Heyyyy! Chapter 2 is UP. I hate to put a damper on your happiness, but please don't expect me to update this quickly every time. ^^' Sorry. I had most of chapter 2 written before I posted this story, so it was a quick finish. But enough rambling from me! Enjoy~

Disclaimer: Yoooo I don't own the Legend of Zelda or any characters associated with them. I just use them to make others happy.

Chapter 2

Hyrule's Castle Town was always soundless at night. Few people ever found themselves outside when the sun fell, and this evening was no different. The blackness covered the town like a blanket. A dark shadow moved across the plaza, trotting quickly down the boulevard. It avoided lights in fear of being spotted. It loped down the streets as though it knew the paths by heart. Finally, it stopped before Hyrule Castle. Panting, it sat down. Looking around, it realized that it was alone. Quickly, in the blink of an eye, the creature became human. A human that now, everyone knew. His sandy blonde hair, cerulean eyes, forest colored outfit, and blue shield gave him away: The Hero Chosen by the Gods.

With nearly inhuman stealth, he made his way toward the Castle, still winded. His brown boots made no sound as he jogged toward the walls. To anyone observing, they would have scoffed at him. There was no way to get into the castle, right?

Wrong. Link pulled something out of his bag and held it tightly. Seconds later, he was on the roof of the castle, still unnoticed. The Ordonian went unseen by the castle guards, which was rather difficult, since the guards had been uneasy since Ganondorf's attack. They were, however, as deaf as ever. He crept along the parapet of the castle, careful to keep himself concealed from the guards. As soon as one started walking toward him, he swung over the edge of the wall, keeping his hold on the cold stone. There, he dangled from it as the guard walked by. As soon as he passed by, Link hoisted himself back up, proceeding with his stroll down the parapet.

Finally, the hero reached where he wanted to be and grinned, his white teeth flashing against the moonlight. He leapt off the barrier, seeming to fall forever. He finally reached the soft grass of the courtyard, completely unharmed. Looking around, he could not quite find for what he was looking. He frowned, his eyes scanning the courtyard, the darkness not helping his search.

"Looking for something?" A voice asked. Link jumped, unsheathing his sword in the blink of an eye. He held it up, the moonlight gleaming off of it, creating a sort of glow. "Easy, there, Link. It's just me," she chuckled, stepping into the soft light. Upon seeing the familiar face, he sheathed his sword.

"Miriam, what are you doing here?" he questioned his childhood friend.

"What are you doing here?" the brunette maid inquired. Not waiting for an answer, she continued. "The princess has been asking about you, you know. I'm sure she'd love to see you." The blonde looked down, suddenly afraid. "What's the Triforce of Courage good for if you can't talk to girls?"

"I can talk to you," he snapped back. Again, Miriam laughed.

"I don't count. I grew up with you. By the way, were you looking for this?" she held out something on a leather string. Epona's Whistle. Link's eyes gave him away. He needed the whistle, and Miriam knew it. He reached his hand out rapidly, grabbing at it. While the hero was quick, Miriam was quicker. She had already taken a leap back, tying the whistle around her wrist. "You can't have it," she smirked. Link clenched his fist.

"Miriam, come on. I need that, and you know I do." She always did this. Even as children, she tormented him with her teasing. She was always faster, stealthier, and craftier. When he discovered he was the Triforce of Courage, he was thoroughly confused as to why it wasn't Miriam. But Miriam wasn't the new Hero of Time.

"You can have it back," she purred. He waited. There was a catch—there always was. "You just have to spend a week in the castle."

"Miriam," Link growled.

"Link," she grinned back. Link always thought of Miriam as a sort of fox or cat of some sort. She always had something in that mind of hers, and there was no way she would let another have their way.

"I'm not even invited," he remarked.

"Oh, but you are. I just have to hint to the princess. You know I can get her thinking it's her own idea. Go on, hit me with another excuse."

"I don't have anything to wear."

"Oh, please. Any tailor would make you something in an instant. All your clothes just need a good wash and a few good patches."

"What would I say to the princess?"

"Boast about your adventure. Goddess knows my ears could use a break."

"What would I do when she's busy?"

"The castle has a splendid weaponry. I'm sure I could catch a break and beat the crap out of your Goddess-blessed butt like I used to."

"You never won," Link said immediately, his pride wounded.

"Ha! So you will stay?" Miriam said, a relatively smug look on her face. She held up Epona's Whistle for emphasis.

"Fine," Link grumbled. "But only because I want that whistle back, and I need to prove that I'm better than you."

"Sure," Miriam giggled, taking a few steps back into the shadows. "But we all know it's because you fancy the princess." Without warning, the maid disappeared back inside the castle, taking Link's precious item with her.

Link gritted his teeth with irritation. Miriam had always been like a sister to him. She was supportive, loving, and sympathetic when she was obligated to be. Most of the time, however, she was a pain in the unmentionables. Nonetheless, he took the grappling hook back out of his bag and grappled himself up to the parapet. He headed back into Castle Town, no longer caring who saw him. He was too agitated to bother with taking back roads. As a result, he discovered someone nearby. Freezing, the hero listened cautiously.

The sound of footsteps was nearly muted. To Link's ears, however, they were very clear. It was apparent that they were trying to stay noiseless, but they were evidently not trained in the art of concealment. It's not Miriam, he pondered, thinking how Miriam would be able to sneak up on the Hero of Twilight with ease. He spun around, the heels of his leather boots making a scratching noise against the rocks that made up the paths of Hyrule Castletown.

He found a hooded figure some distance away from him, somewhat familiar. The blonde shook his head, ignoring the distinct feeling that he had seen this person before. Link slowly reached behind his head, taking out the Master Sword with a sound that resonated throughout the nearly silent marketplace. The covered character looked up. Two pairs of blue eyes met, and both Hylians stopped in their tracks, simply gazing at each other. They stayed like this for a few moments, not saying a word. Then, Link remembered his manners.

"Y-your Highness," he stuttered, bowing awkwardly in front of her. Zelda bent her head a little. Whether it was out of bashfulness or disgrace he could not determine. However, he did see the princess's pink lips turn up in a slight smile.

"No need to bow, Hero of Twilight," she said at last. "It is an honor to stand in your presence."

"P-princess…" Link didn't know what to say. The hero rarely spoke, let alone held a conversation with the future monarch of Hyrule.

"Would you like to stay at the castle for a period of time?" Zelda questioned suddenly. Link stared at her. Miriam is fast, but she couldn't be fast enough to reach the princess already, he wondered. His heart leapt unusually at the thought of the princess actually enjoying his presence.

"I… Only if your Highness will accept me as a guest," he said clumsily, his voice cracking like a young lad moving past adolescence. He cleared his throat. Though he thought he was humiliating himself, the princess thought of it as a rather charming quirk.

"Yes. Please, do accompany me to the castle. We will make arrangements for you to find a room, and you can rest as soon as possible," she said regally (he noticed that her voice never cracked). Link strolled over to meet her, following close behind as she led him through the quiet streets of Hyrule Castletown and straight to the palace. The entire walk was silent, not another word exchanged between the two of them.

"Princess!" a voice exclaimed. Out of habit, Link spun around, ready to attack. A guard stood before them, suddenly tongue-tied. "Ah… You're back," he chuckled, scratching his head. "We were looking for you." Zelda's expression did not change.

"We have a guest. Tell the maids to get his room ready," she said coldly. Her tone sent shivers down Link's back. Am I not welcomed here? he considered, panicking for a moment. She did invite me, though. He relaxed somewhat, still not fully convincing himself.

The guard scurried off, leaving Zelda to show Link around the castle. Link smiled. It looked just like it did before he battled Ganondorf, but livelier. It had been empty and creepy when he was last in it. Now, it was well-lit and bustling with strangers. The hero had been overwhelmed with fright the last time he was in the palace, and this visit was only slightly different. He was still anxious. However, it was not because he was about to risk his life to save a princess he had met approximately twice, but because he was about to stay in a castle he slaughtered the Gerudo king in, and he was with the princess he had met approximately three times now.

"Would you like me to give a tour of the castle?" Zelda asked nobly. Her face betrayed her voice's hospitality. She looked exhausted, probably from walking around Castletown.

"Isn't it a bit late?" Link asked, realizing just how informal he sounded. He cringed inwardly at his carefree manner. The brave Hero of Courage wasn't so used to having to be official all the time. He watched the princess's face for traces of disgust, but could not find one. Instead, her blue eyes seemed to light up a little at his casual speech. Whether it was from his word usage or the idea of going to bed, he couldn't quite tell. Nonetheless, she nodded.

"I will show you to your room," she announced, walking toward the grand marble stairs. Link trailed along behind her, wondering whether he was leaving dirt on the pristine floors. He made a mental note to wipe off his boots once he got in the solace of his own room. The princess wound her way through the palace, finally arriving at the room Link would be staying at. "My room is just across the hall, over there," she pointed to the door at the end of the hall. "Let me know if you need anything. There is also a bell for servants. Stay for as long as you would like. Breakfast is typically served around 7 in the morning, but anything later is just fine." Link noticed that Zelda seemed to relax a little more when she wasn't around people she had to impress.

"Thank you, your Highness," Link bowed. He expected the princess to leave, but she stood there, crossing her legs and looking down.

"Link?" she murmured. His heart beat faster. Referring to him by his first name made him flabbergasted.

"Y-yes, princess?"

"Please call me Zelda." Her voice was barely audible, but it still echoed in his skull, making his brain stop functioning. He managed to catch himself gawking before the brunette princess looked up.

"Yes, Zelda," he said, standing up straighter. He liked how she smiled when he said her name.

"Good night, Link." With that, Zelda closed his door, leaving him to his own thoughts. The room was dark; a candle on the nightstand was the only thing shedding a small, flicking light upon the rest of the chamber. It was small and simple, but Link didn't mind. He would rather have a room with the necessities than have something lavish. A plain bed, nightstand, dresser, and desk were the only things in it, along with another door he figured led to a closet.

Sitting upon his bed, he started taking off his boots, glad to be sitting on a bed for the first time in weeks. He took off his green cap, running his hands through his knotted hair. He would have to take a much needed bath in the morning. His travels, however, left him feeling sore all over. The hero had just been in Kakariko Village, managing the enemy population. He had run all the way to Castletown in a matter of hours.

For what reason, the hero could not say. Just thinking about the town made him long to see it again. He had already finished killing most of the Bulblins around the quiet village, and he had nothing better to do. He had expected to retrieve his lost item that night, spend the day in the town, and then travel to Ordon around midday. His plan, however, was foiled by his very own childhood friend. Link shook his head, pulling his tunic and chainmail over his head, leaving him in his off-white undershirt and pants.

"Link and Zelda sitting in a tree-" a voice sang mockingly. Link jumped up, grabbing the Master Sword sitting next to him on the bed. Literally sitting on the open closet door was Miriam, her balance perfect. Her figure was simply a silhouette in the dark room.

"Miriam!" Link growled, putting the Master Sword down. "What in the name of Din, Farore, and Nayru are you doing here?" To say the least, Miriam still had him miffed. It was her fault that he got dragged into the awkward situations with Hyrule's monarch and staying in the very castle he killed Ganondorf in.

"I'm surprised, Link," she laughed, leaping down from the doorway with the grace of a cat. She shut the closet door silently. "You managed to get into the castle all by yourself. And I didn't have to say a word to the princess."

"You're the only reason I'm here," he hissed. Miriam sat next to him on the bed, her eyebrows rising at his last remark.

"Oh really? Let's backtrack, shall we? Let's see, had you recovered Epona's Whistle, you would have exited the same way, taking the same route back you did. You still would have come across the princess, been unable to refuse her invitation, and still wound up here. So it really is not my fault why you're here." As much as she made him irritated and provoked, he knew she had a point. His silence was enough to boost her ego. "That's what I thought," she smirked, walking to the door.

"M-Miriam?" Link frowned, wanting to ask her something.

"Yes?" Noting his tone of voice, she turned serious for once.

"How do I talk to her?" he whispered. Miriam's grin was small at first, but then took over her entire face rather swiftly.

"Ah, Link," she chuckled, hands on her hips. "As much as I'd like to help you out there, you have to figure it out on your own." With that, she was gone. Link was left in his room to ponder everything, thinking about just how to talk to the very princess of Hyrule.

Hope you enjoyed! Tell me what you think of it so far! :D ((Especially what you think of Miriam. XD))