Festive/2020/Winter/Day 24
Dialogue
Hint
The hall shone under the light of the chandeliers.
The festive table was richly set.
Next to it was the dance floor.
In front of the walls were bar tables, topped with various sweets.
Company gathered in the ballroom where soft music was playing.
"I would have liked some food first."
Link mumbled,
"But I think everyone else wants to start with gifts."
He waited in the background, stealing the occasional fish or candy from the bar tables.
Gifts were nice, but jewelry and clothes did not interest him enough to watch from the front row.
"Wow."
Zelda's voice caught Link's attention.
She seemed to like her gift. A lot.
It was Sir Dragmire's.
"Sir Dragmire, she is beautiful."
"I'm very pleased. She's a historical landmark in our culture."
The enthusiasm was for a marble.
It shimmered elegantly from the light of the candles, bouncing light to shine inside and out.
Zelda received at least three more dresses, and suddenly the gift parade was over.
All guests were invited to seat themselves at the table, where they were presented with a magnificent feast.
Even the gorons praised the exquisite stones.
After the meal, the ball became a social free-for-all.
The musicians let their fingers dance over the instruments for the party crowd on the dance floor.
Link had indulged himself in a boisterous dance with Saria, but now needed a break.
He grabbed a drink and reclined against a wall to watch the rest of the party dance in his stead.
High above their heads, Ghirahim and Fi danced with or around each other.
It was hard for him to tell.
Just below them, some Rito couples were floating in time.
On the floor were the Gorons, dancing with others in an open circle.
Next to them, the Zoras performed their water dances, moving through the room with a serene light-footedness, as water from small bottles wafted around them.
On the big wall behind them, Link could see the huge shadows the Minish created while dancing around on his little construction.
Right in front of him, more jumping than dancing, were the Kokiri and their fairies.
In the middle of all this, Sir Dragmire and Zelda were spinning.
For a brief moment, Link wished time could just stop.
The ball was simply magical.
When the play performance behind him ended, Link noticed a thick cloud had formed in the middle.
He could see neither Zelda nor Sir Dragmire.
Operating on instinct, Link's feet carried him to the center of the hall, towards the now dissipating cloud.
In the middle of the room he was alone.
"What happened?"
Impa asked.
It's good that she was still mobile, but he had no answer to her question.
A map on the floor caught Link's eyes.
With eyes widened in shock, he skimmed over its brief message.
"We joyfully announce our engagement."
Link read aloud.
He knew what he would read next, but, still, it scared him.
"Zelda and Ganon Dragmire"
"Isn't it a wonderful finale?"
Ghirahim spoke, and everyone turned their attention towards him.
"What's with all these horrified faces? Rejoice! We have a wedding."
"Where is the princess?"
Impa demanded, no sooner than she finished dragging him by his nose.
"It is our tradition for the bride to spend the time leading up to the wedding in the groom's castle."
That's all Link needed to know.