A Hidden Kindness

1927 words



The next morning Rabia woke up bright and early. She got dressed and ate breakfast, then locked herself back in the library alone before anyone else woke up to see her. She curled up on the window seat with a pillow, a cozy blanket, and a small stack of books to mope. She hadn’t received any letters from Ganondorf. She suspected the postman had been instructed not to deliver them, and she had no other way to contact him. She scowled in frustration as she read the same sentence a third time over before giving up the book as a lost cause. Rabia set the book aside, leaned against the cold window behind her, and spun the rose ring around her finger absently. A sharp rap on the door startled her.

“Rabia? Vaati is here to see you,” Petra called through the door.

“Tell him to fuck off,” Rabia snapped.

“Don’t take that tone with me! He just wants to see if you’re okay,” Petra replied, her voice sharp. Rabia ignored her and pulled her feet up onto the bench beside her, then closed the heavy drapes in front of it. After a few moments of silence, a key turned in the lock of the library door and someone hesitantly stepped into the room.

“Rabia?” Vaati called. “I know you’re angry at me. I’m sorry I told everyone like that. I’ve never been able to hold my liquor well,” he said. His voice grew louder as he moved further into the room. “But… I’m not sorry I told them. I know you don’t trust me anymore, but Ganondorf is a dangerous man. I just… want you to be safe, because I care about you. I hope someday you’ll be able to forgive me.” There was silence for a while, and then he sighed. “Okay. I’ll just… I’ll just go.” His footsteps faded as he padded quietly from the room, and the door closed heavily behind him.

She watched from the window until she saw him halfway down the walkway, then got up to relock the door. Katrina slunk in as Rabia snagged the key that Petra had used and closed the doors. She wound around Rabia’s feet and waited until Rabia had settled into her favorite chair then curled up in her lap with a quiet meow.



At some point Rabia had dozed off because she woke to a muffled thud outside the window and poorly whispered voices.

“Ow, Link, you’re stepping on my hair…!”

“Sorry, sorry, I almost have it…” the window clicked open and a draft wafted in from under the drapes. Katrina was sitting up on Rabia’s lap, fur standing on end and growling at the intruders.

“Oof! Sheik, you didn’t have to throw me!” There was a series of thumps and muffled complaints as the others were boosted up through the window.

“You know, if you were planning on sneaking up on me you should have been quieter about it,” Rabia said once the window had clicked shut again. After a moment, Kaikoura poked her head out from between the curtains. Katrina hissed, then settled back into Rabia’s lap once she recognized Kaikoura’s face, no longer concerned.

“We weren’t trying to sneak up on you. The door was locked and you took the last key,” she stated. She opened the curtains the rest of the way, hopped off the window seat, and crossed the room. “You can’t keep moping like this, Rab.

“Yes I can.”

“No, you can’t.”

“But I can. And I am,” Rabia answered. She stroked Katrina’s fur while she glared at them. “You can leave now.”

“No. We’re not letting you mope alone. I don’t care if you don’t want to, you’re coming out with us to have some fun,” Kaikoura said. She set her hands on her hips and looked at Rabia sternly.

“I’m not going with you, and you can’t make me,” Rabia answered. Kaikoura sighed.

“You’re being really annoying right now!” Kaikoura cried. Rabia shrieked when Link grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder.

“Link! Let go of me right now!” she yelled. Link ignored her and turned to the others.

“Let’s go!” There was silence for a moment, then Kaikoura shrugged and led them out of the library. Zelda made sure to grab Rabia’s coat and gloves before the group headed outside and clambered into the carriage that was waiting for them. Link dropped Rabia onto one of the seats, where she landed with a disgruntled huff.

“You’re a jerk,” she scowled at him and yanked her coat on as the carriage took off.

“Isn’t it nice to be out of that stuffy library?” Zelda asked.

“I was out of the library yesterday with you,” Rabia snapped, glaring out the window. Zelda rolled her eyes.

“So, what do you guys want to do? I thought it’d be fun to go ice skating! I’ve never been before,” she said.

“I’m down for anything,” Kaikoura replied with a shrug. “Ice skating is fun.” Sheik nodded in agreement.

“Anything you want to do is fine with me,” Link said. He kissed Zelda’s cheek and she giggled.

“Oh, stop,” she smiled. The four of them laughed and chatted for the short ride to the pond. It was a medium-sized, Hylian-made pond that was temperature controlled. In the winter, it was kept cold enough to form a layer of ice thick enough to skate on. In the summer, it was kept heated for comfortable swimming. The group clambered out of the carriage, rented their skates, and made their way to the rink.

Link slid onto the ice gracefully and held out his hands to Zelda. She smiled and he pulled her onto the ice. Sheik, Kaikoura and Rabia followed. Zelda picked up the skill quickly and was soon flying ahead of the rest of them while still retaining her grace. Link was keeping up easily but didn’t manage the speed with any of Zelda’s elegance. Sheik was performing graceful ice acrobatics to entertain Kaikoura. Rabia followed along behind them half-heartedly.

“Come on Rabia, race us!” Zelda laughed and reached for her friends’ hand. She caught Rabia by the elbow and pulled her along faster.

“Oh no, nonono Zelda! I’m not a great skater, I can’t go this fast!” Rabia squeaked, grabbing onto Zelda’s hand tight. “This is how I’m going to die.”

“Don’t be so dramatic!” Zelda laughed. Rabia’s foot wobbled. She slipped off the blade and landed on her butt while her friends kept going.

“Oww!” she grumbled. She was still trying to get back up when Zelda and Link came back around, so they gave her a hand.

“Are you okay? Sorry, we couldn’t stop!” Zelda giggled.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I just rolled my ankle,” Rabia shrugged them off. “It happens. I’m going to go get some cocoa.” She skated off the ice and sat down on one of the benches to unlace to skates. She poked at her ankle experimentally, rotated it a few times, then pulled on her boots and walked over to one of the nearby stands to purchase a cup of cocoa. She was gathering up her cup and her change when she heard a familiar but unwelcome voice.

“Oh, Rabia! What a surprise to see you here,” Finn said. He came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He guided her over to one of the tables and pushed her into one of the chairs. “I thought you were too busy moping to see anyone,” he smiled sharply.

“My friends broke into my house and dragged me out against my own free will,” Rabia answered. She tapped an anxious tattoo against the side of her warm paper cup. Finn watched her fingers; his eyes lingered on the gold rose ring she wore for a moment before he shook his head.

“It’s a happy coincidence I ran into you here, anyway. I was going to head to your house tonight, but I suppose I can ask you here just as easily,” Finn started. Rabia sighed.

“Whatever it is, the answer is no.”

“Hold on, hear me out.” Finn folded his hands on top of the table and waited until he had her attention. “I’m going to come right out and say this, Rabia.”

“Well, that’s a first for you,” she snorted. His eyes hardened, but he continued.

“My parents have been very clear with me about this from the beginning. You are the only eligible Hylian woman of your standing that they approve of for marriage with me. Every other woman they deem to be unworthy. I know this is something you can relate to. Your parents don’t approve of the only man you’ve claimed to love after me. I can’t blame them - he did kill your father’s best friend. Besides, it’s not like any other man would be able to love you. I’d at least be willing to provide for you,” he said. Rabia looked down and swallowed. She took a deep breath.

“You’ve said a lot of things Finn, but I didn’t hear a single question in there.” She looked back up and met his eyes. “Spit it out, or get lost. What do you want.” Finn grinned.

“You. More specifically, a date with you on Nayru’s Blessing Day. I know it’s not like you have other plans. Not anymore, at least. What have you got to lose?” Rabia’s eyes dropped back to the ground.

“If I agree to this date, will you finally stop pursuing me when I turn you down?” Rabia finally asked, meeting his eyes. She had forgotten how intense green eyes could be until his hardened in a way that didn’t match his grin.

“Agreed. I’ll pick you up at eighteen o’clock Saturday night.” He stood and left the table. Rabia stared at the cooling cup in her hands, lost in thought, until her friends pulled out the remaining chairs to join her.

“What the hell, was that Finn?” Kaikoura asked with a scowl. Rabia nodded and silently offered her the cocoa. Kaikoura took it and downed half of it in a couple gulps.

“Yeah, it was,” Rabia sighed.

“What did he want?” Zelda asked. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Her disgust immediately turned to concern as she looked at her friend. Rabia sighed.

“A date. I agreed to it-” she was cut off with an affronted noise from Kaikoura. “I agreed to it this time,” she continued, “because he promised to stop pursuing me when I turn him down again. Not that his promises mean much, but maybe this time…” she trailed off and sighed, then shook her head.

“Rabia, you’re avoiding my question,” Zelda said impatiently. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, he- I’m fine,” Rabia said. She spun the ring on her finger.

“...Can I kill him anyway?” Kaikoura asked as she glared at Finn’s retreating back. Link looked between the three girls with a frown.

“I don’t get it - why do you guys hate him so much?” he asked. He glanced at Sheik, who shrugged back at him.

“That’s none of your business,” Rabia snapped at him. She stood and dusted herself off. “Are you guys ready to go yet?”

“Yeah, it’s probably best if we leave,” Sheik said as he looked at Kaikoura. He had never seen her so angry. “I’m worried Kaikoura might actually try to kill him if we stay any longer.” They gathered up their things and returned the rented skates, then got back in the carriage to head home.