Of Necessitated Marriage
By Lizzembiz486More Info / Reviews
Chapter 1: Chapter One
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Legend of Zelda. All I own are the characters Missy and Susan, and the province of Devon.
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Chapter One
IN THE MONTH OF JUNE...
There was a particular event that was to be held in the summer, the tidings of which had touched every corner of Hyrule in ripples. It had excited many professions of anticipation, as well as hope for a sort of change in the system which everyone could agree upon, with what the unfortunate events of last year having affected all in an unfavorable way; and it promised all that was necessary for the country's reconstruction, and more.
The one profession of excitement that could always be depended upon was that everyone had made it their business to communicate it one to the other, and this was exactly what Sera had done as she hastened to the mayor's house early that Monday morning. Sera was stanchly faithful in relating anything that she had HAPPENED to hear or had been informed of by her friends in other provinces. She had thus given herself a nearly infamous reputation amongst the close-knit counties of Hyrule's south for being an informant of any news from the outside world, and had a small notoriety in her village of Ordon as the head of the neighborhood watch, as might be expected.
Ilia had taken leave for her routine morning stroll earlier that morning. Returning, upon approaching the house and coming onto the porch, she heard the beginning of a discussion between her father and Sera through the open window of her father's study.
This was seemingly the most hallowed part of the house, for although he no longer had a wife, and had no more than one daughter, Bo often went there to alleviate the distress which his political position bestowed on him as well as to shut himself away from the general world; he was used to wanting to be alone. But Sera's appearances within the past week had necessitated the use of it even more than usual. He had sought what peace it could provide in the hopes of shutting Sera out completely and leaving Ilia to deal with her, as her youth and maturity seemed to have allowed her to be much more patient. However, as her husband was not of a good humor or concern to do much of anything let alone tolerate her effusions, and when everyone else had deliberately made themselves much too busy, Sera's persistence at conversation and of being heard deprived the mayor.
"Oh Mayor?" cried Sera. "Have you heard? Of what tidings come from Castle Town?"
Bo replied that he had not.
"There is to be a marriage there at the castle, at least a fortnight away. It concerns someone we all know, my dear Mayor. My dear friend Mrs. Durbit has just been there herself and has told me all about it. Oh, such news!" Bo had rounded the corner of his desk to the bookshelf in the corner by the window, when the persistent sundry owner, skirts and apron balled in her hands, chased him.
"Oh, Mayor! Will you not hear of it?" cried she impatiently.
"A-a-as you wish to tell me, Sera, I am afraid I have no choice BUT to hear of it," Bo replied with a calm unconcern.
Ilia continued into the house, picking up her dress as she stepped, and releasing her finger from in between the pages of the novel she had been reading on her walk.
She couldn't help but to allow a good smile on her face. This apathy of her father's could always be counted upon whenever Sera made a point to come to the house in order to relate her tidings, all with that excessive excitement that is known of women whose business is the lives of others, matchmaking, and visiting friends, as a means of entertaining herself, giving herself some importance in the world. She was a woman of mean understanding, uncertain temper, and little information, and whose sole concern was marrying her daughter as young as possible. She tended to exaggerate for emphasis, and when discontented, she fancied herself nervous. Bo, on the other hand, had always been a strange mixture of quick parts and the reserve which older men sometimes have, along with that occasional irritability. Upon other things, he could be unnecessarily excited and was thus the same kind of bundle of nerves that Sera was, though he would never admit to any comparison between her and himself. And although lacking composure and distance when it came to his daughter, men, and happiness, his interferences were never without genuine concern. As Ilia's timing just now had been rather impeccable, she seemed to never fail to encounter Sera and her father in the middle of some kind of discussion where amusement was sure to be provided.
Within the past year, Ilia had become a very beautiful young woman of seventeen and had changed in every physical aspect of herself from her complexion to her wardrobe. Although it was still simple and unclassified in accordance to any particular trends, her style had matured from floods and a tunic to smocked dresses, which more or less agreed with and accentuated her in every way. She was also now in favor of wearing something on her feet when she wandered into the wilderness, a pair of suede slippers that she had been given for her birthday. Her hair had grown another couple inches and her skin had become only a tad darker, for she was in the sun more often now that she had some employment at the ranch. Her tan, nowhere near revoltingly shocking, brought out the emerald of her eyes more than her usual porcelain color could, and seemed to darken her lashes, which assisted that brilliance with a dramatic effect.
Where her figure was concerned, it had improved in physical strength due to her duties at the ranch, her biceps toned in accordance to the gentleness that is associated with females. She had nicely filled out in her hips and bust, and her contour was more curvaceous, so much so that she had not only taken a genuine liking in wearing her dresses, but had scrupled to hide herself in them as to not cause any unsavory fantasies in the minds of the young males which sometimes came in the company of their fathers on political visits to the house.
The dress that Ilia had put on today was strapless and smocked at the bust with an empire waist, and ended at her heels in a ruffled hem. This style was more preferable in the regard of comfortable trekking about the countryside, pronouncing summer as being her favorite season. It went to her feet and but slightly dragged on the dusty dirt of the road, and she loved how it felt when the wind blew it against her bare legs.
Entering the house, the summer breeze followed her in at her back in a most pleasant, soothing stroke of breath. She turned down the hall to her right, right off the foyer, where it should bring her to the door of her father's library. And there she caught Beth, her friends Susan and Missy, and Talo and Malo eavesdropping through the small opening between the door and the jamb. Colin was engaged at the table, and with all the other children assembled at the library door, the paints which they had been playing and drawing with were currently left to his sole amusement.
Her book pressed at her side and her dress gathered up under her fingers, she turned to him. "What is going on?" Before Colin could utter a single sound out of his lips, she had turned towards the others, as if she were somehow furious, and tugged on Beth's obi. "What is this?!" she whispered harshly. "What have I told you all about listening at the door?"
Beth's only response was in throwing her hand back at the girl.
"Never mind anything about that, LiLi," squealed Missy. "Someone's getting married!"
"Someone you'd like to hear of," added Beth, faithfully. The girls sighed giddily with Malo smothered between them.
Upon this reply, Ilia was suddenly eager herself to hear what was being talked of and who was at the center of it, although having no doubt that it must concern her friend. As she leaned over the girls and struggled to peep inside, Malo turned and looked up at her, telling her frankly, "It's about Link. Apparently, he's getting married."
The other girls gasped, and an instant frown as well as an exasperated huff came from Beth. "Oh! Shut it up! Don't spoil it!!" she cried in a whisper. Luckily, Ilia's attention to Malo had been but half engaged, so she had not caught all of this. Missy hushed them all, as they listened in on the discussion.
Bo's tiresome response from before had been invitation enough to Sera, his disinterest completely unnoticed by her and otherwise not regarded.
"Why, Mayor, you must know! Everyone has heard of it. Mrs. Durbit says that one of our most familiar Ordonians is to be married to Her Ladyship in a fortnight of this coming Saturday. Do not you want to know who the bridegroom is?"
Her eyes were bright with impatience, and she tugged on Bo's sash, an action to which he replied by turning around from his bookshelf with a heavy, drawn out, and irritated sigh.
"If you persist, then pray, do tell me. What familiar Ordonian is it, Sera?"
"Our Link! He is marrying the Princess. What a joyous occasion! Nearly two million invitations have been sent out, and all the nearest provinces should turn out for it. Such a union can promise nothing better than what is had in mind for our economy; and I expect that Link, as he is a part of this village, will have a particular regard paid to us. He could persuade her. Oh! I think a visit to the castle is most necessary, to inform him of how happy we shall be for him, and what we think of his regard. Dear, benevolent Link, always doing what's best for his friends."
There was a certain melancholy about Bo's response that pronounced some disappointment in his former anticipations of Link's being wedded to his daughter and taking his place as Ordon's ambassador; and though he had already guessed who it was that was to marry the Princess, he would not deny him sincere wishes for marital happiness and all the fortune that was to come of it. Given their intimate friendship, Bo had mean to have Link for her, who was the preferable choice out of all the others, the sons of some political acquaintances; - Bo had trusted no one better than Link when it came to Ordon and his daughter. Although he himself had been disheartened, especially with the thought that Ilia should feel rejected, the mayor could not blame Link for being unable to stay in Ordon for more than a day; his experiences throughout his journey would have taken him off, for to return to his former life as soon as it was in his view would be to say that he had not learnt or felt anything. On the other hand, Bo had always known that it was the boy's fate to leave Ordon – perhaps for good.
Upon hearing all of this, Ilia's features were now shaded with some disappointment which only the observant Malo had discerned. But were she not at all changed by her trials, and were she still a girl, insecurity would have allowed her to feel as self-pitying and disconsolate as an adolescent female who had obsessively fantasized of and sought requited love, as young girls are inclined to do. Therefore, it was not as too great a loss to her as others would anticipate it being, as she had not fixed any great expectations on the prospect of their being together so that such information would make her bed-ridden with heartbreak. And it had also been very fortunate that no one except herself knew the real extent of her connection with Link, or else they would have all turned around to see her reaction to this news. Maturity prevented ill-humor, jealousy, and unreasonable restlessness which she might have otherwise have had. Instead, she was happy for him where the personal advantages of the match were concerned – concealing any deeper disappointment with a cheerful and convincing manner as if she couldn't care and as if she were not at all affected by it.
Sighing heavily, the mayor answered Sera, "I should not object to his marrying Her Ladyship, for I've always wished for him to pursue happiness however he would, and I agree that such a union would benefit this country. But as he is merely her consort, we should not expect that every idea that he has for us, every concern, can be passed, and neither can we really depend on it that he may drop by so often, as if he were not employed at all with such business.
"And on the other hand," Bo continued, smirking to himself, "were he to expect specific congratulations from us, which I do not doubt, then he would make it a point to venture out here to Ordon. I do not think that he should be so wrapped around her finger and otherwise too much consumed with affairs to have a large dinner with us one evening, and perhaps spend a whole day or two in repose before he should be off again."
"I have here," Sera continued, her exuberance still the same, "one of the invitations which have been sent out. Such fine paper, gold print, as royally elegant as any document of a monarch's special regard should be. Oh! I am already thinking of what I should wear. I don't think Her Ladyship is averse to the truly humble. He should inform her of what kind of people we are."
"She should already know if she is of the position to govern all the entire country. She ought to know her own countrymen, don't you think?" Bo asked this in a tone that might as well question Sera's intelligence and make some fun of those things to which she paid superfluous concern.
"I meant that on a more PERSONAL level. And how can you be so tiresome? You couldn't mean to deprive him any feelings of congratulations that he is most worthy of! Were this country in a better state, he would be able to better help who he marries, but Hyrule requires it. It's smart of them to be united so. And just because he must say 'I do' to her, I do not believe that she could have complete gain over him and be so inflexible as to deny him the resumption of any former pleasures or the renewal of those acquaintances he has not seen in so long. He could have his way, one way or some other. Politics should be her department entirely, while military should be his. Oh, what it is to think that we should be directly connected with the royalty of Hyrule!"
"Whether they are really in love or not, a husband is to always keep his oath unto his wife, 'in sickness and in health'. You and I know that, now don't we?"
The door was suddenly fully opened, and to the surprise, and both nervous and giddy smiles, of those who attended it. Bo stood before them, pausing only for a moment to acknowledge them - "Ah...People" - and then continued out the door and passed through the dining room where Colin was. Squeezing past the clutter of children, and sending a punitive glance to her daughter that warned her against eavesdropping again, Sera hastened to keep up with the mayor as he made his way around the table with a book he planned on reading and the white Easter lily that he had taken off his shelf and was now going to place on the desk in the drawing room.
"And although our Link is much too good of a lad to be the least bit disloyal and deceptive to anyone, were he to break that promise, I am afraid none of us would ever see him again. She would hang him soon as she had received word of infidelity."
"Oh COME now, Mayor! Don't make such horrible scenarios. We must go to the wedding to support him. He has always been a good lad, and as he is particularly connected with each one of us, our invitation should be special – "
He stopped in his tracks and turned around to look down at Sera. "Although I've never had a doubt as to whether he cares for every one of us," Bo interrupted her, "we would not be special enough that we should be placed in the front pews and given first choice of the food at the reception. We will be in the back like every other random citizen who insisted on coming just to say they went. When it comes to you, I know all too well that's what this is about, Sera, so you can rub it in the faces of those of your acquaintance who don't have the means to go – especially poor Mrs. Durbit."
Entering the drawing room, Bo was slowly lowered himself into his chair behind the desk, which was slanted into a corner before a wide window. Balancing his weight on his desk with his hands, he finally plopped down with a relieved sigh. Followed closely by the children, and with the hem of her peasant dress at her knees, the underskirt showing but slightly, and her cheeks flushed with liveliness as well as from the brief exercise of chasing after him, Sera rushed into the room, following Bo as would a persistent, noisy housewife whose sole concern was to marry her daughters away to handsome men; and that was precisely what she addressed as a secondary object of going to the castle.
"At once, Mr. Mayor!" she cried. She stood halfway into the room as the rest of the children filed in. Colin now stood in the doorway to pick up on all that was going on.
"Let me sit DOWN, woman!" Ilia came and plopped down on the couch before the desk.
"Oh! It is necessary for the girls to go. An opportunity to find husbands! A ball is undoubtedly a perfect place to find them, and a wedding reception no less, if all the country and all the people of importance are to turn out for it."
She clapped her hands together and gazed towards the heavens. "The militia should be there, and I could think of nothing better than that Beth should be married to an honorable man of the army. There was once a time when I myself had been in love with a soldier. What happiness awaits you, what glory! Oh! To think of my Beth well married - "
"That is ALL you think about Sera. My goodness, you have this all pictured out in that mind of yours, don't you?"
Ilia laughed, gathering and hugging her legs against her body underneath her dress, and glancing back at Sera, whose face now bore offense in response.
Bo seemed to really be contemplating this, and he put his elbow on the desk and pressed his thumb to his cheek, his index to his temple, and curled in the rest of his fingers. "For the sake of SUPPORT as well as our IMAGE... "- he made a nod - "it is necessary indeed that we turn out at the ceremony. Besides, none of us have seen anything of him in a twelvemonth, and he thinks of us as family, since we are all he has really known where guidance, encouragement, and instruction are concerned; and the last thing I would desire is to have him think ill of anyone here, although that has always been quite impossible with him. He's just too well-tempered.
"But I do have some news of my own, which should make you all very happy to hear of." The whole room had fallen into a complete hiatus full of eager anticipation and ready giddiness. Bo gauged everyone's faces, privately entertaining himself, before he went on.
"It seems that this very fellow of whom we speak would be due to come back to town in a few days, as if to see to it that we give him our heartiest and greatest wishes for his success in the elite circle, a proper farewell, and prayers to see him again sometime soon."
"Link is coming home?" said Colin, with great hope in his high-pitched voice. He clasped his hands together accordingly.
Beth jerked and leaned forward with her hands grasping the couch, her sudden burst of elation pronouncing her to still not have stopped crushing on the Hero. She really had no limits. "To the dance at Devon? To the dance? He would be coming to the dance, Mr. Mayor? Is he coming alone?" she asked eagerly, her words rapid with unbridled excitement. Ilia glanced curiously at her and chuckled.
Touching the tips of his fingers together, as if in profound thought, the wicked pleasure of having known of something before anyone else was clear in his countenance when he gave one nod and said, calmly but certainly happily, "Of THAT I cannot be certain, but that he would be at the dance, I certainly CAN be sure of."
As soon as the last word had escaped his lips, Beth and Missy had broken out into happy, heavy gasps, and were now skipping around the room. They were each of them discussing plans of what outfits to wear and to match, and Ilia was suddenly the center of their circle as each of them made pleading offers to do her chores for a certain length of time if she were to lend them a dress, a pair of sandals, or ribbons for dresses.
After listening to these raptures and effusions for a few minutes, Bo had begun to come a bit irritated, as easily as elders do. Discerning this, Ilia worried for her father and was about to insist that they all go into another room, when the mayor coolly observed, unto Beth and Missy, "The goddesses, heaven and earth! From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the county. I have suspected it some time, but now I am convinced."
Missy was disconcerted and made no answer. But Beth, with perfect indifference and an indignant, continued to express her admirations of Ordon's Hero, which had been restored their former ardor upon hearing this news; and she confided her hopes of engaging his attention for herself for several dances, as if through her affectation and coquetry she could persuade him to think her perfectly eligible for himself.
The two girls were rather frequent in these attentions, and of all the girls in the village, which there were few enough of as to make this small group, like a sisterhood – Beth and Missy's minds were the most vacant. Unfortunately, Sera had encouraged Beth and Missy to engage in gossip and interference as much as possible, for in her view, there was nothing immoral about it. Thus, she would not scruple to advise the former of the unsavory content of her spoken desires and did not think it necessary to warn her against the impropriety of her flirtation. Sera was determined that it was perfectly acceptable and did not think at all of the immodesty of her daughter wanting of a relationship with someone far older than herself who was already due to be married. Ilia so often checked this absurdity, but alas, the girls proved to be too fixated and stubborn to learn much of prudence and decorum.
Beth was now a well-grown girl of thirteen with a fine complexion and good-humored countenance, and her mother's affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, was self-willed and careless, emotional and immature, was more trouble than she was of help, and had a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attentions of boys from other villages, to whom her mother's good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. Missy, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Beth's guidance, had also been indulged by Sera, to whom she was the favorite of all of Beth's friends and who was particularly close friends with her mother, as if for the sake of having in common only children and useless husbands. The girls were both of them ignorant, idle, and vain, and so long as the boys of ambient counties were agreeable to them and somewhat receptive to their obsessive attentions, arm in arm, they would forever be going out of Ordon every week.
Susan, on the other hand, in consequence of being the only plain one of the bunch, always worked hard for knowledge and accomplishment, and whenever she had developed a new skill or made had some discovery in the world of knowledge or art, she was impatient for demonstration. She had only a little genius but scarcely any taste, and if any, it distinguished her as estranged and odd from the other two; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a finicky air and conceited manner.
Then there was Ilia, the eldest of them all, unfailingly attractive with expressively striking, bright eyes, soft and pretty features, and a strong, adamant spirit. Practicality and understanding made her intelligent, and patience and concern, combined with her assertiveness, recommended her to the children of Ordon as a figure of sorts – a wary and insightful sister to those just beneath her in age, and a surrogate mother to toddlers and babies. She was elegant when she chose it, and preferring simplicity to anything else, was more than satisfied with her manner of living, a frame of mind which elitists would consider to be rustic indifference to better. She was obstinate in all the ways of an honest and admirable potential spouse, and was as strong-willed as an independent woman ought to be – so much so that she was sometimes fearsome even to her father. Thus, Ilia was not without some negative quality.
Last year's experience had bestowed Ilia a grander sense of adventure that could often be demonstrated through her social devices. Aside from spending a great deal of time surrounded by the forces of nature, Ilia's secondary amusement was a study of people's characters. She had something more of cleverness to distinguish her from all the girls, and while she was very lively in socializing only within her inner circles, being sociable in general had given her a quickness of observation – an excellent, keen distinction between intelligence and utter ignorance, and honesty and deceptive inclinations, which allowed her to see through to actual character within the first few encounters. Enjoying absurdity and always ready to laugh at it, Ilia otherwise had the potential to be critical in her judgment if she disliked someone enough, an ability on which her self-assurance had been founded. Her usual sweetness and affability, however, well concealed this quality, appearing her to be as modest and quiet as her friend Katya, who, with people, was more naïve than her.
Unlike her friend, Katya was a bit more cautious in her praise and judgment of people and was likewise determined to never think ill of anybody, even if someone had crossed one with whom she was particularly connected. She was gentle and good-natured and resided in the neighboring village of Devon, which was also well-known for its expertise in farming as well as its grand lavender fields. As Ilia's confidant, Katya was used to exonerating those who her friend admonished, keeping in check her sometimes brash judgment of people by offering positive interpretations of negative situations. That desire to see only the best in people had the tendency to become extreme, but was Katya not so entrenched in her world view that her opinion could not stand to be changed.
In the end, given all these manifold attractions, it could never be wondered how Link had liked Ilia so well; and by anyone but herself, it could never be questioned as to whether she had attracted him well enough that, were he not so employed, and engaged, most importantly, he would have asked her out. Bo had commended the lad and joked that he would have certainly been brave should he have decided to marry the feisty Ilia. And although she had particularly liked Link, the events of last year, along with her amnesia, had terribly delayed any progression of their relationship which either of them would have desired. She had never contemplated much on marriage anyway, and always found herself blushing whenever the thought of an engagement to her friend had invaded her mind. But as a rational, determined, and sensible creature, in the wake of his absence from Ordon, Ilia had convinced herself that Link must not think of her any more than he did before – perhaps increasingly less since he'd left, and perhaps even barely now that he was to be much too occupied with diplomatic matters; and while it was all reasonably disheartening to think of, she had also convinced herself that what slight partiality that had existed was now certainly too decrepit to become real romance, especially since he must be faithful to the woman that was to become his wife.
The following day at Ordon's ambassadorial lodge, Bo had come down the stairs and entered into the dining room with the specific intention of sharing with his daughter some news that he thought she might like to hear; anything which concerned her friend should be of particular concern to her.
There she was at the table, donning another smock dress and mending a toy of Colin's which only she knew how to fix, having done so before. Bo stood quietly for a moment, observing that his daughter had hardly acknowledged his presence. He then spoke. "I thought you should know that I have recently paid a visit to Devon myself, for our friend had called on me to meet him there not long ago, and while there, I had found out that he is to come with at least three friends of his own."
"Oh?" said Ilia, only with slight curiosity.'
It appeared to Bo that she were scrupling to seem determined in fixing the toy, as if it were the most important thing of her day, and as if it took so much time to fix that it must take all day and she had figured of getting an early start to it – all to avoid asking anything concerning her friend, as if real concern should give her away entirely, as it was greater than she allowed it to appear to be. However, Bo was somewhat aware of these schemes, and decided to play along. Amused, he smiled softly to himself and nodded, while his daughter's attention was completely on the toy and she had hardly looked up.
Bo had been among the earliest to wait on the young man in Devon, and had the greatest pleasure of seeing his state of being for himself. He could not help entertaining that he should say nothing of it to his daughter, and that she ought to be informed with her eyes instead of her ears. It was then disclosed to Ilia that the lad would be stationed in Devon from now until a couple days following the homecoming ball, and then would go back to the capitol to prepare for the wedding. After some pause, Bo coolly suggested to her that she should make a point to go there with the other women on Thursday, two days before the ball should take place.
When Ilia only gave him a sideward glance, which was aimed away from his face and actually at the doorway next to which were the stairs, it was then that Bo inquired after her manner of response, and that his irritating sense of curiosity had begun to leak in.
"Oh, Ilia," began he with doting solicitude. "What could you mean by saying nothing about any of this? Surely you have something to say. You haven't had the pleasure of seeing each other in a year. Surely you're curious to see how much change has occurred; I dare to say he will be pleased with your looks." Ilia lowered her head, endeavoring to hide both her smirk and her blush. "Come now. Pay him a visit. This behavior could not possibly be the result of the news of him that we've recently had. You couldn't mean to deprive him in the name of jealousy."
This time, she answered instantly, turning sideways in her seat to face him, and with a lowered chin and a raised set of brows, she sent her father a sort of glare which, with her manner of speaking, she pretended to be unconscious of, but which she really intended to check his observations and convince him of otherwise. However, as a father with a certain intuition, she succeeded only half the time, unless she was really uptight.
But little did Bo know of the aforementioned thoughts of yesterday that ran through her head, and which, causing her some distress, had her thus reply, "Daddy? There is nothing that I should be jealous about. To be frank about it all, I could care less. She is a more honorable woman than I, with what all her fame, status, money, and intelligence to recommend her, so she is very much worthy of his attentions, if affectionate attentions they really are. I don't doubt it, though, as my friend has always been the type to fall easily for someone he finds a great deal of favor with, and as I am convinced that with the fate which the gods had laid on them to wholly conform, he must have found much favor with her, and as I have heard many accounts of her unparalleled beauty, he must have fallen especially hard."
"Ohhhh!!!" drawled her father, like a man cooing over the cuteness of a baby. He hastened and grabbed a seat, stationing himself at her corner of the table. "Come, come, sweetheart. You don't really believe that, that you are not as worthy as she is, or as beautiful, or accomplished, in your own way? Tell me better, that you don't really believe that Link is a simpleton like that, or is mercenary! Nonsense! That he should drop anything with you, merely because she has a better living with incessant streams of money and a spacious, towering home. Do not think that because they were fated to collaborate against malevolent forces, must mean that they will have as much if not more in common than you and he do, that it should captivate him and blind him into foolhardy, puppy-craze. Although I don't doubt that she is very mannerly and elegant, and has much to offer anyone, I believe that somewhere within, she is like the rest of us, for although of another race, she is human, and human beings are not perfect. We are inclined to mistake, treachery, and absolute folly and wantonness. Do not think her totally perfect because of what she is, and do not doubt your friend. He has sense about him."
"I KNOW…him, Daddy," she said, frankly and a bit curtly, as her father stood up.
Bo was a bit shocked at his daughter's behavior, but quickly recovered, only to exasperate her even more, holding out his arms and moving them in accordance to the insistence of his speech. "Bu-but what you know or think you know must be wrong! He is incapable of ever intentionally hurting or deceiving anyone!"
"DADDY!" Ilia had turned in her seat again, quickly, her voice having elevated another octave as an indication of her irritation. "Can we just not talk about it anymore? My nerves, have some compassion! I will not go to Devon to see him before the ball. It's final! Put it UP!"
Had Bo known any better, he would have known that this quick temper of hers had been given to her by himself. And had he known any better, he would have realized that in instances like this, he was being more of an annoyance to her than he was of reassurance or consolation.
Bo now stood and observed his daughter in her smock dress, and after a moment of silence, in which the ire was still very tangible, he commented, "Now that I think of it, those dresses really complement your figure. You should wear one to the ball."
She’d had it. Slamming her tools on the table and immediately pushing herself away from the table and standing up from her seat, Ilia dismissed herself in a very indignant manner that announced the true extent of her annoyance. Announcing that she would begin her shift at the ranch much earlier by an hour and a half, it was then, as she slammed the door upon quitting the house, that a daylong break from encountering each other, after such a discussion, was necessary for the father and daughter to regroup by this evening, without feeling terrible or testy.
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So, how was it? I know my style is kinda...complex, but please forgive me. That's just how I write. I can't help it. But please, tell me what you think. Please comment. No flames, please and thank you.
Warmest regards,
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Chapter One
IN THE MONTH OF JUNE...
There was a particular event that was to be held in the summer, the tidings of which had touched every corner of Hyrule in ripples. It had excited many professions of anticipation, as well as hope for a sort of change in the system which everyone could agree upon, with what the unfortunate events of last year having affected all in an unfavorable way; and it promised all that was necessary for the country's reconstruction, and more.
The one profession of excitement that could always be depended upon was that everyone had made it their business to communicate it one to the other, and this was exactly what Sera had done as she hastened to the mayor's house early that Monday morning. Sera was stanchly faithful in relating anything that she had HAPPENED to hear or had been informed of by her friends in other provinces. She had thus given herself a nearly infamous reputation amongst the close-knit counties of Hyrule's south for being an informant of any news from the outside world, and had a small notoriety in her village of Ordon as the head of the neighborhood watch, as might be expected.
Ilia had taken leave for her routine morning stroll earlier that morning. Returning, upon approaching the house and coming onto the porch, she heard the beginning of a discussion between her father and Sera through the open window of her father's study.
This was seemingly the most hallowed part of the house, for although he no longer had a wife, and had no more than one daughter, Bo often went there to alleviate the distress which his political position bestowed on him as well as to shut himself away from the general world; he was used to wanting to be alone. But Sera's appearances within the past week had necessitated the use of it even more than usual. He had sought what peace it could provide in the hopes of shutting Sera out completely and leaving Ilia to deal with her, as her youth and maturity seemed to have allowed her to be much more patient. However, as her husband was not of a good humor or concern to do much of anything let alone tolerate her effusions, and when everyone else had deliberately made themselves much too busy, Sera's persistence at conversation and of being heard deprived the mayor.
"Oh Mayor?" cried Sera. "Have you heard? Of what tidings come from Castle Town?"
Bo replied that he had not.
"There is to be a marriage there at the castle, at least a fortnight away. It concerns someone we all know, my dear Mayor. My dear friend Mrs. Durbit has just been there herself and has told me all about it. Oh, such news!" Bo had rounded the corner of his desk to the bookshelf in the corner by the window, when the persistent sundry owner, skirts and apron balled in her hands, chased him.
"Oh, Mayor! Will you not hear of it?" cried she impatiently.
"A-a-as you wish to tell me, Sera, I am afraid I have no choice BUT to hear of it," Bo replied with a calm unconcern.
Ilia continued into the house, picking up her dress as she stepped, and releasing her finger from in between the pages of the novel she had been reading on her walk.
She couldn't help but to allow a good smile on her face. This apathy of her father's could always be counted upon whenever Sera made a point to come to the house in order to relate her tidings, all with that excessive excitement that is known of women whose business is the lives of others, matchmaking, and visiting friends, as a means of entertaining herself, giving herself some importance in the world. She was a woman of mean understanding, uncertain temper, and little information, and whose sole concern was marrying her daughter as young as possible. She tended to exaggerate for emphasis, and when discontented, she fancied herself nervous. Bo, on the other hand, had always been a strange mixture of quick parts and the reserve which older men sometimes have, along with that occasional irritability. Upon other things, he could be unnecessarily excited and was thus the same kind of bundle of nerves that Sera was, though he would never admit to any comparison between her and himself. And although lacking composure and distance when it came to his daughter, men, and happiness, his interferences were never without genuine concern. As Ilia's timing just now had been rather impeccable, she seemed to never fail to encounter Sera and her father in the middle of some kind of discussion where amusement was sure to be provided.
Within the past year, Ilia had become a very beautiful young woman of seventeen and had changed in every physical aspect of herself from her complexion to her wardrobe. Although it was still simple and unclassified in accordance to any particular trends, her style had matured from floods and a tunic to smocked dresses, which more or less agreed with and accentuated her in every way. She was also now in favor of wearing something on her feet when she wandered into the wilderness, a pair of suede slippers that she had been given for her birthday. Her hair had grown another couple inches and her skin had become only a tad darker, for she was in the sun more often now that she had some employment at the ranch. Her tan, nowhere near revoltingly shocking, brought out the emerald of her eyes more than her usual porcelain color could, and seemed to darken her lashes, which assisted that brilliance with a dramatic effect.
Where her figure was concerned, it had improved in physical strength due to her duties at the ranch, her biceps toned in accordance to the gentleness that is associated with females. She had nicely filled out in her hips and bust, and her contour was more curvaceous, so much so that she had not only taken a genuine liking in wearing her dresses, but had scrupled to hide herself in them as to not cause any unsavory fantasies in the minds of the young males which sometimes came in the company of their fathers on political visits to the house.
The dress that Ilia had put on today was strapless and smocked at the bust with an empire waist, and ended at her heels in a ruffled hem. This style was more preferable in the regard of comfortable trekking about the countryside, pronouncing summer as being her favorite season. It went to her feet and but slightly dragged on the dusty dirt of the road, and she loved how it felt when the wind blew it against her bare legs.
Entering the house, the summer breeze followed her in at her back in a most pleasant, soothing stroke of breath. She turned down the hall to her right, right off the foyer, where it should bring her to the door of her father's library. And there she caught Beth, her friends Susan and Missy, and Talo and Malo eavesdropping through the small opening between the door and the jamb. Colin was engaged at the table, and with all the other children assembled at the library door, the paints which they had been playing and drawing with were currently left to his sole amusement.
Her book pressed at her side and her dress gathered up under her fingers, she turned to him. "What is going on?" Before Colin could utter a single sound out of his lips, she had turned towards the others, as if she were somehow furious, and tugged on Beth's obi. "What is this?!" she whispered harshly. "What have I told you all about listening at the door?"
Beth's only response was in throwing her hand back at the girl.
"Never mind anything about that, LiLi," squealed Missy. "Someone's getting married!"
"Someone you'd like to hear of," added Beth, faithfully. The girls sighed giddily with Malo smothered between them.
Upon this reply, Ilia was suddenly eager herself to hear what was being talked of and who was at the center of it, although having no doubt that it must concern her friend. As she leaned over the girls and struggled to peep inside, Malo turned and looked up at her, telling her frankly, "It's about Link. Apparently, he's getting married."
The other girls gasped, and an instant frown as well as an exasperated huff came from Beth. "Oh! Shut it up! Don't spoil it!!" she cried in a whisper. Luckily, Ilia's attention to Malo had been but half engaged, so she had not caught all of this. Missy hushed them all, as they listened in on the discussion.
Bo's tiresome response from before had been invitation enough to Sera, his disinterest completely unnoticed by her and otherwise not regarded.
"Why, Mayor, you must know! Everyone has heard of it. Mrs. Durbit says that one of our most familiar Ordonians is to be married to Her Ladyship in a fortnight of this coming Saturday. Do not you want to know who the bridegroom is?"
Her eyes were bright with impatience, and she tugged on Bo's sash, an action to which he replied by turning around from his bookshelf with a heavy, drawn out, and irritated sigh.
"If you persist, then pray, do tell me. What familiar Ordonian is it, Sera?"
"Our Link! He is marrying the Princess. What a joyous occasion! Nearly two million invitations have been sent out, and all the nearest provinces should turn out for it. Such a union can promise nothing better than what is had in mind for our economy; and I expect that Link, as he is a part of this village, will have a particular regard paid to us. He could persuade her. Oh! I think a visit to the castle is most necessary, to inform him of how happy we shall be for him, and what we think of his regard. Dear, benevolent Link, always doing what's best for his friends."
There was a certain melancholy about Bo's response that pronounced some disappointment in his former anticipations of Link's being wedded to his daughter and taking his place as Ordon's ambassador; and though he had already guessed who it was that was to marry the Princess, he would not deny him sincere wishes for marital happiness and all the fortune that was to come of it. Given their intimate friendship, Bo had mean to have Link for her, who was the preferable choice out of all the others, the sons of some political acquaintances; - Bo had trusted no one better than Link when it came to Ordon and his daughter. Although he himself had been disheartened, especially with the thought that Ilia should feel rejected, the mayor could not blame Link for being unable to stay in Ordon for more than a day; his experiences throughout his journey would have taken him off, for to return to his former life as soon as it was in his view would be to say that he had not learnt or felt anything. On the other hand, Bo had always known that it was the boy's fate to leave Ordon – perhaps for good.
Upon hearing all of this, Ilia's features were now shaded with some disappointment which only the observant Malo had discerned. But were she not at all changed by her trials, and were she still a girl, insecurity would have allowed her to feel as self-pitying and disconsolate as an adolescent female who had obsessively fantasized of and sought requited love, as young girls are inclined to do. Therefore, it was not as too great a loss to her as others would anticipate it being, as she had not fixed any great expectations on the prospect of their being together so that such information would make her bed-ridden with heartbreak. And it had also been very fortunate that no one except herself knew the real extent of her connection with Link, or else they would have all turned around to see her reaction to this news. Maturity prevented ill-humor, jealousy, and unreasonable restlessness which she might have otherwise have had. Instead, she was happy for him where the personal advantages of the match were concerned – concealing any deeper disappointment with a cheerful and convincing manner as if she couldn't care and as if she were not at all affected by it.
Sighing heavily, the mayor answered Sera, "I should not object to his marrying Her Ladyship, for I've always wished for him to pursue happiness however he would, and I agree that such a union would benefit this country. But as he is merely her consort, we should not expect that every idea that he has for us, every concern, can be passed, and neither can we really depend on it that he may drop by so often, as if he were not employed at all with such business.
"And on the other hand," Bo continued, smirking to himself, "were he to expect specific congratulations from us, which I do not doubt, then he would make it a point to venture out here to Ordon. I do not think that he should be so wrapped around her finger and otherwise too much consumed with affairs to have a large dinner with us one evening, and perhaps spend a whole day or two in repose before he should be off again."
"I have here," Sera continued, her exuberance still the same, "one of the invitations which have been sent out. Such fine paper, gold print, as royally elegant as any document of a monarch's special regard should be. Oh! I am already thinking of what I should wear. I don't think Her Ladyship is averse to the truly humble. He should inform her of what kind of people we are."
"She should already know if she is of the position to govern all the entire country. She ought to know her own countrymen, don't you think?" Bo asked this in a tone that might as well question Sera's intelligence and make some fun of those things to which she paid superfluous concern.
"I meant that on a more PERSONAL level. And how can you be so tiresome? You couldn't mean to deprive him any feelings of congratulations that he is most worthy of! Were this country in a better state, he would be able to better help who he marries, but Hyrule requires it. It's smart of them to be united so. And just because he must say 'I do' to her, I do not believe that she could have complete gain over him and be so inflexible as to deny him the resumption of any former pleasures or the renewal of those acquaintances he has not seen in so long. He could have his way, one way or some other. Politics should be her department entirely, while military should be his. Oh, what it is to think that we should be directly connected with the royalty of Hyrule!"
"Whether they are really in love or not, a husband is to always keep his oath unto his wife, 'in sickness and in health'. You and I know that, now don't we?"
The door was suddenly fully opened, and to the surprise, and both nervous and giddy smiles, of those who attended it. Bo stood before them, pausing only for a moment to acknowledge them - "Ah...People" - and then continued out the door and passed through the dining room where Colin was. Squeezing past the clutter of children, and sending a punitive glance to her daughter that warned her against eavesdropping again, Sera hastened to keep up with the mayor as he made his way around the table with a book he planned on reading and the white Easter lily that he had taken off his shelf and was now going to place on the desk in the drawing room.
"And although our Link is much too good of a lad to be the least bit disloyal and deceptive to anyone, were he to break that promise, I am afraid none of us would ever see him again. She would hang him soon as she had received word of infidelity."
"Oh COME now, Mayor! Don't make such horrible scenarios. We must go to the wedding to support him. He has always been a good lad, and as he is particularly connected with each one of us, our invitation should be special – "
He stopped in his tracks and turned around to look down at Sera. "Although I've never had a doubt as to whether he cares for every one of us," Bo interrupted her, "we would not be special enough that we should be placed in the front pews and given first choice of the food at the reception. We will be in the back like every other random citizen who insisted on coming just to say they went. When it comes to you, I know all too well that's what this is about, Sera, so you can rub it in the faces of those of your acquaintance who don't have the means to go – especially poor Mrs. Durbit."
Entering the drawing room, Bo was slowly lowered himself into his chair behind the desk, which was slanted into a corner before a wide window. Balancing his weight on his desk with his hands, he finally plopped down with a relieved sigh. Followed closely by the children, and with the hem of her peasant dress at her knees, the underskirt showing but slightly, and her cheeks flushed with liveliness as well as from the brief exercise of chasing after him, Sera rushed into the room, following Bo as would a persistent, noisy housewife whose sole concern was to marry her daughters away to handsome men; and that was precisely what she addressed as a secondary object of going to the castle.
"At once, Mr. Mayor!" she cried. She stood halfway into the room as the rest of the children filed in. Colin now stood in the doorway to pick up on all that was going on.
"Let me sit DOWN, woman!" Ilia came and plopped down on the couch before the desk.
"Oh! It is necessary for the girls to go. An opportunity to find husbands! A ball is undoubtedly a perfect place to find them, and a wedding reception no less, if all the country and all the people of importance are to turn out for it."
She clapped her hands together and gazed towards the heavens. "The militia should be there, and I could think of nothing better than that Beth should be married to an honorable man of the army. There was once a time when I myself had been in love with a soldier. What happiness awaits you, what glory! Oh! To think of my Beth well married - "
"That is ALL you think about Sera. My goodness, you have this all pictured out in that mind of yours, don't you?"
Ilia laughed, gathering and hugging her legs against her body underneath her dress, and glancing back at Sera, whose face now bore offense in response.
Bo seemed to really be contemplating this, and he put his elbow on the desk and pressed his thumb to his cheek, his index to his temple, and curled in the rest of his fingers. "For the sake of SUPPORT as well as our IMAGE... "- he made a nod - "it is necessary indeed that we turn out at the ceremony. Besides, none of us have seen anything of him in a twelvemonth, and he thinks of us as family, since we are all he has really known where guidance, encouragement, and instruction are concerned; and the last thing I would desire is to have him think ill of anyone here, although that has always been quite impossible with him. He's just too well-tempered.
"But I do have some news of my own, which should make you all very happy to hear of." The whole room had fallen into a complete hiatus full of eager anticipation and ready giddiness. Bo gauged everyone's faces, privately entertaining himself, before he went on.
"It seems that this very fellow of whom we speak would be due to come back to town in a few days, as if to see to it that we give him our heartiest and greatest wishes for his success in the elite circle, a proper farewell, and prayers to see him again sometime soon."
"Link is coming home?" said Colin, with great hope in his high-pitched voice. He clasped his hands together accordingly.
Beth jerked and leaned forward with her hands grasping the couch, her sudden burst of elation pronouncing her to still not have stopped crushing on the Hero. She really had no limits. "To the dance at Devon? To the dance? He would be coming to the dance, Mr. Mayor? Is he coming alone?" she asked eagerly, her words rapid with unbridled excitement. Ilia glanced curiously at her and chuckled.
Touching the tips of his fingers together, as if in profound thought, the wicked pleasure of having known of something before anyone else was clear in his countenance when he gave one nod and said, calmly but certainly happily, "Of THAT I cannot be certain, but that he would be at the dance, I certainly CAN be sure of."
As soon as the last word had escaped his lips, Beth and Missy had broken out into happy, heavy gasps, and were now skipping around the room. They were each of them discussing plans of what outfits to wear and to match, and Ilia was suddenly the center of their circle as each of them made pleading offers to do her chores for a certain length of time if she were to lend them a dress, a pair of sandals, or ribbons for dresses.
After listening to these raptures and effusions for a few minutes, Bo had begun to come a bit irritated, as easily as elders do. Discerning this, Ilia worried for her father and was about to insist that they all go into another room, when the mayor coolly observed, unto Beth and Missy, "The goddesses, heaven and earth! From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the county. I have suspected it some time, but now I am convinced."
Missy was disconcerted and made no answer. But Beth, with perfect indifference and an indignant, continued to express her admirations of Ordon's Hero, which had been restored their former ardor upon hearing this news; and she confided her hopes of engaging his attention for herself for several dances, as if through her affectation and coquetry she could persuade him to think her perfectly eligible for himself.
The two girls were rather frequent in these attentions, and of all the girls in the village, which there were few enough of as to make this small group, like a sisterhood – Beth and Missy's minds were the most vacant. Unfortunately, Sera had encouraged Beth and Missy to engage in gossip and interference as much as possible, for in her view, there was nothing immoral about it. Thus, she would not scruple to advise the former of the unsavory content of her spoken desires and did not think it necessary to warn her against the impropriety of her flirtation. Sera was determined that it was perfectly acceptable and did not think at all of the immodesty of her daughter wanting of a relationship with someone far older than herself who was already due to be married. Ilia so often checked this absurdity, but alas, the girls proved to be too fixated and stubborn to learn much of prudence and decorum.
Beth was now a well-grown girl of thirteen with a fine complexion and good-humored countenance, and her mother's affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, was self-willed and careless, emotional and immature, was more trouble than she was of help, and had a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attentions of boys from other villages, to whom her mother's good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. Missy, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Beth's guidance, had also been indulged by Sera, to whom she was the favorite of all of Beth's friends and who was particularly close friends with her mother, as if for the sake of having in common only children and useless husbands. The girls were both of them ignorant, idle, and vain, and so long as the boys of ambient counties were agreeable to them and somewhat receptive to their obsessive attentions, arm in arm, they would forever be going out of Ordon every week.
Susan, on the other hand, in consequence of being the only plain one of the bunch, always worked hard for knowledge and accomplishment, and whenever she had developed a new skill or made had some discovery in the world of knowledge or art, she was impatient for demonstration. She had only a little genius but scarcely any taste, and if any, it distinguished her as estranged and odd from the other two; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a finicky air and conceited manner.
Then there was Ilia, the eldest of them all, unfailingly attractive with expressively striking, bright eyes, soft and pretty features, and a strong, adamant spirit. Practicality and understanding made her intelligent, and patience and concern, combined with her assertiveness, recommended her to the children of Ordon as a figure of sorts – a wary and insightful sister to those just beneath her in age, and a surrogate mother to toddlers and babies. She was elegant when she chose it, and preferring simplicity to anything else, was more than satisfied with her manner of living, a frame of mind which elitists would consider to be rustic indifference to better. She was obstinate in all the ways of an honest and admirable potential spouse, and was as strong-willed as an independent woman ought to be – so much so that she was sometimes fearsome even to her father. Thus, Ilia was not without some negative quality.
Last year's experience had bestowed Ilia a grander sense of adventure that could often be demonstrated through her social devices. Aside from spending a great deal of time surrounded by the forces of nature, Ilia's secondary amusement was a study of people's characters. She had something more of cleverness to distinguish her from all the girls, and while she was very lively in socializing only within her inner circles, being sociable in general had given her a quickness of observation – an excellent, keen distinction between intelligence and utter ignorance, and honesty and deceptive inclinations, which allowed her to see through to actual character within the first few encounters. Enjoying absurdity and always ready to laugh at it, Ilia otherwise had the potential to be critical in her judgment if she disliked someone enough, an ability on which her self-assurance had been founded. Her usual sweetness and affability, however, well concealed this quality, appearing her to be as modest and quiet as her friend Katya, who, with people, was more naïve than her.
Unlike her friend, Katya was a bit more cautious in her praise and judgment of people and was likewise determined to never think ill of anybody, even if someone had crossed one with whom she was particularly connected. She was gentle and good-natured and resided in the neighboring village of Devon, which was also well-known for its expertise in farming as well as its grand lavender fields. As Ilia's confidant, Katya was used to exonerating those who her friend admonished, keeping in check her sometimes brash judgment of people by offering positive interpretations of negative situations. That desire to see only the best in people had the tendency to become extreme, but was Katya not so entrenched in her world view that her opinion could not stand to be changed.
In the end, given all these manifold attractions, it could never be wondered how Link had liked Ilia so well; and by anyone but herself, it could never be questioned as to whether she had attracted him well enough that, were he not so employed, and engaged, most importantly, he would have asked her out. Bo had commended the lad and joked that he would have certainly been brave should he have decided to marry the feisty Ilia. And although she had particularly liked Link, the events of last year, along with her amnesia, had terribly delayed any progression of their relationship which either of them would have desired. She had never contemplated much on marriage anyway, and always found herself blushing whenever the thought of an engagement to her friend had invaded her mind. But as a rational, determined, and sensible creature, in the wake of his absence from Ordon, Ilia had convinced herself that Link must not think of her any more than he did before – perhaps increasingly less since he'd left, and perhaps even barely now that he was to be much too occupied with diplomatic matters; and while it was all reasonably disheartening to think of, she had also convinced herself that what slight partiality that had existed was now certainly too decrepit to become real romance, especially since he must be faithful to the woman that was to become his wife.
The following day at Ordon's ambassadorial lodge, Bo had come down the stairs and entered into the dining room with the specific intention of sharing with his daughter some news that he thought she might like to hear; anything which concerned her friend should be of particular concern to her.
There she was at the table, donning another smock dress and mending a toy of Colin's which only she knew how to fix, having done so before. Bo stood quietly for a moment, observing that his daughter had hardly acknowledged his presence. He then spoke. "I thought you should know that I have recently paid a visit to Devon myself, for our friend had called on me to meet him there not long ago, and while there, I had found out that he is to come with at least three friends of his own."
"Oh?" said Ilia, only with slight curiosity.'
It appeared to Bo that she were scrupling to seem determined in fixing the toy, as if it were the most important thing of her day, and as if it took so much time to fix that it must take all day and she had figured of getting an early start to it – all to avoid asking anything concerning her friend, as if real concern should give her away entirely, as it was greater than she allowed it to appear to be. However, Bo was somewhat aware of these schemes, and decided to play along. Amused, he smiled softly to himself and nodded, while his daughter's attention was completely on the toy and she had hardly looked up.
Bo had been among the earliest to wait on the young man in Devon, and had the greatest pleasure of seeing his state of being for himself. He could not help entertaining that he should say nothing of it to his daughter, and that she ought to be informed with her eyes instead of her ears. It was then disclosed to Ilia that the lad would be stationed in Devon from now until a couple days following the homecoming ball, and then would go back to the capitol to prepare for the wedding. After some pause, Bo coolly suggested to her that she should make a point to go there with the other women on Thursday, two days before the ball should take place.
When Ilia only gave him a sideward glance, which was aimed away from his face and actually at the doorway next to which were the stairs, it was then that Bo inquired after her manner of response, and that his irritating sense of curiosity had begun to leak in.
"Oh, Ilia," began he with doting solicitude. "What could you mean by saying nothing about any of this? Surely you have something to say. You haven't had the pleasure of seeing each other in a year. Surely you're curious to see how much change has occurred; I dare to say he will be pleased with your looks." Ilia lowered her head, endeavoring to hide both her smirk and her blush. "Come now. Pay him a visit. This behavior could not possibly be the result of the news of him that we've recently had. You couldn't mean to deprive him in the name of jealousy."
This time, she answered instantly, turning sideways in her seat to face him, and with a lowered chin and a raised set of brows, she sent her father a sort of glare which, with her manner of speaking, she pretended to be unconscious of, but which she really intended to check his observations and convince him of otherwise. However, as a father with a certain intuition, she succeeded only half the time, unless she was really uptight.
But little did Bo know of the aforementioned thoughts of yesterday that ran through her head, and which, causing her some distress, had her thus reply, "Daddy? There is nothing that I should be jealous about. To be frank about it all, I could care less. She is a more honorable woman than I, with what all her fame, status, money, and intelligence to recommend her, so she is very much worthy of his attentions, if affectionate attentions they really are. I don't doubt it, though, as my friend has always been the type to fall easily for someone he finds a great deal of favor with, and as I am convinced that with the fate which the gods had laid on them to wholly conform, he must have found much favor with her, and as I have heard many accounts of her unparalleled beauty, he must have fallen especially hard."
"Ohhhh!!!" drawled her father, like a man cooing over the cuteness of a baby. He hastened and grabbed a seat, stationing himself at her corner of the table. "Come, come, sweetheart. You don't really believe that, that you are not as worthy as she is, or as beautiful, or accomplished, in your own way? Tell me better, that you don't really believe that Link is a simpleton like that, or is mercenary! Nonsense! That he should drop anything with you, merely because she has a better living with incessant streams of money and a spacious, towering home. Do not think that because they were fated to collaborate against malevolent forces, must mean that they will have as much if not more in common than you and he do, that it should captivate him and blind him into foolhardy, puppy-craze. Although I don't doubt that she is very mannerly and elegant, and has much to offer anyone, I believe that somewhere within, she is like the rest of us, for although of another race, she is human, and human beings are not perfect. We are inclined to mistake, treachery, and absolute folly and wantonness. Do not think her totally perfect because of what she is, and do not doubt your friend. He has sense about him."
"I KNOW…him, Daddy," she said, frankly and a bit curtly, as her father stood up.
Bo was a bit shocked at his daughter's behavior, but quickly recovered, only to exasperate her even more, holding out his arms and moving them in accordance to the insistence of his speech. "Bu-but what you know or think you know must be wrong! He is incapable of ever intentionally hurting or deceiving anyone!"
"DADDY!" Ilia had turned in her seat again, quickly, her voice having elevated another octave as an indication of her irritation. "Can we just not talk about it anymore? My nerves, have some compassion! I will not go to Devon to see him before the ball. It's final! Put it UP!"
Had Bo known any better, he would have known that this quick temper of hers had been given to her by himself. And had he known any better, he would have realized that in instances like this, he was being more of an annoyance to her than he was of reassurance or consolation.
Bo now stood and observed his daughter in her smock dress, and after a moment of silence, in which the ire was still very tangible, he commented, "Now that I think of it, those dresses really complement your figure. You should wear one to the ball."
She’d had it. Slamming her tools on the table and immediately pushing herself away from the table and standing up from her seat, Ilia dismissed herself in a very indignant manner that announced the true extent of her annoyance. Announcing that she would begin her shift at the ranch much earlier by an hour and a half, it was then, as she slammed the door upon quitting the house, that a daylong break from encountering each other, after such a discussion, was necessary for the father and daughter to regroup by this evening, without feeling terrible or testy.
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So, how was it? I know my style is kinda...complex, but please forgive me. That's just how I write. I can't help it. But please, tell me what you think. Please comment. No flames, please and thank you.
Warmest regards,
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