Chapter Text
Snow sprinkled over Castle Town like the sugar coated pastries aligning baker’s windows, the winter breeze dancing through the streets as couples huddled closer for warmth, the enticing smell of warm hot chocolate rumbling children’s stomachs that awed at the latest toys. Link maneuvered through the early morning hustle and bustle, his eyes glued to his phone with the occasional glance to the street signs above.
“In three feet turn right,” informed his navigation.
“Okay I’m not too far,” he muttered. He checked the time and his heart dropped.
6:50 am .
Hylia’s light he was going to be late! Pushing past the crowd of window shoppers, Link rushed towards the direction his phone dictated, apologizing to every passerby he bumped into. I can’t afford to be late, I need this job. Quickly glancing down he noticed he was just a few steps away from his destination when his foot caught a wandering pebble and fell hard towards the ground.
Well, on someone .
“Oh my goddesses I am so sorry! Are you alright?” The woman groaned in pain, rubbing her shoulder. She looked no older than he was; dressed in a lilac overcoat with a beanie that fell onto the snow and a scarlet scarf that covered her face. Link frantically got up, extending a helping hand as she arose. She adjusted herself, striking opal eyes boring into his own accompanied by a warm smile. He silently gulped, she was beautiful .
“I’m quite alright. It’s my fault for not looking as well.” Her voice was sweet as honey, ringing like a symphony to his ears. “Where are you headed in such a rush?”
“The castle,” he replied, anxiously checking the time- he still had time. “It’s my first day in the kitchens and I don’t want to be late, but I’ve never been to Castle Town before so I’m kind of lost.”
She blinked in surprise. “Oh really?” Link nodded, unaware to the growing crowd around them whispering amongst themselves. “Allow me to escort you there then. I’m very familiar with this area of the city,” she offered her hand and he gladly accepted. He followed her to a winding path away from onlookers, hidden from the public. A shortcut? He guessed.
“It will be much quicker if we go through here,” she explained. “I can vouch for you once we arrive within the castle.”
“Thank you so much, you have no idea how grateful I am.” The stranger simply smiled, growing Link to wonder who she was. He assumed she would have to be a servant of the castle, perhaps groundskeeper, or a chambermaid or even a knight. He silently hoped she would be a fellow kitchen staff so he could have a friendly face.
“So where are you from?” she asked him as they traversed a maze of roses. “I would guess perhaps somewhere from the southern region of Hyrule, correct?”
“A small town in the Faron Province,” he chuckled. “What gave it away?”
“You have a slight accent,” she replied. “It’s not a bad thing, it’s pretty cute.”
At that he blushed. Was she flirting with him? “What about you?”
“I have only known here.” Her response was solemn, a yearning of wanting more laced between her words. Link could empathize, for just until a few days ago his world consisted only of his hometown and a wish to see more. The scent of oven baked goods hit his nose, his mouth watering from simply imagining the taste.
They had finally arrived.
The castle stood proudly before them, making Link wonder how he ever missed it in the first place. It was huge- majestic brick and marble making up its structures with magnificent towers and loftwing statues decorating the viewpoints. The building was surrounded by a large field of snow and trees that stretched as far as the eye could see; a sea of white with knights, nosy press and castle staff sailing its waves. The woman simply giggled at his reaction, “first time seeing the castle?”
“First time seeing any castle.”
“Well then I hope you don't get too awestruck as you see the inside.” She signaled him to remain silent, expertly navigating him through the winding maze of corridors and doors that he would be sure to get lost in. Finally, they reached the kitchens and he checked his watch; 6:58 am . He was three minutes shy from his shift!
“I really can’t thank you enough Miss-” his words trailed off. He hadn’t ever asked for her name.
“Call me Zelda,” she winked. Zelda , such a pretty name . Gathering his courage, Link took her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers.
“I am in your debt, Zelda. As gratitude I offer a sweet treat of your choice at this location, upon sunset.” But seeing her ears perk up from his affection was all the gratitude he could ask for.
“Very well, sir?”
“Link.”
She smiled. “Sir Link. I’ll meet you here upon then with what I would hope to be a lemon tartlet?”
“It shall be so,” he grinned. He gave her a dramatic bow, entering the kitchens with a smile that no one could wipe.
Link stumbled out the kitchen door, trying to balance himself out as he carried three boxes of leftover goodies. His foot caught the edge of the carpet, and he came tumbling down over an innocent bystander.
A familiar bystander.
“We really need to stop meeting like this,” laughed Zelda.
“Ah, Zelda!” Link shrieked, helping her sit up. She was dressed in a more regal attire than earlier- a sleeveless velvet dress that dragged to the floor with matching gloves that hugged her arms, and an intricate golden necklace matching her circlet with a singular ruby. Anyone would mistake her for a princess. Zelda waved him off as he apologized, assuring him she was fine as they collected all the bagged pastries. “Oh, I have your lemon tartlet right here!” he remembered. In a simple red box, decorated with a green ribbon from the confines of his jacket he handed the woman the treat. “It’s sealed with a special casing so it remains fresh.”
“Thank you Link, you didn’t have to.” She accepted his gift, he tried to not think about how her fingers brushed over his.
“I wanted to!”
At that she smiled. “May I ask what all of these pastries are for? There are quite many for just one person.”
“They’re for my family,” he explained. He carefully restacked the boxes, ensuring that he would not trip on anything or anyone this time. “My sister has a sweet tooth and it seems that my children hold the same gene.”
She let out a laugh, “that is very sweet of you. How old are they?”
“Six years old; twins.”
“They must be quite the handful of energy. I’m sure your wife is grateful to have a good man like yourself by her side.”
Link pursed his lips. Wife, right… “I’m a single father actually. My wife and I divorced a couple years ago and I had the most support available to raise them.” It wasn’t a sensitive subject to him, he and Malon were still the best of friends despite their relationship, the kids still loved her and they each had found happiness in their separate lives.
Yet you still feel alone.
He pushed away that thought. He would have to wallow in his feelings later.
“Oh, I see.” Zelda’s expression turned soft, the evening sun illuminating her hair into a cascade of sunset. “I apologize for the assumption, it wasn’t my place.”
He shook his head, mirroring her expression. “It’s alright, you couldn’t have expected to know.” The shadows began to grow around them, Link knew that if he wanted to get home before dark he should leave now but… he wanted to talk to Zelda more. He took in a breath, gathering his courage, “I wanted to ask, when are you free? I’d like to-”
“Your royal highness,” interrupted a cool voice behind them. The two turned to see a well dressed man observe them with an expression that could only be described as unwelcoming. Link immediately knew that this stranger was royalty; his chestnut hair slicked back with far too much oil, his navy blue tailcoat with a complimentary black dress shirt free of any dust or dirt unlike Link’s flour covered jumper, and his icy blue eyes honed at the new baker like a pest.
What’s his deal? Link silently mused, glancing towards Zelda and the man. Wait, did he refer to her as-
“Prince Tyrsus,” she greeted in a polite tone, though her eyes showed annoyance. “It is a surprise to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Prince Tyrsus walked closer, ignoring Link beside her. “Your aunt requested for your presence in the tea room with the king and queen to discuss a family matter. But when you did not show, I decided to aid in the search for you.” He glanced at Link, a sneer tugging his lips. “I did not expect you to have company.”
Zelda placed a hand on Link’s shoulder, not once breaking eye contact with the prince. “This is Link, he’s a recent hire and acquaintance of mine.”
“Ah.” Link felt as if he was being judged, with how the prince’s eyes kept observing him with a most distasteful look. “I did not know you were so generously close to your staff, your royal highness.”
Zelda said nothing, simply turning towards Link,“I believe I’ve taken too much of your time, Link. I wouldn’t want your family to worry if you arrived home late.”
“Oh, yes! I should get going,” he successfully managed to say through his shock. He looked around and quickly realized that he would only get lost if he tried to find his way out of the castle; everything looked the same! “Do you mind showing me the way out, princess?”
“Of course.” Taking his arm to guide him she spoke to the prince, “Prince Tyrsus would you be so kind as to inform my aunt that I apologize for my tardiness and I will arrive shortly?” His highness said nothing, simply bowed and muttered something beneath his breath that Link could not hear. “Here Link let me help you with the boxes.”
She escorted him through the winding halls, decorated to its full glamor for the winter festivities. But Link’s mind was too preoccupied to appreciate its beauty with the recent discovery of his acquaintance. She’s a princess- no, the princess. Oh goddess I bumped into her twice , how is she still wanting to be near me let alone talk to me?!
“You may speak your mind if you wish, Link.” She slowed to a stop, not meeting his gaze. “Your silence speaks volumes.”
“Oh, I um…” where would he even start? “Do you uh, often visit the town in the mornings?” What the hell was he saying?! She looked at him in bewilderment, a natural reaction considering the absurdity of his question when she began to burst out laughing. He tried not to stare, honest! But when her voice sang like the angelic chorus of the sacred temple, her wavy strawberry blonde hair falling past her shoulders shimmering in the sunset’s rays, and she looked like the incarnate of Hylia herself- how could he not stare?
“You learn that I am your princess and your first inquiry is whether you may have a chance to meet me again?”
Link’s ears flushed. “I didn’t mean it like that!” Maybe a small part of him did. At the corner of his eye, hiding behind a decorative suit of armor, he spotted the prince overlooking them. “However I would like to ask, what is the deal with Prince Tyrsus?”
“He’s one of my suitors,” she explained with a frustrated sigh. “He is quite favored by aunt, Lady Selin, which has left him to stroke his ego into believing he will hold my hand in marriage.” She smirked, “but unfortunately for him, I do not decide my partners by who my family favors most. It is my decision after all. And I would much rather live my life ruling with someone I can enjoy a day off with than scurry off to the countryside to avoid their company.”
Link couldn’t hold back his grin. This was dangerous, feeling this thriving friendship that he felt as he walked with her highness. If he wasn’t careful he soon wouldn't be able to differentiate his feelings between platonic and romantic.
“The answer to your first question is a bit more complex…” Zelda stared out to the castle gates, gazing at them with a longing freedom. “I don’t get to visit the town often, at least as Zelda. I wanted to experience a day where I wasn’t the crown princess; see the town in my eyes rather than those of a sovereign, to be simply a young woman going about her day and not about to be crowned in four weeks.” She turned back to him, a sheepish expression on her face. “I’m so sorry it must be embarrassing for you to listen to me prattle on about something like this!”
“It’s not.”
Zelda stared at him, and he suddenly grew aware of his rising heartbeat. “It’s not embarrassing to listen to you prattle, we all need a listener. And,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “you wanting to experience a simpler life isn't embarrassing either.”
“I suppose so.” She greeted the gatekeeper, instructing him to open the gates. “This is where we part,” she placed the boxed goods into his hands with the rest, “will you be alright on your route home? I can have a knight escort you home if necessary.”
Link shook his head, smiling shyly. “No, no I’ll be okay Princess Zelda. It’s not a far walk and it's in the apartments closer to the castle.” Besides, I don’t want to have to explain to Aryll more than I already have to about today. “ I do appreciate you generosity, your royal highness.”
“Zelda.”
He blinked. “Call me Zelda, please. At least when it’s just us.”
He smiled, “Alright. See you tomorrow, Zelda.”
“Papa’s home! Papa!”
“Hey! How are my little korok’s doi- oof!” Two, far too energetic children, tackled and hugged their father making him nearly lose balance. “Saria, Daru, if you two could please let me walk over to the kitchen first before tackling me, I would love that.” The children giggled, letting their father go and noticed the boxes he carried with tantalizing smells.
“What’s in the box, papa?” asked Daru, his ginger hair covered in what Link presumed to be slime paint. He would need to ask Aryll about it later. His sister equally curious, brought a stool to climb on and attempt to open a box.
“They’re a surprise treat to have once we finish dinner. But first,” he playfully grinned, rolling up his sleeves and eyeing the twins down. “You two will need to take a bath!”
“NOOO!” exclaimed the two in unison as Link grabbed them both and began carrying them towards the bathroom. “We don’t need to take a bath!”
“Yes you do! Look at you both!” He sniffed their clothes, making a comedic disgust sound afterwards causing them to uproar. “Y'all smell filthy! And Daru has pink paint all over his hair, and Saria, honey, you have green paint all over your arms! What did you two even do?”
“Oh leave them be, they just wanted to express their creativity through paint,” said a voice beside him. Aryll, overalls covered in a kaleidoscope of paint, crossed her arms in amusement.
“And did this paint have to involve rolling around in it?” he bantered and she simply shrugged. The kids, despite their loud protests, successfully bathed and happily munched on their after dinner treat while they recalled their day.
“And then we got to write our letters to the Lord of the Mountain!” Saria gleefully told Link. He hummed in response, brushing her blonde hair with great care. “Have you written your letter to them yet, papa?”
“Not yet darling, papa has been busy.” Daru jumped beside him, grabbing his father’s arm just as he finished with Saria. “Yes, Daru?”
“What did you do today? Did you make a lot of cookies? How big is the castle?”
“Ooh! Did you get to meet the princess, papa?”
At that Link’s cheeks flushed, catching his sister’s attention. “Well I got to bake a lot of pastries, not just cookies. The castle is humongous, Daru, a lot of hallways with knights and big rooms that fit this apartment! And I met a lot of people, including a new friend.” His children gasped, their eyes shining with curiosity. “She helped me find my way to the castle actually.”
“She sounds really nice!” Daru said. “We’ll we get to meet her?”
“I'm not sure. She can get very busy, more than I am.” His daughter gasped in shock, someone who worked more than their father? How was that possible?!
“She should take a break to hang out with us!” Saria suggested. “And you should too so we can all be together!”
Link chuckled, oh how he wished it could be that easy. “That’s a great idea my little fairy.” He leaned down to kiss her head, smiling with joy as she giggled. “Well it’s getting late, c’mon I’ll tuck you both to bed.” They yawned as they each grasped their fathers hand, falling fast asleep the moment their heads hit the covers. “Goodnight, I love you,” he whispered. Kissing each of their foreheads he silently walked out of the room and closed the door.
“Sound asleep?” Aryll asked, holding the twin’s presents in hand. Link nodded, signaling her to be quiet as they prepared to wrap the gifts. “So, mind telling me why you blushed redder than a rock roast when Saria mentioned the princess?”
Link fumbled the wrapping paper in his hands, sputtering out a mess of excuses. “I-I don’t know, no I wasn’t blushing, I, she, I-” Aryll snickered at her brother’s reaction, bumping his shoulder.
“Oh, so you did meet her, huh?” Link pursed his lips in response but Aryll pressed on. “What was she like? What happened? Something had to if you’re so embarrassed about it.”
“Like I said earlier, she helped me find my way to the castle.”
“In the town? How did she even know you were a new hire?”Link paused, the blush creeping back to his cheeks. Aryll leaned closer, “Link-”
“I kind of, um, ran into her…” he looked away. “Literally.” She burst out laughing, and Link shushed her. “Shhh! You're going to wake the kids!” Little did he know, two little twins stealthily hid behind the corner listening in.
“I’m sorry, I just cannot believe that you literally ran into her highness.” He pouted in response, it wasn’t like it was on purpose!! “So what, after you ran into her she decided to help you out and not send you packing to the dungeons?”
“She’s not like that!” he replied defensively, surprising himself. “I mentioned that I was lost and she decided to help me out.”
“And she didn’t ask anything in return?”
He shook his head. “I made her a lemon tartlet in thanks, but I didn’t even know she was the princess until the second time I ran into her, yes again literally- don’t laugh , and she was in her regal attire.”
Aryll finished attaching a ribbon to Saria’s gift, handing Link the tape. “Well I need to know which goddess is favoring you because I need some of that fortune for myself.” He simply bumped her with his shoulder, laughing the night away as the kids silently sneaked back into bed- a newfound plan forming between them.