LoZ:TP:After The Twilight Ch 16

Chapter 16 Ordon Autumn Festival- Eventide

 Link went down the ladder into his basement, lighting the lantern.  He went to the chest in the very back, noting the dust and opened it.  Inside, minus the Master Sword, was all his gear from adventuring, including his Hero's outfit, still just as green as the forest from when he had first received it and he assumed just as green as when it was first created for the original Hero so many moons ago.  It was his best article of clothing, clean and still nicely pressed from the last time he had put it away.  He got into it and finished pulling on his brown leather boots.  He looked in the mirror and fluffed his hair a bit smiling, but nervously.  Before leaving he grabbed one final item and tucked it away, shutting the chest.

 He got back to the banquet and saw all the paper lanterns lit.  They looked beautiful being of many different colours, as they were strung from one house to the next, some through trees while others were supported high on temporary posts.  The flickering of the flames inside made them look magical, as they seemed to dance to and fro in the dark night's sky as the wind blew ever so gently.  He sat down and was served a little bit of everything; Chicken fried chicken with macaroni and cheese by Uli, ribs from Bo, steak with baked beans from Sera, a hearty stew by Pergi and of course his own food as well, not including the bread and rolls.  Most of the children had helped with cookies and such.  He, however, did not start eating just yet.  He was waiting for someone...   Others sat down, even Bo came out of his house and shrugged, but gave him a knowing nod.  Everyone was settled down besides Uli, who was just finishing up.  There was an vacant seat across from Link...

 Suddenly, the door to the Mayor's opened and there stood in the soft light of the hanging paper lanterns and the bright shining moon, was the most incredible young woman Link had ever laid his eyes upon.  All heads were turned towards her as she stood there, a little awkward, yet with a sense of dignity and she swallowed hard.  She wore an almost ankle length greyish white dress with violets and lilacs sewn in for designs, with matching shawl around her slender shoulders and slippers on her delicate feet.  She began walking, putting one nervous foot in front of the other, until she had made it across the small wooden bridge to where the rest of the village sat.  Bo smiled broadly and nodded to her while taking a glance at Link who looked awe struck, his mouth practically floored.  He whispered to Link from across the table, “You know that is a dress of my late wife's... it fits her rather well don't you think?”  Link was speechless.  Ilia was almost always clothed as a tomboy for as long as he had known her... feminine for sure, but never an actual dress.

 As she drew closer, Link tried to stand out of respect, but instead lost his balance and sense of awareness, stumbling backwards over his chair.  Ilia looked concerned, but then blushed seeing him alright as he laid there staring up at her like a fool.  She sat down with her father's help as Link stood up, dusting the dirt from off his uniform with the help of Rusl, who was seated next to him and sat back down.  Every one dug in, but Link's eyes were glued to her.  Such a magnificent creature he thought.  She, however, still seemed a bit nippy with him, as her eyes hardly fell on his, but instead spoke to the others gathered around.

 After the food the festivities started and all the children went up the slope to go on the rides and play the games.  Link tried to say something to her, but she seemed to walk away to join the others.  He sat there watching her go, saddened by the prospect of actually losing her.  Bo sat staring at them both, goat antler lit in hand.  She reminded him so much of his late wife, stubbornness and all.  “Aren’t you going to join her Link?”, the mayor asked.

 Link just turned back around staring at the table and the food at which he had hardly touched.  “No... she doesn't want me anymore...” he said, down trodden.

“Nonsense my boy!  Who exactly do you think she is wearing that dress for?”, the older man said sternly, rather than asked.

 Link's eyes shot up.  He had remembered his talk with Bo, the last time Ilia had been extremely upset with him.  That had been the dinner at her place.  Link had been late riding Epona and Ilia had looked so upset.  Bo had explained to him his daughter's heart and Link had went outside to apologize to her.  So many tears had been cried that night and forgiveness given.  But this current situation was due to something else entirely and it had been weeks since they had really been on speaking terms, except anything work related.

 Bo smiled to him and craned his neck towards where the children, including Ilia were at, still walking, although some now were running up the hill.  Link nodded his thanks and excused himself.  As he was walking away, he could hear Bo chuckling, knowingly.

 Link reached the small crowd now on the ranch, with Ilia looking at him and for a second she seemed to be admiring how he looked.  He knew she liked this out fit and had told him on more than one occasion she fancied him in it.  That was one of the reasons he wore it tonight.  She did not run away and hide from him, she stayed her ground, but she did not out right speak to him much either.  However, when he said hello and told her how beautiful she looked, she seemed to smile and returned the greeting, but was other wise mostly silent towards him.

 After some of the rides were ridden and Ilia began to warm up to him a little more, Link played a sling shot game, where he had to hit all the targets as she watched intently.  There was a very big stuffed kitty on the wall, half the size of Ilia herself.  It was a striped white tiger with piercing blue eyes.  Although Ilia had not said anything, just her body language and facial expression told him that she wanted it.  He took aim and fired.  He missed hitting some of the targets on the first round, due to he had no need of firing a sling shot any more and he was a little out of practice, but he did get it the second time, remembering how to use it properly.  A man used a bow and arrow after all, not a child's toy.  She was ecstatic he had won it for her, but she still looked a little upset.  He asked if they could talk some where private and although she was a little hesitant, she reluctantly agreed, the big stuffed soft fluffy kitty having won her over.

 They got to a quiet spot back down the ramp, away from most of the laughter and music, against a wooden fence off to the side with only a couple of paper lanterns about.  The only living things around them were the fireflies that danced, just like that one night before and the bright stars in the night sky...  They sat next to each other, but still a great distance apart or so it felt to him.  She was hugging and cuddling the soft kitty as Link tried hard to find the right words to say, but only came up with,  “I am glad you like it... do you have a name for it?”.

“It is rather cute isn't it and sooo fluffy!  I think I shall name it Fluffball...”, she said enthusiastically, as she squeezed it to her chest lovingly in a tight embrace.  “It will keep me company and warm at night, when I am cold and lonely...”  She instantly regretted saying that, as she saw Link's expression of hurt.  She bit her lower lip, knowing she had treated him horribly these last few weeks.  She kept telling herself he deserved it for cheating on her and then lying about the whole situation.  But she still loved him...  “Thank you...”, she finally said in regards to the kitty.

“Your welcome...”, he said softly, as he looked down at the dirt.  “I know...”, he began, but stopped short, seeming to see something wrong with his boots as he slid down to the ground.

 She looked over with just her eyes, as she held onto the kitty's arms, seeing him tucking his pant legs more securely into his boots.  “I am still mad at you though...”, she said as she continued to make the large fluffy kitty dance, but her voice was more of stubbornness, rather than actual anger.....