So tedious and unfair. In a foul mood, Zelda sulked in the frame of her window gazing gloomily out to the royal court. It was just like her parents to pull a stunt like this, is she not already the perfect princess? She always listens to her tutors and elders, always behaves far above her age of fourteen. Letting out another huff, Zelda slides down from her spot on the windowsill and slips out of her grandiose room. Weaving down the halls, the princess ducks in alcoves and behind tapestries as she evades capture by her nursemaid or anyone who may try to stop her and send her back to the confines of her rooms.

Fleeing from the stone halls of the castle, Zelda skids into the garden, her feet sliding on the freshly watered grass. Catching herself on her hands, she picks herself back up and continues her race to a quiet, overlooked area of the garden, covered by a large expansive tree. Using small gauges in the trunk, the princess climbs up to a small platform nestled in the large canopy of the tree. Impa had helped her construct this oasis five summers ago when her mother had passed. Since that time Zelda only completed a trip to this personal space when she was well and truly upset, and goddesses was she upset.

Hugging her knees to her chest, Zelda gazed out upon the garden she loved so dearly. In her opinion her duties as the princess had gone too far now.

}-{

Earlier that afternoon her father, the King of Hyrule, had called her to the throne room, a strange request in itself. Walking into the expansive room, Zelda noted the entire royal court of advisors was seated in front of her father, who himself was seated at the head of the men. Zelda's mind had immediately begun spinning, trying to conjure any incident that might require her reprimand, or perhaps she had forgotten a festival that was upcoming and they would like her to act as the princess to the public of Hyrule. Many different scenarios ran through Zelda's mind, however her answer was nowhere near the answer her father provided.

"Zelda, dear, I want to discuss a matter of utmost importance with you", Zelda approached her father and took his outstretched hand as he spoke.

"I will do anything Father, I am sure you know this", the weathered man face smiled softly at his young daughters words.

"I am well aware my dear princess, however I also know you will have reservations to what I am about to say and I wish that you will hear me out,"

Zelda cocked her head, puzzled, "Of course Father,"

"Well dear daughter do you remember Queen Saria of the Faron Kingdom?"

"Of course, she and her son visit regularly, although the prince can be annoying at times, you would think he fancies himself the Legendary Hero the way he carries on at times," the King grimaced at Zelda's words, glancing tactfully away at the mention of the Faron Prince.

"Well Prince Link is actually what I brought you here to talk about," the royal court started nodding their heads, Zelda scanning the room in confusion, her father refusing to meet her eyes, " You see dear Zelda, since your birth the Faron Queen, and your mother and I had made an agreement. On your eighteenth birthday the Faron Kingdom would join and become a part of Hyrule."

"But why would Queen Saria agree to this? Why my eighteenth birthday? What does this have to do with prince?" the King placed a hand on Zelda's shoulder as a way to silence her before her questions over-rode his own voice.

"Zelda the fact that the Faron Queen and Prince visit regularly is not a coincidence. On your eighteenth birthday you are to wed Prince Link," Zelda's eyes flew wide, wrenching her hand from her fathers she stumbled back a bit.

"WHY FATHER?" Zelda shouted before taking a breath and composed herself, "Father I do not wish to marry the Prince. He-"

"Are you not friends with Prince Link?" her father cut over her words.

"Well …yes" Zelda conceded before her father cut over her words once again.

"Then what is the problem then daughter?" Zelda clenched her fists, she could feel her face growing hot with anger.

"There is a difference between being friendly with someone and wanting to marry them! I absolutely do not wish to marry Prince Link, and that will not change father. Just you watch!' and with her final outburst, the young princess had swept from the room.

}-{

Alone she now sat in her tree, thinking over her parents and Queen Saria's decisions. No doubt Link would not be any happier about the arrangement. The idiot was always claiming that he was going to explore the world and defeat any enemy that he faced and never become King, to the numerous eye rolls of his mother. Link was the complete opposite of Zelda and that's what made them such good friends, no more than that.

However Zelda herself could not ignore the fact that if she were to be married, would it not be better that she married someone she already knew? Rationality was not in her good graces however as she scratched at the wood. Her mind raced through terrible scenarios of Link hating her, and an unhappy marriage… an unhappy life. She was fourteen for Nayru's sake! She shouldn't be needing to worry herself on marriage just yet. It did not stop the fact that Zelda had always wanted to marry for love, not for the love of her kingdom, but for the love shared between her and another. But this was not the way of a princess, a fact that dug a hole into Zelda's heart.

Movement called Zelda's attention to the ground. Below, her nursemaid was leant against the tree, gazing up towards the princess.

"Princess Zelda, your father has sent me to tell you that Queen Saria and Prince Link of the Faron Kingdom are to arrive for a visit in two weeks' time. He hopes you will be cordial at this meeting." The loud frustrated yell of the princess echoed through the castle grounds as Impa walked back to the castle under the watchful gaze of Zelda. The young girl fell back to her tree floor and resisted the urge to scream once again as the thought of two weeks times came to her mind.

She was never usually bothered by the news that the Faron Queen and Prince were visiting, in fact usually it was quite the opposite. Zelda only really counted two people she knew to be friends, and that was Prince Link and Princess Hilda of Lorule, though she saw Hilda far less than Link.

To be honest, the thought of marrying Link didn't not seem as condemning as it should have been, but the princess banished this thought from her mind before she could dwell upon it. Sitting up, Zelda hiked her dress between her legs before shimmying down the trunk, hitting the ground with a dull thud, the princess dusted off her dress before waltzing inside the palace with her head held high, ignoring the looks of surprise on the guards face at her sudden appearance.

Feet taking an automatic route, Zelda once again found herself in her room. Sitting at her desk, she pulled out clean paper and a writing quill before setting the pen to the paper.

Prince Link of Faron,

By the time you read this I am sure that you know of the ridiculous agreement our parents have made-