It seems such a shame to me, not seeing the beauty in the world. Not knowing all that it holds. But I do. I know because I've seen the other side. I've seen the darkness that once consumed my kingdom. But that was an alternate future, a future that never came to prosper.

As I sit on my window ledge bathed in the sunlight I spot the man that changed everything for our lives as we know it. His wavy blond hair catches the rays as he swings his sword in the training grounds. It's used by all of the knights here at the castle, but he tends to stand out from the crowd. The famed Hero of Time, though he's better known to me as Link.

He's lived here at the castle for quite a few years now, mostly due to pleading for weeks with my father. He was quickly knighted after his arrival upon displaying exceptional skill with weaponry. But really, how could he not? The man who defeated Ganondorf didn't do it on wits alone.

Carefully I slide down from the window and place my feet gently into my silk slippers. Simply watching the boy is getting nothing done, so I walk down towards the training grounds. I have business to attend to with Link.

It's no secret that Link is my favorite knight here at the castle. Oftentimes he is my personal escort when I decide to make jaunts into Castle town. It's not really that I feel safer in his company than in that of the others, it's just that he makes for better conversation. That's something I've always enjoyed about Link. When we're alone, he doesn't become one of the typical stiff, stony faced guards, but rather an old friend accompanying me on an evening out. Though that's not to say he doesn't do his job well. But what I have to ask of him today is a slightly different matter...

It's only minutes before I reach my destination. I take the opportunity to watch him practice close up before I'm spotted. His muscles flex and ripple beneath his wilting white shirt with each move he makes. His stance is balanced perfectly as he circles around his nemesis, never taking his eyes off the target.

"Princess," one man says, sounding slightly surprised. It's not often that I make my way to this part of the castle.

Each man follows suit in turning my direction and giving me a bow. I dismiss them with a smile and a wave of my hand as I approach Link. He's winded from his exercise and gives me a nod as he sheaths his sword. Formality has never been one of his strong points.

"Link," I say with a warm smile towards him.

"Zelda."

I motion for him to walk with me as I head away from the arena and toward my garden. The whole of it is exceptionally in bloom and makes for great shade against the summer heat. It also makes for great privacy and is the main meeting ground for the Hero and myself. After choosing a small shrub with ample shade I take a seat with Link following close behind me. He leans his head back against the trunk and closes his brilliant blue eyes against the light waiting for me to speak.

"The ball is -"

"Zel, we've talked about this," he whines at me. "Everything will be fine. You'll prance in looking pretty as a picture, dance with a few stuck up princes who want to marry you for your money, laugh at all their jokes, and when it's all over you can act like it never happened. It's not going to be as bad as you think." He opens one eye to look at me and adds "I promise".

I frown and pluck at a few strands of grass staining the tips of my white gloves. How do I ask him? After a moment I decide it would be best to simply be straightforward.

"I want you to come with me."

"Hm?" he mumbles only half paying attention to my request.

"I would like you to escort me to the ball," I smoothly reply, trying not to give away my nerves.

"What?!"

He sits up and stares at me wide eyed with an emotion I can't put my finger on. Fear? I always knew Link wasn't much into dancing but...

"You want ME to take you to the ball?"

"Please, Link!" I plead with him. "I can't bear to go by myself. What with all those princes looking at me and, and..." I let my sentence hang not knowing how to finish it.

He sighs and runs his fingers through his golden locks.

"What will you be wearing?" he finally asks.

I can't help but let a large smile cross my lips.

Black and grey. She'll be wearing black and grey to the ball. As will I. This whole situation is going to be humiliating. I can't even believe Zelda asked me to go with her. I may have dreamt about it, but never did I think she'd actually do it. Going to the ball on the arm of a nameless man's son? Sometimes I question her sanity.

This was certainly not the dance to choose me as her escort either. With all of her perfectly eligible suitors here she'll show up with me?

But really the last thing I want to think about is the ball itself. I'm not sure if I'm prepared to deal with those princes with their hands on her waist and wandering eyes…

I bite down on my apple with a little more force than needed.

My thoughts drift to what will happen when the servants find out who the Princess has chosen as her companion for the evening. I can almost hear the ugly rumors that will be flying through the castle in mere days.

Castle life. It's always so…proper. It's something that, after all my years of living here, I've never been able to get used to. I hate all of the false smiles and masked words. And I hate all of the whispers that often trail you down the hallways when the servants don't think you're paying attention. I suppose I should be expecting a lot more of that soon.

Throwing my mangled apple core into a waste bin beside me, I lower my feet from their position resting atop my desk. I glance out my window to see stars hanging lazily in the sky. Crossing the room heavily, I pull closed the drapes and retreat to my bed for the night.

It's at night when I do my best thinking, and at the moment all I can think about is Link. I half expected him to deny me earlier today, but I should have known better than that. The boy would jump off a cliff for me if I asked politely.

Although asking him to this ball in particular is nearly the equivalent of asking him to leap from a rocky ledge. To go with someone not born into nobility is unheard of. After all, the whole point is for me to find the man to make my Prince. But truth be told, I think I've already found him.

Of course, I would never admit it to anyone, but it's been a long while since I've thought of Link as solely a friend. It's something that has progressed over time. He's grown into a strong and handsome young knight, dedicating his life to my country and family. It seems that the older we get, the more I'm intrigued by him. It's as if some invisible force were pulling me towards him, its attraction getting stronger with each passing year.

But deep down I know that Link is something I will have to live without. As Hyrule's future Queen, it is my duty to marry, not for love, but for the best political interest of my people.

The time is fast approaching when Link will have to mean nothing to me at all. It's not proper of a married woman to have a knight tailing her wherever she goes. I dread the days when our friendship will begin to dwindle.

I pull the cotton blankets up under my chin, not wishing to continue my thought process. As Princess I've learned to cope with many things, but losing Link would be too much for me to bear. Just the idea of never looking into those magnificent blue eyes…

A solitary tear rolls down my cheek. I try to hold them back, but more follow.

Many of my people believe that being the Princess would mean a life of luxury and ultimate freedom. But really it means appointments, and dinners, and ceremonies. My life is simply a well oiled machine and I am the robot. My whole day is planned out for me from dawn until dusk. I'd give up everything, the silk, the riches, the servants, to have one choice in my life. Just for the ability to have some say over my destiny.

Suppressing my sobs with my pillow, I clench my blankets in my fisted hand and let the salty liquid pour from my eyes.