This is a different kind of story. Zelda is no older than 5 years old when Link comes to save her! He's 18! But this IS a Zelink story! How will a romance bloom between knight and princess? It will make sense later on! Promise! For now, enjoy the sweet tale of Zelda and her handsome knight in shining armor!
In a grand kingdom, there lived a young princess; One of golden locks and beautiful sapphire eyes. Even at a young age, her wisdom surpassed her years, but that was with the assistance of the mystical and ancestral "Triforce" on her hand. She has worn the proud symbol of her people since her birthing day, and that has given her her rightful place as heir to the throne.
However, this tale is quite odd. Because for one thing, it starts off with this princess being barely five years old. Her father held the kingdom with a gentle grasp, keeping his kingdom healthy and wealthy in his rule while his beloved daughter watched. The king loved his daughter more than life itself, and made sure to keep the world's troubles away from her eyes. But sadly, time and time again the princess proved more rambunctious than anyone thought, sneaking out of the castle many times and every time she would fall under some danger.
The latest attempt was when the daughter ran off from the gates, sneaking past all eyes by sheer luck and straight into a beast. The sight of it made the poor helpless girl freeze. And as she awaited her imminent death, a hero had come in at the last second and swooped her off her feet while killing the beast in one blow. She opened her terrified eyes, not to see her own blood, but to see a man holding her in his arms with a gentle grin.
Too surprised to speak, the princess could only stare. The hero was clad in green with a sword in hand and shield on his back. His golden locks fell over his piercing blue eyes and stunned the girl speechless at how handsome this man was. Never before had she met someone such as he.
"You really must be careful little Miss." the young man said in a voice belonging to someone holding years of training and swordsmanship. He placed the girl on her feet and smiled at her. "What may be your name?"
The girl, finally finding her voice, responded in a stutter, "Zelda."
Link grinned at her ever growing blush, finding her absolutely adorable. "Zelda. That is a very lovely name. Wonder where I heard it from." he thought out loud.
It was then the girl looked over her shoulder and saw the beast in its own deathbed. The very sight caused the girl to scream and jump into the man's arms, sobbing into his shoulder. The young man held her, comforting her as best he could. It was then the palace guards came out into the meadows saw the princess out of safety grounds. What's more was she was sobbing. When they questioned him angrily, Link did not even register them as threats and mostly cared over the crying girl. The soldiers were not blind, and knew he meant no harm after all.
Later the hero was introduced to the king as Link, the wandering swordsman. And imagine the hero's surprise when he learned the girl he saved was the princess herself.
"I must thank you good swordsman!" the king said after holding his beloved child in his arms. When she wished to stand, he let her do so by placing her at his side.
Link, barely turning 18, shook his head. "I did not save the girl for a reward my king. I only wished to save her." he said, making an elegant knightly kneel.
The king's eyes brightened with delight at the young man and glanced at his daughter, standing at his side. Her eyes never wavered from the swordsman, entranced. "Then I must knight you at least to show my gratitude!"
Link hardly had a chance to argue as the King arranged a ceremony at once. Everyone in the kingdom came, including the king's trusted advisor and stepbrother, Gannondorf.
Gannondorf was a tall man with dark skin, much darker compared to the king's. His mother, who married the former king, came from the Gerudo deserts, where she already had her son. Together, they gave birth to his step brother and he took the throne, seeing as he was Hyrulian blood. Gannondorf's steely yellow eyes watched from the darkness as the king place the sword over Link's shoulders and his daughter stepped forward to place a golden amulet around his neck. The princess blushed as he winked in thanks at her, earning a delighted giggle.
"That fool ruined my plans. Well, he will be leaving soon anyway. Hopefully it will be fast."
However, the newly knighted man stayed a while longer, exploring the cities and temples, taking a well deserved vacation.
One day, on one of his strolls, Link felt a presence following him. Taking on his instinct of always being aware for battle, he quickly hid and waited for his pursuer to appear. To his surprise, it was little Zelda, running to the place he had just been and looking around with questioning eyes. Link grinned somewhat and decided to play a little punishing trick on her. He snuck up from behind and grabbed the girl from under the arms and swung her in the air.
At first stricken with fear, Zelda screamed before she realized she was twirling in the air. Her best guess was her "attacker" was her hero and then began to giggle in delight.
"What goes on here?!" came the anxious and shocked voices of the guards. When they spotted the knight holding the girl, they relaxed. "Oh. It's just you." they sighed. A few seconds of watching their fun time registered in their minds at last of their duty. "Princess?! You know your not suppose to be out of the castle!"
Seeing the girl's face fall at the mention of her captivity, Link spoke up. "It's alright. I will watch over her and bring her back safely."
The guards, though shocked and almost horrified at these words, looked at one another and reluctantly agreed, leaving the green knight with the princess. They couldn't think of anyone else better suited for the job than him.
"Your not suppose to leave the castle?" Link questioned later on when the two were strolling down the streets together.
"Yes. Father doesn't like it when I leave the castle. But I hate it in there! I'm always alone, it's always boring, and I want to see what goes on outside!" Zelda said kicking the air.
Link sympathized with the girl. Although the king meant well, he was suffocating her in that dreary home of theirs.
To take the girl's mind off the rules she must apply to, Link lifted the girl up and took her past the streets and out of the gates! He whistled through his fingers and in minutes a horse came trouncing from the distance. Zelda, who hadn't been close to a horse, was all aglow to see such a beautiful beast riding to them. After a brief introduction of his horse, Epona, to the princess, he placed her on the saddle and held the reins, leading them out into the meadow.
"Where are we going?" the princess asked in delight, excitement pounding in her veins as she left the castle far behind. They went past the meadows and were climbing a hill. This has been the farthest she has ever been from the kingdom before getting caught!
"It's a surprise." Link answered evenly.
Zelda paused for a moment and then timidly asked, hiding her face behind Epona's mane. "Um…knight?"
Link turned to the girl, still smiling. "Hmm?" Once he saw she was hiding from him he chuckled and moved to the other side to smile at her blushing face. "Yes?"
"Do you…have any maiden's in your life?"
At this Link laughed heartily. The very sight of the girl turning red gave him wide grins. "Only one."
Zelda's expression dropped and she bowed her head. "Oh…"
Link chuckled again and poked her nose lightly. "Just you."
The princess then blinked in surprise and her face spread into a wide smile, cheeks dusting with red. "R-Really?" The knight nodded, trying not to laugh at how the girl's face glowed in pure childish joy. "Then will you marry me?"
At this a choked laugh escaped his lip before he covered his mouth with his fist, coughing lightly. "My lady, don't you think you're a bit young to be thinking on such things?"
"But I'll be six next month!" Zelda said.
Link had to laugh again; the girl was so amusing. "Yes, but I am nearly an adult and you are a child. I don't think that can work in marriages." he said. He placed a hand on her head, ruffling her locks. "But don't worry. Soon a man will enter your life and he will take care of you, love you, and be your king."
Zelda leaned into the man's hand, grabbing it and rubbing her cheek against it. "But I want you…"
"I will be your knight." Link said smiling and placing his other hand under her chin. "Princess, you must understand. Marriage's with such a large gap between them is not right. You must find someone more suited your age." he said, feeling guilty to bringing her spirits down. "I will be here for you whenever you need me most."
Zelda stared into his eyes before asking, "Whenever I'm in danger?"
"I will come to your aid in a heartbeat."
Zelda seemed to bright up those words and then asked, "Can I ask you something else?"
"Yes your majesty."
"Can I call you by your name?"
Link blinked in surprise, and then smiled. "Of course princess."
Zelda beamed happily and hugged the male around his neck, rubbing her cheek on his. Link chuckled and held the girl before she could fall off the horse. "Alright, now time for your present." he said putting the blond back on the saddle and leading Epona up the rest of the hill.
Once at the top, Zelda gasped! What she saw was a large, glimmering lake, spreading out to gargantuan walls that towered over her head! The waters looked so blue that it seemed to be an impossible color, to a point that made even the skies jealous! To the right of the lake was a grand forest; lush with think trees and beautiful leaves. And to the left, placed on a hill with a winding road, was the Gerudo temple that led to the sandy deserts beyond. Its magnificent towers punctured the sky, standing in a full circular coliseum. Legends tell that when all three Trifoce was within the open temple, a miracle would happen!
"It's so beautiful!" Zelda exclaimed, ready to jump off the horse and run to the spectacular natural wonder.
"Ah, nope!" Link said, placing a hand on hers.
"Aw! Why not?" Zelda pouted.
"The King might question me if I brought back home his daughter in wet rags." Link said with a grin. "But perhaps another time, after I get your father's permission."
Zelda gave a childish pout and proceeded to give his a puppy dog stare. "Please?"
It seemed to be working, Link's face wretched up at the trembling lip and wide, violet eyes. But before he was about to crack, a third voice entered his ears. He looked around and found a dark stranger near the forest edge. His voice was angry as he shouted at someone he could not see properly. But when the man turned to leave, his face was revealed at last.
"Hey! That's Uncle!" Zelda gasped, a smile growing on her face to see her only other family relative. "Uncle!" she called out to him.
The dark man jumped and looked with wide yellow eyes to the princess on horseback. For a split second a look of disgust crossed his face before smoldering it into a grin.
"Ah, my little Zelda. How are you this fine evening?" he asked walking towards them.
"I was looking at the lake with Link!" Zelda squealed.
"Oh really?" Gannondorf said turning his gaze on the knight. His blue eyes were fiery under his bangs as he stared at the tall male. The trusted advisor easily towered over the good the knight in stature, but Link didn't seem fazed at all by him and continued to give him a scrutinized stare. "My, it is good to see the young man is taking…VERY good care of our favorite princess."
"Tell me sire." Link said formally, knowing though Gannondorf does not have the throne, he was still royalty. "Who was it you were speaking to?"
Gannondorf's smile twitched slightly out of place and his eyes narrowed. "No one."
Link's too narrowed his eyes down. "Did you know that at night, dark spirits roam the forest?"
"I did."
"Then what could you possibly be doing out and about near the forest edge so close to nightfall?" Link questioned even further. His lack of manners taught to him showed as he faced the second line to the throne without hesitation.
Gannondorf fell silent; his grin plastered in place yet flame burned in his yellow eyes. "Boy, if you know what's best, then you would forget this ever happened, least the king would find out you personally took out his daughter into the night into dangerous grounds without his permission."
Zelda winced and leaned over. "Your not going to tell father, are you Uncle?" she asked, her expression pleading her relative not to tell.
"Of course not my child!" the man said smiling at the girl and letting her give a sigh. "If…" he said and turned to the green knight. "We all say we were never out here."
"Oh of course! Father would be so furious if he finds out!" Zelda said with a nod. Link said nothing and kept his stare in place with the royal advisor.
"Very good then!" Gannondorf said with a big grin. He let it shrink as he walked away, giving the lad clad in green one last look. "See you all at the castle." With that, he turned to leave with a flare of his cape behind him.
Link continued to glare after the man, long after he departed.
"Link?" Zelda's bird like voice called to him. When his eyes met hers, she looked pleading at him. "You're not going to tell Father are you? He would surely belt me if he knew I left again!"
Link's expression softened up at the sight of her begging face. A small part of him still questioned the motives of the man, but the girl's face was growing more worried as he thought it over. With a sigh he gave a reassuring grin and ruffled her hair. "No I won't."
Zelda's smile as all the knight needed to wash away his regret. "Come along. We should head back to the castle." he said and turned his horse around to gallop through the fields, the princess screaming with joy the whole ride back.
"Link?" the princess said later on as the two were entering the city through the large bridge. "Can I try your hat?"
Link looked highly amused, picking the child up and placing her on the side wall. With one hand holding hers, he took off his cap and handed it to the girl. Zelda took the cap and placed it on her head, marveling how well it fits.
"Its like it can fit on anyone!" Zelda said. Link chuckled, letting the girl giggle happily and skip a bit while keeping a firm hold on her little hand. From the corner of his eye however, he saw red creatures crawl out from corners with eyes set on them hungrily. Not really hoping to cause a scene for the poor girl to watch, he gathered her up from the banister and moved her forward. "How about you go on ahead? I forgot something with Epona."
"Ok! Don't be long Link!" Zelda squealed and she trotted off into the city streets not looking back to see Link pull out his sword and take care of the beast's.
Aw! Hpw sweet! More to come soon!