Death By Princess {Complete}

CH 11

Link has been eyeing Abe suspiciously since they wandered off path though he and Lillian get along swell. He watches them talking up ahead and pays particular attention to how Lillian touches his arm and laughs at everything he says. Then the two stop suddenly. Lillian turns her back to him and Abe puts his hands on her waist. Link grabs the hilt of his sword with every intention of slicing him in two until Abe hoists Lillian up on his horse. Lillian has a gleeful smile on her face much like a child at a carnival.

By now, Link has caught up with them.

"This isn't your first time riding a horse, Lillian," says Link still looking ahead at Abe.

She leans down. "True. But it is the first time I had a handsome older gentleman help me mantle a horse so shut your mouth."

"He's married," says Link with a delighted smile on his face.

Lillian pouts putting on hand on her hip. "Well, I know that. But maybe she died or maybe he wouldn't mind a side fling."

"What? Lillian you said yourself that an affair is the ultimate betrayal. Would you really want to be a part of that?" says Link.

"Maybe not to someone I cared about," she says. "I can entice him though. Besides, I think he likes me so maybe she isn't in the picture anymore... let's find out."

"No, Lillian," says Link but it is too late. Lillian kicks the side of the horse who canters to Abe's side.

"So, Abe. You said you're married," says Lillian.

Wow Lillian, so subtle, thinks Link.

Abe looks up at Lillian then back on the scenery ahead of him. "You could say that."

"How many other ways are there to say it?" she says. "You said you're from Hyrule right?"

"Aye. That I am."

"So how exactly did you end up in Winterton? I mean, I know that's where your wife is from but how did you two come to meet then?"

"You might laugh at me when I tell you the story," he says.

"We love a good laugh," says Lillian. "Don't we Link?"

Abe and Lillian look back at Link simultaneously. He looks from one to the other, then abrupty shrugs his shoulders.

"Very well then. It started when I was out on the town one night with my buddies. We we were at a bar actually, drunk and up to shenanigans when one of my friends dared me to go to the town's fortune teller. She was an old woman, even back then. Probably more crazy than psychic if anything. Most everyone was afraid of her. So being the brave young man I was, and tons of booze in my belly for extra courage, I went to see her.

"She told me that Hyrule will be doomed and that my well being would be impacted if I stayed in Hyrule. I thought it was a bunch of gibberish nonsense... but I started to grow suspicious and my worries manifested into dreams most every night." He pauses for Lillian to dismantle the horse. She hands the rope back to Abe.

He continues, "I started dreaming of myself with a family, struggling to survive. No food. No shelter. I laughed it off thinking I was overreacting. The berries used in the brew was poisoned, is what I told myself. Until one day there were several guards around the town. I demanded to know what they wanted. They were reluctant to tell me but I kept at them. It turns out, Gannondorf had traded our little town to an influential leader outside of Hyrule for a plot of their land. We are an import community. What we produce stays with us. We didn't contribute to Gannondorf in anyway so he just gave up our land like we were some damned live stalk.

"That bastard," says Lillian.

"My thoughts exactly. Oh I was so angry. For weeks and weeks. But when Gannondorf's men started making their appearance more and more known I knew this problem wasn't going away and that being angry wouldn't do anything. That was when I left. My beloved wouldn't come with me but I left her anyways. I married into a family who seemed to be safe from Gannondorf's reach. I feel horrible every day for leaving her but I wasn't about to start a family and raise kids in uncertainty. I have to know my kids will be safe and well fed. Hyrule couldn't promise me that, so I left and never looked back."

"See?" whispers Lillian. "Not true love."

Link shushes her. "This is serious," he says.

Abe says, "It's too bad you couldn't fulfill your duties like you did in previous lives, young Link. I'm not blaming ya. If you're not allies with royalty I guess then there is no odds anyways."

Link remembers how he alluded to knowing that he lived on the Royal Grounds which brings him to his next question. "How do you know that about me anyways?" says Link.

Abe stops and eyes him down. "There is no mistaking you young man. Everyone knows you not just as royalty's knight but as the chosen knight. Young men and woman need to go through vigorous training to work on the Royal Grounds but you were summoned. That is an honor."

A sudden wash of guilt consumes Link. It kills him to know that people had such high expectations of him. People thought he was more than a knight who obeyed royalty's orders but in realty, that's all he is. His ability to shine depends on Zelda. Without her aid and support, there is nothing he can do.

Abe notices his heavy eyes and sunken face, his head hanging low. He says, "But I understand that you can't force Zelda to do anything. What happens to Hyrule is on her, not you."

That doesn't help but he smiles anyways. "Thank you."

"So," says Lillian. "How close are you and your wife?"

Abe chuckles and Link turns his head to secretly roll his eyes. "She's a lively one, Link. You got your hands full with her," says Abe. He turns back to Lillian. "We are close but there is nothing quite like the sweetheart of your youth." Abe's face looks relaxed and Link wonders what pleasant memories of his past are playing in his mind.

"But I have developed a deep respect for my wife. She saved me from potential turmoil by giving me safety and security. You young folk might not understand but that can triumph any fleeting feelings of lust."

"Oh, I understand," mumbles Lillian to herself. They are relatively silent after that as Lillian and Link reflects on Abe's life lessons.

"Take a look at this," says Abe motioning them to come to him. He is standing on the edge of a cliff, his foot hoisted on a large rock. "There is it. The Cold Mines," he says. They look down the cliff and see long stretches of cliffy terrain and mountains. The air has changed the past day or so. The warm, humid air is now cool and crisp. Link counts four, five, six streams of smoke rising to the sky which is probably coming from nearby communities.

"Incredible. Aren't you glad you listened to me Link?" says Lillian as she takes in the view.

"I didn't. I had no choice," he grumbles still bitter though his concerns have been resolved.

"It's going to be a bumpy one on the way down so watch your step. Probably best to let me go ahead with my horse," calls Abe. "Have you two given any thought as to where you are going to stay, by the way?"

Lillian and Link look at each other. "We aren't familiar with the Cold Mines so we aren't sure." It occurs to Link that they still don't know what Abe was doing in Hyrule nor did he ask why they are leaving Hyrule. Link throws that aside, knowing that all will be revealed in time.

"Well, you will be welcomed in my village with open arms. As you may have noticed, the climate here is much different. Our summer, spring, and fall is cool while our winter is long and brutal. We are high up, see. But with that comes mines and lots of them. Our produce may be sparse but we trade our gems for food. It's hard, dirty work so we need all the help we can get." says Abe.

He begins to walk down the cliff with Link and Lillian following behind him. Carefully, one foot in front of the other, soon to be completely out of Hyrule.