Hey everyone! I'm planning on updating maybe once or twice a week, depending on how long the chapter is, just to let you know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this. R and R!

Shattered Dreams

Chapter 1

"Your majesty," the Royal guard announced, executing a swift bow as he entered the throne room of King Harkanian. "Lord Dragmire has arrived." As soon as the words had escaped the guard's lips, a tall, dark man with flaming red hair walked through the open door and practically pushed the guard aside. Zelda looked in disgust at Ganondorf Dragmire, King of the desert dwelling Gerudos.

"My liege," Ganondorf said, giving King Harkanian a deep bow. "I have brought several gifts for you from the desert; fine silks, beautiful jewels, and exotic animals." King Harkanian smiled and stood up from his golden throne, embracing Ganondorf with a hug.

"Lord Dragmire, many weeks have passed since we last met!" Harkanian said, beaming at the Desert King. Ganondorf craftily returned the smile.

"My liege, your kingdom has grown even more beautiful than last I saw it. Your lands are lush and fertile, your towns bustling with trade. Under your rule, Hyrule has become a utopia," Ganondorf exclaimed. Zelda nearly choked on all of Ganondorf's flattery.

But no one else in the throne room, least of all the king, suspected anything. Chuckling, the King returned to his throne and gestured to Zelda. "Lord Dragmire, I believe you met my daughter on your last visit?"

Ganondorf's gaze very briefly flickered onto Zelda, his red eyes narrowed into slits. Zelda forced a smile onto her face, although she was sure Ganondorf knew it was a fake one.

"Yes," Ganondorf said slowly, "We have met briefly."

"Good, good!" Harkanian exclaimed, looking positively exhilarated. "Now Ganondorf, let us talk about the new trade plan you intend to propose between our two nations. Oh! But first, show me the animals you have brought. I believe the Gerudo refer to them as camels…"

Slowly King Harkanian and Ganondorf walked out of the throne room, and the guards and nobles in the room trailed away behind them. Soon, Zelda was the only one left.

Slowly getting up from her chair, she walked swiftly out of the red carpeted room, intending to go rest in the courtyard by reading a book. She couldn't believe how easily Ganondorf could manipulate her father…

It had all started five months ago. At first, she thought she was just having nightmares. But the dreams kept on returning; dark clouds billowing over Hyrule, towns burning, people fleeing from an unknown man. She knew it couldn't be a coincidence; the goddesses were trying to tell her something.

And then, HE came. Ganondorf Dragmire, Lord of the Desert, Zelda thought in disgust. He had arrived, bringing exotic foods and fine silks, presenting them to King Harkanian. Ganondorf was careful to flatter the King and anyone with power. Only Zelda had seen through him. But the rest were blinded by the fantastic golden statues and the strange new plants he brought from the desert to listen to her.

And slowly, he gained the King's trust. More and more, until Harkanian trusted Ganondorf more than his own court advisors! Zelda had told her father of her visions, and what she thought they meant. But he had not listened. Nobody had.

Entering her room, she grabbed a book at random from a shelf and proceeded down to the courtyard. As she left the cold stone insides of the castle and entered the dimly shaded green courtyard, she felt some of her anger and frustration melt away. She just needed to relax, that's all…

The crowd roared, cheering and yelling, as the two knights urged their horses forward. One knight had lush green heraldry, whilst the other's was blood red. Both knights lowered their lances almost simultaneously, as the distance between each other decreased. The yelling from the crowd was deafening, as both knights urged their war horses to go faster-

And with a loud crack, the Red knight was thrown from his horse as the Green knight's lance shattered upon his shield. As the Red knight picked himself up, leaving the field, the Green knight did a victory lap around the jousting arena, drawing a chorus of cheers.

King Harkanian and Ganondorf sat at the top of the arena, in a special row reserved for the nobility and upper class.

Harkanian pointed at the Green knight. "You see him? He is the son of one of my generals. He is young, but already a courageous lad, who is favored at winning the tournament."

Ganondorf nodded. He didn't particularly care about the knight or the jousting tournament, but he smiled in order to please the king. It was important to fool this oaf as long as he could…

"My liege, could we begin to discuss the trade plan between the Gerudo nation and Hyrule?" Ganondorf asked softly. Harkanian smiled broadly. He had already had many cups of wine.

"Why, Ganondorf! You are here for at least a week more! We will have plenty of time to discuss everything you want! Let's enjoy this time together; have a wine and watch the show!"

"No thank you," Ganondorf thought to himself, sitting back in his seat. How he longed to tell this stupid Hylian King his true designs and intentions, but that would have to wait. "And then," thought Ganondorf savagely, "I will have the great pleasure of killing this bumbling old fool."

Harkanian hiccupped as he ordered some more wine. "There is a large dance tonight," he said to Ganondorf, as the servant rushed off to fulfill the king's desires. "I would be pleased if you came to it." For a few moments, Ganondorf toyed with the idea of going to the King's ball, but he had better things to do than hobnob with the Hylian nobility.

"I am honored by your invitation, but I am afraid I must decline," Ganondorf said, carelessly flicking a speck of dust off of his black cape.

"Oh… of course…," Harkanian mumbled in a slightly slurred tone. In a minute, he had closed his eyes and was snoring rather loudly. Ganondorf smirked at the servant as he returned with a glass of Hyrule's finest wine, only to fine his King was asleep. Down in the arena, the Green knight unhorsed another man. Ganondorf was mildly impressed. It had been a long time since he himself had wielded a weapon; he might not be as sharp as he once was.

"But I'll get plenty of practice soon enough," thought Ganondorf wickedly as he glanced down at the slumbering form of King Harkanian.

"Zelda! Zelda, wake up! Please?"

Zelda mumbled a bit in her sleep as she felt someone poking and prodding her. Opening her eyes, she discovered that she had fallen asleep while reading her novel. Looking around, she found Impa looking rather crossly at her.

When Zelda was young, Impa had been her caretaker. Now that Zelda was twenty, however, Impa was more of a friend than a mother figure. Being confined to the castle walls, Zelda had few friends and people to interact with other than foreign diplomats. Impa was one of the few people whom actually truly cared about Zelda.

"What is it Impa?" Zelda said, stifling a yawn and brushing some dead tree leaves out of her golden hair. Impa smiled slightly but still looked rather stern.

"There's a ball tonight, that's what's going on! Come on, you need to get dressed quickly; it is in an hour!"

Zelda glanced up at the sky. It was nearing dusk; the sun was a lazy orange sphere in the violet sky. Zelda sat up and stretched.

"Impa, I hate going to these parties. Can't I just skip one?" Zelda moaned. Impa laughed softly.

"Come on you, let's go!" Impa pushed Zelda out of the courtyard and into the castle. Groaning slightly, Zelda went to her room to change. Closing her doors, she wandered through the mess of books that littered her room's floor. Classic novels, historical books, language dictionaries, she had it all. Moving to her dresser, she opened it and looked for a suitable dress for the ball. It was going to be a long night…

When Zelda finally decided to pull herself out of her room and enter the feast room, where all the parties, balls, and extravagant events took place, the orchestra was already playing and nobles, foreign diplomats and princes, and several members of King Harkanian's court were already milling around, chatting, dancing, and eating. As Zelda walked in, she saw Impa glaring at her from the refreshments table. Zelda smiled and kept on walking. The worst part was yet to come.

Immediately as she entered the dance floor, she was swamped by dozens of nobles and foreign officials, all wanting to dance with her, court her, talk to her. Zelda smiled and laughed and accepted several dance invitations, but only because it was her duty. She loathed having all of these suitors after her; since she was Harkanian's only child, naturally she was the key to his inheritance and throne.

After what seemed like years, but was only a matter of hours, she somehow managed to free herself from the tangled mass of suitors and hide behind a giant roast boar sitting on the refreshments table. She could hear her father talking loudly with several foreign princes, and wondered vaguely where Ganondorf was and what he was doing…

After several minutes, Zelda decided to try and escape the ball. Standing up from her chair, she eyed the exit. It was surrounded by nobles and foreign diplomats. Cursing, Zelda tried to think of another way out…

Her eyes fell upon a door that led to the courtyard. She could escape through it and make her way back to her room. Moving swiftly from her concealed position Zelda quickly proceeded toward the door. She was only a few feet from it…

"Milady?" A voice from behind her asked in a soft tone. Zelda clenched her eyes shut. So close…

Turning around, she found a young man who appeared no older than her. His dirty blonde hair was somewhat untidy, as if he didn't have time to comb it, and he was smiling nervously at her. He was wearing a fine green tunic made out of silk; probably a Hylian noble's son.

"May I have this dance with you?" He queried, as the Orchestra begun another tune. Their eyes locked for a brief second, and for some reason, Zelda found herself unwillingly extending her hand to him. Taking it softly, he smiled and put his hand around her waist as they danced.

It wasn't as bad as Zelda had thought it would be. In fact, she rather liked dancing with the young man, although she had no idea what his name was. After the song had ended, Zelda was slightly surprised that it had. The young man bowed to her, thanked her for the dance, kissed her hand, and began to walk away.

"Wait- what is your name?" Zelda asked the man. He slowly turned on the spot, still wearing that soft smile.

"My name? It is Link," he said, before turning around and vanishing into the crowd.

After navigating her way through the courtyard and finding her room, Zelda collapsed onto her bed. She was dead tired, and she wished desperately that she could fall asleep.

Yet, there was one thing that was nagging her.

"Link, eh?" Zelda muttered to herself, adjusting her pillow. "Odd name…" The pale moon outside slowly grew larger, and in an hour, the Princess of Hyrule was fast asleep.

I hope you liked my first chapter. If you didn't, please give some constructive critiscm on how I can be better improve my writing skills p I'll get the next chapter up in a day or two probably.

The Diablo Squid