The Silence Between Them | ✔

14) Advice

⚔ In which Link needs help to sort out his feelings ⚔

Link

The following day, the princess and I leave for the desert and our last stop in Gerudo Town. I hate to leave Mipha now, especially when I feel guilty for rejecting her like that, but she insists we're still on good terms. I can't be sure, but all I can do is trust her.

The ride from the Domain to the dessert is the worst one yet. It's long, crossing practically the entire kingdom. I suggest taking one road and spending one night in the castle since there is a short detour, but the princess seems strongly against this idea, so I don't argue. We ride past the court and get to Riverside Stable after nightfall.

Now, I've been to this stable before. Being so close to Castle Town and a short ride away from the Outpost, it's usually bustling. They serve dinners and ale, and there's music until midnight when the owner forces everyone to bed. My unit friends and I have come here before, after visiting the Outpost. Even Captain Westfall came with us, and it was terrific, and the owner forced us out. We got back to the castle at two in the morning. I think the music and laughter drew the princess toward the stable, to begin with, or else we could have made it to Outskirt Stable.

When we get our horses checked in, the princess seems to walk inside like she's in a trance. Men and women in traveler's clothes dance around the room like they're in a ball. Fast-paced music plays from a record player on the counter, and a young boy carries a try of ale around the room, offering it to some. I hesitate when the boy comes to me, looking at the princess.

"Go ahead, Link. I know how much you enjoy dancing," she says softly.

I don't know why she's being so nice to me, but I'll take it as a win. Plus, something to get my mind off Mipha for a while would be nice. So, I take a mug of ale from the boy and wander around, leaving the princess to claim a bed for herself. I know that I can still keep an eye on her, and as long as I don't have too many drinks, I should still be able to fight if need be. But right now, with no immediate threat, I allow myself to get lost in the music, to dance with the country folk, to pretend it's just like the way it was before I pulled the sword before my parents died before I began following the princess around before I rejected my best friend's proposal. Dance after dance, three mugs of ale, laughter, games of cards, betting rupees or breakfast in the morning, or the loser has to chug another glass. It's lovely to forget.

I know it's my drunken state, but the princess looks sad, sitting alone in her traveler's clothes. She's underage, so she can't drink, but that doesn't mean she can't dance, right? I wade through the crowd and bow in front of her, holding out one hand.

"What are you doing?" she asks, raising one eyebrow.

"Asking you to dance."

"I don't know any of these dances."

"I can teach you."

I take her hands, folded nicely in her lap, and pull her up toward where a line is forming for a new dance to start.

"The only way you'll learn, is to try it for yourself!"

The music starts, and the crowd around us claps. This song is fun. I recognize it, but I can't remember what from. But I know there is a distinct memory that goes with it. The princess gets the hang of it fairly quickly, and she even begins to smile. It might be the drinks, but seeing her smile and hearing her laugh makes my heart beat faster. It's probably the ale.

We dance until the owner has had enough and kicks some out to their horses and others into beds. The princess falls into bed and falls asleep instantly. It takes me a little longer to sit on the floor. The owner asks if I'd like a bed, but I refuse. I try to stay awake while the princess sleeps, but with the ale and dancing, I cannot help but drift off every now and again.