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Link was expected to do a lot of things. As the blacksmith's apprentice he was expected to deliver weaponry and tend to the fire, and as a hero he was expected to help the citizens of Hyrule when they were in peril. Link also expected a lot of things out of the world. He expected to defeat Lady Maud. He expected to break the curse. He expected that he'd have to say goodbye to his new friends. He did not expect, however, to be called back to the princess' chambers.
The guard dressed in shining iron plaits, decorated with small gemstones stood tall bearing the news. Alaric and Favian started to walk alongside Link but the guard spoke up, "Just the young hero in green please."
It was a shame as their goodbye was cut short but alas who was Link to deny the princess' orders. As the guard guided Link up the castle stairs, he pondered what the princess could want. He hadn't committed any crimes so it mustn't be bad news. Maybe the princess heard of his deeds back in Hyrule and wanted to have a proper chat? Maybe she wanted to give him a gift? Maybe she wanted to propose? Link shook his head violently at the idea. He couldn't stand having to break the poor girl's heart that his already belonged to another but he also didn't know how he'd word it. He hasn't seen that man in purple for months now. There was no way he could defend his feelings when he didn't even know if Ravio liked him back. Link sighed at the thought of the merchant. Maybe the princess just wanted to chat.
The doors swung open as Princess Styla sat at a round table near a window, sipping a cup of assumedly tea. She turned towards the doors and gleamed, motioning for Link to join her at the table. The guard bowed and left the two alone, closing the door behind him.
"Please drink," Princess Styla handed Link a cup of his own, "I imagine after such a perilous journey you would be parched."
The cup was marble white and a thin ceramic with purple flowers painted along the side and a gold trim along the rim. Link sipped the tea, a pink-ish liquid that had floral notes, and sighed as he felt the heat travel down his chest. He looked up to see Princess Styla staring at him with her hands in her lap. Link immediately put his glass down and fumbled with his words.
"I'm terribly... uh sorry Princess Styla. I seemed to forget to ask why I'm here..." he paused wondering if that was enough, "now. Currently?"
Princess Styla looked at him, eyes wide, before erupting in laughter. "Oh no! I'm sorry for staring! You have nothing to fear here hero. I simply called you to my chambers to discuss a... topic that I believe we have a similar interest in."
Link drooped his head to the side, "What, may I ask, is this topic Princess Styla?"
"Just Styla. No need to worry about formalities in privacy."
"Of course Styla!" Link nodded.
Styla looked out the window towards the great forest that surrounded the kingdom, "I believe I recognised you from my window whilst I was struck by despair walking back to town with your friends. I could always be wrong but..." she turned to Link, "I believe I saw you wearing a pink and white dress that I found in Madame Couture's catalogue. Were you?"
Link sat with the cup warm in his hands. He had worn that dress. Admittedly it reminded him of Princess Zelda back home and he did always wonder how comfortable the dress had to be as Zelda was always wearing it. He had the Madame make it for him and wore it whilst exploring the latter areas of the woods. Alaric and Favian didn't seem to care for him wearing a dress to battle, they had both seen weirder. Link wasn't ashamed of wearing the dress either as it did look good on him. Yet he could not shake a small bit of guilt from his conciousness as Princ- Styla sat looking towards the hero.
Link locked eyes with the princess, mumbling ever so slightly, "Yes I was. It reminded me of Zelda's own dress."
Styla gleemed once more, "Ah yes Princess Zelda of Hyrule. She's well on her way to becoming queen from I hear. She does have a beautiful gown. I hope Madame Couture was able to do her justice but I doubt she didn't."
"The dress was lovely," Link agreed.
"I'm glad I was right. I hoped that I would be able to share my own wardrobe with you.
Link's eyes widened with shock.
"I do believe we are the same size and I have a lot of dresses that are so last season that I need to give away. Alas no one in Hytopia will willingly wear an old dress so I thought I could give it to you."
"Are you sure Styla? I would hate to take away anything valuable from you."
"No need to be modest, Link! I am feeling charitable and you are my charity! Now let me get you a dress to try on, I have the perfect thing!"
The dress was beautiful. It was a shorter green dress with a corset top and long billowing sleeves. The corset was embroidered with floral details and the skirt was layered with a translucent fabric. Link loved it. He expected that, the dress was gorgeous. Yet a part of him ached with pain. He did not expect that.
Styla came into the dressing room holding silver jewellery embedded with emeralds. She brushed out Link's wavy hair and clipped a lily broach into the back of his hair. She handed Link the jewels, a fabric chocker necklace with silver threads having off the end, a pair of droplet emerald earrings, and a round bracelet with an emerald in the centre. Link stared at the bracelet on his wrist. It didn't smell, nor felt of moulding leather, yet it did not bring him any more comfort.
Styla noticed the pain that spread across his face, "Link. Is there something the matter? I know it can not be the jewellery because that silver looks too good on you to bring you pain. So what is going on?"
Link sighed deeply, "I... It doesn't matter."
"Link I have known you for about two hours and yet I know that you are lying to me. Tell me what's wrong," Styla placed Link's hands in her own.
Link's voice trembled a little, "Okay... a few months ago I met a man and I believe he is special to me. He was crude and greedy but never selfish. He tended to my wounds when I would come back from battle and bake me desserts using my apple farm. He is a very special man to me, yet I haven't seen him in months." His eyes twitched as what he never wanted to say spilled out, "I think I may never see him again."
Link waited for Styla to tell him off for falling so quickly, or for trusting someone he thought of as crude. He expected her to agree with his fears. Instead Styla hugged him. He was not expecting that.
"Oh you poor romantic," she sighed, "Now I am your friend first but I also command you as the princess of Hytopia to not give up. You hear me, Link? Do not give up on this man!"
Link held the bracelet close to his chest and chuckled, "We've known each other for only a few hours."
"Link! Not the point and also irrelevant!"
"Okay," Link placed the bracelet on the table, "I won't give up on him."
Styla stared at him, her arms resting against one another, waiting.
He stood alongside her, hand across his chest, "Princess Styla, as the hero of Hyrule and of Hytopia I give my word that I will not give up on him. On Ravio."
Styla gleamed and hugged him once more, "That's more like it. Now you said his name was Ravio?"
Link was expected to do a lot of things. As a hero he was expected to travel across the lands to aid the people of the world, and as a friend he was expected to keep in touch with his distant allies. Link also expected a lot of things of the world. He expected to see Styla at the ball. He expected to see Alaric and Favian whilst travelling. He did not expect, however, to see a man wearing a long purple robe and large rabbit hood standing at his door. Yet somehow he wasn't surprised.