Author's Note: Not too long of a break this time, though that's mainly because I was really excited for this chapter and I'm breaking up for study leave tomorrow so I won't really have any more time to spend on this. Either way I've been wanting to do this chapter from the start and it certainly isn't perfect, but I'm rather proud of it at the moment!

Guest Reviews: Guest: Thank you! I want them to kiss as much as you do, I promise, but I'm glad that you like the build :3

Guesty (chapter 3, 4, 5, 6): Oh thank you so so much! And I love writing Impa so much :3 And that's such a sweet name for your horse; Hateno really does feel like home! Writing Zelda and her father was actually rather difficult, so I'm glad that it paid off. And don't worry; all of us love it when our characters have breakdowns; we like to see that emotion, or we're just all weird aha. And that's okay about being rushed; don't worry! Thank you so much for the lovely reviews!

Kathryn: Thank you! And as soon as I read your review I realised what you meant; thank you, though, as I've gone back and changed that. Phew, thank you for telling me! :)

Guest: Thank you!

Guest: Oh wow thank you ever so much! I really have tried with Link and Zelda because, as you say, stories can seem to make them ooc (which is all open to interpretation, but I'd like them to have a little fun as well as struggle, y'know?), so to hear that has made me day! And I certainly will! Have you got any memories in particular that you'd like me to look at?

Guest: Thank you very much! It really did, so I love writing about it! :3 And at the moment I just want it to be an adventure/romance with no main storyline/villain (other than the Yiga, maybe, but I'm not quite sure), so at the moment I'm completely open to how this story will go! Oh thank you!

Beyond

Seven: Throne of Nothing

~O~

They had put off this journey for far too long.

Almost a year had passed since the fall of Calamity Ganon, and yet both the Hero and the Princess had been ignoring the decayed ruins of Hyrule Castle and Castle Town ever since they had left the area on the day of the Calamity's defeat. They had built up a reputation with the locals too, always helping without giving up their true identities. This made for a convenient excuse for the both of them to constantly avoid the main problem in Hyrule; the future of Castle Town and the Castle itself.

And yet, after another brief visit to Kakariko Village, the Sheikah Elder had finally given them one last push. "It matters not when you decide to take up residence within the Castle again, if at all," she had clarified, "However it must be done. Hyrule cannot completely move on until the fate of Castle Town and the Castle is at least assessed."

For Zelda, she knew deep down that she wasn't ready to return to the place that she had been imprisoned in for the past 100 years and was steadfast in refusing Impa's offer of returning. For Link, he was both protective of his charge and also refused to return to a place filled with so many memories whilst he was still in a fragile state. Though after much discussion and Impa's own stubbornness, Link and Zelda had no choice but to relent.

The time to face their past had arrived.

They left not long after the sun rose, beginning the nine hour trek from Kakariko Village towards Hyrule Castle Town. Despite the mid morning rain, they made their way through the Duelling Peaks, through the ruins of Gatepost Town, and finally past the ruins of Hyrule Garrison, turning away from the main path until they reached the Sacred Ground Ruins around mid afternoon.

The rain and fog had long since cleared, revealing the true beauty of the ruins. Whilst many of the pillars surrounding the small area had been gravely damaged over the past 100 years, the Triforce insignia carved into the stone had only been partially damaged. Water still gushed around the main platform, beads of water that washed over the moss and overgrowth sparkling in the sunlight.

With a perfect view of what was waiting before them, the two allowed their horses to rest nearby after their long journey. Taking a seat on the edge of the platform, the Princess removed her shoes and allowed her feet to dip into the cool water—quickly permitting her Knight to take a seat beside her once she realised that he hadn't moved.

"I recall when we rehearsed the ceremony to appoint you as the Hylian Champion," Zelda mused as they ate, "The others were there too, garbed in blue with their prized weapons. You all knelt before me right here with more dedication than I had imagined. We had all met before that moment, of course, but all of you omitting Urbosa still felt like strangers to me. I wasn't sure if this union would work…" She sighed ruefully, "I am glad that it did."

Returning to the Sacred Grounds Ruins was a bizarre experience for the both of them. Whilst it brought back sensations of lost hope and old friendship, Link only had two distinct memories of the place—the first in an Era long forgotten when he was first formally appointed as the Princess's Knight, and the other less than a year ago during his survey of Hyrule Castle Town when the memory was returned to him.

"Gee, this is uplifting..."

The Hero couldn't help but smile at the memory as he rose to his feet and began weaving between the broken pillars, the memory suddenly at the forefront of his mind. The tension between him and his charge was palpable, even to the other Champions, simply the barrier created by class and duty wedging a spiked wall between them. And with Zelda's insecurities and "failings" constantly laid bare, no comfort was allowed between the two—only making the barriers harder to break.

He slowed into a halt a few paces behind Zelda, regarding the silhouette of Hyrule Castle looming in the distance. Like the two of them, the Castle still stood tall despite its wear and tear; still radiating a small amount of hope that kept the people going. It was a rather uplifting sight to see, yet the memories that also lay in wait did very little to keep their spirits up.

Not only did they finally have to face their fears and return to the place that caused them so much pain, but they also had to begin some sort of reconstruction on Castle Town—and that couldn't commence until they had seen the damage.

Zelda had seen the damage for the past 100 years, however she knew deep down that she could not run from her ghosts forever.

"Let us be off," the Princess said without warning, "We cannot stay here forever, not with the afternoon fading."

"Are you positive that you are ready, Zelda?" Link questioned after a pause.

She laughed nervously and glanced over her shoulder as she stood, "Are you?" She smiled when he hesitated, almost startled by the question; it wasn't him that needed to be prepared for the path ahead. "I am not positive that I am ready, however if we fail to do this now, I fear that we shall never come here for a long time."

He simply nodded, unsure of what to say, and the two allowed their horses to stay behind and graze.

The walls around Hyrule Castle Town had barely survived the onslaught 100 years ago, decayed Guardians—now no longer under Calamity Ganon's influence—slumped over the rubble. Somehow a few tapestries outside the gates still swung limply in the breeze, surviving just like the rest of Hyrule had. The only sound one could hear was that of the horses' hooves and the breeze and the Princess and her appointed Knight approached, still on edge despite the lack of evil tarring the land.

With deep breaths and exchanging resolved glances, Link and Zelda passed through the open gates, stepping over the threshold between them and Hyrule Castle for the first time since the day of Calamity Ganon's defeat.

The sun cast long shadows through the entrance to the town, highlighting the intricate designs sculpted into the stone. Ganon's Malice had completely faded from the ruins, revealing the damage left to each area. The top street was devoid of any buildings, instantly sending ice into the Princess's gut. It used to be filled with life, passersby strolling down the roads with baskets of food and items.

For a fraction of a moment, Zelda was sure that she heard the voices of the dead going about their once daily business.

She snapped back when she felt Link's hand on her arm, smiling up at him. Steeling her courage, the Princess made her way on ahead first, crossing over wooden boards before the steps onto the next level of the town. Her eyes found the posts holding more tapestries above her, her stomach twisting at how bent and near broken they were.

The chaos continued as the clouds began to merge together, darkening the skies drastically. One of the major watchtowers only had its foundations remaining—much like many of the other buildings surrounding them. More ethereal voices as well as distant sounds of bands reached both of their ears this time, growing louder as the two picked up their pace towards the Central Square; a place that once held the most activity was now as silent as the rest of the ruins around them.

Hyrule Castle Town had become a graveyard; a ghost town.

Zelda tested the weight of the fountain lip before taking a seat, her boot catching on a rusty broadsword and shield; it must have been discarded 100 years ago during the attack. She averted her eyes, feeling a little sick at the sight. On the plaque beside her, words beneath the cracked Hylian Crest read, 'On this day the King of Hyrule opened this structure to the public.'

She turned her attention to the three bird figures atop the fountain, "Do you remember meeting me a few nights before we set out for Sanidin Park?" Link took a few moments before sitting on the other side of the plaque, shaking his head lightly. "It wasn't long after we had returned from the Spring of Courage and my father scolded me…"

"You are the heir to a throne of nothing, nothing but failure."

His words bit hard even after 100 years.

The Princess shook her head free of the thoughts, "I had locked myself away in my chambers for prayer; even you weren't allowed inside. I must have been in there for at least three days…" He watched her with concern, making her chuckle lightly, "You wore that expression back then as well."

He smiled but said nothing; slightly conscious of his expression.

"I asked Purah, who was fulfilling research with Robbie at the time, to slip you a note in passing; a note inviting you to meet me here that night. I wasn't sure if you would actually come," she added breathlessly.

"Why not?"

Clasping her hands in her lap, she said, "Even after everything, I thought that you would be mad for the way I reacted to my scolding." A smile graced her lips, "Yet you came. I asked you to lead me onto the outer walls of the town, and it was there that I asked you something rather selfish." Zelda swallowed thickly, "We were making preparations to visit the Spring of Wisdom, yet I wished to visit Sanidin Park before we left. My mother loved it, you see; I hoped to go there before everything changed…"

He paused, then, "And we did. I remember going with you."

"I was rather surprised that you accepted with such sincerity without knowing my reasoning."

He smiled hesitantly, "I wouldn't have refused a charge… or a companion."

The two talked about the memory for a few moments before the woman sighed heavily, "I suppose we should move on…"

"Are you sure?"

She laughed, "As I said before, I am not sure of the decision, but it must happen." Nodding, Link and Zelda rose from the fountain and forced themselves onward. The sun was dipping beneath the horizon now, casting a wide array of oranges across the sky between the dark clouds. As the light streamed in between the spires of Hyrule Castle, so too did the anxiety between the Hero and Princess.

The gates leading into the Castle were still tightly shut, for last time Link slipped into the Castle via the underground tunnels near the Lockup. Zelda took a step forward and forced the gates open with her magic, finally having some semblance of control over the place she was trapped within for so long. Dust flew up as the gates groaned open to reveal the silent, damaged path before them. Link's heart began to pound against his chest at the sight of so many Guardian shells littering the path—his age-old instincts still telling him to stay extra vigilant.

To say that he wasn't looking forward to their trek through the ruins either was to say the least.

The hardest part began now.

Their boots clicked against the dusty stone as Link and Zelda made their way up the winding path; decayed Guardians lining the pathway. Trees once full of life now barely clung to the ground, somehow living on through it all. Passing beneath the heavily damaged Observation Balcony, memories of watching carriages bearing ambassadors from other countries glide up the paved road hit her hard. Those were back in the days when both of her parents were still alive, long before Calamity Ganon usurped the land and subjugated it for 100 years.

For a moment, Link caught his charge smiling.

Instead of heading straight to the Sanctum via the main path, however, but decided to explore the interior to examine more of the damage. Slipping into a doorway to their right, the Princess and her Knight helped each other through two sets of wooden barricades with Cryonis before climbing a long set of steps and steering off to the right.

The corridor was draped in shadow, the dying sunlight barely slipping in through the windows. High arched ceilings were cracked though still standing tall, plush carpets over the stone now matted and crushed down with age. Zelda's breath stilled as she finally stood in her Castle in person; heat forming behind her eyes at the disarray her home was left in.

Now that the Malice spread across the Castle had been eradicated, they were able to take a shortcut through the Castle through the entryway to the Observation Room. Zelda smiled as they passed, reminded of the meeting with her father and the rest of the Champions. "I could not be prouder as your father and as the last King of Hyrule." The Princess's hand subconsciously brushed over the velvet sofas pushed up against the walls, not noticing Link as he scanned the room himself, slowing into a stop before a clawed painting hanging above a statue of a previous Knight.

One day, long after he was gone, there would be a stoic statue to commemorate him. When he was younger, he probably looked up at them in awe and fascination, yet now he only stared into the voids of a previous Knight with a knot in his throat.

Did he look like that too 100 years ago? Even now?

A faint echo of marching buzzed in his ears, the ghosts of previous Knights setting him on edge.

"Are you alright?" a voice came from behind.

"Please don't do this for me," he said without turning to her, "If it is necessary, then hide it away from their eyes. I don't want to be presented like this…"

A petite hand rested lightly on his shoulder, "I won't, Link. You have my word."

The Hylian Princess guide her Knight out of the chamber, entering a thin corridor where a tunnel off to the right had collapsed years ago. She took the lead as she lit the torches along the way, inspecting the broken pillars lining each of the walls. Them and other pictures between the stone arches had managed to survive, but barely. Hylian Crests which used to hang from the pillars now lay crumpled on the ground, something with both Link and Zelda found darkly representative of the onslaught.

Once they reached the top of the cracked staircase, a strange sense of longing and familiarity panged through Zelda's heart at the doorway off to the side. Turning to her Knight, she asked, "May we…?"

"Of course."

Without hesitation, she stepped into the Dining Hall, instantly taken aback by the memories which returned to her—a feeling which didn't occur within her companion.

It was just as cavernous as before, although had been a home for Calamity Ganon's guards over the years. Bookshelves and red velvet sofas still lined the walls, however those were the only pieces of furniture left in tact. The large mahogany table that she spent years sitting at with her parents and foreign dignitaries was now cleanly sliced in two, half eaten, mostly rotting food left by the creatures.

She couldn't help but sneer, "Monsters…" under her breath.

Red paint covering the high-arched ceilings was now cracked and damaged, dark chandeliers barely hanging from their chains. The Princess followed the edge of the room, her fingers brushing over ripped tapestries and cracked bricks as she went. Link stayed behind, simply studying her from the doorway.

If he ignored his previous experiences of sneaking through Hyrule Castle in this Era, he could almost hear nobles giggling and chinking their drinks together for a toast. Closing his eyes, he could almost hear servants bustling about outside whilst the fireplace roared inside. No matter how many laughs or arguments occurred at the large table, all of it had been destroyed in the space of a few hours—nothing more, nothing less.

His eyes snapped open when he overheard his charge humming a sweet tune to herself.

"Wait," Link breathed suddenly, catching Zelda's attention, "I… I know that song…"

Her eyes lit up, "What do you remember?"

The Knight rested against the wall as his eyes lost focus, "It was night, I think. I can…" He closed his eyes as Zelda approached him; a smile tugging at his lips. "I can hear the voices of the other Champions and that song. You were smiling too…"

"I know the night you are recalling," she breathed, glad to finally see him remembering something positive after the recollection of his parents' deaths. Opening his eyes, the Hero met her gaze evenly. "It was the night before we set out for Sanidin Park and the Spring of Wisdom. My father had left me to host a dinner for the other Champions to show our solidarity before Calamity Ganon's inevitable return."

Link nodded slightly, sights and sounds passing through the back of his mind, "I remember eating with you?"

"Yes," she replied, trying to hold back her excitement, "As you were a Champion too, my father allowed you to dine with us unless something came to pass. It was a rather tense and formal affair—I don't believe you talked at all, nor did the rest of us in all honesty—however Urbosa offered us all Gerudo wine; it is far more potent than any other drink in Hyrule."

He smirked, "I can see where this is heading…"

The Princess's smile grew, "I suppose it was rather logical." She paused in reminiscence, "You had a drink out of politeness, yet you refused any more as a "just in case" measure. I had less in case my father found me after a few too many, though the others were rather… merry." They both chuckled at the sight; they could see Urbosa and Daruk being merry, but not quite Revali. "There was a small band in there, so we asked if they could play something more jovial, and so…"

Without warning, Zelda jumped onto her feet and took the Knight's hands into her own. He raised a brow in confusion, "Zelda?"

"It took everyone to convince you, however we all got you to join us." Tugging him into the middle of the room, she placed one hand on his side and held the other; instructing him to do the same. The Hylian Princess smiled softly at the sparkle of surprise and remembrance in his eyes, "I think it took us both a while to stop being on edge, however once that threshold was crossed, we simply kept going…"

The two began to make their way around the room, keeping light on their toes as Zelda attempted to replicate that night. It wasn't long before they slowed before the empty fireplace as Link began to remember more and more of that night, losing his focus on the present as the past swept up to claim him. And yet, contrary to many of the memories that he had remembered over the past year, this one left him with a breathless smile on his face the entire bout of recollection.

"It was the happiest I had been amongst you all," he breathed.

"It was a wonderful evening…"

He shook his head, "Not because of that." The Hero met her eyes, "Because you were happy too. Despite everything that had gone wrong, you were still happy."

She embraced him tightly, "In that moment, everything was perfect. Of course that moment quickly ended, but that night… I would not have exchanged it for anything else."

Without breaking apart, he asked, "What happened after?"

"We returned to my chambers…" She broke out into a giggling fit at how quickly his eyes widened and his cheeks flushed. "I jest, Link. Nothing happened," she added breathlessly, "We simply returned to my room and talked—about our younger days, aspirations for after the Great Calamity was defeated."

Calming down, he wondered, "And what were our aspirations?"

"Well I would later inherit the throne and govern Hyrule, and you told me that you would stay at my side no matter what happened," she clarified, "Has that stayed the same for you?" His smile spoke volumes. Before he could ask her if her intentions of ruling Hyrule had stayed the same, the Princess had risen to her feet and added, "Let us move on, shall we?"

Exiting the Dining Hall, Link and Zelda followed the cobbled path over a tiny bridge and back up onto the main path leading to the Sanctum. And yet, instead of making their way towards that fated place, the two had decided long before that there was another place that warranted a visit before they left—and with the Malice no longer clinging to the ground or high walls, Link and Zelda were free to make their way there.

Passing over a small bridge, the two clambered up the steps beside the first Gatehouse; following the staircase up to a small yard. While the latter had few of his memories, Zelda was barraged with happier memories where the skies were constantly blue, the servants were given longer breaks in the summer to enjoy the sun, and times when she got to know her Knight more and more; the sight of her tower ahead bringing warmth to her heart.

However, every time she blinked her eyes the barren courtyard returned; the small bandstand had been completely demolished in Calamity Ganon's attack on the Castle along with the once lush green grass now nothing but mud and decaying Guardians.

She had to stop in order to give herself a moment.

The Princess took the lead once she had recovered, speeding up and ignoring the Guardian shells as she raced towards the familiar staircase on the opposite side of the courtyard. Link began to run after her, part of his age-old instincts of protection catching up to him as his eyes flickered between each of the empty Guardian Turrets which whirred with life only months ago; the other part of his instincts forcing him to move out of concern for his companion.

Link kept a few paces behind as the Princess turned one last corner at the top of the flight of stairs, slowing as her bedchambers opened out before her eyes. The normal entrance had been blown apart; only leaving a part of the stone door frame left; a sentiment of the entire room—destroyed, yet somehow still standing. The Knight kept himself towards the entrance as his charge slowly crossed through the room, her hand delicately touching the century-old furniture.

He could see her eyes clouding over with remembrance, though she seemed to come back to reality for enough blips of time to not lose herself.

Recalling what room was above her bedchambers, Link allowed Zelda to have her time by making his way over to the ruined staircase and beginning to try and make a way up to the Princess's study.

Meanwhile Zelda hadn't noticed his movement, for she was lost in her memories too much to care. She spent a long time at her desk tucked away in the corner, notes still connected by age-old string; ideas and concepts about the ancient machines that later ravaged her Kingdom strung up on the wall. Her eyes did find her diary, however instead of reading it she tucked it away into her bag for later—the Zelda who had wrote that had no idea what was coming, and the Princess wasn't sure if she could read her previous naivety in black and white just yet.

Casting her eyes over to the large bookcase lining the wall—one which actually stored very few tomes in it now—she forced herself away from her desk. The original main entrance had been blocked by rubble, confining her into a small area like the time she had spent fighting Calamity Ganon; yet this place bore more emotional pain than ever before.

Her plush seat and footrest beside the fireplace were still somewhat intact as well as her vanity and armoire in one corner of the room as well as her changing screen in the other. The same, however, couldn't be said for her bed. Either during the battle 100 years ago or after, all four posters of her bed had collapsed, causing the wooden canopy to go with it. Memories of her mother and father tucking her in at night when she was younger came flooding back, the phantom sensation of her hair being pulled back pricking hot tears at the edges of her eyes.

So many nights in those last months before Ganon's return, she would stare up towards the roof of her bed; wondering what the next day would bring. She had no time to be in the present—her mind was constantly in the future.

And now she would never sleep in that bed again.

She knew that the pain of this journey would be horrid, but never this much…

So when a voice caught her attention, Zelda thanked the Goddesses. "Zelda?" She turned towards his voice. "I, um, cleared a pathway to your study…"

She forced a smile and crossed the room to meet him. "Thank you, Link."

He didn't ask if she was alright; he knew that she wasn't and didn't want the embarrassment of being questioned.

The two made their way up their way up the broken spiralling staircase—it wasn't much but it worked for what they wanted—and once Link was able to climb up onto the top level, he helped his charge up into the top portion of the tower, sunlight streaming through the caved in wall. Climbing a few steps, the Princess and her appointed Knight crossed the bridge into the largest, yet still partially damaged, tower in the grounds—Zelda's study.

It was quiet and quaint, her desk and walls were covered in various pieces of parchment which had faded over time—designs of each type of Guardian still somewhat visible on the page. The shutters had flown open, letting in the cool air to jostle the papers; giving the two air to breathe in this confined space.

And just off to the right, a wild Silent Princess was flourishing.

Zelda tested the wooden chair before planting herself on it, her eyes falling onto the journal before her.

"I spent so many hours in here," she murmured as Link rested against the leaned wall—knocking aside some rubble. "Ever since I was a child, I was fascinated by the ancient technology of this land… my father once encouraged me to research the topic. It was only when the prophecy began to come into fruition that the sight of my research angered him. I cannot blame him, however back then I was ready to yell at him."

"I almost spoke my mind myself," the Hero muttered off to the side, though was loud enough for his charge to catch it.

"What do you mean?"

He hesitated for a moment before casting his gaze to the entryway of her study, "We had just returned from the Spring of Courage when your father scolded you for your lack of efforts." She hummed at the memory. "Of course it wasn't my place to say anything, but I was desperate to tell him how hard you were working and protect you from his harsh words. I have always seen his perspective, though in that moment I was desperate to speak my mind more than anything."

"They see you as a failed Princess," King Rhoam's voice invaded her thoughts. "Irresponsible and incapable of fulfilling her destiny."

She smiled sadly, "I understood as well. He was desperate to protect our people, and for that I give him no blame. His actions weren't always right, but his intentions were."

"You're wiser than you give yourself credit for."

"And you are far too kind."

The two spent hours in the study space, looking over old research notes and—after Purah pushing them to conduct more research on Calamity Ganon on the Guardians—stowed any which were helpful away into their packs. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as they left, making their way back down the partially ruined staircase and returning to the main path, finally following it all the way to the summit of the Castle grounds.

The way into the Sanctum was still open as the Princess arrived with her Hero, a Hylian Crest shattered against the floor, the both of them momentarily lost in their memories; ones of a fight finally won, others of a lifetime lost in the confinements of that very place.

Without hesitation, they stepped inside together.

The Sanctum was as hauntingly beautiful as it was before Calamity Ganon destroyed it.

The gaping hole in the floor from Calamity Ganon's attack was still present, the Triforce insignia that once decorated the ground now a pile of rubble in the abyss beneath the Sanctum. Despite this, the rest of the Sanctum was only mildly damaged—something which surprised them both. The crimson carpets were frayed at the edges and stuffed with dust, chunks of stone missing from pillars and staircases, however tapestries still swung in the light breeze and Triforces were carved into the high walls; royal halberds crossed above them.

It was still standing.

Open arches outlined the edge of the chamber, somehow all of them and each of the four exits were still intact, holding up the entire Sanctum with ease. Bright orange light streamed in from the high arched windows on either side of the chamber, enveloping the Sanctum in an ethereal glow. Curved stairways were mirrored and crumbling at the edges, though what seemed to catch their eyes the most was the Hylian Crest and Triforce insignia which stood tall above them.

"After all of this time," Zelda whispered. "It still stands…"

"Just like you," Link said unconsciously.

The Princess gingerly stepped forward, viridian eyes fixed on the sun illuminated Triforce statue, memories of a time never forgotten hitting her with less force this time. This place held few bad memories, for it was just a room for attending large gatherings between neighbouring Kingdoms and holding audiences with her subjects when her father was too busy with his own work.

Whilst she made her way towards the carpeted stairs off to the left, Link seemed to remember the extravagant parties that the royals would host here. He and many others—some names were on the tip of his tongue, but he just couldn't remember them—stood watch around the parameters of the Sanctum. Haughty giggles and the clinking of glasses rung in his mind, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment as the image of the invited guests spilling out onto the cobbles outside determined to be remembered.

He somehow also could bring to mind how some of the more intoxicated women would try to sweet talk the other guards away from their posts, though they were refused almost every time; though Link had never accepted, for his eyes were always on the miserable Princess, constantly wishing that she would have a more enjoyable life.

That wish took more than 100 years to come into fruition.

The Hero quickly followed his Princess, eyes wary of the Guardians that were lodged in the ceiling as he went. His heart began to pound rapidly as the wave of sensations that he hadn't felt in this Era coursed through his veins. At first he was unsure at why these feelings were hitting him now when he had already come to the Sanctum before in this Era. Then he realised that he was so focused on defeating Calamity Ganon and saving Zelda as well as being fuelled by adrenaline and the power of the blade in his hand that he wasn't able to focus on where he actually was.

Nonetheless he trailed his charge as she wandered toward the back of the chambers, her eyes still locked on the statue of the Hylian Crest as she slowed down a few feet from it. It was long before her eyes found the singular throne beneath it, the golden trimmed seat overlooking the Sanctum with the same authority as it did 100 years ago—although the lack of presence from her father deepened the void in her heart.

Without hesitation, she carefully placed herself atop the throne, fingers curling around the armrests.

The weight of the world rested heavily on her shoulders for a fragment of time, yet after that she finally felt the control that she had been craving for over the past century. The Princess expected it to grow heavier, but the fact that she was finally in control of her Kingdom again—even if her subjects didn't properly know that yet—meant that another major part of her destiny had been completed.

Her Diamond Circlet gleamed in the sunlight.

Link knelt down on one knee before her, making her laugh nervously. "Oh Link, please…"

He chuckled and effectively cut her off. "Welcome back, Your Grace."

"You know I despise such a title."

"Ah," he said without raising his head. "I have few memories of you telling me that." She laughed lightly, glad to hear him humouring her about his lack of memories. After a pause he added with a smile in his voice, "May I request an audience with our ruler?"

A smile tugged at her lips as she answered, "You may. What is your name?"

"Link—"

In that moment, he realised that he had no idea what his surname was.

"I…" She cleared her throat. "You are the Champion; formalities are overrated. Now what is your dilemma, young man?"

He took longer than expected to respond, and when he did the Princess wasn't expecting for him to say, "Have you ever been to the top of Hyrule Castle?" The Knight raised his head long enough to note his charge shaking her head slightly. "May we take this discussion up there?"

"O-Of course," she stammered, "Lead the way."

Link guided Zelda up into the highest part of the Sanctum where Calamity Ganon had taken root for 100 years, ignoring the effigies to Knights of the past as they stepped out into the open air, immediately illuminated by the setting sun. Link had come this way during his field survey of the Castle, desperate to obtain high ground in order to assess the situation one final time before facing Calamity Ganon once and for all. Leading his Princess up various tower surrounding the Sanctum, making sure to go first in order to check the strength of the ladder rungs before his Princess came with him.

It took longer than expected with parts of the ladders broken, however by the time Link had reached the top, he cast his gaze down to his charge with a small smile. "I need you to close your eyes for me."

Her eyes flickered down the ladder, then back up to him, "A-Are you sure?"

Holding his hand down to her, he said, "I won't let you fall, Zelda. You have my word." She smiled hesitantly and stepped up a few more rungs before allowing her eyes to fall shut; jumping when a hand helped her up the rest of the way. Her breath stilled as another hand supported her back, leading her towards the edge. The wind picked up slightly, yet she refused to open her eyes just yet—she didn't want to ruin it for either of them.

And when a whisper came in her ear for her to open her eyes, Zelda was greeted with one of the most stunning sights she had ever laid on.

They stood in the highest tower of Hyrule Castle, the cast iron bell she had heard ever since she was a child hanging high above them. Some of the tall arched windows and all of the glass had been destroyed in the attack, parts of the walls blown through too, although this only allowed the sunlight to wash into the tower—its colour reflected across the horizon, contrasting with the violet clouds which drifted by.

From this vantage point, all of Hyrule was open and basking in the fading light.

Placing her hands on the railing, Zelda breathed, "It's beautiful…" Turning to her Knight, she added with a smile, "Thank you, Link." For a moment he said nothing, lost in memories of the sun highlighting her form; as they made their way to Goron City, in Sanidin Park, at the base of Mount Lanayru, and now. His lips parted in awe, and for a moment he lost himself.

When Zelda raised a brow, he returned; he had almost forgotten about his "dilemma."

Taking a hesitant step forward, the Hero steeled himself for what was about to come. "My dilemma concerns the Princess of Hyrule," he began slowly, resting his hand over hers hesitantly. "Many moons ago, you agreed to wait for me until I was ready—until I was stronger. And until now, I have been able to do that. However…" Link added after a moment, turning his gaze to the world he saved, "I don't want to keep the Princess of Hyrule waiting."

"I will always wait for you. You know that," she soothed, squeezing his hand tightly.

The Knight forced a smile, "I know that… however I recently came to a rather selfish realisation: I don't know what will become of me in the future." The Princess remained silent; perplexed. "We were both held in stasis for the past 100 years, but only I defied the laws of nature. You and Purah will live your lives, but we can't say the same for me. And it may seem rather selfish to say, though I've realised that I don't want to wait until I'm stronger or until Hyrule is stronger." He met her eyes evenly, raw emotion filling his irises for one of the first times since Zelda had met him. "You don't need to wait for me anymore… if you'll still have me."

A moment of silence passed between them, their breath hot on one another's skin.

Then the Princess murmured, "I will always have you, Link. I don't want to lose you again…"

After a brief second of natural doubt, their lips brushed.

It was slow at first, both the Hero and Princess desperate to act with chaste. Despite the lack or prying eyes or stares of judgement on them, the two were both still hesitant to create the foundations of commitment to one another despite their clear affection for each other.

Gingerly leaning back, the Princess and her appointed Knight smiled bashfully as the Goddesses cleared away the clouds, bathing their land and their Chosen in a brilliant golden light; as if given them a physical sense of approval. Ever since that fated day in Blatchery Plain—the Princess's own birthday—a bond had formed which was not broken despite the emotional turmoil and physical distance placed between the two of them for so long.

In that moment, everything was perfect.

And that moment didn't have to end.

Staying within inches of one another, Zelda wondered with a grin, "Has your dilemma been rectified, Hero?"

"I believe it has," he replied, planting his lips onto the crown of her head. Placing a finger under her chin, Link added, "Do you want to go before it gets—?"

She silenced him with another kiss, her answer palpable.

Hours later, the two had shifted onto the ground, resting against the wall as Zelda sat in her Knight's lap, the latter running his fingers through her hair. "I am still unsure of how I will end up ruling this Kingdom," the Princess mused, glancing up to Link, "Although I am content knowing that you will be beside me."

This may be her throne of nothing, however that meant that she could make it what she desired.

"I would never consider leaving you, Zelda. Not now, not ever. We'll always have each other, no matter what happens."

"No matter what," she murmured, shifting close to him, "I like that… I think that represents us rather well, don't you think? No matter what happens, the fates will always guide us back to each other."

He hugged her tighter; enough was said.

Birds sung in the far distance, mates intertwining with each other as they returned to their nests for the evening, slipping away into the faraway forests. Silent Princesses, which had quickly began to flourish over the past few months since the defeat of Calamity Ganon, swayed in the breeze—alabaster petals pigmented with blue scattering across the plains of Hyrule.

Hyrule's future, as well as that of Link and Zelda, finally shone with hope; as long as they had one another, Hyrule would thrive.


Author's Note: Well that one took a long time for me to get right, but I'm finally happy with it. I think those last few lines could be a little better, but for now I really want to see what you guys think of it. I honestly must have spent more than an hour just getting screenshots of Hyrule Castle and Castle Town (killing all the Guardians was terrifying though!) so I hope that it all paid off! Let me know what you think! :3

*The rehearsal that Zelda mentions is one of the shots in Rhoam's story on the Great Plateau when he talks about the legend

**The line, "They see you as a failed Princess. Irresponsible and incapable of fulfilling her destiny," is a line from the French version of the Father and Daughter memory/my translation of it. I just had to put in because of how hard-hitting it was when I heard that.

~RandomButLoved~