"Okay you two, take five!" Impa shouted. Link and Zelda had another successful day of dancing. The prince was sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, huffing and sweating buckets. Zelda on the other hand barely broke a sweat- she was ready for another ten rounds at least.

"You alright over there Link? The gala is tomorrow after all…" Zelda asked as she walked over to hand Link a cold drink. "I can't have you pass out on me from exhaustion, so don't over do it, okay?"

He nodded as he drank the cool beverage. It was just the thing to hit the spot, quenching his thirst and cooling to his core, but not reviving his ambition for another go, "Thank you kindly, Zelda. I think I'm going to take Impa's advice and take a bath. I'm all sticky and gross…" He got back onto his feet and shuffled out of the hall.

"I think he's improved since we started. But his head is still in the clouds… What do you think Impa?"

"Hrmm, it's going to have to do for tomorrow. Just keep an eye on him."

"Right."

"Now go and get cleaned up for bed! You've got a big day tomorrow!"

"Yes ma'am," she yawned and waltzed out of the hall. Link was using the baths at the moment, then it was soon to be her turn. I doubt it will take Link very long to finish cleaning himself up. He worked himself pretty hard… must be raring to go for tomorrow though… I kinda wonder what kind of things go on during the summer solstice celebration? I guess I will find out soon enough…

Zelda arrived at her quarters and began to remove her soiled clothes, soon found her bath wrap to cover up before she arrived in the bathing chambers.

She noticed that she couldn't see nor hear anybody in the bath, so she proceeded into the steamy chambers and descended her body into the scalding waters. Every muscle was loosening up and relaxing from the abuse and work she put in during the day.

"Is someone there?" a familiar voice ran out from the other side of the thick fog. It was thick enough to make it difficult to discern anything out of an arm's reach.

Zelda gasped and sunk into the bathwater, "Link- you're still here?!"

"Yeah, I must have lost track of the time. The bath was feeling too wonderful tonight," he mumbled as he scooted in the direction of her voice.

"Stay over there! We aren't children anymore. What if somebody sees us?" she tried to swim away, but was cornered.

"Let them," Link spoke up, "I just want to spend some time with you- alone."

"Fine," she sighed, "I suppose the steam is thick enough for neither of us to see anything indecent."

The two spent some time in the baths sitting next to each other and enjoying the echo of the babbling waters.

"...are you nervous for tomorrow?" Link asked to break the silence in the room.

"Who wouldn't be?" she joked, "It's probably one of the few times I'll be dolled up for a fancy party with the nobles, and I don't want to make a fool of myself."

The two let out a good hearty laugh that rang through the walls of the baths without a care as to who might come in and see what the noise was about.

"I know what you mean," Link squeaked out after splitting a gut with his laughter and wiping away a stray tear that was about to fall from his eye, "Don't sweat it though- it's okay to lean on me, I'm here for you."

"Thank you, you're too sweet," Zelda hummed, "I think I've spent enough time soaking. I'll head back to my room now."

"Anytime Zelda, I'll see you in the morning..." Link faced away from her for a moment to give her some privacy while she climbed out of the water into the steaming mists. He sat back into the water and listened for her watery steps as she left.

When Zelda arrived back in her room, she leaned up on the closed door, and took a moment to reflect on what just happened. After moping around her room for some time, she glanced over to the dress that Link picked out for her to wear. She felt warmth rising from her chest and flooding her cheeks after replaying a few of his lines in her head.

"I can do this… I can do this…" she tried to pep herself up for the gala, "No reason to be nervous- Nervousness shows weakness…"

Zelda dressed herself for bed, sat down and took a few deep breaths to meditate just like Impa showed her. In and out, in and out...

She was lost in thought, when she heard a gentle knock at her door, "Can I come in?"

Link quietly stepped in and sat down next to her on the bed, "I'm sorry about being so forward in the baths… It was inappropriate of me to be like that…"

"No, it was my fault, I should've asked if you were done rather than jump on in," Zelda replied looking intently at his cerulean eyes. A split second later, she started with another fit of laughter, "Seriously, I'll be fine tomorrow, don't worry. I think I should be worried about you," she said as she flicked his earlobes that were still healing from getting pierced.

"Yeowch! That still smarts…" Link winced as he held his throbbing ear in his hand.

"I think it's time to hit the hay, we should get some rest for the big day."

"Right… Good Night Zelda," he excused himself and left her quarters, gently closing her door as he exited.

"Zelda, it's time to get up!" Impa was in her room and opened her curtains to let the morning sun flood into her room.

A flash of the light was all she needed to stir from her slumber, "Hnn?"

"We've only got this morning to prepare for the gala this evening! You need to get groomed for tonight."

"Alright, I'm up," she yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, "Where to?"

"First things first- your hair… it's a mess," Impa pointed to the rat's nest of a bed head.

Zelda reached up to touch her golden locks, and noticed the mess atop of her head, "Okay, I'll grab my brush…"

She sat down in front of her vanity and handed Impa her brush. Impa went to work straightening out the snarled mess from her long blonde hair. In no time at all her hair was once again straight without any tangles and gleaming in the sunlight.

"So what do you think will go best with my dress?"

"I think we'll have the beautician make that decision, they should be up here within the hour."

There was a quick rap on the door, "Well speak of the devil."

The beautician sauntered in and began to set up in her room. Countless containers spread all over the top of her vanity, and boxes with many varieties of hair accessories and jewellery.

"What have you got in mind for our lady good sir?" Impa asked.

"I'm going to be her fairy godmother and turn her into a firecracker to stun the audience tonight~" he beamed, "She'll even dazzle the prince after I'm through with her."

"Trust me- that won't be a problem," Impa smiled in reply. "Well, I'll leave you to it then." She left Zelda's quarters to check in on Link, who was probably still fast asleep.

"Alright now it's time to work my magic- let me see what your dress looks like for starters."

"I leave myself in your capable hands," Zelda beamed.

Impa soon arrived at Link's chambers, "How much sleep did you get last night?"

He was sitting in a ball on the edge of his bed, his knees were clutched tight to his chest, "I don't know… I think I barely slept- I know Zelda said not to worry, but I can't calm my nerves…"

"I've got just the thing to calm you down. While it's brewing, I want you to sit at your desk and give me some deep breaths, okay?"

"Yes ma'am," he stretched out and walked over to take a seat at his desk, and gently closed his eyes and inhaled a few deep breaths.

Impa slipped out of his room to run down to the kitchens to grab a pot of boiling water for her tea blend, and a set of cups to pour.

Returning to Link's room, she found him fast asleep on top of his desk with a puddle of drool under his head and peacefully snoring. Impa left a cup of the tea on his desk and left him to catch up on his lost sleep. He was going to need less preening that Zelda for the gala.

She went back to Zelda's quarters and found that the beautician was almost finished with her hair, soon to be working on her makeup. Her hair was braided with fresh flowers and swept to her shoulder.

If this wasn't going to turn heads, nothing would.

Impa stood in the corner of her room for a few hours as she observed Zelda's transformation, she was quickly turned from a servant to something resembling a noble.

Link soon walked into her room to check in on her soon after he woke up from his nap. His face soon betrayed his words when he saw her sitting on her chair getting dolled up. She wasn't quite finished, although stunning nonetheless.

"You... look great…" Link bashfully mumbled as soon as he got his bearings straight. His face was still as red as rubies and tilted to the ground. He reached his hand and scratched the nape of his neck to calm his nerves.

"She's going to look even better when I'm done with her~"

Impa moved from her corner, "Link I think it's time to get ready, I'll help you get groomed," she said as she herded the prince back to his chambers.

"I'm sixteen, I am old enough to dress myself Impa…" he argued as he was pushed out of her quarters. But his words fell on deaf ears, "Zelda, help me!"

"Sorry, Link. She's got a point- plus my hands are tied at the moment…" she hummed as her makeup was being applied to her face. He moaned as he was shoved through the threshold of her door and it was slammed shut.

Link was dragged back to his chambers, kicking and sort of screaming. It was embarrassing for a young man to need help to get dressed by one of the castle servants.

"Impa, I can dress myself, I don't need any help."

"If I didn't pull you out, you would have sat there gawking at her till it was time."

Link sulked a bit, but it was true- he would have soaked up the image of her dressed up and just stunningly beautiful till the last minute before the gala.

He went to his closet and pulled out his new regalia- a green, double-breasted, button up suit with golden pauldrons and various ribbons attached to his breast pocket signifying his social status, completed with a long, floppy green cap- a signature item of his.

He put on the khaki dress slacks and his white cotton shirt, and sat down at his desk while Impa brushed out his shaggy caramel locks and tied them together in a matching green ribbon. Link slipped on his overcoat and donned his cap. Impa assisted him with attaching his pauldrons, and within the hour, he was ready; it was time to go.

Link was in the main hall, greeting and mingling with the guests. Many of them were commenting on his attire or how much he has grown since they last saw him. The prince was taking them well, or bashfully smiling from the shower of compliments. I wonder what's keeping Zelda? She should be here any minute now… Unless, father was having a private word with her? It's possible...

Zelda was waiting for the moment they announced her arrival to the hall, she was peering through the curtains concealing her presence, Deep breaths, we can do this, just breathe…

Then her moment in the spotlight came, "May I have your attention, please. Lady Zelda has arrived."

She took in a deep breath, and gracefully walked down the staircase as all the heads turned towards her. But her attention was only on Link.

The look on his face told her that he was awestruck- no more than that. Like Link saw the most beautiful thing in the world before his very eyes. He had a scrap of food dangling from his mouth as he stood and stared as she walked to where he stood.

She giggled as she saw him gawking at her, his mouth slowly agape like a stunned deer being hunted, "You look silly, Link."

"I'm sorry, it's just… you… you… you look wonderful tonight…" he said as he scarfed down the morsel of food hanging from his lips, he was beyond embarrassed, "Sorry… let's eat…"

"Quit being so apologetic, you're making yourself look like a newborn lamb- weak and helpless."

Link swallowed the lump that formed in his throat and gave a quick cough to clear it, "R-right. Shall we?"

"Of course, lead the way my prince," she purred as she stepped aside and gestured him towards the spread of food on the buffet tables. Link and Zelda went to load up their plates with scrumptious dishes- Link's pile was much higher than her was, he couldn't let this opportunity pass him by. These were the times the chefs went all out with their dishes to impress the common folk.

They found their seats at the head table, next to the King and Impa, and dug into their plates of food. Zelda was minding her manners and taking dainty petite bites, meanwhile Link was shoveling as if he had moments left to live.

Once the rest of the attendees were settled and nearly finished tucking into their meals, the King stood up and knocked his silverware to his goblet to get the crowd's attention. The bustling white noise suddenly became so quiet that a person could hear a pin drop.

"I have a splendid announcement to make. As you know we've taken in an orphan, our fair Lady Zelda, over ten years ago. As you can see- she has grown into a fine young lass," he boomed and the audience broke out in a resounding cheer, "This may be unorthodox, but I would like to announce that my son, your crown prince, will be engaged to be wed to her ladyship. I assure you this is a boon for our kingdom, albeit the reasons for this arrangement will be kept private, for certain reasons. Please give the two a round of applause. May Hylia bless this union."

Link and Zelda stood up after the King motioned them to do so, and took a bow in respect for the overwhelming support. After the crowd calmed down, the two quickly excused themselves from the main hall.

"WHAT?" they both exclaimed at the same time while exchanging glances.