A Hidden Kindness

Chapter 18
(so this is) The New Year
1843 words

Hyrule’s sky was dreary and grey, and the wind was bitterly cold. As December passed Hyrule experienced more and more snowfall. A thick blanket of snow rested over Hyrule Field and the outlying villages. Castle Town wasn’t as lucky, or as beautiful. Cobblestone paths were shoveled clear of snow and allowed sheer layers of ice to spread between the rocks, which made travelling through Castle Town treacherous. Rabia stayed inside, bundled up in sweaters and blankets, whenever she could. She couldn’t help but miss the warmth of the valley, and a particular golden-eyed man.

New Year’s was approaching and as such, Zelda was throwing another party. However, this party was limited to friends and family, including Sheik, Link, Kaikoura and her family, Rabia and her family, and this year, Lord Vaati.

“Rabia, hurry up! We have to go!” Petra called up the stairs. Rabia had layered on jeans, warm socks and boots, a tank top, a t-shirt, a thick-knit sweater, a scarf that matched her hat and gloves, and a heavy winter coat.

“Coming, mom!” Rabia called as she tucked her curls into her thick hat. She hurried down the stairs and pulled her scarf up over her mouth and nose to protect them from the wind. The others were bundled up, too, but not quite as dramatically. Petra rolled her eyes.

“It really isn’t that cold out, is it?” she asked.

“I hate the cold,” Rabia answered. Petra pulled the door open and ushered the youngest boys outside. For such a short trip, they weren’t bothering with the carriage. Rob rode off ahead while the others finished getting ready. Petra and Saul mounted their horses with the boys. Petra took off with Chase immediately after Rob.

“Rabia, do you need help?” Saul asked, looking at his only daughter.

“No, I’m good. You go on ahead,” Rabia said. He waited a moment longer, then caught up with Petra and Rob. Rabia waited a few minutes until they were well ahead of her, then mounted Duke. She rode into castle town alone, thankful for the quiet the distance granted her though her family was easily visible up ahead. Snow was falling silently and she blinked the flakes away irritably as they landed in her eyelashes. She was so focused on her destination they didn’t notice Finn following close behind. A figure morphed out of the shadows beside his horse, causing it to startle. Gideon grabbed the reins and pulled the animal to an uneasy stop.

“Are you ready?” he hissed to Finn, thrusting the reins back into his hands.

“Yeah, I’m close enough to catch up. Her horse isn’t as fast as mine,” he answered. Gideon morphed back into the shadows while Finn followed Rabia. Suddenly, Rabia’s horse reared up as Gideon’s hand morphed from the ground and grabbed his back leg before vanishing.

“Duke?!” Rabia screamed. She grabbed the reins as Duke took off in a sudden gallop. Finn urged his horse into a gallop and chased after her, back towards Hyrule field. He caught up with her and grabbed onto Duke’s reins.

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you,” he said to Rabia. “Come on,” he urged, wrapping his free arm around her waist. He lifted her onto his own horse and let go of Duke while his own horse slowed. Rabia was clinging to him, trembling, as he pulled his horse to a stop.

“Duke!” she went to jump off Finn’s horse to run after him, but Finn grabbed her tightly.

“He’ll be fine, Rabia. He’s just a horse. Are you okay?” He touched her cheek.

“Oh, let go of me,” she scowled, pushing at his chest. “I have to get Duke!” He frowned and caught her wrists roughly. “Ow!” She struggled but his grip got tighter until she stopped.

“I’m taking you back to Castle Town. Your horse will be fine,” he said. He wrapped an arm around her tightly and pulled her up against his chest. She gasped and gripped onto his shirt when the horse turned and started walking. She looked over his shoulder where she could see Duke galloping farther and farther away. She struggled against Finn again in another aborted attempt to get off and chase after him, but his arm around her waist tightened. “I’m assuming you were heading to the castle?” he asked after a moment of silence. Rabia nodded and chewed on her lip. Finn rode up to the castle gates, where the others were all gathered anxiously.

“Rabia!” Vaati cried, running towards the horse. He helped her dismount and looked her over for any sign of injury. “Are you alright? What happened? Your parents said you were right behind them, then suddenly you were gone!” He pulled her into a hug. He missed the wince as he squeezed her waist, but Kaikoura didn’t. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at Finn.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Duke got startled and took off in the opposite direction. He’s somewhere in Hyrule field,” Rabia said. “I hope he’s okay.” She wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered. “It’s so cold, I don’t want him to freeze…”

“I got her off the horse, but she wanted to take after him in the ice,” Finn said as he dismounted. Kaikoura looked at him distrustfully.

“Oh, don’t worry about Duke, Rabia. He’ll either find his way back, or Lon Lon Ranch will take him in. He won’t freeze,” Link said.

“You’re sure you’re not hurt?” Saul asked, pulling her into a hug.

“I’m fine, dad,” her voice was muffled against his coat. He let her go and turned to Finn, pulling him into a hug as well. “Thank you for helping her,” he said. Finn smiled at them.

“Of course, Mr. Henderson,” Finn bowed his head, then mounted his horse.

“Hey, wait! Why don’t you come join us, Finn?” Saul asked. “Is that alright, Zelda?” Zelda hesitated. She hadn’t missed Kaikoura’s glares or Rabia’s discomfort, but her need to be polite won out.

“Well… I-I guess we have room for one more,” she said. Kaikoura sighed loudly.

“Can we go inside? It’s freezing out here,” Rabia asked. She was shivering, as was Kaikoura, but Zelda looked perfectly warm in her thick furs. Vaati wrapped his cape around Rabia’s shoulders, then followed the others as they went inside. There was a roaring fire in the fireplace. They all shed their coats, hats, gloves, and scarves as they moved into the warm environment. A servant gathered all the garments and hung them in the other room while the group of friends got comfortable.

Zelda and Link claimed a large arm chair close to the fire that was just big enough for two. Sheik, Kaikoura, Rabia, and Vaati claimed one the large couches, while Cecil, Saul, Petra and Linda claimed the other. Rob settled onto the loveseat and Finn took the other armchair next to Vaati. Vallon, Chase, and Lance ran off to play in the game room. Rabia tugged her sleeves down over her palms to cover the bruises she could feel forming on her wrists. Kaikoura glared at Finn out of the corner of her eye.

“Tet!” Zelda cried, running over to the man as he walked into the room and giving him a big hug. “You didn’t tell me you were back!” she said.

“I got back from my voyage last night!” Tet said as he embraced his sister. “Sheik, Kaiky, nice to see you both again,” he grinned, plopping down next to Rob on the loveseat.

“Hey, Tet!” Kaikoura waved. Sheik offered him a polite smile.

“Dude, nice piercing,” Rob said, looking at the ring in Tet’s ear.

The group played games and hung out as they waited to ring in the new year at midnight. Servants came in and out with food and logs for the fire, and as the night wore on, they broke out some champagne. Around 23 o’clock, Chase and Lance had fallen asleep in a pillow pile on the rug in front of the fireplace. Zelda was blinking tiredly with her head resting on Link’s shoulder, and Rabia was curled up like a cat against Vaati’s side, fast asleep. Zelda stifled a yawn.

“Hmm… I’m going to go to the kitchens and see if anyone is still awake to get us some coffee and tea,” she said. “If we’re going to make it until midnight, we’re going to need something to keep us awake!” She stood and swept from the room elegantly, despite her own fatigue. She came back in a few minutes later, followed by servants carrying trays of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sodas, and some snacks. Vaati gently shook Rabia awake.

“Hey, Rabia… there’s only an hour to midnight,” he whispered to her. She blinked.

“Hmm??” she asked. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you,” she murmured. Vaati grabbed a couple cups of tea and handed one to her. “Thanks.” She sipped her tea and curled up against his side.

After the first drinks were finished, some games were pulled out for entertainment while the caffeine kicked in. As the hour passed and more coffee consumed, the adults got a little rowdier. The kids roused at the laughter and the talking, and resumed their play. Five minutes to midnight, servants started coming in with trays piled high with glasses of champagne as the party goers prepared for the countdown to midnight.

“So, Zelda! Are you gonna give Link a New Year’s kiiiiiss?” Rabia giggled, wiggling her eyebrows at her friends. Zelda blushed dark and giggled.

“Of course I am, silly!” she said. Link also blushed, but looked rather pleased. “It’s traditional, and Link is my boyfriend!”

“Ewww!” Chase wrinkled his nose in disgust, while Lance nodded in agreement. The servants handed out glasses of champagne to the guests and left the room as the party goers started counting down.

“10!... 9!...” Zelda grabbed Link’s hand, and Kaikoura made her way back to Sheik. “8!... 7!...” Saul wrapped an arm around Petra, and Linda finished her champagne and started putting on some lipstick in preparation for her kiss “6!... 5!...” Vaati blushed as Rabia moved close to him. “4!... 3!...” Finn moved closer to Rabia as well. “2!... 1!...” The couples all kissed, while the others cheered in the arrival of the new year. Finn looked on angrily as Vaati embraced Rabia. Saul and Petra pulled away and laughed at Chase and Lance’s disgust. Cecil and Linda didn’t seem to notice anyone else was in the room. Kaikoura and Rabia wolf-whistled at Link and Zelda, as they were the last two kissing.

“S-Shut up, guys!” Link said, his cheeks red. Zelda giggled, her face flushed a delicate pink at her friends teasing.

“Happy New Year, everyone!” she said.

The kids went up to some of the guest rooms that had been prepared, while the others broke out some of the harder liquor to party the night away. It was well into early morning when the last of them trickled upstairs into bed.