...unexpected. 

The prince tilted his head to the side. “You must be joking. It is simply paper! There is no dent in my purse, I assure you.” Wind blew against your face. It might as well blown through your empty head as well. Your mind was hollow of all thoughts, void of any reasoning, blank as the sheets stacked in front of you.

This man has no concept of how normal people live.

Sidon’s eyes lingered over your face, surveying what he could as to draw a conclusion. The hand that was dropped to his side soon covered the top of your own in a comforting gesture. “I didn’t mean to overwhelm you, (Y/N). And I must apologize if I seem out of touch with the struggles of the common Hylian. I never meant to upset you or place you in a debt of gratitude. Hylia above, I’m such a fool.”

The small blush across his cheeks gave you pause. Sidon was always such a kind man, even to his downfall. A wave of embarrassment overcame you. Why did I make such a big deal out of this? “Thank you, Sidon. I accept your humble bribery for tea and company.” His lips parted into a smile, showing off those razor teeth that sent just the right amount of fear and arousal into your belly. Time seemed to slow. His hands were warm and welcoming. The breeze cooled off the rest of the heat off your cheeks. The sun reflected ever so slightly off of his crimson scales. Golden eyes smiled so sweetly at you. This moment was painting perfect.

A swell of longing tugged at your heartstrings. Those forbidden feelings you have shoved to the very bottom of your soul threatened to burst from your throat. It was on the tip of your tongue. Those three words you promised you would never say all those nights ago when you first met. The result creating five volumes of what would never happen, what shouldn’t happen. Calling him a prince, insisting on that one rule alone kept these feelings in check. However, getting too familiar with him sent a whole cascade of consequences and compromising situations that threatened to tear you apart.

Then why were you ready to throw that away?

Why did you not care about breaking down this wall?

How did Sidon make you feel so reassured in this feeling?

The wind blew forward, fluttering your hair out of your face. And too, the papers off the windowsill. The fluttering white parchment snapped you back into reality. Sidon must have too as both of your hands prioritized gathering the flying pages over holding each other. The papers created almost a fog inside your room. Page after page you collected in midair to haphazardly put in a pile between your arm and chest. The whole scene would be beautiful if not for the value of the fluttering white doves. 

At last. Most of the papers were in your arm as you gathered the rest from the ground. Even through this spectacle, touching the beautiful paper between your thumb and fingers sent a chill right down your spine. It was gold. Beautiful white gold was sitting between your fingers. Right then and there it was decided that this would only be used for the utmost euphoric of writings. 

Sidon placed his stack that blew outside on top of your desk. His long arms helped him through the window sill. You placed yours on top of his and smiled up at him. That Zora returned the gesture with extra sweetness. With a small chuckle you shook your head. “Would you like to come in for some tea?” 

Sidon nodded, “Most definitely.”

Chapter Text

You sat in your blue front yard. The Silent Princess flowers rustled in the wind, making waves and turning this land into a gently rolling ocean. The tea that danced with your taste buds was sweetened with honey and flavored with the dried herbs you collected yourself. It was a silent, yet decadent way to relax in the summer sun. With your book finally done, you could relax for a few days before continuing on this writing adventure. Well, more like a love letter. But, that didn’t matter now. The only care was to enjoy this day and it’s peace.

Serene…

Euphoric…

Peace- “(Y/NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN)!”

Your tea exploded from your lips and onto the flowers in front of you. While coughing and hacking you looked at the source of the call. 

Of course…

A large red Zora came bounding across your lawn holding a book in the air like a first place prize. “They came out with the next book! I got the first copy! I-I-I-I stayed up all night reading it! It’s amazing! Here! You read it next!” The enthusiasm nearly created fire around the prince. Which would be quite odd, considering he is a creature of water. Sidon increased his sprint until he halted right in front of you. Your brows frowned at the literature being presented. Decadent velvet that was the color of crushed berries caressed pristine snow white paper in a gentle embrace. There was no way this could have been your book.

And yet, in gold embroidered letters it stated: The Tales of Prince Rilos

Sidon sat down and wiggled in excitement. “I was lucky enough to get the pristine edition! I do like the color of this one more. The last book’s color was this dark depressing red. Red should be bright and bring joy. Not that I am biased about shades of red.” The prince ended his sentence with a chuckle.

The prince could have been spouting off about a fish’s dating life, your attention was captivated by the book. A small, tentative reach towards the book made the Zora bring it closer to connect your hand to the possession. A soft tingle ran through your fingers as you ghosted over the cover. Feelings of anger and awe wrestled about as time slowed to appreciate this moment. Questions and commentary sailed on a lofty boat of otherworldly euphoria.

There is a pristine edition?

They made a pristine edition...for my work?

The book was beautiful, ethereal. This was your baby. It was the thing you slaved away at for the past year to get just right, just perfect….and now it was. It was cradled in perfection and being held by two hands of equal beauty.

“I would be happy to lend it to you.” Those words were gentle, perhaps also wrapped in velvet. It caused your eyes to gaze up at the one who spoke them. Cherry red cheeks turned darker at this small embrace of look. Slowly, delicately the weight of the book began to rest in your open palms. 

A small smile tugged at your lips. “Would you like to come in for tea?”

At this, the prince sighed and looked at the river. “I wish I could. Truly, I do. B...But I have something to do today. Please don’t think I am trying to avoid our soiree!” Oh this poor boy. He gets frazzled as soon as he thinks he is an inconvenience. You chuckled at his bashfulness and shook your head. “No,no,” you giggled. “I am just shocked that you are actually thinking of your duties.” This caused the prince’s cheeks to light up like a luminous stone. He simply smiled and stood up, brushing off the scattered blue petals that happened upon his lap.

He placed his hands on his hips and smiled. “Despite what I might give off during our encounters, I am a rather reliable prince at heart.”

“At heart” you repeated the most obvious and important phrase in his defense. Sidon sighed amusingly and headed back towards the water. “Until next time.” With a grand bow he jumped into the river. 

Your gaze followed the red dot that headed in the direction of the domain until it was no longer visible. You then turned to the royalty-bound text. How has your editor failed to mention that there was a special edition? Scratch that out, SEVERAL special editions! Sidon mentioned the last cover being red. Were there editions like this of all of your works? 

What was the point of even asking? As if you could even afford a copy of your own...

But, the prince did lend you the copy currently in your possession. Might as well enjoy the time you have with it…

On that thought, you passed through the ocean of Silent Princess flowers and sailed on through the door frame. 

…

The rest of your day was filled with touching the beautiful cover and flipping through the crisp paper. It was so surreal. Your book was not only covered in the most expensive material you have ever laid eyes on, but what was inside it captivated the heart of The Prince of the Zora! Maybe Hylia herself finally took pity on you. Heat pooled in your cheeks. 

I wonder what he thought about the confession scene…

That heat traveled from your cheeks to all over your face. Oh sweet saffron! What did he think of it? Was it as rewarding of a confession as you hoped it would be? Or was it such a letdown that he wanted to pawn the book off on you?

What if he hated it?

No, no he wouldn’t do that. He was simply wanting to share it with you because he loved it so much.

But what if he wanted you to read it to show you how bad it was?

No...no...nonono he wouldn’t have been as excited as he was. The boy was nearly leaping into the sky as he popped out of the river. Now that I think about it...has he ever been that excited before?

You clawed at memories to try and find one that matched the enthusiasm of that magnitude. Needless to say, you couldn’t find one. Then…

He did like it!!!!!

You bounded across your small cottage. Oh how wonderful! How incredible! He loved your latest edition! 

“You are the author?” Sidon’s voice was full of surprise. But, his face was gentle and beautiful. “Wh...who was the inspiration? If I may ask…” 

Goddess, you were so embarrassed. Your words caught in your throat. Would he be mad at you?

Sidon’s face got dangerously close to your own. “And...that confession scene...are you…?” The prince caged his body around you as his hand wandered to caress the small of your back. “Perhaps...we should act out the scene after that…”

Your lips trembled and quivered. “B...b..but that was the end of the book. T...there isn’t another...s...sceneeeeee-” Sidon picked you up and threw you on your bed, kissing you as he began to-

A knock came to the door, snapping you out of your luscious fantasy. You shook your head to try and get your beating heart back under control. “Now, now Miss (Y/N),” you said to yourself “settle down and open that door.” After a few more deep breaths, you straighten your back and begin to parade towards the direction of another set of knocks. You gently turned the knob before pushing the door open.

A small smile came to your lips. “Laden! Hi!” A tall brown haired Hylian stood at your doorstep. His semi-curly locks complemented his green eyes. In the man’s arms was a sack of flour, no doubt the one you ordered. It’s puffy and saggy body was a feast for the eyes. Well, and eventually the prince’s stomach. That royal can scarf down 10 teacakes a minute! Praise Hylia Laden gives you a deal for buying in bulk. 

“Here is the flour you ordered! I must inquire, what do you make that requires you to buy so much? Don’t tell me you buy it just to see my handsome face?” You chuckled and waved him in.

“You can set it there on the counter, oh handsome face.” The cheesy smile you gave him nearly caused his eyes to roll from their sockets! He laid the sack on the wooden table next to the sink that functioned as a “counter.” Hopefully with your new book’s royalties, you could afford better furnishings. 

Well, if Sidon didn’t eat through it first. Hosting him is turning expensive!

A small coo of a ‘meow’ caught the tips of your Hylian ears. Turning around, in the doorframe of the cottage, there was a cat! You blinked once, twice...it was still there. 

“Oh! Stop following me everywhere you dumb cat!” Laden began to shoo it out the house. But, it ran past him and onto the large chair used for Sidon. It curled up in its plush cushion and began to purr. You chuckled and walked over to the at-home cat. You reached out and began to stroke the black fur on top of its head with your thumb, a gentle and soothing gesture. In response, the kitty slowly closed its eyes and began a chorus of purrs. Laden stood beside you and placed his hand on the arm of the chair. “You are more than welcome to have it. This cat has been following me on my routes for several days now. It’s like I’m haunted.” 

You turned your attention back to the happy ball of fur. “Well, it looks like the days of haunting you are over. This little thing has made itself quite at home.” Upon closer inspection, there was no collar or identification of any kind. It must be a stray . A sudden leap of joy in your heart nearly made you sing. It didn't occur to you that your home was lacking a pet. Maybe having Sidon show up at your door day after day made you less lonely, but it didn’t compare to the at-homeness of a furry companion. Laden put his hand on his hip and sighed at the sight. Either the man was exasperated at seeing the pain in his behind getting such good treatment, or he was jealous of it. “Well, enjoy your new friend. I have to complete my rounds.” Laden then spun on his heel and showed himself out. You waved a goodbye before continuing to pamper the purring cat. 

What a cute little thing. It was so soft and its face is so adorable! “Well, welcome to your new home...uhhh...hmmm...what should I name you?” The ball of fur closed its eyes and began to doze off at your thoughts. It then stuck out its tongue, licked its nose, and reshuffled into a more comfortable position.

IT’S SO CUTE!!!!

You stared at your new little bundle of joy with increased fervor. That’s it. This cat is now yours forever. 

You began to walk around the cottage, hand to chin, thinking of a name befitting to such a fluffy and wonderful creature. Laden said the cat haunted him. Maybe something like a ghost? Nah, he was too cute to be such a scary creature. Fluffy? No, that’s too lame. 

The cat needed a name worthy of its character. The cat was black as night with yellow piercing eyes. Maybe playing off of that, plus the haunting nature of it to Laden. “Midnight” you decided. “Midnight, Duke of the cozy cottage and heir to the comfy chair.” You giggled at his elongated title. “It fits you.” Kneeling in front of the chair, you began to stroke the soft fur of the cat once more. Oh your heart just melted at the sight of it purring away.

~~~~~~~~

A knock came to the door as you put the last of the cakes in the oven. Right on time. Sidon had a way of showing up every Wednesday at this time of the night. You opened the door to the smiling prince. “Sorry for showing up like this. Would it be alright if we chatted over tea about...our day?” 

You chuckled at his need for an excuse. “Sidon, you can come around anytime. Even so, you always come every Wednesday night. I already have the cakes in the oven and everything.” Motioning forward, you guided Sidon to his usual chair. However, a certain furry creature now occupied the royal’s seating area.

“A rat!” Sidon shouted. He lifted his arm in an attempt to squash the animal on the chair.

“No!” you stood in front of the Zora and held your hands up in defense of your new pet. “He’s my cat.”

Sidon cocked his head to one side. “What is a cat? We don’t have those in the domain.”

You smiled and knelt down besides the still sleeping furball. Apparently, he wasn’t at all concerned about the shouting match and the near life threatening situation that almost happened upon him. Your hand began scratching his head that soon filled the room with a soft, rumbling sound. “This is Midnight. He just happened by earlier this morning. Isn’t he just the most adorable pet?”

Sidon’s face grew curious as he attempted to pet the cat as you did. However, a few water droplets from his swim ran down the prince’s fingers and onto Midnight’s fur. The cat was not pleased as he gave a large hiss and bit the finger that dropped the water onto him. You covered your mouth in shock. Sidon simply looked upon the creature. A small smile decorated his face as he let out a laugh. “Good thing I have thick scales. I feel bad for any poor soul attempting to imprint upon your territory.” Midnight let go of the prince’s hand and laid back down. Sidon held his hand and stood up before sitting down again at the table. “I’m glad you have him. I was beginning to worry how you are out here without protection. Now that I know you keep a small Lynel, my heart is much more at ease.”

You giggled at his words. The timer gave a quick ring signifying the completion of your tea cakes. Sidon, without ask, stood up and began the preparations for tea. A small blush crept across your face. He was so comfortable in your house now. 

“S...sorry did you not want me to start the teapot?” You looked up at him.

Sidon must have noticed the small flush as now he stood still. “N..no! I mean, go ahead. I was just thinking how used to being here you have gotten. It’s...nice to know I made you feel welcome enough.”

The prince smiled back. “That’s why I like coming here. You make me feel at home. I think that must be an innate ability you have. Even Midnight has sensed it and came to your door in hopes of enjoying your hospitality.” Now you were practically glowing from happiness. Sidon had such a delicate and wondrous way of lifting you up though praise.

He continued to prepare the water for the tea as you continued your own task of the cakes. Such a simple, mundane task made you feel close to him. He didn’t have to help you. But doing so without asking...he is a real gem. 

You took the sifter and sprinkled delicate powdered sugar over the cakes. As you went back to put the extra sugar back in the jar, you noticed Sidon giving you a look. “Is something wrong?” He took your hands in his own and began tapping over the cakes once more. You laughed as you tried to get your hands away. “Sidon, you are coating them. You want some cake with all that sugar?”

With the cakes transformed from a delicate snowfall of sugar to being directly hit by a blizzard, Sidon was satisfied. “I think they look delicious.” He puffed out his chest in pride. You rolled your eyes and placed the cakes onto a plate to be brought over to the table. Following was the prince who grabbed a cake before you even got to the table! You gave him a small pout, to which he faced away from you.

The call of the kettle made the prince return to the kitchen to prepare the pot.

And so began your Wednesday night tea...

Chapter Text

Midnight, Duke of the cozy cottage and heir to the comfy chair. The fierce prince of catnip and the terror of mice. And....the pain in your butt when you are trying to sleep in for once. 

Your cat walked on your back and began kneading into the blanket that covered you. His purrs were loud enough to arouse you from your sweet dreams. Dreams that just so happened to involve another, more ruby colored prince. Slowly you turned around and began to scratch Midnight’s cheeks. That purr became louder and fiercer than before. Spoiled thing....

Once he got enough affection, the cat jumped off the bed and over to his food bowl, awaiting to be fed. “You surely have made yourself at home.” A slight comment, but you were appreciative of the liveliness that this black cat has brought you. Sidon has been busy as of late. Apparently, the Zora had to prepare for some upcoming festival. You should commend him on taking his job seriously. However, there was some part of you that was saddened by his absence. It has been a week, the longest you have ever gone without seeing him. 

Hopefully he will drop by again soon.

You filled up the food bowl with some dry food fit for the duke. The kitty never complained. Well, from what you could tell. Maybe someday you would spoil him with a fresh fish. Sidon could catch him one and…

A sigh passed through your lips. “Sidon…”

His absence affected you more than you realized. A certain pit lodged itself in your stomach. Maybe it was from the weight of a heavy heart. You looked to the makeshift counter where some blueberries lie. “Sidon…” you sighed again. 

“I found this recipe for a Hylian pastry called a muffin! Have you heard of something like this before? We must try it sometime! What about with those blueberries at the foot of the mountain? Lets go pick those and make it!”

You were supposed to bake it together and have it with tea afterwards. Now, the berries looked almost too ripe to cook with. Another day and they would be spoiled. “Now I am just getting sad” you said to no one. “I need some sunshine.” You opened the door and held it open for Midnight to come out with you as well. The black cat liked to accompany you on your small walks. He crouched down and wiggled his butt upon seeing a butterfly. Midnight pounced too slowly as the butterfly flew higher. He did two more feeble attempts of jumping up in the air in order to catch it, but to no avail. “The mighty hunter” you commented. 

Continuing to the end of your blue lawn, you bent down and observed some small, white flowers. This was a certain flower that the prince was rather fond of having in his tea. Of course these were rather expensive at the market, so growing your own made more sense (considering your small income). The actual tea leaves were the most expensive. Though, you couldn’t grow them in this climate. So, you saved where you could. Fresh flowers are better anyway. 

Just like the prince’s visits as of late, the times where you visited this patch of flowers were few and far between. Weeds have grown around the flowers, threatening to choke the tea’s favorite partner. You bent down and began to pull them out. Thank goodness they were just small weeds. A bit of pressure was all that was needed to take them out-OUCH!

A thistle. Well, actually it was nettle.

You shook your hand as the sting hurt and continued to burn and tingle. What a horrible plant it was. Great for tea as well, but this was one that was better in its dried form. The fresh version felt like fire upon touching it. “Ouch...ouch...hmmmm....”

“Oh dear, are you alright? Can I help at all?” Sidon took your hand and inspected the damage. A small green glow emitted from his palm, easing the searing pain away. 

“Sidon!” You probably looked like an idiot from how much you were smiling. The red prince was a ray of sunshine in your otherwise dark and dreary state of mind. “I’ve missed you. How are you?”

A blush crossed the Zora’s cheeks at the mention of missing him. But, he stayed in control, like always. “I have been well. More busy than I care to admit. But, I am better now in your presence.” 

Now a blush dusted your cheeks. Sidon was always so dreamy and made you light up inside. The hand that he held now burned with the sensation of touch from your water-bound angel instead of pain from the earthen floor. Yet, that beautiful fire left as soon as the healing session was done. You looked to the weeds once more and sighed. “I was just doing some weeding of these white flowers. Unfortunately, some nettle began to grow and I didn’t see it. It is right there.” Your finger hovered over the small plant.

Sidon pinched it between two of his large fingers and pulled it out, setting it on the pile of the other weeds. “One of the benefits of scales. Are there any more of those pesky plants?” You smiled and looked for more. One by one the prince helped you weed until the flowers were free of their choking chains. “I really like these flowers. They smell and taste devine. We have the same kind in the domain, but they can’t compare to the flowers you grow here.

You chuckled. “Is that why you come here so often? For these special flowers?”

Sidon smirked. “Well, it isn’t just that. Maybe the company of a good friend makes the tea taste better. Oh! The berries we picked last week…”

You finished for him. “They are just barely still good. Quite wrinkly though.”

The prince’s mood dropped. “I’m so sorry (Y/N). I have been so busy lately and haven't had any breaks. This festival preparation has been killing me.” You looked closer at him now. There were dark circles under his eyes and his jewelry was in dire need of a good polish. “Those muffins were really the only thing that has kept me going.”

You gave him a sad smile while placing a hand on his thigh. “They are still good enough for muffins. Come on, let’s get baking.”

Sidon nodded in agreement, but not before leaning down to pick some of his favorite white flowers for the tea. The prince moved the stems of the flowers together and using the sharp part of his claw, he swiftly cut the stems. Now with a bundle in hand, he stood to follow you back to your abode.

Midnight scurried alongside you. He rubbed his body against your walking leg before running ahead. Some bug must have caught the cat’s eye as he began to pounce and bound across the yard. The eager ball of fur moved in such curious and quirky ways that you couldn’t help but laugh. Sidon joined in with jovial interest. 

“What an interesting thing. What is it called again?” Sidon’s eyes sparkled, thirsty for knowledge about this amusing creature.

“A cat. I’m surprised you have never come across one. Though, none would live in the domain, as cats hate water.” 

Sidon was taken aback at your words. “Hate water? How could any creature hate water? What does it drink?”

“It can drink water. But, it doesn't like to swim or be drenched in it. Midnight has fur that doesn't dry easily. It would probably take him a few hours to dry out.” You imagined a wet cat. The image of a scrawny and upset kitty made you snicker.

Sidon held the door open for you with his free hand. You bowed to the gentleman and entered the kitchen part of your abode. With a bit of strength, you lifted your water bucket and filled the sink for hand washing. You scrubbed off the dirt and grime before applying soap and dipping it back in the water to rinse. Sidon leaned in next to you and did the same. Suddenly, rinsing your hands took a bit longer than necessary to do. The gentle brush of his shoulder against yours made you blush. Hopefully, it went unnoticed. 

You quickly crossed the room to wipe your hands on the towel. It was just a slight brush, why are you getting so worked up? Quickly, you got out the necessary ingredients for muffins before your thoughts betrayed you even more. 

Flour, sugar, salt, eggs, butter, and berries. A simple recipe, but it has never failed you yet. The recipe was passed down from generation to generation. You thought it was a secret until you got the official recipe card. Low and behold, the back of the recipe card contained an ad from the local miller. It was a freebie for buying a fifth bag of flour! You could just hear that old woman cackling from fooling her granddaughter all these years.

Sidon pulled out the large mixing bowl from the cabinet. He took a look at the recipe and proceeded to open the flour sack. Now, one must understand the context of this situation, sacks of flour are usually cut open with a knife. A person would usually take care into cutting the sack because most people would re-use the fabric or give it back to the miller for a discount on their next purchase. However, a Zora wouldn’t know such things about the intricacies of discounts and re-use of items. Even further, they wouldn’t know about flour, as it is too damp in the domain to keep such an ingredient fresh. So, in all fairness, when the prince pulled the bag open, causing it to explode and showering the entire room in powdery white dust, he technically didn’t know any better.

Midnight scurried out the door as you wiped your eyes from the impact. Your entire body was coated in white. You looked up to see Sidon, stunned in pure horror. His eyes trailed from your body to the surrounding room. “Oh my! I….I...I’m so sorry! I made such a mess! Are you alright? Oh dear…” The prince was in a tizzy of confusion and self-targeted anger. You sneezed, causing half the flour to jump off your body and into a cloud. 

Once the initial shock was over, you registered the magnitude of what Sidon had done. The expense of the flour, the mess in your kitchen...yet… You can always get more ingredients (Y/N), you can’t take back words of anger. That crazy old woman’s words echoed in your mind. “It’s fine, really. I wasn’t expecting that, but here we are. Besides, you got enough in the bowl to make our muffins.

Through the flour on his face, you saw a blush of embarrassment. “I’m so sorry…” He stood there in shame. He didn’t know what to do next. You sighed and scooped some flour from the table. With a fistful of white, you threw it at him and chuckled. Sidon coughed and waved his arm in a futile attempt to clear the flour-cloud. 

“Come now, a little flour defeats the prince of the Zora?” You stuck out your tongue to mock him. 

Sidon grabbed a bit of flour from the counter and threw it back at you. You ducked out of the way and ran across the room. Sidon followed you until he slipped on the loose powder on the floor. His foot took out your legs, causing you to fall. Thankfully, Midnight’s chair caught you. You couldn’t say the same for Sidon though. You always imagined a situation like this, Sidon would slip and you would fall on top of him. There would be an exchange of blushes until you realized the situation you were in….However, Sidon was writing in pain while half of your body was on the plush cair and the other half dangled widely across Sidon’s legs. Not romantic in the least.

Through the pain of landing on the hard surface, he said “You know...we should clean up before either one of us gets hurt…” You nodded as you regained the ability to stand on two legs. 

With a few cloths and several buckets of water later, the kitchen was, again, ready for use.

“Alright, why don’t I open the next few ingredients?” you smiled charmingly at him. He was still a bit embarrassed and you knew he wanted to try again. Thankfully, the prince didn’t object to you handling the next few ingredients.

Sidon sat across the table and looked into the bowl. Those yellow, cat-like eyes glittered with excitement as the dough began to form. “Do you do a lot of baking? Normally, I mean.”

You nodded. “I bake my own bread. It’s cheaper and easier considering the time it takes to walk to town. I also make cookies for a certain Zora. But, my pride and joy is cakes.”

Now that word caught the prince’s attention. Anything sweet and you bet his royal highness would take an interest. “W...what kind of cake? Chocolate?” To this, you shook your head. Sidon seemed a little saddened but still curious. 

“Triple berry delight with whipped cream icing. It’s perfect for a summer party.” Sidon absentmindedly licked his lips. You took that as a sign of desire for your confectionary. Hopefully, when the second round of your book sales come in, you can buy enough sugar to make it. Or...well, you wouldn’t want to impose, but berry season is almost over. Your payment wouldn’t come in time...maybe… “Sidon, I don’t mean to bother you, but would you…” Sidon’s eyes locked on you, eager for you to complete your sentence. Suddenly you felt small. Nerves began to take hold. “Would you….would…” Now Sidon was at the edge of his seat. Maybe this was a bad idea after all… “Nevermind, I can’t ask that of you…”

Sidon blinked a few times. “No,no please continue. You know you can ask anything of me…” 

Oh the handsome prince, he could charm a snake if he used that same sugar-rolled tone. His sweet blush combined with the hand he now offered you nearly made you faint! Your hand reached his and laid atop his fingers. Sidon’s eyes were honest, but pleading. He slightly pulled your hand closer to him, a beg to continue. You gathered up the courage. “Would you be able to buy the sugar to make the cake?”

Sidon tilted his head to the side. “T...that...that’s what...N...Nevermind. Of course I would be happy to! We can make the cake the next time I come to call! B...but first w...we should get these muffins done.

The space became slightly altered after your request. You hurried along and put the muffins in the oven and the kettle above that. All the while, you were upset at yourself for asking such a thing of him. Sure he was a prince with money, but he came here to NOT be that. You treated him like another friend. You prayed to Hylia that he didn’t think of your request as buying your friendship. You turned away from the oven and sat down opposite of the prince. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I know sugar is expensive and it was selfish of me to-”

Sidon waved his hands in front of him. “No, no, no that’s not the problem at all! I just...well...I was thinking of something else. I deeply apologize to discomfort you in any way. I would be more than happy to procure some sugar for our next baking session….and...well...I will get some flour while I am at it.” That slight side smile told you all you needed to know why he added on that second item. 

You smiled at him and he returned it in equal vigor. 

The prince’s fingers began to twine around themselves as if to ask something. “(Y/N), have you finished the latest book? I...would really like to discuss it with you sometime.” A bit of a shock rushed through you. Of course, you forgot to give him back his book!

“I will go get your book now before I forget! I finished reading it this week. H...how did you like it?” You scurried to your bedroom. Now, you were out of sight and prepared to hear any criticisms he had about your writings. It was perfect. Going to get the prince’s book put you in a position to hide any shock or excitement. You were ready.

“I really enjoyed this last installment.”

The stars in the heavens aligned, birds sang in choirs, the prince...the prince enjoyed your writing. YOUR writing! Thank Hylia that he couldn’t see you at this moment because the smile on your face would have given you away. You wanted to ask what part he enjoyed most. But, you shouldn’t. You would just die from happiness! Oh, who cares? “What was your favorite part?”

This time, you came back around to see the prince’s face. You wanted all of the details of how he liked your book. “Oh, thank you. I am glad I could lend it to you. Hmmmm my favorite part...It was probably the fight between the prince and the Hinox. The thrill of it all! I could feel my heart racing with worry for the prince! But, I should know better than to doubt our smart and fearless protagonist. Gosh, I wish I could be like him.” The prince sighed and gazed at the velvet-covered book. “Oh, that scene that I accidentally read of your...fan project, it actually happened! Do you think that they will have an established relationship now? The author wasn’t really clear before the book ended.”

You blushed at that little mishap. “Well, I sure hope so. I think they would be nice together.” Sidon smiled at your response. 

The tea kettle began to whistle. Sidon went over and poured the boiling water into the two prepared cups. You couldn’t help but chuckle at the sheer amount of white flowers he placed into his tea-infuser. Anything that you seemed to grow, he enjoyed in excess. Not that you minded, no…

You enjoyed his company...

Chapter Text

There...

The last detail on it was done. The small trinket of a cat now sat in the palm of your hand. It took a lot of time, sure, but the outcome was beautiful. Small rickets and expert cuts chiseled out the feline’s angular features. Who would have thought that your small hobby of whittling would make something you were so proud of. 

And you had to be proud of this one. It was for the prince after all.

Summer’s end. It was a grand time of festivals and feasts, dancing and singing. No one worked for several days to enjoy the festivities. Not that they physically could. They were all out getting drunk and reveling in the songs played by the local bard. Truly, it was the perfect time to stay inside and finish another chapter of your book. This was a golden opportunity because no one would bother you. For a time of giving thanks for the harvest, it was rather a self-indulgent affair. They thought more about themselves than you.

Well, you could think of one exception. 

Hopefully, he would enjoy this small token of friendship. Well....when he could make it, that is. The prince’s visits have been dwindling over the past month to the point where he flat out told you he wouldn’t be able to come until the festivities were over. 

It was a slight stab in the heart. But, you understood that he had duties to fulfill. You tapped your lip and remembered last year’s harvest. Sidon nearly chugged down five pots of tea in a single session. I’ve missed this tea so much! he exclaimed. 

That memory gave you an idea. If Sidon couldn’t come here for tea, you could get the tea to him. But, there was a slight problem with this plan. The prince had one condition to your friendship. It was rather unfortunate that his one rule for you was…

I apologize if this sounds rude. But please, hear me out...I implore you to refrain from coming to the domain. I don’t wish for you to see me...as I have to be.

You understood his intentions behind it. Everyone has a separate “face” for when they work. One is never really themselves when put under pressure. And being a prince is a lot of pressure. 

So, how were you going to get this tea to him? If not for the prince, for the sake of your wallet. It took you two months to earn enough money to buy more tea leaves after his guzzling last year. Oh it was a time of herbal experiments. One pot ended up so bad you dumped it after a few sips. That memory made you chuckle.

Sidon sat across from you at the table. Both teacups now filled to the brim with the herbal concoction of...stuff from your garden. Sidon and you picked out all of the best smelling flowers and best looking herbs. Truly this was going to be a tea for the ages. You held up your cup in a toast. The prince did the same. Pressing the tea to your lips, you began to taste the brew. The bitter and revolting taste nearly made you spit out the tea. You set down the cup and covered your mouth. Looking to Sidon, he did the same.

“No” you said.

“Agreed” he replied. 

You pulled out delicate pieces of fabric from your sewing drawer. There is nothing like homemade tea bags for a cup on the go. You didn’t know exactly how busy the prince was, but having time to make a proper pot of tea didn’t seem feasible to you. A tea bag was an easy and quick way to sate his desire while being unreasonably busy. The string was next to come out of the drawer, then the needle, and finally the scissors. Oh these glorious scissors. 

You carefully began to tear a part of the paper from the rest. You didn’t need a whole lot to write a recipe on, just enough to...to write. Using the whole piece would be a waste. Prince or no, you were not about to misuse a good piece of parchment! 

 

Sidon looked at you curiously. He noted your careful movements to gently tear a bit of paper off. “(Y/N), why don’t you just cut it with scissors?” You raised an eyebrow at him. He really thought you could afford something as luxurious as scissors? The prince blinked a few times before understanding. “Don’t worry about the recipe for now. When I come back next time, you can cut out the recipe with a pair of scissors.” Before you could protest, he held up his hand. “I insist. It’s almost the new year anyway. A new year should start with a lovely pair of new scissors, no?”

You held the scissors gently against your chest. The prince was always so kind to give you things to help out in your daily life. He wasn’t the type of person to just bestow gift after gift to make you feel indebted. But rather, gives you what you needed, right when you needed it. And, of course, he knew you treasured these gifts like family heirlooms. Well, one day you are sure they will be. Even though they are meager gifts to the wealthy, they are hard to come by items for the lower class.

The scissors themselves were crafted in a beautiful Zoran design. It was silver that seemed to wave like rippling water. The two blades were sharper than any knives you owned, making cutting paper or fabric a breeze. And if they were to ever get dull, the prince offered to take them back for a quick sharpening. 

For now, they still cut the thin fabric like a hot knife through butter. You cut out a few rectangles and placed the leftover fabric back in the drawer. With the small rectangles, you folded them in half, making a square. Then, taking the string and your needle, you sewed two of the sides together, leaving one side of the square open to place the tea in. Once that step was done, you stood up to gather the dried herbs that hung along your rafters. “Those white flowers, a bit of nettle, and…” you reached over to your windowsill, “that expensive tea.” You were talking to no one in particular, as Midnight was outside hunting field mice again. But, it made you feel assured in your decisions. This blend was the prince’s favorite and you wanted to get it right.

You picked the flowers off of their dried stems. For a few tea bags, not much was needed as they would overpower the flavor of the tea. Having it as an undertone truly brought out its maximum potential. Now, as for the nettle, since it was dry it lacked its stinging properties. Though, this year, gathering it wasn’t that much of a pain since the prince so graciously helped you harvest it…

“Not to worry! My scales are thick and I don’t feel a burning sensation at all when I touch it. Please, it would be my honor to help you out in this regard. I drink that tea too. So, as a responsible Zora, I need to do my part.” The prince began picking the nettle with his bare hands. You blinked at his lack of effort before turning to your own, red hands. Nettle had thin, fine fibers that, when sunk into the skin, caused a burning then tingling sensation that would linger for days. Your hands would no doubt feel that tingle for a few days.

 

You smiled at the prince. “You truly are a kind person, Prince Sidon.”

 

That statement made the Zora blush. “I...don’t think of this as anything special. It’s normal to help out someone in need. That’s what a normal person would do, not a prince. So please...can we drop the title?”

 

You smirked at him. “Sorry Prince Sidon, I cannot.” The prince sighed and shrugged.

 

“As long as I can still come around, I don’t care what you call me, my fairy.”

 

It hasn’t been that long since you dropped his title from your lips. The prince and you have gotten closer over the past few months or so. You fiddled with the dry nettle until it crumbled. You placed those crumbs into the bags along with the dried flowers. The last step was to place the tea in the bags. You took out a small spoon from a nearby drawer, opened the tea jar, and dipped the spoon into the leaves.

What kind of tea do you give a prince! You scrambled through your cupboards as quickly as possible. Camomile? Black tea?....That’s all I have! Tears nearly covered your eyes as more and more worries filled your head. WAIT! You reached to the back of the cupboard. In the back was a red tin with gold letters. The edges of the tin were golden as well, complementing the overall fancy design. This was a special tea that was given to you in exchange for some work on a merchant’s sign. The tea was so expensive that you only had it once, maybe twice since receiving it. It hasn't been that long...so you hoped it was still good by royal standards.

 

You quickly shoved everything back into the cupboards before opening the front door. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I was cleaning.” 

 

Prince Sidon’s eyes were full of worry. “Are you sure hosting me isn’t causing you too much stress? That was some....exuberant tidying I happened to overhear upon my wait.”

 

 

Little did you know that one pot of tea would have him coming back for more. Well, your purse soon knew it very well. Unfortunately for you, that’s what you provided him for weeks after. And when that ran out, you went back to the merchant to buy some more. Maybe that was the rich man’s scheme all along. Giving you expensive tea for such little work...you always doubted the man’s honesty. 

Once the tea leaves were nestled in their bags, you took the string once more and sewed up the remaining side. At last, six Zora-sized tea bags sat on your dinner table. One for each of the five days of the harvest. Plus, one to test for yourself. To make sure they are alright, of course. 

You filled your normal sized kettle with water and placed it on top of the oven. With the sudden nip in the air, you found that the fire needed to be kept on a low flame to keep the house at a reasonable temperature. With a few more logs placed into the bottom of the oven, it wouldn’t take long for the kettle to whistle. 

In the meantime, you got out your quill, ink and one piece of that darling white paper. You noted the teabags on the table and quickly moved them to a shelf….just in case you spilled ink as you tended to do. This was evidenced by the stains already on the table. Regardless, you returned to the table, opened the inkwell, and began to write.

Dear Sidon,

I hope this parcel finds you safely. I have been thinking about our regular visits with tea and decided to give you something to hold you over till our next meeting. This is your favorite blend of tea in little pouches. Each pouch can be dropped in a cup of hot water to give you a cup of tea while you are busy. 

All the best with your work,

(Y/N)

You set the note out to dry while your kettle called you to it. You took one of the teabags and placed it in a pot. The boiling water was then poured into the pot from the kettle. Brown began to seep from the bag as the flowers bloomed within and the leaves unraveled. The smell was calming and relaxing.

While the tea was brewing, you returned to your work. You located a small box and some light fabric. You placed the fabric on the table and gathered the teabags in it. With a quick tie and a plop, they were now snuggled in the box. 

A sigh escaped your lips upon seeing the wooden cat on the table. “I forgot to write about it in my letter…” You quickly placed the box in a safe, non spilling area before going back over to your now-dried letter. You turned it over.

P.S. - I also made this cat for you as a harvest token. May your fields be free from mice for the coming seasons. Also, now you have a cat in the domain! (This one is ok with water)

The tea was done brewing, so you poured yourself a cup and stood by the window. The trees began to turn their colors from green to that of a sunset. You took a sip of tea and hummed at the taste. “Delicious…”

A certain plop caught your attention at your feet. Midnight looked up at you with his golden eyes and sat proudly above an unmoving mouse. Your face turned to sheer disgust.

This was one unwelcome harvest present.

~~~~

About two days into the festivities you heard a knock on your door. Your eyes turned up from your paper. “What in the…” You stood up and walked towards the door. “Everyone is supposed to be drunk out of their mind. Don’t tell me it’s some idiot too boozed up to think this is their house.”

You opened the door to see a tall blue and white Zora. He was, for all it was worth, a rather good looking Zora. He nodded graciously and drew your attention to a note. “Are you Miss (Y/N)?” You nodded, absentmindedly. The man smiled and continued.  “I have a message that is in your name, my lady. It is from his royal highness, Prince Sidon of the Zora.” He held out the paper that was sealed with red wax and embossed with the signature of the Zora, three crescent moons. The Zora bowed and walked back towards the river. You watched him dive into the water.

Once the ripples dissipated, you realized what you held in your hand. You shut the door and pressed your back against it. Your heart beat a mile a minute. It was something from him . A written letter from him . Slowly, cautiously, you opened it while trying to keep the parchment as intact as possible.

My dearest (Y/N),

 

You are a sweet fairy that has descended upon the land of mortals. When I was certain I could not go on any longer, your box of wonders reached my desk. Inside it was the richest of treasures that even faraway kings covet. Each sachet was filled with Hylia’s sweet gift of life. 

No words can truly express the gratitude I hold in my heart. I so desperately wish I could tell you these poems of happiness in person. However, I must keep to the stone-set words of the quill. 

I hope these words reach you as candidly as possible. My fairy, this act of generosity has lit my heart aflame with an urge to see you again. As much as these little doors you sent me take my dreams to your house, my body cannot follow. Once the festivities are all said and done, I will once again grace your doorstep in hopes of sharing not only a cup of tea, but jubilant conversation with a trusted friend.

 

Thank you again my sweet fairy.

Your most eccentric friend,

Sidon

You smiled at the letter you held. A slight blush came to your cheeks. So, he missed you too. Hopefully, these next few days can fly by, because you just couldn’t wait to see him again.

Chapter Text

“So, Hylians just sit here....until the fish eats the worm...and then they pull it to shore? Am I perceiving this correctly?” Sidon tilted his head in confusion. His eyes looked at your fishing pole with curiosity and mild annoyance. “No wonder our Zora fisherfolk sell their catch to the people of Hyrule. This way is…” He trailed off his sentence, surely to avoid any offensive comment.

You shrugged at him and laid back in the chair you brought outside. “It’s not just about the fish, it’s about relaxing out in nature. Plus, it’s free food.” Ah, your ever growing quest to get a free meal. With the harvest festival now over, the prince resumed his visits at their usual occurrences. Unfortunately, your gifted teabags did little to prevent Sidon’s annual chug-fest this first visit back. All that tea must come from somewhere...and had to be paid for by somebody...yah...you were broke.

The prince leaned back on his hands and kicked the water a few times. “Sidon, you are going to scare the fish away!”

A blush ran across his cheeks as he pulled his legs from the water. “I just don’t know how you can’t be bored when all we are doing is sitting.”

“That’s the point, silly. Isn’t it nice to be bored sometimes?” You smiled up at the Zora. Even when sitting and leaning back, he was still taller than you. With an exhale, Sidon laid completely flat on the dock. His eyes turned upwards to the sky. 

“I’d much rather watch the clouds go by in this open sky. With the cliffs around the domain, the clouds never change their shapes in time before they hide behind the rocks on the other side. Here...here is different.” Sidon sighed again and frowned. There was a mist that formed behind his eyes. The Zora was physically there, but mentally not.

The festival must have taken a toll on him. If you really looked at him. Really looked at him. You saw the purple bruises under his eyes from lack of sleep. His scales lost a certain gloss and luster that they usually had. The poor thing. Maybe being bored isn’t what he needed right now. You began to reel in your line. “Hey, Sidon. I’m not really feeling the whole ‘fishing’ thing right now. Would you be able to catch us some fish so that I can make a dish for dinner tonight? If you can stay for that long…”

The Zora sat upright and smiled. “Of course! Let me show you the Zora way of fishing.” The prince dove into the water, not even making a splash. You watched a red form zip about the river. Left, right, left, around, right...he was so fast! Then, the prince breached the water with arms full of Hearty Bass and Trout. “Efficiency!” he exclaimed. 

You couldn’t help but chuckle at the prince’s pride. The fish began to wiggle and tried to get out of his arms. Apparently, one slipped away and soon the rest began to jump into the air as well. It was a fish firework! Sidon stood there rather bewildered as the fish swam away. “Oh dear...well, it was efficient.”

You chuckled again and waved to get his attention. “How about you throw them here one by one? I can put them in the fish bucket.” Sidon’s eyes followed the point of your finger to the wooden bucket beside the chair. He nodded and dove back under the river’s surface. 

Suddenly, a fish shot straight out of the water and towards you. You screamed as the fish hit the ground beside you and began to wiggle. Another fish soon followed. You grabbed at the slimy and wiggly fishies until you caught hold to throw them in the bucket. In the nick of time too, for a third fish shot from the water. You grabbed the bucket and held it where the fish was to fall. Carefully...here it comes...plop! It went straight into the bucket. Two fish jetted out of the river in rapid succession. Unfortunately for you, they fell in different places. Running to the right, you caught the fish, then doubling back to run in the other direction. A burning began to start in your lungs. Another fish plopped in the bucket. 

“Sidon!”

The prince’s head popped out of the stream. “Oh, do we have enough? Are you alright?” He was referencing your gasping and laying on the ground. Maybe you should take up an athletic sport instead of writing. The amazing fish catcher would be a great one-woman show...right?

“I’m fine...Just...winded by all this efficiency.” You held up your fist in the air with your thumb extended. Thumbs up!  Sidon laughed deeply before coming ashore. 

“Wow, we did catch a lot.” The prince bent over to look in the bucket.

...

Oh Hylia why were you on the ground? Was it for this moment? Were you born just to bear witness to this? From this angle, you could see up under his fins! My oh my did he have a nice buttox. The goddess must have carved it out herself. It was beautifully shaped and oh so nice to look at. 

Hands pushed fins forward, hiding the glorious view. Your eyes looked further up to see Sidon frowning. “Pervert” he stated blandly.

Your face turned ruby red. The whole world crumbled beneath your body. Oh goddess why! Why did you stare at that beautiful view for too long!

Sidon burst out in jovial laughter. Those cries for joy soon caused a pain in his stomach that he couldn’t stop. He eventually knelt down and held his belly until the initial wave of hysterics passed. “I’m only teasing, (Y/N). I did not...hahaha...mean to cause you strife. But I hope you can understand why I would like to have people refrain from looking up my fins.” The prince then stood up and sensually he brushed his tail over his shoulder as his other hand trailed up his leg. After a few flicks of his tail, he sensually bent back down to pick up the bucket of fish. 

This time you weren’t even looking at his butt. You were looking at him and the snide smirk he was giving you. “Come on (Y/N), let’s go make that dish you were talking about. You can’t just have me for dinner my perverted little fairy!”

Now the redness in your face was from slight anger and shame instead of embarrassment. “That’s not going to be your new nickname for me!” You stood up and ran after him. The blue of the Silent Princess flowers made Sidon look like he was wading through water. He turned around and smiled. The ocean caused your steps to slow, as tripping was certainly a hazard. But, you appreciated it because Sidon looked so ethereal in this moment. That sadness, the exhaustion...it all disappeared from his eyes. 

You walked up to him and looked up. Nothing came from your mouth and nothing came from his. The smile he gave you was gentle, caring. Even if the moment back there was embarrassing, he played it off as to not shame you. Sidon really is such a good gu-

“Pervert” he teased.

You pouted. You glared. Your emotions got the better of you as you punched the prince right in the stomach. However, it didn’t go the way you wanted it to. The pain in your hand caused you to yell and jump up and down. Waving and running around turned the front lawn into a tornado of blue. All the while Sidon laughed and watched you turn into a crazy person. 

Once the pain was tolerable, you looked back at the prince through your tears. “Meanie…” Sidon now looked at you in amused pity. He got on his knees and offered you his hand. A simple gesture to ask if you wanted to be healed, but also as a truce. You took his hand with your injured one. The pain was immediately taken away by the soft green glow that Sidon seemed to wrap around your wound. You sighed at his kindness despite everything. This guy really is everyone’s dream. “I’m sorry” you started. “I didn’t mean to stare and make you uncomfortable. You come here to get away from all that kind of attention and I only added to it. I hope you will forgive me.”

Sidon rubbed the top of your hand with his other one. “I forgive you, my fairy. Though I think you have it all wrong. I quite like the attention.”

You pouted at him. “Pervert” you stated. 

Sidon smiled at that, then feigned shock. “My lady! Such vile words. Surely you don’t accuse me of being a lewd gentleman?”

You stood up and walked past him. “I’m going to get dinner ready your lewdness.” Hearing a faint “Hey!” made your mouth tick up in a smile.

~~~~~

Once the fish was in the oven and the tea poured, you sat down at the table with Sidon. The Zora was certainly enjoying today’s cup of tea, evidenced by the tail that was slightly wagging in happiness. His golden eyes met yours. “So, how were your festivities at this year’s harvest party? Did you go with a...certain someone?” 

You shook your head. “No, I was here the whole time. I don’t care much for crowds and wanted to catch up on my writing.”

“Writing?” Sidon leaned his head on his hand...in anticipation.

Blood chilled throughout your veins. Time stopped in its cycle of night and day. “D...did I say writing?” you fumbled.

“Yes you most certainly did. Is it more of those poems to the mystery man I have yet to meet but apparently I may or may not know?” He gave you a curious gaze that was sprinkled with amusement. 

You pouted at what he was getting at. “The only person to whom I have been writing was you. It’s just...what I meant by my writing was…poems. Yes, ever since our poetry contest I have been reading and practicing!” This wasn’t a complete lie. Any writer worth their salt does some sort of research. With the prince’s return of affections coming up later in your next book, you wanted to have him return those feelings in the most romantic way possible. A poem, you thought, would be the perfect romantic reply.

This seemed to intrigue the prince as he tilted his head the other way. His lips pressed together in a thin line and brought his finger to it, a simple thinking position. “If I remember correctly, we never did declare a winner.”

You sighed and rolled your eyes. “Yours was obviously the better of the two. You’ve had years of education, right?” You looked into your cup of tea. Your own eyes greeted you as well as a blush of incompetence. The tea began to feel a bit warmer when brought to your lips. 

Sidon took another sip of his tea before replying. “I rather liked your poem. I’ve...kept the second copy of it...actually. It’s on the right side of my desk and I read it sometimes when I feel overwhelmed from my duties.” The prince’s finger traced the rim of his cup. His eyes couldn’t find your own as the tea took their interest instead. Was the prince acting...shy?

You smiled at him. “Alright, fine...I can write you another poem.” Eyes locked with yours as the prince grinned from fin to fin. You stood and went to go get your ink, quill, and paper from your room. Upon return, Midnight looked up from his newly claimed snuggle spot, Sidon’s lap. The Zora was gently running the back of his claws from the top of the cat’s head to about the mid-back. The sounds of purring echoed throughout the room. “Two of my favorite princes.”

This earned a chuckle from the Zora. “Prince Midnight went from dethroning me to making me his new throne. I rather miss my comfy chair in the corner.”

You sat down and got the supplies ready. Tapping the feather on your lips, you began to think.

“Wood does not satisfy his royal soul,

Neither gold nor bronze,

A seat of red, 

not velvet,

But of water’s own child.”

You placed your quill down and looked at the smiling prince. Sidon’s eyes scanned the parchment before looking back up. “You have been reading more poems. Quite abstract, but not too much as to lose the meaning. I’m curious, what kind of sentence structure are you using?” The look of confusion and silence was all that the prince needed to understand. “Nevermind. It’s lovely. May I take it with me so that I can gaze at it in my spare time?”

You shrugged. “I don’t know why you kept the first one. I don’t have the prettiest handwriting anyway.”

Sidon shook his head. “It is the words that lift my spirits. Besides, I think your penmanship adds to the overall character of this piece. Maybe once I collect enough poems from you, I can publish a book. I, for one, think you would make a splendid author.”

You had to keep your face under control at his last comment. Oh I know I’m a splendid author… Sidon resumed his petting of the other prince. Midnight snuggled into the Zora’s lap, purring away. He’s so gentle… “Have you ever had a pet, Sidon?”

The prince sighed and gave you a sad smile. “No, I unfortunately was not allowed to have one. It was just as well because I never had much leisure time anyway. Lectures, weaponry, royal hearings...ever since I was young I was never allowed much outside of those. Makes for a rather lonely upbringing. You….” The prince looked up with misty eyes. He held your gaze for a brief moment before looking back down to his lap. “Never mind, I shouldn’t say much more about that.”

You were about to ask him to continue when the rattling of the timer caught your attention. The fish were ready to be turned in the oven. You got out of your seat and opened the oven door. Gathering the oven gloves, you safely moved the fish outside of the oven and on top of it. With an old metal turner, you flipped the fish onto their opposite side before returning the whole tray back into the oven. “They are looking good so far” you commented. “How are you on the tea? Should I brew another pot?”

The prince held up his cup. “Yes please~” he sang. Goddess you would have to go buy that expensive tea soon. This guy could drink a whole lake of it if available. Nevertheless, you had to giggle at Sidon’s eager demeanor for more tea. He always turned into a child when it came to your brews. A small warmth glowed inside your heart. The prince came here to let go of all those pesky responsibilities. You were glad to help him and in return, you get company. 

You scooped the tea leaves and a couple other herbs in the mesh steeper. A small blush came to your face upon looking at the large and heavy kettle. “Sidon...would you…” The prince nearly shot out of his seat, much to Midnight’s displeasure. The poor cat was practically launched into the air. 

Sidon looked down at the huffy fluffy kitty in pity. “Apologies Midnight…” He then walked normally over to you and poured water from the large, Zora-sized kettle into the teapot. Once full, he placed it back onto the warm part of the stove to keep the water just below boiling in case there was a need for more tea. By the look of the prince, it might be called for. Not only was he downing tea like it’s the new beer at the festival, the poor thing looked like he was going to fall asleep standing up!

Oh, he must be drinking all that tea to stay awake…

You looked at the oven and noted that it still was a good half hour before it was ready. Turning to your room, you realized that you still had that Zora-sized blanket Sidon kept around for the cold months. Turning back to the prince who now had his eyes closed, you placed a gentle hand on his arm. The prince’s eyes slowly opened back up, but only by half. “Sidon, why don’t you go take a nap until dinner is ready. You are about to fall over.”

Sidon rubbed his eyes. “I couldn’t. I wouldn’t want to trouble you. We haven't seen each other in weeks and I would hate to see our time together be wasted.” 

You rubbed a soothing circle on his arm once more. “I would prefer you to take a rest. Please, Sidon...for me?” Something in your words changed how he stood. The prince nodded to your pleas. Trailing your hand down his arm, you caressed his hand and tugged it towards the chair. Thankfully, Midnight didn’t claim it quite yet. Sidon sat down and lounged back. You retrieved the blanket, with much effort, and handed it to him. The prince placed it over his body, closed his eyes, and drifted off in the span of a minute. The gentle rise and fall of his chest was mesmerizing to watch. The plush blanket looked so inviting. You were quite surprised that Midnight didn’t make himself at home there. Truth be told, you were half tempted to take that spot for yourself.

To nap of course...

In the meantime till dinner, you decided to do some reading. Picking the green book off one of your many shelves, you realized that it has been quite a while since doing some leisure reading. Writing took up so much time. New ideas had to be thought of and communication with editors only added to the workload. Despite all that, the end result was always worth it. Especially since a certain Zora prince was completely in love with your work. 

You opened the dusty cover of one of your favorite books, Adventures and Travel Tips to Central Hyrule. The book was written pre-calamity, so there were descriptions and details about the city that was now destroyed. It always gave you such wonder to read about the lives, culture, and art of the Hyrule people before all of them scattered. Most of the style of living was unfortunately destroyed in the process. What you would give to see those royal gowns and silken skirts the book so vividly talked about. What you would give to wear one! Maybe that would be a good point for the next entry, the farmgirl dresses like a court lady to get the attention of the prince, only to be told that he liked her for who she is...dust and all.

You looked at Sidon’s sleeping face. His cheek was smashed against one side of the chair and his mouth was wide open to show off his sharp teeth. Quietly, you chuckled. This wasn’t attractive at all. Granted, if you worked to death for a festival, you too wouldn’t worry about how you were sleeping. A smile ran across your face. It was nice that he could let his guard down so much around you. 

Now, back to reading...

Yet, a small knock on the door prevented the resuming of your book. You looked to the prince who didn’t stir from his slumber. Quietly you crossed the floor of the kitchen to the door. Opening just a crack, in case it was thieves, you made out the form before you as a Zora. The tall Zora’s was hard to recognize because of the midnight black of his scales. However, the only person, well only Zora that would come to your home other than the prince, was his captain.

“Good evening Miss (Y/N). Is our prince with you?” The firelight flickered on his eyes, making them twinkle like stars. His smile was gentle, but respectful. The captain of the royal guard knew that Hylians naturally feared Zora, so he made an effort to look as charming as possible. The quickness of beats in your chest gave you away to this fact. 

“Y...yah. He’s sleeping though...Come in, come in. I’m sure there will be more than enough fish for dinner, if you would like to join us. It’s grilled fish...so...nothing special...but...well, if you would like to...I would be honored.” Half of your embarrassment was from the Zora’s charm. The other was the hope that if he stayed for dinner, Sidon could stay longer. Captain Bazz’s arrival usually meant Prince Sidon’s departure. 

Bazz nodded and stepped into your small house. He looked about and then laid eyes on the prince. “Looking quite uncouth, aren't you Si?” The Zora then turned his head to you. “The fish smells delicious. I would be begging to have some if you hadn’t invited me.” 

You suddenly remembered your hostess duties. “Oh! Would you like some tea? I just brewed a pot. But, you will have to serve yourself as it is quite heavy...sorry.” Bazz shook his head and helped himself to a cup. Once poured, he sat down and eyed the book that lay unattended on the table. Noticing his gaze, you held it up and explained its contents. 

When the captain finished his sip, he placed it on the table and brought his finger and thumb to his chin. “Before the Calamity...I barely remember it. My father once took me to Castle Town, but I was a rather young Zora.” He closed his eyes and hummed. “I can’t think of any details that would not be in that book...Sorry, I must be rambling. How have you been? Sidon’s not bothering you too much is he?”

You shook your head. “No, not at all! I have missed his company as of late. Even with Midnight it gets lonely here. How have you been?”

Bazz let out a half hearted laugh. “Just as tired as our prince, I’m afraid. The harvest festival was a huge success. But with so many people coming into the Domain, we have to double or triple our usual patrol. Monsters aren't the only creatures with bad intentions. So that’s where I have spent most of my energy. Sidon on the other hand was delegating and making sure the preparations and activities were handled smoothly. That...parcel...the one that you sent, you should have seen how happy and giddy he was upon receiving it. It really helped him out. So, thank you.”

A small blush came to your cheeks. That small glow of pride burned in your heart and bubbled inside you. “I was just happy to help.” Goodness, you didn’t realize he loved your package that much. His letter conveyed his feelings, but hearing it from someone else...it was a different feeling. 

The timer rang, alerting you. You quickly shut off the timer so as to not wake Sidon. But, as you were setting the fish on the table, you realized that Bazz was waking Sidon up anyway. “Come on, Si. The lovely lady has made us some dinner. We wouldn’t like it to go cold, would we?” Sidon’s eyes cracked open, only to close once more. The captain placed his hand on his hip and sighed. He turned around and looked at you. “I don’t think we can move him any time soon. Truth be told, that’s why I came here so early. But….it looks like I got here too late. Would you mind if he stayed here tonight?”

Your cheeks glowed in embarrassment. Sidon was going to sleep here for the night? You didn’t mind hosting him for tea, but this...how scandalous, how improper, how much material will you gather for your next book? “That would be fine. I...I wouldn’t mind.” 

Bazz chuckled at your flushed cheeks. “Excellent. Now, would you indulge me in these delicious delicacies you cooked?” The captain eyed the food and licked his lips. You hurried and took Sidon’s special plate off of one shelf and a regular size plate off of another. Handing the Zora-sized dish to him, your fingers briefly touched. The slight racing of your heart had you snatch your fingers away as if they burned. You swallowed and quickly filled your plate and began eating. Bazz chuckled and took his first bites as well. “Excellent. Absolutely delicious Miss (Y/N).”

You smiled at his compliment and blushed all the same. Noooo you like Sidon. Even though Bazz is charming and you have a greater chance to be together forever, you are still on team Sidon. Go team Sidon go! You looked back up to the happy Zora. Bazz smiled at you as he chewed away. Is this a date? This cannot be a date. Why does it feel like a date?

Bazz dabbed his lips with a napkin. “So, when our prince is not occupying your time, what do you do?”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This is a date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“I...I...well...I...cook and clean and...do...laundry?” Your fingers began to twiddle on themselves. Sidon never got personal until weeks after your first meeting. How bold of Bazz… “As for a job, I am an herbalist and freelance writer.”

The captain leaned back in his chair. “Oh, how interesting. What kind of work does a freelance writer do? Poems to our beloved prince? Or, is there someone else you give your words of affections to?” The blush nearly set your whole face aflame in embarrassment. What is it with Zora men wanting to know who your affections belong to? “I’m just teasing Miss (Y/N). I do apologize for flustering my host. You see...Zora may blush, but Hylians are much more adorable when their entire faces turn red. 

You pouted at Bazz. “And here I thought my fish was just warm…”

Bazz laughed and hit the table a few times. Tears flowed out of his eyes as his laughter got the best of him. “You...you...you are a funny one. Oh Hylia, I should stop by more often. I do enjoy conversation with you. Really, I mean that.”

You smiled warmly at the jovial-acting captain. “If I have enough tea, you are more than welcome.”

“Bazz, what are you doing here?” Sidon’s voice was groggy and weak. His eyes were unfocused and searching for something to ground them to.

Captain Bazz lobbed his head to one side. “I am just asking for her hand in marriage.” A tinge of fear crossed the prince’s face. “I’m kidding,” Bazz said quickly. “I was hoping to grab you before you fell asleep so that you could sleep in your own bed tonight instead of here or in some field. But, (Y/N) has been gracious enough to allow you to stay here for the night. And even more gracious as to allow me to dine with her. I must say, she is an excellent cook.”

You grabbed another plate and filled it up with fish. You then crossed the room and held out the plate for the prince to take. He smiled and placed the plate in his lap. In the smallest of whispers, he said, “Bazz is quite flirty. He didn’t try anything, did he?”

Oh, he’s one to talk!

“Nothing I am incapable of handling” you volleyed back to him. “Go ahead and eat.” Sidon smiled up at you and placed a fish in his mouth. The tail hung out and made the prince look like Midnight after he caught a fish. It was a cute, innocent look that made your heart skip a beat. By the end of the night, you worried for the state your poor heart would be in. 

Turning back to your other guest, a small chuckle escaped from your lips. Bazz had his eyes closed, his face leaning against one of his arms. “Oh dear…” you whispered. Apparently, this whole festival must have been quite the rowdy affair. To put both Zora men in such a state… “I am going to host all of Zora’s Domain at this rate.” Looking back to the prince, he was fast asleep once more after eating only half of his meal. You took his plate from his lap and placed the uneaten fish on the warmer to begin drying. Afterwards, you did the same with Bazz’s portion before nudging him to a twilight state, one between sleep and wakefulness. “Why don’t you spend the night too? You look exhausted.” A gentle nod was his answer. Taking him by the hand, you lead him to your room and into the Hylian-sized bed. Though, he bent his legs to accommodate the lack of length.

Now there were two Zora tucked in for the night.

You blew out some of the candles before arranging your makeshift bed on the window sill. A window seat like this one was a writer’s staple. On rainy days, it was so serene to sit and watch the droplets race down the glass. But for now, it was a comfy second bed. Midnight joined you before you blew out the last candle to bid the light away.

Chapter Text

Sidon took your right hand and placed it against his heart. The beat underneath your fingers hammered away with thunderous fervor. Golden eyes sparkled down at your own. “Lady (Y/N), please, marry me.” Before you could answer, your other hand was caught by the prince’s captain. “Don’t listen to him, I am the one asking for your hand in marriage. Please, run away with me.” Bazz placed a small kiss upon your left cheek, to which Sidon mirrored on the other. 

“Marry me (Y/N)”

“Be mine”

“Together forever”

“My sweet, Hylian princess…”

“My darling, Hylian love…”

“(Y/N)...(Y/N)...”

A tinge of wakefulness opened your eyes to see a blur. When it faded, Sidon and Bazz looked at you with smiles. Sidon tucked a stray lock of hair behind your pointed ear. “We just wanted to say thank you for hosting us last night. We must be off now, my fairy. I hope to see you again soon.” Even though his words seemed so far away, you nodded. Closing your eyes once more, a dreamy cloud wrapped itself around you like a hug. The gentle pressure lulled you back to sleep, just for a few hours more.

The next time your eyes opened, you were in a different place than where you fell asleep at. Your bed welcomed your body by holding it tight. Books and papers were splayed on your desk and trickled onto the floor in an organized mess. You were in your room. Yet, the window sill was where you laid your head last night. 

A slight blush made your face hot. A gentle memory of being held and the Zora saying goodbye. Sidon must have carried you to bed. More blood rushed to your cheeks as thoughts and dreams of Sidon holding you, cradling you in his arms came to the forefront of your mind. He...he didn’t hold anything inappropriate? Right?

A dream flashed of him leaning over you in bed, lips hovering above your own. Sidon wanted to kiss you, but hesitated as your first kiss should be somewhere more romantic. Yet, his heart pleaded with him to descend and...and!!!

Midnight hopped onto the bed beside you, greeting with a small meow. You blinked away the luscious daydream to focus on the feline in front of you. “Oh, you must be hungry.” Flipping up the covers, you swung your legs to the edge of the bed and stepped out of it. Raising your hands, you stretched all the muscles that tensed up during the night. You then put on your slippers and walked out into the common room to feed Midnight. He trilled with delight as those bits of kibble were dropped into his bowl. “So easily amused,” you commented.

Something caught your eye. On the table was a tri-folded sheet of paper. You walked over to it and opened the note.

“My dearest fairy,

 

Thank you for entertaining my captain and I last night. Though I wished for our time together to be spent talking over tea, it became what the common people call a “slumber party.” I have read about it in some Hylian books, but to experience one for myself was particularly joyful. Though it was void of “pillow fights” and “talking about boys”, I enjoyed my time to the fullest. 

 

What kind of books is he reading? You thought to yourself.

I do hope my captain did not disturb you last night. As I said, he is quite flirty and a bit crude. Please report anything that made you uncomfortable to me. I would hate to see you avoid our tea time because of his bad behavior. 

 

In any case, thank you so much for last night. I really needed a night of rest and reprise. You should do the same today as I can imagine hosting two Zoras last night would have taken its toll on you.

 

Your dearest friend,

Sidon

 

P.S. You are quite adorable when you sleep.

That rose color came back to your cheeks upon seeing that last line. Was he watching me? How embarrassing! You covered your face and swayed back and forth. It was so improper for a man to see an unmarried lady asleep. Let alone sleep in the same area for a night without being wed!

An image of you in a wedding dress with Sidon holding you had you nearly fainting.

“What is wrong with me!” you shouted. This little crush of yours has turned into a full blown infatuation! Maybe crushing after Captain Bazz would be the better option...at least it would give your heart a bit of a break from this marathon of cute moments with the prince. 

A knock on the door drew you away from your thoughts. Confused, but polite, you opened it a crack. “H...hello?” 

Your editor -Sevia- stared back at you, very unamused. “It’s past noon and you are still in your night attire? Gosh you….nevermind. I came to discuss the meeting I had with the publisher and to go over a few notes for your final book in the series.” She let herself in and threw her papers on the table, checking over one before sitting down.

You shook your head and scampered over. “What do you mean by the final book? I planned for at least three or four more volumes. I-”

“(Y/N), face it, you have a few dedicated readers. However, sales are in decline from your series. People don’t want to jump into a long story like they used to. With less sales, the publisher wants to stop printing altogether. This would include your early novels that readers would need to understand your most recent ones.”

A flush of disappointment, embarrassment, anger, and sadness all bubbled inside you. “Sevia, am I really that bad of an author?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “No, but being an armature shows. I think it is time to move on to another series. I heard there is a huge demand for adult novels. Why don’t you try to write one of those?”

A rush of red came to your face. “W...w...what do you mean by….adult novels?” If someone were to pass by right now, they would probably assume there was a mouse in your house by how high your voice was getting. The fear of your editor’s answer was real.

“Oh, it is just a regular novel but with @#$## and $%@#$ and a little sprinkle of &@#$@.” 

You were about to faint. How could you write about that kind of stuff when your heart was already awry with the prince? Besides, what kind of world building could you do when your main character would be so….lewd.

Your editor tapped her pen to her lips a couple of times. (A pen...fancy lady…) She then wrote down a few notes, separated some papers, and handed them to you. “Here is a rough draft of an author who quit. Why don’t you take their idea and build off of it? It will give you some inspiration and direction to what the publishing house is looking for.” She then handed you a small bag. “And here is your pay for this month’s sales.”

The bag was small...so incredibly small.

“Now, I have more authors to go to so get writing and I will be back in a week to see what you come up with. I will tell you now, as a favor, don’t bother writing any more of your series. I know you had some loose ends, but the publishing house will never approve it. You can feel why in your pay there. Good luck and see you in a week.” She zoomed out of the house as quickly as she came.

You looked at the tiny sack with teary eyes. Slowly, you opened it. “50 rupees...are you serious?” Tears flowed down your cheeks as you held the small amount to your heart. You knew this would happen eventually. You declined book tours and signings, talks and interviews. How could someone hear about a book when the author does nothing to promote it? It was all to keep your privacy, of course. Even in the industry, there are only two people who know your true identity. Your editor and your publishing manager.

But now, was it worth it?

Setting down the payment, you instead picked up the rough draft. You began to read while walking to 'Sidon's chair', which you crashed in. What was so interesting about these romance novels compared to your adventure-romance ones?

The sexy butler held out a scone for his mistress. “Madam, would you like me to...butter that scone?”

 

The lady blushed. “Oh my, I don’t know if I should allow such a thing. But, since you offered…”

Your eyes skimmed over the next few lines. Hot did your face become after a minute. Hotter still when a simple kiss turned into something more. “What are they?...How does that make any sense? What….what is happening? This is the first chapter, right?” You flipped to the next chapter.

The butler poured his mistress some tea. “Madam, would you like me to...put some sugar in your tea?”

 

The lady blushed. “Oh my, I don’t know if I should allow such a thing. But, since you offered…”

You slammed the papers on the table, scaring Midnight. “I need a walk!” You burst through the front door and into your blue flower field. “Honestly, no character development, no payoff. Just get rid of any plot, why don’t ya?” The Silent Princess flowers clung to your pants in a desperate attempt to slow you down, bring you back to reality. “Lewd, vile trash that has no place being on the “best sellers” list. Honestly, the taste level of some people.” You came to the edge of your property where the herbs grew. You grabbed a fistful of white flowers before returning from where you came. “I need something to calm me. Tea will be an excellent way to relax. Yes. I just need to have some time to think clearly and to reexamine things.” 

You reentered your house and began boiling the water. The fire had died so more logs needed to be put in before the water could even think of boiling. You chucked those pieces of wood so hard into the oven that the pang reverberated throughout the house. Once that was done, you stood in front of the kettle and waited in silence. Thoughts swam through your mind, but none stuck that were of note. Everything felt so numb. “Long series, huh?” It was true that you put in a lot of time and effort into world building and character development. But, maybe it was time for a change. You looked back at the papers on the table before returning your eyes to the kettle. “I’m not writing that.” Taking a deep breath, you held it before exhaling it with a mantra. 

“You have options.”

Nothing is ever set in stone when it comes to opportunities of life. True, it might suck for a while and isn’t what you wanted. But, you have options if this “adult nove...book-thing” doesn't work out. “Too long of a series...hmmmm.” The wheels of your mind began to turn. The last time you published a self contained book was to score a publishing deal. Well, it was about half a book to get the publishing house interested in you. Soon after they assigned you Sevia and your series began. Oh those days were great. Big, fat paychecks that helped you to buy this cottage and furniture. Being such a hit on your first try felt good. Maybe that’s what has been holding you back. Fear of trying anything new.

“Ok...I’ll write a single self-contained novel.”

Of course, everything was easier said than done. You walked around the edge of your garden, looking for some sort of inspiration. Once again the Silent Princess flowers caressed your boots to bring your attention to them. You looked down at these blue weeds. It was as if they were trying to console your very heart. 

A loud “meow” caused you to whip your head around. Midnight got tangled up in the flowers again. He kicked and chewed at the flowers before you got to him. “Good thing these things aren't poisonous. Hang on, let me rescue my dear furry prince.” As your fingers worked to untangle the problem in front of you, so did your mind with the problem of your book.

Once free, Midnight scampered away in chase of a bird he saw. “A trapped prince…” 

“Being a prince, not everything is as joyous as it seems. To be honest, I feel trapped most of the time. That’s why I like coming here and spending time with you. It takes me away from everything.”

You could base it off of your tea times with Sidon. However, that would be too on-the-nose and he would most likely put together the pieces. But trapped...yes, you could use this. “A trapped prince...rescued? Rescued by...his lover! Oh, that’s it!”

The Silent Princess flowers all seemed to move away as the huge wagon of ideas charged through. “A prince, in a tower. A girl, determined to rescue him. That’s it!” The paper could not have been further away as the ideas began to flow out of you like a river. Ink splattered over the paper, but you didn’t care. Notes upon notes were written down about how the story was going to go, what time, and the main characters’ personalities. When one paper was full, you pulled another one from the stack. Bless Sidon with this gift of parchment. 

~~~

Long after your hand began cramping, did you stop. At least sixteen sheets of paper were on the floor drying. You haven't had this much inspiration since...well, the beginning of your first series. A happy sigh escaped from your lips. “That’s a fine day’s work” you said to yourself. Gently, you massaged your hand to relieve the pain. 

Still, Midnight would surely make a mess of it once he comes back inside. You stacked the dry papers and placed them on your writing desk in your room. A feeling of satisfaction washed over you as you gazed upon the stack of notes. When the inspiration hits, it hits hard. Thankfully, your day was free. 

Now with the sun beginning to set, you waltzed into your kitchen to prepare some dinner. You looked at the dried fish and nodded. Yes, you needed some vegetables to go with it. Just something simple, as the burst of inspiration wore you out. You grabbed a sweet potato that was on top of the counter and placed it in a pot of water on the stove. Dried fish and a boiled sweet potato, a simple yet filling meal. Now there is to do is to wait-

A rhythmic knock came to the door. Sidon’s rhythmic knock. “What?” you said in disbelief. The man was just here this morning. Why in Hyrule is he back so soon? 

You opened the door and, believe it or not, there he was. Sidon smiled down at you and held out a small box. But this was no ordinary box. It was wrapped in a cloth of pink silk! You balked at the expensive material. “I apologize for dropping by so suddenly. But, I wanted to show my appreciation for your hosting Bazz and I last night.” Sidon then extended the gift towards you. However, your own eyes were drawn towards the blush on his cheeks. 

“You didn’t have to get me anything. Really, I loved the company. After being alone for the Harvest Festival, it was nice change of pace.” This caused the Zora to shift and slightly retract the gift.

“E...even still...My captain...was quite...luscious with you and...I just wanted to make sure to show my appreciation! Yes!” He then overly-extended the gift towards you, basically shoving it in your hands. You grabbed the box in fear of it dropping. The weight of it was a lot more than you thought. Granted, the prince is much stronger than you. You looked back up to him and saw that familiar shift in stance. The slight shuffle and the twiddling of fingers gave him away.

“Would you like to come in for tea?” you said.

Sidon perked up and followed you into the house. “Go ahead and open it. I hope you like it.” Sidon took his seat at the table and stared at you in anticipation. Obviously, he was really excited to see you open his gift. “When I saw it I instantly thought of you. Go ahead! No need to be shy!”

You chuckled at his enthusiasm and gently undid the knot holding the four corners of the silk fabric together. Once the fabric gave way, you saw an ornamental wooden box. The dark brown chest had a red tint to it that was only enhanced by the beautiful lacquer. Gentle swirls made up waves as fish jumped above them with fins open. But the main centerpiece was the mermaid carved on the top of the box. She had beautiful curly hair that fell past her waist, covering her chest. The crown that topped her head had three miniature gems set in it. The lady’s fingers were daintily playing a harp as her fishtail cascaded down the front of the box.

“Sidon, I can’t accept this. This is too much.” You looked upon him in pity.

The prince cocked his head to the side. “What, the box? You haven’t even opened your actual present yet.”

WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO YOU LIVE IN, SIR?

“O...Oh...alright…” You opened the wooden art piece and looked inside. Your mouth dropped open in utter shock. It was amazing. It was incredible! “A pen!” you shouted. You picked it up and examined it further from all angles. The wood matched that of the box and it was decorated with...g….gold? “Sidon I just couldn’t! It’s too expensive. I would feel so guilty accepting this as I could never repay you for such a gift.”

Sidon’s smile turned warm. “You don’t have to. It is me paying you . Even though it was impromptu and unexpected, you hosted both me and Bazz. I just wanted to know how much your kindness means to me. This gift...it’s a way of letting you know how much I value the time you take out of your day to spend on me. Truth be told, I would have gotten you something even more expensive, but I know you would throw it back at me. I value your kindness and compassion more than the stars in the sky. You are everything to me, (Y/N).” Your cheeks flushed red at his confession. Sidon shook his head in a slight panic, realizing how intimate his words came out. “Your friendship! I...I meant your friendship! I...oh dear...I…” Now his face was fully red.

You smiled. “Your friendship means everything to me too, Sidon.” At this, his normal cheery demeanor came back. He gave you a firm nod before looking past you. He pointed, causing you to turn around to see the pot boiling over. “Oh shit!” you rushed to the stove and pulled the pot off the hot spot. The bubbles and water stopped spilling out the sides, but your heart still beat fast from the adrenaline coursing through your body. You got out a towel and began wiping up the mess. Hopefully, not too much of it will stick. That would be a pain to get off. Maybe if you put some more water and vinegar on it now, more of the starch will come off. You turned towards the cupboard. 

Out of the corner of your eye,

you saw Sidon holding something,

pieces of paper…

and a face as red as his scales…

Oh just after you had that sweet moment with him! Now his eyes were skimming the pages of that lewd book your editor gave you! “S...Sidon!”

The prince looked up at you and quickly placed the papers back down at the end of the table. “S...Sorry! I didn’t mean to pry! Really! I was wondering what you were working on! You said you wrote so I...I just...I’m so sorry! I won’t tell anyone you are an erotica author! I promise!”

You waved your hands around. “No! No! I didn’t write that! I swear! My...my editor gave it to me. My work...isn’t going so well right now. She thought that I should start writing stuff like that since it is selling so well lately.” You looked down in shame and fiddled with the hem of your shirt.

“I...I see” Sidon stated. The Zora looked all around the room for anything to look at except for you. “Are you going to write one of...those novels?”

You shook your head. “Absolutely not! There is no plot or anything of substance in those novels. Not to mention, I don’t have much experience in stuff like that.” 

A sigh of relief passed through the prince. “So you wouldn’t be basing it on your boyfriend?”

A small laugh escaped your lips. “You still are talking about that? No, no I don’t have a boyfriend or lover or whatever you want to call it. The only man I dedicate my life to is Midnight at the moment.” You looked at the door then back at Sidon. “I actually decided to do something else. I’m certain it will give me the same or better results than writing...stuff like that” you motioned to the stack of papers on the edge of the dinning table.

You could see the curiosity pass through his princely head. However, he never let those curiosities past his lips. Instead they broke into a smile. “I’ve always admired that about you, your resilience. I can imagine living out here isn’t easy, but you have always done well for yourself while keeping a positive energy about you. I envy that.”

A bloom of pride and affection encased your heart in its petals. Only a few times have you felt like this towards the prince. A small moment that your weakness shows through. That fluttering of your heart, the stillness of your breath...it was a moment that you allowed yourself to truly fall for him. Sidon truly felt that you are a strong woman worthy of respect, even envy. You couldn’t form words to thank him. You only looked back at his proud gaze with wet eyes. The gentle stillness in the room was comfortable, held up by grace and thankfulness. What you would give to cross the room and kiss him- 

“Meow” and a few scratches at the door turned your attention away from that intimate moment. With a sigh, you turned the knob and let in the Duke of the Cozy Cottage. Thankfully, he didn’t bring in any presents. An extraordinary pen was enough for one day. No need to pile on the gifts. “Welcome back” you said to the fluffy cat.

He trotted over to his food bowl and began eating the kibble left over from his breakfast. You looked back over to Sidon who smiled back at you. “Would you mind getting the kettle ready? I’ll start on combining the tea leaves.” 

Sidon hopped up and grabbed his special kettle from its place on the counter. While he was preparing the water, you garnished the tea leaves from the tin. Once enough was placed in the infuser, you plucked dried heads of flowers off of the hung-dry bunch. If the sun was still out you would have picked fresh ones. However, what you saw outside the window was the same shade as Midnight. Inky black coated the lawn outside with only the late fireflies twinkling their green lights. “It’s getting darker, earlier. Soon the day will be half over before breakfast!”

A small flinch ran through the prince’s body. It was certainly one that wouldn’t go unnoticed. That sense of reality brought you back to earth. “Sidon, are you skipping out on your duties again?”

He kept his face away from you, hiding his expression. Yet, the tip of his headtail gave away all that you needed to know. Placing your hands on your hips, you awaited an answer. This game between the both of you would drag on if the whistle of the kettle didn’t force a certain ashamed person to turn to you for the next step in the tea brewing process. Sidon’s eyes darted left and right until they settled on the two cups in front of you. “No.”

“Yes you are!” you exclaimed. Oh my, this boy skips out on almost every meeting nowadays. And if there is a missing prince, there is sure to be his captain not far behind.

A small knock came to the door. 

You marched over and flung open the door. Bazz stood there, arms crossed, and a frown across his face. You walked to the side of the doorway and looked at the Zora who began sipping tea and sitting down, acting oblivious to the situation at hand. “It’s for you,” you pointed out.

Sidon smiled grandly and waved his captain over. “Bazz! How wonderful it is to see you. Come, sit. Let us enjoy a second round of (Y/N)’s hospitality!” The prince swung his cup around vehemently like a drunk. Somehow this was supposed to persuade Bazz to stay? By the look on his face...it didn’t work.

“I am too tired for this Sidon.” Bazz leaned against the doorway. It was true. Even after a good night's sleep last night, there were still those purple crescent moons under his eyes. His scales seem a tad dried out too. Probably from sleeping in a dry bed and not having the time to re-hydrate himself. The poor guy.

Prince Sidon sighed and gulped down the rest of his tea. “Thank you for your hospitality as always, (Y/N). However, our visit must be cut short because my captain has come.” 

“It’s your fault for skipping out on the meeting again,” Bazz snapped.

You nodded and waved and hand to go out the door. “Your kingdom needs you Mr. Fancy.” Sidon slumped at the name and walked out of the cottage. The man was certainly sulking at having to return to his duties. He looked back at you one more time with those adorable puppy eyes. Even a pouted lip to match the set. You raised an eyebrow. “Goodnight Sidon” you cooed to tease him just a tad more. Those eyes turned bigger and lip pouted even more. Save me it said. Don’t let the bad man take me away! You responded by twinkling your fingers at him. Todaloo! it said back.

Then you closed the door before those puppy eyes could respond.

Chapter Text

This is it. This is it! You have had it with these blue weeds in your yard!

You tied your hair back with a string and gripped your shovel tightly. With all the strength you could muster, you threw the shovel into the ground. The instant the shovel pierced the ground, several snaps came from the roots below. Then with great effort, you pulled up to separate the weed from the yard. 

However…

The roots of one flower interlaced with other flowers surrounding it, leading to an inability to just pull one out! Even the grass came up with it. Well, the one inch you made the pest rise. You decided to try a different spot. Surely that was just a coincidence. Surly all Silent Princess flowers couldn’t be as hard to remove as that one. After all, they could only ever be cultivated in the wild! Well, at least that's what you were told. But you had much evidence to support the hardiness of these plants of annoyance. Many techniques of removal have already failed. Cutting them off, whacking them with a hoe, even stamping them down couldn’t remove them from the yard!

They still keep popping up as soon as a week after! How determined are these flowers? Any why do they only want to grow in your front yard by your house? None of this makes even a lick of sense.

But, they are about to be removed anyway. You took another dig at the weeds and heard the snapping of several roots before trying to lift this flower out of the ground. Shallow breaths and the thumping in your chest begged you to let up on this endeavor. You placed the shovel back down. “Alright, one...two...three!” Every muscle in your arm burned from trying to lift up the flower. The roots of this one were also laced together with the other flowers around it. You pulled harder and harder, but it was as if you had to lift a whole top layer of soil to dig up just one flower!

You gave up and released the flower back into its spot in the ground. The plant was just not worth the effort. You sighed and leaned on the top of the shovel. Just trying to get those two out of the ground was exhausting. Now sweaty and gross, you silently criticized yourself for even attempting this. After all, you were to deliver the final edited copy of your new novel today. Now you look like a ragamuffin. 

Standing back up and stretching out, the muscles in your back throbbed in a bit of pain. “Ouch…” you rubbed it out to soothe your back before heading inside the cottage. A bath was certainly in order if you were to look presentable.

A little scrubbing in the tub later, you felt and looked refreshed. Refreshed wasn’t enough though. Presentable was a whole different game when it came to going into town. Everyone in that commune dressed up to go shopping. You sat at a small heirloom mirror and began staining your lips with some berries and lining your eyes with kohl. It was just enough to make your eyes stand out a little more. Well, that and hiding your chapped lips with the berries make you feel less self-conscious. Maybe you should pick up some oils on your way back through town?

Even with all this and fresh clothes, there was still just a bit missing. You took you comb and ran it through your hair a couple of times. Something to spice it up...yes… The pink silk that Sidon wrapped your gift in seemed to lie in wait. ' Use me! 'It appeared to say. You took that silk and wrapped it so that your hair was tied upwards and made a cute bow. “Perfect.”

Now with everything done, you picked up the shopping basket by the door and placed the manuscript inside it. You made sure to bind it with string this time. No need to make the same mistake twice. The wind caught all of them and it took you an hour to find all of those scattered pages! Just thinking about it sent shudders down your spine.

Next was your purse with a measly 10 rupees inside it. Praise the Goddess Sidon agreed to buy the next tin of tea. There was no possible way of buying it in your current financial state. You gently packed the small pouch beside the manuscripts. 

For the last addition to your basket, you walked outside with your kitchen knife and cut some of those dumb blue flowers. Somehow your editor enjoys these weeds in bloom. Hylia, it is almost winter and they are still blossoming like it’s spring! You walked back inside and wrapped a towel around the base so as to not get the papers wet.

With the preparations now done, you locked your door and headed out. Midnight was out roaming somewhere. Best to leave him outside to entertain himself though. He can hunt and drink from his outdoor bowl if he so wishes. Who knows what kind of trouble his furriness would get into if he were locked indoors. Knocked over plants, tins, and anything else he could see gravity working on. Such a silly, but naughty cat.

With it being autumn, the temperature was comfortable. This time of the year you didn’t mind going out for a walk. Bright fire red and sun-kissed yellow replaced the summer green leaves of the trees. And when they would fall, the tree leaves would dance with the wind to create a multicolored carpet on top of the fading grass. Best of all, no allergies because all the pollen is gone. Your nose could finally catch a break. 

You looked to the blue flowers in your basket. “I’m not allergic to these though…” No sneezes have ever been caused by these pesky things. “Strange…” you said to yourself. However, you could just hear the flowers teasing you.

Muahaha little Hylian. You may not be allergic, but your front yard is our domain! Thou shalt tremble at the might of our numbers! 

The memory of the exhausting trial between you and these flowers had you nearly snapping your basket. “How rude” you said. Though these flowers are not sentient, they sure do mock you a lot. Maybe a sentient flower monster would work for a villain in a book.  

In the span of a half hour, nothing happened out of the ordinary. And thank goodness too, there have been more reports of monster activity recently. Maybe Princess Zelda will send some guards to help clear out the camps. A blush came to your face as images of overly attractive men filled your head. “Come by on your rounds anytime…” you chuckled to yourself. “Oh how scandalous. A romance between a guard and a lady on his route. Seeing her once a day, coming to check on her, maybe stealing a few kisses before returning to work.” Your heart was all aflutter as your brain kept entertaining the thought. 

A sudden gloom came with that thought though. You sighed as you remembered how jealous Sidon was about the prospect of another man being in your life. “Why does he act like that? Strange…” Hopefully, if you did start something with another guy, he would still want to have tea with you. “Maybe he’s worried I won’t have time for him anymore. Awww, palace life is so busy that he probably doesn't know that some people have more time on their hands. Poor guy…I will always have time for you.”

Your thoughts turned to the bustling town in front of you. It appeared that the whole place was sinking in a sea of people! The noise itself was deafening, but the visuals had you questioning how much your brain could take in. Hurriedly, you moved through the crowd to get to one of the backstreets. Goodness, when is it ever this busy? You scanned the line of houses until you reached the one your editor resided in. Its front consisted of red bricks that highlighted the wooden, oak door. The roof was covered in logs that cascaded down the sides to make a slight ledge about an arm’s length from the brick of the house.

Even though you have seen it several times, it never gets any less impressive. You knocked on the door and stepped back. Hopefully she is in. But, what if she’s not? A cold chill ran down your spine as anxiety settled in. 

The door opened revealing to you that your fears were unfounded. Sevia smiled. “(Y/N), you got my letter! How is your new normal romance novel coming along? All finished?” 

You smiled and handed the flowers over, then the manuscript. “I think the publishing house is really going to like this one. I haven't seen anything like it on the market yet.” You beamed in self pride.

Sevia sighed, but nodded. “It is a gamble to reverse traditional roles like that. However, I think that ladies will especially be interested. Which...is usually our clientele anyway. What I am trying to say is, best of luck.”

You nodded and turned to leave when your editor made a low humming noise. “W...what?”

A sly smile crossed her lips as she focused on your hair. “And who gave you that? You never told me there was someone like that in your life.”

Touching the silk on your head brought a new understanding. “Oh, it’s not like that. We are just friends.”

Sevia shrugged, but continued to smile. “If you say so. But you must be a really special person if he is giving you such lovely gifts.” She chuckled to herself. “Good luck~” The door closed slowly. A haunting message from your editor. She does it to act cool, but you knew better. 

Now, time to get some vegetables.

The backstreet was less crowded, but there was a steady inflow of people to the square. It was as if there were rivers trickling down into the ocean. What is happening? Unfortunately, the center of town is where you had to head to. The shops were all in that part. It was a must to visit the market today, as there was no food left in your pantry. And like hell you would eat onions for a full week again. Even now the smell of onions still lingers in your dreams. Onion soup, onion-based breads, onion patties...

You dove straight into the sea and moved around close knit people. Dodging elbows and squeezing through families was the only way to get to the cheapest store in town (you checked). Only a little bit further. You climbed up the stone steps of the shop, only to be greeted by a large, red

“Closed! Why is it closed?” The Closed sign hung on a large iron nail that was pounded into the door. "Someone must have turned it. It can't be closed." You pulled at the handle. Nope, it was locked. "Why in Hyrule is it closed?"

Your outburst caught the attention of a tall gentleman in a velveteen jacket (fancy!) with a beard as white as snow. “Haven’t you heard? The mayor is talking to Princess Zelda and Prince Sidon of the Zora. Hopefully they create some deal to help with this monster problem.” He gestured to the crowed. "That's why everyone's gathered. All wanting to get a look at the prince and princess."

You blanched. Oh no…

Sidon twiddled his thumbs together. “I just hope you never see me acting like a prince. It’s not the real me and I would hate for you to think as such.”

“Th..Thank you sir, I must be on my way then.” You weaved back through the crowd towards the edge of the town. At some point, you felt a slight tug at your basket. It was only a passing thought as other people bumped and tossed you around like a ship in a storm. And only once out of the sea of bodies, did you look down. No stray shoes caught the hem of your skirt. Nor did any scuffs come upon your shoes. However, your basket was completely empty! “My purse!” you squeaked. You felt all around the bottom of the basket just to make sure this was not some crazy mix-up. You looked all around to try and find the culprit who snatched your hard earned money!

However, it would be impossible with this crowd. 

Oh how this day turned out crummy. You were supposed to have a good day with little interference and now it is going to be the start of the week with a new diet of onions! Oh goddess take pity. Maybe a potato or two will be ready to harvest out of the garden. But you wanted carrots… They refused to grow every time you tried. 

Your feet brought you to the beginning of the road to your home, yet the emptiness of your basket kept you from taking another step. If you lingered longer though, there would be a great chance for you to see Sidon. It couldn’t be helped that you had to go home- 

A sharp yank tugged at your hair. Then more to almost knock you off your feet. Not again with these bandits! They must be after the silk in your hair. There is no way someone is going to take a prized gift. A couple of rupees, fine. But this is going too far!

You turned and jutted out a fist. A crunch reached your ears before the pain shot up your arm. 

“(Y/N)?” Bazz stared down at you from his tall stature. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Before you could respond (not sure if you even could with the tears and sobbing), he started healing you. “Shhh it’s alright. It will be just a bit longer. Goddess, you broke your hand. I’m glad you can hit hard, but I beg you to look where you are punching next time.” 

Once peace flowed over you, speech was once again possible. “Thanks Bazz. I've just had a run of bad luck, so I was worried someone was trying to steal the silk in my hair.”

Bazz’s cheeks turned bright red. “S..Sorry. I meant to sneak up on you as a joke. When I pulled your bow, one of my scales snagged onto it and I couldn’t pull away. As cute as it is, I don’t think it would match my style.” You chuckled at his joke. However, the captain’s face soon turned serious. “Regardless, what are you doing here? Sidon really doesn't want you to see him when he is all prince-like.”

Now it was your turn to blush. You held up your basket. “I was dropping something off and went to go shopping. I had no idea that Sidon was here today. Though, I couldn’t buy anything with the shops being closed...and...well...my rupees got snatched.”

Bazz's eyes blew wide. "That's horrible! Did you report it?"

You shook your head. "Ten rupees is not much to report on. It's worth a bundle of carrots and a potato at most. I doubt anyone would take it seriously."

"Even still, thievery always needs to be reported, no matter how small. Makes tracking down criminals a lot easier on the guard's part of things." Bazz sighed and shook his head. “Don't worry, I'll take care of reporting it for you as you need to get going. Sidon's just about done with the meeting." He looked down at you with those kind eyes. They were gentle and somehow send a shock of security through you. "I know you don’t quite understand (Y/N), but it’s not just about seeing Sidon. It’s also about protecting you. If people were to know that you and Sidon spend time together...it could lead to danger. I’m not just talking about rumors. I mean actual harm. Sidon would never forgive himself if anything happened to you on his behalf. Well...” his hand began to coddle your now-healed one, “that would make two of us.”

The captain’s cheeks were bright red, burning with affection. Oh Hylia! How can such a horrible situation turn out so romantic?  He truly was a knight in shining armor. If you didn’t get control of this situation, he might ride off into the sunset with you right then and there! “I...I understand. Please, give Sidon my thanks.” You took your hand back and looked at the cobblestones that made up the pathway. Slowly, you looked back up to Bazz. “And thank you for healing me.” The Zora blushed and fiddled around with his hands for a bit. 

Those little fidgets became much larger fidgets. “I should get back to Sidon.” Even saying that, Bazz still stood in place and wiggled around.

You smiled. “I will be fine Bazz. It is only about a thirty minute walk from here to my house.”

Apparently, that did nothing to dissuade the Zora’s protective nature. “I can’t just let you go by yourself, not with what just happened.” You gave him a small, reassuring smile. Bazz closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “....I will check up on you later tonight to make sure you got home safe. Just… be careful.” 

“I will. Thank you Bazz.”

---Back at home---

You frowned at the objects in your pantry. Garlic, onions, and some random herbs sat on a practically empty shelf. A gurgle came from your stomach, begging you to make something to eat. “I hate this…” you said to no one in particular. Another grumble came from your belly. This time, a slight pain came with it. “Not even a cup of flour…” -grumble- “a square of cracker…” -gurgle- “a crumb of hardened cheese” 

You sat on the floor. At this point, you wondered if onion was even a viable option or if you would throw it back up. “It’s not forever (Y/N)...” You felt so small in front of the imposing onion. But, something out of the corner of your eye caught your attention. A small red potato hid behind the base of the sink. ‘Hello’ it seemed to say.

.

..

...

Before it could scream, you grabbed it, washed it vigorously, and threw it in the oven. Small as it may be, it completely beats eating onion soup. Mmmmm yes….this will be the best potato ever. You chucked sticks and logs into the wooden stove. The oven roared as you put one too many sticks in. But that’s fine. It will cook faster. Right? The potato just needed a bit of encouragement to cook properly. You opened the oven door, took a fork and stabbed it. The soft flesh allowed your fork to spear it without resistance. “DONE!”

In a flash, you set the table, poured yourself a glass of water and sat down to eat. “FINALLY!” Thank goodness no one was watching. This delectable potato will be inhaled before you could even taste-

“Sorry to interrupt your appetizer~”

You turned to see Sidon and Bazz at the door. Oh...of course you forgot to close the door. Out of all days…

“Wow just one potato? You are doing some of that fancy cooking we’ve been talking about! It looks delicious. May I try a bite?” The prince leaned down and propped his mouth open ever so slightly to receive the last bit of edible food in your house.

You wanted to say no...but how could you? The potato slowly made its way towards the prince’s mouth. Each second your hands shook more than the last. Goodness, your blood sugar began to drop. Sidon bit down over the whole fork, eating what little food you prepared. There was no doubt in your mind that he thought this was going to be your last bite. However, the reality was it was going to be your first and last bite. So, he technically wasn’t wrong.

Sidon chewed and cocked his head to the side. “It tastes a bit plain, my fairy. What did you try and spice it with?”

A blush came to your face. “Nothing...it...it’s just plain.

Confusion plastered itself on Sidon’s face. Not just at your comment, but at the Zora captain walking past the two of you. Bazz stopped at the pantry and opened it. “Wow...I see why you intended to go shopping today.” Your gaze fell on a bag that was obviously full. “What shelf do you put your vegetables on?”

An overwhelming feeling of thankfulness bubbled up in your heart. “T...the second from the bottom.” Bazz began pulling out carrots, potatoes, snap peas, and others. How kind of him to remember you were going shopping today.

Sidon made a visible flinch and an audible gasp. “That’s why you insisted on going shopping! I thought it was because you were being lazy!”

The apathy in Bazz’s eyes was palpable. He pointed a carrot at the prince. “No, I ran into (Y/N) earlier and she couldn’t shop because some important people were having a meeting. You should have seen the crowd out there.” Bazz placed the carrot on the shelf before crossing the room over to you and pulling one more item out of the bag. A delicate sandwich was put on your plate. Fresh baked bread nestled meats and cheeses in between. The presentation alone would have any sane person’s mouth watering. Before you could even retort about the price of this gift, the captain lowered his head by your ear. “Yes, such a large crowd. No wonder your purse got plucked from your open basket.”

A blush covered your cheeks. Still, this was so sweet of him to buy you groceries, let alone dinner!

A surge of thankfulness ran through your body. Sometimes, things are done without thinking. And when you wrapped your arms around Bazz’s torso in a grateful hug, you wondered what got into you. But the depth of need, you couldn’t help but burst out in such a manor. “Thank you so much Bazz.” 

The captain gently rested his hands on your back as he chuckled. It was an acceptance of the hug, but a slight mention to hold back a bit. “Oh!” you quickly snapped away from Bazz. “Sorry...I didn’t mean to-” A finger pressed to your lips.

A smug smile crept across his lips. “Now, now, no need to make our prince jealous.” His eyes looked over your shoulder.

You turned around to the large, red Zora. Small gaps and stutters came from the prince’s mouth at the sign of this affection towards his captain. He swallowed deeply before turning away and crossing his arms. “I...I don’t mind. After all, I am the one she prefers to keep company with. You being here is a special occasion.”

Oh dear, even though he said that, it was plain as day that it bothered him. The slight twitch of a headtail was all the evidence needed to prove your theory. His annoyance was well earned, though. You never got physically affectionate with the prince. A pinky promise was as far as you let yourself go. Nevermind a hug . It was probably because Bazz was more easygoing that a sudden need for physical touch overwhelmed you. Maybe you will be as comfortable with the prince someday.

But right now, you wondered if you could even breathe in his general direction. Wow was he jealous. Bazz sighed and patted at your back. “Go ahead and eat. I know you are quite hungry as Sidon ate all of your dinner in one bite.” The prince visibly flinched and turned around with sorrowful eyes.

He fell to his knees and grasped your left hand with both of his. “Oh my fairy, why didn’t you tell me that was all you had to eat? I...I didn’t know. Honestly, if getting me jealous was some way to make me atone, I...I will get you as much food as you want! Yes! Anything! You name it and it shall be yours!”

Before you could speak, Bazz cut in. “Oh, so you agree that you were jealous of that hug?” Now it made sense to you. Bazz was teasing him! That’s what all the backhanded suggestions were for. What a pair of friends these two make.

You clasped your other hand over Sidon’s. He looked straight at you with pleading eyes. “Sidon, relax. I was just happy and grateful for Bazz's kindness. It’s normal for people to give each other hugs when they receive gifts.” Those pity eyes became sadder and wetter. ‘ You never gave me hugs when I brought a gift’ they said. 

Growing up you were taught never to lie. But maybe just this once… “It’s because I couldn’t reach, Sidon. If I were to hug you, my face would be…” you trailed off for him to fill in the blanks. The gears began to turn in his head until he realized what you were insinuating. A deep blush crossed his cheeks. “ But , since you are a bit shorter right now, I would be happy to give you a hug.” Oh did that send his headtail wagging. The man couldn’t contain his happiness. He extended his arms, to which you wrapped your own around his neck. You felt him pull you deeper into the embrace which caused your heart to nearly burst from your chest. You began to unwrap your arms only to notice that the prince was obviously not done yet. “Oh, alright” you peeped.

His arms around me feel amazing. He is so close! What if Bazz wasn’t here to chaperone? What would this display of affection lead us to? Kissing? Naked hugs? Wait...isn’t he naked if he isn’t wearing any clothes….?

I’m embracing a naked prince of the Zora! Oh Goddess strike me now! This isn’t how those romance novels go! It...it’s still too early! We haven't shared our first kiss! 

“Alright Sidon, enough.” Bazz tilted back Sidon’s head by his snout until he was forced to let you go. “Really, and you worry about me being too much with women. Besides, the girl needs to eat. Hylia knows how her blood sugar is doing right now.” The captain made a shooing motion towards you. A rumbling belly didn’t need any more convincing to get your legs moving. 

As you began eating the heavenly delicacy, you watched Bazz scold Sidon and Sidon snapping back at him. You understood the words exchanged until it devolved into Zoran. Even if it was another language, the hand gestures were translatable. The whole situation was like a dinner theatre. Entertainment and a meal. 

Your eyes trailed to the door frame where Midnight began to walk in. But upon seeing the bickering Zora, he turned around and went back into the yard. Smart Cat…

Both Zora turned to you. Bazz pointed his finger at Sidon. “Tell him that a hug is nothing to get jealous about.” 

Sidon gestured a bit more angrily at his captain. “And tell him that you were my friend first.”

You shook your head at the pair of idiots. “I cherish both of my friendships with you. Don’t go and try to make me choose. That’s rude.” The prince curled back into himself in a desperate attempt at self preservation. On the contrary, Bazz smiled and stood tall and proud. But, you weren’t going to let the captain off the hook. “That also goes for you too Bazz. Trying to wedge our friendship apart for some petty joy, shame on you.”

What has your life become that now you were acting like the adult here. Aren’t both of them supposed to be 100 years older than you? You sighed. “Sidon, please get some water boiling.

After all, since you are both here, why not have a cup of tea?”

Chapter Text

You pulled on your trousers and buttoned up an old shirt. Today was a day to get dirty after all. Hopefully, you wouldn’t come back with more than a few sticks and twigs in your hair.

The apples were now ready to harvest! The trees behind the cottage were nearly bowing with the weight of the red fruits. It was the most wonderful time of the year! You got your jars sparkling clean just for the occasion. After all, preserved applesauce can be used in all manner of recipes. Not to mention, it is quite good on its own. 

And it’s free!

A ray of sunlight nearly blinded you, reminding you of the time. “Sidon’s going to be here any minute!” Every bucket and basket you owned was tossed out the windows. You then ran to put them all into a pile by the apple trees. The whole process must be as pleasant as possible. You felt guilty for asking the prince to help you pick the apples, no reason to make more work for him by making him gather baskets as well.

“(Y/N)! Don’t tell me you started without me!”

You turned around to see the prince running across your blue lawn. The idiot had the dorkiest smile on his face while waving one arm in the air like a limp noodle. He was way too excited for manual labor. Once he came to a halt, you returned his smile. “Thanks for helping me out today Sidon. Really, I don’t know what I would do without you. The apples are just so high up.”

He placed his hands on his hips and gave you an even flashier smile. “Of course! I am just happy I can be of service to you! Now, where should we start? Oh! Can we start with that one? I see a big one right there!”

You chuckled at his enthusiasm. “Of course. I have all the buckets and baskets out here. If you can pick the apples, I can hold the baskets.” Even saying that, the prince seemed to be in his own world. Those golden eyes were dazzling at the sight of one particular apple on a branch.  “Don’t worry, you’ll get your fill of apple picking,” you teased.

Sidon reached up and pulled down on that apple. It came off easily and he placed it in the basket you were holding. “My first apple. This is quite exciting! Why didn’t we do this last year?”

You toss your shoulders side to side in a manner that suggested you weren’t comfortable with asking him to do such work. “I did revere you as a prince then. Now, since we’re closer, I felt comfortable asking for help.” Sidon was practically glowing from the compliment. (Was it a compliment though?) More apples were placed in your basket. “You’re really that happy about me asking you to do physical labor for me?”

He faced away, just enough so that he hid his blush from view. “Well, it was more of the closer comment, my fairy. Knowing how I hold a special place in your heart….it makes me rather elated.” More apples plopped into your basket. “To be fair, you hold a special place in my heart as well. In my downtime I often find myself thinking of you and your company.”

Now it was your turn to blush. He thinks about me? Hylia, this wasn’t something you were expecting to hear today. Small heartbeats turned into large pounds against your chest. What can I say to something like that? You watched Sidon’s arm reach up. His bicep flexed and his side stretched. The sunlight glittered off of his red scales and filtered through his fins. How can he be so handsome? How can someone be so physically gifted, yet be so kind. Even talking over tea confuses you. What can you offer him that he can’t get in the Domain? Every girl must be infatuated with him. Why doesn’t he spend his energy on them instead?

I don’t get it.

“So, what are you planning to do with all these apples?” Sidon’s question snapped you back to the present. He stopped picking and waited for your answer with a smile. You soon understood why he stopped, as the weight of the full basket made you place it on the ground. 

“Well, I make a lot of applesauce. It works great as something to pair with meats and fish. The nicer apples I dry out and make apple chips. They are my favorite snack for the next few months. I have also wanted to try to make a special tea blend with them. If it turns out nice, I’ll make more and send some home with you like I did during the harvest festival.” Sidon perked up at the mention of tea. Or was it the tea bags that are making him smile so much?

He resumed his job of picking apples once you got a new basket. “Anything else?” 

You smiled at his curiosity. “Why? Wanting to know what other goodies you can take home?” A small laugh escaped your lips. “Well, with the apples that are not even good for applesauce, I press them, put them in a barrel, and make cider.”

“Cider? What’s that? A juice?”

You got a bit smug. “You can say that. It’s an ‘adult juice’. I age it until it ferments into alcohol.” Oh yes, you ran out of last year’s batch all too soon. The pressures of writing deadlines got to you a little too much. And like hell you would go out and buy any. Five rupees for a pint? No way. “It’s my preferred drink. Well, mainly because it’s free.”

Sidon chuckled at your mention of free . “Free is your favorite word isn’t it? What about if someone bought you a drink? Would that be a contender for your favorite drink?”

You hummed in thought. “I don’t know actually. No one has ever offered to buy me one.”

Sidon dropped the apple he was holding. It landed on the ground with a thud. “Oh, pardon me! I...I was just…” He quickly scooped up the apple off the grass. “No one has ever offered to buy you a drink?” You shook your head. “I’m terribly sorry, I’m just at a loss for words at the moment. You’re so wonderful. I find it hard to imagine that any guy wouldn’t jump at the chance to win your favor.” He knelt down, placed one hand on his chest and used the other to take one of your hands. “Then, if you would allow me the honor, to be the first guy to buy you a drink.” 

You felt like fainting. You were going to faint. Every bit of blood was leaving your head making you want to faint.

Sidon kissed the back of your hand to cement the promise. Now you were really going to lose it!

“Of course I require a hug upon delivering your drink.” He grinned in a near obnoxious manner.

You had to get back in control! This situation is getting dangerous! “Well then, I guess I’ll just return to sender.”

He pouted. He pouted . “You hurt me, my fairy.” The Zora rolled onto the ground and clutched a hand over his heart. “How will I ever overcome this bleeding heart of mine? I’m dying! Dying I say! Goodbye Hyrule, my life was too short to enjoy all of the splendors you offer.” He reached a hand upwards towards the clouds before slowly letting it fall beside him.

Well, now you were just unamused. Or were you amused at the prince’s adorable nature? Either way, you picked one of the blue flowers from your lawn and then lowered yourself in a crouch. The Silent Princess was placed atop the prince’s chest with grand (fake) sorrow. “Oh, how will I ever cope with my tea buddy passing away? Who will chug kettles of my expensive tea now? Oh!” You faced away to hide your smirk. “I can ask Bazz to accompany me on my nights alone.”

Sidon leaned up on his elbows and gave you a look of distilled apathy. “One, Bazz is a busy guy and wouldn't have much time. And two, I highly doubt you want that luscious man around you at night.”

You placed your hands on your hips. “Aren't you supposed to be his best friend? Kind of harsh, don’t you think?”

“But the truth all the same” he answered back. The Zora resumed his height and brushed the dirt from his scales. His attention then turned to the tree to begin his task of picking apples once again. “Out of the two of us, you definitely chose better company today.”

His words made you giggle. “And why is that? You are taller?”

Sidon swung his arm in a wide arch. “Taller, more handsome-”

“More humble?” you added.

The prince rolled his eyes at your comment. “Well, I for one am glad that I am in your company. Take that how you will, but hearing your voice, callus as it may be, is refreshing.” The warm feeling came back to your stomach upon basking in Sidon’s smile. True, you were a bit mean in your teasing...but the Zora was practically beaming while doing physical labor. The man was an anomaly. Any royal would scoff or ignore any pleas for help in doing such a job. However, Sidon never once complained and actually reveled in this time. 

A small puff of amused air came from your nose. “I am also enjoying your company. Thank you for helping me.” You smiled grandly up at the big Zora. He returned your smile for a brief second before changing to an expression of panic.

It was too late to do anything about the situation, as the apple landed squarely on the top of your head. Sidon waved his arms around. “Oh my goodness! Oh...Oh dear! Here! Let me heal you!” Tears flowed out of your eyes as the tenderness of your head was poked and prodded at with Zora magic. 

“Healing isn’t the most comfortable thing,” you admitted.

Sidon chuckled. “It is preferable to having a bump form. If only I was as good as my sister. Many Zora claim that they didn’t feel any discomfort when being healed by her. I have only a fraction of the talent that she had. Healing and leading a kingdom, I mean.” Once the light of healing faded, a small pat was placed on your head. “All better.”

Something still bothered you and it wasn’t an injury. A fraction of talent...He’s comparing himself to his late sister, isn’t he. Sidon resumed picking apples and placing them in your bucket. Better to leave it for now. You shook your head to rid yourself of the thoughts. “Have you ever had apples before?”

He tossed an apple from hand to hand. “I think once before. Zora do not normally eat tree fruits. Berries are usually the only thing we have our meals with. Even then, the food is usually fish-based. Don’t worry, apples are not toxic to us. Oh stop with that worried expression, I will be fine.”

A pout formed on your lips. “I don’t want to go and accidentally kill my best friend.” As soon as the words left your mouth, you regretted it.

Sidon was awash with emotion. He fell to his knees and grasped your hands, making you drop the bucket of apples. Sharp teeth gleamed within a smile as sparkles shone from behind the prince’s eyes. “I’m really your best friend? I...I am so honored you think that way, my fairy!”

“H….Hold on! It’s not that big of a deal!” Even with your subtle protests, the prince’s smile grew even wider. Everything seemed to sparkle around the red idiot. Glee practically radiated off of him. “C...come on, Sidon. You’ve been sharing tea with me for over a year now. Of course I would think of you as my best friend.” Your words should have stopped there, but they seemed to keep flowing out of their own accord. “You’re kind and caring. You have given me more gifts than I can repay and they are useful. Seriously Sidon, I miss you when we are apart for too long. How can you think we are anything different than the chummiest of pals?”

Sidon retracted his hands and began to twiddle his fingers. A blush formed on his cheeks that obviously burned hot. “Well...I’m not the easiest Zora to get along with. I’m….quite pushy and jump to conclusions rather easily…”

“And I am an independent woman who gets irritated easily and has massive anxiety issues when it comes to large groups of people. We all have our faults, Sidon. What I appreciate is that you still care for me anyway. Well...enjoy my company, at least.” You shrugged your shoulders to brush off any possible ill will left between you.

The prince swallowed any words of retort. Instead a smile was opted to convey his acceptance to the truth of your words. “Thank you,” he said at last. “My chummy pal.” You chuckled and picked up the basket of apples once more. Sidon resumed picking the fruit from the tree and gave you a side smile. “Where did Hylians come up with that phrase? Chum is like the leftover bits of fish you usually throw away.”

A twist of your face showed your disgust. “Ew, really? Well I won’t use that phrase anymore. Gross.”

“In the Domain, we usually say ‘Tide Companion’, meaning you both swim the same way through tough times...like against the tides.” The prince pushed his arm out in a grandiose way.

The time it took to pick the apples seemed to be just minutes in the company of the Zora prince. Light that turned orange was the only indication of how many hours had passed. With the threat of losing light, you decided that the work should be done for the day. “Want to come inside for some tea?”

The prince nodded in delight until something caught his eye behind you. You turned to see Bazz giving the two of you a sad smile. “Playtime is over, my prince. Time to head home.”

Sidon sighed and hung his head down. “I asked for the day off. The full day.”

Bazz pointed to the setting sun. “And the day is over, Sidon. Come on, no need to worry your father again by staying overnight outside of the Domain.”

You covered your open mouth with the tips of your fingers. “Oh dear, was it that time when you two stayed over? I didn’t mean to worry the king. You should get home before it gets dark.”

Sidon pouted. “I’m an adult…” he muttered, mostly to himself. “Come on, Bazz. I’m helping (Y/N) pick apples.”

“In the dark?” The captain of the guard asked.

“No, we plan to go inside and wash them…” Sidon leaned next to your ear. “Apples can be washed, right?” You gave the smallest of nods to his question. The prince resumed his full height and placed his hands on his hips. “The apples need to be washed. I will return home soon after. You are dismissed, Captain Bazz.” A small wave of the hand was added to show his discontempt for the situation.

Bazz sighed and looked at you. “Just kick him out before it gets too dark. Having a cup of tea shouldn’t take too long, right?” The captain frowned at his prince. “Don’t go lying to me just to spend more time with her. She deserves better than that.” With the last little bite to his words, Bazz turned around and headed back to the river.

You looked up to the prince who blushed in shame. “Don’t worry about it, Sidon. Shall we go inside and get a cup of tea?” A small smile curled up on his lips. You picked up your last basket and carried it to the cottage. Of course, looking behind you, Sidon was carrying two in each arm. He’s so strong. A tinge of pink dusted your cheeks. Such lovely mussels…

You pushed open the door with your hip and moved inside with the prince in tow. Midnight lay curled up in the prince’s leisure chair, oblivious to the amount of work his owner has done. The baskets of apples were put next to the dozing cat who didn’t even open an eye. “Not a care in the world,” you whispered at him.

Sidon placed the apple baskets next to yours. “Such an adorable creature.” You turned around to smile, but frowned instead. The prince was looking at you and smirking. 

You rolled your eyes. “You mean this witch of the cottage?”

The prince shook his head. “No, I mean my adorable little tea-fairy who brews such delicious elixirs that one would say they were infused magic.”

You chuckled at him. “Alright...the little tea-fairy is on it.” You got the pot out of the cupboard and began to fill it with water that you brought from the well hours before. Sidon came to your side and helped you set it on the stove and brought the fire back to life. Each step of the process seemed well rehearsed at this point. Each amount of tea known. Each proportion of extra herbs were expected…

You bit your lip. There was an unspoken air between the two of you. You looked up to the Zora prince with saddened eyes. “I’m going to miss you this winter.” Sidon sighed and faced away, obviously not wanting to show his emotions. 

“I will sincerely miss your company as well. I simply wish that Zora could swim in such temperatures. Alas… it has to be this way.” The kettle whistled, prompting the prince to pour the hot water over the tea. “There still should be about three weeks left of good waters. But after that…”

You finished his thought. “It will be too cold. So we only have a few more times for tea then, huh…” Last year wasn’t so heartbreaking. You two were not nearly as close. Now, it was a pin in both your hearts...how sad.

The prince snapped back into reality. “But don’t worry! I will send letters and gifts! And Bazz won’t come and bother you during that time either!” 

You shook your head and laughed. “Honestly, what is with you and Bazz? Is he telling you his innermost desires of marrying me?”

Sidon turned his head to the side. “N...no...just...how pretty you are.”

Your face flushed crimson. “What? S...seriously! Exactly what is your relationship with Bazz? Because it sounds like two school girls chatting over a guy. All we need is some pillows and pajamas and you two could be at a year-round slumber party.”

Sidon chuckled again. “Well, it certainly wasn’t as fun as our previous slumber party.” He set the tea down on the table for you two. “Let's just put our sadness on hold for now. Tell me, what have you been up to lately?”

With the last of the tea gone and the sun glittering its last rays, you ushered Sidon out of your house. Though reluctant to return to his life of a prince, he stepped through the doorway. You both said your last goodbyes and you began to shut the door when you noticed him standing in the same place. His red fingers intertwined with each other. “(Y/N)...I’ve been needing to tell you something. It...it’s important…” You opened the door back up and looked into the prince’s blushing face. “I have been meaning to tell you for a while now, but...I just...I...I….I……”

Sidon’s eyes flickered back and forth, as if he was searching your face for something. 

“I want to wish you a good night.” Sidon nodded and then turned around to promptly leave. He took long strides, almost in a hurry, until he jumped in the river and swam away.

Chapter Text

The soreness traveled from your wrists to your arms as the applesauce began to thicken. “Just a bit longer,” you whispered to the vat of cooked down fruit. Bubbles rose to the surface before popping, giving way to more pockets of air. Once the sauce was of a satisfactory consistency, you took it from the heat and placed it on a wooden plank on the counter to cool. “That should be the last of it.” Your arms reached for the ceiling as your back stretched out. A small pop echoed in the room as a kink released. You then twisted side to side, releasing more pops.

Rhythmic knocks alerted the presence of someone outside your door. At first, you thought it was your back. But the next set of knocks had you rushing to the entrance of your cottage. You opened the door a crack before the storm of an editor pushed her way in. “(Y/N)! I have the most wonderful news! There is going to be a writing summit soon and I, your wonderful editor, reserved a place for you.” Sevia grabbed your hands in her own. “Every writer in Hyrule is trying to get tickets to this event. There will be workshops and idea mills and even a poetry circle organized by the prince himself!”

You took your hands away and retreated a step. “Prince? W….where is this writer’s summit, exactly?”

Sevia placed her hands on her hips. “Why, Zora’s Domain, of course!” She placed her hands in the air. “The center of proper society,” Sevia then began to walk through your cottage, “the birthplace of the tidal sonnets, the absolute PINNACLE of modern writing techniques! Where else in Hyrule could be a better place for such an important event?” 

You crossed your arms and sighed. “I told you before Sevia, there were two things that I required when signing my contract. One, is to remain an anonymous author and two, is keeping out of Zora’s Domain. Both of these would go against my wishes which is why I am confused at-”

“Oh please! I put your name down as your commission pen name, the one for drafting documents, fliers and the like. As for the Domain issue, you need to get over your old boyfriend. It’s been a year since you two broke up! Move on and focus on your career!” Sevia’s face was flustered red.

Your small white lie of having a previous relationship certainly is biting you in the butt. The heart wrenching messy break up story was completely fabricated and you were proud of how much detail you gave to it. However, it was a fantasy. But, once Sevia gets her mind made up, it is hard to talk her down. Telling her the truth now won’t do much good. “I’ll think about it. Give me three days.”

Sevia pouted. “Do you even know what I had to go through to get you in? Without your novels attached to your name, they glossed over you ten times! I had to do some massive persuasion in order to get you a regular admission and even more to get you a writer’s admission!”

You sighed. Poor Sevia, she didn’t know why you couldn’t go. But for her to go to such lengths to secure you a spot...you were being rather selfish, weren't you?

Taking your hands in hers, you nodded. “Thank you for taking such good care of me. I’m sorry if this wasn’t what you wanted to hear, but I do need to take some time to think about it. I appreciate your hard work. Seriously, I do. Thank you so much.” That small speech seemed to soften up Sevia’s mood. The lady even blushed slightly. You released her hands and retrieved a jar from the cabinet. “Here, homemade applesauce, a small thank you gift.”

Now Sevia was really blushing. “Such a chivalrous one… I shouldn’t be surprised though, considering your latest book.” You walked her to the door and said one more thank you before seeing her off.

.

..

…

“What am I going to tell Sidon!”

You ran around your cottage nearly screaming all exasperations. “I’m going to lose him as a friend!” One pillow made its way into your arms. You swung it around, hoping to shake your feelings out of your body and onto the floor. “I can’t just let this opportunity slip by! But, there is no way you could go to Zora’s Domain and break Sidon’s trust.” Dust from the floor whirled around the room as your fast pace stirred up the air in the small cottage. “What would he even say if I asked him? Would he even be open to the possibility? Should I just...show up and act like I don’t even know him? Oh sweet merciful Hylia, what am I going to do?”

The chair cushion sank underneath your weight as you sat down. Or rather, flopped down. “There would be so many new skills and getting to meet other writers in person....” Your lips turned downwards. “Maybe I should just pass on this summit and wait until I’m comfortable to say I’m the author of the Prince Rilos series...yah right...like that would ever happen.” Minutes passed as specks of dust caught your interest. Nothing really needed to be done that day besides placing the applesauce into jars. No one could tell you otherwise to make a decision. So you just sat.

And sat.

And sat.

Until a small meow and scratch at the door forced you to get up to let the cozy, furry prince himself in. You opened the door and watched the small creature trot in to eat another helping of food. Closing the door made Midnight look back at you, but then returned to his consumption of dinner. “Never a care in the world, huh kitty…” Petting or disturbing the fluffy cat would no doubt end in a mean stare. So, you resumed your applesauce adventure. 

Once the last jar was sealed, the dishes washed, and the household chores taken care of, there was nothing to distract you from tackling the issue at hand. Surely there was some solution to this predicament. Maybe with your friendship strengthening, Sidon would allow you to see him all prince-like. The rule of never traveling to Zora’s Domain was set in place only a few days after meeting him. And that was after an off comment about visiting it sometime.

But, there was the issue that Captain Bazz brought to light. If people knew of your friendship with the prince, you yourself could be in serious danger. Not many people would be personal enemies of the Zora Prince. He was the friendliest and most wonderful person in the whole of Hyrule. However, there were people out there with no chivalry at all and would use any advantage they could to get power or money or whatever vagabonds like.

“...So this brings us to our question, Midnight. To whom should I send a letter asking about such matters? The head of security, Bazz, or the prince who is worried about his self image?” You turned to the half asleep cat on his plush throne. “If his royal mouser could speak, what would he say?” you asked yourself.

Too many questions for one day…

Seeing as nothing would come of more questions, you sat at your writing desk to continue on a novel that was half-hearted at best. Nothing seemed to work with this next book. Half a month’s work and still not much to show for it.  “Maybe this writer's gathering is just what I need…” With the success of your previous stand alone novel, the next one had to be as good or better. Pressure either makes things cook just right or burns it to a crisp. 

Maybe you are just burned out?

But how can that be? You loved your job and creating stories and worlds for the reader to explore. Maybe taking a break is needed every once in a while. Some inspiration needs to be gathered and used to fuel the passions of a literary artist.

You sighed and put down your pen. Your mind has been made.

Two, fresh sheets of paper were taken from their perch above the writing desk. “Better to ask for forgiveness than permission in this situation. There isn’t much time.” You picked up your pen once again and began to write two letters to two men in the Domain.

Dear Prince Sidon and Captain Bazz of the Zora,

 

I simply wanted to make you aware of my presence in the upcoming writer’s retreat at Zora’s Domain next week. I know this is of sudden notice, but to advance in my career as a writer, I desperately need to attend. My promise to you is to make no move to see Sidon or make contact in any way that would lead to suspicion. 

 

I do beg your forgiveness as I know this is against both of your wishes.

 

Truly yours,

(Y/N)

“She hates me!” Sidon sulked at his desk. “Where did I go wrong?”

Bazz rolled his eyes at his upset prince. At this rate, the Domain would be flooded by tears. “She doesn't hate you. She knows it goes against your wishes and probably feels bad about prioritizing her career.”

“Then...Then why did she put PRINCE Sidon on the greeting?” The teary eyed Zora pointed to the top of the page of his letter.

Bazz dropped his head. “ That is what you are upset about?” Of course that’s what he’s upset about. The dumb idiot. “She wanted it to sound formal. You guys are still friends and the only reason she sent me the same letter was because you read too much into things like this!” Bazz crossed his arms. Sometimes his job just didn’t pay enough.

Sidon sat up from his desk and wiped away a spare tear. “You’re right. I bet everything is fine. After all, she is just wanting to go to a workshop and learn about writing styles and the like.” He took a deep breath and let it go. “Yes, excellent Captain Bazz, you are dismissed.”

The captain rolled his eyes once more before walking out of the prince’s office. This job seriously didn’t pay him enough.

--------Once Week Later-------

You were handed a name badge by the Zora receptionist. Her scales were blue like the deep waters and a smile that carved sharp, white clouds into her face. A small jump of your heart made you fumble upon taking the small card. But, eventually you grabbed ahold of it and walked towards the room where she pointed. 

Nothing could prepare you for the beauty of Zora’s Domain. The whole city was carved from soft blue stone, including the palace. And speaking of the palace, OH MY! The ceilings were so high that the pillars seemed to bend inward. The paintings of battles long past littered the walls in a plethora of colors and shapes. Everywhere you turned was a new and interesting detail that caught your eye for a single moment before another took its place. 

Before you entered the gathering room, you stopped. To the right of the doorway was a large painting encased in a bronze frame. A small blush peppered your cheeks as you gazed upon the subject of the painting. The gold plate resting at the base read “Prince Sidon of the Zora”. The artist certainly has done him justice. The angle was slightly looking up at him, yet any normal Zora would see him daily at this level. Though, you were a small Hylian so an angle of gaze like this was a new experience. 

You clutched your heart. His scales seemed to glisten in the painting. The cheeriness in his smile radiated through this artwork and into your own soul. His teeth were sharp but white as snow. You have seen his smile a thousand times before, why was this so different? Was it because you were allowed to stare and appreciate every aspect of him from the waist up? And thank goodness it was just the waist up. You couldn’t imagine another situation where you could gaze upon his plump and round posterior. There would be a dead Hylian laying where you stood. Yep, just this section of him alone was enough to make your knees weak.

The curve of his crest lowered your eyes to his. Even the depths of his eyes were meticulously painted and preserved. What was behind those eyes at that moment? What was he thinking about as his portrait was being painted? You reached out to get just a hint of his thoughts…

“Don’t touch the painting, miss.”

You snapped around to see Bazz leaning on his spear. Professional enough that anyone else would not look twice, but slightly casual in his stance to put you at ease. Well, as much as you could be after getting caught lustfully staring at a painting of your mutual friend. “S...Sorry!” is all you could manage to squeak out.

The captain smiled. “Better get moving, the opening speech is about to start. Wouldn’t want to miss the prince addressing the crowd.” The tone in his voice teased and poked at you. And the amusement in his eyes only provided more evidence of your hunch.

You nodded and hurried along, hearing a faint chuckle behind you. 

How embarrassing . 

The crowd was just what you both expected and feared. At least a hundred people were gathered in the grand ballroom. Zora, Rito, Hylian, Gerudo, and Goron socialized with one another in grand splendor. A touch of a gold-ringed hand on another’s feathered shoulder...the flip of a silken skirt twice as much as your annual revenue...even realigning a shirt pocket that held several pens! Suddenly the carefully arranged outfits you brought seemed like rags. There was no possible way you could fit in with a crowd like this!

A gentle hand curled around your waist, causing you to turn around. Bazz began to lead you back out of the room with the grace of a dove. “Yes, the portrait of our beloved prince would make anyone lose their sense of direction in the moment.”

Red coated your cheeks. So you were in the wrong room...oops…

Bazz led you to the opposite side of the hallway and opened the door. “There you are miss, please have a wonderful stay here in Zora’s Domain.” And with that, he let the door fall to a close behind you. 

Your eyes widened even more looking at this room then with Sidon’s painting! Books, so many books filled shelves that reached the arched ceiling! You looked to your left, books! You looked to your right, more books! Zora’s Domain was famed for being the center for literature, but nothing prepared you for a sight like this. A slight pang of annoyance touched your heart. Sidon was keeping quite the treasure hidden from you.

Though, it wasn’t his fault. If you were honest with yourself, it came as a surprise that there was no return letter pleading for you to avoid the Domain. It was unlike Sidon to not send a response. You hoped he wasn’t mad.

“There you are!”

Sevia, your editor, greeted you with a smile. “I am so happy you could make it. This conference would not be the same without my…” she dropped her voice to a whisper, “favorite romance author.” 

You chuckled at her perkiness, but thankful it was there. After getting so flustered, it was nice to have something that was familiar. “I’m happy as well. I have never seen so many books before. It is truly an amazing place. No wonder they call it ‘The hub for classic literature’.” 

Sevia nodded. “As long as you don’t move here and get a deal with that…..other publishing house.” The woman made less of a frown and more of a scowl. One of pure hatred, if you may add. But, that was soon replaced with her classic smile. “But, since it took forever to convince you to join the writer’s conference, I don’t have many worries about that.”

You didn’t know whether to be comforted or offended with that last comment. “Well, at least while we are both here, let’s enjoy ourselves. I am excited to learn so much.” It is only a two day conference anyway. Just relax and enjoy.

It was still a bit before the gathering time, so you and Sevia decided to browse the endless shelves of the Zora library. Every book in every language must be housed within its stone walls. There were books from 10,000 years ago to today. Even Sevia was having a hard time fathoming such a long length of time. As you passed books, you ran your fingers along their spines causing a shiver to run up your back. Is this what being in love feels like? If so, you may have finally found your match. 

The sound of clapping brought you out of a love-stricken spell. Sevia nodded to you as you rushed back to the main lobby area to see the prince addressing the crowd. “I am thankful that all of you were able to make it this fine day to share your wealth of knowledge with one another. May these two days be filled with friendship, learning, and a passion for words. Unfortunately, we do have another conference of nobility coinciding with the writer’s conference, so I will only be able to attend the pre scheduled poetry workshop tomorrow. I hope you will all attend.” With a slight bow, the gathered authors and editors clapped for their host. Prince Sidon lifted from his bow and locked eyes with you. The smallest ghost of a smile passed his lips before he hastily turned his gaze away. A guard motioned for the prince to come with. Sidon moved out of the room with his entourage of guards that were so still, you didn’t even notice them until just now.

Sevia nearly squealed and shook your arm. “Did you see that? Prince Sidon looked at me! Oh a married lady like myself shouldn’t think of such things, but what if it is the start of a romance story?” You just chuckled to humor her. If she thinks that was what happened, so be it. “Alright, enough dawdling, the first workshop is about to start!”

Chapter Text

“O why is the sky blue? Because I am sad. Let this be a sunny day, but blue. For sadness is all I am.”

Clapping hands created a soft, roaring echo in the library. You quickly joined in so as to not stand out. But, really…. this is the direction where poetry is going these days? Well, at least that was the end of the first poetry exercise. Tomorrow was going to be the real show...with...well…

Sidon…

His name has been whispered by a thousand lips already today. Whether it was about his looks or intelligence, those whispers were ones of reverence. The great Prince Sidon truly is one of the most kind and smart Zora in the domain if these whispers are to be believed.

Not that you needed these whispers to confirm that. The prince is always kind and courteous during your tea times together. Lately, he even began to bring snacks or small fish dishes to share. The conversation with him is always pleasant...but you couldn’t speak any of these praises on behalf of him. After all, your friendship must remain a secret. Even though all these faces look pleasant, there might be a snake beneath that smile.

You stood from your chair, grabbed a lemon infused water -fancy- and began to walk among the books once more. Sevia was off somewhere chatting it up, so there were no strings tying you to the small gathering of authors. There was a thought that kept buzzing around your head. What if your book was here? Sidon already owned those luxurious editions of your work. But...was there a normal version available to the populous? The towering shelves made this a daunting task. They were obviously not built for Hylians to look at. The top shelves were a good three floors too tall, making ladders a hot commodity. Maybe instead of just aimlessly looking, you should head to the catalog corner. Everything was labeled after all. It should help you find the section where your book would be.

You looked for the letter of your author name and opened a rather large drawer filled with cards. Each card had the name of the author, the book, and reference number. “Ok...where is mine…” you mumbled to yourself. The cards flipped with the guidance of your fingers until you found a card with your name on it. “It is here…” A small smile came to your face. “Section R...shelf 0…and some numbers...got it.” You placed the card back in the drawer and pushed it closed. 

The open and vast space of the library made you yearn for the coziness of home. Fresh dewy humidity couldn’t compare to the prairie air that curled into a scent that could only be described as home. It was just too big here, making you feel too small to exist. Towering shelves gazed down on you in lacquered elegance. Was it truly the size, or the lack of a place in this world that made you feel tiny? Oh what would you give for a few cuddles with Midnight right now. 

The R section couldn’t come any quicker. Even with a bit of homesickness, it is exciting to see your own work on a library shelf! And thankfully the 0 shelf was the bottom most one. “Ok...where are you…” You walked along and scanned the lower shelf for many paces...where was it? 

The color and detail of bright Cherrywood cut the section in half. Upon further observing, you saw that it was a door. A very large door! “Must be for something special…” You continued past it to reach the other part of the romance section when the collar of your shirt caught something. Before you could look back to relieve it, you were pulled into the room and the door shut in front of you. A hand covers your mouth to keep you from screaming for help.

“(Y/N) calm down. It’s me.” 

You stopped squirming and relaxed your body at the sound of Sidon’s hushed voice. He dropped his hands from your mouth and shirt to allow you to turn around. “Sidon!”

“Shhhh!” he hissed with a finger coming to your lips. “These walls are made of stone and reverberate noise.”

You settled down and nodded. “Sorry. But what was with the sudden grab-and-pull? I thought I was going to be kidnapped or something.”

Sidon chuckled. Even with such a quiet laugh, he was still charming. “I wish there was a better way of attracting your attention. However, I couldn’t risk being caught if someone were to overhear me. Anyway, how is the gathering so far? Enjoying yourself?”

You nodded. “It’s a lot of fun, but also a lot of learning. Before the practice poetry session, they had to tell us all about the changes in grammar and syntax.” You sighed. “And there will be another learning session after this small break.” That sun-shaming smile popped back on the prince’s face. You placed your hands on your hips and gave him a frown. “I’m so glad you find my boredom amusing.” The room finally caught your eye. It was a cozy space made out of dark wood with candles alit to cast light on the spines of books. “What is this place? Isn’t having something made out of wood...illegal here because of the humidity?”

Sidon chuckled again. “Well, I was able to convince my father to allot me this place and its contents. And building something out of wood isn’t illegal. Just….ill advised. Besides, haven't you noticed the lack of humidity in the library?” Come to think of it, there was a certain dryness in the room compared to that outside. “A Zora technology to keep the books intact. Rather...uncomfortable for us Zora, but necessary. I’ve gotten used to it though and a good thing too. Not many people bother me here.”

“Explains your love of books,” you offered. You glanced around the room with its vast array of tomes. “What’s this section of the library?”

“My personal archive.” Sidon moved over to one shelf. “Here is my collection of the classics.” He moved to another shelf. “These are books of adventure. Over there is romance….and...well...we will skip the last bookcase.”

You smiled smugly. “What’s in that bookcase?” Sidon’s face flashed red. Before he could block you, you sprinted over to the last bookshelf and grabbed a book. Flipping it open to the nearest page, while still running, you saw the most lucious and naughty words. “Oh my, Prince Sidon likes these kinds of books hmmm? The Lusty Zorian Maid -” 

Sidon snatched the book from your hands. “That’s a private collection that shouldn’t be skimmed through. Now get back over there you peeping Hylian.” You laughed as Sidon pushed you back towards the entrance. Who knew that the prince enjoyed those trashy kinds of novels? Once far enough away from the debaucherous shelf, Sidon sighed. “Please don’t think ill of me after knowing that.”

You shook your head. “No, not at all. I was simply teasing…” A slight pain in your heart appeared after seeing the small tears in the prince’s eyes. “I’ll forget I saw anything. H...How have you been? There is some other kind of gathering that is going on, is there? Come to think of it...are you avoiding your princely duties to come see me again?” Sidon turned his head and avoided your stare. Even when I’m not at home. “Alright, alright. My break is just about over anyways. We should both get going. ”

Sidon pouted and gave you puppy eyes. “I don’t want to-”

A shelf moved out from the wall and slid to the side, revealing Bazz in a dark hallway. “Oh Prince Sidon~” The captain came out from the secret passageway to grab Sidon’s tail. “Come on, your presence is being missed. Say goodbye to (Y/N).” He pulled along Sidon by his headtail, much to the prince’s chagrin.

You watched as both boys disappeared behind the movable bookcase. What an interesting secret passageway. You stood there for a second or two, staring at the bookcase, then looked left. That streak of curiosity tugged at you. Quietly, you moved back over to the bookshelf and began reading the titles of Sidon’s secrets. You pulled one book off the shelf, before hearing Sidon’s voice.

“Peeping Hylian!” 

You dropped the book and broke into a sprint out of the wooden room. Once out and the door shut behind you, you covered your mouth with your own hand and chuckled behind it. In truth, you guess, you were both naughty in your own ways.

The world seemed like it was spinning. “Does the period go on the end or front of a sentence?” You plopped in a plush chair. Nothing felt so good all day. So much learning happened in the span of just a few hours. Could a brain explode from a sudden influx of knowledge? If so, you were on the brink.

Sevia laughed from across your shared room. “Don’t worry, the rest of the writer’s retreat will be just that...a retreat. The head people must find some importance in updating everyone about the latest lexicon and syntax. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. As that is why you have me, your editor.”

You smiled at her. “Thanks Sevia. You are the real reason my series got so widely popular in the first place.”

Sevia blushed and twiddled her fingers. “Well now...no need to get so sappy.” She allotted herself a single minute more of blushing before returning to normal. “Do you want to rest up a bit before going to the night festivities?”

Now it was your turn to blush. “Actually, I’m not feeling so well after all that learning. If...If I feel better I will certainly join you later.” Hopefully a bit more lying will get you through the night. There wasn’t a single evening dress within a price range of broke to peasant that would be acceptable at an event like this. You couldn’t possibly go with Sevia and tarnish her reputation.

Sevia looked at you and then to your small bag of clothes. “I’ve been meaning to ask, and don’t count me as rude, but what do you waste your money on? Are you in some kind of trouble with a debt collector that keeps you so poor?”

That blush took on a deeper shade of red. “I….I…” you couldn’t possibly tell her about buying expensive teas to host a prince! She would never believe it, but still!

A knock came to the door. Sevia pushed it open, revealing a Zora guard. “Miss Sevia, someone is asking for you in the dining area. Mr. Muncher, I believe.” That struck a chord within. Sevia quickly took one last look in the mirror, gave you a wink, and hurried off with the guard.

Now that you were alone, you took a much needed breath. Not much you could do now. It was-

Part of the wall moved open. And out popped a red prince, covered in cobwebs and dust. “Hey, how was the rest of your first day?”

After getting over the initial shock of Sidon bursting through your hotel wall, you shook your head. “How many secret passageways are in this place? But...besides that, you are covered in cobwebs!” You chuckled behind your hand. “You look like a dust bunny! Here, there is a towel somewhere.” You fetched one of the fluffy bathroom towels and handed it to Sidon.

He grinned, put a box down on a nearby chair, and took the towel from you. “You are always one to think of others first. I am still awaiting my answer. Did you have fun?”

You sighed and rolled your eyes. “If you call learning about updated commas ‘fun’, I guess. It was a lot, but Sevia promised tomorrow there will be more collaboration and sharing of ideas.”

Sidon smiled. “It is good to look forward to tomorrow for fun...but, the day is not over.” A brow was raised in question to the prince’s antics. “Why don’t you join the revelries tonight? There’s food, drink, and dance. That usually sounds like your ideal way of spending a night...mostly because it’s free.” He chuckled at the end of his sentence. 

You cocked your hip to the side. “Isn’t that for the fancy people gathering? And wouldn’t people know that you were giving me special treatment if they saw someone from the writer’s retreat sipping expensive wine with them?”

This only widened the prince’s smile. “Well, they won’t recognize you because it is going to be a masquerade. Everyone in the party will be wearing decorative masks to hide their identity. You will blend in most easily, my friend.”

You rubbed the back of your neck. “Even if I somehow craft a mask in time… I don’t have enough money to get a respectable evening dress.” Sidon gave you a knowing smile and motioned towards the box on the chair. Your eyes became wide and your mouth dropped. “You didn’t…”

He held his hands up. “Before you ask, you can return it to me once the event is over. I would much prefer you keep it and use it again so that I won’t have to go through the trouble once more of finding you the absolute perfect dress. But, you may return it if you wish.”

You pressed your lips together in a pout. “Well now I would feel guilty if I returned it, wouldn’t I?”

Sidon gave you a sly smile. “Whatever do you mean? I just gave you the option to return it.” His voice was teasing and kind.

You sighed. “Well, I never thought my fairy godmother would be a Zora, but here we are.” You touched the top of the decorative dress box. “Even with the mask….we still need to be careful.”

“Don’t fret. I will make sure to keep my distance, for a time.”

“For a time?” you echoed. Goodness, this man was tempting danger. But, if no one were to recognize you...how could there be any danger to tempt? 

Once more you touched the box. Such a gift definitely deserved a hug. After all, this was going to be an experience like no other. Who knows what inspiration you could garner from flitting among the elite? You turned to the Zora and extended your hands outward as an open invitation, one that Sidon gladly accepted with glee. He knelt down and cuddled you faster than you could say-

“Well now, I didn’t realize this was a romantic rendezvous.” Bazz leaned against the entrance of the door. “No, no. Don’t let my presence interfere with what was to come next. I just happened to follow the prince through a secret hallway with no ulterior motives at all. But, your presence is being missed, my prince.” Bazz moved over to you and the now-upright Sidon. 

“Is it really?” Sidon questioned in doubt.

Bazz placed his hands on his hips and nodded. “Yes. And this isn’t (Y/N)’s cottage. You have to be careful who could follow you. Can you imagine if it was someone else that caught you like this?” Your face got hotter when he said ‘like this’ . Goodness, what was Bazz thinking? There was no way it would have turned into anything more than a simple friendship hug. He’s such a little pest sometimes. 

You placed a hand on Sidon’s arm. “Thank you so much for the dress, Sidon. But, you should go before someone finds out that you’re here. Mainly my editor, Sevia. Hylia knows that she would be asking too many questions.”

Sidon pouted and sulked. “Alright…” He lethargically dragged himself back to the entrance of the secret passageway where he waved and said goodbye. But before Bazz ducked back into the secret passageway, he smiled….seductively. “I know you hate us leaving, but you love to see us go.” He flipped the edge of his fins in a flirtatious way before a red hand grabbed his head and pulled him inwards, followed by the door shutting. 

To keep any other thoughts from entering into your head, you quickly opened the box. On top of blue iridescent fabric lay a mask of Zorian silver. The ornate carvings of fish and waves hallowed out the mask, making the weight light enough to be worn on the face. You picked it up and put your nose in the divot, making the rest of the mask lay exactly where it was supposed to be. It fit perfectly. Somehow, that made your stomach flutter. This had to be made just for you. What if the dress was the same way? You took another look at the contents of the box. Inside was a dress made of blue silk and structured in a way that appeared like water. The reflective nature of the fabric reflected the light at certain points. 

The prince must have spent every royal rupee to make certain this was the most luxury of dresses. Normally, you would have chided him for spending so much. However, this was a masquerade. To be opulent was to blend in. 

Your heart raced at what could await you as such an esteemed event. But something told you it was going to be alright. A feeling deep down reassured you.

Threads of old fell from your body as new silks covered it. Each new ornament paired better than the last as bracelets, necklaces, and shoes were taken out of the box. You looked in the silver mirror on the vanity and recognized the reflection. 

The outfit was just as you described it in one of your books. Though, there was more artistic flair and liberties taken to make it more realistic. How poetic of Sidon to gift you a dress that reflected your shared love of a series. The sweetness and thoughtfulness of that boy was unmatched.

You blinked at your reflection. And looked to the ground. There was a letter that fell out somehow. You opened it and began to read its contents.

Bazz will come and get you when you are ready. Just slip the red tab under your door into the hallway.

Interesting you thought to yourself. He trusts Bazz to take me to the dance.

You could just imagine the prince’s face as the captain would lead you arm in arm into the ballroom. All eyes looking on the mysterious couple that just waltzed in, causing the prince to cross the room and sweep you off your feet out of jealousy.

A smile came to your lips as you plucked the red tab from the envelope and slid it under your door. “I do hope he can compose himself” you whispered. “Well, both Zora.” Oh goodness your face flashed hot thinking of the captain misbehaving. Those deep eyes filled with hidden temptations, leading you into his arms. He knew his charms and used them to lure in his prey. Not that you would mind, no...maybe being a bit of a snack would suit you tonight. May I walk you back to your room, my lady? he would say. 

Your arms fluttered around you as you tried to get all of those luscious images out of your head. “Oh dear I can’t think like that! We can’t just have a romantic night and get married and have children-”

“Ready to go? Or should I leave you in your fantasy world.” Bazz leaned coolly against the doorframe. “It sounded quite nice. I envy the person you were thinking about, the prince perhaps?”

Your skin crawled at the mention of the prince. How could you fantasize about Bazz when Sidon was the one who set this whole thing up for you? Your fingers came together and intertwined. “M...maybe I shouldn’t go tonight. I don’t feel all that well.”

“Oh really? Shame. Sidon will be so disappointed…” He tilted his head to gauge your reaction. “(Y/N), you will be fine tonight. Relax and have fun.”

You looked up into his eyes. There were no hidden temptations, no ulterior motives behind his gaze. His mask-less face only emulated pleasantries and no more. With that, you relaxed. In this world, sometimes perception and conjectures were opposed to reality. You could really psych yourself out sometimes. “Sorry about that. Nerves must be getting the best of me. Let’s go.”

He held the door for you on your way out. “No worries. Even the most seasoned warrior has their fears. Come, we have a bit of a walk to make sure no one follows.”

You followed beside him, picking up your skirts to keep you from tripping over yourself. Bazz was right. It was quite a walk. And in these uncomfortable shoes, it began to hurt your feet. There were statues that looked the same as you rounded corners and passed through hallways. By the time you were to enter the ballroom, you could barely tell where you were. 

“I shall leave you here. Just slip inside and head to the fountain inside. Most people go there to mingle. Have fun.” He waved and began to walk away before turning around. “Hey, you are more worthy than half the people in there just to talk to the prince. Don’t devalue yourself.” Those were the words of wisdom of a Zora lifetime, you could feel it. 

The door opened and a man walked out. “Oh, pardon me, my lady. Here…” The Hylian held it open for you to walk through. You nodded a small nod before hurrying inside. Not a day before he would have scoffed at you. Maybe the dress had some enchantment on it? Or all that requires respect in this fancy world was the latest fashion?

The ballroom was filled like it was earlier today with guests of all races dressed to the nines. Each guest adorned a mask like your own. Though, they were elaborate in a different way. Some Rito had expensive feathers while Gerudo masks were decorated with precious gems and gold. 

The sea of people nearly swallowed you before you spotted the fountain. Quickly you rushed over to it, hoping a certain red Zora would come and save you from this fear of the elite. Though, when you got there, he wasn’t there. You looked around the room, seeing if you could find him.

“Looking for someone?” a voice behind you said.

You turned only for your heart to drop once more. It was simply a Hylian dressed in a blue waistcoat and black velvet trousers. An unsettling air hovered around this masked person. Their mask had a nose so big that it curled down to their chin. The depth of the fake wrinkles could curdle fresh milk. Though, for all the ugliness of the mask, the beautiful pin of a horse upon his breast told that he was a merchant. You faked a smile. “Just waiting for a friend.”

A small puff of amusement left his lips. “Well, good luck finding them. In a masquerade, there are plenty of people who mistake each other. Maybe your friend is off socializing with someone who looks like you. Well, now that I look at you, that simply cannot be. You are quite striking, my dear.” 

Your cheeks flushed. Was that a compliment or a slight? The upper class always had this way with words that could be taken two ways. Usually a complement was on the surface while the true malice was hidden underneath. It was quite the acquired talent for the rich back home. Are the games the same here?

“I am Travis Von Sentinel, a merchant. And who do I owe the pleasure of meeting tonight?” His smile curled behind the long, fake nose.. The more you looked, the more disgusted you were. The man was slimy, inside and out.

“I am no one of consequence,” you offered.

“Oh come now. Surely you have a name you can give me. Even if it is a masquerade, there is still a real person under each ornament. Come, come and tell me.” The guy reached for your hand and grabbed it. The softness of his skin was unnerving. The cold temperature made it even worse. Oh Hylia save you!

Then, someone did. A clawed hand removed the cold hand from yours. The shorter stature and black scales seemed oddly familiar, but his silver mask hid most of his face. “Refrain from touching her.” That same clawed hand grabbed your arm and pulled you away towards the food table. He pulled you close and leaned down. “So much for my night off. I leave for one minute to put on a mask and you get in trouble with a notorious pervert.”

Your eyes widened. Both at his words and his identity. “Bazz?” you whispered. He smiled a jovial smile, making him look younger than you….impossibly so. Was the man letting loose with you? “Thank you,” you said. “I was getting rather uncomfortable.”

Bazz chuckled. “You and any other poor soul that happens to come across his path. Good thing I move quickly. I should have known sending you in alone was a bad idea. But, then again, we couldn’t risk going in together. You aren't the most experienced actress. There was no way of posing as a couple.” Your cheeks flushed at what could be. “Shall we get some free food?”

Before you could answer, he guided you over to the table filled with the most beautiful food you ever laid eyes on. Towers of meats, cheeses, wines, and champagnes imposed their rich sovereignty over you. While staring at the gorgeous display of lavishness, Bazz handed you a plate of fruit carved into flowers. The hydromelon was a rose, the voltfruit was a lily. This was art, not food! How could someone eat such a work? Well, Bazz apparently could. He began chewing a filet of fish in the shape of...a fish. You took after him and sampled the flower. 

Heaven descended into your mouth. How could such an intricately cut fruit still taste fresh? The only thing you could afford was dried fruits from the far off land. Was the voltfruit grown here? Or was it imported swiftly? 

“Good?” Bazz asked. You nodded in earnest. You reached for another plate before Bazz snatched your hand. “Now, now. Eat what you have. Then you can come back for seconds. No need to act like a starved little cucco.”

Wow, good thing you had Bazz looking out for you. Who knows what kind of stares you would have acquired on your own? You began chewing and enjoying the next flower fruits instead. Each seemed more delicious than the last. Juicy flavors burst in your mouth like a crackling fire. And Hylia did that flame burn. Tastes that you once thought impossible were brought to your own mouth for a once in a lifetime festival. “It’s delicious…” you whispered.

Bazz gave you a honey sweet smile. “I’m glad. You deserve it, after all. Sometimes I shake my head on how much money you spend on tea for that boy.” It took you a second to remember who that boy was. The prince, of course. But, with so many ears around, Bazz couldn’t just come right out and say Sidon’s name.

You ran your finger along the golden rim of the plate. “To be honest, his company is worth the price of tea. He adds so much joy to my life, you know.” Your eyes shyly looked up to the captain. His face flushed a deep color of a rosey red apple. “D...did I say something strange?”

Bazz snapped his face away from your view. “How can you be so unaware of your adorable nature? Come, lets...get some more food...or...something.” He began to walk away, so that you would follow. And you did, of course. Who else would voluntarily leave their guide in such a strange land full of ill intent people? 

The other end of the table was for beverages and tiny sandwiches to go with said drinks. Though, the sandwiches seemed to be decorated as well, for the bread was of the same color as the captain’s cheeks moments prior. You took one and sampled it. “It’s sweet…” you mumbled in disbelief. Who ever thought there was such a thing as a sweet sandwich? 

Bazz bent down to whisper in your ear. “The bread is a sweet bread made with the finest sugar and strawberries. The filling is a jam of a different kind of strawberry.” He leaned back up and took a sandwich for himself. “These are my favorites at parties.” The Zora took a bite and smiled with that syrup-sweetness that still seemed like a stranger to you. Maybe this was the magic of a masquerade. There was no worry to impress anyone, so you could truly be yourself. 

The captain must have noticed you staring, as his eyes widened. “Do I have something on my face?”

A small shock of reality ran through you. “Oh...ummm...no, just...I’m not used to seeing you so relaxed.”

Bazz let out a small, pathetic chuckle. “Yes, that would make sense why you think as such. I have the habit of working myself too hard. The opposite of some other Zora I can think of, haha. Well, maybe I am being too harsh. We both work our fins off in our own ways. Unfortunately, I don’t have an adorable Hylian woman to take my respite with.” Well that caused a bit of color to dust your cheeks. Bazz held out his hand. “If you are well-sated, will you delight me with a dance?”

You reached out and touched his hand. Warm yet cool sensations tingled your skin. The gentleness of his hands would leave one to believe he never held a sword. Or would it prove the opposite? Such dexterity and fine handling had you swooning. What a gentleman…

Bazz wasn’t so tall that he had to hunch over, thank goodness. But, instead of holding your waist, his hand rested just under your arm...oh dear. The Zora do not sexualize the upper portion of a woman’s chest. Granted, his hand isn’t touching even the side of it, but every now and then the lightest graze of his wrist would brush up against you. And Bazz would be none the wiser…

The music picked up into a waltz, one that the captain led you through. These dances were foreign, not because they were Zora, but because they were the ritzy dances of the upper class. To Bazz’s credit, he was doing an amazing job at leading. Any other person would have stepped on your toes by now...and you are most glad your toes remain not-crushed. The Zora danced you around the hall, swaying to and fro. He was truly delightful. You found yourself laughing and smiling through the multitude of dances. And you heard it, the deep, delightful sound of Bazz’s laugh. Not one of mockery or pity for taking the prince from you, but a true laugh. The deep ocean of his joy was something you would treasure for days to come. He must have picked up on that, as he decided to comment. “What is it, my Hylian? Haven't you heard me laugh before?”

You shook your head. “No, not quite like that. I’m glad I could make you this happy.”

Bazz lowered his head to dip into your personal space. “If you keep acting this cute, I might just dance you away.” You smiled, but blushed at his comment. He was half teasing, of course. Half teasing…

Maybe there was something in that delectable food. But, you didn’t quite feel like yourself. A fire lit inside you to play with danger. “And where would you dance me off to? The other end of the ballroom?”

Bazz was half taken aback at your countermove. He reset his face once more to pleasantries. “No, that wouldn’t be far enough. I think I might dance you into the wood, all the way to a fairy pool. And there we could dance the rest of the night together under the soft glimmer of a fairy’s light.”

You smiled. “I didn’t think you were a poetic man. Ekos’s Fairy Land if my memory is correct. But what would we do if the fairy decides to keep you for herself? How would I explain to our mutual friend that I allowed you to be bewitched by the Great Fairy, herself?”

Bazz chuckled. “I think he would welcome the opportunity to visit your cottage more often. Better stock up on that tea.” 

You had to cover your mouth from laughing too loud. “You are so witty!”

A loud roar of applause nearly deafened you. Bazz’s gaze caused your own to follow. Up on the dais was the prince. His mask was an ornate silver that reached up to a velvet red tricorn covering his crest. A small black feather was placed on the side of the tricorn, reminiscent of his former crown. The belt he now wore was a delicate chain of silver and diamonds. His wristlets were more ornate and set with several small sapphires. To top it all off, his neckwear was thin weavings of Zora silverwork. Small, diamond fish jumped and played in a river while several waterfalls from his neck cascaded onto his chest, finishing in an outline of a cloud. If the prince moved too much, he would definitely snap such an intricate art piece. Or maybe, the silver here was stronger than the average silver? Whatever the strength, it was doubtless the most expensive thing you have ever seen in your life.

“Well, my lady, I guess I won’t be dancing you to that fairy pool tonight. It seems your own fairy light has entranced the prince to come out of his parlor.” Bazz smiled wryly at you. The looseness in his grip prompted you to be drawn towards Hylia’s artwork. But, just as you slipped from Bazz’s grasp did he once again take your arm. He brought you back towards him. “Now, now. No need to get everyone suspicious of a Hylian that the prince would no doubt jump at the chance to dance with. Relax, everything will happen with time. Though, he’s late like always.” That last bit Bazz nearly growled.

Sidon accepted a dance with a noble Zora woman who took to smiling at her onlooker’s faces rather than the prince himself. You focused back on your own dance. “What an arrogant attachment the prince has acquired.” Bazz puffed and air of laughter. 

“He has plenty more attachments of that nature to dance with before the night is over. Care to wager?” The Zora tilted his head.

You let your own mischievous smile past your lips. “Most gladly, but what do I have that you couldn’t acquire yourself?”

Now Bazz’s joke turned to juicy interest. That sparkle in his eye was back. “Well now, a cask of that delicious and delirious cider would do.” He breathed in and sighed. “I can see myself relaxed with it now….in his office...watching a red glow envelope his perfect cheeks….jealousy eating at the poor boy.”

Your mouth opened in shock. “Th...that’s horrible! You can be so cruel sometimes.”

The captain chuckled. “Well, it’s years of pent up frustration and my own jealousy. A slight against his ego would do him good, as well as being most satisfactory to me. Now, the wager…”

You nodded in agreement to his little game. “For my boon, a basket of those delectable sandwiches. I enjoyed them more than I should. And, and aaaaannnnddd it should be enough for all three of us.”

Bazz cocked his head in interest once more. “And why would you want to eat three people’s worth of sandwiches by yourself?”

You rolled your eyes at him. “I thought a nice friendly picnic with some hard cider would do everyone good. A small respite before the winter months come.”

Bazz laughed and shook his head. “Now are you trying to purposefully make me lose? I would do better losing this trifle. Well, we shall see our outcome in due time. My bet is forty different flowers taken by his arm. And you?”

You blinked.  Forty? That was way too many. He was certainly trying to lose now. Well then.. “I would have to say only fifteen girls could dance with him before the night was over.”

Bazz tilted his head to the side. “I thought the point of making a bet was to win.” 

You blinked at him. “I think it is an adequate number. Yours was way too high. Have you heard the length of the songs?”

To this, he simply chuckled once more. “We will see.”

Well, after only half past the hour, your wager was lost. A sigh escaped your lips as you sipped on the most delicious Zora wine. Though, its blue color was off putting at first. Blue grapes, who knew? You looked at Bazz and shrugged your shoulders.  “You know, I feel more sorry for him than anything else. He hasn’t taken a break. I couldn’t dance that long.” 

Bazz took another sip of his own wine before responding. “He has more stamina than you realize when it comes to these egregious affairs. Give him credit, doesn’t he look abhorrently decadent? Fits right in.” The captain took another long sip of his wine. “Why don’t you go and join the line? It has dwindled a tad, but if you want to get your princely dance in, you better join now or else the night will pass you by.”

You smiled, placed your glass on the table, and hurried over to the line of dance partners. Those soon-to-be dancers were as varied as the number of sand grains on the beach. Rito, Gurudo, Zora, Hylian, and Goron were all standing in line to make their acquaintance with the handsome prince. 

You patiently waited your turn.

And waited your turn.

And waited some more.

Your feet began to hurt from standing so long. It seemed like forever and there were still so many people in front of you. After getting such an eyeful of the prince’s dance moves, you looked around the ballroom. The curtains were quite spectacular. Bright red velvet that reached the overarching ceiling. The quality of the materials were second to none. If you had your scissors, you might have been able to cut a bit off. Just a trim, enough to make your own curtains at home. Besides, there was extra fabric on the floor. You could help the Zora out by evening it out to just above floor length.

“My beautiful lady, it’s your turn.” The deep and posh voice of the prince snapped you out of your catburglering fantasies. Sidon held out his hand for you to take. It was only a moment of hesitation on your part, but it felt like eternity. Finally, you took his hand and stepped onto the dance floor. He could only hold both of your hands because of the height difference, but that was fine. Everything was fine. Better than fine...perfect. Sidon smiled and twirled you around. He dipped you down and leaned down to whisper. “I hope you are having a splendid time, my fairy.” He waltzed with you a bit more before going in for another dip. “I also hope my captain is behaving himself.” He brought you back up and twirled you to the music once more. This was amazing. Every story about a ball you have ever written came to mind. No wonder everyone dreams of attending one. 

Sidon was such a wonderful dancer. And with his rich dressings...goddess...he was simply ethereal. He had you run and arched you up in the air ever so slightly so that you could get a full view of his joyous smile. Those bright white teeth could blind even a perfect pearl. He twirled you around once more. Then, the song was over. He bowed to you and showed you off so that the next dance partner could come forward.

You stood there for a second before realizing he was serious about your turn being over. Man this sucks… Even with your feet feeling the weight of your heart, you trudged back over to the captain.

Bazz was waiting for you at the same table. “So, how was his majesty?”

You sighed and sat down across from him. “It was over in the blink of an eye. I really thought I was going to spend more time with him.”

Bazz waved his hand. “You were in that line. Do you understand why my bet was so high?” To this, you nodded. Bazz clicked his tongue. “Oh come now, you had fun while it lasted. Back to the food table one more time before we call it a night?”

You nodded and followed him to the dwindling mountain of food to eat your fill. And eat your fill you did...as much as Bazz allowed you, of course. But, you were well sated both in food and friendship. The captain was an excellent conversationalist, you found out. Born to the previous Domain’s general and friends with the prince since Sidon was born. Who knew that Bazz was older, considering their height difference? And two decades at that!

By the last bite, Bazz took you by the arm and led you out of the room, down the hall, and to your suite. “I’ll leave you here, my lady. I hope I showed you a good time tonight.”

You smiled at him. “And you, good gentleman, showed me luxury beyond comprehension.” You chuckled. “I had a great time, thank you Bazz.” You extended your arms and he bent down for a hug.

A gasp made both of you split from the other. Sevia covered her mouth and then ducked back into your shared room.

You sighed and hung your head low. “Crap. Now I have to deal with this…”

Bazz brought his thumb and finger to his chin. “What a shocking turn of events. How will I ever explain this to Sidon? Oh he will be so upset knowing that I am now his fairy’s Zora lover.”

You frowned at the captain. “Why do you enjoy others' pain? It’s not flattering.”

Bazz simply smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe because I would like to play the part.”

“You are too flirty for your own good.”

“So I’ve been told.” He waved and began walking down the hallway. “Goodnight, my lady!”

Chapter Text

“You HAVE to tell me what that was about! And this gown! So that was what you were planning to do. Sneak over to the rich side to snag yourself a fancy gentleman? I do envy your bold initiative.” Sevia was now rolling around on her bed dreaming of flowery romance and secrets in the night. “And what a handsome Zora he was! I couldn’t quite see with the mask on, but the luster of his scales and those biceps! Mmmm! Such a hottie!”

You just let her talk and dream as you were shedding your threads. Sevia was a lofty and would no doubt be focused on some other gossip by midmorning. Each vision of your future life with Bazz would appear charming, a bit unreasonable. No he wasn’t a rich vendor who traveled to distant lands or a poor lad down on his luck that had the same idea you did. Little did she know, and would never guess, that the Zora was none other than Captain Bazz. Well, she wouldn’t believe it either. You turned to her as she was spouting more nonsense, “I had an amazing time sipping fancy wine and eating fancy meals with a kind Zora. Just a bit of flirtatious nature, nothing to start planning my life over. Besides, I have more books to write.”

Sevia rolled on her back and looked at you upside down. “For an author, you probably have the dull sense of imagination.”

You chuckled and placed your dress back in the box. “I prefer to think of it as, grounded in reality.”

To that, Sevia frowned. “You really have no other plans but to live in that small cottage, forage for food, and write books alone all your life?”

Now with your night shift on, you place your hands on your hips. “Yes.”

Sevia flipped back up and now sat. “I can’t believe you don’t dream of the big city or wealth beyond imagination. You know, if this prince likes your poem tomorrow, you could get him to endorse your next book! You would never be in want again! Move to the exciting part of society, get married, become an artist, or whatever you want to do.”

The mention of Sidon had you straighten your back. Then, relax. “I prefer to get there on my own merits, not because of some other person’s approval.”

Sevia fell back on the bed. “But you’re an author! Your work is founded on approval from others!”

“You know what I meant.” The silken sheets greeted you with coolness as you laid down for the night. “Enough of me though, what about this...Mr. Hamburger?”

“Mr. Muncher,” she corrected. “And it was nothing more than business talk. I don’t know, (Y/N)...I have been after his heart for years. Maybe it’s time to pack up and move on.”

“Now, where is your imagination?” you teased.

It seemed as though the night flew by without a second thought. Though there was that swift need to use the toilet. Must have been all the fancy drinks. Maybe you just dreamt of that dance with the prince. An alcoholic dreamt dance with the handsome Prince Sidon. He dipped and danced your body around his own. The music would stop for that one, brief kiss.

“(Y/N), wake up. We need to get going. The poetry session starts in an hour or so.” Sevia’s groggy voice peeled your eyes open to the morning sun. Your editor was walking from the doorway, obviously she woke up from the caller. How did you sleep through such aggressive knocking? Besides that, you dreamt of Sidon...kissing you. Obviously nothing based in reality. But still, it sure felt real for a brief second. You touched your lips.

“Oooohhh were you dreaming of that Zora boy?” Sevia was now next to your bed with quite an obnoxious smile plastered on her face. 

You shook your head and threw off the covers. “No,” you said as you walked to the bathroom, “I was dreaming of Mr. Muncher.”

Sevia crossed her arms and pouted. “You don’t even know what he looks like.”

You closed the bathroom door to shut out any more unwelcome morning bickering. A gasp came from your mouth upon looking at the mirror. Untidy hair was bent in several ways you didn’t know was possible, the late-night look that radiated from your skin, and not to mention the lingering scent of alcohol from that delicious wine last night. “I look horrible…”

Without any hesitation, you jumped in the shower -fancy-  and desperately tried to put yourself together before the hour was up. Thankfully, the powders and scents that came complementary to the suite helped tremendously with your transformation into an actual author rather than the late night gremlin you woke up to. It was not a perfect transformation, your tired eyes told that much, but it will have to do.

Once you emerged from the bathroom, you slipped into your plain day clothes. But, you made sure that the pink silk was placed in your hair for all to see. Who knew a simple gift wrap would become one of your iconic fashion statements for elite events. Plus, Sidon would be able to see you wear one of his gifts. Well, a repurposed wrapping to one of his gifts. 

You hurried along with Sevia down to the library to be greeted with breakfast. It was a far cry from the elegant delicacies of the previous night. Plain oat muffins and scones were nothing to brag about. It was free though. You grabbed one of each and a lemon infused water and scurried to an open table to eat. 

“Psst, (Y/N)!” Sevia’s voice caused you to turn around to see her nodding at another empty table. Confused but wanting to go along with it, you reached down to gather your morning meal, only to see the person sitting at the other end of your table. Your eyes trailed up his long white torso to his crest adorned with a silver crown. 

Sidon smiled as he leaned his cheek on his fist. Your face turned all sorts of red as you caught the room staring at you. How did you not notice him sitting here? He’s huge! And red! “A- A- A- a pp- pp- apologies mmm my- my- prince.” 

Before you could make another move, Sidon motioned for you to stop. “It’s fine. Come, sit. I wish to meet some of our up and coming authors.” You did as you were bid. Sidon then whispered to one of the guards who went over to Sevia and escorted her to the table as well. “Now then, to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?”

Sevia quickly squeezed your hand under the table. It was a small, but understood sign for her to talk instead of you. “I am Sevia, an editor. This is my newest author, (Y/N), who goes by the pen name Fabulous Hydromellons.”

Your blood froze. What kind of name is that!

Sidon cocked his head to the side. “Oh, and what kinds of books would warrant a pen name like that?”

Sevia quickly waved her hand to brush it off. “Oh, books that wouldn’t interest someone of your standing.”

Sidon smiled darkly. “On the contrary, I am clearly interested in knowing.” His eyes now turned to you. “Why don’t you tell me? A premise of what I would find in a Hydromellon book should suffice.”

Your eye twitched. The man was playing with fire. Openly taking interest in a commoner and “new author” will raise suspicions! If Captain Bazz were here he would never allow Sidon to play such dangerous games. Furthermore, there is no way Sidon would believe any of the garbage about to come out of your mouth. Well then, might as well make this entertaining for everyone involved. “I write extremely smutty erotica novels. Most of which involve a traveling merchant and his hydromellon to accompany him. Hence the name.” Never in your life did you think you could say something so vulgar with a straight face. But, you did it. And indeed, Sidon is most entertained.

“How interesting. I will have to get a copy of your latest book when it first hits the carts.”

You smiled. “Well, unfortunately I have lost the passion to write such trash. It is also detrimental to the people in possession of such atrocities to literature, as they have to hide their library.” You raised a slight eyebrow at the prince, who returned it with a pleasant poker face. “I now wish to pen poetry. I had an excellent experience with a dear friend of mine and will continue down that path.”

The prince leaned back in his chair. “Sounds like an amazing friend. Must be someone of major importance in your life to change a career path.”

Oh boo, now he was stroking his own ego. How did he always find a way to do that? Must be a hidden talent of his. “Yes. A most dear and trusted friend who would never ever put me on the spot. How kind of him.”

A small puff of amusement escaped his lips. The prince then turned towards Sevia and continued on about books and editing. You took this time to regain normal breathing in between bites of your food. How could Sidon put you on the spot like that? There is teasing, but this is a whole new level of danger. And Fabulous Hydromellons ...did Sevia really put that down as your author name when applying to this retreat? Did she also submit that trashy prototype novel along with your application so they would accept you? What kind of danger will come your way in the future due to this encounter? 

“(Y/N), come on. It’s time to start.” Sevia shook your arm, waking you from your grim thoughts. Prince Sidon was now elsewhere talking to a different group of authors. Good thing too, as you had some words for your editor. Sevia crossed her arms. “Stop spacing out so much. That’s what got us into that hot seat.”

“No, Fabulous Hydromellons was the one who got us into the hot seat.”

Sevia pleaded with her eyes. “I had to have some author name! I also couldn’t just use your business name either. They would never accept someone who just writes up fliers and paid articles. I’m sorry for lying to you, but I couldn’t just lie in front of the prince. As kind as he is, he could easily have us interrogated if something seemed suspicious.”

Two claps from Sidon made both you and your editor turn. The prince stood regally in the front of the room. “We shall begin our poetry workshop. I have prepared some paper and pens for today. So please, come up and grab some supplies, then return to your seat. You may keep the pen as a token of gratitude for traveling here and gracing the Domain with your artistry.”

It was a slow start, but soon a line formed at the supply table with Sevia and you among the last in line. Both of you refused to look at each other, obviously ruffled by the previous conversation. When it came to your turn, you picked out one piece of paper and one pen among the pile of many. Maybe if no one was looking, you could sneak a few more? Oh, but the line kept moving you along. Before that devious plot was even hatched, the chance was already gone.

Still, the pen that you acquired was breathtaking. You rotated it between your fingers and admired the Zora crest embossed at the top. It was a pen for mass production, but the simplistic beauty rivaled anything you had in your own home. Besides, now you have two pens! Oh all the things you could write and not spill ink everywhere! This trip was worth it just for the pen.

As you returned to your seat, you passed by the prince who gave a subtle wink at you. If there weren’t so many eyes, you would have stuck your tongue out at the smug prince. Instead, you adorned your education from the night prior to gift the prince your most gallant smile that fluttered throughout that ballroom.

The dusting of red on the prince’s cheeks made you drop your smile.

You stopped your pacing for a small second. What just happened?

Sidon continued to stare at you with burning heat. The quick beating of your heart responded in turn to his intense eyes. You felt your hand being held in one covered with scales, pulling you away from the red prince. 

Only the dwindling image of Prince Sidon made you turn towards your handler. Those onyx scales around topaz eyes drew you into the void of himself rather than the prince. “You are playing a dangerous game, little writer.” Bazz’s hushed voice curled your ears in embarrassment. He chuckled lowly. “A knight in shining armor always arrives when needed. I thought you knew the stories…” And with that, he released your hand.

Your eyes followed his sensual walking until Sevia tugged at your clothing. “What was that!” She kept pulling you along until you reached a table. Which she promptly sat you down at. “That was him wasn’t it? The handsome Zora stealing you away from the prince’s capturing smile? Is that your secret lover? No man walks away like that unless he is trying to capture a heart! He’s really handsome. But to think it was the Captain of the Zora Royal Guard! No wonder you wanted to keep it a secret. Don’t worry. I think I was the only one who noticed.” Sevia was grinning ear to ear. She once again grasped your hand. “I’m so happy for you! He’s so handsome and...I would love to see under those fins of his.”

“Sevia!” you scolded. Giggles were the response.

“I know, I know….he’s yours. But if you happen to break his heart, tell him I’m available for treatment.” She squeezed your hand in a playful manner. You sighed. What would be the point of correcting her? Sevia always believed in fairytales anyway. And it did seem like Bazz and you would be the perfect fit for a fable. Just short of a prince would be his second in command. A lowly cottage writer and the shining knight.

No no, you’re team Sidon! T- t- t- team Sidon!

Sevia leaned in closer to you. “We better hurry up and start writing. Most people seem like they’re done.”

Crap! You quickly opened the cap to the pen. Oh Hylia what were you going to write about when you are this flustered? Nothing substantial is ever produced like this! Only love poems and sonnets performed by drunken bards….

Night captured me away from the starlight waters,

Reflection of fairies gone past,

Lotus leaves and green ivy,

Embers washed away.

“Time is up!” Sidon’s booming voice put you on edge. Well, more so than you already were. “Please find groups of five to share your poems for critique.”

Critique? Nobody said anything about having to read this poem out loud! You turned to Sevia who simply dragged you along towards a trio of fancy dressed lads. No one thinks about the scared introvert, do they?

The three men apparently were well acquainted as they asked for your names and gave none in return. Rudeness to a fault these poets were. They gave each other the most helpful critiques and only brushed off Sevia’s as “pedestrian” and “common thoughts.”

When it came to you, the words couldn’t form in your mouth. The rudeness and stares placed an invisible weight on your chest. Public speaking was never your strong suit. Even if ‘public’ was simply three strangers and your editor. “I’m sorry,” you apologize. “Give me a moment. I’m quite nervous and-”

“Just give me that!” The tallest of the men snatched your paper from your hands. His eyes shifted from line to line as a sneer smile slithered across his face. “What is this? You call this poetry? What is the flow of this? The sheer eye strain this is.” He balled up your sheet of paper. “Don’t worry. I’ll save you the humiliation of reading this garbage in front of his majesty.”

Your hands gently reached out for your words. Even though it wasn’t much time, it was still one of your works! No matter how lame it might be, that is no way to treat a fellow writer!

A red hand reached for the ball of paper. Sidon smiled down at the man holding your poem. “If you please.”

The tall Hylian chuckled and shook his head. “Your grace, it is nothing more than rubbish. We plan to help her write a more suitable poem to share with other groups.” Even with the weak pleas, Prince Sidon continued to ask for the parchment with his outstretched hand.

“I would like to judge that for myself.” 

The man finally gave into Sidon’s request and handed him the paper. Those golden eyes scanned the lines of poetry as the rose color flushed his white cheeks with some form of shame. A delicate smile passed his lips when he handed the wrinkly text back to you. 

“It moved me.”

That was all he said before he left for another group. Oh dear, what kind of thoughts are passing through his mind right now. Did he like it? Or was it some kind of facade to save what little dignity you had from these men? What-

“Switch groups again please! Then we will reconvene!” 

The command was sudden, but the rush of people was even more alarming. Sevia could barely hold onto you as the mill of authors turned with fiery might. No doubt the newly formed groups wanted the better authors to get more critique from the prince. Anything that man reads becomes the number one best seller. Well, the books he publicly acknowledges that he reads.

Sevia and you quickly settled into another group of authors, two Rito and another Hylian. This group, thank Hylia, was a lot better. The poems and critiques were constructive and empowering. Not at all like the frozen reception of the previous group. Still, when it came time to your turn, that same paralyzing feeling got to you. The quickness of your heart became too much to comprehend as fluff filled what little headspace was saved for thinking. 

Sidon’s voice couldn’t have come at a more convenient time. “Alright, everyone back to their seats. We will then edit what we have and present the final draft to all, one at a time.”

Stone

Your body felt like stone. It was hard enough to try and muster up the courage to present your work orally in front of three strangers….Now, in front of at least forty different authors….no way….no way this was going to work out.

So that’s why you slipped out when all the participants rushed back to their tables. Sorry Sevia….I just can’t....

Chapter Text

Your hands clung to the stone railing concealing the edge of the balcony. Goodness, a near-panic attack was not on your list of things to do today. How do the organizers not know most authors are introverts? Telling them to read a hastily written out poem for others to base their first impressions on is just…who thought of this?

You heart yearned for the quietness of the cottage. The smell of sage drying with lavender… The rustic quaintness of the wooden beams…Paradise appeared to be so simple in these times of anxiety and strife. All that was here was…water

Drip…drip...trickle trickle.

The gentle song of running water from the fountains plucked a soothing melody. You looked over and watched the streams run down a sheet of sparkling glass before plopping into a small pool below. The sun aided the beauty of the moving sculpture. Simply from the glass being transparent, the light reflects both on the back of the water and above, capturing the water’s best angles.

Now, more relaxed and approachable, you took a few deep breaths. In…out…stretch your arms upward, in…out…

“Not a good place to do yoga.”

You turned around to Bazz who was giving the most annoying smirk. He joined you by the edge of the terrace. “Just breathing deeply,” you finally answered.

He chuckled. “I was teasing you. How are you doing? I saw you rush out. Don’t tell me you got sick or something from the wine last night.”

You shook your head. “No, no nothing like that. I just can’t talk in front of people. I get rather nervous.”

Bazz leaned on the railing. “Everyone gets nervous when talking in front of people.”

You sighed. “No…it’s more intense than most people.” With luck, Bazz understood your plight. “What are you doing out here? Aren't you like the prince’s private guard or something?” Bazz looked away quickly, but not before catching the faintest crimson on his cheeks.

“Well, I guard the interests of the prince…so to speak.” He turned back to you. “But that’s not why I’m out here. I’m just concerned about you. The expression on your face was far from pleasant.” Bazz reached over and covered your hand with his own.

A small, warm feeling entered your heart. The Zora was such an accidental flirt. Maybe it was his voice, or that deepness in his eyes that could trick an unsuspecting person into handing over their heart. But before you could even decide what to do, that hand was removed.

Bazz returned it to support himself against the railing. “Well, that certainly turned your mind to somewhere more pleasant. Glad you are feeling better.” Your cheeks turned an embarrassing shade of crimson. “Oh don’t get all flustered. It was nothing more than a gentle friendly hand touch. Not that I would mind continuing…” He looked over to gauge your reaction. A breathless laugh came from his enticing lips before he whipped his head back, face towards the clear sky. “You really are something special. Cute as a minnow.”

He stood that way for a few moments. Eyes simply tracing the sky, letting the time pass in sweet bliss. The fins on either side of his face began to sway with the gentle fall breeze. Even after several minutes passed, he still didn’t gaze your way. What could he be thinking about?

“Do I look sexy like this?”

You put your face in your hands to try and muffle the laughter. The sheer stupidity of this man. “You’re an idiot,” you managed to say between chuckles.

He finally looked your way and smiled his charming smile. “Well if it helps you out then it is all worth it. So, talking in front of people makes you nervous?”

You sighed and nodded. “Yah, more of a paralyzing fear.”

Bazz clenched his teeth and looked away. “I told him it was a dumb idea.” You blinked a few times. Bazz turned back to you and rolled his shoulder in a shrug. “Sidon kind of…thought it would be a great idea for you to…show your work to a larger audience rather than just the merchants.”

“That explains a lot. The hasty design of poem writing and then presenting.” Bazz seemed to wince at each flaw you pointed out.

“Sidon thought…well…not sure if I should say this…but…he thought it would make you feel cool.” The captain reached behind his head and played with the tip of his tail, something that Sidon usually does when nervous; a Zora sign of unease perhaps?

You visibly relaxed in front of the Bazz. “I know his heart was in the right place. But, what Sidon likes isn’t everyone’s…cup of tea.” You tried to avoid using that ironic expression when talking about the prince. But, what can you do?

Bazz smiled wryly at that. “I’m glad you know he would never intentionally hurt you. That gentle giant gets teary eyed when he steps on a lizard’s tail. Though that was before he realized it comes off when threatened…Anyway, getting off topic here. What I can do is cross your name off the list to read. You can just go back and enjoy listening to the rest of the poetry session.”

“You can do that?”

Bazz leaned in close to you. “My dear, I have ways.”

It sounded way more sensual than it should have been. At least to your Hylian ears. As you began the walk back, the embarrassment from his words had your mouth sewn shut. Darn these Zora! Why do all of them have such a smooth streak in them!

Bazz escorted you to the back table where you joined Sevia. She quickly looked at you, then Bazz, then back to you, then back to Bazz before nearly fainting as the captain winked at her. He moved on after that, to do what he promised. 

Sevia leaned over to whisper in your ear. “My goodness, girl! Don’t lie and tell me you were talking strictly business. What happened? Give me the truth. Did you decide to sneak off and officially take him as your lover in his office? Or did you-”

“Sevia!” you scolded. In a whisper, of course. “Stop letting your imagination get the better of you. You know I can’t talk in front of people. I felt a bit of a panic coming on and went outside to get some air. Bazz saw me leave and wanted to make sure I was alright.”

“So you were having an attack and couldn’t breathe….and he kissed you to shock you into breathing normally?”

Your eyes rolled in the back of your head. How could Hylia have made someone this frivolous? Someone who wouldn’t take a hint if it bit her in the butt. Though, her guess at physical touch wasn’t too far off. It was merely a brush of the hand. If a small gesture like that turned your heart upside down, you would have died if he were to kiss you. Sidon was the one you had eyes for…but would you have denied Bazz if he touched your lips to his? The image forming in your head was all too real. The feeling of the captain’s lips against your own had you melting from its gentleness. His strong arms weaved around you to pull you into his muscular chest.

No, no, no! Now I am becoming like Sevia! There wouldn’t even be a chance the captain would like someone like me. He’s just a flirt. And flirts thrive on attention…that’s all it was…yes…nothing more to it.

Your eyes focused back on Sevia who was grinning at you. “You’re in love~”

“And you are full of it. I just…I need some food.” You quietly moved over to the snack and drink table to get something to cool your head. 

The spread was only slightly elevated from ordinary snacks. Small stacks consisting of a cracker bottom, two slices of cheese, and a variety of olive toppers were elegantly placed on the table. The person organizing the food must have the notion that if food was placed in a fancy way, the guests would assume it was of better quality. However, with your experience in the nightlife on the other side of the hall…this lie was glaringly obvious.

Still, it was free.

You placed three stacks on a plate before turning to sit back down. But, a gleam of silver caught your eye. Sidon sat in the front row, listening to the speakers and encouraging them after each poem was read. Such a sweet man. There was no way you could be that attentive to mediocre poetry. Well…he did read those scandalous novels. So maybe they hardened his resolve to mumbled words just scratched on a page. Trash for trash taste.

When you sat down to listen to the next speaker, Sevia gave you little regard. Upon following her eyes, you saw why. The man who she met yesterday, Mr. Muncher, was reading some poem about a blue…pillar? Was that supposed to be a euphemism for something? Whatever…

The hour dragged itself through the mud. Poem after….words mashed together. Sevia did well but oh Sidon, why did you come up with this idea? Even princes must make ill judgements from time to time. But, at last, it was over. 

People began to mill about once more. You stood and stretched. Finally, the conference-meeting-introduction-educational-embarrassment of a situation was over. Now back to your cozy cottage-

“Pardon everyone! I must have forgotten someone!” Sidon’s booming voice was unwelcome in your ears. No…don’t tell me… The prince’s eyes found yours in the crowd. He smiled before continuing his announcement. “I forgot that-”

“You forgot yourself, my prince!” Bazz called from across the room. The guard placed a graceful hand over his heart. “Give us a closing statement. A parting gift for all who came.”

With the two charming Zora now in the spotlight, the room dazzled with excitement. Some overzealous Hylian girls ran for the front of the stage, eager to get the best viewing spot. But you…you were breathing a sigh of relief. Thank you Bazz…I owe you one.

Sidon flushed with embarrassment. But, pressured as he was, he complied with his captain’s outburst. “Well, certainly. Thank you all for coming. I hope that we made your stay here comfortable and worthwhile.” He ended his sentence with that classic smile. Oh, the overzealous ones in the front of the room were practically screaming in delight from that. 

You saw Bazz quickly running to dispel the crowd before it got out of control. Who knows what kinds of things those girls would do? Probably grab him….well, you knew where you would grab him…

“Gazing at your darling knight about to rescue the prince?” Sevia teased.

You sighed and shook your head. “No, just thankful this whole thing is over. I appreciate what you were trying to do, but please tell me next time. Not the morning of, not with shady tactics, but with a proper invitation that I decide on. Also, this is the end of Miss Fabulous Hydromellons , ok?”

Sevia slouched in her chair. “Oh alright. But, aren't you eager to come back and see your new Zora boyfriend? There is another, smaller writing convention next week.” Your glare was all the answer she needed. “Fine, fine. If you are that insistent I will have the next invitation sent to you via carrier pigeon. Also, we should probably get going before the guard is called in. That…Rito is getting handsy.”

You turned to see a fully grown Rito fling themselves onto Sidon. 

And that pin prick in your heart became an ache.

“Yah…let’s go home. I need a good book and some tea.”

Chapter Text

“Achoo!”

Oh Hylia above. With the stress of the retreat and being in a room with so many people, you were bound to catch something. The aches and sneezes were only controlled with a few herbs. Who knows how you would feel if there were none in the cupboard? The farthest you could walk was the kitchen. Going outside was out of the question. 

Now, back in your bed, you tried to get some sort of sleep.

*knock*

Oh now there is a pounding in your head…great.

*knock knock*

You buried your face in the pillow hoping to get the incessant pounding to leave your head. This cold would be the end of you. No more writing romantic adventures. No more collecting apples from your orchard. No more tea with-

“(Y/N)?” A deep voice made you look up. Sidon bent over you. “Oh my! (Y/N) you’re…you’re sick! Oh dear, how can I help?” The Zora knelt on the floor next to your bed; you weren’t sure if it was to reassure you or his own comfort. He took his large hand and rested the back of it on your forehead. “No fever, that’s good. How are your gills? Oh wait…nevermind. Why didn’t you send for me?”

You raised both eyebrows. “You’re a prince, not a doctor. Unless you received some of that education as well.”

Sidon smiled at your joke. “My sister was quite the healer, actually. I learned many things from her. Though it was battle wounds and not sickness that she excelled at. Regardless, I will do my best to nurse you back to health. First, I will send for a professional just to make sure you are recovering smoothly.” The Zora stood up and turned for the door.

You reached out and grabbed his fin before he could leave. “Sidon, I can’t call for a doctor. Any money I had saved up was spent on the retreat.”

Sidon smiled and covered your hand with his own. “Don’t worry. I’ll cover it.”

“S..Sidon I can’t ask you to do that. You already gave me that dress and-”

“And I’d rather not bury your corpse in it. Your cold seems mild, but I would feel awful if it is something more. Don’t worry (Y/N). Please, let me take care of you for once.” The prince looked at you with those deep golden eyes. For a split second you felt completely healed. Then,

“Achoo!” You sneezed and threw your face into the mattress below. Sidon’s laugh ticked your ears as his hand ruffled your hair before making an exit.

From the other room he called, “I’ll be back in about 15 minutes! I’m the best swimmer in all the Zora! So I’ll be quicker than a minnow!” The door shut, leaving you in silence and awe over what just happened. A small blush bloomed on your cheeks as you touched the top of your head.

A small trill was the only warning before Midnight jumped on the bed. His purrs grew louder as his feet began pushing down on the bed in an alternate motion. Making biscuits is what you call it. The cutie looked as if he was flattening dough. Though, it was not long before he got bored and decided to lay on your chest and purr. You secretly hoped he was trying to make you feel better, but you knew it’s because he liked the cheek scratches. 

The purrs continued as long as the scratches did. The cat was in pure heaven while you were trying to crawl out of this hellish sickness. Hopefully, the fluff ball would occupy your time until Sidon’s return. Your mind begins to wander as the purrs relax you…

“You know (Y/N), and I do not mean to impart on our relationship, but there is some…lesser known healing magic among the Zora to heal sickness. It’s not commonly used and I don’t mean to seem promiscuous, but you do seem in a lot of pain…” Sidon caressed your hand and leaned into your ear. “I wouldn’t mind healing you, but you need to grant me permission to get…a little closer to you.”

A knock on the door snapped you out of your thoughts. Oh my…what was I thinking? Sidon rounded the corner. “Oh dear! She does have a fever! Look at her cheeks!” He bent down and touched them with his hands, making the blush spread. 

A rough cough sounded from the doorway. “Prince Sidon, I can take a look at her. Please, relax in the other room until I call.” Sidon smiled and did as the doctor bid. As he left he gave a small wave.

The doctor treated you as routine. Take your temperature, check breathing, and place a leech on your arm for a blood sample. The last step you could never get used to. Once complete, he nodded and announced “It’s a cold. I will leave some herbs on the table along with instructions. You can read, right?”

You had no idea why that stung. But, you nodded to let him know that you could. The doctor left the room to set the medicine on the table and talk to the prince. “Oh no, no you don’t need to swim me back. The first trip was exciting enough for me. I don’t believe I could relive that twice. Old bones you know!” 

Once you heard the front door close, Sidon popped his head into the room. “Well, I apologize for worrying so much. A simple cold is all you have. Why don’t I make you some tea with the medicine left by the doctor, hmmm?”

“Sidon, you don’t have to do that for me. I-”

“Nonsense!” Sidon shook his finger in front of your face. “You are sick. All you need to do is rest and get better. Now, I’m going to make some tea.” The Zora exited the room and you heard the cupboards open, close, and the rumblings of curses. Maybe he needed some help…

You slowly stood from your bed and walked over to the door. “Sidon, is everything alright? Can I help?”

The prince looked at you, put his hands on his hips, and frowned. “Back to bed with you. I have this taken care of.” 

“But, I can still help a little…bit?” Sidon marched closer to you before scooping you up in his arms. “S…Sidon!”

“I told you, bed.” He gently laid you down on the mattress and pulled the covers over your body. “Now stay little squirrel.” He left the room. Good thing too, as the processing of your emotions took all of your brainpower. Oh my sweet prince, this is definitely going in the next volume!

My, my…this wasn’t some sort of fever dream, right? Sidon wouldn’t just carry you off like that. Especially to the bed…

“How else are we supposed to reach it, my dear bride?”

Hylia almighty! Maybe having him take care of you is a horrible idea. There is no way you can get proper rest when the most handsome bachelor in all of Hyrule is waiting on you hand and foot! It’s hard enough to control your daydreams. What would happen in your dreams while you are asleep? What if you would talk in your sleep? What kinds of things would he overhear!

“Hey (Y/N) do you have-”

“Eeeeeekkk!” you squealed.

Sidon rushed to your side. “What is it? What’s wrong? Are you in pain?” You shook your head and dove under the covers. “Oh dear, are you developing an embarrassing skin condition and want to hide it from me so you won’t be embarrassed? Should I go after the doctor? Wait here I’ll-”

“No!” you popped out of the bed and grabbed Sidon’s arm before he could leave. “I’m fine. Just hallucinating a bit.”

Sidon cocked his head to the side. “But the doctor said you didn’t have a fever. How could you be hallucinating?”

Suddenly, without thinking, words began pouring from your mouth. “I must have eaten something last night and some of it must still be in my body!”

Sidon blinked a few times. He sighed and guided your body back to lying down. Oh crap…what did I do? “Be honest with me.” The prince looked you straight in the eyes. “I doubt you would accidently put hallucinogens in your food. You are smarter than that with your years of foraging experience. Tell me, did you pick up this bad habit when you were with Bazz? I thought he quit, let alone send you home with some to use later.”

You opened your mouth and closed it. What kind of lie did you make up? Now it was becoming a twisted web that ensnared you. 

“Or, was it this mystery man. No, I have allowed this relationship to go on far too long. Especially since he is encouraging you to use mushrooms for fun.” 

You sighed. “We have been over this. I don’t have some secret mushroom-dealing boyfriend. And why are you acting like an older brother? But more importantly, why is Bazz captain of the Royal Guard if he uses mushrooms? What if he’s high when the Domain gets attacked?”

Sidon looked off to the right. He was silent for a second, then two, “He doesn't… that was a lie. I actually…When I was a young Zora…ummm…”

The kettle whistled, causing Sidon to run for the kitchen to take it off.

A smile touched your lips. Well now, the charming dork had a secret like that. “Achoo!”

“Bless you!” Sidon called from the other room.

“Thank you!” you called back to him.

Before long, Sidon placed the cup of tea on your side table to cool. He then went back outside, gathered his table-chair, and set up camp beside your bed. “Now,” he began, “What should I do to aid in your rest? Are you more of a song person or story person? Wait, no, nevermind. I already know the answer.” The prince rose from his seat to your bookshelf.

Normally this would have been a problem. Seeing as how your manuscripts were stored there. However, the book was turned in long ago for publishing. Any and all manuscripts were kept safe in Sevia’s house. There was one good thing that came from that hellish conference.

Sidon returned with what looked to be a miniature book. Then, you realized his hands were just overly large. The prince gently opened up the book to its first chapter. “Tales of Prince Rilos, book one…” he began.

The contents of the book didn’t matter. You knew them all by heart anyways. No, it was the soothing voice of Hylia’s beautiful angel that made your dreams drift. Dreams of the main characters of your book to be the true people they were based on.

Together, in your mind’s eye, you traveled to the fantasy kingdom and slayed the troublesome Lynal. Both of you helping one another overcome the tasks at hand. Then, the female lead fell for the handsome prince. However, she must not let her feelings be known. It was above her station to harbor such admiration.

Sidon sighed, breaking his fluid and relaxing read-aloud. He looked at you, and once noting your state of wakefulness, he spoke. “You know, Ire has always frayed my nerves.”

Your heart stopped

The prince noted your questioning look and continued to speak. “Ire, she thinks too little of herself. Like here, Using the spear from the Lynal’s back as leverage, she mounted the beast. Quickly she drove her frostblade into the monster, stopping it from reaching the incapacitated prince. She is so brave, but she always denies her love for the prince because she believes she’s not brave enough . What is she expecting him to want, another prince?” Sidon looked genuinely annoyed with the character.

You gripped the sheets below you. “Confidence is rather hard to come by for most people.”

Sidon sighed and smiled. “So that was what that look ment.”

“What look?” you asked.

“When I said I didn’t like Ire. Your mouth opened like a carp.” The prince concealed his laugh with his hand. “You identify with her. Just as well. I like to think of myself as the dashing Prince Rilos. Journeying on dangerous adventures to help my kingdom…beating up bad guys to save my people…I wish I could do that just once.”

You smiled at the Zora. “You did. You helped defeat Ganon by calling Ruta back.”

Sidon shook his head. “That was Link. All I did was swim around Ruta.”

Now was your turn to laugh. “And you said Ire was too hard on herself. Look at you, not taking any credit for your feats.”

Sidon blushed deeply before turning to the side. “You are too kind. I only did my duty as Prince of the Zora.” His large fingers traced the front cover of the book. “One day, I want to go on a real adventure. An adventure far away from the Domain, from Hyrule.” His smile turned down apathetically. “But, I know visiting you in this cottage is the only freedom given to me. I can’t be too far from my people.”

Oh Sidon…

The prince picked up your cup of tea. “Come now, drink. You still have the tides with you for your own adventures. Drink and get better to see them through.”

You took the cup that was offered. The warmth of the cup seeped into your chilled hands. It grounded you. Hot liquid soon touched your lips, and brought with it a bitter taste.

“Not to your liking? Or does it bring back memories of us making those herbal teas?” Sidon gave a small laugh. “It definitely smells like the one I concocted of one part mint and ten parts chamomile…along with a silent princess.”

“I’m surprised we didn’t die from our little experiment or at least get sick.” The second sip of the drink didn’t taste any better. 

Neither did the third.

Sidon stood and walked out of the room. “I actually brought something along with me. I hope it can help quiet the bitterness. I understood you enjoyed the banquet food at that midnight gathering.” The prince returned to your sight with an expensive, gold-leafed lacquer box in hand. “I had our chefs recreate your favorite sandwiches from that night.” He opened the top part of the box, revealing elegantly crafted edibles. “Please, enjoy.”

You quickly snatched one. Once that sweet cream touched your tongue….oh…the bitterness of both the tea and today’s affairs vanished. “Thank you Sidon. You are as sweet as these strawberry sandwiches.”

Apparently as red as one too. The typical white scales of his face tinged red with embarrassment. If you felt better, you would have entertained this opportunity more. But for now, you enjoyed this brief moment of a blushing prince melting in your hand.  

Sidon regained his composure and handed you the disgusting tea once more. “Do I have to?” you asked.

The Zora smiled in sympathy. “I am afraid so. You can take sips in between bites……….” The trailing off had you worrying. You followed the Zora’s gaze to the window. Of course.

The sun was setting.

“I’m sorry. I lost track of time and I must…” Sidon dipped his head low to try and mask his disappointment. You placed a hand on his arm, earning his attention.

“Thank you so much for taking care of me. I’m sorry that it wasn’t-”

“Please don’t apologize. It was my honor.” His lips pressed together, imprisoning any other feelings in his mouth. He turned and looked back once more before bowing. “I’ll send Bazz to check on you tomorrow. Please, take care until then.” He then fled from your sight.

He really doesn't want me to worry. He never leaves so swiftly.

Midnight jumped on the foot of your bed, lying where those cute paws landed. Just like the morning. But now, with one more cup of tea, one box of sandwiches, and a memory of a blushing prince.

Chapter Text

“There once was a young man. Everyone in the town loved him. He lived a comfortable life with his father. He could have anything his heart desired. All he had to do was snap his fingers and servants would bring the world to him. But, there comes a time where a young boy becomes a man. At that time, he started to wonder if the world outside his comfy life was as beautiful as what was brought to him. He went to his father and asked,

“Father, may I go out on the next expedition? I wish to see more than the inside panels of our home.”

His father could not be more displeased.

“Son, haven’t I given you everything you have ever wanted? Was there something I missed? A jewel from the desert? Fish from the clearest of streams?”

The son shook his head.

“No father! You have been most gracious my entire life. I just wish to see for my own eyes the hands that polished those gems. I wish to observe those fish swimming in the clearest stream.”

The father raised his hand, signaling the end of the conversation. The son bowed and left the room. “

Bazz made a slight yawn. Apparently, Sidon’s usual comfy chair was too plush for the overtired captain of the Zora guard. Bazz rubbed the sleep away from his eyes. 

A tickle in your nose made you sneeze. 

The noise made Midnight look up from his comfy spot atop Bazz’s lap. The captain simply gave you a small smile of pity. “It will pass eventually. For now, try and get some sleep.” He took his clawed hand and ran it down Midnight’s neck, earning a purr of happiness. “I shall continue my story.”

“Disappointed  at his father’s words, the young man went out into the marketplace. If he couldn’t go out into the world, at least he can gaze at the objects made from it. The Gerudo jewelry had the prince dreaming of surfing the golden sands. Rito arrows made his heart yearn to observe a snowy mountain tournament. Goron welding made him wonder about the suffocating heat in Death Mountain. 

But, it was the food of the Hylians that always caught his attention. Out of all the objects, tasting the fruits and desserts made by the Hylians always brought him a sense of joy not found with the other trinkets. Perhaps today he could find a few minutes of solace in a pastry.

“Hey, you there!” a voice called to him. An old peddler with a near-empty cart waved his hand.

The young man looked around him. There was no one else the merchant could be calling to. “Me?”

The old man waved in earnest. “Yes, yes! Come! If you are looking to brighten your spirits, I have just the cure. Look here. They appear as ordinary beans. BUT! These beans are magic-”

The young man began to walk away from the crazy old man. “I am not interested in drugs, kind sir.”

“No, no, no, you don’t eat these!” The old man ran in front of his potential patron. “You plant these. Soon, it will grow above the clouds. Climb the stalk and all your pains will cease to exist. For as long as you are there, all worries will be forgotten.” The old man held out the bag.

The younger man hesitated for a second more before taking the bag with one hand and placing a coin into the old man’s palm with the other.

“Thank you for your generous patronage.”

The younger man looked inside the bag. There were five red beans. However, there was nothing else magical about them. When he looked up, the old man and his cart were gone. Seeing as he already bought the beans, despite their assumed non-magical nature, the young man decided to go to a small plot of land to plant his beans.

Days soon passed without change. 

One day, three sprouts appeared out of the soil. The young man was delighted. In fact, nothing has excited him more in a very long time. Maybe, just maybe the old man was telling the truth.

More days passed. One of the sprouts turned yellow and died. The young man’s heart sank. Three of the five beans have now failed. How could a bean truly be magical if it was subject to mortality like the rest of us?

Even more days passed. The remaining two plants began to look strong. The young man once again began to hope that this indeed may change his life. His heart yearned to escape the golden cage his father placed him in.

When the man visited his garden after a week, he was greeted by crows pecking at the saplings. One of the plants was completely gone. The other was in the talons of the corvid. 

The man looked upon in horror. He noticed that the captured plant’s roots and leaves were still nearly intact. If he could get the plant, it would be easy to bury it once more. He reached out a hand, and the crow took flight.

Without thinking, he chased the bird down the river. And, without knowing, beyond the allowed borders his father prescribed for him. He ran and ran after the black bird. This was his last hope after all. His last desperate attempt to sate the thirst for freedom. The freedom that was once granted to him before it turned to dust with a near-death accident with an octorock. 

“Please! I beg of you! Give it back!” the man cried. He dove in the river and swam faster. “Release it at once!” The bird flew too fast, too far, till it was out of sight.

It was at this point where your consciousness began to waver. The sweet sirin of sleep called to you. Bazz’s voice faded away into mumbles.

You pulled at the stupid blue weeds in your lawn. Ever since you moved into your cottage, these things decided to move with you! They are now all over Hyrule, but most concentrated on your front lawn! Goddess, you hoped this wouldn’t attract attention. The whole point of moving so far out was to avoid the prying eyes of the masses.

You kicked the flowers, causing the petals to fall to the unseen green grass below. A yell had you jump back. Have the flowers become sentient? 

“Please, come back…please.” 

Your ears followed the direction of the voice. At the river bank, a red Zora was on his hands and knees, crying his eyes out. You looked around. No one else was near. 

What in Hylia’s name is going on?

You cupped your hands at the corners of your mouth to project, “U…Um…D..Do you need some help?”

The Zora turned to you. He wiped his tears away before standing to his full height. 

He’s so tall!  

Your eyes traveled up to the sparkling crown that adorned his crest.

He’s Prince Sidon! 

Panic filled your chest of the reality of a royal standing in front of you. He certainly was handsome. But, what do you even say to a prince? What should I do?

The prince now stood in front of you. He gave you an elegant bow. “I apologize for you to witness me in such a state. And, well, apparently giving you a fright. I forget that Hylians are often weary of Zora because of our appearance.”

I don’t think that’s it, Prince Sidon…

Oblivious to your true thoughts, he continued, “It’s been so long since I’ve been out of the Domain…” Prince Sidon blinked several times. He took a look around and sucked in a breath. “My dear Hylian, tell me, how far are we from Zora’s Domain? In fact. Where am I?”

He’s….lost?

“Y…yes of course, Prince Sidon. Um…w…we are…we…we…” Where are we? Oh goddess my mind is blank! “We…Ummm….we….we…”

Prince Sidon slowly sat down upon the grass and blue weeds. “Apologies, I often forget my height is quite intimidating to most people, even Zora.” His eyes fell to the flowers below him. “Oh…oh my! What lovely flowers! Silent Princess if I recall correctly. I have never seen so many in one place. They typically grow in areas of high magical densities. Does a fairy live close by?”

Your hands wrung each other in nervousness. “N…No no one lives…c….c..close…”

Prince Sidon’s face turned to shock. “Are you a fairy then? That must be it! Some magic to dress you like a Hylian! That’s why the crow took my plant! It was to lead me here!” Prince Sidon took your small hands into his larger one. “My fairy, please listen to the selfish desires of a prince. I have been living in a gilded cage for far too long. It is selfish of me to ask to be free of my own responsibilities by birthright, but I ask that even for a moment…I wish to see the world outside.”

Your cheeks turned bright red. “I…..I’m sorry…I…n…not…a…ffffff…fairy.”

Now it was the prince’s turn to blush. He just spilled his deepest woes to a complete stranger. “I….humbly apologize for…Goddess above, I am so….”

Both of you stayed in complete silence for moments on end. It wasn’t until the silence became unbearable that your mouth launched your thoughts into the air. “Would you like some tea?”

Why did I just say that!!!!!

Prince Sidon slowly smiled. “I would love that, my dear fairy.” 

Your heart nearly burst through your chest! That smile of his could end wars, or cause them. You quickly bowed and ran towards your small cottage. “P…Please wait a moment while I clean!” You slammed the door behind you.

What kind of tea do you give a prince! You scrambled through your cupboards as quickly as possible.  Chamomile? Black tea?....That’s all I have! Tears nearly covered your eyes as more and more worries filled your head. WAIT! You reached to the back of the cupboard. In the back was a red tin with gold letters. The edges of the tin were golden as well, complementing the overall fancy design. This was a special tea that was given to you in exchange for some work on a merchant’s sign. The tea was so expensive that you only had it once, maybe twice since receiving it. It hasn't been that long...so you hoped it was still good by royal standards.

You quickly shoved everything back into the cupboards before opening the front door. “S….Sorry to keep you waiting.” 

Prince Sidon’s eyes were full of worry. “Are you sure hosting me isn’t causing you too much stress? That was some....exuberant tidying I happened to overhear upon my wait.”

You shook your head. “It…it would be my honor, Prince Sidon.”

The prince cocked his head to the side. “Are you entirely sure? And, please call me Sidon. After dealing with me these past few moments…you certainly have earned the right.”

You shook your head “I would never…never disrespect you like that, Prince Sidon. P…Please come in. My cottage is not much. I don’t even have a table yet. I just moved in here a few weeks ago.” You scurried around the cottage to get something for the prince to sit on. Currently, all you had was a small stool. Even that was too small for you. You rushed to the bedroom to get the blanket from your small pallet on the floor. It was slightly dusty, but you folded it a few times to make a suitable cushion for the prince. You rushed back to the living room and were about to place it on the dirt floor before a red hand caught it.

“My dear fairy, I can’t have you dirtying your blankets for my sake. Besides, I heard that Hylians typically take their tea in the garden. Shall we take it there? I, for one, shall thoroughly enjoy sitting among the numerous Silent Princess flowers.” The prince gave another one of those gorgeous smiles. 

Oh my…

You quickly shook off that shock. “Y…Yes of course! I shall put the kettle on.” Thankfully, you had enough fresh water to fill up the kettle completely. Even more still to own two separate cups. They didn’t match though…and one had a chip in the handle. You can offer the prince the nicer of the two when the time comes. 

Now with the kettle on the stove, you placed more logs into the small fire that was kept on. Flint was expensive, while twigs were plenty and free. So, it made more sense to keep it slightly burning. And the logs placed inside slowly began to light. It shouldn’t be more than twenty minutes to bring the kettle to a boil. You turned to a fascinated Prince Sidon. “Oh! Ummm…I…don’t have any sweets to enjoy with our tea. I only have some walnuts to snack on.”

Because there is a walnut tree in the forest behind my cottage. 

Prince Sidon smiled once again. “I appreciate your generosity. But, I must inquire, how much do you know about the Zora?”

Panic filled your chest. “Did I offend you in some way? I’m so sorry-”

“Not at all.” Prince Sidon cut in. “It’s just that we usually have a fish-based diet. However, we do enjoy berries with our sweets.

“Oh! So walnuts are not to your taste,” you agreed. 

The prince brought a finger and thumb to his chin. “Well, to be honest, I am not sure. I have never been served something with nuts. But, to my knowledge, we do not have any allergic reaction to them. It will be an experience to try nuts for the first time.”

You blushed. Bless this wonderful prince. He ever so gently turned down your offer of nuts as a snack. But, he did mention berries. “I have a strawberry patch behind the cottage. I can go pick some while the water is boiling.”

The prince’s face lit up. “I would be honored to join you. I have always wanted to forage for berries.”

You chuckled, then remembered your manners. “S…sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

“My dear fairy, no need to apologize. It is nice for someone to be so honest about my shortcomings. Pray tell, what exactly did I say to get such an…adorable reaction.”

ADORABLE! Oh my…. Your cheeks lit up in a flash of red. “I…I…Um…well foraging isn’t the right word. The berries are right behind my cottage. To deter birds and any other Hylian looking for free berries. If you truly want to forage, raspberry season is in a month. You are more than welcome to come back and truly forage for berries, thorns and all.”

Prince Sidon gave you the grandest smile. “Do you mean it? Can I really come again?”

His enthusiasm knocked you off your rhythm. “O….of course. You are more than welcome. I have so many bushes that I can’t pick them all. Feel free to take some home too.”

“I would be delighted.” He responded.

You nodded to him. Noting the slight steam of the kettle, you decided that you needed to hurry with the berries. You fetched your small woven basket and motioned the prince to follow you, to which he did with delight. 

You rounded the cottage and showed the patch of strawberries that were ready to be picked. “Here they are. I can’t believe how well they turned out this year. The field mice and birds have been bad this year. I should really look into getting a guard animal.” You bent down and showed the prince how to properly pick the berries. Prince Sidon mimicked your harvesting techniques with much delight.

He’s like a kid…

Once there were enough berries for the both of you (a lot of berries by your standards), you and the prince once again ducked inside your cottage to finish the tea. 

The kettle was whistling a minute into your return. You quickly took it off the stove and upon the warmer at the back of the stove. You then spooned tea leaves into the single strainer you owned. You placed that on top of the prince’s cup and poured the boiling liquid into the cup.

“Are you not having tea?”

You turned to the prince. “Oh! Ummm…I only own one tea strainer. Once the tea has brewed, I will do my cup.” The prince nodded to your answer, obviously concerned about the lack of tea strainers in your house. 

After some waiting, you passed the strainer to your cup and made another pour of the hot water. 

“My fairy, you forgot to spoon a fresh batch of leaves.” Sidon gently took the small spoon and dipped it into the jar, then poured the expensive tea leaves into your strainer.

I didn’t forget…oh goodness…my expensive tea…

“Well, why don’t we move outside while my tea is brewing?” You began moving outside with both cups in your hands. Sidon followed with the basket that was simply dwarfed in his large hands. 

You found a small patch of green grass among the sea of blue flowers. You, for a second, hesitated to offer sitting outside without having adequate furniture. That is, until Prince Sidon sat happily down upon the grass. He seemed unbothered. Enough so that it puts your worries to rest. You followed suit and sat across from him. You handed his cup. The prince gently took both of his hands and cupped them around the vessel and…your hand.

Something happened in your heart. Some deep, longing feeling. You quickly retracted your hand. He’s a prince…  

Prince Sidon noticed your sudden retraction. To which you quickly interjected, “It’s hot. B…Be careful.” He smiled and held the cup more carefully.

Goodness…he’s really sweet…and handsome…Oh stop it! Stop it! He’s just here for tea-

You looked at the cup in his hands. “Oh my! T...that cup…” You accidentally gave the prince the cup that was old and chipped. “T…the other one is yours!” Sidon chuckled and took the tea strainer out of the cup. He held the strainer over the grass and proceeded to drink the tea in one gulp.

“Ah, absolutely delicious. Apologies, but would you mind fetching me one more cup of this decadent tea?” He handed the finished cup to you.

You smiled. “Of course, my prince.”

The next few hours were busy making multiple cups of tea and feasting on strawberries. Sidon told you all about Zora’s Domain and inquired quite a bit on the lives of Hylians. Every conversation topic was extremely pleasant and you had the most fun chatting…ever in your life. When was the last time you had so much fun? This was the best day ever-

“Prince Sidon!” A voice shouted from the river.

You turned to see a Zora with black scales, holding a spear and looked none too happy. “I have been looking everywhere for you. I nearly sent half the guard to search for you until a fisher-Zora came to me saying he was worried about his prince running out of the domain following a CROW! What were you thinking? We need to get you back before your father finds out and loses his-” The Zora’s eyes turned to you. He quickly resumed his composure. “A…Apologies, my lady. I am simply worried for our prince’s safety. He did not give notice of his sudden leave outside of our borders.” He gave a deep bow.

You quickly bowed back to him. “S…sorry for keeping him. We were just having tea. He’s an excellent guest and we must have lost track of time.” Hopefully that will satisfy him. Even though his words are kind, his eyes are so accusatory! 

Prince Sidon stood from his spot in the grass. “Bazz, stop scaring my host with those eyes of yours. The crow was carrying the last of my plants off and…I followed it longer than I should have.”

“You’re damn right you-” The Zora glanced at you. “Umm…We were simply worried about your safety, my prince.” He then turned to you. “I apologize for interrupting your afternoon tea, but the prince needs to return home.”

You nodded.

Sidon looked at you with sad eyes. “I apologize, my fairy. My captain has called me home.”

The Zora named Bazz made a low noise. “My fairy? You don’t know her name, do you?” Sidon quickly turned his face from both you and Bazz. “Hylia above, our prince has no tact. He’s so used to people introducing themselves for him. May I at least have the honor of knowing my prince’s gracious host?”

You blushed at his ease to go from reprimanding the prince to suavely asking for a name. “My name is (Y/N).”

Bazz bowed low and took your hand in his own. “My dear (Y/N), I thank you for keeping our prince in the safety of your company. You have the gratitude of Zora’s Domain.” He ended his thanks with a kiss to the back of your hand.

You blushed at his gentlemanly actions. “O…of course! It was my h…honor!”

Sidon also bowed to you. “Thank you so much for your hospitality (Y/N). I truly had a wonderful time as well. He reached for your hand, only to get pulled back by the headtail.

“Come on, we mustn’t keep your father waiting. There is a council meeting tonight. I am sure you remember it. Right?” Bazz bit out the words in harsh cuts.

You looked on as Prince Sidon was being pulled away by Bazz. You gave a gentle wave goodbye as they dove into the river. Hopefully, maybe someday, your paths will cross again.

Little did you know he would show up again within the week.

Your sickly eyes opened up to the sunlight creeping through the curtains. You turned to see Bazz asleep in Sidon’s large chair, with Midnight upon his lap. Hopefully he is alright with staying over. His body surely was alright with it, whether the overworked man inside is willing to admit it though. You closed your eyes once more. What a lovely memory…

Chapter Text

You sighed. Looking out the back window, you took in the sights of the barren trees topped with snow. ”Winter has overstayed its welcome, Midnight.” The furry cat rubbed himself on your leg before scratching at the door. You opened it a crack to let out Midnight, but not enough to let the cold in too much. 

The temperature of the air nipped at you. The stove could only do so much to keep the cold at bay. Winter was here to stay . For too long, in your opinion. And it even started early this year. Sidon and you did not have a last teatime before the snow hit. Your heart sank at that particular thought. The both of you planned to have a fantastic “high tea,” as Sidon put it. There was to be fancy snacks and pots upon pots of tea.

The cold dragon Naydra must have awoken early from her slumber. There was simply no reason for the sudden dip in temperature so early in the year. It was rather unfair for this to happen. You wouldn’t see the gallent prince until spring. 

But, looking outside, it was time. The Silent Princess flowers died away. Those indestructible blue weeds had taken shelter back underground due to the heavy blanket of snow “Even they know the dangers of the weather.”

Another sigh came from your lips. “I wonder how you are doing now, my dear prince…”

A few scratches at the door alerted you to Midnight’s return. You walked towards the door and opened it a crack. Once the cat rushed in, you closed the door to keep the cold out. “In and out, in and out. Do make a decision Mr. Midnight."

“ Please make a decision, my prince. I do not wish to be deceased by the time you pick out the colors for the tables OF A FREAKING BALL!” Bazz has officially lost his cool with his prince. First it was the depression and loathing around the palace, then it was the thousands of “ I would love to have tea right now, ” and now it was taking forever for him to make decisions on the smallest of matters.

Sidon seemed to come back from whatever fairytale land his brain was visiting. “Oh, well….I guess purple will do.”

Bazz did not get paid enough for this…

“On second thought…maybe blue might-” Bazz snatched away the fabric swatches before the prince began another pity party.

“Purple is great.” He handed the fabrics to a waiting servant. “The prince wants purple.” The servant quickly bowed and scurried off, obviously afraid of whatever vibes the captain was giving off.

“I wish I could have some tea-”

“Sidon! For the love of Hylia, if you say that phrase one more time I will lose my mind! I am tired. I am exhausted. This winter ball needs to happen and I haven't had a day off in three weeks! Please! Please! Stop talking about tea-   aagnnn” Bazz shoved his face into his hands. The sound of his own voice made his migraine throb. 

The prince blinked. “You…really are tired.” Looking at his captain, Sidon noted the purple cast under his friend’s eyes. The gloss from his scales was also extremely dull.

Sidon stood up from his work table and crossed the room to his glassed curio cabinet. He opened one of the doors, reached through, and pulled out a golden box with an inlay of a sapphire fish swimming among a river of diamonds. The prince put the box on the desk and walked to the door where he poked his head out.

A servant jumped at seeing their prince. Obviously Bazz’s voice carried a little more than it should have. “Y…your highness!”

Sidon smiled. “If you would be so kind as to fetch some boiling water and my tea set?” 

The servant bowed and quickly dashed off to gather the requested items for their prince.

Sidon ducked back into the room and found his captain still covering his eyes. “Bazz, please take a seat. There is at least forty-five minutes until the next meeting.”

The captain didn’t need to be told twice. He slumped in a cozy chair and pressed the palms of his hands against his crest. “I can’t take a nap even if I wanted to….Damn this hurts so much.”

A knock on the door alerted the prince. “Come in.” The servant rushed in, placed the necessary items on the table and rushed out in fear of the grumpy monster that was once the Zora Guard’s captain. Sidon took the teapot over to his desk and placed it beside the gilded box. He undid the latch and removed the top cover. 

There, inside, was one of his most precious treasures. He was reluctant to share it with Bazz, but it would definitely be what (Y/N) would want. A clawed finger traced the silken sachets filled with tea and lovingly sewn by a now, snow-bound Hylian. 

Sidon took two of those treasures and placed them into the pot, along with another sachet that he only had one of. That last one contained the bark of a white willow tree, a fantastic remedy for headaches. Someone of his size usually would need the whole tree’s worth, but (Y/N) specifically scouted a certain, more potent, variety for him. And even then, she put together the most rich of those bark pieces together for this sachet. 

The prince felt a slight pang of guilt. Who knows how much this could have sold for? And yet, his little fairy gave it to him as a gift. She wouldn’t take any rupees for it even if he offered. That is just how she is. Maybe he could guilt trip Bazz into giving her something once he told him about how specially crafted this remedy was. (Y/N) would always say no to him, but to Bazz…that might be the loophole he has been looking for.

Hot water was poured over the three bags that soon were submerged in the teapot. Sidon placed the lid over the concoction to let it steep for ten minutes. He flipped the golden hourglass to track the time. Maybe once the steeping is complete, he could take out the bark bag, squeeze it, and let it dry to reuse it for another time? 

A small smile came to his lips. That’s just what (Y/N) would do to save money. Even as a prince, her frugalness became alluring for him. Why throw away what you can reuse? Oh (Y/N) would be proud.

Bazz groaned behind him. Obviously he hadn’t cared what his prince was up to. Oh dear. How could he guard others when he couldn’t take care of himself?

Normally, while the tea was brewing, he would talk to (Y/N) about a whole host of things. Life, poetry, and that one time where they go into a deep discussion on whether or not to put a Hyrule Herb on a Chillfin Trout. He always thought the herb tastes too bitter when placed on top. But, all it took was (Y/N) baking one for him and his mind completely changed. His cook could learn a thing or two from her. A Hyrule Herb can be cooked with the fish instead of as a finished garnish.

The last grain of sand passed through the glass. With the tea now steeped, Sidon took the special sachet of bark and placed it on a silken tea towel. Even with it being used once, Sidon was sure the bark was worth more than the silk it was currently staining. 

The prince took the pot over to the lounge table where the rest of the tea set was placed. He took a tea cup and filled it with the nectar of the goddess. “Bazz, here, drink.” The captain slowly opened his eyes and took the cup from his prince. The captain then proceeded to sip on the hot liquid ever so lightly as to cool it before it reached his lips. It both looked and sounded rather unrefined. But, Sidon could hardly fault his poor captain. The man was in a great deal of pain.

Minutes passed as the two Zora continued to drink their tea in silence. Sidon let his mind wander into past memories of him and his little fairy frolicking in her sea of Silent Princess flowers. The prince never understood why she hated those things. Maybe it was because it attracted too much attention?

The sound of shattered pottery drew the prince from his dreams. Bazz was leaning on the side of the chair and began to snore. The teacup was now shattered below the captain’s hand. He must have dropped it as he fell asleep.

The servant opened the door again and rushed in.

Sidon held out a hand, then put one finger to his lips to shush them. In the smallest of whispers, the prince told his servant, “My captain’s comfort is worth more than the teacup. Let us ensure that comfort continues for as long as he rests.”

A knock came to your door which startled you. Who could be out in this weather? “C…Coming!” you cried. You picked up the bundle of blankets you surrounded yourself with and headed towards the door. “Yes?”

“Air mail for Miss (Y/N),” the voice said.

Air mail? AIR MAIL??? Who the heck could AFFORD to ship anything by air- ..... WAIT! You opened the door wide. A Rito man in goggles handed a small package to you. By the outer silk cloth, you knew it was Sidon. 

The Rito handed a clipboard to you. “Could you sign here? Oh, and here is a free copy of The Lucky Clover Gazette, a new publication. Thank you for your patronage. Soar long!” 

And with that, the Rito simultaneously took off and blew snow into your house. You quickly shut the door, grabbed a broom, and swept as much as you could into a little dust pan before tossing it outside. 

Now with the immediate threat of chilling your home out of the way, you turned to the silk package on the table. Normally you would be slightly annoyed by the prince’s gifts, but without his presence for so long…it was a rather warm welcome.

You flipped the tag over and your eyes widened. 

From: B

To: Miss (Y/N)

It was a package from Bazz, not Sidon. You quickly undid the silk knot to reveal a regular wooden box. Yep, definitely not Sidon. You tried to pick the lid up, only to realize that the top slid off. There were groves to smoothly guide the lid sideways. “Well isn’t that nifty?” You played with the top by sliding it off and on until you realized you hadn’t even seen what was inside.

On the top was a letter, folded and sealed with wax. The wax was pressed with the sigil of the Zora, but the three crescent moons that made up the Zora crest were instead the heads of silverscale spears. “This must be the captain’s personal sigil.” You grabbed a knife and carefully removed the wax. With it now intact, you put the precious piece of sealing wax with the others from Sidon’s previous letters. In case you needed to re-melt the wax, of course. Though you couldn’t lie to yourself and instead you knew the real reason you kept them is because of their sentimental value.

You returned to the table and opened the letter. Now Midnight was interested in the commotion and hopped on the table to sniff the intrusion on his kingdom. You began to read the letter,

To the lovely Miss (Y/N),

 

Apologies. As you are probably disappointed with the package coming from someone other than the prince. However, I needed to repay your kindness in some fashion. As the snow prevents us Zora from traveling, sending you a parcel by Rito Air Mail seemed most efficient. 

 

A few days ago, I came down with a horrible migraine that left me incapacitated and unable to perform my duties as captain. The prince, taking note of this, brewed me some of the floral tea that you have gifted him prior. My migraine, though not cured, was reduced so that I was able to properly rest for the first time in days. 

 

I wanted to personally thank you for whatever you gave the prince, as it worked wonders for me. I am now half-tempted to hire you as my personal herbalist. Words cannot express how euphoric it felt to truly rest.

 

Please take these candied berries as a small token of my appreciation.

 

Forever yours,

Bazz

F…Forever yours! Your cheeks burned red. Oh Hylia, these Zora boys were going to be the death of you. 

You gently nudged Midnight’s curious face away from the box. You lifted the food-paper to reveal exactly what Bazz mentioned in his letter. Candied wild berries filled the box. Oh happy days, they looked good. You popped one into your mouth and nearly screamed.

It’s soooooooo tasty!

Your brows furrowed upon further thought. “It helped with his migraine. So that means Sidon used the bark. Hmmmm. I will have to locate another tree to harvest. I can’t be overharvesting the previous one. I think there was another grove of trees not too far off. Once the snow stops falling, I can go looking. After all,

what else is there to do all winter?”

Chapter Text

You quickly shut the door behind you. “Ohhhhhmyyyyyygooooooodness it is cold outside!” And yet, yelling that into your cottage did not warm you up in the slightest. Winter was such a burden. Why did it have to come every year?

Midnight hopped down from Sidon’s chair to greet you. Though, it was more of rubbing himself against your leg once and running to his food bowl. It was his way of saying “Feed me!”

You indulged him and poured some dinner. To which, he settled down and proceeded to eat. The little crunch sounds always made your heart flutter. The cat can be a pain, but he was so adorable. And thanks to him, the amount of living mice in your house have decreased to zero. 

You then placed a log on the stove and set down your groceries on the table. With the snow, it has been a month since you last went into town. Hopefully, if the weather is predictable, spring will be within the next few weeks. 

And with spring comes the arrival of a rather jovial prince. 

With your trip to town, you sent a letter to Sidon via Rito Mail. The price of handling such a letter nearly made your eyes bleed. The Rito sure know when to raise their prices. It should be the last letter though….probably…hopefully.

Bazz was sure to have had enough of playing the middleman. To keep your friendship a secret, letters were sent to a “Mr. Longtrout”. It was a common last name for a Zora and hasn’t been detected so far. Though, when your friend is the head of security for the Domain, that should be easy enough. He knows how to keep things undetected. 

“Forever Yours,” was the ending to Bazz’s last letter to you. Even after all these months, it still made you blush. He was just as charming, if not more, than his prince. The captain was like a level headed companion to a main character in a novel….

You slowly turned to the blank sheets of paper that should have been your next manuscript.

.

..

…

The pen on the desk launched into your hand and dove onto the paper. Letters created words as ideas took on a solid form on the parchment. “I apologize, Bazz! I need to eat!” you yelled at the paper. Using one real-life-person for your adventure romance novel was alright. But, two made you feel incredibly greedy.

However, the lack of food you were able to buy today overrode any and all hesitation you carried on the matter. You could only afford half of what was needed for the next month! Of course, you could have bought a little bit more…but that chocolate cookie was just too warm…too good smelling…too perfect to eat on a cold winter’s day! You just had to buy it! And besides, you didn’t need to buy tea this month. So you had a little extra spending money right?

RIGHT?????

That cookie filled you with the sweet power needed to write the next few chapters. The romantic picture you began to paint was too beautiful! An extremely serious companion to the prince himself! The friendship that blossomed between the two because of the strain of leadership! Oh how wonderful! And to top it all off, a slight tug at his heart from the leading heroine! 

You threw your hands up into the air. “Yes! This is what I needed to bring my series back from the dead!”

A knock at your door seemed to stop time.

You quickly gathered your manuscripts and threw them onto your office desk in the bedroom, quickly shutting the separating door. I just sent my letter today. There should be no reply for the next week at least.

A familiar voice called to you from the other side of the door. “(Y/N), I don’t mean to disturb you, but it is quite chilly out here and I would love some tea.”

You ran towards the entrance. The door nearly lept from its hinges. The cold air rushed into your cottage, but you didn’t care. Standing there, in a mountain of cloth and velvet, was the prince and his captain. 

Both men rushed through the doorway before Bazz shut it behind him. “Hylia above, we made it. Ohhhhhh wow how do Hylians survive this? Fish, fish, fish, fish, fish on a stick….that was horrible.”

You blinked at the Zora men enjoying the warmth your cottage provided. 

Sidon was dressed in a dark red velvet coat that fell to just above his ankles. His hands were wrapped in some sort of luxurious fur mittens. You could only see his eyes as a thick, blanket of black velvet wrapped around the upper half of his body, tucking away his headtail and crest. 

Bazz was in a similar garb, although it was made with less expensive material. No doubt it was still just as warm. Your eyes trailed down the captain’s body to his feet, which were covered in…

“You are wearing shoes!” you exclaimed.

Sidon burst out laughing. “Of course that is the first thing you say after so many months apart. My fairy, you haven't changed a bit, and I hope you never will.” He came over to you and opened the shawl that covered his upper half. Like some sort of monster, he swallowed you up in his fabrics to hug you. “Oh happy days! My sweet fairy, it is good to see you again!”

Your face was enveloped in velvet, causing only a mumble to come as a response. Sidon let go of you to poke your head out of the cloth. “It is good to see you too. But, what…how are you here?”

Bazz removed his cloth from his head to reveal a scowl. “The prince was getting on my last nerve. I apologize for dropping in so suddenly, but I hope you can quench this idiot’s thirst for company.”

You turned back to the smiling prince and chuckled. The man was grinning so widely. “You didn’t eat any Brightcaps on your way over, did you? You are practically glowing!”

Sidon only smiled more. “Well, it must be the magic in this house, my fairy.”

You couldn’t help it. You went back in for another hug and nestled happily into the velvet of the prince’s coat. “Oh!” you exclaimed. “So sorry! It’s been so long since I have had company! Here, let me take your coat.” You scampered out of the embrace and held out your arms for the prince.

Sidon removed his shawl. “Thank you for your hospitality!” he said before letting go of it right above your arms. You caught it…then began to fall to the ground from the sheer weight of it. Bazz rushed over to retrieve the velvet that now pinned you to the cold floor. “Are you ok? Come on, Sidon. You should know these fabrics weigh a crate of fish. Goddess knows you wouldn’t stop complaining about them on our way here!” The captain wrapped you in the fabric and scooped you into his arms. “We can take care of ourselves. Letting us into your warm house is more than enough hospitality. Here, rest in the chair while we get settled in.” 

Your cheeks burned bright red from Bazz carrying you over to the chair. He sat you down gently in the oversized piece of furniture before returning to his original position to start unbuttoning his coat.

The overall redness in your cheeks only got worse when the boys started removing their coats. You forgot Zora only wear adornments…not clothes. So seeing them shed layers of fabrics from their body…

Sidon’s back was towards you as the velvet began to fall past his shoulders to his waist. His rippling back muscles flexed as he rested the coat halfway off his body.

Your eyes couldn’t take it anymore, you had to look away! 

They fell upon Bazz who had already removed his coat and was now hooking his thumbs into the top of one of the black stockings that was covering his thighs. Slowly he pulled them down, revealing the best feature (in your opinion) of the captain. 

That was it, you pulled the warm velvet more around your body to cover your eyes. This was….too much! How did the Goddess make these men so beautiful?

“(Y/N), are you ok?” Bazz’s voice was slightly muffled by the cloth, but still audible.

“Y…Yes! Th…the cold was le…let in…so I…am….I am simply warming up my face!” Like my face isn’t already warm enough!!!!

And your thoughts kept rolling on… 

You imagined two, hot Zora boys looming over you. Sidon’s face would kiss one side of yours, whispering in your ear “Don’t worry, my fairy. We will warm you up.” And Bazz took care of the other, “You can warm us up, too.”

Hylia!!!! What is wrong with me!!!!!

“Oh dear…” Sidon’s voice was so close to you. “We have stressed you out, haven't we? I do apologize for our sudden visit-”

Your head popped out of the fabric. “N…No that’s not it! I…” 

Both of the boys were now kneeling down in front of you, their faces closer to yours than you would have liked, given your daydream.  But, upon seeing them as they have always been “dressed,” your heart began to settle…just a bit.

Bazz stood back up and looked towards the stove. “I’ll put the kettle on. (Y/N), is it like in the books where you melt snow for water?” 

You quickly nodded. “But I actually have a bucket with some water already in it. Over there.”

Bazz followed your eyes and picked up the rather large bucket with one hand and began to hunt through the empty cabinets for the kettle. Once found, he poured the water into it and placed his finds onto the stove. 

You felt a stare and turned to Sidon, who was still kneeling before you. His eyes were wide and sparkling. Like a puppy… “Oh how I have missed you, my dear friend! I apologize for the extra weight in company today, but I am overjoyed at the prospect of teatime.”

Bazz frowned at his prince. “Extra weight? I am way lighter than you, especially given that I am on a diet of stress and anxiety.” 

Sidon continued to smile, not letting his captain’s rebuttal phase him. The prince was simply too happy to indulge in that. “Oh, my fairy, how have you been? This frozen water has not pierced your spirit too deeply? It has not chilled our friendship, right?”

You quickly shook your head. “Not at all! I am just…shocked and…confused about how you both got here. Zora cannot tolerate cold…right?”

The prince stood up. Pride filled his chest. “Normally, yes. However, I acquired a jacket and boots to be able to traverse the snow on foot. In addition, I purchased a small flameblade to keep warm underneath. To be honest, I have always wanted to try trudging through snow. It was like a grand exploration! The land looks so different covered in white! I, for one, am appreciating this opportunity to learn more about the kingdoms outside the Domain.” Sidon turned to the captain. 

“I told him no…several times…He didn’t listen. Apologies, again, for the sudden intrusion. I know it is considered rude in all cultures to enter a house uninvited. However, Rito mail would have arrived here later than my patience was willing to allow.” The captain then turned his attention back to the cabinets. He opened them up and picked out the largest serving plate. Along with Sidon’s dinner bowl and two of your, much smaller, dinner bowls. “May I borrow these for dinner?” Bazz asked.

“D…dinner!” 

Bazz turned to smile at you. “Of course. We came with food for dinner. I will be making Hearty Bass stew tonight. Please, look forward to it. It should be no longer than a thirty minute wait.”

Your heart leapt for joy. “That sounds amazing! Thank you so much!”

Sidon moved himself into your line of vision. “It is a Zora specialty. One of my personal favorites, if I may add. We also brought a wildberry tart for dessert and cookies for tea!” The prince’s excitement filled you with joy. 

“That sounds wonderful! Thank you both so much for coming all this way to see me!” 

Both boys suddenly turned their heads away from you. Did…did you do something wrong?

Noticing the sudden dip in your happiness, Sidon quickly interjected, “You are just too adorable, my fairy. To be honest, we were afraid you would be angry at us for suddenly showing up. Oh, I am so delighted to know you are not only content, but happy for our company.”

Indeed, looking at Bazz, who was focusing on making dinner, had a stripe of red across his cheeks. Were you really that adorable?

“Oh, my fairy. I also brought something else for you. As I was pursuing the library, I found the most remarkable collection of poems.” Sidon placed a Hylian-sized book into your hands. “It predates the calamity and was written by a Hylian that goes by the name of….what was it again?” The prince gently caressed the backsides of your hands to turn the book. “Ah, yes, Deku T….It is quite astounding as I searched the library for any other record of this author and there was none. I hoped that I could find him as a royal poet or noble. This author certainly has the education. Please, when you have the chance, read it for yourself. We can discuss it over the next time we have tea.”

“Oh! The tea! Oh goodness, I need to get the tea ready.” You began to stand up, but Sidon held up a hand. 

“Please, allow me. I may not be helpful with cooking, but I do know how to make tea. I had an excellent teacher.” The prince winked at you before resuming his normal height. 

For a long while, you just watched the boys’ preparations. It wasn’t very hostess-like of you to simply sit down while the Zora who walked in snow were busy working. Even Midnight was more active. The cat began to rub himself on Bazz’s leg.

The captain looked down. “Hey fluffy. Oh yes, the fish does smell good.” Midnight vocalized his displeasure at not being offered a bit of fish. “Sorry fluffy, give me a second and you can have a piece, alright?” It was not alright according to his fluffiness. The piece needed to be delivered to his mouth immediately. The cat kept meowing until Bazz finally gave him a piece of fish. “You are almost as bad as Sidon.”

“Hey!” The prince pouted at his captain. 

Bazz turned to you. “You should have heard the temper tantrum this one threw.”

Sidon’s mouth dropped. “T- Temper tantrum! I did no such thing! I merely stated that I missed (Y/N)’s company.”

Bazz cocked his head to the side. “That statement was said almost every ten minutes. Now, my prince, please move. You are blocking the way to the counter.”

Sidon moved away. “Well, I certainly wasn’t the only one who missed (Y/N)’s company. If I recall correctly, you , my captain, mentioned wanting to dance with her again at the winter ball.” The prince turned to you. “He ended up not going with anybody ! I really should have followed my gut instinct and sent you an invitation.”

Bazz grit his teeth as his cheeks turned red. “She was fun to be around! And the reason I went alone was because I was working!”

The tension in the room was rising. You had to do something quickly to-

The tea kettle started to whistle. Oh praise Hylia, it broke the tension in the air. Sidon quickly moved to get the tea kettle and Bazz helped hold the teacups in place as the water was being poured. Both men may get at each other…but they are still friends.

After the water was poured, both men looked at you. And you simply smiled in response.

“I have missed you both” you finally said.

The Zora began to look in any other direction than towards you. “We…we missed you too.” Sidon shyly said. 

Bazz nodded “We didn’t realize how nice it was to have someone outside the Domain until…well…we couldn’t leave. You let us relax here.”

Your shoulders lost any tension. “Am I…that pleasant of company for you?” 

Both men looked at you in what appeared as shock. Then they looked towards each other and finally back to you. Bazz placed a hand on his hip. “Of course. We wouldn’t trek through the snow for just anybody.”

Your eyes fluttered downwards. “I just…thought you might have found me a bit annoying and-”

“Ha!” Bazz shouted. “ You  are not the one who is annoying. Trust me, if I found you annoying I would have told you.”

Sidon nodded his head. “Yes. Indeed if you were annoying, Bazz would have told you.”

That only earned a scowl from the captain. “Cheeky fucker.” 

You covered your mouth trying to stifle the snorts and giggles. Captain Bazz definitely had the nerve to tell his prince exactly how he was feeling. The sheer audacity of it all! Goddess above, you missed these two and their jabs at each other. Or, perhaps a few months locked indoors made you quite silly. Either way, you wiped tears from your eyes and got out of the chair. “I do believe the tea is ready.”

Sidon let out an amused puff of air and began to pour the tea into three teacups. One Hylian-sized and the other two were Zora-sized. With arriving so often to collect his prince, Bazz brought his own teacup to have a sip before whisking his prince back to the Domain. The simple economic-style teacup was quite the contrast to Sidon’s porcelain one. Yet, it was still very beautiful. There was an outline of two blue fish jumping out of a splash of water. 

Now compare that to the prince’s teacup rimmed with gold and embossed with crushed opal paint. According to Sidon, this was his more “modest” teacup that he “didn’t need to worry about getting damaged.” Oh, to be rich…

And lastly was your, ceramic, chipped, bargain-bin teacup with no handle. That was broken off long ago.  It isn’t a problem in the winter months as you warm your hands with the cup anyway. It's a teacup. It holds hot liquid. That is all that matters.

Which was why your eyebrow was raised when Sidon didn’t pour tea into that cup. 

The Zora crossed the room to your place at the table where a simple teacup rested. Your eyes widened at the realization that the boys brought you a new piece of dishware…for you! “S…Sidon I can’t. You already are making me dinner, I just couldn’t!”

Sidon waved you off like he always did. “I can’t stand to see my fairy drink from a chipped cup while we sip from better porcelain dishes! You are our hostess, and as such, you need to have proper tea-sharing equipment. If it makes you feel any better, I had Bazz pick this one out. He shares your taste in frugality.”

Bazz stopped stirring the stew for a moment to look over his shoulder. “I prefer the term, simplicity.” Now he turned to face you. “I hope you like it. It is made by a local artisan. A friend of mine, actually. The fish on the front is of an Ancient Arowana. It’s a fish of legend that, for some reason, is said to live in the sky. I don’t know what the Zora of old meant by that, but if you see any fish raining down from the sky, please let me know. I would love to see one in person.”

Sidon took a closer look at the cup. “Is that what it is? They didn’t paint any gold scales on it.”

Bazz rolled his eyes. “Use your imagination, my prince. I know you have plenty of it. Now, (Y/N), why don’t you enjoy tea out of your new teacup? The stew is almost ready to simmer. I will join you shortly after.”

You smiled and took a seat at the table. Sidon did the same and held up his teacup near you. You took your own and gently touched his. “I am so happy to see you again,” you whispered. 

The prince smiled and nodded. For once, he didn’t say anything. 

That was when you knew the prince was being sincere. When the fancy rich man had a loss for words, he was the happiest. You stayed like that for a while, looking at him. He did the same for you.

Until a slight cough and movement of a chair had you turn away quickly, almost launching your drink into your lap. Bazz sat down and warmed his hands with his own teacup. “So, (Y/N), how has this winter been for you? Are you doing well?”

You quickly tried to regain composure. “O…oh yes. Ummm. It has been fine. I have spent my days reading and writing. Of course I have been spending plenty of time with Midnight. He likes to go outside for a few seconds before coming back inside. He will wait until he warms up, then repeat the cycle. I believe he is not a fan of the winter months.”

Bazz smiled. “That can make two of us. I really don’t know how you Hylians live in this snow. Well, I don’t know how the Rito can fly in such cold weather. I have always seen it from a distance, but actually experiencing it…I can do without, thank you.”

You chuckled at the captain’s revelation. “I take it that it doesn't get cold in the Domain?”

Bazz leaned back in his chair. “It is more chilly, definitely, but it never gets cold. Not sure if that makes sense.”

You nodded at Bazz “So no snow.”

“No snow.” Bazz echoed.

Sidon shifted his posture. “I now understand why Hylians wear these “shoes,” but I still don’t find them comfortable. It was rather rough to walk in them. I kept tripping over my own feet.”

You could imagine Sidon stumbling like a drunk trying to get used to the footwear. “I hope your trip wasn’t too horrible. Thank you again, for coming to see me.”

Bazz nodded. “It took us a lot longer than expected. Which brings me to a point that I have been hesitant to bring up…It is quite late in the day and it is already dark outside.”

Your eyes widened at his unsaid meaning. “Oh! Of course! You are more than welcome to stay! I don’t have that many blankets, but I can keep the fire going.”

Sidon waved you off. “We can use our coats. We hung them up by the doorway, so they should be plenty dry before the day’s end. Normally, being wet is not a problem. But, with this cold…Regardless, it will be fine to sleep under our fabrics for tonight.”

Oh dear. One time sleeping at my house was a surprise. Twice and it may become a habit. You gently squeezed your new teacup to release some excitement. Hopefully your face wasn’t giving away too much. “If you boys keep staying over, I will be forced to build another room,” you joked.

Bazz leaned back in his seat before pointing his cup at Sidon. “The prince would move in with you. I could hear him say “Oh Bazz, let’s rest here for the night and return in the morning after the very important meeting that I do not wish to attend.” Or something of that nature.”

Sidon frowned at his captain. “I would not inconvenience my fairy in such a manner.” The prince finished his tea and set the cup down onto its saucer. “Besides, she would scold me through the night. Hylia knows she does during the daytime.”

Your cheeks grew pink. Bazz took the box from the middle of the table and opened it. “I think it is high time we indulge in the cookies. Any more of this talk and I’m afraid both of us will end up outside tonight. Now, (Y/N), we have lemon and orange cookies. Which one would you prefer first?”

“F…first?” you blinked at the captain.

Bazz let out a puff of amusement. “Oh (Y/N)... Yes, you can have more than one. We brought plenty. Here, have both.”

You were handed a small porcelain plate with two Zora-sized cookies. “I…I’m not sure I can eat this much.”

Bazz cocked his head at you. “Says the girl who nearly inhaled half the buffet at the party. No need to be modest or shy. We are partaking in this just as much as yo- Get your hands off the box, Sidon!” The captain pulled the cookie box out of reach of the prince. “I will serve you after our hostess feels comfortable. Hylia, mind your manners.”

The prince sort of slumped a little after being scolded. “They just look so tasty…” he mumbled.

Bazz sighed and began fixing a plate for his prince. “Honestly, you are so relaxed here.”

That made you smile. “I’m glad I can provide such an atmosphere." Your heart fluttered. Twice now the boys mentioned how much they loved being around you and how relaxed they felt. Granted, you loved having them around just as much…even with the price tag of tea.

You took a bite of one of the cookies and smiled. The fluffiness yet crispness of the cookies sent you straight to the sky with euphoria. 

Bazz handed his prince a small plate of three cookies and placed one on the plate for himself. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he observed your enjoyment. And upon further inspection of the two missing cookies that were now in your stomach, he picked up his plate and offered his single cookie to you. 

Your mouth was still stuffed with the second of the sweet treats which made it hard to talk. “Muh…I….I can’t…” you managed to say.

Bazz simply laughed and shook his head. “No, I insist. Your happiness is sweeter than this cookie." There was a slight pause before a sly smile crept across his handsome face. "I am half tempted to take a bite of you.”

Sidon choked on his own cookie and began violently coughing to the side. Once it subsided, he glared at Bazz. “Mind your manners, captain.” It was a warning. And a surprising warning to you. Bazz was flirty and joked a lot, but…this somehow seemed to get under the prince’s skin. Or, scales actually. Did Bazz cross the line with some sort of a culture thing?

You still had much to learn about the Zora.

“I don’t think I would taste very good,” you said. Hopefully a small joke would return this conversation to normal.

Sidon sighed and played with his teacup. “P…please don’t play into his perverted jokes…”

“Perverted?” you echoed.

The captain stood up and returned to the stew, all with a smile on his face. He’s giving the prince the obligation of explaining.

You knew that was his game. And although the prince was being extremely cute in his embarrassment, you decided to place a hand on his forearm to releive him of any discomfort. “Don’t worry about it. I can make a number of guesses myself. Regardless, how have you been? Are you being overworked again?”

Sidon relaxed and gave you the most adorable look of appreciation. “My dear fairy…” he trailed off and looked at you for a moment more before continuing. “I have been working rather hard. The winter ball, though a success, was quite difficult to plan. It is the first time so many people from all walks of life have come together in the winter. Anything outside had to be moved inward. So little things like seating had to be taken into greater consideration. During the ball I had to play the part of the prince, as you know. Then afterwards I had to hand-write over two hundred thank you…parchments? Letters? Notes? Bazz, what were they called?”

The captain stopped his stirring. “I would call them more of letters. You spent a lot of time and energy into each one.”

The prince sighed. “Yes, I did. And for what? They can throw them away? Gosh this old tradition will be the death of me.”

You gave the prince a look of pity. “Is it for every ball too?”

Bazz smiled at the mention of “every ball”. He turned around to tease his prince once more. “Did you forget someone that went to The Grand Soiree?” 

Sidon’s face dropped. “Oh my goodness…” Sidon placed his face in his hands. “Her name wasn’t on the list…”

You quickly waved your arms to brush it off. “D…don’t worry about that! I had a great time at that party and the free food was more than enough!”

Bazz shrugged. “He will write you one when you come to the next ball. And with that, our stew is done! Sidon, would you mind helping me dish?”

The prince quickly got up to assist his captain in serving dinner. In the smallest of whispers you overheard Sidon tell his captain, “What do you mean next ball? What are you planning!” Bazz handed a bowl to him and kept his focus on dinner.

Sidon turned around and brought over a Hylian-sized bowl for you. In his normal, chipper voice he announced, “Here you are, my fairy. Please enjoy.” You smiled and nodded, waiting for the other two boys to get their portions before taking your first spoonful of the delicious smelling stew.

Bliss…

“Delicious Bazz! You will need to give me the recipe! It is…wow it is good!” You brought several more spoonfuls of the stew to your mouth. The flavor was just right.

Bazz shrugged and looked at his prince. “Sidon caught the fish himself. High quality ones too, if I may add. If he wasn’t a prince, he would make an excellent fisher-Zora.”

Sidon nodded with confidence. “If you are ever in need of fish, let me know. I have learned how to spot the highest quality of fish. The best fish have a certain luster to their scales. Once spotted, I dart straight for them. It is all about the timing. You cannot be too quick or too slow.”

You smiled at the prince. “Thank you, I shall keep that in mind. Do you normally fish, or is this a special occasion?”

“Ah, well, sometimes I fish to…” The prince trailed off his sentence.

“To get out of work?” Bazz finished. The captain took a big spoonful of stew before slurping it down. Once finished, a small pop escaped from his mouth. “Though, I don’t mind for today. It’s good, Si. Thank you.”

With a mouth full of stew, you nodded in agreement. 

Sidon did a small bow. “Well, thank you both for the compliments. My heart is full of happiness.”

Bazz tilted his head at you. “And her belly is full of stew. She’s already done!”

“It…it was good!” you protested. 

Both boys laughed as they abandoned their own bowls of stew to prepare the next course. A beautiful wildberry tart gleaned under the light of the candles.

Oh happy days…

Chapter Text

You opened your eyes to the bright light that shone through the window. Snowflakes rested in the cracks of the windowpane. From your view, they looked like large winter mountains. Beyond them, the clouds moved at a fast pace which usually means that the wind will be wicked today. The cold on your face made your body yearn for the comfort of the blankets. You curled further underneath the large, fluffy covers. Just another hour or two of rest wouldn’t be too bad, right? After all, the chill that seeped through the window was not the least bit encouraging to start your day. The window sill was cold, freezing almost, but it was the only place to lie down that wasn’t the floor. Bazz took your bed and Sidon slept in his plush chair with his feet up on your old wooden one. 

That left you with the dirty rug in your room, or the much more comfy window seat. Yes, it was a bit chilly, but right now…under the blankets…it was perfect. A perfect place to spend the next few hours… 

However, the furry prince of the cottage disagreed with your choice. Midnight hopped onto the window sill beside you and began to whine and paw at you. His impatience was made known with each increasingly louder meow. There was no winning an argument with the royal mouser. 

You sighed and sat up with the blanket wrapped around you. You turned your body until your feet were positioned down on the floor. The icy sharpness burned through your socks, making you retreat back onto the window seat. Seeing as how even the floor has turned to pure icy fire, you put your feet in your shoes instead. Right now, it is definitely not summer where you could run barefoot around the cottage. Oh how you longed for those days. Even sweating to death seems preferable right now…

Upon tying your shoes, you quickly dashed across the room to put another log into the oven in a desperate attempt to bring it back to life. The fire almost completely died over the course of a night. You took the poker and with a few movements of the coals and some puffs of air, the fire licked at the edges of the log. You nodded in satisfaction. If everything goes well, it should be alive within the next few minutes.

Now on to Midnight. You grabbed the key off the ring next to the cabinet. You placed the key within the lock holding the cabinet door shut. With a small twist, the lock popped open to allow you access to the dry fish kibble inside. That was another dent in your pocket. That lock cost a few hundred rupees. Not to mention the price of the entire bag of kibble Midnight helped himself to when you were out one day. Goddess, the cat ate too much and threw up everywhere. Midnight even had the audacity to do it on your bed of all places, then looked at you as if you caused the upset feeling in his tummy.

As you poured the dried fish, you shook your head. “Spoiled Mr. Fluffy. Had to have your breakfast as soon as the sun rose,” you whispered to him. 

Your eyes widened at the realization. The boys only brought enough food for dinner, and what was currently in the cabinets were more inclined to a Hylian’s diet. You turned to the sleeping Zora prince blissfully unaware of the lack of food in the cottage.

Sidon’s body was curled up under his velvet cloaks that rose and fell with his breathing. The sweet boy’s face was pushed against one side of the chair as his crest extended beyond the top of it. Hopefully, he was able to get some sleep last night. The oversized plush chair was hardly a substitute to those comfy waterbeds they had in the Domain. 

You gave a small sigh. If only you had more money. Another bed or an extra quilt wasn’t the most daring thing to think of owning. Honestly, if your books could sell as well as that smutty romance then…

Then you could properly host and not feel so bad about it…

A slight shuffle made your head whip around. Bazz was leaning against the doorframe. By his posture, he must have been there for a while. The Zora was covered in his winter cloak, making you wonder if he had his arms crossed or not when he was watching you. In fact, how long was he watching you? 

The captain gave you a small smile. “You are mulling over the accommodations again?”

You looked off to the side and readjusted the blanket around you. “It’s just rather shameful to be hosting the two of you and I can’t even provide proper sleeping arrangements.”

Bazz gave a small laugh at your response. “If we wanted proper…everything…we would be at the palace right now.” He pushed off from the doorframe and walked closer to you. “Were you too cold last night on the windowsill? There was a bit of room on the bed. We could have shared it if-”

“Bazz!” a gruff voice scolded from across the room.

Sidon readjusted in his chair before crossing his arms. “Can you go one conversation without sounding like a degenerate?”

Bazz blinked a few times and shifted his weight to his other leg. He ran his tongue across his top lip before clicking. “How was that anything close to degeneracy? I was simply offering a more comfortable sleeping arrangement.”

Sidon sighed and shook his head. “Honestly, how did the Royal Guard end up with you as its captain?”

Bazz shrugged his shoulders. “Well, if you must know, I am an excellent fighter as well as an expert tracker. I once took a bokoblin’s sword and-”

Sidon extended a hand. “Stop. Please, for the love of Hylia, keep that story for when you are drunk in a tavern.” The prince slowly stood from his sleeping place, obviously stiff from sleeping in a chair. “Forgive him (Y/N), he must be dehydrated.”

Your eyes widened. “Oh! Let me get you some water! I forgot sleeping out of a pool makes you dehydrated!” You quickly rushed to get your buckets. Out of all the things to forget about, you forgot to bring in some more snow the night before to melt. You scurried in front of Bazz. “Are you using the bedroom now? I need to get changed.” The outside was nippy, so you needed to change before braving the cold. 

Bazz nodded and let you through the doorway. Interestingly, he said not one word as you closed the door. Hopefully the captain was starting to behave himself. You took off your night clothes of an old shirt and pants that had too many patched holes to count, and replaced them with your day clothes of a simple pair of trousers and an old tunic. It was plain, but it was all that was clean. Yesterday was supposed to be laundry day, but those plans had to be altered due to the sudden drop in of visitors. Plans with laundry can be changed, time spent with friends cannot.

But looking at the rather unattractive and plain clothing made you feel the slightest bit off. Your inner voice made you whisper, “Come now, I am hosting a prince, even though they are my friends. Doesn't mean that I can’t be embarrassed about how I look.” You tapped your chin “And yet, during autumn you played in the fallen leaves with Sidon. Twigs, bits of leaves, and dirt were caked in your hair afterwards…all through teatime.” 

You sighed in self pity. “I could at least try to look half decent-” Your eyes caught a hint of pink silk upon your desk that could make the whole ensemble a bit more attractive. You picked it up and laid it across your hands

It was the cloth that once wrapped the pen case Sidon gave to you all those months ago. The Zora couldn’t understand re-using such an item as a fashion accessory. But, whenever he saw you with it in your hair, he always complemented it. Besides, wearing it made you feel a bit less like a cottage gremlin and more like a functioning person of society. It has always interested you how such a simple thing can boost your confidence. “Perfect”

You placed the pink silk on your desk and rearranged your hair in a way that could allow a bow to be tied. You then picked the silk backup to place it on your head. After a few tugs to tighten the knots, you were satisfied. Now you look attractive. No harm in flaunting yourself in front of two men who stayed at your house last night.

A rush of heat filled your cheeks. No, no… You took a deep breath. They are your guests (Y/N). There is no need to think such vulgar thoughts…no matter how many times Bazz tries to implant them into your mind.

That mention of sharing a bed made you place your face in your hands.

Bazz gently opened his eyes. “I must still be dreaming…There is a beautiful creature coming close to my bed.” He extended his hand, taking your own. “Tell me, my sweet siren, is the night too cold to sleep alone? Come, let me warm you.”

Stop brain! Stop thinking such luscious thoughts!

You shook off the daydream and exited your bedroom. Sidon apparently decided to catch a minute or two more of sleep, as he was back in his former sleeping position. Bazz was currently interested in the few bits and bobs you had inside your curio cabinet. He would take something off of the shelf, inspect it, then put it back.

You gathered the buckets and headed for the kitchen window. But upon looking through the glass, you already removed too much snow to be able to reach any more. There was now a large divot in the snow by your window, all within arm’s reach. Meaning that the snow was just, ever so slightly beyond bucketing ability. “Maybe I need to walk outside. I can’t get the snow from the window like I normally do.”

Bazz came next to you and looked out the window. “I bet I can reach. Here, hand me a bucket. You open the window, I’ll grab the snow, and then you shut the window before too much of the cold can come in.”

You smiled at the captain. “Excellent battle plan.” 

Bazz gave you quite the attractive side smile. “Thank you. You ready?”

You nodded and opened the window. The captain, quick as lightning, scooped snow into the bucket and ducked back inside the cottage. You shut the window soon after. “You are so fast!” you exclaimed. “I almost didn’t see you scooping the snow!”

The captain, obviously proud, shrugged his shoulders. “Years of military training creates amazing reflexes.” Bazz poured the snow into the large pot on the stove. Upon contact, the frozen water hissed and began to melt. “To get this completely full will probably take another three or four times. You ready for round two?”

You nodded and got into position. Just like before, Bazz’s quick movements helped keep the warmth in your cottage. And after two more times of snow-gathering, your pot was full of cold water. “It will take a few minutes to get the water to lukewarm temperature. You don’t want to drink cold water in this weather, it’s too dangerous.”

Bazz nodded, taking a mental note of the survival skills of winter. “Duly noted. And, again, thank you for hosting us. Not only has this been a much needed vacation, but also a great learning experience. Speaking of which, I noticed a curious piece of parchment in your cabinet.” Bazz picked up your Pony Points card. “I wasn’t aware you had a horse.”

“Oh that? Sometimes Woodland Stable has a kind of bazaar where people sell all sorts of interesting things. You can also earn Pony Points from those events. If I am going to spend money, I want to maximise what I can get. Apparently if you collect enough of these things, you get rewards and the like. The pot that we are using came from one of those events. Apparently it is Goron-made and will last me a lifetime. As far as I can tell, they were true to their word on that one. I also got some spoons another time.”

“Zora spoons are better.” Sidon opened his eyes and pulled the velvet higher over his shoulders. “I would be more than happy to-”

“No,” you said. “My Goron spoons will be fine. There is also no need to polish steel, unlike the Zora silver you keep insisting I harbor in my cottage.” The prince pouted at your refusal at yet another potential gift. Bazz simply chuckled at the whole spectacle before picking up another object from your curio cabinet. You placed your hands on your hips. “Are you going to look through my entire house?”

Bazz turned to you. “As captain, I need to make sure the environment is well secured for my prince. What if you turned out to be a Yiga spy?”

That made you smirk. You plucked the next object out of the Zora’s hands. “I doubt an old sewing kit will be much of a threat to the prince, unless you are worried about me fixing any holes in your coats.” You looked down at the small rip in Bazz’s cloak. 

The captain, blush adorning his cheeks, readjusted his cloak. “It got stuck on one of my claws. I’m not used to wearing things made from cloth. A hassle, really.” Bazz walked away from your cabinet and took a seat on one of the old wooden chairs surrounding the table, obviously not wanting to take you up on your subliminal offer of fixing his fabrics.

You placed the sewing box back in its proper place before walking to the stove. Grabbing a ladle from the cabinet, you began filling one of the Zora-sized cups with lukewarm water. It took several scoops to fill the cup, but once done you handed it to Bazz. “Maybe some water will keep your devilish hands from cradling every trinket in the house.” 

The captain let out a small laugh before taking the glass from you. He took three large gulps of water before resting the cup on the table. “Ah, yes. That’s the good stuff.” He then brought the cup back to his lips before swallowing the rest of the water. 

Before he could even ask, you took Bazz’s glass again for a refill. Once again you poured water in it and handed it to the captain. You returned to the stove and grabbed another Zora-sized glass for Sidon to drink from. The water was then scooped into the prince’s cup. 

You walked over to the lounging prince on the chair. Upon handing the cup to him, he took your extended hand with his other one. “You can relax too, (Y/N). No need to push yourself for our sakes. I can see it, you are worried about something.”

The initial touch of the prince’s hand against your own sent sparks up your arm. To ground you in this moment, you slightly tighten your hand around the prince’s. It was just enough pressure to keep you there, to save you from flying off into the unknown abyss of your daydreams. His hands were warm from being concealed in the safety of his velvets, and there was a sort of softness to his touch. It wasn’t the softness of Midnight’s fur or the plushness of a pillow. No, this was a gentleness allotted to you out of pure kindness of the heart.

Your eyes flicked to the prince’s lips that turned upward into a smile. His sleepy eyes drew your own towards them. Their usual, glittery luster was replaced with a sort of deepness that called your heart to dive deeply into it. 

Sidon then gave your hand one last squeeze before letting go. He brought the cup to his lips before drinking its contents. 

All the while you just…stared. 

Sidon noticed your gawking and took a small break from his drink.  “Enchanted, my fairy?” he asked.

You quickly spun around and tried to prepare your own water glass with shaky hands. The water in both the ladle and the cup you tried to pour it into made the smallest sloshing noises, a sure sign of your nervousness. Maybe you could slip some vodka into this? Hopefully the boys wouldn’t notice. No…no need to act like a day drinker.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Bazz scoffing. He whispered, “And you told me to behave.” Obviously, the captain was still oblivious to how well Hylians can hear. “I almost threw up watching that.”

Please don’t. Midnight has done that enough.

You took the water and brought it to your lips. Within three gulps, the water was gone. And after that, you began your hopeless quest of trying to find something to feed the boys. You opened the cupboard to find nothing of the sort of food that would satisfy a Zora. “Oh dear…” you sighed.

The presence of a certain captain seemed to loom behind you. Until you realized it was real. A swift turn around had you nearly bury yourself into the cabinet door. Bazz leaned back up and cocked his head to the side. “Not to pry but that hardly seems like enough food to feed even you.”

It was true, but the way it was said made it sting your heart a little. “O…oh…well look at that. I guess you’re right haha.”

And like a fly to honey, Sidon magically teleported next to you to gaze into the nearly empty abyss of your cabinet. “My dear fairy, the rumors are true…Winter is a time of starvation for the Hylian people! Oh dear…(Y/N) why haven't you told us this earlier? You could have waited out the winter at Zora’s Domain! We have plenty of food and-”

Bazz tilted his prince’s crest backwards, causing him quite a bit of pain. “I don’t think that’s the problem, Sidon.” The captain looked to you and, seeing your embarrassment, let go of Sidon. “The weather simply hasn’t been the most ideal for shopping, isn’t that right?”

You were surprised at Bazz’s tact. He’s really sweet when he wants to be. “Yes, the snow hasn’t been ideal for shopping.” Which is true, but I went shopping only yesterday. But, you know that, don’t you captain?

Bazz readjusted his cloak around his body. “I will go into town to shop. I should be back in less than an hour.”

You blinked. “It takes me an hour to get there in this weather. Besides I can’t-”

Bazz held up his hand. “Longer stride, (Y/N). Besides, the reason we are here is so that Sidon can spend some time with you before returning to work on several documents that had been neglected on purpose…Isn’t that right, my dear prince?”

Sidon sheepishly looked off to the side.

Bazz nodded and began arming himself with boots and scarves for his mini-adventure. You began to prepare a hot water bottle for him to drink on his way to town. No wonder Zora do not live this far outside the Domain. The need for water is important and low humidity makes the air crisp…not ideal. Hopefully this glass container covered in fabric can help keep him hydrated until he returns.

As you were preparing the water, you looked over to the side and caught a glimpse of Bazz pulling over a long black stocking over his thigh. You quickly refocused your attention back on the preparations before you were caught staring. That man has such beautiful legs.

Once Bazz was completely dressed for the elements, you handed him his hot water bottle. Feeling its warmth, Bazz placed it inside his cloak. “Thank you, (Y/N). You are most kind.”

You shook your head. “No, not at all! You are the one being so kind as to fetch us food.”

Bazz leaned down to you. “If I am not mistaken, isn’t it a Hylian custom to kiss before leaving the house?”

Sidon quickly grabbed the collar of Bazz’s cloak, opened the door, and threw his best friend outside. “Have a safe trip,” he said before shutting the door, stifling the cold winter’s breeze. The prince wiped his hands on his velvets before guiding you to the table. “It is indeed cold today. I shall make us some tea to warm up.”

You were too stunned to protest. Obviously, Sidon was trying to act like nothing has happened and move on to enjoying your company. The prince was gleefully preparing the tea by putting spoonfuls of leaves into each strainer. How long did he want to kick Bazz out of the cottage? Aren't they supposed to be friends?

The prince turned to you, a sparkling smile adorning his face. “So much more comfortable, isn’t it?”

“Uhhhhhh” is the only response you could give.

“How have you truly been, my fairy? No need to be embarrassed anymore about details since our captain has gone into battle. Pray tell, how does a Hylian brave such a horrid temperature? Do you stay in your cottage on most days? Oh please, sit, sit down.” He extended a hand, encouraging you to sit down

“Y…yes. I usually just stay indoors and write. Unfortunately, in the winter, advertisement jobs are quite sparse. The paper is reduced to once a month instead of weekly. That and signs have no purpose if no one is outside to look at them.” You pinched yourself to try and relax. You hosted Sidon plenty of times alone before. Why now were you so…so…uneasy? Was it because neither of you could leave that it made this space so…intimate?

Sidon grabbed your waist and pulled you into his chest. “Alone at last, my fairy.” He pulled down the collar of your shirt down one of your shoulders. A small kiss was placed at the base of your neck. “All the things we can do in an hour,” the prince whispered into your skin.

You slammed your head onto the table in front of you, making Sidon jump. “(Y/N)? Are…are you quite alright?”

“YES!” you shouted. 

Sidon’s shoulders slumped. “I have upset you, haven't I?”

Your hands waved in front of your face. “No, no not at all! I’m just…Honestly, I don’t know what is going on in my head as of late. Been cooped up in this cottage too long I guess. I only get to talk to Midnight. Maybe my social skills have dulled with winter…”

Sidon took a breath, relaxed and smiled. “I believe they are as sharp as ever.” He turned back to the now-whistling kettle. “The tea is almost ready. Would you be so kind as to retrieve the book I have brought you. I think reading a bit of poetry will do us both some good.”

You brightened and stood to go get the book of poems that Sidon so graciously is letting you borrow. It rested in your curio cabinet, so it wasn’t too far. To be honest, it looked like it belonged there. The bent and cut edges of the book matched your chipped curio cabinet so well. You sat back down and admired the embossed “Deku T” text before opening up the book. The feeling of it was…interesting. “The binding and…even the paper of this book is nothing I have ever seen before, Sidon.”

The prince placed a brewed cup of tea in front of you. “That’s what I thought as well. It just adds to the mystery of it. But, look at the actual poems. The structure isn’t anything I have seen before. The most similar variety of poems would be the Sheikah format.”

You looked down at the book, enchanted by the lettering as well. The letters were all made out of straight lines. It was like something that was printed. However, the difference in size of the ink made it impossible to conclude it had been made with a printing press. You then refocused your attention to the words…

Cherry blossom apple

 

The Lord of the Mountain watches

 

Swift as the evening wind

 

Your eyes widened. “It is like the Sheikah format, but each line has one more syllable. Maybe our mystery author was from the Sheikah tribe?”

Sidon sipped on his tea and made a low hum. “That is what I thought too. However, after looking through other texts, I have not seen the pattern replicated. Nor have I seen the type of paper or binding this text uses. I am guessing this author must be an admirer of the Sheikah style, but not from the Sheikah tribe.”

“Do you think it is of Yiga origin?” you asked.

Sidon shook his head and smiled. “There is not one poem in this book that mentions mighty bananas. I think it is safe to assume it is not of Yiga origin.”

You chuckled behind your hand. The Yiga’s one weakness is quite well known, even to you. “Let’s take a look at another one. Maybe reading more can give us some more hints.”

Over the course of the next hour, you red poem after poem with the prince. As per usual, the conversation got quite intellectual. Sidon often talked about the importance of bending the rules of literature while still staying true to the beauty of words. As for you, you listened with intent and offered what little insight you could on the subject matter. Even though you did not have the advanced education that the prince did, Sidon would often comment and praise your thoughts. "Education can sometimes make everyone construct a similar school of thought when it comes to art. I always appreciate your ideas on these matters. Always so enlightening." His words lit a happy little light inside your heart. Yes, you were different. Yes, you were strange. But, Sidon appreciated all those things that made you different.

You turned the page to the next poem.

Gentle green leaf of mine

 

Caressed by summer’s hopeful winds

 

Hide and come l                       l

Your brows furrowed. “That’s strange. The last part of the poem seems unfinished. And those two lines…”

Sidon scooted his chair closer to your own. “It is the only poem like that in the whole book. I don’t know why it is unfinished though. There are several more pages of complete poems after that one.”

You flipped the page, but stopped mid-turn. Something solid caught your eye within the grains of the page. You sat the book on its edge and held the page towards the window so that light would filter through it. The words became easier to read. You read aloud the now-completed last line of the poem, “Hide and come out to play.”

Sparkles emitted from the page. You dropped the book as a korok poofed into your house! “Yahaha! You found me!” 

You were too shocked to make much movement. How in the heck did this book summon a korok? 

The little forest child held out what looked to be a piece of gold. “Here you go!” it said in a cheerful voice. 

Sidon was about to hold out his hand before you stopped him. “D…don’t it’s. Ummm….it’s poop.” The prince’s face turned inward to show the most comical disguised expression you could imagine.

The forest child spun around and laughed a “Heha!” before poofing away.

You and Sidon both slowly turned to each other. What was this mysterious book? Sidon’s eyes lowered back onto the pages. “(Y/N), look!”

You followed his line of sight to see that the words were now filled in! Hide and come out to play. It was printed in black in like all the other words. “What in Hylia’s name…It wasn’t like that before, right?”

“No,no I distinctly remember those words not being there. What the…who wrote this book?” Sidon took the book off the table and began inspecting it with vigor. He turned the book upside down, flipped through the pages, and knocked on the cover to listen to the sound. “Nothing else seems unusual…well except for this unknown paper technique…and binding…and..well…a korok magically appearing.”

You nodded. “Sidon, I don’t mean to sound rude, but would you be able to take this book back to the library? I am not sure if I-”

“Oh most definitely. You deal with koroks stealing your water enough during the summer. I don’t wish to accidentally curse you with a blight of them for harboring this book. Yes..no…no need to worry.” He placed the book down on the table.

Both of you continued to stare at it.

And stare.

And stare.

Until you broke the silence. “I think I have some extra fabric to wrap it with. Would you like that?”

Sidon slowly nodded. “Yes please, that is very kind of you.”

You got up and pulled out an old piece of cloth from a drawer. It is normally used to wrap gifts that would thus be returned to you. However, if you never got this back, you wouldn’t mind. 

Once wrapped, you placed the book back in the curio cabinet. Even though it was wrapped, both of you continued to stare at the bundled book like it was going to become sentient and demand a sacrifice. Oh Hylia, when was the fierce protector of Zora’s Domain going to return? You could really use some protection right now.

The door to the cottage opened, causing Sidon and you to jump out of your seats, screaming. 

Bazz quickly grabbed for the fire blade in his cloak and surveyed the area for potential threats. His eyes quickly assessed everything before coming to the realization that, in fact, there was nothing threatening you or his prince. The captain sighed and shut the door. “Honestly, what was that all about? I thought there might have been some actual danger! I expect this from Sidon, but (Y/N)...not you too.” His eyes shifted from you to Sidon and back to you. “What happened when I was away?”

Sidon recounted the tale of the book spawning a korok to his captain. Though, with a few more dramatics, as Sidon does. Bazz listened to the story with intrigue and skepticism. Finally he shook his head. “Koroks are an old myth. You are telling me that one magically got summoned by completing a poem?”

You blinked at Bazz. “You have never seen one before? They come into my house and mess up my stuff occasionally. Mostly they just drink water out of my bucket though.”

Bazz gave you a confused look. Sidon nodded to his captain. “I actually witnessed one of the water bucket incidents.”

The Zora sighed in defeat of all things reasonable and right in his mind. “I somehow am not surprised. (Y/N) are you sure you aren't cursed? Koroks and the vast amounts of Silent Princess flowers in your lawn during the warm months…Are you quite well?”

You brought your hand to your face to think. “I don’t believe I’m cursed. Not that it couldn’t happen. An angry customer could have possibly cursed me. How does one know if they are cursed?”

Bazz, obviously wanting to drop the inquiries, turned around, opened the door halfway, and brought in a large bag nearly bursting with whatever was inside of it. “This should last us for the day. Plus some more supplies as payment to our gracious host.”

You blushed. “You…you can’t possibly-”

“And yet I did. I am not going back out there to return them. Or are you planning to kick a hard working Zora back out into the cold?” Bazz flashed a knowing smile at you. He has now cornered you into a place where you must accept the gift, whatever it was. The captain then placed the large bag on the counter and looked at his prince. “Sidon, would you mind organizing these while I disrobe?”

The prince eagerly went over to the bag to see what goodies lie inside for breakfast. You also walked over to look at everything Sidon was pulling out of the bag: several different kinds of fish, some onions, spices, ginger root, potatoes (Oh, that must be for you!), some sort of liquid in a bottle, dry fish kibble for Midnight, and some bread.

 Sidon paused, grabbing the last object at the bottom of the bag, but not lifting it into your view. He looked at you and whispered, “Please don’t be mad at him.”

The last object Sidon pulled out was a large, wooden box. You looked at the object that was dwarfed in the Zora’s hand. But, from seeing the needle and thread embossed on the box, you knew it was some sort of cloth item. Sidon put a finger to his lips, knowing you were about to chastise the captain. Sidon then turned to Bazz. “Do you want to give this last object yourself?”

Bazz paused from removing his coat, leaving him in only those black stockings that- 

You quickly averted your eyes. 

You heard Bazz make a satisfied noise. “It actually would work out better if you opened it, Sidon. Then you can hold it up for her to see.”

Like an adorable child, Sidon quickly opened the box to see the surprise inside. He pulled out a large, woolen blanket. Your eyes widened. You quickly scurried over to touch it. The blanket was scratchy, but these blankets were meant to be the top layer for extremely cold nights. The whole blanket was dyed a slight brown, a common color for these types of things. It helps to keep the dirt from showing. Sidon smiled down gleefully at your reaction to the gift. 

You turned to the captain who was nearly done stripping himself of the burdensome socks. “Bazz I couldn’t-”

The captain held up a hand. “Think of it as payment for hosting us. The rest of the items are communal, so I can’t see any objection to that. Well, except for the dried fish kibble. Think of that as a tribute to the prince of this castle. We are invading his holiest of spaces as well.”

You gave a soft smile. “Thank you, Bazz. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

The captain blushed and nodded his head. “Glad you like them. Now, onto breakfast. Since I went out and got the food, I believe it is only fair that you, Sidon, can cook the morning meal. I have ingredients for spicy pepper seafood.” Bazz sat down in Sidon’s plush chair and crossed his legs in ease. “This recipe was part of our training when we were young. Do you remember it?”

Sidon nodded. “Of course. But, why something so simple?”

Bazz leaned back. “You should know why.”

Sidon tilted his head in confusion. “I should know? I should know wh-    Of course!” The Zora threw the blanket towards Bazz, who caught it and placed it on himself. The prince joyously preparing breakfast. “Allow me to prepare something for today’s meal, (Y/N). I hope you will be impressed by the quality and care!”

You blinked at the energetic and enthusiastic prince. His smile was ten miles wide with sparkles that could light your house on fire! He’s really going at it.

Bazz motioned for you to sit next to him, which you obliged because there was no way you wanted to be in front of that speeding cart of a man. The captain leaned over to you. “Simple is what impresses you, no? Once Sidon caught onto that fact, he’s been trying hard to understand what simple means. As you know, what he thinks is simple is far off the mark for normal people. I do ask that you give him some grace in this. He is trying his best.”

You looked back to the man eagerly preparing breakfast. He’s trying his best? Your cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. He’s trying for my sake?

Bazz leaned even closer to you. His voice became just a breath of a whisper, “I know this isn’t my place, but know that he cherishes the friendship you two have. Even when he doesn't understand something, he always tries his best to at least understand the feelings of the person.” You felt the captain smile against the tip of your ear. “Please, excuse me. I have said too much.” The Zora leaned back into his chair. His eyes fixated on the prince.

Your eyes soon followed. Sidon, you are one amazing guy…

The prince must have felt the stares he was getting, because he turned around in slight discomfort. “You…you both can do something else in the meantime.”

Bazz shook his head. “Nah, we are simply enjoying the show. Now drop something so you can bend over and pick it up!” That evil grin returned to the captain’s face.

Sidon pouted at his friend. He pointed the fish knife at his captain. “Here I am trying to make a wholesome meal for my two best friends, and you are making lewd comments again. Maybe I should cook you instead of these fish.”

Bazz laughed. “Oh please do. I do not wish to return to the mountain of paperwork I am sure has piled on my desk.”

Sidon sighed and returned to his cooking. “Please don’t remind me of the outside world. I am quite content thinking my life has always been making tea in this cottage with (Y/N). My life has always been spent picking berries, harvesting apples, and taming Lynals.” 

Ah yes, Midnight began his sultry dance of rubbing Sidon’s leg. The cat was trying to seduce the prince into giving him some tasty parts of the fish.

Look at me fish-man for I am the sole keeper of my master’s heart. If you want to show her your appreciation, then submit. Submit to my adorable furry face and pay tribute to the duke of the cozy cottage. For only then shall I stop this obsessive meowing and-   Oh you are handing me food! Yes, yes! Omnomnomnom.” 

Midnight began happily chopping down on a piece of fish that Sidon handed to him. “You are a spoiled one,” the prince commented. “I am beginning to understand my captain's personal struggles in dealing with a mighty ruler.”

Bazz shook his head and leaned back into the chair, closing his eyes in the process. “It is rather tiring.” He adjusted himself into a more comfortable position before completely relaxing his body. The poor man must be exhausted from trudging through the snow so early in the morning. 

Your eyes glided over him. From his now-relaxed face to the clawed tips of his toes. That’s when you noticed dark spots on the floor underneath. You stood and followed those spots to where his shoes were. “You swam into town!”

Sidon whipped around. Bazz cracked open an eye, closed it, and responded with, “Yes, and?”

Your hands turned into fists. “Bazz you can get sick! Not only that, but it is extremely dangerous! What were you thinking?”

The captain waved his hand. “I will be fine. I have swum through worse. I wore the clothing to the river, then jumped in. I was hoping you wouldn’t find out. I forgot about the water spots. How sloppy of me.”

You put your hands on your hips and frowned. “And you accuse Sidon of being stubborn. I’m going to make you some hot tea with ginger, so hopefully you won’t catch a cold.” With the pot already on the back part of the stove from the morning, the water was still fairly warm. You scooped some water into the kettle and placed it on the front part of the stove. Being in close proximity to Sidon, you whispered, “How could he be so reckless? He always chastises you for such moves.”

The prince shrugged and glanced behind him. “I honestly don’t know. It’s not like him.”

Your brows turned upward in concern. How do Zoras even get sick? Do their nose holes run like with Hylians? Or do they begin to shrivel up due to dehydration like a sun-baked fish? “S…Sidon, what are sickness symptoms like with the Zora?”

“I’m not going to get sick,” Bazz called from behind. His eyes were still closed, but the annoyance was written all over his face. “If you are so worried about me, then hurry up with the food so I can eat what I went out to get.”

Both Sidon and you looked at each other. The prince nodded and returned to his work. “No need to get on him about possibilities. The man already went through enough trouble this morning to get us ingredients.”

You nodded in agreement before continuing your tea brewing. Hopefully, the captain will be alright.

Chapter Text

“Oh dear, Bazz you are burning up!” 

You retracted your hand from the captain’s crest. Bazz sunk into Sidon’s plush chair and looked off to the side, embarrassed. “It’s just a bit of a cold. I can still travel with the prince back to the Domain-”

“Absolutely not,” Sidon cut in. “You need to rest! I am not going to let you endanger yourself!”

Bazz pressed his hand to one side of his face. Eyes lazily looking about, the captain appears to be half-conscious. Even his scales seemed to lack their normal gloss. Despite the raging battle inside him, he managed to speak with some sense. “Sidon is scheduled to return to the Domain tonight at the latest. If he doesn't return, there will be a massive panic.”

Your lips pressed together. The pieces of this time-puzzle did not quite fit together. “I have been meaning to ask, why come all this way just to leave so soon? When us Hylians travel through this kind of weather, we usually stay for three days minimum.”

Sidon sighed and gave you a sorrowful smile. “Unfortunately, with my job I don’t have that kind of luxury.” The prince sat on the windowsill, the only other place in the cottage sturdy enough for a man of his size. 

 You took your seat on a regular wooden chair near the sick captain. Goodness, everyone was stressed out by this new development. The tension and fear in the air was so thick that it could be cut with the dullest of knives. It was only an hour ago that Bazz returned from the market. If his fever is this high now… Oh Hylia help you all. Sidon had to return tonight. If he didn’t, not only would there be a panic before he was found, but when he was found…the secret of your friendship would be exposed. This winter was nearly too long to bear without seeing your smiling prince. Never seeing him would most likely kill you.

If the prince needed a guard, there was only one other person available in this small cottage. You took a deep breath. With a solid resolve in your heart, you announced to the men, “I will guide the prince back to Zora’s Domain.”

Sidon’s eyes blew wide in shock. Bazz simply shook his head.

Seeing the doubt in both men’s faces, you blushed. Honestly, why were they dismissing your suggestion so easily? You straightened your back to appear more sure than you actually were. “I live here by myself. I know the land and the roads to get to the Domain. If anybody asks, Bazz got sick on the road and you both came to my cottage in search of help.”

Bazz sighed. “It’s too risky. I can’t allow you to-”

“Bazz.” Sidon looked at his sick captain for a long while, sharing an unspoken conversation. “We don’t seem to have much of a choice. As much as I would love to stay here for many more days while you recover, I can’t cause another mass search.”

Another? How many times has Sidon snuck off like this?

Bazz gave a frustrated grunt. “When are you ever the responsible one?”

Sidon smiled and looked at you. “Well, they do say to surround yourself with good people.” 

A slight warmth filled your heart. He’s so sweet, you thought. You nodded your head and stood from your chair. “If that settles things, I will begin to pack for our journey and prepare things for Bazz until I can return back here. Bazz, why don’t you go lie down in bed?” 

With Sidon’s assistance, the captain slowly moved into the other room. The poor man was hunched over and wobbling. Gosh, hopefully he will be alright on his own. Even the sturdiest of generals are powerless in the face of disease. 

You walked over to the stove to prepare the last of the fish. It’s just a cold, not a disease…If all goes right, I should be back at the cottage within two days’ time. A soup for the rest of the day and dried fish tomorrow until my return should be enough to keep the captain fed and healthy. Well, as healthy as someone can be when sick. You began your work by filling the pot with water made from the melted snow when a shuffle of feet stopped beside you. You turned to a worried Sidon.

 “Sidon,” you said in a breath filled with empathy. “If it is not too much trouble, would you be able to assist me in making the stew? I would be able-”

“Of course,” the prince interjected. A small smile grew on his face. “Since we are now travel companions, anything you need, I will do.” He nodded sharply to you before extending his hand and arcing it through the air in a grand display. “Right. It’s like a real life Tales of Prince Rilos . The prince and his trusty companion traversing the land to return home. What do you think?”

You grinned. You two were going to act like kids, weren’t you? Both of you playing pretend all the way home. It was so long ago that you last picked up a stick and declared yourself a knight.  “I think that, with the help of his companion, the prince will return to his people safely.”

Sidon paused his work with the fish to turn to you and flash a smile. “An adventure worthy of an epic tale, my dear Ire.”

Your heart skipped a beat upon hearing the female lead’s name. True, the part of the female knight was what you were going to play, but you couldn’t help the rush of panic from worry that somehow the prince found out about your book.

Once the wave of anxiety passed, you continued to smile and listen to the prince’s ramblings of excitement. The prince ranted and raved about slaying giant monsters and diving off of steep cliffs with sharp rocks below. Thankfully, with the calamity gone, monsters were scarce these days. And, as far as you knew, there were no daring cliffs to jump from on the way to the Domain. However, Sidon could barely contain his enthusiasm. More than once, his waving arms nearly knocked over the boiling pot of stew.

Poor Bazz would have a hard time falling asleep with the noise you both were making. And yet you couldn’t help but wonder if Bazz was secretly jealous of not being able to join in your childish game. Not that he would ever admit that, of course. 

Once the pot of stew was fully ready, you dished out a large bowl for Bazz. You grabbed one of your lovely Goron spoons and placed it into the bowl with your thumb pinching the spoon to the side as to not let it slip in. You walked to the bedroom door and tapped it three times with the back of your hand. “Bazz, I’m coming in with food,” you announced. Upon turning the handle, you pushed the door open and looked inside to see that the Captain had already dozed off. Bazz’s eyes were closed and his breathing was slow and deep. The poor thing had completely cocooned himself in the heavy woolen blankets. How could he have fallen asleep with the racket that we were making?

Quietly, you shut the door and returned the soup to the large pot still steaming with heat. Sidon cocked his head to the side in a silent question. You smiled. “He’s asleep,” you whispered as you began to wash the bowl.

Once the last bits of preparation were complete and the both of you dressed, Sidon opened the door to the howling winter lands. “See you in two days, Midnight,” you called to the Duke of the Cottage. 

The cat gave you a look before returning to his slumber, his way of saying Be safe! Or, at least you hoped.

You locked the door and walked over to where the Prince stood. He placed his hands on his hips. “Off we go, my trusty companion! Adventure awaits us!” 

His enthusiasm… With the stress of a sudden change in routine, it was much needed. Both of you turned in the direction of Zora’s Domain and began your long journey there. You thanked the goddess that there was no fresh snowfall and the weather seemed tame. However, the gentle wind still cuts right through you.

You began your journey down the road on your side of the river. The snow was slightly packed down from other travelers using it to go to and from Zora’s Domain. The road wasn’t wide by any means. More like a cart’s width and that’s it. But, with the prince walking ahead of you, the unpacked snow parted where your feet tread. Sidon was like some sort of bow on a ship that cuts through the water. And the freakiest part is that the man didn’t seem tired at all. Sidon glanced over his shoulder. “Are you alright, my dear companion? You have been silent for quite some time.”

You perked up at the sound of his voice. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m more worried about you getting tired from kicking the snow away!” Certainly his boots wouldn’t keep his toes from completely freezing off if he kept this up. “Let me switch you so you can rest.”

To this, Sidon laughed. “My dear companion, did I fail to mention that I have two flameblades in each of my shoes?” You looked closer at his walking feet to see four flameblades attached to the front of his boots. The prince wasn’t kicking the snow out of the way. It was melting !

“That’s…that’s so smart!” you exclaimed. Oh, Sidon puffed out his chest with pride at that comment. 

“Of course, I am a prince! We must be resourceful in these kinds of situations! Just like in the story, I too am using my intelligence to return to the kingdom. And how are you, dear knight? Any sign of monster activity?”

You quickly looked around. To be honest, you were so worried about the cold that you sort of forgot to keep an eye out. “Nothing to report,” you played along. Yet, from now on you need to focus. Sidon was counting on your protection to return him safely to the Domain. Yes, focus on your surroundings. Look up, around…and…and…

Even under all those layers of velvet, you kept catching yourself staring at Sidon. How could someone still be handsome when his clothes made him utterly shapeless? Maybe it was his confident movements, or is it the jovial energy that surrounded him? He’s just so wonderful…

A particularly nasty blast of wind had you shield your face from the elements. Focus, (Y/N)! There could be a monster hiding in the-

The rustling of a holly bush off to your left made you jump. Sidon noticed your movement and followed your stare to the bushes. The leaves danced at an increasing pace until a small deer poked its head out. Its mouth nibbled around the leaves, kissing them. The ears on the animal suddenly pointed towards you. The deer turned its head to look at your party of two before realizing the possible danger that might occur with meeting strangers. It turned around quickly to bound for the safety of the deep woods.

You looked at Sidon who was smiling with his sharp teeth on full display. “I do believe that was a deer! I have only seen them a few times! Oh what a wonderful journey this is turning out to be!” The prince then returned his attention in the direction of the fleeing deer. “A rather small one though. I have heard that the spikes on their head can grow quite large.”

“It was probably either a female. Or it could be a male that shed its antlers.” 

The edge of Sidon’s mouth turned downward. “Species out of the water really do lose their body parts rather…often.”

You chuckled behind your hand. “I assume you are referring to my haircut.” The prince gave a slight hum of approval. Oh, your sweet prince. Even with all that fancy education he still doesn't know the knowledge of the common folk. “But don’t all species replace some part of their body? For birds it’s their feathers. For deer it’s their antlers. Don’t Zora lose their scales and replace them with new ones?”

Sidon nodded from underneath the pile of velvets. “Yes, but…it’s just a small scale. Not…a significant length of your hair or the entire bone of a ant…an…”

“Antlers,” you offered.

“Thank you. Antlers are made of bone, correct?” Sidon now seemed to be visibly concerned for the entire deer population. “It must be rather uncomfortable to lose such a large portion of your body.”

You gave a slight nod of confirmation. “Well, you and I both know that not everything that needs done in life is comfortable.” You turned your full body towards the prince. “Especially those council meetings that you adore so much.”

Sidon gave a sigh of exhaustion. “Yes, even those. How kind of you to remind me of my princely duties. You never intend to let me dismiss my obligations? Isn’t a good friend supposed to smuggle me away from such unpleasantries?” He lowered his head to your level of vision. To which, you propped your hands on your hips.

“Well, for now, I am simply your knight.” You placed one hand over your heart. With your back straightened and voice pompous, you said your vow. “It is a knight’s duty to have the Domain’s best interest at heart.” A smile tugged at your lips. Maybe you should have been an actress on stage rather than a writer. You are quite good at playing the role of a knight.

The prince took in a deep, chilly breath of air before releasing it in a sigh. “Come now, my dear knight. If I am to return to those wonderful council meetings, I do need to return home first.”

As you trekked on, the wind seemed to get worse. What used to be a small breeze grew to a frozen windstorm. You pulled your old patchwork coat tighter around your body.  Hylia, never have you had to be outside in the cold for this long. Zora’s Domain is still a few hours away as well!

Sidon stopped and turned towards you. “(Y/N) are you quite alright? You don’t look well.”

“I...I’m…ff..fff…fine,” you replied. Not a very convincing reply though, as Sidon began to open the front of his cloak. In a quick attempt to stop him from giving you his outerwear, you held out your hands. Not only would the prince be cold, but the weight of it would pin you to the frozen ground.

Sidon stopped at the third button below before extending a hand towards you. “Just for a little bit, until you warm back up.”

You wearily accepted that outstretched hand that pulled you up and above Sidon’s head. Then, the prince placed you inside his coat so that your face poked out of his collar and your shoes out once of the openings in the side. “There,” Sidon said. “You should be plenty warm in a minute or two.” With that, the prince continued to walk onward.

The initial shock took quite a few moments to wear off. When it did, you began your knowingly useless protest. “I…I’m too heavy! You’ll get tired and-”

“Nonsense,” the prince waved your concerns away. “You are a light as a feather, my dear knight. Besides, as a Zora I don’t have much of an ability to make my own body heat. Carrying you like this is a small price to pay for a rather adorable source of warmth.” Sidon then resumed his walk through the snow. 

You pulled the collar of his jacket over your cheeks. To keep the wind out, of course. Even with the lack of concern over your weight, those extra Yule-time cookies seemed to be a bad idea. Man, they were tasty though. Crispy on the outside with a soft and chewy center. The key was to set them outside in the snow to freeze. Then , you bake them in the oven. Wafting scents of spices and sugar filled your house for days. Some pieces of furniture would capture the scent for weeks. Sweet, delicious smells. Mmmmm…cookies.

“My knight, are you thinking about food again?” You flinched and turned your head into the fabrics of his velvets. The prince gave a hearty laugh that reverberated throughout your body. “Oh (Y/N). You always get quiet when you think about food. Entertain me. Were you thinking about those fruit sandwiches you are so fond of? I do apologize, but they are out of season at the moment.”

Oh dear, now you were caught. Instead of fighting it, you decided to humor the prince. After all, there was still quite the journey ahead. “No, I was actually thinking of something I ate quite a few weeks ago. Yule-time cookies, actually.”

“Ah,” the prince sighed out. “I remember reading about those in one of your letters. The ones that you put outside to freeze.” The prince then gave a sad sigh. “I forgot to bring some flour. We could have baked some while we were there.”

Your eyes shifted as you thought. “When Bazz gets better and can travel, I can send him with some cookies.”

Sidon made a low hum in response. “But they won’t be fresh out of the oven. Warm and filling to the soul. In your letter, you mentioned how your tongue waltzed to the heavens with the only incommodity being the final bite that returned you to the frozen land. ” Sidon pulled you closer and twirled once, his cloak running over the top of the snow,  sending twinkling diamonds into the air. “To take one of those dances for myself… I must simply visit you again before the snow melts into the earth.”

You gave a small laugh at the prince’s enthusiasm. “I think Bazz would highly disagree with your decision to dance your way to my cottage again.”

Sidon tilted his head to the side. “Ah yes, he would probably say something along the lines of ‘You can dance in the ballroom, idiot.’ Honestly, that man never has a shred of romance in his heart.”

You readjusted the front of Sidon’s coat. “What do you mean by that? He’s so…flirty all the time.”

The prince nodded in your assessment. “There is a difference between having a flirtatious nature and being in love with life. He never seized the daily opportunities to breathe in the sunlight and exhale dreams. Alas, work is his first love. Always has been.” The prince made a dramatic sigh before he delivered his next line. “As such, he is completely infatuated with sticking to the rules and not allowing me to enjoy my life. How outlandishly rude.”

Quite a loud laugh came from your mouth. You simply couldn’t keep quiet when the Goddess herself gifted the prince such a wicked sense of humor. “I do believe Bazz has a mush different opinion on the matter.”

Sidon looked down at you with amusement. The corners of his mouth ticked upward with his usual boyish charm. “Of that, I am most certain. However, I am curious about your opinion on the matter. What do you say to this injustice?”

You shook your head. “I fear I am not nearly educated enough on the details of your day-to-day life. For I am simply a knight.” You adjusted yourself in the prince’s arms. “As such, I do believe I should return to my duty of guarding you, if you would be so kind.”

That smile turned into a straight line, wrought with hesitance. “Are you certain? Really it’s no trouble…” The prince softly trailed off his sentence, hoping that you would change your mind.

You returned his look with one of reassurance. “I am certain. I am warmed back up and ready to protect my prince once more.”

Sidon paused for a moment, wavering between the options of placing you back on the ground and keeping you bundled up with him. In the end, the prince respected your wish to be released. He carefully plucked you out of his cloak as one would carry a kitten before putting you down. The cold instantly attacked your once warm skin. Chills trailed down your back. 

And in a small, featherlight whisper, you could have sworn Sidon said, “I’d rather like having you in my arms…”

Chapter Text

The warmth of the lower valleys of the Lanayru  region was a muchly anticipated signal that you were nearing Zora’s Domain. Your old patchwork coat finally was enough of a barrier between you and any remaining chills that lingered in the air.

Sidon began shedding his layers of velvet cloaks and scarves. Obviously, he was much warmer throughout this journey than you were. The prince draped his fabrics over one arm to carry them home. With each layer he shed, you became more acutely aware of his reluctance to return. Those sturdy shoulders began to droop as his face became more set. 

Your concern for him grew beyond your ability to bear. “S…Sidon are you alright?” 

The prince snapped towards you. “Of course! Why would you ever think otherwise?”

Your lips pressed together. “It’s just…you seem…oh how do I put this?” Thoughts swished around your head like that pot of stew you made this morning. Everything is there, but it’s all mixed in with one another. Anxious? Sad? Depressed? How can these words fit into a sentence that makes…a sentence? Like, a sentence that can be understood. Goddess above, you were a writer for goodness sake! Why are words so hard?

Sidon’s lips turned into a smile. “Oh, you were concerned about the heaviness of my velvets, weren’t you? Be at ease, my dear Hylian, I have the strength to carry these home.”

What? That mix of word stew stopped stirring around. Does he…does he think I am worrying over the weight of his cloaks? You blinked at him a few times.

The prince continued on his ego-boosting rant. “I am known for not only my strength in maintaining the Domain, but also my physical strength too. I train every day after all. Got quite the impressive muscular structure, if I do say so myself.”

Before you could stop and think, an unfortunate observation came trotting out of your mouth, “So, you are a “gym bro”?” The prince stared at you. You quickly turned away from him and covered your mouth. Why did you say something so embarrassing?

“What’s a gym bro?” the prince asked.

Your hands tugged and pulled at the bits of fabric that made up your poor person’s coat. Oh Hylia, kill me now! Why must I have been born with limited social skills and an ocean’s worth of cringe? “What’s a gym bro?” the prince repeated. The seams of the coat that you hand stitched were beginning to snap. Obviously, he was not about to let this one go. What’s worse than doing something embarrassing is having to explain it afterwards. You slowly turned towards the overly zealous prince. “I would very much like to learn this new commoner language.”

“It…It’s not used a lot. Please, forget I said anything.” You returned to staring at the ground. The dirt was of far more interest than this conversation.

“Used often or not, it is important for me to know in case I hear it again.” The prince’s feet came into your line of vision.

“Oh dear, well…it describes someone who likes to work out. ‘Bro’ is short for ‘brother’, as in how the Gorons like to call anyone they respect with good physical strength. If…if that makes sense.” You hesitated to look up into the prince’s eyes, but when you did…you didn’t expect the glitter and sparkles set behind them. 

“Oh thank you for teaching me about the world! This is a most fascinating phrase. I’m a gym bro, huh?” 

Alright, you couldn’t take it anymore. “P…please don’t go around saying that.”

The prince brought out his grandest smile. “Gym bro, Sidon.”

Hylia, what have you done?

Upon reaching the edge of the Domain, Sidon gave you a quick reminder about the nature of this operation. Once again, you are playing the kind stranger who helped the dear prince and his unhealthy companion. Sidon recognized you from the writer’s retreat and, with much shame, asked for help in such a dire situation. “And also, again, apologies for showing you my more…professional side.” The prince sighed and looked away with a tinge of shame illuminating his cheeks. “I’m not myself…”

You nodded, giving him a signal of understanding before two guards came running across the bridge. One with dusty pink scales, carrying a normal Zora spear. The other carrying a silverscale spear and has the same shade and pattern of black scales as Bazz. From a far enough distance, one could easily mistake the two. A relative, perhaps?

The pink guard bowed their head. “Prince Sidon, you have returned!” When they righted themselves and surveyed the area, a certain panic set in. “Where is Captain Bazz?”

Before any more speculation could be made, Prince Sidon held out his hand. “It is alright, Gaddison. Bazz became hard of health on our trip. Thankfully, this Hylian saw how the Captain was stumbling on the road and offered respite in her humble cottage. She then insisted on accompanying me, as a prince should not be traveling alone.”

Gaddison turned their head and bowed to you. “You have our gratitude, Hylian cottage-dweller.”

Your brows pinched upward while continuing to smile at the “cottage-dweller” comment. Is that supposed to be a good thing? Or am I going to be referred to as the Hylian cottage-dweller in Zora’s Domain? Well, better than Fabulous Hydromelons… You gave a slight bow back out of respect and introduced yourself, “I am (Y/N), a pleasure to meet you both. I am happy I was of some assistance.”

Prince Sidon then walked over to Riven and patted his back. “(Y/N), this is Riven, one of my gym bros.” The Zora named Riven looked up in confusion at his prince. You could tell he wanted to ask something, but thought better not to. The prince dropped his coat in the guard’s arms, causing him to stumble forward from the weight. “Oh come now, Riven. If that’s going to tire you out, we need to train more often.”

Prince Sidon turned towards the sparkling city and motioned everyone to follow him. “Come now, everyone. We mustn't keep my father waiting.” The prince and his two guards began their promenade into Zora’s Domain. You followed behind the three Zora as best as you could. However, being half their size made it difficult to keep up, but not enough hardship to keep you from ogling the beautiful outside city. Spires made of polished stone protrude from the water below to jet upwards like fountains. Shops lined the streets selling all sorts of sparkly silver jewelry. Most of the bits and bobbles you had no idea how to put on, or what body part they are supposed to adorn. 

The Zora populace made way for your party and bowed to their crown prince as he passed by. In turn, Prince Sidon was constantly waving to his subjects and even calling some by name. 

“Tona, good to see you.”

“Kodah, how is the family?”

“Fronk, thank you again for the repairs. The Domain owes you its gratitude.”

This is like a parade!

More and more Zora ran to the edge of the streets to get a look at their prince. Children ran up to Prince Sidon to grab his hand for a second before another child took their turn. A particularly small child grabbed onto one of the prince’s legs to take a ride while the prince was walking. Of course, when the other children saw this, they too began to try and climb on their prince. His majesty took several Zora children onto his shoulders and the rest into his arms as he made his way down the stone street. 

The children laughed and hollered as they were being carried to the base of the palace. Each one of them occasionally glanced at their embarrassed parents following close behind. Of course the prince didn’t mind the children’s attention. But, that never stops a parent from worrying about their own reputation.

When the cheerful celebration made it to the silver gates of the palace, Prince Sidon stopped and began to release the children onto the ground. A collective groan of sadness was made by the tiny Zoras. One little child even began to cry, to which the prince patted him on the head. “My dear Keye, be brave, little one. Every joyous moment must come to an end. That’s why you must make your own happiness. Run along now, your mother Mei is waiting.” Keye wiped away his tears with the back of his hand and rushed over to presumably his mother, Mei. 

The silver gates opened almost silently to welcome the prince home. Gaddison and Riven motioned you in after Prince Sidon entered. Those metallic gates shut once you were through and only then did his majesty acknowledge you. “Apologies for the sudden and rather impromptu festivities. The children quite like me, you see. I do hope that it didn't overwhelm you.”

You shook your head. “N…No, not at all.” Lies…

Prince Sidon bowed his head low towards you. “I am ever so thankful for your patience. Now, unfortunately I have several things I must attend to. Gaddison and Riven will take you to your accommodations.” The prince looked towards the two guards. “I will see you later, Gaddison, gym bro.” With that, he walked into the large stone castle.

Riven adjusted the coat in his arms. “Gym bro…Is this another new word he learned? Not again… I love our prince dearly, but if this is like the last time where he called me ‘home slice’, a letter of resignation will be waiting on the captain’s desk upon his return.”

Gaddison nudged Riven’s arm. “Not in front of his majesty’s guest.” The pink Zora bowed to you. “Apologies for his rudeness. He forgot himself. Now, we shall take you to your accommodations. I assume you are to leave tomorrow to oversee our captain’s recovery?” Before you could answer, they continued, “Excellent. I shall prepare your provisions once we safely deliver you to your chambers.”

“Deliver”? What am I, a sack of potatoes? “T…thank you.” Gaddison gently pressed your back to bring you into the castle. 

The walls were lined with statues of aquatic nature with paintings of Zora battles long past. What the stone walls lacked in vibrancy, the paintings made up for in a bright display of color. The light fixtures were amaz-

You were immediately redirected into a room before your eyes had its fill of glorious artwork. The room you now stood in had a simple bed and a deep set window sill covered in plush cushions. “Here is your room. If you need anything else, let the staff know.” With a bow, the two guards gently shut the door.

You looked around once more at the lack of luxury accommodations. Perhaps you were spoiled from the last time you were in Zora’s Domain as a guest for a conference. Or perhaps this was how they viewed your worth in assisting the prince. Oh dear, that last thought stung. Another possibility could be Sidon’s suggestion. After all, he did say,

“I may act distant to you in front of others for the duration of your stay in Zora’s Domain. Please do not take it personally. I just cannot allow others to know of our friendship. It could place you in danger.” Sidon let out a deep sigh. He turned his head from you as he fiddled with the edges of his coat. “I would never forgive myself if harm would come to you.” The prince turned his face back towards yours, looking into your eyes with such sorrow. “And yet, I do not think I can ever forgive myself for treating you like a stranger. You always show me nothing but warmth and kindness.”

 

You sighed at that last comment. Memories of sending off a teary-eyed Sidon with his captain ran through your mind. The silent pleas and accusatory comments of Bazz kidnapping him overshadowed any sort of always as the prince just said. You gave Sidon a wrought smile. “Please remind yourself of my warmth and kindness the next time I turn you over to your captain.” 

 

Sidon brought a hand to his mouth and laughed behind it. “Alright, most of the time you show me nothing but warmth and kindness.”

So it could be just an extra precautionary measure. Regardless, it was a comfortable room with a comfortable temperature, a nice break from the creeping cold inside your cottage. Your cottage… Once again, for the fiftieth time today, your thoughts wandered to Bazz and how he was fairing in such abysmal weather.

Bazz’s POV

Bazz slowly cracked his eyes open while stretching out his body. The bed was comfortable and warm. His headtail was even kept at a toasty temperature with the makeshift sock that (Y/N) sewed him the night before. However, with all the pleasantries, every now and then he was awoken by the furry creature that occupied (Y/N)’s cottage. It would lay on his chest and begin to make some sort of deep vibrating noise while staring at him. “Why are you so insistent on doing this? There are plenty of other places in the cottage where you can sit and make your strange noises.” Even with his protest, the cat continued to lay on his chest. Bazz couldn’t understand. The creature never did this to him before. Why does it insist on making noise when he is trying to rest? “I just fed you. What could you possibly want?” The fluffy animal slowly closed his eyes, then opened them once more to continue to stare and make noise at the sick Zora. Bazz sighed and snuggled further into his bed. There was no reasoning with it, and Bazz was too tired to try and fight. His eyes became heavy and slowly closed. Before drifting off to sleep once more, the captain whispered, “You remind me so much of Sidon.”

A knock came to your door. You scurried over to open it revealing Gaddison, the pink Zora. They had several books in their arms. All of which, you recognized, were new releases. “Prince Sidon said you are in need of some reading material to pass the time. I was unsure of what to bring you, so I brought the newest releases they had.” Gaddison crossed the room and placed the books on the windowsill. They turned around, crossed the room once again, bowed, and shut the door. 

“Left just as quickly as they came…” you mumbled to yourself. But those thoughts didn’t linger as you dove into the options of reading materials. You quickly flipped through each book to pick the one that interested you the most as you nearly screamed with glee. “Cries of the Yellow Tree! This just came out yesterday! Oh, but here’s Ink, Pen, and Bottle that was the winner of the new writer’s contest! No, no…focus. Pick one quickly!”  You weren’t going to make the mistake of spending hours on choosing a book, only to finally read the first page and stop because you ran out of time. Not again. 

Yet, looking at all of the new books made your head swim with happiness. Oh Hylia, this was like falling in love. But you needed to hurry. Oh….this was too difficult!

Another knock came to the door. Were you too late? Was these past few minutes actually a few hours? You ran to the door and opened it to find a young Zora who you were unfamiliar with pushing a cart made from Zora silver. Atop the cart was a plain porcelain teapot with a matching teacup and saucer, a stark contrast to the regalness of the silver crafted cart. A small glass jar half full of tea leaves was the only other item which left you wondering if there were compartments of snacks hidden somewhere underneath the porcelain set. The Zora bowed his head. “Tea for you, miss. For after your long journey.” You opened the door wider for the servant as he wheeled the cart into your room. “I shall leave this here. In about a half an hour I shall return with a pot of hot water if you desire more tea.” He bowed once more before leaving the room. 

You walked over to the silver cart and bent down to see if there were indeed compartments of snacks. Alas, none to be discovered. You sighed, but fixed yourself a piping hot cup of green tea. At least they were above average with the selection of tea. Not everyone can afford imports from Kakariko Village.

Now, back to the selection of books…

A knock came to the door. But this time, you simply told them to come in. Gaddison opened the door and nodded. “Apologies for the interruption of your evening. The prince requests your presence to go over the details of your return.” You placed a small piece of paper between pages one and two of your chosen book before following Gaddison out the door. They walked in front of you down the artfully decorated halls. 

You noticed that the further along you walked, the more intricate and ornate the carvings became. More care and detail went into each piece of décor, giving you the feeling of traveling into a more vibrant and sophisticated world. Or, maybe that was the intention. The stone carvings started to become inlaid with sapphires and luminous stones. The walls began to glimmer and shine in the late evening. 

Even during the writer’s retreat you never saw this side of the palace. How deep were you planning on traveling into the belly of this gilded monster? It was going to eat you alive, wasn’t it? Is this really where Sidon lives? You knew he was a rich princey boy, but this is insane! Does the man eat from diamond dishes? Oh Hylia, Sidon may be a jovial Zora who drinks tea and reads poetry with you, but at the end of the day he is still from the upper crust of the upper class. The top of the top! The mountain high of a mountain range!

After all these months of knowing him, you finally began to understand why he kept you far away from this part of his life. These beautiful walls began to swallow your self confidence the further you walked down them. Bit by bit you felt your heart being tugged back towards the plain porcelain tea set that was left in your room. A plain, unadorned tea set.

You looked down at your clothes that were hand sewn by you, and again by you when they became ripped. These were rags…

Your party stopped at a grand door that glittered with diamond chips flowing down in the shape of a waterfall. Sapphire fish seemed to leap from the door to climb to the top. The sunlight caught each gem as the door opened, giving an ethereal display of radiance. But, it was only to accent the bright red of the man inside, smiling at you.

Gaddison nudged you forward. You could barely think, barely breathe. Was this the afterlife? Did you die on the way here? There is no possible way this can be real! The scattered light dancing across the room made you feel dizzy. You looked to the prince for help, just a bit of strength! Your legs wobbled forward until they lost all strength to stand.

Prince Sidon swiftly bent down on one knee to catch your trembling hands. It was enough to keep you standing upright instead of crashing to the floor. “The inner part of the palace is quite overwhelming, isn’t it? Apologies for calling you here. I was unable to venture out to you because, well, I am more or less confined to the high court right now. They missed me dearly. Anyway, come. I was hoping we could discuss details of your return over a most delicious dinner.” The prince regained most of his stature while standing up, but still bent over to hold your hands to guide you over to a table filled with food.

Your mouth watered upon seeing the savory fishcakes that were toasted golden brown, salmon filets drizzled in white sauce, the lotus roots sautéed in what looked like butter and pepper… Maybe this was the afterlife. Such gorgeous dishes put even the ball’s hors d’oeuvres to shame! Each food item on the table appeared to be artfully placed and accented with various herbs and flowers found in the Lanayru region. This was a painting that you must have stepped into because you refused to believe this very moment could be real.

Prince Sidon guided you to a chair and helped you into it by lifting up your arms slightly. The chair itself was designed with Zora in mind, so your feet dangled a good leg length or so above the ground. Oh dear. You felt like a child again.

The prince walked over to his side of the table and elegantly took his seat. He motioned to the food in front of you with his hand. “Please, eat. You must be starving after our long journey. My chefs prepared something suitable to your taste, I am sure. They were Princess Zelda’s favorites when visiting the Domain.”

You picked up a Hylian-sized fork and knife and began cutting into the salmon. The fish fell apart so tenderly. You brought it to your mouth and nearly died from the overwhelming sensation of sheer bliss. This was the best thing you have ever tasted! It was fabulous, delicious, and you wanted to take ten servings of it home with you! Another piece of fish, and another made its way into your mouth.

The prince chuckled charmingly behind his hand. “I shall take your eagerness as a sign that the food is to your liking? The cooks shall be pleased. Gaddison, can you tell the chef about our guest’s gratitude?” The pink Zora bowed and made their way out the door, leaving you and the prince alone in the room. 

Sidon quickly turned to you and pointed to a white fish that was brazed, peppered, and accented with a purple flower. He leaned over the table and quickly said in a hushed voice, “This one is my favorites! You have to try it.” Your friend’s finger hovered over another slab of fish meat drizzled in a glaze. “Oh, this is kind of like what you make but with a sauce that is to die for! Oh, oh! You need to-” The prince sat up straight in his chair as Gaddison walked back into the room. He delicately pinched the stem of his wine glass, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip. “Do you drink, dear Hylian? Zora’s domain has some rather fine wines.”

You blinked twice, trying to register the sudden change in personality. Then, your mouth ticked up into a side smile. Your body relaxed as you, yourself took your own wine glass and observed the contents within. “It just so happens, I do.” You took a small sip of the heavenly liquid as it warmly traveled down your throat. “It is delicious. The best I have ever tasted.”

Your words brought a small smile to the prince’s face. That, and a slight bit of jovial happiness behind his eyes. Both reactions were ever so slight. Only someone in close proximity would be able to notice. 

More and more food was complimented and eaten by the both of you until you felt like a fat bear nearing hibernation. After a long and cold hike earlier today, this was the best feeling in the world. 

Prince Sidon brought a finger and thumb to his chin. “Oh dear, I do believe that we were so caught up in the delicious meal, that I completely forgot to ask you about returning plans. Are you free to join me for some tea on the balcony?”

You gave him a small and excited smile. “I would be delighted.”

The prince showed you onto the intimate balcony attached to the dining room. Once out into the open air, you looked up. The stars were a welcome sight. For the past hour or so, you were surrounded by so much glitter and glitz that one could mistake the room for a nighttime sky. Yet, nothing can ever compare to the beautiful shimmer of heaven’s natural ornaments. The stars were reflected in the waters below, doubling the amount in your vision. Now this was true beauty.

Prince Sidon came to your side. “Are you an admirer of the stars, my dear Hylian?” You nodded in response. “I assume you can see more of them where you are located. The mountains that guard Zora’s Domain also keep its people from experiencing the full range of the night sky.”

You gave the prince a small smile. “Well, if you are ever in the area, you are more than welcome to come watch the stars with me.”

Prince Sidon returned your smile and motioned you to sit down in a chair beside his own. In between the chairs was a stone table with two teacups proportional to each of your sizes. He poured your cup for you from a teapot that was to the other side of him. Then, he did the same with his own cup until it was placed to the opposite side of him once more. “Poisoning etiquette,” Sidon whispered as he took his teacup. Ah, that's why the tea pot is out of your reach.

The prince took a sip of his tea before placing it back on the table. He licked a lost drop of tea from his lips before his eyes fluttered to you, making your heart skip a beat. “Apologies for talking business on such a beautiful night, but unfortunately the matters are rather important.” He motioned to Gaddision, who was standing six paces away. 

Gaddison presented the prince with a document atop of a thin stone as well as an ornamented pen. Once handed over, Gaddison returned to their place to continue to guard the prince.

Prince Sidon gave a quick glance at the document before nodding. He turned his body and his attention towards you. “As there are multiple items, we have decided it best for you to travel with a Hylian merchant that is making his way along the same route. According to the ledger, there will be plenty of food and provisions for the captain’s recovery as well as being provided with new clothes to ease your travels.” The prince’s eyes flicked from the document and towards you. “Are you in need of anything else for your troubles? Even something as simple as new spoons we are more than happy to provide. Zora silversmiths make the best cutlery.”

You tried your best not to laugh at the hidden meaning. He’s still going on about the spoons? “I thank you for your generosity, but I think I am well stocked on spoons, unless your captain happens to somehow break them.”

Bazz’s POV

When the captain couldn’t finish his soup, he placed his Goron spoon inside the bowl and the bowl on the table beside the bed. The Zora then lowered himself once more to lie down. He felt too dizzy to crawl into the kitchen and put the food away properly. He felt too dizzy to do anything but lay in this bed and succumb to the harassment of the furry goblin that dwelled in (Y/N)’s cottage.

Speaking of harassment, Midnight stretched his back legs, then his back, and finally his front legs before hopping on the bedside table. The cat stuck his head in Bazz’s soup bowl and began to eat whatever was left inside it.

Hylia, now he would need to go back into the kitchen when he becomes hungry again. “Why do you torture me?”

Prince Sidon finished the last of the tea and descriptions of every provision given to you. The Zora sure were thorough when it comes to matters of stock. It was only when the document was given back to Gaddison that it hit you…this was the last time you were going to see him in at least a month. Your heart began to sink, as did Sidon’s by how he was looking at you. His eyes glanced over your face, as if studying it. The prince took in a slow breath. He turned to Gaddison and waved. “Can we get another pot of tea? It appears as if this one has run dry.”

Gaddison blinked a few times. “My…my prince, it’s quite late for another pot of tea-” Gaddison stopped mid sentence. Something in Prince Sidon’s eyes must have made the soldier rethink their outburst. “Of course, my prince. Right away.” They took the large teapot and dashed to the kitchen.

Once Gaddison was gone, you gave the prince a slightly raised eyebrow. “You bully,” you teased. The prince gave you a slight pout and readjusted in his chair.

“I…wasn’t ready to end our night,’ he mumbled through pouted lips. “I’m not going to see you for a long time and…I’ll miss you.” Sidon turned his big puppy eyes towards you. 

You couldn’t help but give him a small smile. “Oh Sidon, I’ll miss you too. I have been rather lonely this winter without our weekly teatimes.”

Sidon sighed and leaned on one side of the chair. “You aren't the only one who misses those. Sometimes when I sleep, I dream of sitting in your cottage, drinking tea, and talking about whatever comes to our minds.” He sighed as he looked up at the stars. Sidon brought a hand to one of his facefins and began to fidget with it. “They are like the sweetest of daydreams.”

Gaddison’s footsteps allerted the both of you that the tea had been fetched. Prince Sidon straightened up his posture as the soldier placed the pot of tea on his table. The prince took the pot and filled each of your cups. You took yours and sat, looking out into the distance, looking out over Zora’s Domain.

Sidon did the same.

And you both sat in the comfortable silence of each other’s company for one last daydream.

Chapter Text

The Domain that once surrounded you now appears as large as an apple in the distance. The wagon’s wheels creaked and groaned rolling atop dirt and rock. The once tall spires of stone quickly turned to upright twigs on the horizon. A bump along the road threw your body upward and back onto the seat, hurting your butt in the process.

Oh how you hated traveling…

“Sorry miss,” the middle aged Hylian apologized. “The Zora haven't made much of an effort in smoothing out their road. A race that transports everything by water doesn't have much need for moving things on land.” He brought his hand to stroke his beard before stretching out his arms to adjust the rains on the horses.

Your eyes went back to the miniscule view of Zora’s Domain. A simple goodbye was all that you wanted from the jovial red prince before embarking on your return journey. However, the risk of showing even the slightest inclination of favor was too risky. Prince Sidon almost crossed that line last night. Thank goodness Gaddison is sworn to secrecy. Otherwise, the rumor that the prince was spending an egregious amount of time in silence with a random Hylian would have spread to all corners of Zora's Domain. 

Even still, it would have been wonderful to be given even the smallest of goodbyes.

Zora’s Domain became eclipsed by trees, ending any and all hope you had of Prince Sidon jumping out of the castle to give you a twirling hug before you left. Oh goodness, what are you dreaming about? Reality is as rough as this bumpy ride. 

“Got a lover in the Domain?” 

Your head whipped to the Hylian driver. “N…no. I…” you stammered.

The man, whose name was Tah, began to laugh before shaking his head, sending his mess of brown curls to thrash about in the air. “Oh miss, don’t tell me you are in love with the prince? Ah, who am I kidding? Every girl in their right mind has eyes for his royal highness. Nice guy. Talked to him once or twice during my deliveries to the Domain. The Zora have no worries when it comes to their next monarch. Man’s got smarts and skills, that he does.”

You nodded at the man’s words. 

“Not much of a talker, are ya?” Tah leaned a bit close into your personal space. “Eh, that’s alright. Why don’t you lay down in the bed of the wagon? It’s gonna get cold here in a bit. Snuggle up with that nice new coat and sleep till we get to your cottage, eh?”

You nodded and climbed into the back of the wagon with the rest of the supplies. In between an empty fruit crate and a newly acquired barrel of fish was a small spot to recline. Still not particularly comfortable with the bumps and jerks of the wagon, but enough to at least protect your posterior from turning a berry blue. The fluffiness of your newly acquired jacket did help in softening the sudden hits from below…traveling in a wagon on a solo adventure with a stranger is not as glamorous as you imagined it to be. 

You closed your eyes and ran your fingers along the edge of the jacket. Warm wool tickled your fingertips. It was nothing like Sidon’s expensive velvet cloak, but it was far better than the rags you wore going into the Domain. The Zora who gave you the coat said it was payment for housing the Captain of the Royal Guard…

“Try it on. Make sure it fits,” the old Zora commanded you. He was shorter than Bazz and not wearing a soldier’s uniform. Yet, he intimidated you more than the captain ever has. “Hurry up!”

You quickly slid your arms through the holes and tied the sash around your waist. It was a perfect fit, albeit a tad itchy. 

The Zora circled you like a hawk, observing every hem and detail. “It will do. I don’t have the slightest bit of knowledge on Hylian anatomy, but I guess I found a coat that at least covers you.” He motioned you to follow him over to a loaded wagon. “All provisions packed are for the captain’s consumption. That jacket you are wearing is more than enough payment already. The Captain of the Royal Guard is a well respected and important man in our community. If any of us hear about mistreatment or cheating of his meals, you can expect a swift torch to your house!”

Your whole body shivered at the thought. Oh dear…were you in over your head? What if you messed this up? What would happen to you if you accidentally offended Bazz in some way? Your house….your livelihood! Your books! Everything would be turned to ash!

Slowly, gently, you forced your breath to become normal. Hylia, you were being ridiculous. Bazz would never let the Zora burn your house to the ground, no matter how much you offended him. That old Zora didn’t know your relationship with the Prince and his captain. So, if the Zora Royal Guard were already sharpening their pitchforks, let them. Do…do Zora even own pitchforks?

The sharp gust of wind cut against your face. The chill began to set underneath your clothes. You retracted your legs up and underneath the bottom part of your coat. Oh how you wished for a warm cup of tea right now. A warm cup of tea with Sidon. You wouldn’t even mind if you sat in your field of blue weeds. Those darn blue weeds… you thought. 

A slight yawn came out of your mouth.

You can’t even make a tea out of those darn blue weeds. Honestly, the way people go head over heels for those things is anyone’s guess. They used to be rare and expensive. Now, you couldn’t even give these things away. Silent Princess your left foot. There was nothing silent about how they dominated your lawn, and nothing princess-like about their sheer force of will to overcrowd your poor roses!

You yawned once more. 

Though, by how much Sidon talks about his sister’s bravery, it actually might be a fitting name for those ferocious plants…….

Sidon….How many more weeks until we share tea again…

You slowly close your eyes, shutting out the white, snowy world around you.

“Miss, I think we are getting close to your home.”

Tah’s voice awoke you from your slumber. Your body ached as you began to stretch out your limbs. How the heck did you manage to sleep through such a bumpy ride? Ouch your leg! Oooof your shoulder…

“Ah, my back!” you said out loud.

Tah gave a slight chuckle. “You must have been tired! You slept a little under an hour! I turned around a few times to make sure you were still breath’n!” He gave another small laugh before pointing outwards. “The small dock about a ten minute ride out of town. Your’s, correct?”

You nodded. To the right of the dock, you could see the faintest silhouette of your cottage. Wow, traveling by wagon certainly was a lot faster than by foot. Though, your shoulder and back were definitely more opposed to this kind of travel. No doubt there would be several bruises where your body smacked against the wood cart.

You pointed to the small house growing ever closer. “That’s my cottage. You can park beside the door, a quick unload, then you can be on your way. The town should only be about ten minutes by cart.”

“What, you aren't going to offer me tea for being out in the cold?” Tah raised his brow at you.

Your face turned crimson, knowing how you didn’t attempt to extend any hospitality to him. Oh dear, you hosted only the same two people for over a year, so your skills when it comes to strangers must be a little rusty. “O…of course! I’ll put the kettle on right after we-”

“Oh little miss, don’t worry. I’m only teasing you. I gotta head home and see my kids anyway. Besides, you got a heck of a job with that Zora Captain. No need for me to make your life any harder. If I could warm my hands though, that would be appreciated.”

Tah pulled the reins to halt the horse. You quickly hopped off the cart to knock on the door. “Ba-  Captain Bazz! It’s (Y/N)! I have…returned with supplies!” How formal am I supposed to sound?

The sounds of unclicking latches could be heard before the door opened. Obviously as soon as the captain heard someone outside, he was ready. In all honesty, maybe you should start being more vigilant. There are probably a number of unsavory types in this area.

Once the door was completely opened, Bazz’s head popped out. The man’s eyes were still red and his overall demeanor was still rather sickly. Poor thing. “I’ll help you unload,” his voice crackled like fire. Oh Hylia, did he get worse?

“N…No! You need to stay in and rest! Get back to bed. Tah and I will unload.” You opened the door slightly to gently nudge his arm in the direction of the bedroom. Bazz complied, though after much hesitation. He always pushes himself too hard.

A small brush at your legs had you looking down to see Midnight. You bent down and ran your hand from his head to tail once before the cat decided inspecting the cart was of more interest.

You walked into the cottage and began putting several logs on the fire. The air inside became quite chilled with only the small fire going. Hopefully Bazz was warm enough underneath the blankets in the bedroom.

Tah grunted as he set the first barrel inside the house. “That’s one…”

You rushed to help him and though you could only carry in the smaller boxes, it did help out with the unloading process. Maybe you should try to become stronger. There was that yearly mud wrestling competition…and you were pretty sure there was a cash prize for the winner.

After unloading, Tah held his hands by the stove to warm up. But, it was only a minute before he re-gloved his hands. “I appreciate the business, but I must be goin.”

You nodded quickly. “Of…of course. Thank you so much for your assistance. I wouldn’t have been able to carry all these supplies myself.” You looked over to the several barrels of fish, medicine, and whatever else the Zora decided their captain needed for a swift recovery.

Tah nodded once more before taking his leave. In under a minute, the sound of the wagon was almost too faint to hear. Which means that leaves you alone with Bazz.

Now that made your heart skip a beat. You were now alone with the most flirtatious person you have ever met. He…he wouldn’t be uncivil about this situation…would he?

You could just imagine his face, cheeks red. His hand would caress your own to pull you towards him in bed. I’m so cold, cuddle with me.

No…no it wouldn’t be like that. Bazz isn’t the cutesy type. He’s probably a playboy back in the Domain. The Zora would probably pull you onto the bed with him and whisper, 

“ I usually have fifteen women in my bed every night. But, I guess you will do,” you mumbled to yourself.

A voice came from behind you. “What are you talking about?”

You turned around to see Bazz with the blanket wrapped around himself. “Nothing,” you chirped out.

The scowl Bazz gave you showed his intense displeasure. “You and Sidon are the same, I swear.” He then turned his attention to the boxes of supplies. “Would you mind making an early dinner? I’m sorry you just came back after such a long travel, but I ran out of soup some time ago.”

Your hands cupped your mouth in a gasp. “I…I swore that would have been enough! I’m so sorry!”

The captain gave a slight laugh followed by a cough. “If it were just me eating it, yes. However, a certain member of the cottage’s royal guard decided to share in my rations.”

You looked over to Midnight, sleeping away on Sidon’s plush chair. His tummy did appear much larger…and that expression… “Oh! Midnight! How could you?” 

The cat opened one eye before closing it again and returning to his sleep.

Bazz opened up several of the barrels and crates. “Why do they think I eat this much?”

You came beside the captain to look at the absolutely enormous supply of food. Now that you really looked, the crates took up more than half the living space! “I have an ice box outside. I can put several of the fish out there to freeze for later.

Bazz sighed. “Damn it. Who even gave you all this? Sidon?”

You shook your head. “Actually it was an old Zora. Quite scary. Told me he would burn down my house should I offend you in some manner.”

Bazz’s eyes opened wide before settling into a glare. “What color was his scales?”

“Black. Now that you mention it, he looked like you if you were an old man.”

“Seggin…” Bazz growled. “My father.”

Your eyes almost popped out of your head! “Your FATHER? That super scary man is your father! How the heck are you so nice?”

That seemed to tickle Bazz, as the captain began to laugh. “I get that a lot. Demon Sargent Seggin, the fiercest Captain of the Royal Guard. Maybe it’s because he was so feared that I turned out to be a complete disappointment. I didn’t want to be like him.”

“You are not a disappointment,” you answered back. “You are a wonderful captain, I am sure. Sidon trusts you more than anyone.”

“Even if I take fifteen women to my bed every night?” Bazz lowered his head to be in your personal space.

“I…I don’t know why I said that… My brain sometimes goes wild…sorry.” You tried to avoid the captain’s amused eyes. “We….we should get the food sorted.” Your body dove for the piles of food. Anything to get you out of this awkward situation.

Still, Bazz looked at you with amusement. When he noticed your increase in panic-stricken movements, he laughed again. “Apologies, I have lacked personal connection for the past day. Perhaps it has worn my manners thin.”

You relaxed your body as you continued to put away several jars of pickled fish into the cupboards. “Midnight wasn’t enough company? You two did share many meals together.”

Bazz bent down to grab a jar of fish before you stanched his wrist. He looked into your eyes with sorrow. “I feel bad that you are doing all the work.”

You gently released him. “Don’t be. You are sick. The more you rest, the faster you will recover. And the faster you recover, the faster you can get back to work in the Domain.”

Bazz quickly bent down and picked up the jar of pickled fish before handing it to you. “Even if I am sick, I rather enjoy this vacation.” The Zora gave you a half smile as you took the jar from him. You sighed as you put the jar into the cabinet, as Bazz then handed you another one. He let out a slight cough into his shoulder. “To be honest, I wonder if I got sick from overwork. This is actually the best place to recover. I’m not constantly worrying since I am so far from the Domain.”

Your brow pinched in pity for the poor man. Sidon told you many stories of how hard Bazz would push himself to get work done. Another cough had you stopping your work of placing the jars into the cabinets and focusing on getting him a hot cup of tea.

Bazz’s eyes followed you to the stove where you began your preparations. He also abandoned his work to come beside you and observe. “You sure like tea,” he commented. 

You smiled and placed the kettle on the stove. “It’s a hobby of mine. Plus it is also a form of hospitality in Hylian culture. So, it serves a dual purpose. Well, it’s also rather cheap since I gather most of the ingredients myself.”

Bazz hummed beside you. “Except the extremely expensive tea you serve our prince?”

Your cheeks blushed cherry red. “It’s not…that expensive.”

Bazz turned his head to cough to the side, then sniffled. “Come now, I’ve seen the same brand in upscale boutiques in the Domain. You aren't fooling me.”

You began to fiddle and twist your fingers around each other. “You…are quite observant.”

Bazz leaned against the counter. “How do you think I became the Captain of the Royal Guard ?” He picked up the tea jar from the space in front of you to look at it. “This would go for about 5,000 rupees in the Domain.”

You looked off to the side. “That’s…actually what I paid for it.”

The captain sighed. “Oh (Y/N)...why are you buying something so expensive? Surely there are cheaper teas available?”

You nodded. “Yes, but Sidon is a prince and-”

“And he would feel horrible if he were to recognize that you have been spending every last rupee you had on tea. Come now, why do you always go out of your way for us? Eh…nevermind that.” Bazz waved off his last question. “I guess a day without conversation has dwindled my charm too. I didn’t mean to make my host uncomfortable.”

The tea kettle whistled. You reached for the tea when Bazz took it out of reach. You attempted to reach for it, to which Bazz pulled back farther. Your bottom lip stuck out in a pout. Seeing how the captain would refuse any and all attempts of drinking your expensive tea, you went to your bag to grab a small pouch. You returned to the cups to spoon in the green tea that you took from the palace.

“Now where did you get that?” Bazz teased.

“I stole it,” you teased back.

The captain clicked his tongue. “Admitting a crime right in front of a guardsman. Not the smartest move I am afraid.”

“Will you drink it?” you asked.

“Of course,” he replied.

You both laughed until Bazz began to cough uncontrollably. “Oh dear,” you said. “Why don’t you sit in the plush chair and I can start making dinner? Does lemon fish sound good to you?” You guided the captain over to Sidon’s chair. Upon seeing a fluffy black cat snoozing away, you gently picked it up. Of course, the prince of the cottage was not too pleased about being relocated. His meows told that much. “I know, Midnight. I know, but Bazz needs a place to sit.”

Bazz took his seat and you placed Midnight upon his lap. Unfortunately, the cat was miffed and decided hopping off and sleeping far away in the bedroom was a better option. “I think I offended his majesty,” the captain joked. 

“I’m sure he will get over it,” you replied. “He was well fed these past twenty four hours, so I don’t think he will take it to heart.” 

You returned to the freshly brewed tea and removed the steeper from the cup. You took the large one over to Bazz and handed it to him. For a second, the captain covered his fingertips over yours while taking the tea, a slight flirtatious gesture. His eyes glittered slightly as a small smile pulled at the side of his lips. “Apologies,” he whispered. 

You quickly returned to the counter, cheeks ablaze. Sidon wasn’t here to protect you from the captain’s passes at you. Well, now that you thought about it, did you really want him to protect you? No! No! No! I can’t think like this! He’s just joking. He’s a flirt. Besides, Sidon is who you admire. Yes, Sidon and his beautiful eyes, smile, and amazing…well…backside. 

Now that image had you drooling. Oh how you wish it were a summer’s day once more. You would be catching fish with the prince when you would fall over and look up underneath his fins. Oh, what a sight it was.

A small rustling in the crates had you turning around. You were about to scold Midnight for getting into the food when, to your shock, you saw Bazz bending over the edge of the barrel to reach something inside. The man’s fins were flipped up and onto his back. Giving you the perfect view. Hylia… you thought. He’s gorgeous too.

As the captain came back up, you covered your eyes and turned around. The captain, noting your discomfort, gave a small and embarrassed laugh. “Apologies, (Y/N).”

You peeked through your fingers.

The captain was tugging downward on his back fins. “My fins are a lot shorter than Sidon’s, and I forgot that Hylians aren't used to displaying this part of themselves.” His eyes turned from his red cheeks up towards your own. “I didn’t mean to show you something unsightly.” 

“N..no! It wasn’t unsightly!” you blurted out. Bazz’s half smile caught your words and tossed them back to you, making you understand the underlying message of what you just said. “That’s not what I meant! I mean…you’re gorgeous. Not that I was staring on purpose! It was an accident that I saw that! Not that….I….ummm….” 

You turned back around and focused all your energy into fixing dinner. You brushed past the captain and retrieved a hearty salmon to begin deboneing. You went back to the counter and began your macabre with the fish. You took your knife and began preparing it with…maybe a bit too much gusto.

Bazz made a slight sound in the base of his throat. “As long as you're not imagining myself under that knife…”

Your cheeks once again bloomed red. Goddess you couldn’t regain your composure! Were you really cutting the fish with aggression? But, looking at the cuts, that seemed to be the case. “C…could you just get me the lemons? I know they are in one of the crates!”

Bazz hummed and moved back to the supplies. “How long do you want me to be bent over this time?”

You spun around to scold him. But apparently he already dove into the crate. Since it was on the floor, the captain bent at the hip to retrieve them. While his fins were not flipped up, it was the curve of his back as he regained his normal height that had you seeing stars. The man looked over his shoulder at you as he slowly dragged a hand up his leg and arched his back. You spun back to the counter. “C…can’t you get lemons like a normal person?”

The captain took a spot beside you and placed the lemons on the counter. “Sorry. I can’t help but tease you.” That low chuckle in his throat quickly turned to deep coughing. He walked back to the large plush chair and sat down.

You stuck your nose in the air. “Serves you right!” 

Before long, you had your deboned, lemon juiced, herb covered fish filets. They were quickly placed in the oven before any more shenanigans could ensue. Though, the Zora was rather quiet during the rest of the preparation due to the fact that he fell asleep. You took a deep breath. Praise Hylia . Several months alone had you used to peace and quiet in your small cottage. The past two days have been unusually active. In all honesty, you were also exhausted. 

However, sometimes being exhausted is a reward for having too much fun. So, you didn’t mind it all that much.

Chapter Text

You folded your old ragged blanket that was once a part of your makeshift windowsill bed. Then, you placed the folded cloth where your head had laid minutes before. Now the windowsill bed became a simple windowsill lounging area.

Bazz was still sleeping, as he had yet to come through the door frame. The door was propped open to keep the stove’s heat flowing into the small bedroom. Speaking of which, you went over and threw some more logs onto the dim fire. 

Your eyes turned one again back towards the door frame. A small look inside wouldn’t be an invasion of privacy, right? Just a quick checkup on the captain.

Your head rounded the frame to see Bazz as how you expected him to be, asleep. His eyes fully closed and relaxed. His mouth open ever so slightly to see the sharp tips of his teeth. Even his breath was even despite being sick. Hopefully that means he will recover quickly. 

However, the fact that Midnight was laying atop of him was a surprise. The cat slowly opened its eyes, blinked at you once, and proceeded to close them once more.

“Captain of the cottage,” you whispered. “Guarding our dear Zora friend.”

A smile crept across your lips as you moved towards the stove. “Now, breakfast…more fish?” Upon inspecting most of the crates and barrels last night, that’s indeed what was expected to be served to the captain. It shouldn't be surprising to you. Bazz is a Zora. 

The barrels were stuffed to the brim with many different varieties of fish. Some of which you could easily note were of more…. elevated quality. Even the crates contained specialized ingredients to prepare the fish. Glass jars and small wooden boxes held individual spices. The  labels attached to them were freshly attached and showed no signs of use. Even with all the ingredients and spices needed…were you even able to cook specialty dishes on a Hylian stove? Just looking at the crates intimidated you. Well, all except one.

There was a particular crate that just so happened to contain Zora-sized dishes. Plates, forks, knives, cups, and more. All wrapped in delicate silk. Each silk cloth had its own distinct pattern and color palette. Obviously, it was a gift for you, disguised as packing material, because each cloth happened to be the same size as a fashionable Hylian scarf. Even the edges were finished, though a bit hastily.  Nothing you couldn’t reinforce with the silk thread Sidon sneakily placed inside the teapot along with. 

And wrapping that spool of silk thread was, of course, gauzy fabric.

Gauzy fabric. To make tea bags.

You can just imagine Sidon’s puppy eyes and small smile. “Please my fairy, make me more of those beautiful, intoxicating portals of wonder!” He would place the back of his hand on his crest. “It would help me so much through this desolate, miserable winter where I am forced to attend these horrible, dreadful meetings.”

Oh that boy… You sighed. There was no note to make more teabags, of course. Not just because he wouldn’t want your connection to be discovered, but rather he would be too embarrassed to ask for something like that. Even though he is the great Prince of the Zora, he was as humble as he was kind.

And the prince is very kind.

Your mind snapped back to reality. Yes, breakfast. 

You moved to the cupboard and sighed heavily upon seeing the lack of fish, remembering the fish was outside…to freeze and keep fresh.

In the snow.

Outside.

Balls.

Begrudgingly, you began placing layer after layer on your body to prepare for the oppressive chill. “I don’t wanna go outside,” you mumbled to yourself. Yet, you continued to dress in ragged clothing until the last layer, your old patchwork coat, was placed on your body, and you were now staring at the handle to open the door.

Quickly, you turned the handle, dashed out the door, and closed it behind you. Leaping through the knee high snow, you headed towards the side of your cottage where the ice box was located. “Cold! Cold! Cold! Cold!” you chanted as your trembling hands were opening the ice box to retrieve three fish. Except…they didn’t want to move. They were slightly frozen together.

“Son of a!”

You yanked and pulled on the fish. Pressing your foot on the side of the box and using it to pull harder. You twisted your hands and heaved backwards until one fish finally became unstuck.

Unfortunately, the momentum sent you backwards into the snow.

Your teeth clenched together as the shiver and sparks of chilling snow pressed against your back. Several profane and vulgar words escaped your lips as you returned to the ice box to retrieve the two remaining fish. As you were pulling out the last one, you saw a pair of concerned eyes look at you through the window. “Are you alright?” Bazz said nearly muted through the window.

You nodded sharply as you closed and latched the box. You ran towards the door which opened with the assistance of the captain. Though back in the warmth of the cottage, your teeth continued to clack and chatter together. 

“Why didn’t you use your new coat?” Bazz asked.

Your body sagged. Of course…the new coat.

The coat that would have kept you warm.

The coat that was convincingly beside the door.

That new coat.

Your lips pressed together. No doubt in slight irritation. Still, things needed to get done. You held out the three fish. “Would you be able to set these on the counter?”

Bazz took the fish from your cold hands. He looked at them inquisitively. “I usually eat four fish for breakfast.”

If Ganon could send his monsters from people's eyes, then the captain would be surrounded. 

He placed the fish on the counter and smiled sweetly. “Only a joke.”

You gave him an incredulous look before resuming de-winterizing yourself. “I don't care much for your jokes today,” whispering though chattering teeth. “Though I am happy. If you are bantering like this, then you are feeling better.” Placing the last bit of old clothing on the rack next to your new coat, you turned to the captain. “The medicine is working then?”

The captain shrugged. “I much rather believe it is from resting is such a welcoming home.”

You look around the cottage, full of old mismatched furniture and books. Several of which you got secondhand from sales in the market, often discounted to an incredible degree due to damage. You placed a hand on the back of one of your two wooden chairs. Two rungs in the back were missing, and the legs were not even of the same length.  It rocked forward as you spoke. “This is more like a hag’s witchery than a welcoming home.”

“That may be,” Bazz replied. “But both the prince and I believe it to be a fairy’s cottage.”

You turned your face to the side to hide the redness of your cheeks and a slight smile. Both Zora are always too kind with their words. 

“Oh dear, I’ve made the flower bloom.” Bazz tilted his head to the side while crossing his arms. The voice that passed his too sharp teeth was rough from coughing. And yet, it still made your heart skip a beat when he said, “How silly of me.” 

You moved past the flirting Zora to the counter. “If you have the energy to tease me, you have the energy to help me cook these fancy fish.” You moved the large pot filled with now-melted snow onto the hotter portion of the stove, placing the three fish inside it after. The fish should be thawed out in no time. 

The ingredients were then placed on the counter by Bazz, who was still smiling. “No Silent Princess, unfortunately. But, we shall make do.”

You glared at the captain. Lips pressed firmly together, you let out a low hum. Upon returning your attention to the ingredients and spices laid before you….well…you couldn’t really make heads or tails of them. What even was big hearty truffle powder and essence of endura shroom ? You picked up the big hearty truffle powder, turning the jar and watching the white substance move around. “Do you normally use stuff like this in your cooking?”

Bazz shifted his weight in discomfort. “Well…I am the son of the previous Captain of the Royal Guard, so….well…”

You patted him on his arm. “Another fancy rich boy to add to my collection of friends.”

The man took the slightest step back in shock. Bright rose-colored embarrassment was dusted onto Bazz’s cheeks. “I…I’m not like Sidon! I don’t… I’m not-!

Well, all of that elegance and swagger came to an end. The Zora was now positively flustered. Serves him right though. “Oh, calm down. I was only teasing. Now, let’s get breakfast started. What should we do first, O Captain of the Fancy Dishes?”

Bazz rolled his eyes. “You are just as bad as Sidon sometimes.”

With a smile and a slight mocking curtsy you proclaimed, “I shall take that as a compliment, considering he is your crowned prince. And you would never dare speak ill of his royal highness, right?” Oh dear, has your time in the sole company of Bazz made you a sassy lady? Probably. And yet, it is deliciously fun.

You opened one of the upper cupboards to retrieve a set of tongs to pluck the fish from the pot. Usually you open it by pulling on the bottom corner of the door. However, the tongs were just out of reach, able to be touched by your fingertips but far enough not to grip them. Whoever designed this cottage, I swear…  

Instead of helping like a good guest would, Bazz watched you struggle. “I wish I could help. However, I am afraid I am too sick to move.” How long will this teasing go on for? Such a sassy man. You turned to grab one of your old wooden chairs when the captain grabbed both of your sides and hoisted you up to the upper cabinet.

It took you a second to get over the shock of one: being able to pick you up while he was deathly ill yesterday, and two: his hands on your waist. Once that subsided in a half of a second, your hand flashed to the tongs. Slowly, gently, you felt yourself descending until your feet rested on the packed dirt floor. Those hands left their place on your sides and were placed on the counter. The captain rolled his shoulders. “I didn’t know what you wanted. Thought it would be easier to simply pick you up.”

Simply!

“I…just need the tongs to get the fish out of the pot. They ought to be thawed by now-” 

Bazz curled his hands around your own to take the tongs from you. With his large hands, the tongs appeared to be those eating utensils that Shikah use. The captain retrieved the fish from the pot, resting them on a towel you didn’t see him get out. “I happen to be an excellent cook. You wouldn’t mind if I made breakfast, would you?”

You felt the embarrassment throughout your body. “N…no, not at all. G…go ahead.”

As he turned to begin the breakfast preparations, you suddenly found your bookshelf the apex of intrigue and interest. Ohhhhhhhh dear….whenever you thought you had a leg up on this man, he always comes back with a flirty vengeance. It now made it crystal clear why the captain and his prince were such good friends. They definitely have the trait of unnerving you. They definitely shared the trait of enjoying the teasing as well.

“Poems of Royal Collections” caught your eye. You took the damaged book from the shelf and opened it, allowing your eyes to scan the words without reading any of the book's contents. I have got to put my head back on my shoulders. These boys… You turned the page. Just to keep up the appearance that you were reading. I now understand Sidon’s hesitation to leave us two alone together. Another page turn. Just breathe (Y/N). Everything is fine.

“You sure like your books,” a strained and crackly voice echoed in the tiny cottage. 

You lowered the book of poems and turned your eyes towards Bazz who was now putting the fish into the oven. He’s fast! “I…I enjoy reading. Allows me to travel without…traveling.” You closed the book and placed it back in its dusty spot between two other ragged tomes bought on discount.

Bazz sat on the large plush chair. “If Sidon were not a prince, he would have been a romance author.” The Zora moved his body deeper into the plush chair. “He’s always loved books as well. Also gave the same answer to the same question. Trapped in a golden castle, unable to escape. Books was his window to the outside world. Well, the good books anyway.”

You gave a small laugh. “Yes, I saw his collection of ‘romance’ books during the writer’s convention. Though I would debate what romance means in that context.”

Bazz nodded his head. “Indeed, our perverted prince enjoys the spicier books of nightly passions. Not at all what you write.”

Time stopped.

Your heart sank.

A small, quivering smile graced your lips. “W…what are you talking about-”

“Your Tales of Prince Railos series. And what was that other one? The story about a warrior princess?” Bazz’s eyes gleamed with bitter delight. 

Oh Hylia, he knows. The Captain of the Zora knows. The PROTECTOR of Sidon knows your book series is some deranged daydream of the prince himself. 

The captain placed his elbow on the arm of the plush chair, perched like a prince himself, and allowed his head to rest on his hand. “To be honest, the character you based off of me doesn't capture enough of my flirty nature. Might I add some minor details to your next installment?” He tilted his head, awaiting your response. 

Ice filled your veins and a sharp chill prickled the back of your neck. “I…” What should I even say? ‘I’m sorry?’ Hylia…Hylia..” Your breath became too short. A cold fire ran over the surface of your skin. There was not enough air in the room for you to breathe as your knees began to wobble. Black started encroaching on your vision. Am I going to pass out? No, I’m just being dramatic, right? This…this whole thing is just silly! A silly misunderstand-

You felt Bazz moving you onto the plush chair he was once sitting upon. His hands delicately held one of yours long after you sat down.

You looked into his eyes that were filled with….remorse. “Apologies, that was a bad way of putting things, and quite bad timing. Hey, (Y/N). Oh dear.” Your eyes darted away from him, unable to look death in the face. What would he do to you now? Chop you up? Bury you so that you are lost to memory? 

The Zora placed one hand on your cheek, guiding you to look at him. “Breathe, (Y/N). Let’s do it together.” 

Both of you took in a breath. Though, yours was a bit shaky and more like a silent shriek. Held that breath, then released. He squeezed your hand and had you repeat the same exercise with him several times. Then, several more. Bazz allowed you to take all the time you needed to catch your breath. You squeezed his hand as the waves of panic threatened to rise up again. “In and out, (Y/N). Just focus on your breath.” Bazz was patient. That’s something you knew to be core to his character…his deep, true patience was unfathomable. Normally in a book, if the main female protagonist were to have a panicky feeling or a spring of worry bubbling over, the love interest would kiss her to stop those feelings from becoming too much. 

But this was much kinder, much more gentle than a lover’s kiss. This was a kindness that could make you cry if you weren’t already. A respectful kindness. “When…” you choked out.

Bazz smiled and rubbed his thumb on the back of your hand. “A year ago.”

Your eyes opened wide. “And Sidon-”

“-Does not know. I never told him and I don’t intend to. The reason I even looked into it was because of my job. I needed to know your background, job, relations, family, et cetera, so that I knew for certain Sidon was safe. Poisonings happens more often than you would think. And tea is the perfect way to poison someone.” Bazz bobbed his head up and down, acknowledging the truth of the world.

You looked down at the dirt floor. Of course, why haven't you thought of that possibility? The Captain of the Royal Guard would need to make sure the person the prince was hanging out with wasn’t some sort of psycho killer. “Who would even try to poison Sidon anyway? Doesn't everyone love him?” 

Bazz sucked in a breath. “He is still a prince. You would be surprised to find out what people will do to gain the slightest bit of power.”

Your body sagged, finally relaxing. Sidon mentioned that he loved the cottage and your company because it made him feel as if he were normal. The man couldn’t trust anyone, and yet, chooses to keep trusting in people. What strength that must take. He’s even more amazing than you thought.

“Looks like you are finally breathing normally. And don’t worry, I assured you were safe for our prince to be around.” Bazz gave you a grand smile.

You frowned at the captain. “Well, yes. I assumed as much. A year?”

“Well, I couldn’t reveal my cards until Sidon was not around. Which happened sparingly. And any other time wasn’t right. So, yes, I know you write books based on the prince. Although inaccurate, I believe them to be rather sweet.” Bazz noted your argumentative look. “Sidon is not as smart as you give him credit for. The smart one is me.” The amusement on the captain’s face could throw a Domain-wide revelry. Goddess, he is pleased with himself. 

“I personally think the both of you are idiots, and any person, living or dead, that bears any resemblance to my fictional characters is purely coincidental.” You gave Bazz quite the stare. The captain simply smiled and rose to fetch the fish out of the oven. 

“Alright, but if I suddenly find out that Railos has incredible cooking skills, I know who your fictional prince is based on!” The Zora took a hot mitt to protect his hand from the fiery flames of the oven. He continued preparing breakfast as you turned your face, and your mind, elsewhere.

A year…

But I guess if no one else knows about our secret tea times within a year, then I guess we are both safe for now. You looked back to the Captain, who was now placing the fish on two separate plates: a single fish on a Hylian-sized plate and two larger fish on an equally large Zora-sized plate. Bazz took one plate in each hand, turned around, and placed them on the table. “Breakfast time.”

A dark black shadow zoomed into the room. Midnight was now pawing at Bazz’s leg, rubbing himself across the captain’s scales, and meowing. Those cries became louder and more annoying until Bazz cut off a piece of his fish and placed it into the furry prince’s food bowl.

The Zora shook his head, headtail flipping. “Hylia above! It’s like you’ve never eaten a day in your life!” Bazz moved over to you.

Noticing that there was only one chair big and comfortable enough for the Zora, you stood up and moved to one of the old wooden chairs, painfully aware of your legs still shaking. Bazz helped guide you by taking one of your hands for balance. “So kind,” he whispered.

On the table was a beautifully cooked fish with herbs. It was like you are the one who is sick. “Thank you, Bazz. For the food and…”

He waved your complements away with his hand. “Don’t mention it. Honestly, you have no idea how much you have brightened Sidon’s life.” A small sigh escaped his lips. “Little magical fairy, you are.”

“If you really came to that conclusion, your intelligence-gathering needs some work.” You began cutting into the fish with your fork. Once the fish hit your taste buds, oh dear, it was over. The fish was melting in your mouth with bursts of citrus and herbs. Delicious. 

Bazz sat on the plush chair and speared a bit of fish with his own, appropriately sized utensil. “I am glad you enjoy it. When I was little, my mother actually taught me this recipe. My hobby was cooking until I had a spear thrust into my hand. Then, being a soldier took up too much time. Glad I still have the talent, at least.” He placed another bit of fish into his mouth. “Come on, let’s do some small talk. I don’t know every last detail about your life. For safety reasons, of course.” He added a wink to the last sentence.

Yep, he is definitely feeling better.

Chapter Text

Several days passed. Most of the time Bazz just slept away. But, more often now, he crept out of the room when the sun was still in the sky. The poor Zora was more overworked than you previously thought. From the informal chit chats over meals, you gathered that the Captain of the Royal Guard only worked, ate, and (on rare occasions) slept.

A bit of a shuffle could be heard behind the door to your occupied bedroom. You placed a scrap piece of parchment in between two pages of a newly gifted book from Sidon and closed the tome. 

The captain is awake.

As Bazz opened the door and stepped out, he wiped the sleep from his eyes. Slowly he crept to the large plush chair and took a seat. 

Then, he slumped. Slowly lowering his body as if he were melting in the summer heat. Lower and lower he sank down the chair until his fin-covered butt rested on the dirt floor.

And finally, he groaned in annoyance. “I don’t want to go back to work.”

A small smile crept on your lips. “Nobody does, Bazz. But who knows what our prince has been up to since you are not there to look after him? The domain might have caught fire.”

Those golden eyes focused on your gaze. “Even though the domain is covered in water, I wouldn’t put it past Sidon to find a work around.”

An amused puff of air left your nose. You turned your attention to the kettle. Evening herbal tea still needed to be prepared as well as cooking some sort of fancy fish dish for the Captain’s evening meal. Not that you minded, of course. The meals were free and beyond delicious. What would happen when you run out? Your taste buds got used to being spoiled.

Though, the preparation took quite a bit of effort. Bazz helped you with the various culinary techniques of cutting and preparing meals. There were so many ways to cut fish! It’s as if you were in cooking school! At least you will keep the skills with you long after the ingredients are gone. 

Bazz came over to you while you were lost in thought. “Forgot how to cut an armored porgy?”

You shook your head. “No, just lost in thought.”

Bazz smiled. “I know what you mean. What will you do with yourself once I am gone? Your little Hylian heart would be broken. I should stay here.”

If he wasn’t getting over the sickness, you would have punched him. “I have enjoyed your company too, Bazz. From how you are talking, are you planning on leaving soon?”

The Zora sighed while twitching his top lip. “Unfortunately, yes. With winter ending, trade will be opening back up. I need to make security preparations for the influx of travelers.”

Your brows turned up with sympathy. Resting your hand along his arm, you patted him twice. “Well, the Domain is in good hands with you leading the charge.”

Bazz reached around and covered your hand with his own and held it close to his scales. “Thank you. Truly, thank you.” He then stood up tall and stretched his back. “At least I will be able to sleep in a pool again. The baths help, but I am feeling rather dried out.”

“Awww the captain isn’t getting his beauty sleep?” You protruded your bottom lip in a pout. “The poor girls in the Domain! They will welcome home their idol when he is in a less-than-glorious state!” You opened your mouth in shock and covered it with your hand. You gasped in astonishment and surprise.

Bazz frowned and narrowed his eyes. “You really don’t know what the girls think of me, do you?”

“The second most adored bachelor in the Domain?”

The captain shifted his weight and leaned against the counter. “No, my innocent cottage Hylian, I’m the scary guard dog that keeps the touchy-feely girls far away from our dear prince. Most of the single women in the Domain can’t stand me.”

“And the taken ones?” you added with a wink.

“I’m not a home-wrecker. I don’t go making trouble. Honestly, you have some wild fantasies about me.” Bazz cocked his head to one side. “Although, I guess if those fantasies were about-”

“Armored Porgy for dinner. I think the recipe is over there.” You pointed to the recipe box that came with the supplies.

The charming captain sighed and followed your instruction. He retrieved the corresponding paper card from the box and brought it over to you. You took the card and set it on the window sill for easy reading. “Anything else, your majesty,” Bazz grumbled.

You flashed a charming smile at the captain. “That will be all, my dear guard dog.”

Bazz smiled back with an evil smirk. “Oh, that’s what you are into-”

You gave the man a light slap on the arm. “What is with you today? Honestly, Zora boys…”

With that, Bazz walked back over to the supply box in triumph. Getting under your skin seems to be a favorite pastime of his. Even with the sickness, that didn’t change. The man could be bleeding to death and still interject one last flirtation with a bokoblin. 

Idiot.. you thought. Overworked idiot…

Bazz returned with the recipe and some other ingredients from the diminishing supply box. He handed it to you and turned to retrieve the cooking utensils from the various drawers.

It still amazes you how small the Hylian-sized cookware was when held by a Zora. It always appeared as if it suddenly shrunk to half its original size. The wooden mixing spoon that you found discounted to more than half its original price could be used as a Zora soup spoon. The whisk that was once rusted and in a trash pile that you took home and painstakingly polished could be a small egg whisk. And the jar of your homemade apple cider-

“H- Hey! Why are you getting that out?” You reached for the jar, only for it to be raised higher than your reach.

Bazz pouted. “It’s my last night here. Why can’t we have a little celebration? Sidon didn’t pack any Zora wine, and he also mentioned that your apple cider is Hylia’s gift to us mortals .”

Oh, that prince… He enjoyed your cider too much this past fall. The drink didn’t even have time to ferment! It was basically apple juice!

The prince lounged underneath one of the apple trees that made up your grove. He smoothed out a wrinkle in the cotton picnic sheet before grabbing yet another one of your bottles of cider. The rest of the mismatched containers were placed beside him. One…two…five…seven… You stopped counting for fear of fainting. All that work…

 

While it was true that Sidon helped you pick the apples this year, he didn’t help with the cider-making process. Hylia, the bees were bad. Any time there was something sweet out in the open air, Ganon’s spawns from the underworld buzzed towards your hands. If it wasn’t for the ants, you could have made the cider inside. Oh, there was no winning the battle with bugs.

 

And…there was no winning the battle with a Zora prince’s sweet tooth.

 

He picked up another jar….

You looked at Bazz in pity. “Alright… But know that this one has alcohol. Sidon drank the cider before it had time to ferment.”

The captain looked at the small jar of caramel colored liquid. “I don’t think this is enough to get me drunk. However, if you drink all of this… What are you like, intoxicated? Might be a great opportunity for an interrogation.”

You frowned at the captain. “I bet you know more about me than I do myself. I doubt any information I could give would be useful.”

Bazz tilted that jar side to side. “There are many bits and pieces that could be very useful.”

“Do you want to try the cider or not?” You crossed your arms and glared. Glared at the smiling captain with a face that could charm anyone. Glared at his yellow eyes that were twinkling in amusement. Scrunched your face at this arrogant idiot who dared touch your jar of alcohol that you were saving for a quiet night alone!

That gorgeous face relaxed before his lips slightly opened, giving you a window to see his sharp teeth. “Oh dear, I didn’t…” Bazz’s eyes shifted before placing the cider back in the cupboard. “Let’s put that back.”

Your face dropped in surprise. “Oh…Bazz…It’s really alright. I just… It’s a lot of work to…”

Before you could finish your sentence, the captain lowered his hand to brush a stray bit of hair that you didn’t even realize was out of place. “If it’s one thing I understand, it’s hard work. I don’t want to take the literal fruits of your labor away. Especially since my prince was so…indulgent.” 

Bazz’s claws ran over your forehead, sending slight tickles and sparks down your spine. You could feel your cheeks heat up from his touch. His eyes scanned over your face, searched your eyes, all before sighing and backing away. 

He stared at the kettle beginning to steam. Both hands at his hips, fingers tapping as if impatient. The sharpness of his teeth was barely visible as they bit his lower lip slightly. The light from the fire below in the stove illuminated his face in a vibrant orange and red. The edges of his scales curled the light around them, outlining each one in fire. He stood there…staring at an unboiling kettle.

And you stood there, watching…waiting. For what, though? The water to finish boiling? For Bazz to say something? What…what is this man thinking about? 

There was no way a man like him could feel…could have feelings…for you?

Goddess, is he considering confessing his love? Is he about to push you against the tall cupboard behind you and take your lips in his because he can’t think of the words to express his feelings? The kettle could not boil quick enough. 

Bazz turned towards you, making you visibly flinch. A small smile came to the captain’s lips. “What do you say to a trade? The finest bottle of Zora wine for your jar of cider?”

Huh?

Light and deflated, your body had all the air taken out of it. “W…wine?”

The captain nodded. “Yes, I actually have some in my house right now. You would have to wait till spring for it, though.” 

…

You took the jar off the shelf in the cupboard and opened the lid. Without a glass, decanter, or mug…you began chugging the alcohol.

Bazz reached for the jar and snatched it away from you. “Hey! What gives?”

You reached for the alcohol in vain. “You Zora boys drive me to drink, that’s what!”

Bazz cocked his head. “At least put it in a glass.” He reached up and grabbed a chipped wine glass that you got as a gift many years ago. He poured you half a glass and handed it to you. “Sorry for teasing you, my honorable host.”

You took a few more gulps before answering, “I’m about to be less honorable and kick your fin-covered ass out into the snow.”

The deepest and loudest laugh echoed throughout the house. “Ah yes, but I do beg of you to let me put on that new coat of yours before daring the cold.”

Your mouth dropped. “I forgot it one time…Hylia you are a dick.” The cider was working wonders…for both of you, you think. “Anyway, dinner. Haven't even started the darn thing.”

Bazz shrugged and grabbed the uncut porgy and a baking sheet. “Let’s skip the fancy stuff tonight and just have it baked. You can keep the vegetable for a meal later. Consider it a down payment.” The Zora took another swig of the cider before chucking the fish into the oven. “Sidon was right, this is good! Wow!”

You puffed out your chest in pride. “Well, if you like it that much, I do have a bit more. However, if you plan to trade me for top shelf...you’re going to be quite broke after tonight.”

Bazz gave you one of his classic side smiles and red cheeks. “It’s not as if I spend my money on much else. I’ll gladly take you up on that offer. And maybe a few more bottles of wine, you know,  to reserve a few jars in next year’s harvest before our dear prince drowns himself.”

“You got a deal, my shrewd captain.” You held up your small Hylian sized glass. 

The captain raised his own jar and touched the brim of it to yours. “A deal, my cottage Hylian.” 

Both of you drank deep from your cups and let out a hiss of enjoyment afterwards. 

Bazz continued drinking as he walked into the bedroom and came back out with a rectangle-shaped box. Once he eventually lowered the jar from his lips, he gave you a devilish grin. “Care to learn our prince’s latest obsession? I would very much like to teach you so you can kick his ass in the spring.”

The Zora opened the lid, showing off some sort of game. The wooden board was dyed blue in the center. Several polished stones were taken out from under the board and placed to either side. One set of stones were green and the others red. “This is called River Racers , my dear Hylian. It is the current talk of Zora’s Domain. I only own the cheap wooden version. Ha! You should see Sidon’s fancy marble one. We were meaning to teach you how to play during our slumber party, but we just didn’t have time for it.”

Bazz slid the red piles of rocks over to you. You picked one up and examined its smooth surface. A river-polished rock did match the theme of the game…

“The only thing Sidon likes talking about right now is new strategies, tea, and how much he misses you. So, I believe that he will want to play this game with you when he comes in the spring. To keep you from being overloaded with his persistent, high-level strategic chatter…I shall be your teacher.” The wink he gave you was anything but professional.

You lowered your head in a bow. “I am ready to learn, O great and wise teacher.”

The Zora leaned back in his chair and nodded once. “Let’s start.”

While the rules were somewhat complicated, you seemed to get the hang of the game under Bazz’s guidance. Rolling the dice and moving your stones to take his own relied as much on luck as skill. Though, he was easier to beat the further he drank into his jar…or several. Still, even intoxicated, the level of control he had was…exceptional. If you were to take a quick look at him, you wouldn’t even be able to tell how drunk he was. 

That’s the Captain of the Zora Royal Guard for you…

During the fourth game, Bazz lolled his head to one side. “I think…I am going to the bathroom…” He pushed himself up from the plush chair and walked around the table, only to stumble right next to the stove. That made your heart skip a beat. Ignoring the danger, he continued onward until the bathroom door was shut.

He could have cooked himself! Let’s hide the rest of the alcohol for now-

You looked around at the several empty jars strewn around the house. Some were upright while others were tipped on their sides. Each and every one devoid of the liquid beverage you worked so hard to make. Even with the captain’s promise of reimbursement…the sight was still a bit disheartening. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to give someone recovering from sickness the nectar of Hylia herself. 

The bathroom door flew open with a bang. Bazz strode out several paces before the top half turned towards you. “I am ready to sleep.” He continued onwards through the bedroom door frame until you heard a big thud from the bed, accompanied by the screech and hiss of Midnight. The cat ran out of the bedroom and onto the small rug in front of the stove. He promptly began licking himself to right the fur that Bazz had messied. 

You rose from your chair. Slowly, you peeked around the wall to see Bazz completely asleep. The idiot didn’t even pull the blankets over himself! You walked into the bedroom and grabbed the heavy covers at the end of the bed. “You are going to catch a chill,” you whispered. Moving his webbed feet off the blanket, you pulled the fabric over the captain’s body. “Maybe tonight is not your last night anyway. What kind of pain will the hungover captain be in, huh?” 

Bazz didn’t answer your whispers. No, he was far away in the land of dreams. The contours and lines that usually marked his face were relaxed and soft. This certainly was a rare sight. You were slowing down your movements of tucking the Zora into bed, just slow enough to enjoy looking at him a bit longer. You sighed. “You poor, overworked thing.”

Maybe it was the alcohol or the fact that you were tucking him in like a mother, but you leaned down and placed a small kiss on his crest. You whispered to his scales, “Goodnight, Bazz. Thank you for tonight. Rest well.” You lifted your head and left the captain to his dreams. 

After all, your other Zora friend gave you the task of making tea bags. “Honestly, it’s past midnight.” Your cat lifted its head from the plush chair. “Oh, not you darling. But, you want a treat?” Oh that got the fluffy kitty’s attention. He jumped from the chair and waited for that promised nibble by your feet. You pulled the bits and scraps from the roasted fish from dinner and placed them into a small bowl. Either enticed by the smell or impatient, Midnight jumped on top of the counter and began eating. You ran your hand from head to tail before washing up and preparing those tea sachets for Sidon.

You spent the next two hours portioning out and sewing individual bags of tea for the prince’s quick beverage consumption. “Maybe a note would be nice too,” you said to yourself. You quietly snuck into your bedroom to grab the necessary parchment and writing implements. But before you crossed half the room, you looked over to see Bazz had rolled over and now the blanket was on half of his body. “Hylia above, Bazz…” Once again, you pulled the blanket over his whole body and tucked him in. Then, you retrieved the writing instruments and paper. 

You placed everything on the dining table and began to write…

“Dear Sidon,

 

I hope you aren’t working too hard. The weather is still cold and relentless. I pray these tea sachets can help keep you warm in such a chilly environment. I know, for me, wrapping my hands around a warm cup of tea relieves the biting winds of winter. But once the pink blossoms bloom, know that there will be a fresh pot of tea here waiting for you. 

 

All the best,

(Y/N)”

The prince held the note to his heart. He looked to the hung over captain trying to sleep on the office couch. Bazz held his hands over his eyes and moaned in pain. “Come now, my dear captain. We have an evening meeting in a few minutes.”

Bazz pushed his face further into the plush fabrics of the lounge set. “Please kill me now.”

Chapter Text

The wood of your window groaned and creaked as you tried to desperately lift it from its winter slumber. Desperately wanting to remain shut, it resisted. You pushed and pulled the bottom lip of the window until finally, it budged. And after a few more tugs, the portal opened and the wind rushed in to greet you. The kisses it left on your skin lifted your heart. You breathed in deep the scent of dewed earth and morning. No amount of honey, herbs, or tea would allow your soul to drink this new season. The air’s warmth caressed your cheeks and freshened your room. Finally, after several months of thick snow followed by days of downpouring rain, the sun cut through with its triumphant light, and with it…the pink trees. 

It was spring.

“Ah, it’s so nice!” you greeted the outside world. Midnight jumped on your writing desk then onto the windowsill. He surveyed to the left and to the right before his attention was grabbed below. With a shake of his butt, he jumped out and totted off to whatever took his interest next. “You stay out of trouble,” you warned. He will probably be gone the entire day. I don’t blame him. It has been several months since he’s gone outside.

You yawned and stretched, trying to keep the sleep at bay. As nice as the weather is, sleeping outside in such glorious weather is also an option. But…things must get done. Who knows if the warmth is a temporary gift that will fade when the moon rises? False springs never was on your list of welcome visitors.

Speaking of visitors, maybe Sidon would come today-

“Good morning!” Sidon’s beaming face slid into your vision.

“...Sidon! Wh…what…don’t you…Isn’t it a bit early?” You desperately tried to fumble some sort of a coherent sentence out of your mouth.

The Zora simply gave out a hardy chuckle at your flustered nature. “I usually rise with the sun, my fairy. Once I felt the springtime air, I knew today was the day I could visit you again! So, what's the plan? Tea? Berry picking? Oh! How about a picnic underneath your flowering tree?”

The man’s eyes sparkled with juvenile excitement. But, soon returned to normal upon hearing your stomach’s song of hunger. You felt your face heat with embarrassment. “Ummm…”

That charming smile of his calmed your nerves. “How about I do a bit of fishing as you get yourself ready for the day?” 

You nodded in agreement before Sidon disappeared from your window. You quickly dashed to your trunks of clothes to dress before he came back. The man is an adept fisher. Ten minutes would be generous!

You ruffled through days-old clothes in desperate need of a wash, but once grabbing whatever was clean, you threw it on and began preparing the water for the inevitable chugging Sidon was about to partake in. You placed it kettle on the stove and reignited the fire with a few new logs and sweet whispers.

A knock came to your door after that. Sidon walked through the threshold with several fish in one hand, and a box in the other. “I’ve caught a rather large amount. The chill of the river causes the fish to have a slow start to the morning. I would feel bad if they weren't so tasty! Oh, is the kettle on?” He placed the fish on the counter and hovered over the still-cool kettle. “I can’t wait! Those delicious pouches of tea you created were delectable. So much so that I…indulged myself.”

You gave the prince a chuckle and patted him on the arm. “With you around, tea doesn’t last long. In or out of a tea bag.” 

Sidon turned his wooden box onto the old and rough-looking table. The prince was never one to bring a plain box. But somehow, he was carrying a solid, non-decorated, non-carved, non-equizite box. It was just….a box!

And being just a box, you realized the state of your table. Oh sweet Hylia….

The prince didn’t seem to notice your wandering thoughts as he opened the box and placed several tins of tea in a line. All of the tins were the same. All of them have the same brand of tea. All of them are the same exact tea as Sidon liked to drink at your cottage. “Captain Bazz mentioned you enjoyed this particular type of tea. I tried it myself and it doesn't compare to whatever you have here. He bought these as a thank-you present for hosting him in his time of sickness.”

It doesn’t compare to whatever you have here.

“Ah. Well. Tell him I said thank you.” It’s the same thing! What do you mean they taste different?  

The kettle whistled on the stove, causing the prince to dash over and request the instruments of tea making. You grabbed the teapot, strainers, and teacups. Then, opening the cupboard, you remembered that the last of your tea was drunk by the captain himself. You turned to the table and grabbed the tea on the table.

But, you halted at the prince’s saddened reaction. “O…oh! D…Don’t mind me! Of course we can have some of that tea! I just was…was hoping for some of your special local tea.”

There is nothing local about this tea!

Racking your brain. You couldn’t understand why the prince was insisting he be served tea from your particular tea tin. You could always put this new tea in it, but wouldn’t the prince still be saddened if it's not the same tea ? You smiled sheepishly. “S…sorry, I was so excited to try the new tea! Would you mind getting some fresh water out back to refill the kettle? Then we can make our usual tea!

Sidon perked back up and dashed out the door, bucket in hand.

Quickly, you opened the cupboard, grabbed the old tea tin, and examined it. The hastily written white label was nearly rubbed raw from handling this container over and over from use. When it was empty, you simply went into town for a refill. No need to constantly buy expensive canisters when the contents inside were the same. It’s a good tin! 

However, looking at the new, near-sparkling tins with their embossed roses and red label, you couldn’t help but understand why the prince was convinced it was an entirely different tea brand! It’s comparing a tin cup to a porcelain dish!

You checked over your shoulder to make sure that the Prince of the Zora was still outside…

…and then you dumped the tea from the new container into your old one.

You checked over your shoulder again. Still outside.

Grabbing the empty, brand new tea-tin, you hid it in the bottom corner of your cupboard near the potatoes. It hurts you to see such a beautiful item hidden in such a dirty spot, but the secret must be kept! I will come back for you!

Don’t forget me! It seemed to shout back.

You shut the cupboard door as the prince walked through the threshold of your cottage. “Fresh water, ready for brewing!” The prince cheerfully gleaned. 

You turned to him and held up the tin. “Here you go! Have as much as you like!”

The prince took the tin from your hands, nearly shaking from excitement. He removed the lid and breathed deep. “Ah, that’s the smell of the tea I missed so much!”

Success.

Preparing the tea and cooking the fish went without issue. It was only by his third pot that the prince slowed down enough to be able to talk. As he breathed in, something caught in his throat and he coughed. “For…forgive…” Sidon then turned his head away from you to let out more jagged air.

You leaned over the table. “Oh dear. Sorry, it’s probably the dust. I haven't aired out the cottage since autumn. Why don’t we bring the tea outside to catch up about what happened these past few months? A picnic under my magnolia tree?” The prince nodded as he continued to cough slightly. Yet, his gentle heart began picking up the tea set to help you put everything outside. So kind, even when uncomfortable. 

You quickly gathered as much as you could as well and brought everything out into the sun. Sidon continued wheezing for a bit longer before the episode had passed. “Oh dear. Again, apologies for witnessing that. Your house is lovely, honestly! I-”

Turning to him had the Zora’s mouth closing. “It’s alright. It just needs a bit of spring cleaning is all. I know you enjoy coming over. Trust me, I know… You braved the snow for it.” 

Sidon gave a guilty smile before placing the tea set on a nearby rock before helping you with the old blanket. The fabric was full of holes and stains, but the prince didn’t seem to mind as he placed the tea set on it all the same. You both sat down before pouring another cup and admiring the tree.

“This tree’s flowers are…different from the ones we have in Zora’s Domain. Bigger, more…large.” He turned to you expectantly. Eyes clear and hungry for an answer.

“Well, I don’t know what kind of flowers you have. This is a magnolia tree, if that’s what you’re asking.” 

The prince stood up. With his height, he easily could reach a bough. Those large, red hands cradled the pink bloom, practically diminishing it into a rose. He brought his face to it and took in a deep breath, sighing out when finished. “It smells lovely; deeper than the cherry blossoms back home.”

If only you were an artist of paint and not pen. This would have been a lovely portrait of the prince. Face framed by blooming magnolia flowers. The pink complements the redness of his scales beautifully.  Probably would sell better than my books too…  

The prince turned his head away and looked deeper into the curling branches of the tree. His eyes widened as he reached in, pulling out a golden beetle. He held it in between his thumb and pointer finger. He looked at you with curiosity in his eyes. “Are you entirely certain you are not a fairy? These things are quite rare and…well,” he turned back towards the tree and opened his hand. The vibrating wings of the beetle buzzed through the air as it took flight back towards the center. “Would you mind coming here for a second?” 

You stood up and went beside the prince. He bent down and grabbed you by the middle, causing a small squeak of surprise to come out of you. Then, he held you in view of a gap in the branches that allowed a view to its center. Sparkling golden bugs walked along the light brown bark of the tree. “The energetic rhino beetles! They've come back!”

“Come back?” The prince questioned. “They were here before? I don’t mean to insult your intelligence, my dear fairy, I really don’t but…these things are exceedingly rare. And to have them in such a large number I….am a bit baffled, I guess.” The prince slowly placed you back onto the ground.

“Well, magnolias are pollinated by beetles. I guess mine is favored by energetic rhino beetles.” You looked back up into the stunned eyes of the prince. Then, those eyes softened, then smiled. He shook his head, causing his tail to flop a bit before sighing. 

“You are really one magical woman.”

Your cheeks felt warm, and not from the spring sun. “Sorry for not showing you last year. I just don’t want the word to get out, you know. The stupid blue weeds already attract enough attention as is. Add this on top and we got ourselves a bit of an attraction.” A chill ran down your spine at the thought of a crowd gathering in front of your cottage every year to witness the beetles. You weren’t sure who would move residence first, you or the beetles.

You turned towards your lawn and sighed at the sight.

The tips of blue flower petals threaten to burst forth from their earthy prison. If only you could trap them there. Keep them from ever blooming and taking over your yard. Honestly, you never dumped anything on the front lawn. So why did these flowers grow with such vigor? There wasn’t a secret well of vitality beneath your lands, is there?

You let out a small sigh of exasperation. “I just wanted a nice, quiet spot of land. With the monster problem eradicated thanks to the princess and her knight, it was relatively safe to start living beyond town borders.” Yes, once that news reached your ears, you went to the town office to broker a deal to settle outside. Who would have guessed that a flowery curse and a beetle socialising spot also came with the property?

“(Y/N), are you quite alright?” The prince leaned down into your line of sight. “I apologize for seeing the beetles if that is what is troubling you.”

“No! Not at all! My thoughts were taking a bit of a world tour. Let’s return to tea, shall we?” You sat down on the old blanket with the prince following soon after. “I hope the tea hasn’t turned cold.” You placed your hands on either side of the large teapot. The warmth soaked into your fingers, banishing any chill you previously had. “Still plenty hot.”

Sidon nodded and took the pot from the center of the blanket. You grabbed your teacup and held it up for the prince to pour into. “There you go, my fairy.” 

“Thank you!” You took a deep drink of the tea. Yes, just the right temperature. It was the same tea as always. A lovely flavor, but perhaps… “Sidon, would you mind getting me one of the unbloomed magnolia blossoms? I would love to add some to my tea.”

The prince smiled and did as you asked. Then, he handed it to you. “I am happy you are experimenting, but please, not like the last time we ran out of your tea. It was an herbal disaster…appologies.”

You pursed your lips in a sort of wry smile. “You were just as much a part of that process, your highly educatedness. Just because you wanted the benefits of the herbs does not mean they should be blended together.” You focused back on the bud and began cutting and bruising it with your fingernails. “This one tastes a bit like ginger.” You placed some of the small chunks into your teacup. “I’ve heard you can also make cookies with it.”

The prince turned back towards the tree. “Shall I pick more, then?”

An amused puff of air released from your mouth. “Always in the mood for more tea-snacks? Well, next time you come, which I assume is in a few days, we can make some. I will need to head into town to grab some flour and other ingredients. After a winter like we had, the cupboard is pretty bare. The emergency supplies Bazz left helped a lot though. N…Not that I meant to take anything that wasn’t mine! I fed Bazz as much as he could eat! Really-”

You were interrupted by the prince’s laughter. “Don’t worry. I made sure there was plenty extra for you and Midnight.”

“T…Thank you.” You avoided your gaze. A small wash of embarrassment came over you. There was extra food and there was the STOCKPILE that the prince ensured you could keep. Granted, it was nice not to worry about going hungry. “I will ensure there are enough cookies for our next tea time.”

Sidon gave one of his gleaming smiles. “I am looking forward to it, my dear fairy.” He held up his teacup and drank deeply.