Hyrule Castle
Alec pulled the dark blue vest around his chest and white shirt, fitting his large arms through the sleeveless piece of faded leather clothing. The young knight began to tighten the vest around his bright white button up shirt, pulling and the fixing the ties on the garment so it would fit snuggly around his torso. On the collar of the white shirt was a small gold seal, the Triforce, a symbol of membership of the Hylian Knights. Shining in the light coming in from the window the symbol seemed like actual gold, the rays of sun reflecting in the tiniest amount. With a bright smile Alec looked himself over.
The newest member of the Hylian knights modeled himself in front of the reflective mirror, as he did earlier in the day when he was giving his set of pure black training clothes. On his upper body the young man wore a white button up shirt with a collar, the upmost button left unbuttoned and the sleeves stylishly rolled up to give each arm extra moving room and to help shrug off the heat of the summer sun. A dark blue vest lay on top of that, tied tightly around his chest, the leather slightly only slightly faded from the time it had spent in storage. On his leg’s Alec wore a pair of dark brown pants, held securely to his body by a black belt with a metallic Triforce shaped buckle, and below this he wore the same set boots he had been given earlier in the morning.
As he looked at himself in the mirror he saw the reflection of Castle Town on the shiny surface. The people were still running about, in final preparations for the tomorrow celebrations. Small sounds of the crowds yelling above each other and the sound of hammers pounding against wood seemed to flow through the light summer air and into the window of Alec’s room. And with one final tug on his collar, straitening it out, he pulled himself away from the reflective surface of the mirror and began to make his way across his stone room and toward the wooden door.
On the way out of the room he passed by the set of black training clothes he had worn earlier, small grains of tan sand still speckled their dark fabric. His Black Falcon sword sat atop of these garments, sheathed in his dark colored holder. Alec rubbed his chest, the spot where Captain Ordon had brought Alec down, ending the duel. Although he lost Alec received many congratulations from the older knights, most of them stating they had never seen such a young man handle a blade and learn swordsmanship as quickly as he had, all these kind comments helped heal Alec’s slightly bruised pride. As a gift the young knight had gotten the rest of the carnival time to spend as he pleased, his real training would begin in the days following the conclusion of the Hylian celebration.
Alec planned on going into Castle Town to spend some time marveling at the attractions and vendors that were attending this year’s festivities, never before was he given so much time to actually spend at the summer carnival. Often the boy was tied back at the ranch, only able to attend for the final night, or in the case of the past years, not even at all. Finally, Knight Alec arrived at the wooden door of his room, and with one hand, easily pushed it open.
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“You know…” Saria murmured bluntly, her small feet swaying playfully from the bed in Terra’s room. “…You dad doesn’t want you to leave the castle without an escort.”
The Kokiri sage in green clothes playfully moved back and forth on the edge of Terra’s soft bed. She was looking over to Terra who was just finishing combing her smooth blonde hair, the golden locks swaying back and forth across her back. With a wide grin the Kokiri leaped off the comfy mattress and skipped happily across the room over to the young princess.
“What? What do you mean leave the castle?” Terra shouted, almost sounding angry. “I’m only going into town for a while, it’s not like I’m going to leave and go to Death Mountain or something…The town is safe enough for me to be on my own.”
“Terra…” Saria groaned, leaning up to the mirror Terra was looking into “…You know the guards won’t let you out.”
Letting out a huff of air in frustration, the young woman began to put her pieces of gold jewelry on, getting ready for the rest of the day. “I still think that the town is perfectly fine for me to be on my own…And so what if the guards won’t let me out, I’ll just sneak past them through the courtyard.”
“I think that if any guard sees you alone they are supposed to take you back here, even the ones in castle town.”
Terra turned to the young Kokiri an annoyed angry scowl on her face. “Well, this is no fun…” she said with a disappointed tone, obviously the young woman wanted to go into the town for the day, and not be cooped up inside the stone masonry of the castle. “…Then what does he want me to do? Just sit inside and rot during the carnival?”
Saria shrugged helplessly. “Well excuse me princess! Maybe he will let you go if you had an escort or something! You know someone to keep an eye out on you while you’re out and about?”
The word escort echoed in princess Terra’s mind, they seemed somewhat familiar but she couldn’t remember exactly from where. “Maybe…” the Hylian whispered softly, still in thought about the escort comment.
“But you know…” Saria continued “…Maybe your dad is right. I mean, look what happened last night, we could’ve been killed Terra, not to mention the boy who saved you, he could’ve been killed as well!”
“So you’re taking his side on this Saria?” Terra grumbled comically, as she finished putting on the last piece of gold jewelry. “I thought you’d have my back on this one.”
Crossing her arms in frustration the Kokiri scowled at the Hylian girl. “I’m not taking his side…I’m just saying…He could be right, just a little tiny bit…”
Saria jumped about the room and headed toward the door, leaning herself against it. She watched as the Hylian Princess groomed herself, and even the young Kokiri must admit that Terra did have some stunning good looks…But sounds caught her ear…The sound of footsteps, and she pressed her ear against the door.
“Terra!” the Kokiri exclaimed, motioning her to come closer. Slowly Saria pushed open the wooden door and peaked through the small crack she made.
Terra swiftly strode up to her Kokiri friend and leaned down to eye level. “Yeah…What is it?”
“That boy from last night…He is becoming a Hylian Knight right?” Saria whispered up to Terra.
“Yes…Yes he is….Why?”
“Well I think I may have just gotten an idea…” The Kokiri cracked an evil grin and looked up to the princess, who responded with the same expression.
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“Excuse me young knight…” Terra said in a voice that mimicked her mothers. “…I don’t think you are allowed in this part of the castle.”
Alec stopped cold where he walked, a large chill shot up his spine like an arrow freshly released from a strong bow. Immediately he stood up as straight as he could, coming to attention as best he knew how. “I-I-I’m sorry…” he stammered sounding almost frightened. “…I think I’m a bit lost…forgive me your highness!”
Saria began to giggle, her small child hands covering her mouth attempting to prevent any sound from coming and alerting Alec to their mostly harmless prank.
“You know sir…” the princess continued in the same changed voice. “…I could have you thrown out of the castle for something like this, trespassing in the area of the Royal Family.”
“I-I…” Alec nervously mumbled once again, not having the nerve to turn around and face the ‘queen’.
“…And on top of that…I could have you expelled from the order of the knights most dishonorably!” Terra finished, even she herself began to laugh silently, bringing her own hand up to her mouth in a vain attempt to control the giggles.
“Forgive me!” Alec blurted finally. “I afraid I’ve gotten lost and I don’t know my way around the castle yet…It’s…M-My first day.” The young knight hung his head low in shame, and began to wait for a response.
Terra and Saria looked back each other their faces filled with pure joy from seeing Alec’s reaction to their comments. Soon their laughs grew as they couldn’t reply to the young knight without bursting into laughter and shattering their cover. Saria’s face began to turn red as she switched her eyes back to look at Alec who was still hanging his head low waiting for his punishment for going into a part of the castle he wasn’t supposed to.
Saria finally snapped after moments of contained emotion, the amount of laughter that poured from the Kokiri’s girl’s mouth filled the stone hallway, echoing down the passage for as long as it could. Falling to the floor she grabbed at her side, the nasty prank they played on the young knight getting the best of her. Terra also soon broke down into laughter, leaning up against the door frame for support as she began to run out of breath.
Surprised at the freakish laughter Alec whirled around to see the commotion. Before him were the two girls, the Kokiri laughing wildly on the floor and Princess Terra leaning up against the wooden door frame looking right at him, her face red from all the laughter.
“Your highness!” Alec blurted, attempting to regain his composure in front of the beautiful young woman. “I am…So deeply sorry, forgive me!”
“It’s nice to see you too Alec!” Terra chuckled, slightly regaining her normalcy.
“Uh…Princess Terra…I mean…Your Highness!” Alec swiftly gave an awkward bow, overwhelmed by the events.
Saria rolled about on the floor giggling gleefully. “You should see your face!” the Kokiri still held her side, losing her breath.
Alec turned bright red, ashamed of himself. “I’m so sorry…I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to be here!”
Terra laughed happily. “It’s fine Alec…Calm down, I’m not going to turn you in.” She picked herself up off the wall and strode over to the young knight. “How are you doing?”
The ranch boy took in a few deep breaths, in an attempt to calm his nerves. “I-I’m doing fine…A-A-And yourself your highness?”
“Well…I’ve been better…My father doesn’t want me to leave the castle tonight…But besides that I’m just wonderful…Thanks to you also!” She leaned forward, coming face to face on the word ‘you’ with Alec for a second, pulling her head swiftly back, and laughing to herself.
Saria finished rolling around on the ground. “Hey, Terra! I think Mr. Alec here can help you with your escort problem!”
Terra looked back to the young Kokiri and then back to Alec, a sly grin crossing her face.
“Oh…I don’t like the sound of this…” the young knight thought to himself, taking a small step back…
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The golden orange sun was starting to set in the west when Terra and Alec made their way down the dusty dirt path and toward the metal and stone gate which blocked the road heading up to the castle. In front of the two was the open gate, guarded by two castle guards on each side of the open gateway. Terra’s eyes dart toward Alec, who was walking beside her, his silence giving off that he was still nervous about being alone with the princess of Hyrule, especially on his first day in the castle. He walked stiffly, his hands stuffed deeply into his pockets; the facial expression he had painted on him even gave more evidence of his inner thoughts.
Saria had stayed behind at the castle apparently she had her own plans for that particular night, something about talking with Terra’s father, Link.
Both of the castle guards looked at the young couple which was making their way toward them down the dirt path and the open metal gate, and in unison both left their post and began making their way toward the princess and her fellow companion, who to them was still unknown.
As the two guards began to make their way toward them Terra set her plan in motion. “Here…Quickly, Give me your arm!” She whispered off to the side where Alec walked. And with one swift motion of her body she coupled arms tightly with Alec, allowing him to be her escort into Castle Town for the evening.
The soft touch of princess Terra’s arm sent shivers up his own arm and into the rest of his body. The princess’s womanly arm seemed frail compared to his. He didn’t even know is he was even allowed to be this close to the princess, for all he knew this could land in him more trouble than going into a forbidden area of Hyrule Castle. The proximity between the knight and the princess was extremely close to say the least.
Terra smiled widely up at Alec in an attempt to calm him down; although she did have to think that she had gotten closer to the new knight then she originally planned. The comforting warmth seemed to just radiate from his body, and his touch almost felt familiar, like she had known him before from some long ago dream. But she said nothing about their awkward closeness, and continued to walk, letting Alec lead her along the dry brown path to Castle Town.
“Halt!” One guard stated as the two groups met in the middle of the path “Princess, where do you think you’re going? Your father and mother didn’t want you leaving the castle.”
“I’m going to castle town…” Terra began in a stately voice, and with a tug on Alec’s muscular arm she motioned toward him, shifting the guard’s attention. “…with my knight escort.”
The guard turned to the other for guidance about what he should do, he knew that Terra wasn’t supposed to leave the castle but it was different if she had an escort with her, especially if it was a knight of Hyrule. Even though he wore the clothes of a Hylian Knight, the guard hadn’t seen this new young man around the castle. He was only responded to with an unknowing shrug from the other guard, he too not knowing what to do in the situation.
Terra began to speak again in the same stately yet sweet young woman tone. “I’m sure you will allow me to pass…If anything happens, even in castle town, my daring knight will protect me.” Once again she pulled Alec closer to herself, once again motioning the two guard’s attention toward the young knight.
Although slightly hesitant the young Alec cracked a nervous smile and nodded at both guards. Not only was he facing two guards, but also the way Terra had a hold of him made him even more nervous for his own life. He was sure that if Link or Zelda saw him this close to their daughter that they might kick him out of the castle…or worse…
The two guards moved to the sides of the smooth dirt path convinced by princess Terra’s story. They pointed down the path lead toward castle town. Both watched as Alec led Terra along toward the market, their eyes locked on the back of his skull, watching even the slightest movement he made.
As the two walked a distance away from the group Terra was the first one to break the awkward silence that had settled over the two. “Whew! That was close!” the Hylian girl let out a small giggle peaking over her shoulder at the two guards who were moving back to their guard positions next to the stone and metal gate.
“Uh…Yeah…A bit too close…” Alec responded quietly, attempting to regain some courage within himself.
Terra gave a playfully tug on Alec’s arm, which she was still holding onto and with a comedic laugh she began to speak. “Are you alright?” the princess thought it must’ve been fun getting past the two gate guards.
“Well…” Alec began, his voice returning to normal. “…unlike you, I can get into deep trouble for this!”
“Oh hush! You’ll be fine!” the princess responded, giggling happily up at Alec.
“I’m serious your highness!”
“How so, what do you think could possible happen?” Terra started, raising an eyebrow up at the knight. “…And I’d really appreciate it if you just called me Terra…don’t use all that ‘Your Highness’ stuff, it would just make me feel a lot better if people actually called me by my name.” The princess sighed, and waited for Alec’s response.
“Terra…I don’ think that taking the princess out of the castle specifically after your dad said not to is exactly the best idea…For me at least!”
The princess giggled and snapped the boy a sly grin, still thinking the entire situation was very funny. “How so Alec, enlighten me with your great wisdom?”
“Well taking into account the events of last night, I can sort of see where your father is coming from.”
“Bleh…My father thinks he always knows what’s best for me.”
Alec turned his head down to the young woman who was attached to his arm and gave her a questioning look. “Parents have knacks for that don’t they? But he is kind of right, it’s not every day when the princess of Hyrule gets kidnapped!” The ranch boy found some sort of common ground between them.
“I guess I’m just lucky that you came around when you did then! And besides, I think I’ll be fine in castle town, and with an escort I think they’ll understand…And if anything does happen, my daring knight will protect me…won’t you?” Terra once again tugged on Alec’s arm playfully, but this time laying her head against his shoulder, mocking at Alec’s nervousness.
Alec could feel his body tense up. “Uh…Y-Yes…I will…” he stuttered, attempting to act as calm as possible in front of the beautiful young Hylian princess. They soon were drawing nearer to the marketplace, the sounds of people running about growing stronger with every step.
Terra lifted her head off of Alec’s shoulder but still held on to him by his arm, deciding to ease up on the boy she was making nervous. With a smirk Terra began to talk again. “You know…I keep getting you into trouble don’t I?” the princesses smooth voice having a joking tone to it.
Letting a small smirk cross his face the young knight replied. “Yes Terra…Yes you do…”
And with that, the young pair entered the Hylian marketplace.
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“Come on! I want to show you something!”
“I-I think we should be heading back…You dad might notice you’ve been gone for too long…I don’t want to get into…”
“It’ll be fine! Come on Alec, just for a little bit!”
“It’s already past sunset…I really think…”
“Alec, Please?”
“But…”
“No but’s, come on, through this door!”
Terra pushed open the wooden door into the small colorfully lit building, holding onto Alec by the forearm dragging him along behind her. They had spent the day’s evening about the castle town market place, looking at the different shops, vendors, and attractions they would go see the next day. Terra had drug Alec along with her into castle town to act as an escort for her so she wouldn’t be sent back to the castle by the numerous patrolling guards that had been stationed since last night’s events, who had been given specific orders to return Terra if she was found outside the castle.
The young pair had entered a small colorfully lit building that was tucked away in one of the alleys just behind the main market square. Soft, yet upbeat background music was playing, being performed by a band on smooth surfaced stage that was most likely going to be preforming there during tomorrow’s celebrations. Across from the stage was a polished bar with shiny white tiles on the upper most surface for thirsty patrons to put their drinks on, and behind that were large metal keg’s fill with some sort of icy cold drink, cooled from behind by some unknown force, the glossy metal surface reflected the colorful lights about the room. Surrounding the counter was a matching set of shining metal stools, neatly arranged for the next day’s events. Small tables dotted the rest of the wooden floor about the small drink bar. Just in front of the stage was a semi-large open are void of tables or furniture, a dance floor, colorful spotlights shown down directly onto this dancing area.
Stepping down a small set of stairs Terra pulled Alec playfully behind her, still having a soft grip on his arm, her purple dress fluttering in the multicolored lights of bar. Alec in tow, the princess made her way up to the counter, awkwardly the bar was unusually empty, save for the band, Terra was expecting the place to be fuller then it was.
Alec looked around; a surprised look had taken over his face. “Oh great…I’m with Hyrule’s only princess in a bar…Great…”
“Oh this isn’t what you think…We will be perfectly fine!” Terra responded swiftly, pulling Alec closer to the bar counter with one swift tug, letting go as they drew closer.
“Is this place even open?”
“It should be…I mean I don’t see why it…” Terra began, but was cut off when a large plump man with a beard burst from a swinging door behind the bar.
“Terra!” the bartender shouted joyfully. The large man began to make his way toward the pair at the counter.
“Harwin!” Terra replied with the same amount of happiness, giving the approaching bartender a wide smile. “I’m sorry to bother you, are you closed?”
Harwin let a hearty chuckle, holding onto his belly, which seemed like it could burst from his shirt at any moment. “For you my dear, I’m always open! Come sit down my young princess!”
“Oh thank you, Harwin!” Princes Terra giggled with a smile, seating herself at the smooth bar on one of the metal stools that stood in front of it.
Looking back she motioned to Alec to come take a seat next to her. With some hesitance Alec pulled himself onto the seat next to the elegant young woman in purple. As he sat his nervousness began to melt away, like white snow on the first warm spring day, the soft music helping to ease his spirits.
Harwin leaned across the smooth tile counter, and darted his eyes between the two who were sitting at his bar. “So Terra, who is his handsome young man you’ve dragged into my place…It’s not like you to bring a boy with you to my establishment, especially at this hour!” He gave a playful wink to the young girl.
Terra placed her elbows on the smooth counter and folded her hands under her chin, resting her head against them. She slightly turned red at Harwin’s comment, be proceeded to explain anyway. “His name is Alec…My knight escort for the day!”
“Alec huh…the name sounds familiar…”
“He is Malon’s son Harwin! He worked at the ranch! Most likely without him you would’ve run out of business!” Terra stated loudly, obviously happy to show off Alec to her bartender friend.
“Wait…” Alec interjected swiftly, confused by the context of the conversation “…What do you mean run out of business?”
“This is a milk bar son!” Harwin shouted proudly, placing is hands on his belly once again. “And I have to say it’s finally nice to meet ya boy, your family back at Lon Lon Ranch sure do know how to raise some good milk cows!”
Terra leaned over to Alec’s ear. “I told you it would be fine.” She whispered with a laugh and moved herself back over the milk bar counter.
“Anyway, it’s finally nice to meet ya boy!” Harwin reached over and ruffled Alec’s dark brown hair with his fat plump hand.
“Same to you Mr. Harwin.” Alec replied politely, giving the bartender a slight nod.
“If you’ll excuse me I’ll be right back…I’m going to grab you kids some drink glasses so you can enjoy a beverage while we talk, excuse me.” And with that statement the large man walked back through the swinging door behind the bar.
“I told you it would be alright Alec, I told you!” Terra said slyly, giving her escort a smirk.
Alec chuckled and pivoted his head to look at the blonde Hylian girl. “You had we worried for a second Terra…”
And for a moment the pair fell into a momentary silence…The only sounds coming from the still practicing band…
“Hey…Alec?” Terra began, her tone switched from happy to sounding almost ashamed of something.
“Uh…Yes, Your high- …I mean Terra?” Alec stuttered, surprised by the abrupt change in Terra voice.
“Listen…I want to say sorry for everything…I’m sorry for dragging you around today, It wasn’t polite of me…And…” the princess stopped, deep in thought for what she was trying to say.
The young knight raised an eyebrow. “And…what?”
“…For yesterday…I mean…You could’ve been seriously hurt, even killed…It’s my fault…” Terra murmured sadly, hanging her head low. “…I stayed out in the forest too long…and didn’t keep track of time; it’s my fault it happened…”
“Hey…It’s…” the ranch boy began, but stopped to let Terra continue.
“…But if you didn’t come along…I’m not sure what could’ve happen…Thank you…And…I’m sorry.” And with a heartfelt sigh the Hylian princess finished, her head still hung low from the conversation.
Alec lifted his hand and placed it on Terra’s shoulder, causing her to look back at him. “Hey…It’s alright…And for the record…I actually enjoyed today, as hard as that is to believe. I haven’t been able to do stuff like this for as long as I can remember…”
Terra’s facial expression quickly changed back to its usual happiness as she listened to Alec talk. Awkwardly she felt comforted listening to him talk; it calmed her down and somehow made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
“…And well…” Alec attempted to gain enough courage to continue with what he was about to say, his face slightly turning red. He ran his fingers back through his hair, in an attempt to calm himself down. “…I can’t say I’ve done stuff like this with such a beau…”
Harwin the bartender burst forth from the swinging door with a loud sound of wood impacting wood. In his hand he held two large metal mugs filled to the brim with ice cold milk. The new sounds shifted Alec’s attention away from Terra and to the noisy bartender.
“…Such a what?” Terra whispered nervously, her teeth chattering for what Alec was about to say, placing her soft hand on Alec’s arm, regaining Alec’s attention, who was already red as a cherry. Her body felt like jelly, something about Alec’s kind words hit her directly in the nerves.
“Oh…Uh…Never mind…” the young knight blurted, rubbing the back of his head and looking away from the princess and down at the ground.
Terra watched as Alec slowly turned away from her. She knew what Alec was about to say and even though she didn’t know what to think…she too was turning red…
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Knight Alec and Princess Terra walked through the large stone halls of Hyrule Castle, the princess’s arm wrapped around her escorts. Both wore large smiles across their faces, both slightly red, but yet neither said anything to each other as they walked down the corridors inside the castle. The only sounds came from their feet as they gracefully walked on the smooth stone floor beneath them. A soft moonlight came in through the open windows, the only light in the castle.
They had since returned from the Market and the Milk Bar, the moon was now on its upward path in the starry summer night sky. Losing track of time neither was sure on how long they stayed at the milk bar and talk with each other and plump bartender Harwin.
Alec stopped as they came to a T in the grey stone hall. “Here is where we part Terra. Your room is that way.” The young knight said softly, in an attempt not to wake anyone.
Removing her arm from Alec’s the princess took a few small steps away and turned back to the handsome young knight. “Hey…” She began, talking as softly as she could. “…Thank you for coming with me today…It was nice to have a friend with me…And…” Terra began to turn slightly red, but was unnoticeable in the dark light of the hallway.
Alec stood still and waited for a response from the beautiful young woman.
“I know what you were going….” She paused, rethinking her words. “…I think tomorrow we should do it again!” Terra finished swiftly, turning away and starting down the stone hallway toward her bedroom.
Alec slowly watched as Terra vanished into the darkness of Hyrule Castle…And soon he too turned and began to walk…