A/N: Just an idea for a story that has been bouncing around in my head for a while. Forgive me if I get small facts wrong; it's been too long since I last played Twilight Princess. Long live Zelda and her esteemed Hero! :3

General disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda, any of the characters or places, etc. I do, however, own the plot of this story.

Chapter One

Surveying the ballroom with a trained eye, Link shifted uncomfortably in his ceremonial armour and grimaced. Waves of over-dressed nobles drifted past him as they filed into the ballroom, the silk of the women's gowns creating a whisper as they moved, and their unintelligent chatter filling his ears. A few nodded their heads respectfully as they passed, but most treated him much as if he were part of the wall, unimportant, not worth their time. He gritted his teeth and steeled himself for several hours of being treated as such: though he was now known as Sir Link of Ordon, Hero of Light, many nobles refused to see his knighthood as just, and continued to see him as a commoner, a goatherd from Ordon, and thus, beneath their notice. Although he could have chosen to dine with the nobles, as with knighthood came nobility, he did not wish to mingle unnecessarily with people who could not see past their own wallets—even though court functions were an integral part of castle life, it did not mean that he enjoyed them.

Settling any unease he had about the safety of the Queen and her King, he took note of the entire Queen's Guard—a military unit formed after the end of the Twilight War whose sole purpose was to protect Their Majesties—placed strategically around the ballroom, along with his fellow knights. In the balconies above the ballroom were a handful of archers, hidden from the eyes so as not to create tension among the nobles. Although knights were required to attend most—if not, all—court functions, and the appearance of the Queen's Guard could be seen as symbolic rather than practical, the air-headed courtiers would surely raise a fuss if they were to notice the extra security. However, despite this, Link wished to take no chances, and had spoken with the Royal Army's Commander, Auru, about a few of the Army's archers being hidden from sight. Having assured himself that all was well, Link let his blue-eyed gaze drift to the raised dais at the far end of the large room, where the Queen and her King sat atop smaller versions of the dual thrones in the main throne-room.

Zelda was radiant. Her long, dark blonde hair was pinned back no longer by the coronet she had worn as Crown Princess, but by an ornate golden crown, befitting her title of Queen. Her gown was of a fine make, similar in appearance to all Royal gowns, with the crest of the Royal Family embroidered on a strip of rich material down the gown's centre. Sheathed in long, white gloves, her hands gripped the sides of her smaller throne loosely. Beside her, on a throne that was an exact replica of her own, was seated her husband, the King of Hyrule—the reason for the celebration, but also for the extra security, and, Link thought bitterly, the only reason Zelda was now Queen. Never mind that she had reigned as Crown Princess, and that Hyrule had prospered under her rule, before the Twilight War—after the War, she had pushed for monarchical status, and had been granted it by the Royal Council on one condition: that she be wed, and as soon as humanly possible. Hyrule had not had a Queen as their sole ruler since the days immediately following the last War, over a century ago, they protested—conveniently forgetting, perhaps, that those days had been Hyrule's most peaceful and most prosperous. No, it simply would not do, the conservatives had claimed: Hyrule must have a King. However, one small victory had been granted to Her Majesty in the form of the manner in which she and her King ruled: it was completely equal, giving Zelda just as much—if not more—power than her husband.

The King himself was twelve years Zelda's senior, a match based on politics, and having just reached his fortieth year, the Council had decided that a ball would be held to honour him. As his family was less powerful than the Harkinians, who had ruled for many centuries, he had changed his name completely, becoming Daphnes Harkinian, in order to honour one of Zelda's ancestors. A tubby, greying man, Link knew that his and Zelda's marriage was nothing more than a title: whilst they had been able to become friends, they would never be lovers, causing dissent among the nobles over the lack of an heir after several years of marriage. However, an attempt had been made on the King's life not long past—the reason Link had worriedly called for extra security. Though losing their King would be tragic, if whoever had attempted to kill him managed to get to Zelda instead—as it was entirely possible the attack had not been named at the King at all—it would be a grievous blow to Hyrule.

Noticing the presence of the leader of the Queen's Guard, Ashei, in her traditional place behind the two thrones, he sent a nod and a smile in her direction, receiving the same in return. Auru was also present, and although he wore no armour—unlike the ceremonial chainmail that both Link and Ashei wore—his sword was buckled at his waist. Settling his feet at an easy distance, shoulder-width apart, Link relaxed as the last of the nobles entered the ballroom; the banquet had finished moments ago, and he relished the thought of being able to retire to the small rooms set aside for his use once the air-headed young noblemen had exhausted their 'charm' and the ladies had depleted their dancing energy. When the last of the noblemen and women had entered the ballroom, their elegant attire skating across the polished marble floors, and the musicians held their instruments poised, prepared to play, Zelda rose.

The nobles as a whole bowed and curtsied out of respect for their Queen, whilst the knights and the Queen's Guard nodded respectfully. Link stifled a small chuckle as he remembered various attempts of his own at bowing in armour, even light armour such as chain-mail; he had decided that a simple nod was simply much more dignified, and, after all, appearances did have to be kept. His ear pricked as Zelda began to speak, and though he kept most of his attention upon her, still he kept himself alert for any sign of trouble.

"Friends," she called, immediately gathering the utmost attention of the now-straightened mass. Link's attention shifted as she began what was evidently a pre-rehearsed, empty speech—although the nobles ate up her words as if they had been starved for days, Link noticed the practiced edge to her repetitive formality and wondered at the mockery that peacetime had made of them all. It was as if they had fought so hard to defeat the menace of the encroaching Twilight, Zant and Ganondorf, only to be faced with something that could not be defeated with sword and bow. There was a certain irony to their situation, he mused; perhaps, even whilst they had been near imprisoned in darkness they had been innately freer than now, when peace reigned and they were all clapped in inescapable chains.

The blonde-haired Hero was brought out of his bitter thoughts by the eruption of noise brought about by the conclusion of Zelda's speech—polite applause and the rising music as the hired musicians began to play—and a polite tap on his shoulder. Turning, one brow rose as he took in the source of interruption. Beside him stood an armoured soldier, fist over his chest in a respectful salute. The soldier's armour differed in appearance to his own only by the large Royal symbols on his chest that identified him as a member of the Queen's Guard, and the conical helmet he wore, obscuring his features from view.

"Show yourself," Link commanded.

The soldier bowed and reached up a gloved hand to remove his helmet—the face revealed caused a smile to break through Link's stony expression for the first time that evening. The soldier's short, blonde hair was mussed from being kept inside the conical helmet, and his features were young, quite a few years younger than Link himself, although the dark brown eyes showed that he had been forced to mature beyond his years, although the playful innocence of his earlier years had not been lost entirely.

"My Lord," Colin intoned respectfully, although the mischievous glint in his eyes and his barely-contained grin ruined the act.

"I've known you since you were knee-high, Colin," Link reminded the second-in-command of the Queen's Guard. "You can't exactly fall back on formality when you're talking to your once-babysitter."

Colin's cheeks attained a faint tinge of pink. "Link!" he protested.

"What is it that you want?" Link asked, grinning at his boyhood friend.

"I have a message from Her Majesty," Colin replied, the awe evident in his voice when he spoke of Zelda. One of Link's brows went up, and he gave a small nod—seeing the indication that he should go on, Colin began to explain. "She requests that I relieve you of your post and you change your clothes into something more suitable for a ball, so that you might socialise for once." Here he paused, snickering a little at Link's obvious distaste of the request. It was common knowledge that Sir Link disliked parties and balls, yet only a few of his trusted friends had ascertained that the true reasoning behind this was his contempt of the nobility as a whole. Colin hurried on when he noticed Link's scowl, considering it wise to impart the entire message before the knight rushed to complain to Zelda herself. He lowered his voice so that any passing courtiers would not hear. "She wants you to stay armed and keep light armour on underneath your clothes—she thinks the presence of all these soldiers is making the nobility nervous, but still wants you able to fight if necessary. You're to report to her when you return."

Link nodded, his scowl softening in understanding. "I won't be long."

Leaving the blonde-haired young man to guard his post, Link began the trek through the castle's halls to his quarters. In the military wing of the castle, his quarters were large but simply furnished. He would not have had them at all, had Zelda not pressed them upon him when he had been knighted, stating she would like to have at least some people she knew without a doubt she could trust within reach. As the head of the Queen's Guard, Ashei also had quarters within the castle, although hers were a little smaller than Link's, and much closer to the Royal quarters. Taking little note of his surroundings, Link let his thoughts wander, drifting back toward the time just after the fall of Ganondorf.

The reconstruction of Hyrule and the restoration of trust to her people had begun not long after the end of the war, and Zelda, with the help of Link, Rusl, Ashei, Auru, and the remainder of the leaders of the resistance had driven the efforts. Although he and Zelda had been greatly saddened by the departure of Midna, they had thrown themselves into the reconstruction effort, and to a certain extent, knowing they were doing something had helped to ease their pain.

It had begun with the restoration of Hyrule Castle, so that they might have a more private place to meet—rather than Telma's bar—and so that some semblance of power and symbolism might be restored to Zelda's title of Crown Princess. However, it soon became clear that the Royal Council, despite having done nothing to aid their efforts, intended to attempt to curb Zelda's power as much as possible. The Council was made up of seven conservative, stuffy, old men, and it seemed the possibility of having a woman in charge disturbed them greatly. Their first protest had come when Zelda had expressed her wishes that Link should be knighted, three months after the reconstruction effort had begun—as knighthood came with nobility, they obviously found the prospect of a "commoner" becoming a noble upsetting, although they had been forced to bend under the anger of their Crown Princess and the people's praise of Link as the Hero of Light. However, Zelda had not been able to overcome them on the issue of her crown, and though it made Link's blood boil to think that she had been forced to marry in order to become Queen, he knew she had realised there was little she could do to if she wished to keep any hold on the throne at all.

Deliberately turning his thoughts from the Royal Council before his anger boiled over—after all, the events were in the past; it had been ten years since the end of the war, and nine and a half since the coronation—he quickened his pace, realising he was nearing his rooms.

As he shut the doors behind him, he quickly began to peel off the outer layers of chain-mail, searching for the leather jerkin he kept that would be inconspicuous enough to hide under one of his tunics. It took him very little time to dress once he had found everything, and, strapping his smaller sword to his waist—regretting that he was unable to carry the Master Sword with him, as he had had to return it after the defeat of Ganondorf—he raced down the corridors toward the ballroom.

The floor was filled with dancing couples when Link returned, but thankfully Zelda had not yet entered into the fray, and, nodding to Colin as an indication that he should continue to mind Link's post by the doors, he made straight for the dual thrones, ignoring the few contemptuous looks that still continued to be sent his way.

"Your Majesties," Link murmured, bowing, as he reached the thrones. Straightening, he smiled at the solemn figure a few feet behind the thrones. "Ashei."

Ashei gave him a smile in return and nodded. "Link."

"Please, there's no need for formality." Zelda's voice brought Link's attention back to Zelda and, beside her, Daphnes. The King echoed her thoughts, and Link gave a genuine smile to his monarchs. Though he greatly disapproved of the Council forcing a marriage upon the young Queen, upon her urgings he had given Daphnes a chance to "prove himself" as she had put it, and despite himself had come to, if not like the King, at least look upon him more favourably than he did the Council. Although he had long ago gotten over his boyish affection for Zelda, he still regarded her—and she him—as a close friend, and at times she grew annoyed with just how protective he could be of her.

"Enjoying yourselves?" he asked cheekily, to which Zelda grimaced in response.

"As much as anyone can enjoy sitting on a cold, hard, chair for several hours on end." She frowned when her husband chuckled softly to himself. "Be serious, both of you."

Link mock saluted her. "Yes, ma'am."

"Link! The nobles do have eyes and ears, you know—"

"I know," he cut her off, his face turning serious. "What is it?"

"Tell the knights to change, as you have, except they can choose whether or not to stay armed. I understand your want for caution, but the extra military presence is ridiculous—nothing will happen."

Link lowered his voice. "One can never be too sure of that, Zelda. We've enjoyed peace for a long time, but if something were to happen to either one of you, the kingdom would be thrown into disarray."

"I'm not stupid, Link," Zelda snapped, eyes flashing. "But think with your head, not your sword—you know the extra security is unnerving the nobles. The last thing we want them to think is that Daphnes and I are spineless cowards, hiding behind our guards even at court functions."

Link was about to retort, when Daphnes ventured softly, "If I may—here is not the place for that kind of talk."

Link gritted his teeth, hating that he was right; he could not help but be annoyed by any time the King had something to say that overrode a notion of his own or Zelda's, even if he what he had to say was of value. He nodded stiffly, noting the irritation in Zelda's eyes at his over-protectiveness had not yet abated and knowing he would hear about it later.

"I'll tell them," he stated, the sense of finality in his voice cutting off any further possibility of conversation.

There were six other knights present at the ball—the other members of one of many elite military units, comprised of sons of nobles trained to fight and uphold the strict code of chivalry—and a few of them shared Link's distaste for court functions, although for vastly different reasons, usually a dislike of dancing and being generally 'sociable'. Thus, there were some grumbles about armour, even chain mail, being preferred to fancy tunics and hose and doublets, but one by one the knights dispersed, returning in a short amount of time from the small quarters they kept in the military wing of the castle, close to Link's own. Once they all had returned, they scattered themselves around the ballroom, inviting this lady or that to dance; the more handsome ones certainly had no trouble acquiring themselves a dance partner—or more than one.

Link was relieved of his attempts to blend in so as to avoid the swarming nobles when he spied two of his close friends standing in one corner away from the main dance floor, nursing goblets and talking quietly to each other. Making a beeline for them and ignoring the few inviting looks sent his way by various noblewomen, he grinned as he approached and received simultaneous greetings. One was dressed simply, the other in finer clothes, reflecting their respective natures. Link nodded to both of them by way of greeting. "Shad. Rusl."

Both were Link's close friends, having helped to bring about the defeat of Twilight, as they had both been members of The Resistance, a band of freedom fighters whom Link had come to rely upon and trust, although Link had known Rusl all his life, as the blacksmith of his home village, Ordon. Rusl now was employed by Zelda as the Royal Master-blacksmith, while his wife, Uli, was one of Zelda's ladies-in-waiting. Though his new line of work provided him with a decent, steady income, Rusl still chose to dress simply, reminiscent of the style of clothing favoured by the villagers back in Ordon.

Shad, on the other hand, was now the scholar leading the way in research regarding the Oocca, the City in the Sky, and the mysterious healing properties of the springs inhabited by the Spirits of Light. For his astounding discoveries—which he liked to accredit, in private where no one could hear, to Link and his venture into the City in the Sky—he was paid handsomely by the Crown, and though his nose was often buried in a book, it seemed that his one indulgence was fine clothes.

"It's a surprise to see you out of your study," Link remarked lightly to the scholar, blue eyes twinkling with mirth.

"As it happens," Shad retorted, with an air of mock-hurt, "I quite enjoy the company of other human beings once in a while, although I cannot dance to save myself."

Link merely grinned in response and turned as Rusl spoke. "Don't get any ideas, Link. I'm not a dancer, either. I just came to pay my respects to Zelda."

Despite finding it curious that he omitted a wish to pay his respects to Daphnes—who, after all, the celebration was for—Link overlooked this and chose, instead, to ask after the health of Uli and their younger child, a girl born just after the end of the war, who was now ten years old. Answering that his wife and child were fine, discussion then moved on to other things, such as the two-handed broadsword Link had commissioned Rusl to craft for him, their development of new, lighter but stronger armours, and Shad's latest forays into Oocca lore.

The ball droned on for several more hours, yet Link, for once, enjoyed himself, spending the time talking to Shad and Rusl rather than pretending to ignore the various air-headed courtiers. However, the dancing nobles were good for laughter, once the wine began to go to their heads and the men's attempts at wooing the ladies became more and more extravagant, albeit spoiled by their stumbling footsteps and slurred words. Link noticed, to his amusement, that even the more stoic knights had been captured by this or that noblewomen, and were being towed around the dance-floor as if they were trophies, looking none to pleased with their wine-filled admirers—Link had forbidden all of the knights to drink, wanting them to keep their wits about them, yet now he laughingly wondered whether that might have been too cruel of him.

Inevitably, the end came, and Link was grateful for it—Shad and Rusl had left a half hour before the end, saying their eyes drooped and they wished to seek their beds, yet Link had stayed out of necessity. When the monarchs bid the nobles farewell, with Daphnes giving them a parting speech thanking them for their kind words and extravagant gifts, Link followed with quick footsteps, catching up to them as they left their thrones and falling into step with Ashei behind them. Colin soon joined them, yet the remainder of the knights and the Queen's Guard helped to escort the intoxicated nobles out of the ballroom, ensuring that in their current state, no misguided fights broke out.

Zelda and Daphnes talked amongst themselves amicably as the five of them left the hall, whilst Link teased Ashei about her hatred of dancing and gowns and anything ladylike, eliciting snorts of laughter from Colin, until she shut him up with a well-aimed remark about how such criticism only made him hypocritical.

"The day I wear a gown will be the day you dance, Sir Hypocrite," she quipped, making Link grimace through his laughter.

"I am so hurt," Link moaned with an exaggerated sigh, causing Colin to roll his eyes and Ashei to push him playfully.

Reaching the double doors that were the sole way in and out of the ballroom, the ornately carved wooden doors swung upon before them; Link retained a frown of disappointment at what must have been Zelda's petty use of magic. Relaxing somewhat, Link allowed himself a small pat on the back for the success of the ball—not one thing had gone wrong, discounting his and Zelda's small argument. Thinking that surely nothing would happen, he scanned the room one final time before following Zelda and Daphnes out of the ballroom.

A startled shout brought him whirling around, one hand flying to the hilt of his sword. Beside him, Ashei and Colin tensed. The twang of a bowstring was all the warning they got, as twin arrows buzzed through the air with frightening speed. Link reacted instantly, knocking Zelda to the ground and shielding her with his body. Colin vanished, running toward the stairs behind the thrones that led to the upper balconies where the archers hid, his speed not hindered by the thankfully lightweight chain mail he wore. Ashei threw herself in front of the King, sword raised.

"Move!" she shouted over her shoulder at Daphnes, crying out in pain as seconds later the first of the arrows buried itself in the small gaps left in her armour on her upper arm. "Get—down!" she roared, noticing the King had not yet moved, and was staring in shock at the still-quivering arrow protruding from the shoulder of his guard. Gritting her teeth, Ashei shoved him toward Zelda and Link, who reached up a hand to pull Daphnes down beside them. However, they were too late.

As he moved to crouch beside his wife, behind the protective figure of Link, the second arrow buzzed through the air. The King's eyes went wide in shock as the head of the arrow buried itself in the folds of his neck. Hazel eyes turned to Link. "Zelda…" the King breathed. "Take care of… Zelda."

He took in a shuddering, ragged breath, and his knees buckled. Daphnes collapsed, his eyes glazing over; the arrow having pierced and crushed his windpipe, the King of Hyrule was dead before he hit the ground with a sickening thud, his blood staining the white marble floors red.

A/N: There you have it - chapter one. Tell me what you think, guys! I hope the explanations weren't too tedious, but besides that, I hope it was as fun to read as it was to write! Suggestions, feedback, everything is welcome in a review.

Until next time (which hopefully won't be too long!),

- Naranne. ^.~