If the Boot Fits

Hints

"Alright!" he exclaimed. "Fine! I'll go! But I am not holding hands."

"Thank you," Aryll said, wiping the salty tears away.

"Don't mention it."

_____

The Sanctum was flooded with people, chatter, and swishing ball gowns. Ganondorf was off conversating with his followers- the Yiga and some Gerudo who still haven't shunned their old ways of thievery and criminality. Zelda had no clue where they were gathering, swindling any chance of catching him in the action. Instead, she paid little attention to all but one person in the Sanctum: Groose. He stood off in the corner, alone, observing the lively waltz before him. She should talk to him, Zelda thought. See if she may gain any information.

"Excuse me," she said, standing and gliding down the stairs before her father could object.

Zelda was given a wide birth even though she was staying close to the walls. The people moved back and stared, whispering amongst themselves. As she neared the pillar Groose was leaning on, he looked up at her. His eyes went wide, brows knitting in confusion. When Zelda stopped in front of him, it took him a second to process the princess was standing before him, scrambling into a deep bow. Even then, he was still taller than her.

"May we talk?" Zelda asked him. Then for the crowd to hear, "Privetly?"

Unhappy grumbles spread through the gathered people, especially the men. Zelda didn't care what they thought. She kept her eyes on Groose.

"Uh-um-sure," he stumbled.

Folding her hands over her skirt, Zelda started for the most hidden part of of Sanctum- right beneath the thrones on the lower level. Shrouded by shadows in the hidden alcove, the two would be safe to talk. She didn't stop to make certain Groose was following her. Relief filled her lungs when she turned in the dark corner and saw him standing there.

"Correct me if I am wrong, but you are Link's brother," she started. No time would be wasted in getting off topic from the start.

"Stepbrother," Groose was quick to reply.

This is already good. The chances of Zelda's theory being correct have gone up by this one fact.

"Is this about his arrest?" Groose asked. "I swear I don't know anything."

"It's not all about that, no," Zelda answered truthfully.

"Then what is it about?" he prodded.

How to respond to that? Zelda searched for a good reason, when, instead, a question came to mind.

She blurted, "Who is your mother?" She couldn't stop it, it just came out.

"Um. . ." Groose's forehead creased. He glanced back out to the party before locking eyes with Zelda. "I. . . don't know."

That caught her off- guard. Zelda didn't expect that.

"I'm sorry, but what is this about again?" Groose asked, confused.

"Tell me about your family," Zelda avoided the question.

When he glanced out at the ball again, she stepped closer. She hated the look of shock, then bashfulness, that crossed his face. Hated that she would have to flirt her way into answers. Zelda batted her eyelashes, holding back the puke in her mouth.