(Author's Note: Hey guys! Ready for a rewrite! ...And I think I lost my crowd. Sorry for keeping this story dead for so long, but hopefully this first chapter will be better. By the way, I don't own LoZ or it's characters. )

In the Land of Hyrule...

She worked in her study, barely keeping up her normal straight posture. Papers, papers...and more papers. The princess was, surprisingly, losing her focus, and her mind wound its way into thinking about the new guard captain, Link. Little did she know that she had begun to feel some sort of...fondness towards him. Just then she snapped out of her thoughts as something bouncing off her window. Clank, clank, clank. Sounded like pebbles.

Indeed it was pebbles, and Link so happened to be the one throwing them. Anyone who could see the him could tell he was a nervous wreck. The strapping young man was going to confess his feelings for the princess. Ironically, his courage was failing him. His bravado was deteriorating as doubts crept into his mind. As much as he was a hero, he was born a goat herder.

Link hit reality hard with that thought. He realized he couldn't proclaim his love, it wouldn't be fair if she did happen to love him back. He decided to make a run for it, before he was caught and put into a bigger mess. Unfortunately for him, the windows opened and he had to hide in a nearby bush. 'Please, let my green tunic blend in with the bush,' he silently prayed to the Goddesses. The princess looked out, confused, and then closed the windows.

Relieved, Link got up, brushed off the twigs and leaves and straightened his hat. As for the bush...well, no one was watching him. Little did he know that Zelda was watching him, eyes filled with curiosity as he walked back to the training grounds...

When Link got there, he was very surprised to see that it was even more crowded than usual. "Sir!" The soldier saluted and he dismissed it. "What's with all these people?" Soldier Ryan, the previous captain of the guard in fact, answered. "Have you forgotten sir? This afternoon we're supposed to select the trainees." Link inwardly sighed. "...This is going to take a while."

After a long, exhausting evaluation, the hero was getting restless. He never was the sit-and-watch type. "How many are left?"

"None sir, we just further tested their abilities." Link's face visibly brightened. "We're finished? Which means I saw all of them at one point?"

"Yes sir." He didn't bother to hide his relief. "Yes! Now I can actually do something interesting."

"Like what, sir?"

"I don't know. Maybe ride Epona, say hello to the princess; the usual." Ryan smirked. "Speaking of which, how are you and her Highness doing? Have you..." He made a gesture implying that Link should know what he was referring to. Instead, the hero merely blinked. "...Have I what?" He face palmed. Knowing how much of an oblivious gentleman Link was, he was going to have to word this carefully. "Have you...even attempted to court Princess Zelda?" He looked aghast. "No! This is the princess we are talking about. How did you come up with such an idea?"

Another soldier spoke, stating what everyone else had on their minds. "Well, it's obvious. You're her hero, aren't you? And before you say no, we've all seen the way you act around her." Link looked at him incredulously. "Even if I did fancy her Highness, she's far too dignified, smart, independent, hardworking..." Link sighed, "And absolutely beautiful... No man can be worthy, never mind a ranch hand like myself."

Ryan wanted to smack him upside the head. Yes he did, anything to get that goat herder nonsense out of his head. "Link. Listen to yourself. You saved this entire kingdom! And you're a gentleman, despite your upbringing. Besides, haven't you noticed how her Highness should be engaged by now? She rejected all of her suitors, not only because they were stuck up nincompoops, but because she's waiting for someone. For you."

Link barely registered anything after he said those last words. The man was insane. Surely she wouldn't be waiting for him. Could she? "Maybe...maybe there's a chance." Ryan grinned. Finally, they were getting somewhere. "Alright men, we've got a mission on our hands."

Princess Zelda was taking a stroll in the garden, but she stopped when she heard hushed voices from around the corner. She cautiously took a few quiet steps forward, and began to listen. "Remember Link, roses, okay?" A familiar, yet irritated voice responded. "Yes yes, what happens next?"

"You're going to serenade her next."

"What? Serenade the princess? That would mortifying. And I don't sing!"

"SHH!"

"I still don't sing." Zelda wanted to laugh, but she kept it in. Why in the world did Link feel the need to sing to her? The first man spoke again. "Okay, fine, maybe a poem or something. But you have to find some way to win her over." Zelda's expression hardened. She did not like where this was going. What was she, a prize? Link's voice returned. "Alright, I get that. What do I do after that?" There was silence before the man spoke again. "You kiss her, of course, and then she'll be yours."

"How am I going to convince her to kiss me?" Zelda felt a twinge of hurt, for a reason she could not define. She stepped out from the corner, head high and arms crossed. She truly was a frightening, beautiful sight to behold. "That's a good question," she began coldly, with her steely gaze fixed on Link's shocked face. "How indeed?"