The Jewels of Heart
By: Ashlee

 

Chapter 9: The Idea

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“For the last time, Zelda, that thing did more to my room than it did to me!” Link said. So, maybe he was being a little mean, since all she was doing was being concerned, but it was getting annoying. “That… thing was older than dirt, or so it looked like.”

“Still, from your description of events,” the King said, sitting across the room from them, “it could have dealt a good blow to you.”

“All it would have done was given me a little shock from being hit,” Link sighed, putting his elbows on his knees. “It wasn’t enough to hurt me.”

“I just can’t believe someone would do this!” Zelda said, furrowing her brow. Deep inside, Link thought that it seemed rather… familiar. Strange being… looking for an object. Hmmm… seemed very familiar indeed.

“We will have the castle on full scale alert,” the King said with authority. “I will not have this happen with a guest visiting.”

“I’m sure it used some sort of magic or trickery to get in, just as it came out,” Zelda said thoughtfully. “Maybe the guards won’t actually do anything to stop this from happening again.”

“Then what is there to do?” her father said. “I can’t stop any magic surprises.”

“Maybe it was looking for…” Link said, in his own track of concentration.

“What?” Zelda said, leaning towards him. “What could he have been looking for?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Link said, waving his hand dismissively. “I have nothing of value.”

“Maybe you have something of value to it not you,” Zelda pointed out.

“I already told you,” Link said patiently, “I don’t have anything that could have belonged to it. All my stuff isn’t any irregular from any other things everyone has.”

“Somehow, I’m not so sure,” the King said slowly. Link couldn’t help but detect a knowing and somehow, hateful tone in the man’s voice.

“Father, do you know something we do not?” Zelda’s tone was a little icy. Maybe she had detected the same thing Link had in the man’s voice.

“Just a thought, dear one,” he said politely. “I know nothing that you two do not.” Link couldn’t help but wonder if the King was telling the truth or not. Apparently Zelda felt the same way, for an uncomfortable silence hung thick in the air.

The King cleared his throat and cast a skeptical look to his daughter. “And you, my dear, have some explaining to do. Why on Earth did you run away?”

“Father, I had too much on my mind. So many things have been going on, I just had to get out,” Zelda said, looking rather uncomfortable about the change in subjects.

“So you ran away from your responsibilities, did you not?”

“Father, I—“

“No, I don’t want to hear one of your excuses!” the King said, cutting her off. “It looks to me as though, with your lack of responsibility, that you don’t actually want the throne nor are worthy of it.” Link, ironically, actually thought that the first was true; not the second. “I suggest, that if you want to rule this country properly one day, you had better get your act together. Face the problems, rather than run away from them. That is the best solution.”

“Oh, and your not answering the peasants’ pleas and demands for the thieves to be taken care of is an example of how a ruler should act?” Zelda said, scowling at her father.

“I find it rather petty at this time. What I deal with at one time or another is my business, and, until you gain access to the throne, not yours.” Zelda looked furious, like a cat about to jump its prey.

“And just what are you ‘taking care of,’ as you say, rather than getting rid of the thieves?”

“I told you, it’s not your business right at this time! Haven’t you been listening to a word I have said, you incompetent—“

“Sire, I do believe that it is time for the evening meal,” Link said, breaking the tension between the two momentarily. “I think I heard the chime.”

With one quick glance at his daughter, the King sighed, and said, “Very well, then.” He got up from his seat and walked stiffly out the door. When he was finally out of the room, Link sighed in relief, turning his attention to Zelda. However, she had a hand pressed to her temple, furrowing her brow. Link, becoming concerned, walked over to Zelda, sitting down next to her, draping an arm over her shoulders and looking meaningfully at her.

“Zelda, you should go back up stairs,” he said softly. “Honestly, you have got to get some sleep. You’re looking paler by the days!”

“I’m sorry. It’s just hard to,” she said, looking at him from the corner of her eye. “I have so much to worry about. What about that thief? He could have—“

“Let me worry about me for right now. I’m fine as it is.”

“I know. But what about—“

“No,” Link said with authority. “You worry about you, and I’ll worry about the rest. You have to get some sleep before it ends up in something worse than a headache.”

Zelda looked into his eyes, and softened her gaze. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he said. “First sleep, then thanks.” Zelda smiled and leaned towards him, falling gracefully into his arms.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Link,” she said softly and slowly. He could tell that she was going to fall asleep soon. Very soon.

She closed her eyes, and he began to rub her back soothingly until he heard her light, rhythmic breathing. He thanked his lucky stars that, even if their relationship didn’t go as far as they wanted it to, they’d still have this moment to remember.

He gently lifted her up and carried her down the hall, and up the stairs to her room, despite the skeptical looks from servants as they passed. He placed her on the bed, and gently tucked the sheets around her. He kissed her cheek tenderly and gazed down at her. She looked so beautiful when she was asleep. She always looked beautiful, but now she looked… peaceful.

He would have stayed longer, but he had to go check out something. He had to do what he was meaning to before the thief incident. He was going to find out once and for all what happened to his village. He walked out into the hallway with purpose and strode to his room, which, thanks to the maidservants of the household, was as it was before.

Link sat on his bed and opened a small pouch that was sewn onto his tunic. Inside it was his Ocarina that he didn’t use so often any more. He wondered why it never occurred to him to do this earlier, but he couldn’t waste any time now. He placed the Ocarina to his lips and began a tune that he learned so long ago.

When he was finished, he heard a voice echoing in the room. “Link? Link, is that you?”

“Hey, Saria,” Link said, grimacing at the annoying urgency in her voice.

“Oh, my goodness!” she exclaimed. “Where have you been? Why didn’t you call sooner?”

“I’ve been busy, Saria,” he said, trying to keep calm. When could he ask the question about his village at this rate?

“Of course,” Saria scoffed. “Always busy: that’s you, Link. Never enough time to talk to your old and dear friend, is there, Link?”

“Listen,” he said, on the edge of his patience. “Since you’re the Forest Sage, you do know what happened to my village, right?”

“Oh, is that why you called?” she said with a tone of annoyance in her voice. “Is that the only—“

“Saria!” Link barked, making her shut up. “I’m sorry I haven’t talked to you in a long time. Okay? I’m sorry that I’ve been busy mourning the loss of my village, okay? I’m sorry that I’ve been rescuing Zelda AGAIN, worrying about the future of the country, and planning what I’m going to do about the death of my family and friends instead of calling you up on the Ocarina to say hey!”

An awkward silence hung in the air as he cooled down. “So are you going to tell me what happened to my village, or am I just wasting my time?” Link sighed.

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