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Chapter Text

The Lost Woods were a place of many a fable, stories of how those who entered therein would become naught but Stalfos, or worse, if they were not a Child of the Forest. The Kokiri were a peculiar race, stuck perpetually in the bodies of children, but possessed of a maturity far behind their physical age. And a cruel, disturbingly wicked nature at times, but were not children capable of surprising callousness?

Guarded by the Great Deku Tree, the Kokiri lived their lives in peaceful isolation from the rest of Hyrule, to the point where a majority thought them little more than myth. But, there was one who was raised amongst them who was most unusual, even for a Kokiri. For you see, he never was one to begin with.

Blue eyes scanned the surrounding woods as he strolled along the path, subtle differences between trees and even the leaves rather apparent to one such as he. For while he was a Hylian, a Child of the Goddesses rather than the Forest, Link was still more familiar with Kokiri Forest and the Lost Woods than anyone who lived outside the former’s borders.

“Not even the trees are the same…” he muttered beneath his breath and hastened his steps once the sound of running water reached his ears. Running water meant a stream, or perhaps a river. And that meant fish, hopefully. He could use some food, the village he’d stopped in the other day was unfortunately not able to spare much, what with the winter having just ended.

It had been a little over a month since his arrival in this new land, Jugdral, according to the few denizens that had been willing to talk to a foreigner. The way of life was not very different from his native Hyrule of course, nor were the bandits any smarter than the ones back home. After he’d dispatched the first two with his bare hands without so much as a scuffed cheek, one would think the others would have turned and fled.

That turned out to not be the case however, and Link suppressed a grin when he recalled the flabbergasted face of the last ruffian. He had some brains at least, and swiftly surrendered after watching the axe of his friend break upon the Hylian Shield. That was an expression he never quite tired of seeing, the slack-jawed horror and incredulity once weapons broke upon the enchanted steel of his trusty shield.

The path opened up into a sizable clearing after a moment more, and Link quietly scoped around for an ideal spot to sit and fish. It wouldn’t do to sit too close to the water, the sight of him would scare away anything that could be caught, but too far away risked not being able to snag his catch in time… There, that spot would be just fine.

Out of all the pastimes he’d come across in his travels, Link hadn’t expected fishing to be the one that he fell in love with the most. Oh sure, archery and horses were a great joy to the Hero of Time, but there was something about the relaxation that fishing brought… The relaxing sound of the water as it flowed, chirping birds and bugs in the woods around him, even the crunch of sticks and leaves underfoot was something he enjoyed… Wait just a moment.

“Excuse me? But by who’s leave are you in my father’s forest?”

The blue-eyed man was fairly certain that a young woman wasn’t part of his average fishing experience. With an arched brow he turned and could not fully suppress the hitch in his breath at the sight of her, nor did he fail to notice how she seemed taken aback as well. His first thought was to wonder how he’d only heard her when she was practically right on top of him. The second… Was a very traitorous idea that she was even more beautiful than the Princess. Something that would remain unspoken… At least, anywhere that Zelda could hear of it, of course.

“... I suppose no one’s. My apologies, I wasn’t aware that these woods belonged to anyone in the first place.” Link muttered before he stood to his feet, and allowed a small smirk to form when a blush stole across her face and she glanced away. “If it helps, I haven’t technically started fishing yet, so I’m not sure I’ve broken any rules…”

If the way those violet eyes slowly narrowed was any indication, she was not buying such a shoddy defense. Not that he expected it to work, of course. “Ignorance of the law is not an excuse for breaking it, I’ll have you know. But, well… Your garb is not of this land, tell me. Where do you hail from?” The curiosity in her gaze was undeniable, and the burning desire to question exactly why his ears were pointed was clear on her face. 

“A land known as Hyrule, my lady. It’s quite far from Jugdral, and I’ve only been a traveler here for around a month. I do apologize for any unintended offense, but a man has to eat.” Those very same ears that attracted her attention so twitched and caused a slight grimace to spread across Link’s face, and with narrowed eyes he glanced into the canopy of trees above. It wouldn’t be long now…

“Hyrule? I’ve never heard of such… A place… Do you hear something?” The young woman asked, a tinge of nerves in her tone as she slowly realized the utter lack of noise around them. Bugs, birds, even the air as it moved through the leaves… All was silent save the running water. 

“Yeah. I hear Skulltula’s moving above us. Do not move from where you are, I’m going to bait them out. And I’ll try to save the little escort you had as well.” Link turned and drew the Master Sword from the scabbard on his back, no heed paid to the sudden intake of breath once the lass turned and found not a single sign of the small group of men that had accompanied her here.

With a chilling rattle that sounded more like a pale imitation of laughter, the first Skulltula dropped from the trees with fangs spread wide. He almost snorted as Goddess-forged steel slammed right into the open jaw and burst through the brain, but that would take time that he truly did not have. The creature was flung off of his blade with ease that bordered on contempt, just in time to bisect another that had attacked from the rear.

The nest was angry now, not expecting their prey to fight back and kill two of their own. The Hylian Shield was soon covered in green blood as he lashed out with his off-hand, suddenly very glad that Nabooru had taken the time to teach him the ins and outs of using it as a very deadly blunt weapon. 

A shriek from his left snapped him from the trance of battle, and Link ducked underneath a twitching corpse after it was sent flying right over his head and into the brook. ‘Magic?’ Blue eyes turned and widened ever so slightly when the girl from before drew a horizontal line in the air before her, and loosed a hoarse shout full of power .

“ Arcthunder! ” 

A sharp, yellow blast of lightning shot forth and ripped apart the handful of Skulltula’s that had advanced after he’d slain the first two, and he wondered just how potent her spells could be as limbs and blood alike were cast into the air. She clutched a tome to her breast and gestured with her index and middle fingers, face pale and fear plain to see, but… 

She was fighting. Scared? Yes. Probably going to have a mild panic attack once this was over? Certainly. Helpless? Backed into a corner by terror and unwilling to stand against it? Perish the thought . 

A wolfish grin broke out on his face at her display, and Link tore his way through the nigh-endless horde to reach the girl before they could overrun her. The skittering and clicking of legs and mandibles was the worst part of dealing with a nest if it was allowed to grow as big as this one, and he wondered just how long it would be until she stopped jumping at shadows after today. It had taken him weeks to get over a newfound case of Arachnophobia after the fight with Gohma, hopefully hers wouldn’t be so bad…

The Master Sword cut through flesh and hardened carapace with ease, and he almost didn’t notice when he buried it up to the hilt in the brains of the last Skulltula. At least, the last one on the forest floor. He took his eyes off the impossibly-dense webs that were strewn throughout the trees above, and turned his attention to his companion for a moment. 

“Hey. Look at me. Not these things on the ground, look at me.”

With blood on her knees and more than one strand of silk wrapped around her waist, the lavender-haired young woman obeyed without a second thought. The calm, firm tones of his voice helped of course, they always had whenever Link was faced with the prospect of calming someone down after their first encounter with monsters such as these.

“You did good, very good in fact. Not many people could move past the fear to fight back the way you did. Did you walk here, or ride a horse?” He knew the answer of course, but getting a response out of her was more important at the moment. Link allowed himself a small smile when she shakily pointed to the path to her left, and a brown mare with white spots trotted into view, with small patches of green blood around its hooves. “Well, looks like you’re not the only one who got into a scrap today.”

A deep, rumbling hiss reached his ears, and the very air around them seemed to shake as an enormous shape slowly appeared in the webs above. “That’s the Queen right there, you don’t want to be here when she drops. Get on your horse and ride . Do not stop for anything, I don’t care what you hear, what you see, ride . Once I’m done with her, I’ll work on getting your escort down from the trees. Got it?”

Oh he could almost taste the rage that rolled off the Skulltula Queen, and if the way her hands clamped themselves over her mouth, she did too. “What’s your name?” Link asked with a deceptively casual tone, and rolled his shoulders after he helped her mount the increasingly-anxious horse. “Mine name’s Link, if it helps. Normally I try to introduce myself before I save a young lass from beasts like these, but even the monsters are getting more and more impolite these days.”

A half-mad chuckle escaped her, and she swallowed the lump of fear in her throat once the reins were in her grip. “I-Ishtar. Ishtar of House Friege. I… I will be waiting outside the forest for you, I still have to decide your punishment for attempting to fish here, after all.”

His lips spread in a wry grin and he shook his head, turning to face the enormous spider once the newly-named Ishtar could no longer be seen. Link regarded the jet-black, venom-slick fangs of the matriarch with a casual air, as if fighting a creature the size of a two-story home was an everyday occurrence. 

“Between the two of us, I think the chances of her actually punishing me are almost non-existent, if I had to be honest with you.” he said, as if the beast before him could actually respond. Oh sure, he had no doubts of its ability to understand him, but monsters capable of legible speech were few and far between. And those were the truly dangerous ones…

With a shout, he rolled under an initial lunge and bit back a curse when the Skulltula proved too fast to catch with a rising slash. Hylian and Spider slowly paced around the clearing, twitching fangs and eyes full of hatred focused completely on the one who had dared to slaughter her children so. The girl from before would perish as well… But this one , this one would be left to rot, woven tight in silk and forced to watch while she rebuilt her colony. 

A hiss that chilled the very air reached his ears, and Link met the charge head-on with his shield raised and the Master Sword gleaming. The enchanted steel sang after a flick of his wrist saw a foreleg severed, and blood stained the Blade of Evil’s Bane after one of the numerous emerald eyes were put out with a thrust.

Sadly it was unable to end the Skulltula’s life, but he always did have a habit of forgetting just how durable they could be once they reached this stage in their life. A grunt escaped after a desperate jab with a limb impacted his gut and knocked him back several feet, and Link froze when the Queen turned and bolted down the path he’d taken to arrive here in the first place.

The same path that led outside the forest, the one Ishtar was on. 

Snarling, the Hylian sheathed his blade and slung the bloodstained shield onto his back before giving chase. With the loss of a foreleg the Skulltula would not be quite as fast, but fear and malice lent it a speed greater than his own. As it slowly widened the gap and threatened to truly outpace him, Link clicked his tongue in annoyance and called upon one of his more… Strange abilities. One that had only been discovered and mastered the year before, in fact.

Never before had she been so scared in her life. Not even the nightmares when she was a young girl left her this frazzled, though that could be forgiven. It was one thing to dream of monsters straight out of fairy tales and legends, it was another one entirely to be confronted by a swarm of them! And horrible, demonic spiders , no less! 

Ishtar fought down the urge to look behind her once the rumbling grew louder and the sounds of a truly enormous beast confronting the man in green echoed down the trail, but even in the midst of her terror, the urge to lend him what aid she could persisted. It just didn’t feel right to leave him alone to face such a thing… 

Then the beast appeared at the far end of the road, and all thoughts of riding to his rescue perished. Much like she would if it caught her. Her steed did not need to be told twice, and the descendent of Thrud very nearly fell from the saddle after Sleipnir redoubled her speed. The mare had been a loyal, faithful companion over the last three years, and Ishtar dearly hoped that there were more to follow. 

… Which might not be, if her eyes were not deceiving her, and the spider truly was gaining ground. With one arm wound tightly about the horse’s neck, reins gripped in white-knuckled desperation, Ishtar began to fling blast after blast of Elthunder at her pursuer, wishing that she had listened to that urge in the back of her mind and packed Thoron instead. Never again would she roam the lands underprepared, that was certain.

If the creature, a Skulltula? Was affected by her attacks, it did not show it. Lightning crackled and danced over its skin, and the white thorax bounced into view once or twice thanks to the uneven nature of the path. The white visage of a pained, malformed, screaming skull stole what little color her face had left, and she wondered if her family would ever see her again. 

Just then, as if her day hadn’t been bad enough, a flash of gold to her left drew her eyes away from the approaching spider, and Ishtar wanted to scream in helpless frustration. A gleaming, golden, crimson-eyed wolf was effortlessly keeping pace with Sleipnir, and drifted closer by the second. Only… It looked as if it was more focused on her assailant than her.

With a feral snarl, the wolf leaped directly at the Skulltula, and began to savage the remaining forelegs and face with razor-sharp fangs, claws, and powerful swipes of its paws. A bestial hiss chilled her to the bone, but what occurred next rid her of the icy grip of fear. And allowed confusion, awe, and incredulity to take its place.

A flash of light obscured the wolf after the arachnid horror flung it to the ground and pinned it, and a sword swept out to sever three long, skittering limbs on the beast's right flank. That same man whom she’d found at the water’s edge thrust up with his shield-arm, and wedged the stupendously-durable steel inside the maw of the creature. Then, with a cry that was higher in pitch than Ishtar had expected, he pulled his legs in and kicked the Skulltula onto its back.

She stared with a slack jaw when the green-garbed man pounced onto the exposed underbelly with a shroud of energy around his sword, and watched him cleave it, and many surrounding trees, in two. 

The orange flames that had erupted from his blade did not burn leaf nor bark, and with wary curiosity, Ishtar approached her savior after he’d removed the spider’s head from its body.

“... Are such transformations common in this… Hyrule, of yours?” she was in a state of shock right now, and they both knew it, but by the Gods she was going to get what answers she could before the events caught up to her. A low, quick chuckle was her reply at first, and he muttered something under his breath after retrieving his shield from the spider’s corpse.

“No. No they are not, and you’ll be glad to know that these aren’t either. Very rarely do Queens emerge from any given Skulltula hive, but they’ve been a little more frequent than I’d like them to be. That is to say, this is the fifth one I’ve killed, and I’d have been quite happy with never seeing even one of them.”

As if on cue, the body blackened and disappeared in a puff of smoke, and left more than one pulsing organ behind. Ishtar blanched when Link knelt down and began to sift through the remains, and openly gagged once he’d stuffed an odd-shaped sack into a pouch at his waist. How such a thing fit was beyond her, but that was the least of her worries right now. 

“I… I see. You said something about freeing my escort, did you not? Does that mean they’re still alive-”

She almost screamed when the first man fell from the canopy above and landed on top of Link, but it was when the second slowly, almost comically so, slid down the trunk of a tree that Ishtar started to rub at her eyes and hoped that this was all a fever-dream. Gods… Though, she would admit, Link’s indignant squawk of protest when the final three fell on him as well was rather amusing…

It had taken some doing, and open bafflement at the contents of the pouch that was belted to his waist, but they had managed to tie two of the five men assigned as her guard on Sleipnir’s back. True, it did mean she had to walk and guide her horse instead of having it done for her, but complaining about such a thing was the last thing on her mind. Only one of them had managed to regain consciousness, and even then he had to lean on Ishtar rather strongly for a little while after they started back towards Friege Castle. 

Link, without complaint, had literally shouldered the remaining men still in the throes of the venom-induced slumber, and showed no signs of strain despite the armor and equipment they bore. Hogun, the only man who had managed to awaken, offered to help lighten his burden once they left the forest proper and his strength returned, but it was an offer that was refused. 

Reins in hand, Ishtar made no secret of the pensive expression on her face as they rounded a hill and her home came into view. It was convenient, quite so, that a man with such strange abilities and impressive battle prowess, not to mention his knowledge regarding the spiders they had encountered, was in the very same forest she had gone to investigate. Too convenient, one might say.

‘I don’t think Ishtore will ever let me go out on my lonesome again, however. Gods, I’m already tired of the overprotectiveness that’s sure to come once he finds out what happened.’ Ishtar loved her brother, truly. He was a wonderful friend and an exceedingly helpful mentor whenever she encountered a struggle in her arcane studies, but the eldest scion of Bloom could be a bit too much of a worrywart at times.

And, as if summoned by her thoughts, a horse bearing a man with a very familiar shade of silver hair and distinct armor came into view, much to the delight of Hogun and his now-conscious fellows. They still did not have the strength to walk just yet, but Ishtore had several mounted men in his company, and riding with a companion certainly beat being carried by a blonde, blue-eyed, oddly-dressed stranger.

“Ishtar! I was getting worried about you, dear sister. I’d managed to convince father to allow me to take a small group to aid you but… It seemed there was no need.”

Sharp grey eyes roamed over the six who had set out from Friege a handful of hours ago, and narrowed in naked, open suspicion when they fell upon the newcomer to her party. “... I don’t quite think we make clothes like that in Friege, nor do we have hats anywhere near as fashionable as yours.”

A shudder ran down her spine at the way Link’s ears twitched and his mood visibly perked up at her brother’s words, and Ishtar all but audibly groaned when her “beloved” sibling dismounted, before he strolled over to the Hylian with a grin that she had long since learned meant trouble. Whether for herself or another, that look on Ishtore’s face never boded well. “And I’m fairly certain that swords like that don’t grow on trees. Pray tell, how exactly did you meet my sister, and why should I trust you?”

“Because he saved my life, Ishtore. Mine, and the lives of my escort as well.” A pause fell over her brother once she finished speaking, and that seemingly constant smile of his faded to a rather concerned look. “It might as well have been an ambush planned for us, with what lay in wait. Were it not for Sir Link here, I would either be dead, or wishing I was.”

“The latter, Skulltulas wait at least a day after they snag their prey before they begin eating. It would not have been a quick death, I’ll say that much.”

There was no suppressing her shudder once Link spoke up, and Thrud’s newest heir did not need to see her sibling to know his face had just lost all color. The men that had accompanied him glanced towards the forest with wary expressions, and more than one curious look towards the green-garbed Hylian. 

“So, I’m going to make an assumption that your father is a man of some renown, correct?” Ishtore slowly nodded, and all but marched his sister over to his own horse, the oft-jovial noble uncharacteristically silent until he had them both secured in the saddle of his steed. “Good, I’d rather not tell this tale more than strictly necessary.”

The ride back to Friege was one made in silence, save a few whispered comments here and there between the men, and Ishtar almost sighed in relief when they approached the gates of Castle Friege, her family’s ancestral home. The party dismounted and handed their horses off to be returned to the stables, and, much to the surprise of his youngest, Bloom was there to greet them in the courtyard.

“I’d sent a man back once I caught sight of your party to inform father of our impending return. I dare say he won’t let you leave the castle again without my presence, his own, or all the men we have available.”

Ishtore may have spoken in jest, but as he watched his father approach and noticed how his brows furrowed at the sight of dark green bloodstains around his sister’s lower body, Sleipnir’s hooves, and an inordinate amount on Link, he wondered how much truth there may have been to that statement.

“... I take it you encountered some of the beasts then, Ishtar?”

Bloom spoke in a calm, curious tone, but to the ears of those who were familiar with the man, the concern was readily apparent. At his daughter’s nodded reply, the man turned his attention to the newcomer amidst the group, and a hush fell across the courtyard. Much to Ishtar’s surprise, Link met his gaze without flinching, and all those present swore there was a growing weight, a pressure, that threatened to drive them to their knees as the staredown went on.

But at last, both parties had evidently seen enough, and broke away with a slight air of… Mutual respect? She didn’t quite know, but sighed in relief when he motioned them all forward with a wave of his hand. 

“Ishtar, Ishtore, I would like the two of you and your new friend to join me in my solar. As for your men, they are dismissed, and are free to do as they please.” 

“There wasn’t anything to be done for the village on the outskirts of the forest, but what few bodies I found were given as much respect as I could afford. The webs will have long since faded by now, they never last very long after the Skulltula Queen, or the nest if there is no Queen present, is slain.”

Bloom was now very glad he had such self-control when it came to hearing distressing news. The death of his father had been a painful blow, one that had come during a very stressful period in his life, but it was one that he had been expecting. His sister’s status as a traitor was devastating when that particular piece of information had first come to light, but it was one the Lord of Friege had been able to push through.

But to hear this man, whom he’d never seen before, much less known of, describe in painstaking detail the creatures that had haunted his lands of late, and the fate that had very nearly befallen his only daughter… Well, it took all of his self-control and discipline to keep his face calm and focused on the canvas before him. 

Link turned his attention to the sketch of the Skulltula Queen, and tore the sheet away without a word. It joined a pile that was almost up to his knees made up of other monsters and beasts that Bloom had asked him about, and the Hylian wondered if he should just assume anything and everything that had tried to take his life at one point should be added to the expansive list.

“And you’re sure that you slew them all, yes? The last thing we need is for one of those creatures to escape and restart the nest somewhere else. It could be weeks before reports reached the ears of someone who could do something about it.” The middle-aged man leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, and fixed his eldest with a concerned look.

“Ishtore… Why don’t you take your sister to the gardens for a break? The two of you look like some fresh air and a snack would do some good.”

In truth, it was the lack of color on Ishtar’s face that drove him to say such a thing, but the sight of so severe an expression on his son was… Not exactly pleasant for the proud father to deal with. The way both siblings had hardly spoken a word wasn’t helping his worry either. 

“That is… I appreciate your concern father, but I will be fine. I don’t exactly feel hungry after today’s events, to tell the truth.” Not a soul in the room believed her, but before he could open his mouth and try to press the issue, Bloom found that Link had thought of the very same argument he was about to use. 

“That’s even more of a reason to go and eat something, you know. Believe me, I know what you’re feeling right now, but your body needs energy. Especially after something as stressful as you went through. I was just about done anyway… I could join you two, if that’s alright with you?”

A rueful chuckle escaped the son of Reptor, and he waved them on with a free hand while the other started to rub at his temples. He appreciated the fact that the Hylian asked him instead of just assuming that his departure would be ok, but Bloom wondered if that was a show of manners, or if he would have even cared to listen if he did not receive the answer he wanted.

Ishtore ushered the three of them out of the room and spared a quick glance at his father before he closed the door, and led them to the gardens on the first level of the castle. Knowing that his sister would likely not eat much, a plate of bread and rolls was procured from the kitchens and carried in one hand, with a small amount of watered wine in the other. It wouldn’t do to have their senses dulled and be a poor host now, would it?

Then again, he wondered if an inability to get drunk was another secret that the Hylian had yet to reveal. After hearing about what had happened in the forest from Link and Ishtar, the mage had just about been ready to wash his hands of this mess and go to bed already. Then the part about the golden wolf had made that option all the more tantalizing, but it wouldn’t do to retreat to the sweet embrace of his mattress just yet.

Not if that meant leaving his sister around a man with whom she had ample reasons to be rather fond of. While he highly doubted any intentions of the sort existed in Link’s mind, Ishtore had played the role of spoiler for lecherous men and smooth-talking knaves far too many times at parties and balls around Jugdral to trust him to be around Ishtar without supervision just yet. 

Which, of course, was exactly why he muttered an oath under his breath and leveled a look towards the blue-eyed man once he heard Liza calling his name. The threat went unspoken, but if the tilt of his head and slow raising of his hands meant anything, it had certainly been understood. “Do try and leave some of those rolls for me, would you?”

But even as he set the plate down on the bench and made his way out of the garden, Ishtore knew that there was no hope of even one remaining uneaten for any more than a minute. They were fresh from the oven after all, there was not a soul in all the land who could prove capable of resisting such temptation. 

“He’s not gonna be mad at us for eating them all, is he?”

“If he is, then that’s his fault for not taking some with him.” Ishtar said without a shred of remorse, and Link shrugged before snatching another treat from beneath her grasp. “Will you… That is the third time you’ve done that in the last two minutes.” Brows twitched and furrowed in annoyance, and she sighed once an utterly shameless grin stole across the blond’s face. “I’ve only just met you, and I hate that look already. Gods help me.”

“Ah don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll grow to hate more than just that one.” It was oh so very refreshing to meet someone who had not grown accustomed to his more… Impish mannerisms yet, though with time Link was sure she would be just as exasperated with his sense of humor as Zelda was. “So, be honest with me. How are you feeling?”

Ishtar paused mid-bite and slowly chewed while she contemplated how to best answer his question, and sighed after swallowing. “I’m not entirely sure. Overwhelmed, I suppose, what with all the information you just gave us, and after what happened earlier. More than a little terrified of spiders, I’ll admit.” Her lips quirked in a brief smirk after a chuckle escaped Link, and she wondered how long it would take before the newfound fear faded. “And… Intensely curious. Just what is this ‘Hyrule’ of yours like? Is life there any different than here? Are hats like yours common?”

A slow, genuine little smile spread after that last question left her lips, and the Hylian made himself comfortable against the tree while the sun shined down through the clouds. “I’ll go ahead and start with the easy one. Hats like mine are only found in Kokiri Forest, where I grew up. Now, the funny thing about the Kokiri is…”

Chapter Text

In hindsight, he really should have seen this coming far before it actually happened. It didn’t require foresight like Zelda’s to have predicted this. 

Bloom had gone and asked him to stick around and train his men to dispatch the monsters that now plagued the lands of Friege, and Link had accepted without a second thought. After all, he could not be everywhere at once, and the more capable fighters to dispatch the evil beasts, the better. 

Then that had slowly become a routine for the Hylian. Wake up before the sun rose, stretch and do his routine exercises, and then head down to the kitchens for an early breakfast. Once he’d finished eating, the training yards were usually where he spent the next several hours, relentlessly drilling soldiers and barking at the mages to move faster, maintain accuracy as they chanted and focused on their spells. 

The first week of being a Captain of Friege had gone by in a blur, and Link only really noticed his new rank once he’d sat down to eat with a sore group of men. Eyes full of loathing mixed with respect bored into his back, but not even the blond’s fiercest critic could deny the results of his training. Within the first month, they’d planned, prepared, and executed a sweep of the nearby woodlands, Skuld’s Grove, slaying a growing tribe of Lizalfos and annihilating a scouting party of Moblins.

Though they had been, understandably so given what they faced, nervous over confronting beasts from legends and nightmares face to face, putting them to the sword and seeing with their own eyes that they were mortal, and died like a common bandit did wonders for their morale. Now they had confronted their new enemy, proved that it was not invincible, and walked away with a victory or two under their belt. 

But the sight of Friege’s finest knights, the Gelben Ritter , reporting early in the morning and walking away winded and sore much like they had, squashed the seeds of arrogance before they could begin to bear fruit. It had helped make the seemingly-untouchable unit more approachable to the common soldier, and a friendly rivalry soon developed between the elite cavalry and their infantry counterparts.

Of course, not everyone who was put under Link’s watchful eye appreciated his methods. 

“Damn you! How dare you make a fool of me like this!”

Ishtore sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, and wondered just how long Kempf’s bluster would last until he was finally humbled. ‘Who am I kidding, the man has an ego bigger than Jugdral for Thrud’s sake. If he could just get past that need to surpass Reinhardt, there’s no telling how far he could go.’

With a wordless shout of frustration, the ashen-haired knight readied his blade and charged once more. The enchanted steel gleamed in the sunlight as it’s wielder slashed, stabbed, and did everything in his power to land just one strike on the man in green. Link had long since allowed him to bring his personal weapon, a very… Pragmatic sword, to be sure. The poisonous properties of Kempf’s Venin Edge had soured the thunder siblings opinion on the man, but they could , reluctantly so, see his logic in using such a thing.

Of course, incapacitating your opponent with the toxin present along the edge was only possible if one could connect . And as Link flawlessly dodged, weaved, and deflected blows by means of quick strikes to the sword-arm of his sparring partner, it was a possibility that had ceased to exist. 

“I’m just wearing you out Kempf, it’s a perfectly valid strategy against several of the beasts you’ll have to face. Wolfos, for instance, are deadly during their initial offensive, but if you can survive that? Then they go down with one… Good… Hit!”

Ishtore’s brows rose and more than one low whistle echoed across the suddenly-silent arena after the overly-zealous knight lunged a tad too far, and realized his mistake once his thrust met empty air instead of the enchanted steel of the Hylian Shield. Before he could even begin to try and regroup, his legs were swept by a smooth kick, and Kempf crashed to the ground in an undignified heap.

Cheeks red with shame and embarrassment, he nevertheless accepted the outstretched hand and visibly restrained an urge to hurl further vitriol at the blue-eyed Captain. Link watched without a word as Kempf turned and headed back towards the barracks, and wondered if the other man would ever be able to truly move past his ego. There were flashes of something more from time to time, hints that he could be someone great … But so far, they remained just that. Flashes.

It had been a little over three months since his rescue of Ishtar in her great-grandmother’s forest, and while there were still a good deal many things about Jugdral that left him scratching his head, Link had adjusted fairly well to the foreign land. 

It was quite different than having Zelda as the only real authority above his head, true, but not stifling despite Bloom’s trust not extending quite as far as his fellow Triforce bearer. Reports were a more frequent thing, twice a week instead of twice a month, and Link had to restrain his urge to make some more… Inane requests. Though, after explaining the concept of “Bombs” to the skeptical lord of Friege, he had a feeling that might change fairly soon.

After Kempf had left the sparring grounds, Link easily slipped back into his routine and set his men into drills once more. Push-ups, crude practice dummies in the forms of the more humanoid creatures they would face, and target practice for those who pursued archery. Quite a few egos were broken when they could not hit the bullseye right away, and more than once was a personal correction of poor form necessary. 

But, such was to be expected when standards were as high as his. For as hilariously outclassed in magic he was in comparison to Zelda, one thing he liked to tease the royal about was, for all her effort and natural talent, he was still the better archer. It usually resulted in her slapping him with a gagging curse for the next few minutes, or suspending him by his ankles from a convenient chandelier, but it was oh so worth it . 

They showed potential though, and despite the frustration on more than one face, quitting was clearly not what anyone had in mind. And after some of the stories he’d heard about how the monsters had wiped out more than the one village, Link understood perfectly why they stuck around. Fighting to save the lives of your friends and family was one hell of a motivator.

Bwoomf


… Ah, right. He’d forgotten that the area for the more magically inclined was over in this direction. After he neatly sidestepped the next explosive fireball that had already been cast before the stunned mage could stop herself, Link quickly backed up and all but visibly slapped himself for that lapse in awareness. It wasn’t like it would have caused him any real harm of course, but the loss of his hair and, more importantly, his hat, would be a devastating blow until they both regrew.

“M-My apologies captain! I should have checked downrange more thoroughly before I started to cast-”

The young woman cut herself off once he lifted his hand and meekly stepped back, and Link sighed under his breath at the look on her face. It was like she expected him to chastise her, or worse, for his own mistake. “Don’t apologize lass, you didn’t do anything wrong. I got lost in my own head and wasn’t paying attention, that’s on me. As you were.” 

The other mage trainees sent nonplussed, deadpan looks her way after the blond turned on his heel and walked away to go check on another, less combustible part of the training yard. With a blush she went back to her practice and tried to put the near miss out of mind, but it would take some time for the young woman to get over that little accident. Now the comparisons to her brother would be even worse… And she’d started to study fire magic to avoid such a thing to begin with! The younger sister of Reinhardt sighed to herself, and wondered if she would ever leave his shadow.

“Captain! Message for you from Lord Bloom. He says you’re free to try and procure more of the materials for that… Bomb, I think?” The slow, almost crazed grin that spread across the Hylian’s face worried the poor servant something fierce, and when Link loosed a low, dark chuckle after taking the missive and walking away, he wondered if his liege lord had made a mistake.

“I don’t like him.”

Bloom merely raised a brow at his wife’s declaration, and paid it no heed, instead he chose to cut another bite off of his steak. Such a good cut of meat was to be savored, not ignored in favor of squabbles such as this, right? Surely he would be allowed to have one meal in peace?


“... And may I ask why?” 

Perhaps not, and the current wielder of Thrud's heirloom prepared himself for another "discussion" when his reply brought a familiar look to Hilda's face. ‘Well, so much for an easy, peaceful dinner. Hopefully Hilda won’t turn this into something more than a disagreement…’ Even in the confines of his own mind, Bloom knew that was a foolish notion. He had not seen it at the time, having been blinded by his newfound responsibilities and the, admittedly incredibly staggering looks of his then bride-to-be, but Hilda seemed to crave conflict.

Even in matters as petty as this. 

“You may, but a better question would be why should I like him, husband of mine. Yes, I will admit, he did save Ishtar’s life and has, so far at least, shown no signs of being anything but someone who wishes to help with our little… Problem. But that’s precisely the issue. No one, no one with strength and talents like his will truly be content to remain a Captain.”

In truth, Bloom harbored suspicions very much like those of his wife. Never had anyone in Jugdral even heard of the “Kokiri Forest”, much less “Hyrule”. How were they to be sure that this was not some plot to subvert the Empire, and place this “Zelda” on the throne of Grannvale? All they had was his word to go by. Though, in defense of Link…

“To his credit, Hilda, I highly doubt that these beasts were of Link’s design. With the fervor that he’s trained our men and the reports I’ve been given, I just cannot believe that he has some grand political scheme in mind. In fact, he reminds me of Reinhardt, to an extent.”

The famed knight of Friege had been heralded as the second coming of Thrud, such was his prowess in battle. Once the danger posed to Ishtar had been made known to him during a routine report, it had been all but impossible to pry him from his daughter’s side. And while Bloom appreciated such dedication to her safety in ways that words could not express, the man was far too valuable to let him remain as just her personal guard.

“... You have a point, I can see the similarities. But Reinhardt’s loyalty is absolute. Link, on the other hand, has no such history here with our family. I am not saying that he should be dismissed, dear husband, only that he be watched carefully. You saw how… Excited , he was, when he presented that small cache of bombs.” 

Bloom groaned and rubbed at his temples, an action which prompted a chuckle that was far too amused for his liking. When a request to procure sulfur and other materials had come in from the green-garbed Hylian, the lord of Friege had merely quirked a brow before he granted him permission. Then two weeks later, he and his inner circle, which really amounted to his family and a trusted advisor or two, had borne witness to a crazed grin as Link waxed poetic about the wonderful nature of the little blue explosive spheres.

“Don’t remind me. I swore I could feel Ishtore bouncing in his seat when he explained how they could be fired from a bow. Though, I can see how such a device would be very useful in more practical endeavors. Demolition, clearing blockages in caves and roads, even mining if it was used properly.”

“I’d mention how I’ve told you to rein that boy in, but that ship has long since sailed and we both know it.” Not that it stopped Hilda from trying to curtail her eldest and his more excitable nature, but it seemed that she had met her match when it came to stubbornness in that regard. “At least Ishtar knows how to behave… Speaking of your heir, have you found a proper match for her yet?”

Bloom leveled a look at his wife once those words slipped past her lips, and the dark-haired woman huffed before returning to her meal. The topic of arranging a marriage for their only daughter had been one that Mjölnir’s wielder had not looked forward to in the slightest, not that it was one that could be avoided. In his own mind, there was none worthy of Ishtar’s hand, but that was not practical nor feasible for the future of their house.

“No. At the very least, I have not found a man that would be suitable for the both of us.” What few politically and socially viable marriages that could potentially be arranged were to nobles that did not even remotely approach being someone he wanted to wed his daughter to, for one reason or the other. True, one could never truly say that Bloom was the kindest of men, and he would readily agree. To survive and thrive in this landscape had rendered such a thing almost impossible, unless you were a charismatic genius like Emperor Arvis. But that did not mean he wanted to see a lout like Dannan’s son anywhere near Ishtar.

“Well, she cannot be kept here forever, much as I know you may wish otherwise. Ishtar will only be seen as a more and more desirable potential bride as she grows, Bloom. Especially once you begin training her to properly wield Mjölnir .” 

A prospect that he both dreaded, yet looked forward to. On one hand, that would mean he could no longer keep her safe from the wider world that was out there, and meant that the day where she would be married was on the horizon. On the other, it was something that his own father, Reptor, had clearly enjoyed doing with him when he was about Ishtar’s age. The chance to do the same with his own child was something Bloom had looked forward to for years…

“I know. Gods help me, but I know. Truth be told, I’ve wondered if it would be possible to somehow have her remain at Friege when Lord Arvis celebrates his birthday. But that’s foolish to even consider. Ishtore will be bringing Liza, I think Reinhardt might make an appearance if he’s done clearing out the areas around Conote…”

Hilda arched a brow as her husband’s mind almost visibly turned in the direction of who he could trust with his daughter at the upcoming party, and she sighed after she stood from the small table in Bloom’s solar. “Do try not to hurt yourself, dear. If I have to explain to the Emperor that one of his most powerful lords could not make it because he overtaxed himself while thinking , the embarrassment alone might just kill me.”

Storm-gray eyes glanced out the window once his wife strolled out the door, and he began to cross names off of a list in his mind. Before he shuddered, and repressed an instinctive urge to send Kempf to Verdane for the rest of his life. “I’d rather hand her off to Sigurd of Chalphy than that lout…”

Sometimes, he looked up at the sky and wondered what he did to deserve this. Hadn’t he served Hyrule enough to earn a break here and there, to avoid such a horrendous fate? It was as if the Goddesses cared little for their chosen hero…


“Link. It is a ball, not your execution. The faster you wipe that look off of your face and cooperate with the tailor, the faster you’ll be done with this.”

He leveled a glare towards an utterly unphased Ishtar, and sighed before allowing the unperturbed-woman to continue taking his measurements. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Ishtar. I’ve been to a ball or two that certainly felt like an execution, if you looked at the faces of the people there.”

Bloom’s youngest merely raised a brow at his comment, and allowed that thought to further cement her resolve to interrogate him about his homeland one of these days. Preferably sooner rather than later, but there would be plenty of time to corner the surprisingly-reclusive Hylian. For as friendly and charismatic as he could be, Link had only provided a minimal amount of information regarding Hyrule. 

Whether that was due to some unknown agenda, perhaps an order from this “Zelda” to maintain secrecy when traveling abroad? Or just not seeing it as relevant/forgetting it entirely mattered little in her eyes. Ishtar’s curiosity had been roused, and it would not be sated with anything less than long, thoroughly detailed answers.

“Well, I can assure you that it has been decades since blood was spilled at a ball my friend, much less one meant for the Emperor’s birthday. Everyone will be too busy sucking up to Lord Arvis to bother fighting with each other to that extent, and even if things looked like they might break down anyway… His majesty is an excellent speaker, and can soothe even the most fragile of egos.”

Ishtore, in contrast to the only blond in the room, looked as happy as one could be. A deep purple coat was carefully folded over his left arm, and a maroon undershirt stood out beneath a black, finely-woven tunic. “Though, given how much nobles love their petty squabbles, I wouldn’t be surprised if they try and start something despite his presence.”

A gold trim lined his clothing and boots, symbolizing the thunder magic for which Friege was famed for no doubt. Link idly wondered if all the families in Jugdral descended from the legendary crusaders, heroes revered almost like gods it seemed, had their own colors and fashions for events like this. 

“That depends on how well mother behaves herself, brother mine. You know how much she loves drama.” 

Ishtore winced at his sister’s words, and rubbed at his chin before he walked over to inspect Link more closely. “Hmm… I’m not sure our traditional colors would be a good fit for you, my friend. Perhaps something lighter? Our house has used blues on occasion, correct?”

Ishtar furrowed her brows and almost seemed repulsed at his question, but sighed under her breath when the tailor finished measuring the blue-eyed man and motioned for her to take his place. “In the past, yes. Every so often House Friege deigns to wear hues more associated with the beauty of the blue skies and the majesty of lightning, instead of the more intimidating, regal black, gold, and purples. However, I believe Link would look dashing in black to be quite honest. I dare say that he might have to worry about unwelcomed suitors more than I.”

"Ishtar, I was being serious.” Replied her brother in a deadpan tone, before he pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. “Never mind. Madam Estrid, are you finished with our Hylian friend?” 

Estrid, a middle-aged woman with greying hair and sharp brown eyes, grunted in reply to Bloom’s eldest without taking her eyes off of Ishtar. “He’s done. I’ll have somethin’ for ‘im in time fer his majesty’s party, don’t you worry. Now shoo, the lass has grown some since I last made a dress and I ain’t gon’ let no men be in the room fer what I have to do to make sure it’ll fit right.”

With a bemused expression, Link shook his head and headed for the door with Ishtore on his heels after Estrid wordlessly motioned for them to leave once she had finished speaking. 

“... You are going to put him in black, right?” Ishtar asked in a concerned tone, and pretended not to acknowledge the flush once the brown-eyed woman chuckled and gave her a knowing glance. “H-He has to match with the rest us, after all, and if he stood out with something lighter-”


“Ah don’t ya worry yer pretty little head, Lady Ishtar. I’ll make sure he looks good for you.” Even after her blush spread and the shorter woman went to work with mirth clear in her eyes, Ishtar couldn’t help but want to protest. She really was only asking out of concern for how Link would blend in with the rest of their house, but that was a flimsy defense and she knew it.


‘Ishtore… I would have thought you knew me well enough to realize that I was being serious. Then again…’ Ishtar allowed her mind to wander while Estrid worked her magic, and just barely suppressed her blush from growing even more after picturing what the blond would look like after the highly-skilled tailor was done with him. ‘Perhaps I will be the biggest danger he faces that day.’ 

“So, what is it that you want?” 

Ishtore did not deign to answer the question at first, and snickered when his companion sighed in response to his silence. Truly, he was oh so glad that Link had agreed to stay in Friege after saving his sister. The man was gifted with an impish enough sense of humor to play along with his more whimsical moods, yet was more than capable of being just the perfect blend of exasperated and bemused as well. 

“... Normally, I might just have let you guess and see if you could come up with the answer, but this is a bit too important for me to have fun with. So, being that the two of us are such manly, trustworthy men,” he began, and paid no heed to LInk’s snort after Ishtore threw an arm over his shoulder, “brothers in all but blood, I think that I can trust you with this. It is a matter of utmost importance, so I pray that you’ll bear with me discussing it in private.”

Bloom’s eldest steered him into one of the many rooms that littered Friege’s castle halls, and dropped his friendly expression in favor of something decidedly more serious. “I do not need to tell you of Lord Arvis’ upcoming birthday celebration, nor of just how serious all of Grannvale is taking such a matter. This is a chance for everyone who is anyone to make a name for themselves, or increase their standing. More than a few unsavory characters will be present, and I cannot pay attention to all of them all the time.”


A blond brow arched once Ishtore had taken a seat at the small table with a map of Jugdral on display, and Link waited for the young man to take a slow breath before he seated himself to his right. “Allow me to guess at what it is you would like me to do, if I may. I’m more than certain that your father has either put you up to this, or is in full agreement with what you have in mind. And unless I’m terribly mistaken, the two of you would like me to be Ishtar’s date for this event, right?”

Ishtore blinked once, twice, thrice in momentary surprise, before a low chuckle slipped out and he shook his head in wry amusement. “Precisely, my perceptive friend. My own darling Liza, while far superior to many women who seem content to rest on the laurels of their titles, is not quite of high-enough standing to ward away unwanted suitors without causing an incident. And even though that is the perfect excuse to spend all my time with her, it leaves Ishtar without a sharp set of eyes watching for her.”


Link leaned back in his chair and allowed himself a mental image of what exactly the lavender-haired young woman would do to any man foolish enough to try pressing her, and could not suppress a wince at what his mind conjured. “I see you’ve had that thought as well,” Ishtore said in a dry tone, “which is also part of the reason why we ask such a thing. While you are still quite new to Jugdral, word of you has spread to the other provinces and duchies of Grannvale. You see, Friege is not the only place beset by these beasts.”


“We have had reports from Velthomer, Dozel, Yngvi, Edda, Chalphy… Thrud’s sake, it seems as if the only place that has been spared is Orgahil. And even then, no one knows if that is the case, or if there are simply no survivors to tell of any attacks to begin with.” 

… Link’s brows furrowed while Ishtore spoke and pointed out each and every location that had faced an assault. He didn’t even want to imagine how many had lost their homes and lives to the monsters that now seemed to infest this land. “And I suspect that the Emperor would like to see if Friege’s success, relatively speaking so far, can be replicated, I presume?”


When Ishtore nodded, the Hylian wordlessly pulled the map closer and stroked his chin. He knew precious little about the political environment of Jugdral, and even less about the regions that could use his help. And while he was practically an unstoppable force against the dark beasts, LInk was only one man. He could not be everywhere to defend everyone at once. 

“... I just have one question about this party, if you don’t mind.” Bloom’s eldest raised a brow and motioned for him to continue, and the blonde allowed himself a tiny little smirk. “If Kempf is there, will I have to play nice with him or…”


Ishtore did not quite manage a response with words, but his laughter was all the answer he needed.

Chapter Text

“Was that the last of them?” 

A tall, grizzled man grunted before he jerked his spear free of the scaly beast's head, and wiped sweat and blood from his brow. “Gods above, Eric, I sure hope so. These bastards just keep coming and coming -” 

A wet, strangled gurgle was the last noise the man ever made, and the younger soldier’s eyes widened at the sight of an arrow bigger than his hand jutting out of his captain’s throat. The sound of hooves quickly reached the ears of everyone left alive in the small clearing, and as one they paled when a flash of dark-grey skin was seen through the gaps between trees. 

“Fuck! It just had to be one of the white-maned ones, didn’t it?!” Screamed an archer to the left, who was split in two down the middle from a casual swing as the beast galloped by. Their group was only seven men now, and even if they had the same number of 25 they left with… It would not change a thing. 

Eric turned and ran in a mindless panic, all thoughts of his comrades lost in the primal fear that pumped through his veins. He wasn’t cut out for missions like this! Why had he ever agreed to go on a survey of the forest in the first place?! Behind him, the slaughter of the remaining six men plagued his ears and made his heart sink, but turning back was not an option, it wasn’t even considered . 

‘Gotta get out, gotta get out! Lord Bragi! If I live through this I swear I’ll join the priesthood! I’ll do whatever you ask of me, just let me live!’ And for a few moments, the terrified young man could hear naught but the sound of his blood as it thundered through his ears, his pace having only increased during his frantic prayer. 

But he knew better than to stop running. One thing that a vast majority of Jugdral had learned over these past few months was this: just because you can’t hear those beasts does not mean that it’s safe. It didn’t take long for the sound of those hooves to reach his ears once more, and if he had the energy to do so, Eric might have cried.

An arrow tore through his lower leg, and a pained sob burst forth when he landed harshly on the ground. The beast was just behind him now, a massive shadow looming like the spectre of death itself while he tried to feebly crawl away. 

As he lay there on the forest floor, right leg ruined and bleeding horribly from the thigh down, Eric wished that he had spent more time with his family. His mother had been so good to him, and his father sacrificed much to send him off to the military school in Velthomer. Gods, what a waste that turned out to be. What he would give to hug them both one last time, to tell them how much he appreciated everything they did for him over the years…

“ Begone .”

A chance that he may still have, it seemed. Flames roared into life above his head and blasted the vile creature away from his prone form. Armored boots stepped into his fading view, and even as delirious from pain and blood loss as he was… He still knew one thing.


“Hang in there, son. I’ll handle things from here.”


The Emperor protects.

Arvis allowed a small sigh of relief as a green glow washed over the soldier behind him, and idly wondered if this was all that was left of the small company sent out to inspect the surrounding villages. ‘A mere 25 men… If all we faced were those small, green-skinned wretches, that might have been enough.’ 

Red eyes turned from the sight of a Physic staff warding off death for the unconscious young man, and onto the burnt, angry, lion-like beast before him. “Still in fighting shape, are you? I’m surprised. It isn’t too often that you louts survive a blast of Elfire like that.” His tone belied the anger that coursed through his veins, a fury that burned hotter than the hellfire at his command even. Arvis did not know where these things had come from, or why they had appeared to begin with, but he supposed it did not matter in the end. After all, the hell he planned to send them to cared not for the origins of those who dwelt there.

With an ear-splitting roar, it charged towards Fjalar’s heir with fury etched into its face. Arvis loosed a derisive snort, before he raised his left arm towards the sky and snapped his fingers. “ Volcanon. ” 

Deep crimson lines burst into being before the red-haired man, and the white-maned beast seemed to realize what was about to happen. But even though it slowed admirably, and did a very fine job in preparing to charge to his right flank, it was all for naught. A veritable fountain of magma and super-heated rock exploded from beneath the creature, and without even so much as a pained roar it was turned to ash. 

Valflame’s wielder sighed before he dismissed the remnants of his attack, and turned to find a Bishop knelt over the young soldier whom he had saved. “Will he make it, Felipe?” Arvis trusted his personal attendant more than perhaps anyone in the world, even his beloved Deirdre at times, but there was only so much that the man could do.


“... Yes,” the older man answered after several seconds, “but I am not sure if he will ever be fit for combat ever again. The wounds of his body can be healed, in fact I believe steady usage of a Mend staff should restore him to peak condition, but the wounds of the mind will be harder to heal. I dare say he’s seen things that he won’t be able to forget any time soon.”

“We all have, these days. From what reports I’ve received from all around Grannvale, indeed, the whole of Jugdral, these monsters have spared no region from their assault.” Crimson eyes turned away from Felipe once the unconscious soldier’s breath evened out, and intensely scanned the nearby brush. “... Gunnar.”


“My liege?” As if he appeared from the very air, a straw-haired man stepped forward with a Silver Lance in one hand, stained with black blood, and a finely-crafted shield in the other. 

“Have the Roten Ritter found any more beasts so far?” Arvis was oh so very glad he had heeded that feeling in his gut once he had caught wind of the meager company sent out to survey the land, and mobilized his knights with all haste. If he had delayed even a moment longer… 

“Some, my lord. Mostly those strange skeleton knights, several oddly-hostile bats, and a few of those bipedal, grey-skinned lizards. I myself dispatched a handful of them before I regrouped with my men.” Gunnar spoke with an almost unnerving calm, as if this was an everyday occurrence for the Halberdier. 

“On your lonesome? You continue to impress me, Gunnar. Perhaps I should give you that promotion to Major…” The Emperor made a show of stroking his chin, and paid no mind to the brief flash of despair that crossed the former farm-hand’s face. “Then again, that might take you out of the field for longer than I can truly afford to spare you.”


“... Your majesty, permission to speak candidly?” Gunnar asked with a long-suffering tone, and Arvis smirked before he motioned the younger man to continue. “Thank you, sir. Lord Arvis, please don’t make me have to be one of them paper-pushers, you know I ain’t got the brain for it.” 

A muscle in his neck twitched and Grannvale’s sovereign suppressed an urge to torment Gunnar a little more, before he gave in and loosed a bark of laughter. “It’s recognizing that you’re not suited for such a role that makes me want to give it to you, Gunnar! After all, a man who wants power for its own sake is one who should never have it. Meanwhile, a man who doesn’t want the job is, admittedly also not a perfect choice, but if he is compelled by duty and honor-bound to do his best…”

If it wasn’t for the fact a slaughter had just taken place moments ago, Arvis may have let himself fully give in to his laughter, but a glance around at the surroundings stifled any amusement the emperor had been feeling. He had arrived in time to stop the entire squad from being wiped out, yes. But that meant little when he knew that they had left families behind. 

“My lord,” Felipe began once he had finished healing the sole survivor of the massacre, “I believe our business is finished here. The men have retrieved the remains of those who fell… What they could find, at any rate. We should leave before any more beasts come to investigate the smell of blood.”

With a sigh, Arvis turned away from the clearing after pushing that feeling in his gut down, and wondered just what new devilry the future had in store for his lands next…

Belhalla was a busy place most days, even when one took into account that the Imperial Family resided there. The hustle and bustle of a big city was only magnified when it served as the capital to the most powerful nation in the land, after all. Merchants ran to and fro, visitors and travelers took their time to see the sights, and finding a free room at any of the inns was a challenge of its own.

However, these were not most days. A quiet fear had settled over most of the populace, and even the knowledge that the finest soldiers in the land were present, and the fact that the Emperor and Empress both were incredibly powerful mages, did little to alleviate this. Try as it might, the Grannvale Empire had no answers for their monster problem as of yet.

“Which is precisely why I think throwing such an extravagant party is the height of foolishness. My people fear for their lives, horrific creatures roam the land and kill as they please, and you expect me to waste my time celebrating my birthday?”

Arvis’ voice never once left his typical calm, collected tone while he addressed his advisors, but that did not stop the underlying incredulity from making itself known. The fact that the gathered crowd of lords and ladies in the Imperial Court seemed confused by his concern for the “common rabble” did not help matters at all, in fact it made him more resolute in his decision. 

“To be blunt, your majesty, yes. As you have said, the people are gripped by fear, and levity is hard to come by these days. Which is why we feel as if holding a celebration here in Belhalla would be for the best. The heads of all major houses across Grannvale will be in attendance, of course, and I dare say that everyone who is anyone in all of Jugdral will be there. Your presence alone is reassuring enough, but with the addition of Lord Bloom, and King Travant? I don’t think that Belhalla could be any safer.”

Left unspoken was the question of if Thracia’s king would even make an appearance, of course, but that had been a matter that Arvis hadn’t exactly felt like handling as of yet. The red-haired man had no illusions as to where Travant’s loyalty lay, and so long as the Empire remained beneficial to Thracia, then the wielder of Gungnir was content to accept them for the time being. 

But that did not mean he was a dog who came when called.


“Not to mention, I believe your dear wife would be happy to attend such a party. Her majesty is beloved by nearly all of Grannvale, I dare say more so than yourself, if you’ll forgive my boldness.” An older woman inclined her head towards Arvis, who could not help but return the gesture with a smirk of his own. 

It was true, Deirdre was the finest gem across all of Grannvale in his eyes, throughout the entirety of Jugdral if he had to be honest. Surely the moods of the people would be lifted to see their Empress having herself a grand time at a party, no? 

“... No need to ask forgiveness when one speaks the truth, Lady Diana. My wife is much easier on the eyes than I, and a great deal more approachable.” Arvis chuckled and shook his head, before he took a slow breath and willed the small smile away from his face. “I can see the point that you make, and though I still don’t know if it’s the right thing to do, I will allow my birthday to be celebrated. But, I have my conditions.”

Those who had served in Arvis’ court for some time silently groaned, and prepared for the Emperor to present some, in a few of their minds, rather odd demands about the commoners yet again. The new blood, having only recently replaced their parents due to age or illness, leaned forward almost eagerly to hear what their liege had to say.

“Oh good, I see that some of you have readied yourself ahead of time. You’re learning, finally.” he muttered under his breath, and continued to speak. “First and foremost, I understand that granting access to all of Belhalla would not only be impractical, it would also be next to impossible to keep the citizens away from places that they should not be. But I will be opening the doors for those who would like to join to eat, drink, and be merry for a time. If this party is meant to distract them from the ongoing monster problem, then doing anything but would defeat that purpose, no?”

“... Quite right, your majesty, quite right. Am I to assume that you plan on the festivities lasting several days then, in order to give as many as can make time to attend a chance to do so?” Lord Hausen, an older man seated next to Lady Diana, spoke after a glance revealed that seemingly none of his peers wished to do so. “It will take time for those in Belhalla to arrange means of transportation to the palace, not to mention finding suitable clothes if possible.”

“Of course. Doubtlessly we will need to ensure that the citizens don’t abuse the generosity and spoil the chances for those who will arrive later, but such a system should be relatively easy to implement, given the increased manpower at hand. And, I would hope that this goes without saying…” 

Eyes of crimson narrowed once Arvis rose from his chair, and the gathered nobles collectively swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in their throats. Save for Lady Diana, Lord Hausen, and several others who had yet to learn the “proper method” of treating the common folk.

“Whatever prejudices and distaste you have for those ‘beneath you’,” the Emperor said with no small amount of distaste in his voice, “are to be restrained at all times, understand? Your servants will be expected to attend and make themselves useful alongside those present at the palace, and in addition to those who arrived with our more fortunate guests. If I hear of any tales that authority or positions have been abused to do as you please… Well, you all know how kindly I take to traitors.”

It had been many years since the execution of the war-mongering rebel, Sigurd of Chalphy, at the hands of Arvis at Belhalla, but all those present in the court could not help but recall how decisively the Emperor had dealt with the man who had threatened the stability and safety of Grannvale itself. And not a one wanted to be the target of his ire for any reason. 

“Do I make myself clear?” Though these days, such grandiose displays of force were relics of the past. Why go through all the trouble of arranging such a thing when subtle moves and something as simple as his reign did all the job for him? There were no delusions that the Empire was flawless within his mind at all, but Arvis was convinced that it was a damn sight better than what had come before.

With good reason, at that.

“Of course, your majesty. If it pleases you, I will be paying close attention to ensure that your command is followed not only among my own house, but with the rest of the guests as well.”

Lady Diana barely turned that sharp gaze away from her sovereign, and yet the nobles that sat beside her flinched as if struck. The grey-haired, steely-blue eyed matron was old enough to be the grandmother of Jugdral’s Emperor, yet age had done nothing to dull her mind. A mind that had elevated a small farming family in Velthomer from modest origins, to serving the ruling line of Grannvale itself.

“Well then, I suppose I’ll forget all about my worries with you in charge of ensuring proper decorum. Needless to say, my men are at your disposal if you feel the need.” Arvis allowed himself a small chuckle, and idly rubbed his hands along the armrests of the throne before he stood. “Are there any more matters that need attending to? I believe we’ve settled the allocation of this quarter’s funds, where fresh troops should be stationed…”

“Which seems to be everywhere, these days.” Muttered an older man near the front row of the gathered nobility, and not a soul dared acknowledge how feeble the laughter that followed such a grim remark was. 

“Unfortunately, Lord Helman, unfortunately…”

The candlelight waxed and waned at his command, and it certainly never waxed greater than during times like these. Hushed whispers and sweet nothings filled the room as Arvis made love to his Empress, the one true solace he had these days. Deirdre was everything that a man could ask for in a woman, if not more. Gentle, demure, yet possessing a quiet strength that belied her outward appearance.

Soon after they had finished, they took a simple pleasure in listening to the sounds of each other’s breath, the rise and fall of a chest, a sign that they were alive and safe . A sign that Arvis would damn himself to whatever hell imaginable to see for the rest of his days, with a smile on his face at that. 

It didn’t take long for sleep to claim Deirdre after such an exhaustive, passionate session with her beloved husband, and the former lord of Velthomer quietly slid from their bed to dress himself once more. The hardest part of being Emperor was having to leave the woman deep in the arms of peaceful slumber each and every day, but his life had long since ceased to be his own. 

Indeed, the day that Victor had died was the last time that Arvis had merely his own life to take into consideration. After that news had been broken, he had all of Velthomer, Azelle, and his half-brother’s mother to look after. Granted, it had been a few years before he had taken on the reins of his family’s land, but still.

“Still can’t get any real sleep, can you?”

With a look that said more than words could, he turned and raised a brow at the woman who was leaning against the doorframe, and sighed when a familiar smirk formed on her striking features. “If I had but known that true rest would be a hard commodity to come by, I don’t think I would have fought mother or her maidens whenever they tried to put me down for a nap in my youth.”

Aida smothered a chuckle as she strode into the room and placed a missive on the table before him, an expectant gleam in her eye that Arvis had long since grown accustomed to seeing. “Do I at least have the option to pretend like I can choose to keep standing?”

“Nope. Sit down, you look tense and I still feel confident in saying that no one knows how to rub those knots in your shoulders out like I do.” And by the gods, but was the touch of her fingers all the proof that her claim needed. Grannvale’s sovereign relaxed once he sat down in a cushioned chair and absentmindedly conjured flame to read the message Aida had brought him, and did not fight the shiver brought about by nothing more than the absence of pain in his neck.

“... Isn’t that a little too high to be my shoulders?” Arvis murmured with a tone that hearkened back to their younger days, when the redheaded woman had doggedly pursued him and he stubbornly pulled away. Really, the two were almost made for one another, given just how obstinate they could be at times. Arvis had yet to meet the soul who had managed to outlast even his iron will like Aida had, and for his sanity’s sake, he hoped that individual would never cross his path.

“Shoulders, neck, what’s the difference really? They’re close enough to each other to count, right?” There was no need to turn in order to see the smile that graced her lips, for it had all but slapped him in the face thanks to her tone. “I mean if you think about it, they’re all so closely connected that if one of them is in pain, then it stands to reason that the other two are as well, right?”

A long-suffering sigh escaped her former lover, and Aida softly chuckled as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with a free hand. The two stayed in a comfortable silence for what felt like an eternity, with only the occasional shuffling of papers interrupting the blessed quiet. 

“Hmmm… Aida, tell me. Since I appointed you to try and narrow down where the majority of these attacks were taking place, what oddities have you noticed amidst all the chaos?” 

It was more of a rhetorical question than anything, and Arvis knew full well that she was keenly aware of where he was headed. But sometimes thoughts such as his were better voiced than kept to oneself, for it could lead to a breakthrough or some new discovery. 

“... Aside from how Travant is still stubborn about his insistence that he can manage Thracia on his own? Quite a few, actually. Verdane has sent precious little in the way of information, but that place is so run-down these days, I think even the beasts are avoiding it. Augustria… Word has it that the son of Eldigan has been rising in influence among the people there thanks to his diligent efforts to protect it, and Silesse has been doing rather well for themselves. In fact, so well that they’re among the least affected of all the lands.”

Arvis allowed Aida’s words to go without a response for a moment, and just to be sure there had been no overlooking or misreading of something critically important, he scanned each page again with a pain-staking attention to every last little scribble. 

“Yes, they are. But they are only among the least affected. Ever since this whole mess began, there has been a distinct lack of panicked messages, missives, and pleas for imperial aid from one, and only one , of the lands under my reign. For sure, I have had word sent to and from this duchy, but they tend to be more along the lines of reports than anything resembling calls for manpower like the rest.”

Aida paused in her ministrations, and leaned over his shoulder to take a closer look at the parchment. The feel of a soft bosom against his skin was, admittedly, a temptation that the former Lord of Velthomer thought had been conquered long ago, but it seemed that his long-trusted companion was able to ignore his guard like it never existed at all.

“Friege… That’s odd, there shouldn’t be anything different there than it is in the other territories. True, Lord Bloom is still in excellent shape and age has done little to dull his prowess, and I’m well aware of the talents his children possess… But if a motivated ruler with a Holy Weapon makes this much of a difference, then surely Dozel wouldn’t be one of the most afflicted duchies, right?”

A low hum reached her ears as Arvis continued to pour through the rest of the reports from Friege, and paused for a moment as if struck. Slowly, deliberately, the Emperor returned to the first missives received from the land ruled by Thrud’s descendents, and carefully reread it to the point where it could have been recited in his sleep. At first, Aida was puzzled by his actions, before she too began to go over the reports once her love was finished with them.

“... I’m beginning to see why Friege has been left unscathed, more or less.”

“Mmm. I’ve never heard of this ‘Sir Link’ before in all the years of my life, but if the man can live up to even half of what I’m reading… Then he may very well hold the solution to Jugdral’s current dilemma. Of course, that begs the question of how I could go about convincing Bloom to let such a talented, competent man go… But I’m sure I’ll be able to talk him into seeing things my way.”

After all, Arvis dealt with a court of nobles long since, barring a few exceptions, considered to be unruly and headstrong even by Jugdral’s standards, on a daily basis and had more or less cowed the sniveling braggarts into line. The Lord of Thunder should prove to be far easier than they, and if the man he was after was more stubborn… 

“I’m sure you will, my love. You haven’t failed us yet, and I don’t believe you’re going to start now. Will that be all, or would you require other services before I take my leave?”

A slow, shuddering breath caused formerly-tense shoulders to shake, and Aida felt the briefest twinge of guilt in her breast over what she had just said. Empress Deirdre was, quite frankly, far too good for the wicked ways of Jugdral’s nobility, and everyone that the lavender-haired woman met had been left in awe of her kindness and warmth. To do such a thing with her husband felt like a betrayal.

But then Arvis turned with a look in his eye that had not been present since they were both teens, teens who found solace in the insanity that was their lives in each other's arms. The guilt faded away into a pleasurable heat, the fiery passion that had been gone from Aida’s life for far too long. When those hungry lips assailed her neck even as he pulled her down atop his lap, there was no chance of her liege being denied tonight.

‘Gods… If he’s this excited right from the start… Saias, you may very well be an older brother in the near future.’

Chapter Text

It was a day that Link had been dreading ever so slightly, if only because he would be forced to part with his dear hat. Much as he would love to do otherwise, wearing it would clash horribly with the black and gold of his outfit that Estrid had finished for the Hylian earlier this week. But it wasn’t as if it didn’t come with a few upsides, of course. For one thing, it meant he would be graced with the sight of Ishtar in something formal for a change. 

The young woman had been a rather curious attraction for the hero ever since he arrived in Jugdral, and in more ways than merely physical. There was the typical aloofness expected of a noble at times, yet Ishtar could show surprising warmth on occasion as well. To the point where Link wondered just how she could have come from a woman like Hilda, of all people.

‘Even a bad root produces good fruit now and then, I suppose.’ 

Not that he would voice that thought aloud, not without having made sure he was alone at least. While the matriarch of Friege was not liked very much by the servants and commoners of the land, she was still Bloom’s wife, and as such held great power within his realm. And for as icy as their relationship was, Hilda had been thankful that Link had rescued her daughter from whatever fate the Skulltulas had in mind that day in the forest.

Besides, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t dealt with worse in Hyrule’s court now and again. Though Zelda quickly and decisively dealt with those foolish enough to expose such a frosty, ambitious side, it didn’t stop them from rearing their ugly heads. 

Luckily for the pointy-eared blond, Ishtar took after her deceased great-grandmother more than anything. Though what little knowledge he’d gleaned of Skuld was through books and second-hand stories, it painted a picture of a woman who brooked no foolishness and was just as quick with her wit as she was with her family’s prized heirloom. 

Unfortunately for Link, however, was that she took after Skuld . But without the added maturity and acerbic tongue whenever someone was foolish enough to kindle her wrath. Though he had no plans on stopping anytime soon, Ishtar was already getting very good at responding to his more playful moods with a nonplussed, deadpan expression. It was the kind of thing that Zelda had mastered long ago, and he still wasn’t sure if it was good.

Be that as it may… The princess of Friege had a good heart and cared for those around her. Another thing that she had in common with the deceased “Thunderous Valkyrie”, it seemed. Whenever one passed by a certain soldier in the halls nowadays, it was hard not to crack a smile at just how happy the young man was almost all the time.

Vidar’s mother had been sick for some time, and a trip to the capital to see a healer, or pay for medicine was beyond his family’s meager, modest means. Had Ishtar not caught wind of the stout man’s need thanks to the castle’s thriving rumor mill, Vidar may have had to resign his post to return home and care for his siblings in their village.

But after a little prying and questioning, it hadn’t taken long for the hazel-eyed guardsman to spill everything to Ishtar amidst tears and hopeful pleas for the daughter of his sworn liege to do something, anything . A few days and one trip with Friege’s physician later… Vidar’s family was spared the grief of watching his mother slowly fade away.

All this and more had piqued Link’s interest in the young lady. The fact that she was just about the most beautiful woman the Hylian had ever seen certainly didn’t hurt. 

“...tain? Captain, shouldn’t you be getting ready? Lord Bloom will be leaving for Belhalla soon, you’ll be riding along with his retinue sir. You’ll need to wear something a little more fitting than that green tunic of yours, I’m afraid.” 

With a sigh, the blue-eyed man rose from his seat on a bench out in the courtyard. He dismissed the messenger with a wave, before turning towards the sprawling corridors and richly-decorated halls that were Castle Friege’s interior. Expense was clearly not very high on Bloom’s list of concerns, what with the ornate portraits and very well-furnished rooms.

‘I wonder if I’ll be able to bring my bed along, somehow. I’m sure the Emperor’s palace is probably even more impressive than this, but I don’t think I’ll find a better place to sleep than in my room.’ 

As he walked Link began to wonder exactly when he had begun to think of his quarters as his own, and not merely a room that had been assigned to the green-clad hero. It had been a little over five months now since traveling beyond the borders of Hyrule had led him to Jugdral, and ever since then… It had been a great deal more troublesome than he had expected. 

In all his years battling the beasts and monsters that crawled from the dark reaches of the world, he had never seen them act like this before. Even the normally-mindless Bulbins showed signs of scarily intelligent thinking more and more often. If he didn’t know any better, Link would have sworn that something was directing their movements, or at least an unseen king that had taken hold of the collective will like he did . Even now, over 15 years since the Hylian had last seen that abominable wretch… Just the thought of Ganondorf caused the hairs on his neck to stand on end. 

‘It can’t be his doing though, it’s not focused on taking the throne and expanding outwards… There’s something else fueling the beasts here, I just don’t know what.’

Nor were there any leads for the hero to pursue, either. Every book and scrap of information he could find told of an ancient darkness, a mad god known as “Loptous”, having been defeated and cast down many years ago. That didn’t guarantee defeat in his mind, but this “Loptous” didn’t sound as stubborn or tenacious as Ganondorf, thankfully…

With the silent prayer that he just hadn’t put a proverbial foot in his mouth, Link turned the corner and allowed himself a small sigh of relief. Finally, he’d found his destination. Asking for a map might be a good idea, but once the concept of Hilda having a never-ending reason to mock him sank in… The blond scrapped that notion. They traded barbs a little too frequently as is.

If the two found any reason to intensify their volleying of insults and disparaging remarks… Someone might make the false assumption that they’re friends . That thought caused a shudder to run down his spine, and Link quickly banished the nightmarish scenario from his mind before he opened the door to Estrid’s workroom.

“‘Bout time ya got here, boy. Almost wondered if I should have you dragged here, fer Thrud’s sake.”

With hands raised in a placating gesture, the Hylian let the smile Estrid’s company always seemed to bring spread without a struggle, before the sound of creaking hinges caused it to be replaced with a wince. Mutterings of “stupid doors” and “lazy servants” reached Link’s sensitive ears, but it was the sight that greeted his eyes that destroyed any half-formed desires to complain.

Clad in an elegant black dress that reached to the floor, Ishtar had just stolen the breath from his lungs and tied his tongue into knots. A hint of deep scarlet could be seen as the young noble adjusted her dress's lengthy, layered skirt, and allowed Link a glimpse of the purple garment beneath that stopped just shy of her collarbone. 

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to do anything fast-paced, but this shouldn’t impede my steps too much…”

Bracelets that sported sapphires arrayed in a spiraling pattern clinked when the young woman paused at the sight of the unexpected guest, before a light dusting of pink colored her cheeks and an apprehensive expression spread across Ishtar’s face. “... Well? W-What do you think? Father told me of his plans for the ball, a-and it would be terrible if my dance partner disliked my dress, right?”

It was a titanic struggle to tear his eyes away from the masterwork that was Ishtar’s attire, but Link was not hailed as a “Hero” for no reason. But much to his dismay, her face was an even more distracting sight. Traces of makeup accentuated her natural beauty, subtle marks of eye shadow and a soft touch of gloss on her lips threatened to leave him stricken dumb on the spot. 

“... I think that you could do much, much better than a wanderer like me, Ishtar. Gorgeous doesn’t come close, but it’s all I’ve got.” 

For an instant, a smile formed in response to his words, and Link was suddenly very grateful that the Goddesses had seen fit to lead him to Jugdral. It wasn’t every day that a man was lucky enough to see such a beautiful sight, after all. 

“It is more than enough, Sir Link. Now then… I do believe your garb is ready, correct?” Ishtar glanced over her shoulder at Estrid, who merely grunted without looking up from inspecting a small pile of unused fabric. “If you’ve enjoyed the sight of my dress, why not return the favor? I’ve not been allowed the chance to see what Estrid’s come up with for you yet, no matter how I’ve asked.”

A playful, almost teasing tone caused the older woman to cackle in unrestrained mirth shamelessly, and with a slight spring in his step, Link made his way over to the door that led to the changing room. Until he felt something soft brush across the back of his head, and a curious gaze turned into an unamused glower. 

“What? Surely you did not think you would be allowed to wear that hat of yours at the ball… Did you?”

Blue eyes narrowed and pink lips struggled mightily to suppress the grin that threatened to break free before the blonde sighed and muttered oaths of retribution once he opened the door and stepped through. Had it not been for how cute Ishtar looked with his hat clutched to her chest, Link might have refused to try his outfit on until the floppy green cap was returned.

“I bet none of the other Kokiri ever had to deal with anything like that…”

A very unwelcome side of his brain, that sounded a little too much like Zelda for his comfort, reminded him that he’d never been one of the Forest’s Children. But spending the first ten years of one’s life there had to count for something right? 

Travel-worn boots were set aside and chain mail softly rattled once the Hylian pulled his tunic over his head, setting it to the side on an empty chair before leather gloves and a seemingly-endless pouch were removed. ‘I wonder if they’d make me remove that before joining the ball proper…’

Idle musings on how best to ward off unwelcome suitors without causing an incident filled his brain while Link finished removing his clothing to don the black, gold-trimmed outfit that hung on the wall opposite a large vanity. An approving hum broke the silence when the blue silk undershirt fit snugly over his broad chest, yet not to the point where an errant stretch felt as if it would cause a tear.

With a glance, Link wondered if he should bother removing the knife kept in a very familiar scabbard that was fastened about his ankle, before discarding the thought and stepping into the slacks laid over the same rack that held the rest of his outfit. 

It had been a long, long time since the hero had reason to dress for anything formal, let alone for something like the birthday celebration for a monarch. Zelda still bugged him every chance she found about missing out on hers last year, but at least she let him keep his hat on. ‘I’m not sure if I should direct the annoyance at Arvis, or towards Friege…’

Silent musings and curiosity about what the true nature of Grannvale’s Emperor was like dominated Link’s thoughts as he finished dressing, and the blond couldn’t help but admire the job that Estrid had done after a glance in the mirror. 

The black overcoat was… Not as hot as he had imagined it would be, and it allowed for the full range of motion in his arms without worry over tearing the fabric. It was slight and had the candlelight not hit the button just right, Link might have missed the thunderbolt etched into each of the gleaming golden buttons. There were even little earrings on the vanity for the Hylian, too.

With his outfit donned and a silent prayer of thanks sent for the comfort of the boots to complete his ensemble, Link left the changing room and almost visibly resisted the urge to grab his hat from the small stand that was within arm’s reach of the door. 

For the sight of Ishtar’s stunned face had just purged such thoughts from his mind. A rosy hue made itself known once her eyes took in the presence of the Hylian before her, and Link adjusted the collar around his neck once he remembered that breathing was a good idea. “Well? Do I fit the standards of Friege now, my lady?”

Lavender locks bounced after Ishtar roused herself from the slight trance caused by the blond, and attempted to push her momentary pause aside. “Yes! I, I mean… Perhaps I will be the one needing to fend off unwanted advances at the ball, Link. I dare say that you’ll have more than a few women tripping over themselves for a dance or two… You do know how to dance, right?”

The roguish smirk that formed did not help Mjölnir’s heir stop the blush from spreading, but a shake of her head and a deep breath dismissed the worst of it. “Of course, that assumes any of them are brave enough to approach in the first place. Maybe we’ll be allowed to just enjoy a night of fun for a change, and not have to worry about anything besides avoiding the other’s feet?”

A dull, flat look was all the reply a statement so naive warranted in his eyes, and a soft sigh escaped Ishtar as she allowed that dream to die before it could truly begin. “I’ve never been that lucky at parties Ishtar, formal or not. There’s going to be some kind of incident before it’s all over, I can guarantee you that.”

With a small pout, Friege’s princess eyed the sash that Estrid had just finished attaching to her bracelets and soon turned with a playful little grin on her face. “Guarantee? That is a strong word from you… Care to make a game of it? If the party begins and ends without anything major happening,” Ishtar began and cupped her chin while she made her way to the door, “then you’ll have to go without that hat of yours for a fortnight.”

Blue eyes narrowed at such dastardly, devious words coming from such a pretty pair of lips before Link’s teeth were bared in a wolfish grin. “You’re on. And if I win… Well, when I win, I’ll have you joining the Gelben Ritter’s training for just as long.”

The twinge of fear from just imagining such a horrific scene was one that Ishtar had not experienced for many years now, and she could not repress the shudder that ran down her spine. “In the unlikely event that I have to suffer such a torment… I utterly refuse to glance at a great axe, understand?”

Link allowed himself to envision the young woman trying, and failing, to wield such a hefty, cumbersome weapon after he went to collect the Goddess-blessed tunic he had made to replace the one given by Rauru all those years ago. 

“I’ll have some measure of mercy on you there, I promise. You’d be better off with something faster than an axe anyway, your build isn’t right for it.” he said after having stuffed the tunic into the pouch that lay inside a pocket within the folds of his coat.

Lavender brows furrowed as the pair left the room and began to make their way to Friege’s entrance, the silence only broken by the soft sound of her heels as they clacked against the floor. “The right build? Wouldn’t raw strength be more important than how one’s body is proportioned?”

“That’s what someone with no experience would think, and it’s not incorrect , but… Even if you went and devoted yourself to the kind of training I do, Ishtar, you wouldn’t even reach half of what I can do physically. Your body’s limitations can only be pushed so far before you reach a plateau, y’know?”

A small hum reached his ears as they turned down another hallway to join the rest of the entourage that would be leaving for Belhalla before something fainter than Ishtar’s response caused Link’s ears to twitch. With every step, it grew louder and louder until he realized what it was. The sound of a man and a woman being intimate with each other, and quite vigorously so at that.

“... We don’t have to go inside that room at the end of the hall, do we?” The blond asked in a tone that belied the sense of apprehension that slowly spread down to his gut and silently cursed when he saw Ishtar nod her head. “Can’t just go around I suppose?”

“... Well, we could, but it would take several minutes more to reach the courtyard if we don’t cut through this room. Why do you ask? Is there something inside that concerns you?” 

There was. But he could not answer her question, no matter how badly he wanted to. For he had just realized who the lovers in the room ahead were, and telling Ishtar that her brother was doing his best to ensure that she left for Grannvale’s capital as an Aunt might not be the smartest thing to do. 

“Well, yes, but it’s a bit of an awkward explanation-”

Link’s strangled squawk of protest went ignored, and only when Ishtar opened the door did everything become clear as day. 

Hunched over a small table in the center of the room were Ishtore and Liza, the latter trembling in his arms even while copious amounts of seed leaked down her plump, sweat-laden thighs. The smell of sex was overpowering, and much to the dismay of Mjölnir’s future wielder, her brother was as naked as the day he was born with his length resting against arousal-stained skin.

Only after a moment had passed did the lovers realize they had an audience, and Ishtore froze when he saw his sister standing in the doorway. A pink hue of shame slowly spread across his face, and Liza looked as if death itself had come to claim her when the redhead finally opened her eyes.

“... Next time, Ishtore, wait until after we get to the capital, would you?” Link muttered before he reached past a stunned Ishtar and pulled the door close with a shake of his head. “So, about that other way to the courtyard you mentioned…”

The temptation to reveal what he had seen inside that room when they all arrived at the courtyard was strong, but the blond elected to keep silent on that matter for now. There would be plenty of time to have fun at his friend’s expense, hopefully when the potential to cause Ishtore to actually get into trouble did not exist.

Though it was very close when neither he nor Liza could look him or Ishtar in the eye and distanced themselves as if the other’s touch had become poison. Ah, the things he sacrificed for the sake of others. 

“Is everyone ready? The last thing I want to do is have to turn around because we forgot something important, or someone .” Bloom said, with narrowed eyes as his gaze turned towards Hilda who suddenly gained a great interest in the ground below. “Ishtar still hasn’t let me forget that day… We will arrive a day or so before His Majesty’s celebration to rest and properly settle in, and I expect each one of you to behave with the conduct expected of House Friege. That includes you as well, Link. You will arrive bearing our colors, and coat of arms, and will be representing us even though you’re a foreigner. The lords and ladies in attendance will be watching your every move. Can I trust you?”

The sounds of trunks of luggage being loaded onto the carriages that would transport them to Belhalla filled the air as Hilda barked orders and finished the last check to ensure that everything was in its place, and Link took a second before he started to speak to the middle-aged man.

“I will be honest with you, I don’t plan on groveling or kissing anyone’s ring. But I will do my best to avoid offending anyone or causing an incident, I promise. You’re putting a lot of faith in me here, Bloom, the least I can do is make sure you’re rewarded for that.”

Grey eyes bored into him for a moment before Bloom nodded and clapped his hand on Link’s shoulder, and turned to rescue a poor servant from his wife’s clutches. 

Privately, the blond wondered how those two ever managed to get along enough to have Ishtore and Ishtar, let alone tolerate each other’s presence all these years, but maybe Hilda had a softer side for her family in private. Link doubted such a thing existed, but he’d been wrong before. 

“Ah! S-Sorry!”

Such as right now for instance. He had made the mistake of assuming that the carriage was empty and went to load his luggage inside the racks set aside for such a purpose and ended up bumping against a young girl with a very familiar shade of hair. Though hers was styled into two pigtails instead of one long ponytail, as Ishtar so often did. 

“You alright?” he asked with one arm outstretched to help the lass back to her feet, and could not suppress the flash of concern at just how light she felt once his aid was accepted. “That’s my fault, I should have checked before I climbed inside the carriage.”

A relative that he had yet to meet, perhaps? Now that Link stopped and thought for a moment, he did remember seeing this girl around the castle once or twice, but always from a distance. She must have some importance if she was allowed to dress in such fine apparel and climb aboard the Friege’s transport. 

“Tine? I thought you would have liked to stay behind and enjoy a few days of peace.”

Well, now he had a name at least. Ishtar joined the two after taking Link’s hand to step inside the carriage and quickly pulled the younger girl in for an embrace, much to her surprise. “I don’t think you’ve officially met each other before… Link, this is my cousin, Tine. She’s a little shy around new people, so she tends to stick around Ishtore or me whenever she leaves the castle. You won’t mind looking after her as well, would you?”

The ghost of a smile was all Thrud’s heir needed to see, and Ishtar pulled Tine down onto one of the many seats once the voices of their family grew closer and closer. There was something he didn’t know about her situation if the arrival of her flesh and blood caused the color to slowly fade from her face. Whatever it was, Link didn’t like it. 

“And I’ve told you , King Dannan will know better than to be his idiotic self with His Majesty present… Oh. Bloom, why is she here?”

Hilda’s tone explained much of Tine’s apprehension, but before the blue-eyed hero could even think of trying to speak up, Bloom leveled a dull look at his wife and wordlessly motioned for her to take a seat. Whatever the dark-haired woman had in mind was not something her husband was willing to tolerate at the moment of their departure it seemed, and after ensuring that there was nothing that had been forgotten, the crack of a whip announced the start of their journey to Belhalla.

‘Stuck in a small space with Hilda and a cousin who has issues with her… Maybe I should have tried to ride along with the servants.’

Though perhaps it wouldn’t be that bad. Hilda did not seem as if she wanted to contest Bloom on the matter of Tine’s presence, so maybe the Lord of Friege could keep the dark-haired woman in line. If not, then at least subdued.

The silence that permeated the plush, ornate cabin was an awkward one at first, what with how neither Ishtore nor Liza could bring themselves to look anyone in the eyes, and once again Link was sorely tempted to mention just what state he and Ishtar found the two in before the young girl to his left spoke up. 

“Is it true?”

At once, twelve eyes turned towards Tine and caused the girl to blush furiously after speaking up, only to gather her nerve and press on after a moment. “I-Is it true what they say, that y-you’re a bit… M-Mad, Sir Link?”

… That hadn’t been the first time the blond’s sanity had been questioned since arriving in Jugdral, and he had a feeling that it was nowhere near the last time either. Ishtar attempted to smother the grin before it could spread and turned towards the window with a newfound fascination for the countryside when she failed. Her brother did not even bother, however, and shamelessly snickered while Liza began to rub at her temples with gloved hands.

“A bit? If this pointy-eared fool is only a bit mad , then I’m the Empress of Jugdral.” Hilda muttered under her breath, and Bloom merely sighed deeply when that look appeared on Link’s face once again. 

“To answer your question… Madness and Genius are often confused by envious people who cannot hope to reach the same heights of intelligence as those they claim to be mad. And as such, I would have to say that I have a touch of madness,” the Hylian said before he paused and leveled a look towards Ishtar, who had just brought a hand to her mouth in a poor attempt to hide a giggle, “but everyone who is truly brilliant often does.”

Tine, however, had never seen this side of Link before as the others had. The young girl paid rapt attention to his every word, and the blond was not shy about using this to his advantage in such a thing. 

“And, despite what the cowards in this carriage might tell you, my ideas are perfectly safe-”

“Link, you attached three bombs to one arrow. And waited until they were about five seconds from exploding before you fired.” 

A momentary pause fell upon the blue-eyed man, and the slight trace of shock at Liza’s sudden entry into the conversation did not go unnoticed. But such a setback did not deter him in the slightest.

“Yes, I did. I was trying to cause an explosion above my target instead of on my target. The angle and location of a bomb’s explosion can drastically affect the outcome both in and out of combat. If I’m fighting a Darknut, for instance, and I want to blow him up, I’m going to need to get creative if I want to get past his shield-”

“How would a shield stop an explosion? Wouldn’t the shockwave simply go through it, or around it?”

“You would think, but Darknuts don’t exactly play by the rules like that. Those shields can stop just about anything dead in its tracks, and they don’t care about shockwaves, momentum, or what have you. It has to be some kind of enchantment since my shield works the same way, but I’m not sure how it functions.”

Liza clucked her tongue, crossed her arms with an unsatisfied expression, and looked as if she wanted to continue pressing Link about the matter, but Tine spoke up before she got the chance.

“Wait… You attached something that explodes… To arrows? Willingly?” The poor girl licked her lips nervously as she pictured such a thing and shuddered, before exchanging a glance with a highly-amused Ishtore. “I take my earlier question back… You are mad.”

The expression that formed on the Hylian’s face was one Bloom wished he could have painted and mounted inside his quarters, for it was the first time he had ever seen the man so thoroughly deflated. Perhaps he should start having Tine spend more time around him, it might spare the rest of Friege from his eccentricities. For a little while, at least. 

The day wore on as the greenery and farmlands around Friege gave way to flocks of cattle grazing under the careful watch of shepherds and soldiers, and even from a distance their vigilance for a monster attack was obvious. With pursed lips and a grimace on his face, Link hoped he would get a chance to speak to the Emperor in private about this, maybe even arrange some quick drills with the Imperial Guard if given the time. 

“Belhalla must be confident in their defenses if herds are still allowed to roam this freely.” 

Link murmured before he cracked his neck with a groan, and reclined in his seat when Bloom glanced up from a book to gaze out of the window. A temporary stop had been made at Hilda’s request, the lady of Friege insisting on some time to “stretch my legs” before they went any further. Ishtar and Ishtore had joined their mother after a “suggestion” from the dark-haired woman, and Liza had swallowed a lump in her throat once that gaze turned her way.

“Even with the advent of these beasts crossing over to Jugdral, the people still need to eat. Between the presence of His Majesty and the Roten Ritter, Belhalla is one of the safest places in the land. Were it not for your efforts and dedication to training my men, it would certainly be the safest.”

“I’ll believe that when I see them deal with a Lynel. Need I remind you of the handful of lords that didn’t want to follow my suggestions?”

The grimace that crossed the older man’s face coaxed a grim smile out of the blond, and he idly wondered if it would be asking too much to bring the Emperor out on a hunt around the area after the ball. 

“I would rather you not. I could go the rest of my life without remembering the letter sent by that fool, Rist. Admittedly, seeing him eat crow after barely fending off that attack by those… What were those skeletons called again?” Bloom asked with a ghost of a smirk at the corner of his mouth, one that soon grew to a shameless grin when Link snickered at the memory of the blue-haired lord being forced to swallow his pride.

“Stalfos, not the deadliest of things but not to be taken lightly either.” That first encounter with the undead knight had been a little nerve-wracking, but Link wasn’t sure if that had been due to the Stalfos’ ghastly appearance, or the Forest Temple. Even now thinking about that damned place caused the hairs on his neck to stand on end, but it could have been worse.

‘It could have been the Stone… Shadow Temple.’ 

“... Link, are you alright? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost. A bad memory, I take it?”

A dry throat, cold and clammy hands, the urge to just throw himself out of the carriage and just run until he was too tired to think… Bloom was right, but the older man didn’t know just how right he was. With every last ounce of will he possessed, Link forced those thoughts and memories down before they could get any worse and allowed himself to shudder after rubbing at his eyes.

“... Yes. An experience I do not want to, nor will I, talk about.” Gray eyes were full of a desire to try and gently coax the blond to open up and perhaps share some of the burdens that were eating away at him, but the emphatic denial coupled with Tine’s presence was enough to dissuade Friege’s Lord. For the moment, at least.

“Very well, I will respect your wishes. But if it ever starts to impede your duties, I will have to make your past my business. Understand?” 

Mjölnir’s wielder accepted the wordless grunt after a moment passed, and returned to his book while Tine stood and moved to sit beside Link once the Hylian had shoved the unpleasant memories down where they belonged. He wasn’t sure if it was some attempt at comfort or wanting to put a little more space between herself and Hilda when the dark-haired woman returned.

And as if summoned by his thoughts, the Lady of Friege opened the door and sank into her seat with a long sigh while gloved fingers pinched the bridge of her nose. Ishtore and Ishtar followed their mother without a word before Liza audibly gulped before she sat down beside her boyfriend.

“Bloom, we’re more than likely going to be grandparents. Your fool son there couldn’t keep it in his pants before we left.” 

It was a good thing Bloom had only just started to reach for the canteen of water at his side when his dear wife had broken the news. Otherwise, Link would have been sprayed by the contents once those words truly sank in. Though, as the potential parents-to-be began to stammer excuses and feeble defenses in the face of Bloom’s incredulous questioning, this kind of entertainment would have been well worth that price.

If he never had to wear something so stuffy, so shamelessly gaudy, and uselessly ornamental again in his life, it would still be too soon. Even now, he struggled to think of why his normal attire would not be fit for today’s events. It wasn’t as if the ball would be happening the instant they arrived, it would be madness! Insanity! 

“My dear husband, you’re beginning to rant again, aren’t you?”

“The height of foolish… Ness… Forgive me, my beloved Deirdre. You know how much I detest wearing the ‘Official’ robes of my station. I am the Emperor , for Fjalar’s sake. Is not everything I wear official?”

Arvis sighed and shook his head while the pale-skinned woman to his left made a poor attempt at hiding her fit of giggles behind a dainty hand. It always did his heart good to see her laugh, even in the midst of such a, in his mind at least, ostentatious display of grandeur. While he still agreed with the general reasoning behind throwing such a party in the first place, that wasn’t enough to shake the distaste entirely.

“You’re only complaining because you have to sign off on the budget.” A redheaded woman said from behind the Emperor and Empress, with eyes that had dimmed somewhat over the years but were still just as captivating as when he had first seen them as a boy.

“A valid reason to complain, Aida. Can we afford to spend like this with how much the Empire’s income has been troubled as of late?” Especially now that he had finally managed to keep the budget balanced over the past two years! Sure, there was the odd week or two spread throughout where expenses had outpaced income by a bigger margin than he would like, which is to say, at all, but Arvis had set out to get wasteful spending under control and by the gods, he had done it. 

Until now, at any rate. But with a sigh, he shook his head and dismissed his concerns for the time being. It was far too late to call this off now, and truth be told, he wouldn’t even if it could be done. Deirdre had been so happy when the news of the party had reached her ears, and anything that brought a smile to the face of his wife was worth any expense. 

That, and the chance to see the more haughty nobles squirm as they were forced to share a space with the common citizens they looked down upon would be well worth his time. 

“Everything is ready, right? I would hate for my lords and ladies to arrive and find out that something important went overlooked.” Arvis said with a knowing glance towards Aida, and the unofficial Imperial Consort turned on a heel and muttered under her breath as she went to go prepare the servants to receive their liege’s guests.

“Is Aida’s presence unsuited for greeting your servants, Arvis? Surely you wouldn’t have dismissed her otherwise.” Deirdre spoke when her husband stepped forward as the first of many carriages arrived before Belhalla’s gates. The envoy from Thracia was the first to arrive, and Arvis suppressed the urge to sigh when it was General Hannibal that met his eyes instead of King Travant. 

"It is not that I think her unsuited, my love. But there is no one else I trust more to perform those last-minute checks than Aida. She's more meticulous than I am if you can believe such a thing." The scarlet-haired man said and dismissed his concerns over Travant sending a "mere" General instead of his son, Arione.

'Then again, perhaps it would be best if Bloom and Travant stay as far away from each other as possible. Hannibal is well respected, knows how to handle nobility, and even brought his son along, it seems, to distract some of the more doting ladies.’

A young boy hurried along behind the towering giant that was the Shield of Thracia, blond hair pulled back into a tidy ponytail and enough innocence in his eyes to coax a coo from Deirdre. Try as he might, Arvis could not quite remember the name of Hannibal’s child by the time the pair reached him but was saved by his lovely wife. The urge to let a grin show when lilac robes and lavender hair all but smothered the furiously-flushing youth was just barely repressed, but it was when he caught sight of Hannibal watching with a shameless smile that Arvis gave in. 

“Your Highness, it is my honor to represent Thracia and her people here today. I am at your service for the duration of my stay, longer if you wish it… Or until I feel the need to rescue my son from Her Majesty’s affections.”

Blue eyes were wide open and pleading when Deirdre returned to her place beside Arvis, as she had yet to let the boy go. Thankfully, for his sake at least, she sighed and relinquished her hold after one last pat on his golden locks once her beloved fixed her with a look that was far more amused than it should have been.

“By your leave, we will go find our quarters. Come now, Corple. No doubt you wish to rest after surviving the assault of the Empress.”

It was a very good thing that his nose twitched and a sneeze provided a welcome distraction, as Arvis would have failed miserably had he tried to hide his laughter with a hand. Deirdre, however, succeeded where he had failed and smothered her mirth within the folds of her dress. Hopefully, the rest of their guests would be much more routine in their arrival and greeting, as the vaunted self-control of Jugdral’s Emperor would not last much longer if confronted with more displays like that.

Luckily, for a change, Fate had smiled upon the red-haired scion of Fjalar. For now, at least. 

The envoy from Silesse was none other than Queen Erinys herself. Clad in an elegant white-and-gold gown that accentuated her beauty and tastefully hinted at the curves beneath, the emerald-haired monarch bowed her head low and exchanged a curt, formal greeting with Arvis before she too headed inside the castle. 

Though Silesse had been a very fine example ever since he took the throne and became Emperor, the fact that Erinys was its ruler had always left him with an uneasy feeling. At the time of her coronation, Arvis had been too busy with the birth of his children and consolidating control over the last regions in Jugdral to do anything about it. And even when his life had calmed down and the knowledge that one of Sigurd’s old allies was the monarch of the frigid country to the north truly sank in, there was no need to.

Erinys had behaved herself very well over the years, calm and professional despite the obvious distaste she held for Arvis. He never had to reprimand her for failing to follow the Empire’s laws, unlike some of the more stubborn lords under his rule, nor had she ever petitioned for aid whenever a roving group of bandits beset her lands. 

‘So long as Erinys continues to behave… I see no need to make an enemy out of her.’

If she had gone this long without antagonizing the empire… Perhaps she never would. Paranoia did not suit a man of his station, and it would do nobody any good if he began to jump at shadows.

Though Arvis wanted to jump at something much more tangible when House Dozel arrived. 

The descendants of Nál had not been the easiest bunch to deal with, nor was Arvis all that fond of Lombard despite how the former head of Dozel had been very useful to his plans. But for all his faults, and the flame-wielding sovereign could have listed many, Lombard was at the very least intelligent . 

Something that he was sure his son, Lord Danann, was not. 

“... He cannot be serious. Deirdre, my love, please tell me that fool did not bring Helswath with him…”

A soft sigh and a shake of lavender tresses was the only answer his wife had to give and Arvis wanted to groan aloud as the taller, imposing man went to one knee and bowed his head low. At the very least, he knew how to show fealty…

“Your Majesty,” he rumbled and did not so much as glance at his three sons when they all but spilled out of their father’s carriage, “House Dozel and the Helswath are at your service.” 

Only after Arvis bade him rise did Danann turn towards his progeny, and even from behind the scarlet-haired man knew that his glare must have been thunderous to corral them without so much as a word. Perhaps he was being too harsh and judgemental, Dozel was under quite a lot of stress at the moment between the rampant pillaging of bandits taking advantage of the roving monsters, and the beasts wantonly slaughtering and kidnapping wherever they wished.

‘I will, however, have a word with him about the proper time and a place to put one’s Holy Weapon on such display. Or at the very least, ask him to make a less extravagant entrance.’

The lords and ladies came and went, dukes and duchesses tested Arvis’ restraint with their simpering praise in a misguided effort to earn his favor, and Deirdre was rather openly amused by the plight of her husband. Truth be told, that smile did make everything worth it, but it would be even better if it were not at his expense.

But it was when the black-and-gold carriage from Friege arrived that Arvis snapped himself from the daze that Julius and his excessive use of cologne had set upon him. He knew his son wanted to make a good impression on everyone that he would one day rule over, more so the ladies than anyone else, yet even so… It would have to be addressed before the boy made an ass of himself at the worst time.

Bloom stepped down with Hilda’s arm entwined with his and looked every ounce of the calm, collected, and powerful man that Friege’s Lord was known to be. Dare he say it, but he even appeared to draw the eyes of several women in the crowd as he ascended the stairs like all those who had gone before him, and Hilda’s infamous attitude was nowhere to be seen before they too bowed before their liege.

“Your Highness, Friege and her people are yours to use as you see fit.”

Storm-gray and crimson eyes met as the two wielders of Holy Tomes matched each other’s gaze for a moment until Arvis grinned and seized Bloom’s forearm with a low chuckle. “Come now, I’ve been forced to hear nigh-endless praise since the day began. Why don’t you buck the trend and say something a little more genuine, my friend?”

The wielder of Mjölnir shook his head with a bemused snort and clapped Arvis on the shoulder as he and his wife made their way inside the castle. It seemed that he would have to wait until they were in private for Bloom to lay aside some formality…

“Oh? Correct me if I’m wrong, Arvis, but is that not the man Bloom wrote about in his missive some time ago?”

Aida had emerged from Belhalla after the ruling couple from Friege had gone through the wide-open doors and had taken advantage of the distraction the newest arrivals had caused to slide a little too close to his side. Deirdre glanced over at her beloved’s not-so-secret consort and sent her a brief smile as a man in a finely-crafted, elegant black-and-gold ensemble extended a hand towards the open carriage door.

“It appears to be so… But why would Bloom bring him along? Surely it would make more sense to leave a man of his caliber, if what I read was the truth, behind to watch over Friege in his absence? What could be so important as to require his presence?”

And as if Fate had decided to grant him another boon today, a gorgeous young woman clad in a stunning black dress stepped out at that exact moment. Purple fabric expertly woven into the folds of her skirt and a brilliant scarlet layer beneath broke up the dark colors normally adorned by Freige’s household, and the sash attached to gleaming, sapphire-laden golden bracelets sported a similar design to the dress itself, save for the absence of red. 

A touch of lip gloss and subtle eyeshadow accentuated her natural beauty and ensured that the eyes of every man with a pulse were fixed on her striking figure, and the bob of her ponytail held in place by an ebony band dotted with small, gem-like roses helped to make Bloom’s decision astoundingly clear. 

Ishtar, the youngest scion of Friege’s main line and the heir-in-waiting to Mjölnir was perhaps the most desirable match for any House worth a damn in all the land, and would attract a stupendous amount of attention. Attention that would surely be given by several would-be suitors of ill repute. 

“Lord Arvis, I am honored to be your guest. Please accept my sincere congratulations on your birthday, and I wish you and Her Majesty all the best in the years to come.”

It was a good thing that the curtsy rendered Ishtar unable to see the face of Arvis, for the Emperor could not resist a momentary grin. A slip of the tongue, perhaps? Or too much time spent around her father and hearing him refer to Grannvale’s ruler in such a fashion? In the end, it wasn’t important. But there was a golden opportunity that Arvis would not let go.

“Your wishes are accepted and appreciated, Lady Ishtar. In turn, I do hope you enjoy your stay at Belhalla. Though…’ Arvis trailed off and stepped forward and smoothed his face into something decidedly more neutral than he truly felt, and noted that her apparent chaperone had silently done so as well. Preparing to step in should he choose to reprimand his charge?

“I would kindly ask that you stick with ‘Your Majesty’ and the like. Out among the people, at least.”

Confusion and realization flashed across gorgeous features in an instant, and it was a mighty feat indeed to not double over with mirth at the look upon Ishtar’s pale face. Friege had truly made the day worthwhile with her alone, and Arvis made a note to never let the young woman live it down.

“Now then… You. I have been waiting to meet you for some time now. Bloom has always been a practical man, never one to go to great lengths and shower someone with praise even if they perhaps merit it. But you… His words almost glowed on the parchment when he spoke of you.”

Link’s face remained steadfast and composed as Jugdral’s Emperor spoke, and he wondered just what it was that Bloom had written in the missive sent to Belhalla to pique the interest of Arvis so. Perhaps they did not quite have as good a grip on the beasts and horrors as it seemed…

“Y-Your Majesty?!”

Aida whispered and clutched at her throat, face strained as her very life was being squeezed out. Deirdre grimaced and moved to support the redheaded woman as the two men stared each other down, and a near-visible haze shimmered into existence between them. Slowly, the onlooking crowd grew uncomfortable and began to retreat into the towers and halls of Belhalla as the inexplicable weight only increased.

Before just as soon as it had appeared, it vanished. Arvis smiled grimly to himself and his mind whirled with possibilities even as he extended a hand for this stranger, the only one to hold his gaze and stand their ground, to take.

“And now, I think I begin to understand why. Consider yourself a man of great interest to the crown of Grannvale, sir knight. Tell me, what is your name? It was included in the message of course, but it feels so detached without a formal introduction.”

A blond brow arched even as Link bowed at the waist, and took Arvis’ hand in his with a firm grip. There was a darkness in him… Something that merited a close eye in case it should ever boil over. Even still, the flames within more than overpowered the darkness… They made it flee.

“Link, Captain of Friege. At your service, Your Highness.”

With a nod of his head and a noticeably deeper bow directed toward his wife, Link sidestepped the trio and went inside once Arvis made no move to keep him from doing so. It was faint, but the sound of Ishtar speaking in a strained tone just barely reached his ears before he turned his head towards the rather-silent courtyard once more. 

‘Very, very interesting indeed… I could not detect so much as a drop of Holy Blood, and yet he contains a Sacred Power all the same. What mysteries are you hiding, my friend? And what do I have to do to coax them from your lips?’

Arvis mused and only belatedly realized Aida’s plight when the redhead gave him a look when she had resumed her place at his side, and could only offer a weak shrug in response. He would make it up to her later, he always did.

“That is Bloom’s eldest, is it not? Why does he look like he’s stared into the depths of hell itself? He’s even paler than I am…” Deirdre murmured as Ishtore and a woman who bore a resemblance to Aida so strong that the unofficial consort’s jaw nearly hit the floor, emerged from their family’s carriage and all but flew inside Belhalla.

“... It seems the next few days will be rather exciting, won’t they?” The Empress said under her breath and giggled when Aida sent Arvis a pleading, anxious look. She felt for the poor woman, truly, but her growing confusion and desperation were far too amusing to go ignored.

Gradually, the last of their visitors arrived and joined those who had gone before, and it was under the rays of the afternoon sun that Arvis retired to his chambers, several sheets of paper in one hand and a stiff drink clutched in the other. 

“Still no news from Verdane… To go this long without any sort of report, something has to have happened to the men I sent to inspect it. I just pray that they’re still alive when I go investigate myself.”

Though perhaps they would be better off otherwise…

Chapter Text

The hustle and bustle of a capital city like this hadn’t been something he’d experienced in quite some time. And even then, Castle Town had nothing on Belhalla. The last census had yet to finish when he had left Hyrule under the whims of a nagging feeling in his heart, but even if it had, Link would not be surprised if Jugdral had twice the population in Grannvale alone. And everyone seemed so much more… Alive. Energetic, less accustomed to the more idyllic and oft-times lazy way of life Hyrule had adopted during extended stretches of peace.

Though he took great pains to ensure that was never the case for her soldiers, the blond could not begrudge such a way of living. If life was so comfortable and free of threats to allow for such a thing, it was perhaps the best sign that he had done his job properly.

‘And that means I have a lot of work to do before I can say the same for Jugdral… If I’m ever able to at all, of course.’

Nobility and ordinary citizen alike were all but blurs as Link allowed Ishtar to lead him to their small section of the castle’s private quarters, though he made an effort to memorize the faces of the occasional fellow who stopped and gawked at the princess of Friege. Even though Belhalla was now practically crawling with beautiful women, Ishtar stood out and was very hard to tear one’s gaze away from. 

“So will we have our own rooms, or are we going to have to share during our stay? If we do, I advise that you let Tine stay with me, lest Hilda try and bully the poor girl when Bloom isn’t around to keep her in line.”

Painted pink lips were pursed into a thin line as the pair rounded a corner and the chatter slowly faded to a more manageable level, something Link was immensely grateful for after Ishtar relinquished her grip on his hand. 

“I think we’ll have to share, but the rooms shouldn’t be small by any means. I’ve been to Belhalla before, it’s been expanded a good deal after His Majesty ascended as Emperor. With how much effort he’s put into ensuring plenty of room, I wonder if Velthomer left him feeling cramped as a child…”

Rubbing at his ears and wondering if Jugdralian society required one to speak that loudly, the Hylian belatedly realized that he had not seen the youngest of their group since leaving the carriage. And turning around to try and find her amidst the crowd would not be an enjoyable experience…

“I-Ishtar! There you are… I thought I asked you to wait for me inside the gates?”

Luckily, it was one he would not need to endure. Ishtar winced ever so slightly under the accusatory gaze of her younger cousin and offered a weak shrug in apology when Tine crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks out in a faux pout. 

“... I forgot? I’m sorry Tine, I was so worried about not making a fool of myself in front of Lord Arvis that it completely slipped my mind. You weren’t bothered by anyone, were you?” 

With a ghost of a smile, Link strolled behind the girls and did his best to give them a little privacy as Ishtar led the way to their room. Not that there was much to be found in such a packed hall as this, but there was quite the difference between someone hovering over your shoulder and a rabble lost in their conversations. 

Of which more than a few were a little too focused on Ishtar for his liking. Though Link had always had excellent hearing, his experience with a group of Shiekah shamans had led to it and several other senses being magnified. So much so that learning how to tune out excess noise and smells, especially whenever he took on his wolf form, had been a crucial skill to learn. 

“Naga be praised… Do you see that girl over there? No, don’t make it that obvious , you idiot! You’ve gotta learn some subtlety one of these days, geez…” 

“Lord Bragi, thank you so, so much! What I’d give to spend a night with her…” A sharp glower drained the color from a lanky boy’s face, and Link suppressed the smirk when his group of friends snickered at the taller youth’s misfortune.

“Give me five minutes alone with her, and she’d be doing whatever I wanted her to do…” Now that remark… The blond made an effort to recognize his voice, as he was unable to find just which fool had said that under his breath, much to his dismay. 

Ishtar’s grip on Tine’s hand grew a little tighter at the comments and leers thrown her way by her supposed peers, and she was once again reminded why disliking formal gatherings such as this was an entirely valid opinion. For others, it served as a wonderful opportunity to socialize and rub shoulders with the elite of Jugdral’s society. But for the youngest of Friege’s main line…

It served as a stark reminder that there were far too many amongst her generation who saw her as little more than a piece of meat.

“Ishtar, a-are we almost there yet? There are too many people around for me, isn’t there another way to our rooms?” 

Tine said and tried to ignore how her cousin’s frown grew more severe as they walked along, before it was replaced with a startled expression that quickly gave way to a blush. 

Icy blue eyes all but dared anyone to speak up as Link matched Ishtar’s strides after he reached out to grab her hand, and more than a few of the now-silenced throng found the bravery to send jealous glowers at the Hylian when Ishtar took his gesture a step further and offered him her arm. Tine wanted to giggle at just how red the older girl had become but with a monumental effort of will, repressed the desire. For the moment at least.

It was only after they had rounded the corner and left the hall behind that the twin-tailed girl turned her head to give Ishtar a small, teasing smile. One that was met with an attempt at an unamused stare, but the crimson cheeks and a shameless, teeth-baring grin from Link resulted in a giggling fit that saw Tine being half-dragged the rest of the way.


“S-Stop smiling… You’re only encouraging her.” Ishtar muttered and tried to ignore the quirk of her lips thanks to the unfettered joy present on the face of the purple-eyed girl. It was hard to begrudge Tine for her teasing, the poor lass was rarely half this lively or excited back at Friege. It was no secret that there was bad blood between her and Hilda, the cause of which Ishtar assumed to be her mother blaming Tailtu’s daughter for the one “stain” on their family in the past 100 years.

“No can do, sorry. She could use some encouragement. Honestly, I think she hasn’t teased you enough, and you look too cute with that blush for me to try and stop her now.”

Silently thanking her minor Fjalar heritage, Ishtar battled the desire of her face to burst into flame as they walked along the halls of Belhalla. But perhaps that wouldn’t be such a bad outcome if it meant being spared from the teasing duo on either side of her. 

‘Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if Link somehow has a way to communicate with spirits in his bag of tricks…’

The clack of her heels along the floor was the only sound Ishtar paid any attention to as the young woman allowed her thoughts to consume her mind and tuned out the conversation of her two companions. But even with the decision to pay no great heed to the duo, it was impossible to ignore them fully. And even if she could…

Ishtar wouldn’t miss the chance to see Tine openly enjoying herself and smiling for just about anything. 

“A group hug, really? That’s what had you so scared you took off running?” The twin-tailed girl asked with an incredulous grin that turned into another fit of giggles when the previously unflappable Link shuddered and a dark look formed on his face, as if he had just gazed into Hell itself. 

“You’ve never seen a Goron, you wouldn’t understand. Imagine a living boulder, essentially, getting up and deciding it wanted to squeeze you as tight as it possibly could with no real concept of ‘too much force’. I was 10, yes it was enough to send me screaming. ”

Even now, Link did not relish revisiting that particular memory, which was exactly the reason Zelda liked to tease him with it so much. The Gorons would not dare offer her the same treatment, but all bets were off when it came to the Hero, it seemed. 

“... You actually know how to flee in terror? You?” Ishtar spoke up with raised brows and eyes that glittered with a light that made the Hylian realize he had revealed a little bit too much, perhaps.

“When faced with back-breaking hugs from moving boulders, I have discovered that fear is the appropriate response. The Gorons are wonderful people and their leader is a very good friend of mine, but restraint is not something they’re all that good at practicing.”

The bemused look on her face did not have quite the effect Ishtar would have liked as a result of her still-reddened cheeks, but her embarrassment had started to fade at last due to this newfound information. Getting Link to open up about Hyrule and his past beyond vague, general statements and skirting around the adventures the blond had gone on was maddening, but Tine seemed to be able to coax stories out of him without much effort on her part.

“Couldn’t you have just turned them down? If they’re as wonderful as you say they are, they would have understood and not taken offense at that, right?” Ishtar watched with mirth in her eyes as her cousin continued to press the Hylian as they finally entered the hall that led to their rooms and truly left the crowd of louts behind.

“... No. Gorons don’t exactly work like that, they’re very simple for the most part, they wouldn’t have understood why I rejected their offer no matter how long I tried to explain it. Now if I found myself in that same situation today, chances are I’d probably still turn them down but I wouldn’t be in danger of having my spine pulverized .”


Tine merely arched a brow and stroked her chin as she considered whether or not to press the blond further, but was robbed of the chance by the sudden arrival of three raucous youths in the hall behind them. She shrank behind her cousin and prayed that the resulting groan from Ishtar was merely the result of an annoyance having just appeared, and nothing more.

“The gods must have a sick sense of humor… It appears that our quarters will be near Dozel for our stay. That’s the eldest of Lord Danann, Brian, corralling his younger siblings. Johan and Johalva. Johan is the one with the more unruly hair and manner, while Johalva has, usually, more sense and takes greater care regarding his appearance. All three brothers possess Major Blood and can inherit the Helswath , but at the moment Brian has been all but stated to be his father’s heir.” 

Link hummed under his breath and took careful note of the way each brother tensed at the sight of Ishtar, Johan especially. Not that he could blame them for such a response given how the sight of her in Estrid’s dress had nearly made him choke on his tongue at first glance. Even now it was hard to keep his eyes off the young woman who shot an apologetic glance at Link and all but marched Tine into a room down at the end of the hall. 

“Ahh, curses! We would have been here in time if you weren’t hitting on that maiden at the castle entrance, Johalva!” 

“Me?! You’re the one who couldn’t stop ranting about how beautiful the Empress was! I was the one trying to drag you away before His Majesty could hear you and burn us alive!” The grin that spread across his face, however, could not be suppressed as easily as laughter once the Dozel siblings began to argue without an ounce of attention paid to the blond.

“She’s the Empress! It would be the most grievous of insults if I did not wax poetic at her ethereal, otherworldly beauty! But perhaps you are right, my little brother-”


“Johan, for the last time , we are twins . We are the exact same age , you nitwit-”

The corners of his lips twitched as Link faced the three brothers and fought down a chuckle at the way Johalva reached out to yank on Johan’s hair, much to Brian’s exasperation.


“-That it is a foolish decision to compliment a lady’s beauty when her beloved husband is in earshot. But, that Ishtar of Friege?” Johan said in a voice that turned low as he ignored the twitching brow and pulsing eye of his brother to cast his gaze down the hall that the descendants of Thrud had just vacated. “She is not taken by any man, to my knowledge, so perhaps I would have more success with her-”

“Brian, is it? You are Lord Dozel’s eldest?” Link spoke up and ignored the dirty look sent by the now-twice-interrupted Johan. “I advise that you remind your brother to mind his tongue while he is here in Belhalla. All it takes for an incident to occur is for him to run his mouth about a woman around the wrong person, and I would like this party to go smoothly. This outfit is much too nice to damage by stopping a fight before it escalates, and the woman who made it would string me up by my toes if that were to happen.”


Green eyes lingered on the Hylian’s twitching hand for a moment as if sizing him up before Brian gave Link a curt nod and pinched the top of his hapless brother’s ear. “Your advice is duly noted, sir. Rest assured that I will be keeping Johan’s roving eye in check lest he cause any incidents to occur. Good day.” 

He waited until the brothers three walked by, or in Johan’s case, was dragged past, before Link eyed the entrance to the hall and the door Ishtar had vanished behind moments ago. A desire to explore clashed with the obligation to ensure she was left unbothered and, more importantly, guarded from the foolish and impulse-driven youths that had doubtlessly started running wild within Belhalla’s halls.

But… How often would he get another chance like this? To roam where he pleased without anyone to tell him otherwise? Well, within reason of course. Link may have had an insatiable desire to explore and go wherever his feet would take him, but he wasn’t a ruffian or thug breaking into people’s rooms. 

‘Their houses, on the other hand… Well, the people in Jugdral know how to lock a door, I’ll give them that.’ 

Black boots made nary a sound as the Hylian went back towards the bustling hall and wondered how best to entertain himself amongst the gathered throngs of Jugdral’s people, though that was perhaps second to the urge to find the nearest cold glass of milk around. A man had to have his priorities in order, after all. 

Tine didn’t say a word when Ishtar took her by the shoulders and marched her into one of the several rooms set aside for Friege in the east wing of Belhalla, having long made up her mind on the way there that sticking close to her cousin would be the best way to avoid any problems. 

“I-Ishtar, are you sure it’s a good idea to leave Link all alone? He’s never been here before and this place is so big, if he gets lost it could be hours before we find him again.”

Violet eyes glanced at the locked door before Ishtar took a seat on one of the two beds present within the large, ornately furnished room and began to remove the bejeweled band from her hair. “I assure you, Tine, he can handle himself. Even with Link wearing Friege’s colors and bearing our crest, he stands out from the crowd easily enough to make finding him a matter of asking around for his location. Besides…”

The older girl clucked her tongue and shook her head as lavender locks fell down her back once Ishtar’s ponytail was undone and she continued to undress, “I would like to spend as little time as possible in the presence of House Dozel. Brian on his own is fine conversation and a decent fellow, but his brothers? I’ve heard enough of Johan’s attempts to flirt and attract women to avoid him entirely. Johalva… Perhaps he wouldn’t be so bad, he does appear to take after his older brother, but, well, there’s one issue with Johalva.”


A sigh of relief fell from Tine’s lips once she removed her shoes and gingerly massaged sore and sensitive feet, silently bemoaning the footwear required by her presence at the capital. “What is it?”


“Wherever he is, Johan is as well. He’s nowhere near as boisterous or as braggadocious as his brother, thank the gods. However, he’s taken it upon himself to try and keep his twin out of trouble as best he can, so avoiding them both is merely the logical action if I want to have some peace and quiet during our stay here.”


“And what about their father? Lord… Dannan, right? I think Uncle Bloom said he’s another Major Blood like you are, Ishtar.” Tine’s black dress glittered in the torchlight after pulling it off with care and slipped into a lilac sleeping gown, the younger girl worn out from the journey to Belhalla and intent on getting some rest while she could.


“He is, yes, but Dannan is… Well, he’s never been an exemplary noble, but that was before these beasts appeared. Dozel has been among the territories that have suffered the most and taken the Emperor’s aid the instant it was offered. Lord Arvis has had to muster several new legions over the last few months, not to mention the money he’s had to loan or the supplies that have been shipped across the continent to try and sustain territories that can’t safely produce enough food anymore.”

Ishtar glanced over at her cousin and allowed a small grin to spread once she noticed the horrid attempt to suppress a yawn by the younger girl. “Going to bed already, Tine? We’ve only just arrived, don’t you want to walk around the castle first?” she teased gently and giggled when a light flush colored Tine’s cheeks.

“L-Look, you know I didn’t get much sleep on the way here ok? Link’s stories were way too interesting and Hilda being there made me antsy every hour, give me a break…” With puffed-out cheeks and crossed arms, Tine was once again the adorable young lady that Ishtar rarely saw these days. 

A low whine reached her ears once those cheeks were playfully pinched and Ishtar ruffled Tine’s hair before she started to dress herself in something much more suitable for a stroll around Belhalla. The purple blouse that had gone underneath Estrid’s masterpiece remained and was paired with a matching knee-length skirt, and Ishtar slipped her now bare feet into a pair of strapped brown-leather sandals. 

Her lips were pursed around a hair tie while she opened the door and pulled the rather lengthy lavender mane into order, sighing in relief once the lower ponytail was in place. ‘Hopefully, I’ll adjust to the higher one in time for the dance, I’d hate to be fussing with it all night long.’ 

Violet eyes glanced around the hall and Ishtar scoffed under her breath when she saw neither head nor hide of Link anywhere, though it wasn’t exactly a surprise. After all, it was his first visit to Belhalla, and the Hylian liked to roam whenever he got the chance. Or whenever there was no pressing need for his presence or if he’d been cooped inside the castle all day… If there was a remotely viable excuse for Link to wander as he pleased, he would take it without shame.

“He could have at least let me know before leaving like this…” she muttered and silently prayed none of those louts from before would be in her path as her long legs carried her to the entrance of the guest wing, intent on both tracking down her errant “chaperone” and finding something to eat. Sitting in a carriage for a little over three days on end had left them all hungrier than one would think, the lack of a proper meal and only a few breaks to stretch their legs had doubtlessly left Link with the same intentions in mind. 

Hoping that her guess proved correct, Ishtar worked to recall the way around the capital while avoiding the more populated areas full of her peers and the older nobility that seemed to care little regarding the boorish attitudes of their collective heirs. That these people would be the future leaders of Jugdral caused a shudder to run down her spine, and a silent prayer was sent to the gods above that life would beat some maturity into them.

Lest some fool say the wrong thing around the wrong person and it was actually beaten into them. Though, Ishtar mused while neatly sidestepping a gaggle of rambunctious children, that would be quite the sight to see. 

‘Somehow, I doubt I would be lucky enough to see it.’ A smile played at her lips while the parents of the kids hurried after their progeny with a shouted apology before they rounded a corner and vanished from view, and she turned to give a very pointed look at nearby furniture in the hall. 

“You really shouldn’t be subjecting your parents to this, you know. I understand that you want to run around and play, but you must behave yourselves and stay close in the palace. Understand?”

Slowly, three girls and two boys crawled out from behind benches, couches, stands, and underneath a small table to gather in front of the stern-faced heiress. Ishtar folded her arms and maintained that look long enough for the children to cast their eyes to the ground with slumped shoulders before she reached out and patted them all on the head. 

“It isn’t safe to be around strangers without your parents to supervise, but… It’s been hard finding safe places to play these days, hasn’t it?”

The eldest of them, a sunny-haired girl with a freckled face and brown eyes that were filled with far too much sorrow for her liking, looked up at Ishtar and quietly gathered her siblings behind her. “Mom and Dad won’t let us run around our town no more… We can’t go visit our Uncle on his farm either, they say it’s not safe with those things outside. Please don’t tell on us to the guards, we’ll behave!”

A sad smile spread across her face at the little girl’s words, and she wondered just what kind of plan, if any, the Empire had for dealing with the monsters plaguing Grannvale. No, all of Jugdral at this point. 

“Rest assured, I will keep your activities a secret. Your parents, on the other hand, will be relieved to know that you’re safe and sound. Why don’t we go look for them together?” Ishtar beckoned the small group to follow along while she retraced her steps back down the hall and turned to her right, hoping that their parents hadn’t gotten too far away.

But, as she quickly discovered, worry and anxiety over one’s lost children had lent them a great deal of speed. A small sigh escaped her lips and she toyed with the idea of simply keeping the children with her for the foreseeable future, one that had more merit than she expected. Of course, the fact that this meant a much faster trek to the kitchens didn’t hurt.


“... Are you all hungry, by any chance?” Ishtar said with a raised brow and grinned when five heads turned as one to face her, with the youngest boy nodding so fast she wondered if he’d hurt his neck in the process. “Why don’t we get something to eat before we start searching for your mom and dad then, hmm? Belhalla is a very large castle and it would not be fun to walk around on an empty stomach.”

Left unmentioned was the fact that she had no clue what their parents even looked like beyond a vague “tall and chestnut-brown hair” for the father and that it could be a long time before they were reunited. Hopefully, this would serve as a lesson to not wander away in the future no matter how badly they might want to explore. 

At first, she had tried asking if anyone had seen her targets, relaying the description from the oldest sibling, a girl of nine years named Astrid, and hoping that this would shorten their search drastically. But she should have known better than to expect it to be that easy, as not a soul that answered her questions had seen them around. 

Then Ishtar went to the numerous soldiers stationed throughout the castle to keep any incidents from occurring thanks to the readily available supply of alcohol, but that too proved fruitless. Much as the idea displeased her, the heiress of Friege herded Astrid and her siblings close like a hen would her chicks and waded into the great hall. It stood to reason that the place with the most people would have the highest chances of stumbling across their parents, but that relied far too much on chance for Ishtar’s liking. 

Especially due to the presence of the rowdy young men who leered and ogled any halfway attractive girl without a care in the world. One of the fools who had been cowed by Link earlier seemed to recognize her across the hall, but a glower that could turn even Valflame to ice dissuaded him from approaching. Unfortunately bereft of tomes or even a knife to defend herself she may be, but Ishtar was far from a defenseless little girl. 

“Ain’t you a little young to have this many brats already?” A portly man slurred with a gaze that was far too amorous for her liking, and his eyes were already bloodshot and glassy. Several empty glasses of wine littered the table in front of him and the smell caused Ishtar to blanch in naked revulsion. “Whas wrong girlie? Lookin’ for their daddy? C’mere and I’ll f-fill that hole fer ya-”

“The only thing you will fill, swine, is that bottomless pit you call a mouth. Be silent, lest someone render you incapable of even that. ” 

Lightning flashed in her eyes and Ishtar clamped down on the urge to smite the oaf as she walked past with one last contemptuous glare, belatedly recognizing him as a minor noble from the lands of House Yngvi, and made a mental note to find out where his hold was in order make sure she never stepped foot inside its borders. 

Having added yet another example to an ever-growing list of why she detested these types of gatherings, Ishtar turned her attention back to the group of children while she bobbed and weaved through the throngs of newcomers to Belhalla and old nobility alike. The great hall proved to be a waste of time in her search, and so Friege’s princess returned to her original journey toward sustenance. 

Thankfully, much to both her relief and annoyance, one of her objectives was completed once the small group arrived at a small mess hall near the kitchens. Those blond bangs stood out like red wine on a white shirt, though Ishtar knew for a fact everyone around him would be more attentive to the blue-eyed man’s pointed ears than something so mundane as his hair. 

“... and he shows up to the fight without his axe, but, and I’m not making this up, it’s too stupid to do that, he holds out his hand and asks me to wait . To wait!” 

Her instincts blared a warning and Ishtar snatched Astrid back before a soldier bearing the crest of Velthomer’s Roten Ritter spewed ale from his lips and coughed and laughed in equal measure. Lavender brows were knit together and Bloom’s youngest repressed a sigh before she turned to face Link with her arms folded and a nonplussed look on her face.

“You could have at least told me where you were going, Link. I’ve spent almost half an hour looking for you, with kids in tow I might add.” 

The Hylian had enough shame to wince and give her an apologetic look before rising from the table, and Link waved off his newfound friends with a quick smile and a promise to continue the story later. 

“In trouble with the missus, eh? We’ll save you a spot for when she’s done chewing you out.” An older, greying knight rumbled after draining his third mug and setting it to the side, wholly ignorant to the rapidly growing blush on Ishtar’s face and the hitch in Link’s gait as the pair walked away to a far table in the mess hall.

“... D-Did he just say what I think he did?” Ishtar stammered out and fought the urge to go back to the table and correct his erroneous assumption, if only for the fact that rumors spread overnight and turned into scandals before the truth could even get its shoes on. “What were you t-telling them anyway?”

“He’s… More than a little drunk right now, the ale here is not for the faint of heart. And besides the one story you overheard? I might have been trying to see what Velthomer’s soldiers were thinking about the monsters and how they’re handling things over here. I wouldn’t be surprised if Arvis- ow!”

Small sparks of lightning danced between gloved fingers and left a sharp stinging sensation along Link’s side where the red-faced heiress had just poked him, and it took more effort than the oldest of their little group would like to admit to not flick her on the forehead. 

“You cannot use the Emperor’s name so lightly, Link. Especially here in the capitol of Grannvale. I don’t think His Majesty would do more than give you a stern reminder, but even my father doesn’t use his name like that unless he’s specifically asked to do so.” Ishtar’s blush had faded to a mere rosy hue by the time she had sat down beside Astrid and her siblings, much to his chagrin, and the Hylian smothered an urge to reach across the table to pinch the youngest’s chubby cheeks. 

“... Point. But did you really have to shock me like that? Could have got my attention without the lightning, Ishtar.” Link grumbled before the door near the table he had just recently vacated swung open, and the smell of food was almost enough to make even Ishtar’s mouth begin to water. 

Clad in flour-covered aprons and red tunics with Belhalla’s logo emblazoned on their shoulders, a group of apprentice cooks wheeled out two small carts of food to the table full of soldiers first while a freckle-faced brunette carefully carried a tray of salted pork, steamed rolls and a fish filet on the side over to the all but openly drooling Link. Once the Hylian had taken his meal and the all-important pitcher of milk was set down, it only took him seconds to realize that neither Ishtar nor the children with her had any food on the way.



“Split this up between you and the kids, would you? I can wait until later to get something to eat.” 

The young noblewoman paused and looked ready to admonish him for foregoing a meal when Astrid bumped against her side with a hungry look in her eyes. Ishtar shot Link a rueful smile and began to divide the pork and rolls between the five siblings before she tried to give them half of the fish as well, only to chuckle when five noses blanched in unison at the smell.

“Very well, more for me. It’s been too long since I last had fish, anyway.” 

Mutterings of how she had eaten it for breakfast the day of their departure for Belhalla went ignored with all the grace expected from a lady of her station, which was to say she gave Link a playful smile and set about cutting the filet in half once the kids began to eat. Ishtar was tempted to wolf it down right away upon her stomach making its hunger known, but proper table manners had been all but beaten into her from a very young age.

“Here, at least eat something Link. I won’t have you go without anything at all before dinner tonight.” 

Blue eyes flicked between the cut salmon and her deceptive smile, one that did not quite carry over to the rest of Ishtar’s face. One that silently dared him to argue or try and contest this decision. If he had been anyone else, it might have cowed him or at least made any attempt at arguing much less appealing. 

However, Link had stared down much more threatening women than Ishtar of Friege before. Like Zelda when he had to get her up before the crack of dawn. 

“It’s been just as long since breakfast for you, too, Ishtar. I’m no stranger to going most of the day without eating, sometimes more than a day if supplies are low. I’ll be fine, really.” 

Now her brow had started to twitch when Link had gently pushed her offered half of what had been his fish away with a smile that was growing more vexing by the second. But that was likely the exact reaction he was looking for, Ishtar realized once she allowed herself to calm down and dismiss the burgeoning irritation before it could take root.

“Be that as it may, as Heiress of Friege it is my duty to look after those who fall under our banner. That includes you, Captain . So, as a request from your superior, please eat. I insist.” 

That little grunt was the most rewarding sound she’d ever heard in her life. It was the sound of him realizing that there was no convenient wordplay that could be used to sidestep something so direct, at least not without taking so long the fish grew cold. Victory surged within her breast as Link shot her a mock glare and ate his half of salmon with a look on his handsome features that promised vengeance sometime soon.

Which was entirely irrational in her mind. All that she had done was be a good example of nobility and grace, why he should be on his knees thanking her for such a magnanimous gift-


“Heiress? Is… Is that like a princess?”

The children had been so quiet that Ishtar had almost forgotten they were there in the first place. A light tingle of pink crept along her face as she awkwardly swallowed and coughed into her elbow, only for her blush to fade as quickly as it came once she saw the wicked grin on Link’s face.


“Yes, yes it is! The Dukedom of Friege is a very important and powerful territory, and Ishtar is next in line to lead her family once her father steps down. So she’s a Princess right now, and will be a Queen of her lands in the future.”

Astrid’s eyes widened as she looked at Ishtar in a new light, her eyes filled with the wonder of a little girl meeting a princess right from the stories her parents told at bedtime. A smile formed and Ishtar wondered just how she was going to get back at her far-too-amused “escort” for this, but with what the freckle-faced youth had said earlier, indulging Astrid and her siblings for a short while wouldn’t hurt.

‘At least, it won’t hurt me. Link, on the other hand… We’ll see about that.’

Willingly oblivious to the plotting and scheming going on within the mind of Grannvale’s youngest heiress, the Hero from Hyrule stretched his arms as far as he dared and watched with unabashed glee as Ishtar was bombarded with question after question by an awestruck Astrid. There would be retribution for this down the road, he knew, but that was a problem to be dealt with later. 

‘Besides, she had it coming for swiping my hat on the day we left. I think this is more than fair on my part but I doubt she will be so reasonable.’

Link finished the last of his portion of salmon and resisted the urge to chug straight from the pitcher of milk to wash it down, opting to pour himself a glass instead, and inwardly bemoaned that no one would know of his sacrifice on their behalf. Truly, being a Hero was a thankless job sometimes, but someone has to do it-

“Ah, there she is!”

It lasted for an instant, maybe not even that long, but a look of resigned annoyance and a desire to be anywhere else formed on Ishtar’s face once her eyes glanced over his shoulder. Link would never claim to be the smartest man alive, in fact, he could name several individuals who might testify that the opposite was true, but it didn’t take the Triforce of Wisdom to know what that grimace meant. 

A tall, lanky blond with the kind of sneer on his face that only youthful arrogance and the absence of any real struggles in life could bring strolled into the room, one hand in the pockets of his trousers and the other clutching at a chalice of what was presumably wine. Great, he was likely tipsy as well. Only many hours of practice when it came to dealing with snooty nobles kept Link’s sigh internal. For the moment, at least.

“I’ve been looking all over for you since we arrived at Belhalla yesterday afternoon, but it seems you enjoy making me wait for you, Ishtar.” His smile did not reach those brown eyes in the slightest, and the thinly veiled contempt for the children seated on Ishtar’s left in his gaze reminded him of Ingo during his period as Ganondorf’s lackey.

“It is not my fault that Yngvi being farther away than Friege required your party to leave earlier than mine, Scorpio. It wasn’t that long ago that we arrived ourselves.” 

Link had to give her credit, Ishtar didn’t react when the uninvited guest sat down on her right and inched closer owing to the lack of space on the bench, but it was when he tried to put an arm around her shoulders that she gave him a look which brought Scorpio’s attempt to a halt. 

“... Point, but even with that I imagine you had to set out yesterday morning, afternoon at the latest, to have arrived recently. Jugdral truly is excessively large, is it not?” The young man said and took a drink of his wine with a muttered complaint about the “Emperor and his stupid birthday party”, something that Link would have toasted to if he were anywhere else but Belhalla.

“Is there something that you need from me, Scorpio? It is unlike you to drop by to merely exchange pleasantries.” The blond noted how forced her polite tone was while he took a long drink from his glass of milk, and paid no mind to the incredulous expression on Scorpio’s face. Not very many people understood the glorious taste and worth of milk in comparison to wine, something extremely overrated in his opinion, and Link was just fine leaving them alone in their ignorance. 

“Actually yes, yes there is. You see I have yet to find myself a dance partner for His Majesty’s ball, and a beautiful young lady such as you should not go unaccompanied at such an important event. But not to worry, Ishtar. I will be your companion on the dance floor and beyond. It is only logical that we pair up, seeing as we are of similar age, you are the heir to your house while I have just assumed leadership of mine, and neither one of us is betrothed to another. But perhaps this could lay the foundations for a union between Yngvi and Friege, no?”

… He had to respect Scorpio’s guts if nothing else. Lavender brows twitched and a jaw clenched as Scorpio moved to lay his arm over her shoulder once more, and Link had to wonder just how long Ishtar would tolerate his presence. 

“Much as that match might uplift House Yngvi, I’m afraid Lady Ishtar is already spoken for regarding the dance. As far as her future spouse is concerned, that’s still to be decided. I thank you for stopping by to say hello, Scorpio, but I must ask you to leave.”

His fellow blond glared daggers when he finished speaking, the same kind of glare thrown his way time and again by self-absorbed dukes and princes who tried to waltz into Hyrule for Zelda’s hand in marriage. They could count themselves lucky if she merely turned their proposal down, but the foolish few who had pressed the issue and had their egos subsequently brutalized by Zelda had become the stuff of legend amongst the castle guards. 

“And who are you to speak in her stead?” Scorpio began, rising from the table as venom filled his voice. “Ishtar, is this cur bothering you? I can have him thrown out like a dog if you but say the word-”

“I’m the Captain of Friege’s Guard, to answer your first question. Second, you are the one who approached and invited himself to our table, so if anyone is being a bother here I believe it would be you. Thirdly, and finally…”

The Hylian looked at the sneering youth and decided to finish his milk instead. After all, a man had to have his priorities in order. And once he set the now-empty cup on the table… 

“Did it ever once occur to you that Ishtar might already have a date for the dance, Scorpio? Or are you so used to getting everything you want that denial never seemed possible.”

Scorpio seemed to have enough sense to realize that he might have made a mistake when Link stood from his seat and towered over the rapidly paling youth, and a glance to his left at Ishtar’s icy glare drove any fight he had out of him. Muttered threats and empty promises of retribution reached their ears as the youngest Lord in Grannvale turned tail and fled from the room, much to his relief. 

‘Estrid would have me killed if I picked a fight in this thing… Why haven’t I changed yet? Oh, right, 'cause I wanted to explore before that.’

Ishtar inspected her nails without even a glance while Scorpio exited as if she truly could not have cared less, though the slump of her shoulders said otherwise. Even the children took notice of her relief, though that was quickly ignored in favor of asking questions about her daily life once more. Sometimes, he envied just how quickly kids could shrug things off and act as if nothing had ever happened to disrupt their lives, but only for a moment.

“Well, much as I enjoyed getting a little snack, we still need to find your parents Astrid. Come on, we’ll go down the other hall and look there.” 

It was impressive, how she herded them almost without thought around her person with the youngest in her arms and her free hand wound around a yawning straw-haired boy’s wrist. If he didn’t know any better Link would have sworn Ishtar had prior experience with children, or perhaps this was just that maternal instinct at work. Whatever it was, she was very good at it.

“What do they look like? Does your dad have hair like yours, or do you get it from your mom?” 

Astrid hummed aloud as they went along with the blond hanging at the back of their little group, close enough to reach everyone in an instant if need be yet able to ensure no one wandered off without notice.

“Papa has hair like mine, Mama’s is darker. She made me a dress just like hers with Grammy’s help, isn’t it pretty?” The freckle-faced girl spun around with a grin that brought one to his face and coaxed a chuckle from Ishtar while they strolled along, checking every room in hopes of finding two worried parents.

“The second prettiest dress I’ve seen today, I promise you.” One lavender brow arched in bemusement once Link knelt beside Astrid, pretended to cover his mouth with a gloved hand and whispered loud enough for her to hear. “Don’t tell her this, but I actually think yours is much prettier than Ishtar’s.” 

Though it was a struggle to suppress her reaction, the blonde girl managed to keep from revealing Link’s “secret” by smothering a giggle with both hands. The sight of this brought a nostalgic touch to Ishtar’s smile and she let herself drift back to the time when Bloom doted on her like the proudest father in the world.

“Oh thank Heim! Frigga, I found them!” 

But there were also times when Bloom was the most worried father in the world, much like the sandy-blond running down the hall with a face white as snow. Behind him was a woman with hair black as pitch, maybe even darker with how her face matched her husband as they ran toward their children. 

“Mama! Papa!” 

The youngest wriggled out of her grip and nearly fell flat on his face were it not for Ishtar’s reflexes and quick hands, and as five children faced the prospect of asphyxiation, she wondered just how long it would be until a single one of them would be allowed to leave their parents sides. 

“Thank the gods… We were looking everywhere for you, Erik and I were worried someone had taken you away! What have we told you about going where we can’t see you?” 

Astrid and her siblings, save for the youngest who was too busy clinging tightly to his father, had the decency to look down at the floor while their mother fussed and fretted over them all. What little could be gleaned of the whispered chastisement served as a reminder to Ishtar that, while the people of Friege were relatively untouched and able to live normal lives despite the monsters from Hyrule, the rest of Grannvale was not so lucky. 

“I, I don’t know how I can express our thanks for you finding our children, young lady. I know it isn’t much, but if you and your beau are ever by Riverun Village in Dozel, we will happily provide a place to stay.”

Ishtar’s face froze momentarily as Erik turned to join his wife in wrangling their children, and then it slowly grew into the finest shade of crimson Link had ever seen. His cheeks were getting a little heated at the man’s assumption, yet he couldn’t deny that the notion of being involved with Ishtar was a pleasant one. 

“I feel like that assumption will be a thorn in my side later on… We should have corrected him before they left.” Link mused and debated giving chase to them before word reached certain ears, only to pause upon catching sight of Ishtar’s face. “What? I didn’t even do anything this time, don’t look at me like that.”

“... Is there a reason why you sound bothered, Link? Am I so repulsive to you that the idea of being together is enough to dismay you so?” Despite the scarlet hue of her face, Ishtar’s tone was deceptively light and bore no evidence of her embarrassment. Were it not for a glimmer of mirth in those violet eyes, Link might have thought she was genuinely annoyed.

“It’s not that I’m opposed to the idea, you might be the only woman in Grannvale who would tolerate me for more than a couple of months actually. But it’s your father’s reaction that worries me, Ishtar. While I’m interested in seeing how well I match up to a Holy Weapon, that is not the way I’d like to find out.”

She stared at him as if a second head had sprouted from his shoulders before a long-suffering sigh escaped her lips and Ishtar pinched the bridge of her nose. “Tine was right, you are mad.”

“Is this about the bomb arrows? I have told you that they are perfectly safe! Light, aim, fire, that’s it!” There was a vein that pulsed on the back of his head, a sign that he really should just let this go and disregard what they thought of his genius, yet Link just couldn’t keep his mouth shut when it came to this topic.

Ishtar bit back a snicker and shook her head before she started strolling down the hall, her ponytail bobbing to and fro with every step. “Only you would speak so casually about facing a Holy Weapon, Link. Though… Perhaps I should mention that little ‘rumor’ to my father, it would be amusing to watch you scramble around the training grounds.” 

“... I should have left you to that Skulltula Queen.”