OF FEARS AND INSECURITY

The first time she caught a glimpse of him, he was being praised by her father and somehow, that made it all the more worse. – Zelda, Link and a little bit of insecurity.

She stretched her limbs, a yawn threatening to escape her lips. It has been a week since she locked herself inside the royal library with only the occasional servant bringing her lunch and dinner. Zelda had taken it upon herself to read every single journal of the queens of the past—trying hard to learn just how exactly they managed to awaken the dormant power lying within them.

No matter how much she doesn't want to be cooped up inside a single room, it was not like she even have a choice in these matters—the people of her kingdom and more importantly, her father is relying on her. She held back a sigh, gaze remained fixated at the tenth volume of Queen Zelda CXVII's journal, she straightened on her seat and picked up the quill as she glanced at the book lying next to journal that contained the texts of ancient Hylian scriptures and prepared herself in another roundabout way of translating the words to make it more readable in her own eyes.

She had started to read the journals in hope of finding some information that would prove useful in her endeavor. A few minutes had passed before she blinked and rubbed her eyes, this time, she did not fight back the yawn. Shifting on her seat, she put back the quill in the ink bottle as she stared at the translated text before her.

Summer of twenty-third, Hyrule Castle

My mother had told me that the Hylians are starting to forget about the golden goddesses, I do not understand why. I asked a bunch of my subjects and they said the opposite. I shrug the topic off after that until dear mother gave me a good scolding. Telling me that I should pay attention to her words, it was not until a day later of pouring over her words and analyzing what those mean that I finally understand what she really meant to say, I was such an idiot.

The faith I had with the goddesses was waning—much as I wanted to object, something inside me wanted to contradict those thoughts. They said that the light magic of the royal members of Hyrule was blessed by the goddesses of the old. I did not hesitate to embark on a journey with my royal retainers in each respective temple to pray for them.

From dawn till dusk, I did not let the torrent of the ever-changing weather to halt me from fulfilling my duties for I knew it was only a trial set up by the goddesses.

Zelda stared at the words on the journal in front of her, she blinked in confusion before standing up from the chair without preamble. The corners of her lips tugging upwards and before she knew it, she snatched the piece of parchment containing the translated words as she started walking faster than what was allowed inside the library.

She can't wait to let her father learn of this discovery—it was not that praying in each shrine was unheard of however in times where Calamity Ganon might strike when they least expect it, her father had deemed it necessary to let her remain inside the castle as much as possible in fear of something to befall her. Not that she followed that particular concern of his, the outside world is better than staying indoors.

And well, now, she has a reason to stay outside more than a princess could and she could finally explore the vast world without the guards of her father to catch her in the act nor the Sheikah to follow her every shadow. Just imagining that made her already small smile to deepen, she can't wait. The moment she walked outside the library, she stared at one of the knights posted on the left side of the door. "Have you seen the king?"

The guard stared ahead, "I apologize but I do not know of the king's whereabouts, your highness."

Zelda frowned at this and stared more at the parchment on her hand before she let out a sigh and started trudging towards the training courtyard, if she was lucky, she can see him for herself, after all, her father does like to oversee the training of the potential upcoming knights.

The moment she turned around the corner just leading towards the destination in mind, her gaze immediately sweep towards the majestic red coat of her father. She recognized him instantly and her mood improved greatly. This was it, her chance to tell him of her findings.

"Fa—" She paused, her gaze shifting towards the knight in front of her father who had his attention focused intently on the king. Zelda raised an eyebrow, furrowing her brows in confusion because it wasn't everyday a knight get set aside to have a private audience with the king.

"The way you grip and wield the Sword of Evil's Bane made it look like you had it all your life, the goddess must had blessed you with a strength only known to few, keep up practicing and your improvement would be drastic, it would do you good if you set aside some of your time to train with the Master Sword more." At those words uttered by her father, she can't help but let out a gasp that was loud enough to make the two men turned their attention towards her.

She caught the stare of the knight, his gaze boring into hers though the only thing she can focus on was the sword strapped on his back.

The sword from the legends—

Zelda took a deep intake of breath and felt the sudden panic rising into hers, the sword is here. Someone is currently wielding it, why did nobody told her of this development!? Oh, goddess, the hero is here and yet—and yet, she still has none of her powers. Before dread completely fill up her mind, her father had brought her back to the world, his steady gaze meeting her feared ones.

"Zelda." Just him calling her managed to shook her into her core, when she just stared at him without responding, he had taken the initiative to ask her. "What can I help you with?"

She gulped, feeling the dryness of her lips all of a sudden, somehow, she lost the will to tell him of her findings. However, not wanting to disappoint him more, one quick glance at the knight behind him and she shifted on her feet before straightening her back, meeting the gaze of her father with determined ones—whoever that knight is, she needed to focus on unlocking her power more than anything.

She held out the piece of parchment containing the translated words like a shield to protect her. Her father raised an eyebrow before taking it and she silently stood there, trying not to let those thoughts to fill her mind. Though against her mind, she stole another glance at the knight and didn't took in his face instead she had focused her attention on the Master Sword.

Zelda felt like going back to her chambers and just lying on her bed with a pillow nestling above her face. Why did it have to appear now, it must had been the tormenting of the goddesses, she bit her lower lip to stop her thoughts from running wild, she can't let an ancient artifact get the best of her.

That is right, she just had to push herself more and maybe, she can awaken it before she turned seventeen.

"Do what you must," She snapped back out of her thoughts to gaze at her father. He handed her back the translated text and just as she was going to ask for permission to visit the shrine, he beat her to it. His gaze sweeping past her to the knight behind him, he craned his neck and gestured with a wave of a hand.

"Starting from now on, Master Link would accompany you on your journey, he would ensure your safety and survival, am I clear, Zelda?"

She blinked, she eyed the knight once more, her gaze lingering on the master sword before a surge of being helpless coursed through her, why him? Anyone but him. Do the goddess wanted to punish her that much, is this one of those trials or is this just a coincidence that made her life ten times the more miserable.

It was not enough to feel the pressure of every people inside the castle and now, there would be someone to follow her who would be a living reminder—she stopped her train of thought, she need to control the rising frustration she felt.

"Father, you must reconsider this! I can go by myself, I had done that the past years since I turned thirteen, why must it chan—" His cool gaze stopped her.

His words made her took a step back. "He will protect you, Zelda, and until you awaken the dormant power within you, you would just hurt yourself more if you continue to do this without anyone to guard you." Before she can retaliate more, he had turned his back on her and dismissed the both of them with a sway of his hand, he started walking down the opposite direction, she just stared at his back.

She remained still, not moving until his back can't be seen anymore, Zelda closed her eyes and took a deep intake of breath, she felt the tremor of her hands before she stopped herself from overthinking those kinds of thoughts again. When she heard the sound of boots shifting on the carpeted floor, she opened her eyes with sudden clarity.

Her gaze focused on the knight in front of her, waiting to be dismissed by her, no doubt. Her gaze swept pass his face before she settled on the sword on his back. She just let her focus remained on that, not moving an inch.

Why? Why? Why? Why?

It only took a few seconds before she felt the sudden rise of irritation surging through her, why must he accompany her? Surely, he had other business to take care of? She doesn't need him. She doesn't need anyone, she can awaken her power all by herself.

Without a second thought, she turned around and started walking towards the library once more without giving him the permission of dismiss.

He has the Master Sword, he can take care of himself just fine.

A/N: Welcome to Deep Within Mind, this story is a series of related oneshots set just before the start of BOTW, because I wanted to read a story like that but can't find anything, so I decided to write myself one and shared it to you guys. Please tell me if there are any spelling errors, I'm not the best when it comes to grammar™. Also, I wanted them to interact but my deprived brain is forcing me to reconsider because it's more angsty this way? I don't even want to know.