Narrator's POV~
The news spread quickly about Kara Hateno,and soon the whole village was whispering about it. "I can't believe that:" "Perhaps she wouldn't be a suitable wife?"
"There aren't many old maids as far as I know..."
Kara felt embarrassed and angry at the whole village. They had no right to discuss and analyze her personal life! Some of the people spread rumors that she was lying to make an excuse to leave the village,and another that she was even cursed by the demon statue. Especially the town gossips, Amira & Nikki.
One dusky evening Moni and Kara were sitting atop one of the sheds where women came to cook (and gossip),
The two girls talking about how they wished they could see all of Hyrule for themselves;typical conversation for the rowdy best friends.
Moni felt sorry for Kara,but didn't say so as she knew she'd get contemptuous and reject her sympathy.Sometimes Kara could take things the wrong way Moni reasoned.inhaling the deep scent of the harvest rice fields,Moni asked Kara "So do you still feel pretty bad about,you know..." she didn't have to elaborate . sighing,she replied "Well,it sure isn't encouraging. I always dreamed of love. But I'm fine."
She smiled at her hazel eyed friend;she didn't actually feel fine,but she didn't want Moni to worry. She probably wouldn't understand anyways. Moni thought of all boys as her comerades to have fun with. Or annoying brats one.
Suddenly Moni leaned forward and pointed down the path. "Look." It was Nikki,a plump and notoriously rude gossip of the town. She was bobbing along,holding a basket of ingredients to cook. "Hide!" Moni whispered. They ducked down quickly into the straw roof. The girls grinned at each other,holding their breath.
Nikki waddled into the shed,and set down her heavy basket with a grunt. They heard her mumble "Gotta cook all the darn time." "Because you eat it all" Kara thought.
As the disgruntled woman rummaged around the cooking utensils,another person came along,also bearing food to prepare for their family. It was Sophie;shy and timid Sophie,who helped run the clothing shop in town. Kara remembered the time she'd come in the store with Moni & Ivee,who took off duty cleaning at the general store. They expected to look at the clothes,which were mostly unaffordable,but instead found Link,querying poor,anxious Sophie in the corner. "So you like this corner?" He asked her, "Y-yeah!can I...can I h-help you?!" Sophie stuttered out,hunched over and trembling. They didn't know Link well at the time,but Ivee, who had enough confidence to speak to the fated King Rhoam,grabbed his shoulder and lied, "Hey,dude they said they need your help in the rice fields." Surprised he turned around with a confused expression and nodded to her,then hurried out to do someone else's work. "Sorry Sophie,boys are so dumb!" Ivee remarked.
"He's so hard to figure out..." Kara thought "Most of the time he's silent,then he'll just turn into a loud,outgoing guy!"
Kara found herself thinking about him more often,but at the moment Moni had cleared away a patch through the straw over the rafters,letting them peer down directly overhead the kitchen. From their sight,Sophie took baby-steps toward the second cooking pot,looking down nervously,then quietly set her own basket down. Nikki saw her and blurted "Sophie! You cooking too?" She began to put ingredients together as she chatted on,and Sophie silently listened,making her own meals. Overhead,the girl's ears pricked up when Nikki started on the topic of the Hateno family. "You know,I'm not saying anything bad about them,but I'm just certain that girl of theirs has been possessed by a demon.
"That statue,with horns,is an evil entity.
And it's taken hold of her. Who knows what she'll do to us!" Sophie,known to be a bit gullible,looked aghast, "R-really?
A D-d-demon?!" Unaware of their spies,Nikki convinced Sophie of Kara's immorality
"Why can't that woman just keep her stupid theories to herself." Kara thought irritably. She resolved to leave,sick of hearing yet more gossip about herself. Pushing herself up onto her knees,she noticed Moni was gone!
She spotted her at the well-house up the road, vigorously yanking up a bucketful of the cold spring water.
"What is she doing?!"
Moni swiftly ran back to Kara,holding the water pail with a muscular arm,using her other hand to make a shushing gesture.
"Ohhhhhhhh." Kara was conflicted between wether she should be a lady,and kindly stop her,or the more attractive option,dumping water on Nikki's head.
The latter won. Together the girls brushed away a patch straight above Nikki,then Moni let Kara handle the important part,as Kara was quite skilled in aiming. Kara waited until she heard "So I really don't advise you to hang around her kind! My,did you hear abou—GAHHHHH!!!"
All Sophie knew is that a torrent of water came splashing down on unpleasant Nikki's head,drenching her,and enraging her promptly. She also heard stifled giggles and someone running off,but didn't stay to find out who the culprit was ,as Nikki looked like she would explode with rage,stamping her feet & looking askance wildly,so mad she couldn't speak.
The rest of Nikki's family had to eat at neighbors that evening.
But even Kara and Moni didn't know that Link had quietly observed the whole drama.
Sitting atop a the flat peak of a grassy hill beside his home,he removed his Sheikah Slate,set on binocular vision,from his eyes,and after making sure no one was around,laughed until his stomach was in knots.
He sighed and leaned back Onto his palms. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that it was time to stuff his stomach again,even though he'd eaten only 2 hours before.
Link's mouth watered just thinking about the chillfin trout he'd caught that afternoon,causing him to speedily fetch his ingredients from his house,and rush to the cooking pot station.
By the time he got there,Nikki was making her way out,red-faced and shaking with anger still! He stuck his head out from behind the mound of fish and produce balanced in his arms,and simply gave her a tiny smirk.
Others may subconsciously get the impression that Link is rather emotionless,suggested in his blank unrevealing expression,and silent composure,but that simply isn't true.
He ignored her death glare,and used the second cooking pot which hadn't been extinguished.
Link didn't expect Moni & Kara to come back to the scene of crime, but they came inside,drawn to the delicious smell emanating from his perfectly combined & spiced fish kabobs. Moni waved,holding the previously dropped water pail. "I didn't know you could cook, Link!"
He straightened up and replied
"H-hey! Yeah...I'll share. You deserve a reward..."
Kara was reflecting on how Link seemed to get more comfortable around them the more time they spent together,when she realized,
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Link grinned, "For teaching that woman a lesson." The girls collectively gasped "Wait," Moni countered "How'd you know?" Link tentatively explained,hoping they wouldn't be upset with him for spying,as he turned his fish kabobs over,keeping his eyes on his precious dinner. The girls burst out in hysterics,relieving Link of his worries
"I can't believe you saw that!" Kara remarked,weak with mirth.
After settling down,they asked if it really was alright to share the meal. Link gestured to the net full of fish beside him and said
"Course,there's plenty." He even offered to teach them how to make his special recipe,and the three teenagers gorged on the tender fish until they felt too stuffed for another bite. "Man,you can really put it down!" Moni said to Link as they sat around the fire.
He smiled embarrassedly and rubbed his engorged midsection.
They enjoyed each other's company until twilight cast its silver mist upon the valleys,and reminded them of the closing day.
~~~~~
In the late hours of the night,Kara leaned on her windowsill,her chin propped up on her wrist as she gazed up into the crystal clear sky.
The stars always reminded her of faraway lands & adventures to be made.
Perhaps sailing on the unknown sea,exploring beyond Hyrule's borders,
Or meeting new people from all the various cultures within their expansive nation.
Kara sighed and stretched her tired body. "I wish I were...." pondering her inner thoughts,she closed the wooden shutters,shutting the night's beauty away. "...Free."
Little did she know her life would change forever that night.
