The Princess had promised the Champions earlier the same day that she would soon pay them a visit to ensure that the Divine Beasts were working and that they knew how to handle them. The gigantic constructions needed some adjustments and she had gone to the castle's research lab to discuss it further with Purah and Robbie, the two young Sheikah researchers.
Purah curtsied and Robbie bowed respectfully when she entered the lab. "Princess."

Zelda placed the Sheikah Slate and papers on a table. "I've read this so many times but I still can't figure out how it's supposed to work. The papers mention some kind of control system or activation of your ancient technologies but it doesn't say how. Perhaps I'm not the right person to read the papers, my knowledge of Sheikah tongue isn't the best… and it doesn't help that it's written in old Sheikah." She admitted and smirked. She felt like one more thing was added to her own endless list of flaws, but she had to accept the fact that she needed help in this if she was going to save her kingdom. To help her people from the inevitable. And time was indeed running out. "Do you think you could help me? I really wish to understand more about these relics..."

"Anything for the Princess" Purah winked and took the papers from the table to put them somewhere else with a smile. It made Zelda feel a little bit better. "Don't worry, we'll work this out. Don't feel like you have to handle everything on your own, your Highness."

Zelda smiled shyly. "Thank you."

"Now, tell me, Princess, how did the meeting go with the Champions?"

"I promised them that I would go and see that everything is in order as soon as possible. We need to make those adjustments you mentioned before."

"Oh, that's right. Robbie and I will have a look at the Slate before you leave, we think there are still many things one could do with it. We hope the Princess will let us keep it for a few days to work on that?"

"Yes, I wouldn't mind."

"Excellent." Purah glanced over to Robbie who had already begun to work on a guardian again and sighed. He couldn't keep himself away from the machines even though the Princess was in their presence. The lack of manners… "I know Your Highness will probably be back here soon, but we'll let you know when we're ready to hand it back, your Majesty. It shouldn't take long."

"Thank you, Purah."

Zelda hesitated to leave because she would rather stay in the lab and learn more about the machines, but she sensed that there wasn't much she could help with and left.

She wandered aimlessly within the thick castle walls while she figured what she should do next. She decided to return the books she had borrowed from the library last week and went to fetch them. She could have someone do it for her but she didn't feel like it. Besides, she had time to do it herself anyway.
She passed guards standing outside the massive castle doors and nobles who bowed to acknowledge her presence. But her mind was thinking only about the prophecy about the never ending evil which would uncover itself soon… if only she could know when exactly it would appear. All this waiting for the unexpected was nerve wrecking and she felt like she could do nothing but wait for it and invest her time in research in the relics. If she couldn't find her inner power, at least these guardians would be better than nothing, right? What else could she really do? She had to do something and this was the best she could do. All this praying for years hadn't led her anywhere anyway.
She sighed. If only her mother was still alive, or even her grandmother, so they could help her.
Why did it feel like it was up to her to save the entire kingdom from disaster?

The Princess handed over the books to the librarian and began looking at the spines of books in the shelves, not really sure what she was looking for. She saw in the corner of her eyes how guards suddenly saluted. And she knew that her father was entering the library before she turned around to see him walk up to her.

"I had a feeling that you would be here" the King spoke. She couldn't tell if the tone in his voice was warm or disappointment that he didn't find her praying instead of being in the library. "I was told that you intend to travel to the Divine Beasts soon?"

She gulped. "Yes, father."

"I know that you have to go so I won't try to stop you. And perhaps it will do you good to get out of the castle every now and then. However…" He looked around them at his guards and staff before he returned his gaze on his daughter. "… I cannot let you go without protection, especially not on such long travels you're about to make."

"Then let the guards come, I'm sure no one would dare getting close to them."

"That was my intention, but it seems that we cannot spare a few of them to accompany you. Not now when they need to be in shape for the fight. I spoke with the general and we agreed that if anyone would accompany you, it could only be the best." Zelda waited for her father to continue. "He will be your appointed knight starting tomorrow, Zelda. I expect you to hold a ceremony for him, as by tradition."

Wait… a ceremony? What was she supposed to say during the ceremony? "… Who is he, father? Do I know him? Is he close to the general?"

The King chuckled. "I don't think you have met him but I would say that you have heard of him."

He wasn't talking about…?

"I believe his skill goes beyond many other knights' and he's done exceptionally well the past year…"

No.

"… And even though he's still young, the general consider him to be the best we have. I wouldn't let anyone less competent protect my daughter."

Not him.

"His name is Link and he's the son of one of our loyal knights who have served us for many years."

"Father…!" She wasn't sure how to tell him how she wished it could be someone else without sounding ungrateful. "Father, don't you think it would be wiser to choose someone older with more experience?"

"He was the only one who managed to pull out the legendary sword, Zelda. I can't see how he wouldn't be fit for the assignment. If the legends are true… which they seem to be, he is the only one who will be able to protect you in case the worst would happen."

… Of course he was the chosen one to swing the sword. Why wasn't she surprised?

"But I do hope that won't be necessary, sweetheart."

Zelda blinked. It was so rare to hear her father speak with tenderness these days. "… I understand, father." She thought for a moment. "So he is the chosen hero the old textbooks tell of, I suppose?"

"… It appears to be so." The King looked at his daughter. The expression on her face was calm but he could tell that she wasn't feeling the same inside. He knew very well that she was aware of the eyes on them and was putting up the best face she could to appear strong. He didn't like being so harsh on his daughter, but it was his duty as king to. And he would definitely not let her go to the Beasts without proper protection. "Please do what I asked of you, I believe that he deserves it after receiving the sword. And…" Their eyes met when she looked up. "And continue with your training instead of spending your time with books." And the King turned around to leave his daughter.

Zelda didn't keep her eyes on her father as he left the library. Instead, she kept them facing the stone tiles under her feet. She needed to think. A ceremony. For him. Of course he would be the one to hold the sword, who else would it be than the boy who was notorious for beating a grown-up soldier as a child? A four-year-old! Now, that couldn't be true, could it? It couldn't possibly be. It must be just a rumor like the ones the court whispered within the castle. Anything else would be ridiculous, not to mention for the poor soldier who lost.
And the soldier probably didn't exist because that silly rumor could impossibly be true anyway. Or at least she hoped so.

She looked up again and headed towards her chamber. That was the only place in the large castle where she could feel free and avoid all the eyes on her. And she needed to think in peace.
Why was she hoping that it was only a rumor? Surely it would only be great if he truly was so skilled as she had heard of him, she would need protection on her travels after all. And… it was reassuring that at least one more part of the prophecy seemed to be true. The part about a hero wielding the legendary sword to save the kingdom from darkness. Maybe it would be fine in the end if he faced the evil by himself in case she wouldn't find her power before…
No. She mustn't think like that. They were in this together, whether she liked it or not. That's what the old textbooks had said anyway. She figured that they would spend a lot of time together in the following days. Perhaps even weeks. She hoped that the court wouldn't start talking about it. They wouldn't dare to in her presence (she hoped) but she… had heard how some of them considered him – what was his name again, Link? – to be handsome after all. And she couldn't tell if they were serious or not.

And while she was lost in her thoughts, she saw him. He wasn't carrying the same weapons as the other royal guards anymore but the sword. The sword. She had only read about it in the history books and seen drawings of it but she never thought she would see it in reality. It seemed to fit him perfectly, not too long and not short either. And the hilt almost had the same blue shade as the guard's garbs. It was almost as if the young man and the sword were destined for each other. And he suddenly looked older than what he actually was.
Zelda found herself slowing her steps as she observed them and quickly looked away and continued to walk past the guards. She didn't have a reason to stop anyway. And who stops just to look at the royal guard? Nobody did, unless you needed them for something. Which she didn't at the moment. She just needed to figure out what to say at the ceremony and that demanded peace and quiet in her room.

Link stood up straight next to the wall with eyes focused on nothing at all somewhere far away as the Princess passed him. He had seen her but at the same time not, and kept his position until he was left off duty.