title (a zelink oneshot)

title

(Art is unrelated, but I thought it was cool and dramatic.)

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Link tapped his index finger on his glass, his bored blue eyes following the crowds of people as they moved around the ballroom. The ladies twirled with their partners, their gowns fanning out and covering the floor with their beautiful colors of golds and whites, of purples and blues, and of greens and reds. Each dancing pair positively shone with happiness as the crystalline chandeliers overhead offered their light upon them, their smiles bright and their cheeks brighter as they smiled at their partner.

Link found himself tapping the glass faster, the clinking sound causing several nobles and knights to glance or stare in his direction. He stopped the tapping when he noticed their judging gazes; he took a sip from his glass and set it on a nearby table. He leaned back in his chair and propped his head on his hand as his elbow rested against the white clothed table, his gaze returning to the room in front of him.

The music began to slow, several of the previous dancers fluttering from the stage, the ladies accompanied by their partners back into the throng of people. Except... for one.

Link's interest was sparked when he spotted a lady in particular, one wearing a royal blue dress, left the stage alone. Her hands were wiping at her face, though he couldn't tell if she was crying, or if she simply had something on her face. Before he could identify the person, she had disappeared into the crowd, heading out the doorway and leaving the majestic ballroom.

Part of Link wanted to see if she was alright, wanted to see if she was indeed crying, and see if he should help. Though another side of him was nervous to even try and approach her; she, despite the situation, seemed to be of a higher station than him. Would he even be able to leave without someone noticing? If they did, surely they'd think he was leaving. And if a rumor like that spread while he was out, surely Impa or Purah would catch word and come after him (again).

"Excuse me, Link, are you alright?"

Link snapped from his thoughts so quickly he knocked his glass onto the marble floor. His eyes flickered from one person to the other, eventually focusing in on the people in front of him.

King Rhoam himself, accompanied by one of the kindly noble women, stood in front of him. Rhoam looked mildly interested, while the noble woman immediately went to helping in cleaning up the mess the wine had made.

"O-Oh goodness, Link, I'm so sorry I-I didn't mean to startle you," she stammered, taking up various napkins in her hand and wiping at the floor.

Link shook his head getting up from his seat, and somehow knocking that over too. He swore under his breath and brought the chair back to standing, his attention darting from the mess he just stepped in and his king looking down at him in mild disdain. "A-apologies, milady, th-that was my fault," Link stammered, taking up a napkin and wiping the last of the wine from the floor.

The noble woman stood up, throwing away the napkins and straightening her blue and white gown. She patted Link on the shoulder and gave him a sort of sympathetic smile. "No need to apologize, Link. It's alright. We all slip up sometimes, and tonight..." she gestured with her gloved hand to the lavishly decorated room around them, "tonight is the perfect excuse to be nervous."

Link raised a brow. "What do you mean by perfect excuse...?" he inquired.

King Rhoam let out a weary sigh. "Tonight not only marks the end of another prosperous year for Hyrule," he said in his slow and authoritative voice, "but it also marks the start of a new generation of knights to defend us against Calamity Ganon and all else that intends to do the kingdom harm. And considering, of course, you are the most well-known knight for your unparalleled skill in the blade, and that you wield the sword that seals the darkness, it would make some sense you would be a bit unnerved by simply being here."