Okay vie decided to really jump into this story and put my other one on hold since it's a sequel, Originals take top priority in my book. Anyway…..here's Chapter 3!

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Chapter- 3 Annoyances

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"Princess…"

Midna turned over pulling her pillow over her face in an attempt to block out the annoying voice.

"Princess Midna, its time to get up."

She groaned and pressed it down harder over her ears. "Go away Saira. I don't want to get up." came her muffled voice from under the pillow as she attempted to burrow her way deeper underneath the blankets.

Saira rolled her eyes a small smile making its way to her face as she started for the door. She looked over her shoulder to look at the lump on the bed a sly look on her face.

"Very well princess, but I was sure Sir Link would be waiting for you this morning as it's his first full day in the Twilight realm after all."

The lump shifted drastically as Midna sat pulling the sheet with her as she stood up and made her way to a changing screen set up on the far side of the room where her clothes were hanging.

Saira suppressed a snicker as Midna hurriedly dressed.

"Princess, what are you doing? I thought you did not yet wish to be wakened?" She still had the smile on her face as Midna stepped out from behind the screen as she fiddled with her bright orange locks.

"I've changed my mind, I should go see Link before the council pulls me away for some reason or another." she said smoothing out her clothes.

Saira nodded still smiling. "Very well then Princess Midna." She turned and walked out of the room.

"Oh, Saira?" She stopped and looked back as Midna walked up beside her.

"Was there something you needed Princess?"

"Yes, do you know where Sir Link is this morning?"

Saira put a hand to her chin in thought. "I believe I saw him heading out to the court yard earlier." Midna nodded as she walked past Saira towards the court yard.

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Link gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as he thrust out at an imaginary enemy. He swung low and half way thru the swing made a sharp diagonal slash.

He pulled back still in a battle stance, sweet dripped from his brow his breath though remained normal, he was getting back into the swing of things again though he was still adjusting to his Ordon sword.

The last time he had held one it had been the master sword and even that had been months ago. He made a lunge to one knee and back flipped from his crouch position slashing his sword into a spin attack as he landed.

He took a deep breath to relax till his senses alerted him. He quickly slashed his arm out behind him at an upward angle and stopped.

He turned his head and looked up at a surprised face of what seemed to be a Twili guard Links blade at his throat. Link pulled back and stood up straight and grinned.

"Sorry about that. Still in the moment." The guard smiled and spoke in clear Hylian.

"I should have known, I recognize it quite well. Your very good, just what I'd expect from the Hero of the realms, Sir Link."

Link sheathed his sword and smiled. "Well you know my name but I'm afraid I don't know yours."

"Oh! How rude of me." the guard laughed and held out his hand. "I am Raisho, the Commander of the guard." Link shook his hand. "it's an honor to meet you."

Raisho laughed again. "It is I who should be saying that to you Sir Link, all here in the Twilight realm are in your debt." Link scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"No one is in my debt, I did it for everyone, I don't expect anything from anyone, and please just call me Link." Link smiled then he noticed a sword at Raisho's side.

"But.." Link started thoughtfully.

"What?" Raisho asked curiously. "Is there something I can do for you Link?

"Well I have been a little out of practice lately and I could use a little real exercise if your interested in a sparring match, what do you say?" Link looked at him hopefully.

Raisho was already pulling his sword from its sheath a four foot long broadsword engraved with the circular rune that was the royal family's crest.

'It would be my greatest honor and pleasure to fight with you." He grinned sliding his feet apart and holding his sword straight out in front of him. Link smiled back as he pulled his sword out of his sheath and twirled in a swift practiced motion.

Raisho leapt forward sweeping his sword down at Links knees in a diagonal slash, who leapt backwards and made a jab at his half bent form. Raisho dropped and rolled to avoid being pierced by Links who was jumping at him sword held high above his head.

For a moment the look of such unbridled animosity in Links eyes made a chill run up Raisho's spine as he narrowly dodged the mans jump strike and lashed out to the side at Links crouched position only to have his blade blocked with Links who thrust his sword up knocking Raisho's sword from his hand and sent it scattering it several feet away.

Raisho bowed his head in defeat. "I yield. I'm sorry that I could not give you a better spar" Link grinned and held out his hand for him to take. Raisho grabbed it and let himself be pulled up, a confused expression on his face.

"There is nothing to be sorry for, that was great. Thank you." Link smiled as he sheathed his sword and Raisho retrieved his sheathing it as well.

"Link?"

"Yea?" Link asked looking at him curiously.

"Do you ever get tired of being the hero? You said yourself that you don't expect anything in return for your services, it seems like a thankless job."

Link crossed his arms over his chest and took up what Midna had once called his thinking stance.

"Not really, to be able to protect the people I care about is initiative enough, and I believe in karma so kindness is it's own reward." Link nodded to himself satisfied with his answer.

Raisho looked at Link with a whole new light he really was a selfless hero.

"That's very admirable Link"

"He's far to modest if you ask me." Link and Raisho turned and saw Midna standing by the doors of the court yard Saira as usual standing nearby.

"Princess Midna, it's good to see you this morning" Raisho bowed. Midna smiled nodding to him. Link paused a moment unsure what he should do but decided to play it safe and bowed as well.

He figured he'd done wrong when she started giggling.

"There's no need to be so formal Link unless there are other dignitaries around you don't have to bow." she laughed.

Link smiled embarrassedly at her. "I wasn't sure so I just went with it." Midna suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. She couldn't be too familiar with him in front of her subordinates though she trusted both Saira and Raisho you could never be sure who was watching.

'I figured as much. It seems your still in semi-fit shape judging from the match the two of you just had."

Link patted his bicep and grinned. "I'll be back up there in no time with a little more exercise."

"I have no doubt about it." She nodded. "Maybe you could teach some of the soldiers a thing or two. I don't think the commander here would mind."

"Oh, of course not it would be a great honor for you to instruct the guards Link, they could always use it."

Link nodded. "I might."

"Link have you eaten yet?" Link looked back over at Midna.

"No not yet, I was going to after I was done here."

She nodded "Come join me then will you?" He nodded.

"If you'll excuse us Commander." Raisho nodded

"Of course your highness, I need to be sending out the second group of patrols soon" He bowed to Midna and nodded to Link and Saira before walking off.

"Shall we hero?" Midna asked giving him her signature smirk. Link nodded and followed her and Saira back into the palace towards the dining room.

Link jogged up next to Saira and Midna. "Are you going to be joining us miss…uh?"

Saira looked up surprised that he was talking to her. "I'm Saira, Princess Midnas personal attendant." Link put out his hand and Saira hesitated then shook it smiling up at him.

"Are you going to be joining us?" He asked again looking at her expectantly.

"No I'm not" she said waving her hand dismissively.

"Oh, that's a shame." He said his face seeming to pout.

"It…It is? Why?" Link shrugged. "The more the merrier in my experience."

"She would but Saira has some things to attend too this morning." Midna said looking over her shoulder.

"Oh." was all he said as they sat down at the table and some servants brought out a variety of foods on trays.

Midna had to suppress the laugh that bubbled up in her throat

Link looked in shock, he was after all raised a simple farm boy the pampered life of royalty or his case a hero probably wasn't something he was accustomed to.

"Something wrong Link? You look a little surprised." He looked up at her and gave an uneasy smile.

"No I'm just not used to this kind of thing" he said.

"I thought you might not be, your just a farmer-boy after all."

One of his brows arched at the name. "Well of course" he grinned. Grabbing an apple off the t*able and taking a bite out of it, smiling.

Midna rolled her eyes and began eating as well. The sounds of eating were the only one in the room but it was a comfortable silence as they were lost in the thoughts.

Link inwardly sighed. "I need to start looking for who or what opened that portal…but I don't even know where to start." He grumbled. Then a something he hadn't thought of before occurred to him. "Whatever made that portal may not even be in the Twilight realm"

Link shook his head to himself. There was no way back to the light realm so if whatever had made it was there he was powerless to stop it.

He sighed quietly then took another bite out of his apple. He was so engrossed in his thoughts he didn't notice Midna starring strangely at him.

"Something on your mind Link?" He looked up surprised at her voice. "Just thinking about what could have created that portal."

"Are you in such a hurry to go back to the light realm?" She asked feigning a hurt expression willing her eyes to water. Link stopped mid-bite and began waving his hands in front of his face the apple hanging out of his mouth.

"Mo, mo covs mot!" Midna struggled to hold in the laughter and keep a straight face as Link dropped the apple hanging from his mouth.

"No! Of course not! I'm just concerned about it" Midna giggled at the panicked expression of his face.

"Relax Link I know. It's to easy to mess with you." Link gave her his 'I am not amused look.' before grabbing his apple and taking a bite out of it.

"Quite the actress you are." He dead panned.

Midna grinned devilishly at him. "Thanks I know."

Link was about to retort when a Saira walked in and cleared her throat to get there attention.

"Yes Saira?"

"The council has sent me to retrieve you Princess, they wish to speak with you immediately."

Midna growled quietly. "Thank you Saira." She nodded and walked back out into the hall.

"Sorry Link but duty calls." she smiled apologetically at him. He stood up as she did and nodded.

"It's okay." He smiled though it didn't reach his eyes.

"I'll see you later" she nodded to him and walked out of the dining room.

Link sighed and palmed the apple in his hand. "Now what?"

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Midna stalked angrily down the hall to the councils meeting room. She'd knew Samar had something up his sleeves She'd bet her life on it. He was worse then a damned serpent.

She hated that man with a passion.

When she walked into the room the council stood and bowed as she walked past them and sat down at the chair at the head of the table.

"Alright, what it you needed me here for so urgently." Samar stood from his seat. And Midna wanted so badly to roll her eyes. 'Just as I figured.'

"Princess I have been doing some research in the law books and have made a discovery about the situation of your future husband." Midna did her best to look passive but she knew she was glaring at him.

"It would seem Princess that while you can chose your own groom, it has to be from a group of men who have proved themselves in a series of tests and are approved by the grand council."

Midna was livid but years of playing politics gave her an amazing poker face so the look on her face was a calm one.

One her faithful members stood she believed her name was Minh. She was the only female member of the council of twenty. While came from a noble family like most the others but she didn't have the pompous haughty air that most of them carried. The few times Midna had spoken with her personally she had been polite and quite pleasant.

"In this situation it is a customary law that the palace hold a grand ball for which young men to come and participate in these challenges. I Assume we will be so?"

"Of course, it is a tradition after all" Samar replied sternly.

Midna sighed under her breath, that was a law and tradition, there was no way she could get out of it. Minh continued.

"Anyone is allowed to attend are they not?"

Samar seemed to eye her warily. "Indeed they are, but if they have no sort of high standing as a noble or among the people they will never even be considered."

Minh nodded and sat back down folding her hands in front of her face.

Samar turned back to Midna looking at her expectantly. She glared openly at him, he however didn't flinch.

"Very well, we'll have this ball to pick out my future husband and king." The council all nodded and Samar gave a small smile that Midna just wanted to slap off his face. His whole being was oozing smugness and she just wanted to blast him with her magic.

"If that is all this meeting is concluded." The council filed out and Midna stayed where she was in her seat.

Saira walked up next to her when she was sure the council was gone.

"Things aren't beginning to get complicated aren't they Princess" They both knew it wasn't a question but Midna answered regardless. "Yes they are indeed Saira." Midna sighed standing up and walking out of the councils chambers Saira falling into her shadow like always.

"Saira…"

Saira perked at her name being called. "Yes Princess?"

"I'm going to retire to my room for a little bit alright?"

"Of course Princess" Saira stopped walking and watched Midna disappear down the hall. When she was gone Saira straightened up and turned walking toward a different hall. The timing was perfect while Midna sulked in her room she could go and attend to other matters.

Midna sighed and sat down on the end of her bed her face in her hands. This was going to a horrible next few days. The man she actually had feelings for had returned to her after months apart though it was supposed to be forever and just as he did she was to be married off to some self-centered stick up his ass noble. Or worse yet that creepy Korzba.

Her stomach churned horribly as she remembered his violet and green eyes. Thinking about it all made her want to vomit.

She fell back on her bed and closed her eyes falling into an uneasy sleep.

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Link walk down the palace corridors in a kind of daze he was for lack of a better word. Bored out of his mind. He couldn't find a single lead concerning the portal. None of the guards or servants seemed to know anything about it.

He practiced his swords play again for a few hours. He could feel that he was almost back on par with what he was the ay he defeated Ganondorf. He was glad he had brought all his equipment with him, the ball and chain alone weighed him done alone enough that he could weight train, but he was done for now and he was bored.

Link sighed as he walked down the hall till something caught his gaze down another hall. He walked up to it bewildered. It was a large painting hanging from the wall.

There were two people in it two adults a man and women. Link studied it closely.

The women was wearing clothes that resembled Midnas except the designs were white instead of an aqua color. She had long black silky looking hair that came down to her hips. Her eyes of the brightest crimson seemed to shine even in paint, and of course the same pale-bluish skin that all Twili had.

The man seemed tall and broad shouldered. Wearing the a long sleeved shirt with a high color that squeezed his neck in what Link thought looked rather uncomfortable. It was black as was his pants and they were covered with the Same designs as the woman's next to him. But he wore a bright red sash around his waist. It brought out the color of his bright orange-red hair. His eyes were as black as coal and were pupil less. It looked like a deep void.

"I see you found the royal portrait Sir Link." Link turned and saw Saira walking up to him.

"Royal portrait?" Saira nodded looking up at it. "Yes a painting of Princess Midnas late parents the late King Zerel and Queen Midara."

"I see." he said quietly "What happened to them?" Saira sighed and looked at him. "King Zerel became severely sick and died and Queen Midara so struck with grief took her own life. Leaving Princess Midna by herself."

"That's horrible." Link could kind of imagine how she felt. He had never known his father and his mother who couldn't care for him left him with Rusl in Ordon.

Saira nodded then turned to him and smiled. "Enough of this depressing business, are you going to go to the ball that's being held the day after tomorrow?"

"Ball?" Link looked at her confused. "Yes, young men of high standing like nobles, heroes and warriors are coming from all over the kingdom, it is to choose Princess Midnas husband,"

Links eyes widened as he felt his breath hitch in his throat. "Husband?" He managed to choke out.

Saira nodded. "The council decided that to properly rule the Twilight realm she needs to be the Queen, and the only way to do that is for her to marry." She finished smiling at him.

Link felt his heart drop. "I see…" He said turning away. "I'm going to go get some fresh air Saira, if you'll excuse me" He walked off his head hung low. 'She's getting married…and she didn't even tell me…"

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Midna just wanted to lay here forever and forget all about the damn council and everything else that was going wrong. She sighed as she pulled herself up and fixed her hair.

'I guess I should go find Link.' She thought as she smoothed out skirt.

After searching for him for over half an hour she still couldn't find him anywhere. There was one place still in the palace she hadn't checked yet. It took her a few minutes to get up the spiraling staircase that led to the balcony but when she did there he was elbows on the balcony his head resting in his hands. He had a troubling look about him.

"Link.." She called him.

He jerked and spun around, Link who was always so relaxed whenever she was there tensed up the moment he saw her. She came and stood in front of him. It was back. The daunting sorrow in his eyes.

"What's wrong Link? An don't you dare give me that nothing crap." He turned away to look back out over the twilight. He was tense. She could see the muscles beneath his tunic constantly tensing. She could hear his breath, it seemed heavy like his mood. She was about to tell him to spit it out when he spoke.

"Your…your getting married." The words died on her lips and it felt like the blood in her veins had turned to ice. 'he…he had found out? But how?' She was ripped from her thoughts when he spoke again.

"Why didn't you tell me, Midna?" Even though he wasn't looking at her she turned away. She couldn't look at him. He sounded….hurt?

"The council ordered it, there wasn't anything I could do to top it." When he didn't respond or even move she went on steeling herself for her next words.

"Besides…it's not like anything is going to change between us."

"Link squeezed the railing in a death grip. His knuckles began turning white."

He started to speak but his throat felt dry. He swallowed hard trying to get some moisture in his throat so he managed to croak out.

"I know…"

The atmosphere that surrounded them was thick and suffocating. The heavy tension soon to snap.

Link willed his hands to release the railing and stood up straight and turned to face her. Midna looked at him from the corner of her eyes into his. A small gasp escaped as she looked into his eyes.

The blue shimmering depths she knew so well seemed dull and lifeless.

"If you'll excuse me Midna it's getting late." He walked past her to the stairs and disappeared.

Midna let the tears fall down her cheeks. "Link…" she whispered.

Link nearly stalked down the halls. His body felt heavy and tired. When he got to his room he flopped down on the bed and buried his face into the pillow. 'What am I going to do now?'

He growled into the pillow. 'I know Midna doesn't want this but what can I do…I never even got a chance..' Hesighed and turned over to stare at the ceiling. 'stupid ball….wait..' Link sat up in his bed. As he recalled Saira's words.

"young men of high standing like nobles, heroes and warriors are coming from all over the kingdom"

"Could I really do it?" Link talked to himself in the darkness of his room. Surely it would cause an uproar. A light dweller trying to take the hand of there Princess in marriage.

Link scoffed at himself. It would surely be a cold day in hell. He clenched his fists. He had to try.

There was nothing left for him in the world of light. He had nothing to lose but everything to gain.

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And so the plot thickens! I'm going to get right to work on Chapter 4 cause its time for link to get his butt into gear. Hope you like this chap. - Malthazar LOS