Zelda rubbed her eyes and turned over. She flung her arm back in an attempt to awake her partner. Her hand landed with a soft thud on the sheets behind her. She sat up and looked over her shoulder to find that Link was no longer lying beside her.

"He must've gone downstairs already…" She said with a yawn.

She stretched and crawled out of bed.

She walked outside into the calm cold air and looked down at the courtyard below. The air was still and there was no movement in the yard. She went into the kitchen and halted at the sound of voices coming from the main room.

"I take it your father doesn't know about this?" Thomas asked gruffly.

"No, he doesn't." Link replied softly.

Zelda moved closer to the doorway.

"Thomas," Ella said quietly.

"Grandfather, I know what I'm doing." He said. His voice shook slightly.

"What were you thinking, Link?! Bringing some-some filth to our-"

"Thomas!" Ella shrieked.

There was a scrapping sound.

Zelda backed against the wall in fear.

"Zelda is not filth! She is the lady that I have chosen to protect! I chose this path knowing the consequences of it all, Grandfather, I did this so that Zelda and Icould be happy together! So that we could grow together! Have a family!" Link yelled.

"You couldn't do that back there?! Link, listen to yourself!"

"No, Grandfather, we couldn't do anything back there!" He quieted down. Rage still lingered in his voice. "Zelda is-she's more than-you don't understand…"

"Come on out, Zelda." Ella called.

Zelda stepped in from the kitchen to find Link standing over his grandfather with clinched fists. She blushed at the awkwardness.

Link was red in the face and his hair was a mess.

Thomas cleared his throat and crossed his arms. "Then explain it to me, Link." He coughed. There was a mocking tone in his voice.

Ella pulled Zelda to side and sat with her on the sofa.

Link looked down at the floor looking defeated. He sat down in his chair and glared up at his grandfather.

"Well?" He coughed harder.

"Yesterday, Zelda was supposed to be crowned queen."

Thomas looked up surprised.

Ella looked at Zelda and covered her mouth in shock.

Link continued, "We ran away after finding out that she was due to marry a king from a neighboring kingdom. She's not allowed to marry anyone outside of royal lineage. So, in order to be together, we had to run."

"Clearly there were other options!" Thomas said standing up.

Link looked up at him. "Discourteous, old-"

"Link, Thomas, that is enough!" Ella said stomping the floor. "Have you forgotten that poor Zelda has to sit here and listen to this?! Have you forgotten that she is also a person?! She has feelings, too!" She turned to Zelda and grabbed her by the hand. "Zelda, I am so sorry for the words of my insensitive husband…" She shot a look back at Thomas.

Zelda shook her head sadly. "No, Ella, I'm sorry that I have intruded into your lovely home. But please, please don't make us go." She looked at Thomas. "Let me tell you my views…" She stood up and walked over to Link's side.

He quickly stood up and gave her his seat.

"Thomas…" She began cautiously.

"What could you possibly be trying to get away with?"

"Pardon?"

"What game are you trying to play here? Are you just trying to get out of your arranged marriage?"

Zelda was taken aback.

"Grandfather,"

"No, I love Link." Zelda said quietly. "I would never do such a thing."

Thomas snorted and eyed her with pale, scrutinizing eyes.

"I too hope to live and grow old with Link. I see you and Ella and all I can think is, 'Will Link and I be together like this once we reach this age?' And then I think of our children…" She smiled to herself.

Thomas watched her with curious interest. "I see." He coughed and walked over to the fireplace. "Link," He said, his voice soft and sweet. "I understand that the love you two share with one another is true. Yes, Link, I will marry the two of you." He turned to them with a smile and a gleam in his eye.

Link relaxed and ran to his grandfather. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Ella smiled as a tear ran down the left side of her face.

Zelda looked at them in shock.

Link looked back at her and smiled. He walked up to her.

She stood up.

He took her into his arms and smiled. "Zelda, will you marry me?"

She smiled and her eyes widened. "Really?! Oh, Link, yes! Yes, I will marry you!" She stood on her toes and gave him frantic butterfly kisses.

Thomas chuckled. "Are you sure you shouldn't check back at the castle? I can't shake the feeling that things aren't quite right there."

Link looked at him. "Do you think we should?"

"I do indeed."

He looked back down at Zelda. "Would you like to?"

Zelda thought of her father and Nayru.

"I think my father has a right to know." She said thoughtfully.

"But wouldn't you rather wed first?" Ella asked.

Zelda thought about that, too.

"But, I would like for you two to get used to one another first. It would be awhile until I think you are ready to wed."

"Let's wait." Link decided.

"Yes, let's wait until after we are married…"

Thomas coughed and chuckled.