Runaway in Hyrule Chapter Seven - Nightfall at the Stable

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°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*Chapter 7 - Nightfall at the Stable°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ We become part of the crowd—moving, spinning, laughing—as the music swells around us. Lanterns swing overhead, casting golden circles of light across the packed grass. Someone bumps into me and apologizes through their laughter; a group of travelers link arms and spin in a fast, wild circle; children weave between everyone’s legs, trying to match the rhythm. Kael keeps close to me, making sure I don’t get lost in the chaos. His smile never fades, and every time our hands brush, something warm shoots up my arm. The Stable Trotters play louder, the beat thumping joyfully beneath our feet. My dress swirls around me as I move, the night air cool against my flushed skin. For the first time in so long… I feel alive. Free. As the final song begins to die down, Kael grabs my hand gently and gives me a playful twirl. I gasp, stumbling a little, but he steadies me with a laugh. I giggle, breathless. My heart is racing—not just from dancing. When the last note fades, the crowd bursts into applause. I clap with them, still smiling, still feeling the spin in my chest. Little by little, the group breaks apart. Some travelers head toward the temporary tents scattered around the grassy field, spaced far enough from the stable to keep things quiet. Others wander into the stable itself, where simple cots line the walls beneath warm lanternlight. Kael turns to me, brushing his hand through his hair. “I was able to save us both a cot inside.” “Oh—thank you.” I look around nervously. “Did it cost anything? I forgot to bring money with me. I’ll try to pay you back when I—” He cuts me off with a wave of his hand. “Don’t worry about it. I got a discount because I helped them deliver goods to Hateno earlier. No need to pay me back.” I exhale in relief, offering him a grateful smile. “Still… thank you.” We step inside the stable. The warm smell of hay and wood surrounds us, mixing with the faint scent of horse and smoke drifting in from outside. Travelers settle onto their cots, whispering softly to each other or quietly getting ready for bed. Some grab plain shirts and shorts from their packs, heading behind the stable to a small changing stall lit by a single lantern. I glance down at myself. The dress. The one I wore to dinner with Lord Eldric. I hadn’t thought about sleeping in it until this moment—and now the fabric feels too tight, too fancy, too… wrong for a place like this. As if reading my mind, Kael rummages in his small traveling bag. “Here,” he says, offering me a folded set of clothing—an oversized plain shirt and soft cotton shorts. “You can sleep in these tonight.” My chest warms. “You’re… giving these to me?” “Just borrowing,” he says with a small grin. “Unless you end up liking them.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face as I take the clothes from his hands. “Oh. Thank you, Kael.” His eyes soften. “Of course, Celest.” And for a moment, the world feels wonderfully quiet.