Sequel: A King and A Girl ›
A Hidden Kindness
I Can't Think Without You (Interrupting Me)
1530 words
(Wednesday)
Zelda and Kaikoura were walking along the cobblestoned streets arm-in-arm. They were heading to Rabia’s house to gather her up for a trail ride. Link and Sheik were waiting at the castle stables, getting some horses ready for the trip.
“Did she seem happy the other day? When she was with you and Sheik?” Zelda asked. The group had been trying to keep Rabia busy so she wouldn’t have time to mope about her breakup, but it didn’t seem to be working.
“Well, no. But she had a date with Finn the night before and we both know how that always turns out,” Kaikoura said. Zelda sighed.
“I wish she’d find someone who could make her happy that wasn’t Ganondorf.”
“Me, too. How are you and Link? Things going well?” Kaikoura asked.
“Oh, he’s wonderful!” Zelda smiled. “He always knows how to brighten my day,” she sighed wistfully. “Just yesterday he stopped by in the middle of a meeting just to give m- what?” she cut off when Kaikoura elbowed her.
“Look!” Kaikoura hissed. Finn and Rabia were sitting on the edge of the fountain in the middle of Castle Town together. Rabia was giggling at something Finn had said and playing with her hair, and Finn was looking rather smug.
“What in the world…?” Zelda blinked, aghast.
“Rabia, hi!” Kaikoura waved, pulling Zelda over to her and Finn. Finn glared at her but Rabia didn’t seem to notice.
“Oh, hi Kaiky! Hi Zelda! What are you two up to?” she asked.
“We were heading to your house actually. What are you two doing?” Kaikoura asked. She was smiling, but her eyes were hard.
“Funny you should ask! We were just taking a walk together. It’s beautiful out today,” Rabia said. Zelda blinked - Rabia hated the snow.
“Oh, you didn’t tell your friends yet, darling?” Finn asked as he took her hand in his. Zelda couldn’t help but notice the edge of a purple cast sticking out of her coat sleeve. Neither could Kaikoura because she actually growled at Finn.
“Tell us what?” Kaikoura snapped, now full out glaring at him.
“Rabia and I have decided to get back together! Isn’t that wonderful?” Finn grinned, shark-like, at Kaikoura. He turned to Rabia and kissed her cheek. “I suppose I can give you up to your friends for now, dear. Have fun, I’ll see you at home at 16 o’clock.” He tilted her head and kissed her lips, then headed off in the opposite direction. Rabia sighed wistfully as she watched him go. There was something off about her friend, but Zelda couldn’t place it.
“You’re back together?” Kaikoura said sharply.
“No, this isn’t the place for this conversation, Kaikoura.” Zelda grabbed her friend's elbow gently. “Let’s go back to the castle, okay? Come on,” she tugged them along. Rabia followed and hummed to herself while Kaikoura muttered under her breath every few minutes. They got back to the castle in record time. Zelda led her friends to a private drawing room and locked the door behind them. Kaikoura immediately rounded on Rabia.
“You’re back together?!” she repeated angrily.
“Yeah,” Rabia smiled brightly at her friends. “We’re engaged again!”
“Are you shitting me right now? Why the fuck would you get back together with him?! You were at my place on Sunday covered in bruises that he gave you! He broke your arm two days ago! Are you insane?!”
“He didn’t break my arm! I slipped! And those bruises were an accident. You need to just chill out, Kaikoura. I thought you’d be happy for us,” Rabia said, crossing her arms.
“You know what? I’m done. I can’t keep dealing with the aftermath of him hurting you if you don’t care. I’m fucking done.” Kaikoura left. She slammed the door behind her, and a silence fell over the room.
“Wow. What’s up her ass?” Rabia asked Zelda.
“Rabia… are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, even if those last couple things were an accident, he has a history of hurting you,” she said gently. “Are you sure you can trust him not to?” Rabia scowled at her friend.
“He’s never hurt me if I didn’t deserve it. I thought of the two of you, at least you’d be happy for us, but I guess I was wrong.” She stalked towards the door angrily. Zelda’s eyes widened, but she schooled her expression and caught Rabia’s wrist gently.
“I’m happy if you’re happy, Rabia. I merely wanted to know if you wanted this, or if you were doing it because of what happened with Ganondorf,” Zelda said. “If Finn is who you want to be with, then I’m happy for you two.” Rabia let out a sigh, then smiled at her friend.
“Thanks Zelda. Sorry for freaking out at you. Kaikoura just makes me so angry sometimes and I thought you were going to say the same things about Finn.”
“No, of course not. Your happiness is all that matters, Rabia. Kaik will come around - you’ll see.”
~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~ (Wednesday, 1 week later {Feb 26})
It was evening in late February when Kamilah couldn’t take it anymore. Ganondorf had not heard from Rabia since her birthday three weeks prior. Neither had Aveil, Nabooru, or herself. Ganondorf was concerned but he had been busy with his duties to the valley and hadn’t been able to get to Castle Town. Nabooru was in the same boat. Aveil was highly recognizable by the guards since her thievery attempt at the castle. So, Kamilah made her decision. She approached Nabooru’s office and knocked.
“Enter,” Nabooru called. Kamilah pushed the door open and approached Nabooru’s desk. “Kamilah, what can I do for you?” she asked after a moment, setting aside a handful of papers.
“I know my duties are to serve here in the valley, but I was hoping I could go to Castle Town tomorrow.” Kamilah answered. Nabooru paused and glanced up at her.
“You want to go to Castle Town?” she frowned. “What’s brought this on?” Her voice was curious, and a little cautious. It was well-known in the valley that Kamilah had avoided Castle Town at all costs for the past sixteen years. Kamilah sighed.
“No one has heard from Rabia in two weeks. I’m worried, and so is the King. I just want to check on her,” she replied. Nabooru nodded.
“I’m sure we can do with one less server tomorrow - that’s fine,” she replied.
“Well… I was hoping to go with them for the rest of the week,” Kamilah said. Nabooru hesitated.
“Tomorrow is fine. I’ll get back to you about the rest of the week in the morning - someone will need to cover for you,” she said. Kamilah nodded.
“Of course,” she replied. “Thank you.”
That evening, Kamilah couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts were racing. She knew Rabia had been grounded, but it was unlike her to not contact any of them, especially Ganondorf. Even before Kamilah had met her she knew Rabia texted him several times a day, if the dopey smiles he gave his cell phone had been any indication. Maybe Rabia’s phone had been taken away - but she still hadn’t written a single letter. Kamilah couldn’t help but think that something terrible had happened.
When Kamilah saw Rabia in Castle Town sitting on the fountain with Finn, she was confused. She wasn’t sure who that man was, why Rabia was acting strange, or why her friends looked angry about it. Kamilah waited by the castle all day, until Rabia finally emerged around late afternoon.
“Rabia!” Kamilah called, running over to her. “Rabia, I’m so glad to see you. We were all so worried!” she pulled her into a hug. Rabia stiffened and Kamilah immediately let go and took a step back. “Are you okay?” she asked with concern. Rabia’s eyes were blank as she looked back at Kamilah.
“Who are you?” she asked. She stepped away from Kamilah. Kamilah frowned.
“That’s not funny, Rabia. Why haven’t you written to any of us?” she asked. “Ganondorf has been worried. We’ve all been worried.” Rabia blinked.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to be late.” She brushed passed Kamilah and started walking home.
“Rab-!” she called, but Rabia had already disappeared into the crowd.
~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~
Darling,
Dear Ganondorf,
I thought it’d be polite to inform you that my engagement with Finn is back on, I don’t know what happened or when I decided this but I don’t want to marry him please and I no longer wish to be in a committed relationship with you. Ignore that, I love you, I don’t want anyone else, especially not Finn. We had fun, but Finn is the only one for me. We’ve been through a lot together and I owe him something for that. I don’t owe that monster anything after what he did to me oh goddesses I don’t know what to do I keep blacking out and I don’t remember any of this I hope this isn’t a disappointment to you, but I thought you knew where we stood. We both wanted something that lasted, we were on the same page. Send my love regards to Nabooru, Aveil, and Kamilah.
Love, always,
Sincerely,
Your Rabia
(Wednesday)
Zelda and Kaikoura were walking along the cobblestoned streets arm-in-arm. They were heading to Rabia’s house to gather her up for a trail ride. Link and Sheik were waiting at the castle stables, getting some horses ready for the trip.
“Did she seem happy the other day? When she was with you and Sheik?” Zelda asked. The group had been trying to keep Rabia busy so she wouldn’t have time to mope about her breakup, but it didn’t seem to be working.
“Well, no. But she had a date with Finn the night before and we both know how that always turns out,” Kaikoura said. Zelda sighed.
“I wish she’d find someone who could make her happy that wasn’t Ganondorf.”
“Me, too. How are you and Link? Things going well?” Kaikoura asked.
“Oh, he’s wonderful!” Zelda smiled. “He always knows how to brighten my day,” she sighed wistfully. “Just yesterday he stopped by in the middle of a meeting just to give m- what?” she cut off when Kaikoura elbowed her.
“Look!” Kaikoura hissed. Finn and Rabia were sitting on the edge of the fountain in the middle of Castle Town together. Rabia was giggling at something Finn had said and playing with her hair, and Finn was looking rather smug.
“What in the world…?” Zelda blinked, aghast.
“Rabia, hi!” Kaikoura waved, pulling Zelda over to her and Finn. Finn glared at her but Rabia didn’t seem to notice.
“Oh, hi Kaiky! Hi Zelda! What are you two up to?” she asked.
“We were heading to your house actually. What are you two doing?” Kaikoura asked. She was smiling, but her eyes were hard.
“Funny you should ask! We were just taking a walk together. It’s beautiful out today,” Rabia said. Zelda blinked - Rabia hated the snow.
“Oh, you didn’t tell your friends yet, darling?” Finn asked as he took her hand in his. Zelda couldn’t help but notice the edge of a purple cast sticking out of her coat sleeve. Neither could Kaikoura because she actually growled at Finn.
“Tell us what?” Kaikoura snapped, now full out glaring at him.
“Rabia and I have decided to get back together! Isn’t that wonderful?” Finn grinned, shark-like, at Kaikoura. He turned to Rabia and kissed her cheek. “I suppose I can give you up to your friends for now, dear. Have fun, I’ll see you at home at 16 o’clock.” He tilted her head and kissed her lips, then headed off in the opposite direction. Rabia sighed wistfully as she watched him go. There was something off about her friend, but Zelda couldn’t place it.
“You’re back together?” Kaikoura said sharply.
“No, this isn’t the place for this conversation, Kaikoura.” Zelda grabbed her friend's elbow gently. “Let’s go back to the castle, okay? Come on,” she tugged them along. Rabia followed and hummed to herself while Kaikoura muttered under her breath every few minutes. They got back to the castle in record time. Zelda led her friends to a private drawing room and locked the door behind them. Kaikoura immediately rounded on Rabia.
“You’re back together?!” she repeated angrily.
“Yeah,” Rabia smiled brightly at her friends. “We’re engaged again!”
“Are you shitting me right now? Why the fuck would you get back together with him?! You were at my place on Sunday covered in bruises that he gave you! He broke your arm two days ago! Are you insane?!”
“He didn’t break my arm! I slipped! And those bruises were an accident. You need to just chill out, Kaikoura. I thought you’d be happy for us,” Rabia said, crossing her arms.
“You know what? I’m done. I can’t keep dealing with the aftermath of him hurting you if you don’t care. I’m fucking done.” Kaikoura left. She slammed the door behind her, and a silence fell over the room.
“Wow. What’s up her ass?” Rabia asked Zelda.
“Rabia… are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, even if those last couple things were an accident, he has a history of hurting you,” she said gently. “Are you sure you can trust him not to?” Rabia scowled at her friend.
“He’s never hurt me if I didn’t deserve it. I thought of the two of you, at least you’d be happy for us, but I guess I was wrong.” She stalked towards the door angrily. Zelda’s eyes widened, but she schooled her expression and caught Rabia’s wrist gently.
“I’m happy if you’re happy, Rabia. I merely wanted to know if you wanted this, or if you were doing it because of what happened with Ganondorf,” Zelda said. “If Finn is who you want to be with, then I’m happy for you two.” Rabia let out a sigh, then smiled at her friend.
“Thanks Zelda. Sorry for freaking out at you. Kaikoura just makes me so angry sometimes and I thought you were going to say the same things about Finn.”
“No, of course not. Your happiness is all that matters, Rabia. Kaik will come around - you’ll see.”
~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~ (Wednesday, 1 week later {Feb 26})
It was evening in late February when Kamilah couldn’t take it anymore. Ganondorf had not heard from Rabia since her birthday three weeks prior. Neither had Aveil, Nabooru, or herself. Ganondorf was concerned but he had been busy with his duties to the valley and hadn’t been able to get to Castle Town. Nabooru was in the same boat. Aveil was highly recognizable by the guards since her thievery attempt at the castle. So, Kamilah made her decision. She approached Nabooru’s office and knocked.
“Enter,” Nabooru called. Kamilah pushed the door open and approached Nabooru’s desk. “Kamilah, what can I do for you?” she asked after a moment, setting aside a handful of papers.
“I know my duties are to serve here in the valley, but I was hoping I could go to Castle Town tomorrow.” Kamilah answered. Nabooru paused and glanced up at her.
“You want to go to Castle Town?” she frowned. “What’s brought this on?” Her voice was curious, and a little cautious. It was well-known in the valley that Kamilah had avoided Castle Town at all costs for the past sixteen years. Kamilah sighed.
“No one has heard from Rabia in two weeks. I’m worried, and so is the King. I just want to check on her,” she replied. Nabooru nodded.
“I’m sure we can do with one less server tomorrow - that’s fine,” she replied.
“Well… I was hoping to go with them for the rest of the week,” Kamilah said. Nabooru hesitated.
“Tomorrow is fine. I’ll get back to you about the rest of the week in the morning - someone will need to cover for you,” she said. Kamilah nodded.
“Of course,” she replied. “Thank you.”
That evening, Kamilah couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts were racing. She knew Rabia had been grounded, but it was unlike her to not contact any of them, especially Ganondorf. Even before Kamilah had met her she knew Rabia texted him several times a day, if the dopey smiles he gave his cell phone had been any indication. Maybe Rabia’s phone had been taken away - but she still hadn’t written a single letter. Kamilah couldn’t help but think that something terrible had happened.
When Kamilah saw Rabia in Castle Town sitting on the fountain with Finn, she was confused. She wasn’t sure who that man was, why Rabia was acting strange, or why her friends looked angry about it. Kamilah waited by the castle all day, until Rabia finally emerged around late afternoon.
“Rabia!” Kamilah called, running over to her. “Rabia, I’m so glad to see you. We were all so worried!” she pulled her into a hug. Rabia stiffened and Kamilah immediately let go and took a step back. “Are you okay?” she asked with concern. Rabia’s eyes were blank as she looked back at Kamilah.
“Who are you?” she asked. She stepped away from Kamilah. Kamilah frowned.
“That’s not funny, Rabia. Why haven’t you written to any of us?” she asked. “Ganondorf has been worried. We’ve all been worried.” Rabia blinked.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to be late.” She brushed passed Kamilah and started walking home.
“Rab-!” she called, but Rabia had already disappeared into the crowd.
~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~
Darling,
Dear Ganondorf,
I thought it’d be polite to inform you that my engagement with Finn is back on, I don’t know what happened or when I decided this but I don’t want to marry him please and I no longer wish to be in a committed relationship with you. Ignore that, I love you, I don’t want anyone else, especially not Finn. We had fun, but Finn is the only one for me. We’ve been through a lot together and I owe him something for that. I don’t owe that monster anything after what he did to me oh goddesses I don’t know what to do I keep blacking out and I don’t remember any of this I hope this isn’t a disappointment to you, but I thought you knew where we stood. We both wanted something that lasted, we were on the same page. Send my love regards to Nabooru, Aveil, and Kamilah.
Love, always,
Sincerely,
Your Rabia
♠ ♠ ♠
OCs: Kaikoura (Rabia's BFF/Zelda's Sister-in-Law/Sheik's bae), Finn (Rabia's horrible ex/fiance/Gideon's worm), Rabia (main character/Ganondorf's bae/BFFs with Kaikoura and Zelda),