A/N: Hey, I'm back! Alright, so here's chapter 2. It's only a little longer then the 1st chap, but if I changed were it ended it would probably throw the whole story outta whack so I hope you guys don't mind. Hope you enjoy and please R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my ocs and the plot.

A Knight like No Other

Chapter 2

Shortly after, Zelda left what was to be Link's room and headed out into the courtyard. She soon spotted Link, who was practicing his swordplay with one of the guards, a young boy stood nearby, his dark eyes locked on the match before him and Link's shield resting at his feet.

Not noticing the princess, Link continued to easily seem to dance out of reach of the guard's every jab and thrust. His dirty blond hair flashed in the sun along with the blade of his sword. Link waited patiently for just the right moment to strike; he never let his guard falter, but kept ever-alert to see if the other man would slip up. After giving another thrust, the guard paused for just a split second; however, Link saw this and quickly jumped at the guard, dealt a swift slash of his own that nearly toppled the man, and somersaulted out of reach before he could retaliate. Link feigned a yawn with a laugh, dodging another of the guard's attacks, and Zelda couldn't help but giggle herself. By now the guard was panting, but Link was as energetic as ever. "Do you yield?" he asked grinning.

"Oh no, I'm not that weak," the guard replied.

Link grinned again. They continued sparring, the guard still not managing to land a hit, but Link easily spotting and taking advantage of every opening.

"Okay, okay, I yield," the guard said at last, between gasps for breath.

Link laughed again and extended a hand. "Good match," he said smiling.

The guard gave him a firm handshake, returning his smile. "Thanks," he said.

Zelda smiled slightly as well. Everyone who met Link seemed to like and respect him like that. But then he turned and caught sight of her. His attitude instantly changed, "Oh, um... Hello, your highness," he stammered, "I...didn't notice you there."

She sighed to herself. Why doesn't he ever act like himself around me?

"Please, just call me Zelda," she said, quickly pushing the thought away.

"Okay... Zelda," he replied slowly.

Zelda was thankful the guard had been kind enough to leave and wasn't watching this. However. the young boy, who Zelda assumed was the squire her father had spoken of the day before, still stood nearby. "I was just going to show you your quarters if you want to get settled in," she said at last.

"Sure... Um," he turned to address the boy over his shoulder, "Matt, go ahead back to the stables, I'll be back soon and we'll see if we can't get Epona used to you."

The boy gave a quick nod and then disappeared.

With that, Link picked up his shield, which still lay on the ground, and turned back to the princess.

XxX

After quickly tossing his few possessions into his room, to be unpacked and sorted out later, Link returned to the stables where Matt waited with Epona. The boy was smiling broadly and there was an odd look in his eye. Link cocked an eyebrow at the squire.

"What?" he asked.

Matt shook his head. "I really shouldn't say it. The baron would have my head."

Link's eyebrow rose higher. "Who?"

"The baron. He's the one who promotes the pages to squires. Once they're up to his standards of course. And if I were to say what I'm thinking right now, he'd cut me in two."

Link laughed. "Well, he's not here is he? Besides, technically he's not in charge of you anymore. I am."

"Hehe…," the boy gave a nervous laugh. "Well, believe me when I say you don't wanna know what I was thinking."

"Sure I do. So come on."

Matt gave another odd grin before saying, "Youlikeherdon'tyou?"

The sentence seemed to be all one word and it took Link a moment to comprehend the words, but when he did his face went scarlet. "What? No!" he exclaimed

The squire just continued grinning "You can't say I didn't warn you," he said shaking his head.

"Anyway," Link said quickly, "can we get back to why we're here?"

XxX

At dinner, Zelda noted with annoyance, Link was just as silent as ever and every time she would even look at him, he seemed to take a sudden interest in his boots.

"Impa, is there something wrong with me?" Zelda demanded later that night, looking up at her nursemaid. "Link acts like he's afraid of me."

"Of course not sweetie," the sheikah replied, giving Zelda a comforting smile. "Link is shy, that's all. He's never had many friends and no family either. It's no surprise he tends to be uncomfortable around people he doesn't know. Give him a while," she added, giving her young charge a pat on the back, "I have a feeling he has his reasons for being so shy." At that, she smiled slightly.

"What do you mean?" Zelda asked.

"I'm sure you'll find out one day or another," her nursemaid replied cryptically. "Now get some sleep."

With that, Impa left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

Maybe he is just shy, the princess thought, but it seems to me like he only acts that way when I'm around. "He has his reasons...," Zelda now thought aloud. "What's that supposed to mean?"

XxX

Later that night, Zelda tossed and turned in her sleep. Then suddenly, she sat bolt upright with a shriek. In what seemed like seconds there was a knock on her door. "Zelda, are you okay?" Link's voice was full of concern, but she could barely hear it. All she heard was the sound of Ganondorf's laughter as he stood over a motionless Link. When there was no answer, Link simply opened the door, fearing the worst. "Zelda?" he said, slowly peering into the dark room. He cautiously stepped closer to her bed and soon he could see Zelda sitting there, her whole body shaking in fear. "Zelda... Are you alright?"

She finally seemed to snap out of her nightmare, but suddenly leaned forward and grabbed him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

Link stiffened slightly, but didn't move. Finally, the princess found her voice. "Oh Link, it was horrible," she said between quiet sobs. "I... I dreamed about that last battle... with Ganondorf, but... But you were killed and Ganondorf took over all of Hyrule and..." her voice trailed away and she simply continued tightly clutching him, sobbing quietly. Link slowly sat down on the edge of her bed, letting her lean her head against his shoulder. He gingerly wrapped a comforting arm around her and silently let her cry. "It was just a dream," he whispered at last. She slowly raised her head to look into his sapphire eyes, as if searching for something. "I'm right here," he continued, giving her a reassuring smile, "and I don't plan on going anywhere. I promise, I'm not gonna let anyone or anything hurt you."

She smiled up at him through her tears and he slowly reached over and wiped them away with his thumbs. Zelda felt herself shiver slightly at his touch, but he let his hands fall back to his sides, then, blinking slightly, he suddenly seemed to realize where he was. "Um... I'd better go," he said, quickly getting up to leave.

She sighed slightly as the door shut behind him. How could his attitude change so quickly? However, she temporarily pushed that thought to the back of her mind and drifted off back to sleep. A sleep in which, for once, she dreamed of her golden-haired hero standing victorious over the king of evil.

XxX

Zelda rose early the next morning and went for a walk in the courtyard, as she often did. As she walked, her thoughts of the previous night came back to her and she resolved to find Link before his knighting ceremony and ask him why he acted differently around her then he did around everyone else. And just as she was thinking this, the princess chanced to bump into a certain blond-headed young man who was also wandering the courtyard paths, lost in thought. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said quickly, not noticing who she had bumped into. But, then she looked up into his face. "Link!" she exclaimed, her resolve suddenly carried away by the light breeze , "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, um, nothing... Just thinking," Link said, unconsciously rubbing the back of his neck.

Trying to regain her courage, Zelda said, "Link, do you mind if I ask you something?"

"No...," he said slowly. "Uh, I mean, go ahead."

"Link, what- What happened to your parents?" she asked, the words slipping from her mouth before she even knew what she was saying.

A twinge of pain crossed his face, but disappeared as quickly as it had come.

"If- If you don't want to talk about it you don't have to," she added quickly. "I know it's really none of my business."

"No... It's fine. I'm used to it. In fact, that's part of the reason why I'm here," he said with a sad smile. "My dad was one of the Knights of Hyrule; one of the best ever, in my opinion at least. He died fighting in the Hyrulian Civil War... My mom escaped with me and took me to the Faron Woods, to Ordon, but she died from wounds she'd received from the invaders not long after." He sighed, "I wish I could remember them, but... I was so little. All I know is what my friends in Ordon told me and what little I can remember.

They said before she died my mom told them about my dad, that he was one of the Knights of Hyrule and looked a lot like me. ...I know even less about him then I do about my mom. Like I said, that's partly why I accepted this offer." he paused for a moment, "I can still just vaguely remember what they looked like, but..." his voice trailed off and he sighed slightly.

"Oh Link I'm so sorry." Zelda said sympathetically. The princess could certainly understand how Link felt since the civil war had taken her mother from her. However, she smiled slightly as an idea formed in her head. She had once seen a photo in her father's study. Perhaps...

The pair had been standing in silence for a moment now. "Um, excuse me. There's... something I must go attend to," Zelda said quickly.

And with that she quickly headed back inside the castle, Link giving her a quizzical look as she went.

XxX

Later that day, at noon, Link's Knighting Ceremony was just getting under way. Zelda hurried to the throne room to stand beside her father, clutching something in one hand. Link began slowly walking down the red carpet leading up to the throne, seeming somewhat embarrassed by the small fanfare that played as he entered. He had been given a new tunic though, at his request, it was the same deep green as his other tunic.

He had also been given new black boots and a cape of the same deep green fabric. Reaching the throne, he knelt on one knee in front of the pair. King Harkininian lowered the sword he held onto one of Link's shoulders, then the other, then he spoke. "Please rise, Sir Link, Hero and now, knight of Hyrule." Link then got to his feet and the king placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your father would be proud," he said with a sad smile.

""Th- Thank you, sire,"" Link said bowing slightly, then turning to go.

Zelda quickly slipped away and followed him. She caught him by the shoulder as he headed down the hall. He quickly turned and she smiled up at him. ""I have something to give you,"" she said.

He gave her a questioning look.

She held up the piece of paper she had spent over an hour searching for.

Link gasped slightly, gingerly taking the paper from her. It was a photo of a man who looked nearly identical to Link, standing next to a woman with long, pale blond hair.

"Wh-Where did you get this?" he stammered.

"It was my father's," the princess replied. "He and your father were close friends. I spent quite a while looking for it, but then my father came in and simply gave it to me. Of course I wanted to give it to you. My father also told me to tell you if you wanted, he could tell you some things about your parents."

Link gave her a quick hug. "Thank you," he said with a smile.

She sighed as he disappeared, but it was different this time. Maybe. Just maybe, there was hope for him yet...

A/N: Okay, I personally think part of this sounds dumb and flat, but, eh. I tend to be my own worst critic. Anyway, hope you guys liked it and will review and come back next week! Thanks!

-Archer