Hello there! I'm pleased to have an update. I apologize that they are very slow in coming as of late, but I have been rather busy and am trying to take advantage of my free time to update some of my stories. Since this story hasn't been updated in about six weeks, I decided to give it priority today. So, anyway, here's the next chapter! Enjoy! And thanks to my reviewers- DannyPhantomFan88; Hououza; Sakurelle; Pyragon; trevor19; and fantasymask.

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspects of the Legend of Zelda series.

Zelda's POV

I awoke late after a good night's rest to the sounds of the servants bustling about in the halls and outside the castle. Despite the thickness of the walls, some of the sounds managed to seep into the room.

I sat up and stretched, throwing back the covers to get out of bed, when I heard a knock at the door.

"Your Grace, it is Impa," a voice called.

"Enter," I called back.

Impa came in with a letter in her hand, closing the door behind her. As she handed me the letter, she made teasing remarks, both about the letter and the late hour at which I arose.

"Perhaps a love letter from a certain protector of yours?" she commented. "I suppose you awoke late because thoughts of him kept you from falling asleep."

I began to blush profusely as I stuck the letter under my mattress to read at another time, when I was by myself.

"I hope you enjoyed your late-night carousing with Prince Dante," Impa said, going to the dresser and beginning to remove my petticoats.

"How did you know?" I inquired, then immediately realized that what I had asked was a rhetorical question. Somehow, she could always figure out how I had been passing my time, even when neither she nor my father is around to see.

"I did enjoy my time with him, but still have many questions in my mind," I explained.

"I see. You feel that you are betraying a certain green-garbed young man, although he knows not of your love for him, and has not the courage to tell you that he loves you."

Apparently Impa had read the expression on my face, as she smiled slightly, and even chuckled. "You see, Princess, I know Link well. I know that he has feelings for you. It seems even your father knows, which speaks volumes, for His Highness often seems ignorant to many of the things going on around him."

"Well, even so, I could never tell him that I love him unless and until I know for sure that he even loves me. For even my father's blessings cannot change that Link was not born a royal. I cannot put myself and the kingdom at risk by confessing my love for him without a guarantee that it is reciprocated. For confessing without that guarantee will not only embarrass me, but if word were to get out that I chose someone that is not even a suitor, my subjects would not be happy."

Impa sighed deeply. "Your Highness, pardon me, but do you not see that Link worries, as well? I understand what you just explained, but look at the situation from the young man's perspective. His job is to protect you, and in turn help protect the kingdom. Yet he happened to fall in love with you, and he fears you will reject him, or that you father will not approve even if you do accept him. And imagine the peril of him admitting his feelings, as he is not in the ruling class. It may come across as him trying to get close to you to seduce you and steal the kingdom from your father."

I looked at the floor, conceding once again to her wisdom. She certainly had a valid point. But if Link and I are both at such risk, how will we ever find out for sure if we love each other, if neither of us will admit it?

"You must find a way to confess your feelings without others finding out until the time is right," Impa spoke up, as if reading my mind. "Once you and he know you are in love, he can propose to you in secret-with your father's official blessings, of course-and adjust to the royal lifestyle before your engagement is announced. He is already a hero to the people, and they are indebted to him for saving the kingdom. Just give it time, and they will accept him as your consort."

"Yes, if he survives," I mumbled sadly. "After all, he is on his way to Eastern Hyrule, and who knows what kind of horrors await him and the rest of the forces? He may not survive long enough to return home, much less become my husband."

"You know he will survive, Princess. He is too strong-willed to bow even to a power as all-encompassing as Ganon's. Once Ganon is stripped of his power, all of his forces will immediately fall."

I wiped the tears forming in my eyes. "I'm just so afraid, Impa. There is no point in denying it any longer-I do love Link so very much. And I fear something will happen to him. I cannot stand to be away from him. Even if he survives his journey, in the back of my mind, I worry that he will meet another woman and choose to move away from the castle. I can sense that he is in love with someone already."

"Yes, he is in love with you," Impa assured me.

"But how can I be sure of that?"

"Again, Princess, if it is something that your father notices, then it must be true. Trust me, His Highness would not approve of you marrying Link if he thought Link did not love you."

"Okay, okay," I sighed. "Now I just have to figure out how to tell Link."

"Why not when you speak with him next? You told me of your telepathic connection with him; why not use it? I know you prefer to save such important statements for face-to-face contact, but since we know not when he will return, why let him go on not knowing, when he, too, is burdened by hiding his feelings for you?"

"You're right, he is, and there is no need for him to continue on wondering. I promise I will tell him soon. And thank you for your advice, Impa," I said, hugging the elderly woman.

"You're very welcome, Princess," she smiled warmly. "Now open that letter already. I've been wanting to know how Link is!"

I chuckled as I went to the bed to remove the letter from under the mattress.

I read the letter from Link, a brief one that he had somehow sent to me while on the ship. He must've given it to someone passing on a merchant vessel on the way to Mido.

The letter really had nothing new to me in it, as it simply mentioned what Link had already told me telepathically, in terms of what he would do upon reaching Eastern Hyrule. Even so, I wanted to hold onto the letter, as it was something from him.

I read the letter aloud to Impa before tucking it securely back in its envelope. I planned to put it away after Impa left the room, as I had a secret hiding place for all the letters Link sent me. For now, I just set it on the table.

Once I finished dressing, Impa and I went downstairs, and she told my father the information contained in the letter, while I ate breakfast. Despite the lateness of the hour, I was not very hungry, so I simply ate some fruit. It was already quite warm out, so I suppose that's part of the reason for my loss of appetite.

After I finished eating, I spoke with my father for a bit before going back upstairs to put away the letter and write in my diary. Some diplomats would be coming to the castle that evening, but I still had a few hours to myself before I had to ready for their arrival.

I had barely finished putting away the letter when there was a knock at my door. I unlocked and opened it, surprised to see Prince Dante standing on the other side.

"Good day, Zelda," he greeted me, bowing courtly.

"Good day, Dante," I answered, curtsying. "May I ask what brings you here?"

"I wanted to know if you would like to take a walk with me this evening, after dinner. The nights are so beautiful now, and I wish to be able to speak with you in private."

"Sounds lovely," I smiled warmly, disguising my curiosity as to his motivations.

We spoke for a moment, arranging where and when to meet, before he took his leave. Once he was gone, I closed and locked the door, then retrieved my diary from its hiding place. I sat at the table, opening the diary and the ink jar. Before dipping in the quill, I stopped to think for a moment as to what to write about first, and found myself lost in thought.

After a few minutes, I finally focused back on the task at hand. I dipped the quill in the ink and began to write.

Dear Diary,

I love Link!

I did agree to go for a walk under the stars with Prince Dante, but only because I am curious as to what he wishes to tell me. I have a feeling that it is something of significance, as he seemed rather nervous and quite serious earlier.

I hope he does not intend to ask for my hand in marriage, for I will have to turn him down. He is a wonderful man, but my heart already belongs to Link.

Speaking of Link, I intend to tell him that I love him just as soon as the opportunity presents itself. I know not when that will be, but Impa is very much correct in asserting that it is not fair to let him go on wondering how I feel about him. Even if he does not love me back, telling him is a risk I believe I must take.

I will write of what happens later.

I sealed the ink jar and put away the quill, then let the ink dry for a moment before closing my diary and putting it away as well. Since it was about time to ready myself for dinner, I went to my wardrobe and picked out something to wear. I settled on a short-sleeved green dress with a rather modest square neck.

I finished dressing for dinner and made my way downstairs. The suitors all bowed to me as my father escorted me to the dining hall. They followed us there and took their seats, while I went about greeting the diplomats, some of whom I had met before. I then took my seat, and we made small talk as we awaited our meal.

After a delicious dinner, the suitors returned to their rooms to pack, as they would be leaving the next morning. I whispered to my father that I would be going for a walk with Prince Dante, and he excused me from the room, explaining to the diplomats that I had an important matter to attend to. I bid them good evening before making my way upstairs to fetch a shawl, as a cool breeze had begun to blow during dinner.

A few minutes later, I met with Prince Dante in the garden, and we walked around the courtyard for several minutes before sitting near the fountain to speak.

"Zelda, I have something I wish to ask you," he informed me, standing up.

I kept my eyes on him as he removed something from his pocket and knelt before me. My eyes widened, and I could feel my face becoming flushed upon realizing his intentions.

"Princess Zelda of Hyrule, it would do me great honor to take you as my wife. Your father has already granted me permission to request your hand in marriage. Will you accept my proposal?"

"I...umm..."

Link's POV

Dear Diary,

I love Zelda!

I have known it for some time, but it is only in speaking to Cort that I have convinced myself that I must tell her. Even if she does not feel the same for me, I will at least have the weight of hiding my feelings lifted off my shoulders.

And if she does feel the same...!

My thoughts trailed off as I again fantasized about being married to Zelda. I knew I was getting carried away, but, as concerned as I was over what I would find upon arriving in Eastern Hyrule, my thoughts of her seemed my only escape.

I put away my writing materials just in time, as Cort and Chriselda entered the room.

"Link, once this journey is over, I would much appreciate it if you would be in our wedding."

I raised my eyebrows as I looked at the beaming couple, staring at each other with so much love in their eyes. I longed so much at that moment to have Zelda in my arms.

Noticing they had stopped staring at each other to stare at me, awaiting an answer, I finally snapped out of my dreamlike state.

"I would be honored, Cort. Thank you. And congratulations to you and Chriselda."

I left the room to head to the galley, so that the happy couple could have some privacy. I dined on some bread and cheese and had a glass of wine before going on deck, enjoying the light breeze as I looked down at the lake.

The Sun had just barely dropped below the horizon, and the sky was colored several shades of blue, with small bursts of yellow and orange along the horizon, where the last rays of sunshine were impacting the mountains.

It was then and only then that I suddenly realized just how close we were to Eastern Hyrule. In fact, come dawn, we would most likely be disembarking on the shore, and making our way to Nabooru. Which meant that, this time the next day, I would be in town, preparing for the next leg of the journey.

With a sigh, I withdrew from the deck, going to the captain's quarters to receive confirmation that we would soon reach the shore. He did indeed confirm it, and I went to my cabin to pack, relieved that Cort and Chriselda had left to return to her cabin.

As I shoved some things into a burlap sack, my thoughts suddenly went to Zelda. I resolved to contact her later, to inform her that we were almost at Eastern Hyrule.

Finishing packing, I found myself stretched out on my bed, dozing. It wasn't until I had laid down that I discovered just how tired I was, although I had not had to keep watch the previous night.

I'll contact Zelda tomorrow morning, once we actually reach the shore, I resolved, allowing sleep to overtake me.

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