Star-Crossed Lovers

III

Link couldn't believe he got himself into this situation. He continuously apologized as the stranger pushed past the crowd without saying a single "excuse me". When they made it to the dance floor, Link looked around nervously. This made the stranger laugh.

"What's wrong? Never danced at a ball before?" he asked.

"I never danced period," Link replied. "I-I... I don't know if I... Maybe this isn't such a good idea..."

The stranger scoffed. "Nonsense, dear. You'll do just fine!"

However, Link wasn't too confident with that. He looked away, his gaze aimed at the floor in embarrassment. The stranger didn't seem to believe him. Link never set foot in a ballroom before, nor did he bother learning how to dance. He was a servant. Nothing more. He had no need to learn how to waltz or dance like the nobles did. He knew he was going to make a fool out of himself.

Yet, something felt different when the stranger grabbed his chin and lifted his head. They were now staring at one another. The stranger gave him a small, reassuring smile rather than the cheeky grin he previously wore. He held both of Link's hands, gingerly caressing his knuckles. Most importantly, he saw the look in his elegant, brown eyes. Link felt a rush of heat spread across his face, and he knew he was blushing.

"Listen to me, even if you step on my feet, it'll be alright," he said. "Forget these snobbish prudes, and just focus on me. Got it?"

Almost hypnotically, Link nodded. When he realized his sudden agreement, however, it was too late to turn back. The stranger took his hands, gripping them more firmly, and pulled Link closer. They were now chest-to-chest, and the blond's face exploded as he looked up at the stranger, who simply chuckled at his embarrassment.

The two began to move their feet along to the rhythm, and surely enough Link made more than just a few mistakes.

He winced as he saw the stranger yelp when he stepped on his toes, muttering an apology. Then it happened again, and again, and again, and again...

Link couldn't help but sigh now. "I told you I was bad," he said, looking away from the stranger once again.

The stranger huffed. "Matters not. Just follow my lead. Let me take control." He smiled. "Loosen up. Stop being so stiff. And don't worry so much. Just look at me."

For some odd reason, Link decided to listen to the stranger. He loosed his form, sighing out to release the tension in his body, and looked up at the strange man he danced with. He listened to him, and refused to drift his eyes anywhere but the other's. Suddenly, he felt drawn in again. Now his stare no longer felt forced.

The stranger led the dance wonderfully. Link felt like he was dancing on air, and he couldn't help but let out a laugh. They made twists and turns across the dancefloor, chuckling to themselves as the blond was lifted off the ground in passionate twirls. The pace of the music increased, and so did their feet.

The room was suddenly spinning, but Link couldn't see it. All he could see was this beautiful stranger before him.

Those brown eyes that seemed to hold the endless universe in them, those thin yet elegant lips covered in slick, white gloss, and that smile that made the servant lose whatever reason and sense he had left. Link felt much better compared to earlier. He no longer cared that Zelda was engaged to some prince from a far off realm.

Strange how, in just a matter of minutes, a stranger suddenly felt more important to Link than the girl he pined after for years.

However, the blissful moment ended just as quickly as it started.

The sound of trumpets blowing to the tune of the national anthem made all within the ballroom stand still, including Link and the stranger. The queen now stood tall and proud above everyone, her expression just as stoic as it was earlier. Sometimes, Link swore, the queen had no emotions at all. And if she did, she rarely ever showed them.

"I hope you all enjoyed tonight's celebration," she said. "Now is the final event of the night in which the prince and princess will have their first dance with one another."

"Everyone clear the floor!" a guard exclaimed.

The room piled up as everyone followed the order. Link looked up at the stranger. He still had a job to fulfill. Yet, to his surprise, the stranger was the first to pull away.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I must go."

"Huh? Wait! I didn't even get your name!" Link called out to him.

The stranger stopped abruptly, turning around to look at the blond. Then, suddenly, he pulled Link closer to him and leaned into his ear.

He whispered, "I hope we can meet again someday, Link," and moved in to place a soft, chaste kiss on the shorter one's lips.

Link's face exploded into shades of red, the blush spreading all the way to the tips of his pointed ears. He was left baffled and gaping like a fish out of water. The stranger chuckled softly before making his exit once again.

The crowd quickly swallowed the stranger, and Link completely lost sight of him within seconds. He came just as quickly and mysteriously as he went. The blond was left alone on the floor a blushing mess.

The blond quickly covered his face, hoping no one saw them. Why did he do that? Better yet, why did Link enjoy it? They were two men, complete strangers, and he had no doubt the other was a noble. What was he even expecting? Much like with Zelda, he doubted he had a single chance with him anyhow.

He couldn't focus on this. He had a mission to complete.