I would like to thank all of those who have viewed my fic and reviewed. It's nice to see that people are enjoying my story.

I'm not going to put another disclaimer because...YOU DON'T TELL ME! :)

Hope you enjoy the next chapter of Link's love for Zelda.

Chapter 3

Link entered the stables just as the sun was rising. As he was putting Epona in her stall he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw Zelda in the stall entry way.

"Where were you all night?" she wondered aloud.

"I thought it would be a good idea for Epona to get out of the stables for awhile, so I spent the night out in Hyrule field. Is something wrong?"

"No, no, it's just, I wanted to talk to you about the conversation I had with my father yesterday."

"Uh, sure, what is it?"

"He told me that he is having a ball planned for some reason or another, and I was wondering if maybe, you might, you know…go…with me?"

"Oh?" He said with surprise "Of course I'd love too, but aren't you supposed to meet with possible suitors at these events."

"Technically yes, but if it makes you feel better, you can go as my body guard, who just happens to dance with me…to keep an eye on me of course."

Link couldn't help but smile. He knew she hated these balls, and that she only went to please her father. "Deal, when is it?"

"Tonight" she replied with a small apologetic smile, "I know, its last minute, but he's been planning it for a week now and just never told me until yesterday, and then I couldn't find and tell you, so I thought…"

Link laughed "Zel, It's ok, I'm not mad. I'll be ready by then, and then we'll have a great time. Just you wait and see."

Link paced his room nervously. Despite his comforting words to Zelda, he didn't know what to wear. Most of his clothes were for work purposes not fancy balls, being the Princess's chief protector and all. Suddenly, he remembered a suit he had gotten from his trip to the Kokiri Forest. It was a belted, sleeveless tunic over a white silken shirt. The tunic was made of rich quality leather, dyed forest green. Along with green breeches and a pair of brown, knee-high boots in soft leather, while the broad belt depicted the royal crest. The outfit was completed with a green cloak trimmed with gold and depicting the triforce, hanging from his shoulders. He chuckled and smiled mischievously, "Zelda won't even recognize me with this on."

When he had finished putting his suit on, Link went to escort Zelda from her room, and down to her throne, were the people waited to begin the ball. As he was about to knock on the door to her room, the door opened suddenly and his mouth dropped as he stared shamelessly. There stood in front of him the love of his life. Dressed in a light green, strapless dress with a few yellow triforces, she stood there, smirking at him.

"So I take it you like my dress?"

Link quickly snapped his mouth shut "Y-yes it looks very n-nice." After a moment of wordless silence and Zelda watching him, Link remembered why he was standing there, and offered his arm."Are you ready to go Zel?" he asked quickly

Zelda continued to smirk "Ready when you are."

Arm in arm, they walked towards the throne room.

I didn't know you had such a beautiful, I mean handsome, outfit Link. Wherever did you get it?"

"Actually, I got it when you sent me to gather reports from the different holds throughout your kingdom. I was in Kokiri forest and I helped save the elder and his family. As a thank-you, they had this outfit made for me. I tried to pay for it, but they wouldn't let me."

As Link told her of how he got his outfit, they arrived at the entrance to the throne room. Everyone stared at the magnificent duo as they walked towards Zelda's throne. With Zelda seated, the music began and people started to dance.

"Link?"

"Yes Zelda"

"Would you like to dance with me?"

"Awwww Zelda," he whined, "the guy is supposed to ask the girl to dance, not the other way around."

Zelda laughed, "Oh get over it, I'm the Princess, remember? I have to be willing to take charge."

"Oh, alright, let's dance."

Zelda grabbed Link's hand and they walked onto the dance floor. Link took hold of Zelda's waist and they danced for a few seconds in silence. Link couldn't believe that he got to hold his Princess. He felt as if it was just him and Zelda, no one else was around. He was taken from his thoughts when Zelda started talking.

"It's nice to just stop and do something nice for a change."

"What do you mean Zel?"

"I'm always signing some document, approving some plan for a new bridge, or meeting with my advisors. Not to mention all those suitors who act like I'm just a prize to be won."

At the mention of suitors Link felt his heart skip a beat. "Yes…the suitors"

"I don't know what I'm going to do Link. My father wants me to marry one of them, he said the law requires a princess to marry before she is sixteen, but I don't love them. How can I marry someone I don't love, what kind of a marriage is that?" She stopped dancing

"Zelda."

"Not only that but what if I'm not a good queen? I can barely handle being a princess. Most people think being a princess is just wearing the best clothes or eating the best food, but it's not. I have to be proper all the time, I have to go to meetings, and I can't do anything I want to. I want to be able to go for a walk in the gardens whenever I feel like it. I want to be able to visit the town square without an armed escort. And I would love to visit Lake Hylia, just once. But my father just tells me, 'You have more important things to worry about.'"

"Zelda."

"I mean, is life even worth living if your miserable all the time, if you have to marry someone you have only just met and don't love, or if you have absolutely no freedom?"

"ZELDA" She paused and looked at Link. He saw that she was on the verge of tears." You're going to be a great queen, just the fact that you are this worried about it should prove to you that you will. Only someone who really cares would get this upset about it. Besides, I have faith in you. You're the most responsible person I know, if anyone can be an amazing Queen, it's you.

Zelda looked at Link in surprise, "How come you never said this before?"

Link smiled "You never needed to hear it before, plus, you never asked."

Zelda closed her eyes, placed her head on Link's shoulder and they started dancing again. "Thank you, Link, you've always been there for me"

"No problem Zel"

Just as the song had been about to end, Link tightened his grip on Zelda as the worst pain he had ever felt rushed through his body.

"Link? Oh Goddesses, LINK!"

The blue-purple veins overtook his body and continued up past his neck to his face. Link moaned as the pain grew worse and worse. Zelda screamed and the music stopped as people stood and watched as the veins fully overtook Link's entire body. The last thing Link heard before darkness enveloped him was Zelda screaming for help and calling his name.

Did you like it, love it, hate it? I won't know unless you review.

FabledLegend

P.S. Thanks are in order for Yoru95, without whom, this fic would not have been written. I want the world (or at least all who read this fic) to know that, she is the greatest!

To anyone who thinks the description of Link's suit sounds familiar, you are right. I borrowed it from John Flanagan's 7th Rangers apprentice book, Erak's Ransom, which I do not own. Hopefully it is not a problem that I did, I just thought it fit Link's character.

Oh! One more thing. If anyone knows the name of this story, would you please send me a PM with it?

It talks about Link standing on a roof in Kakariko Village as the village children are playing down below, blissfully unaware of what was going on above them. Then just as Link is stepping of the roof, Zelda stops him and is wondering why he was going to commit suicide.

Please, if you know the name, Send it to me.