Link gave Zelda's hand a small squeeze to reassure her. She looked at him but said nothing, and then the King wrapped his arm around the princess's shoulder and led her away.

"Found anything?" Sektus asked. Link shook his head.

"Keep them safe" he said to the two Sheikah and took off down the corridor.

He quickly made his way out to the court yard and bumped into Princess Ruto.

"Link! I've just been around the moat and the river... there's nothing there" she said.

"Thank you, princess. Have you talked to the others?" he asked.

"I saw Darunia not too long ago, he didn't see anything either" the zora said. "I just don't get it... who can it be? And for what purpose?"

Link hit his forhead with his palm. But of course! Why hadn't he thought about it before? Wasn't it a coincidence that this aura appeared just as Calatia had left the castle? It had to be that little shit!

"I think I know" Link said, and took off for the stables. The Zora Princess was left standing there in bewielderment.

As soon as he located Epona, he climbed on her and set out to look for that scrawny little lord. If he remembered correctly, Calatia's castle was in Lake Hylia's direction. He had never travelled outside of Hyrule, but it had been only a few hours since Calatia had left, surely he would find him on the road still? But just as Epona was gathering speed, the mysterious aura disappeared. Link stopped Epona and stood there for a moment, to see if he could sense or feel anything odd. Nothing. Finally, he turned Epona around and headed back to the castle. What the hell was going on?

Zelda peered outside her father's window. Just as suddenly as the aura had appeared, it had vanished. She shook her head. It made no sense.

"Your grace, it seems everything is back to normal" Rama said in his deep voice.

"So it seems" Zelda replied quietly. She was still worried. What if it came back? There was a knock on the door and then Impa entered.

"It has passed. Whatever it was is gone, your highness. However, I suggest that all royal guards and my people remain outside each guests's chamber as a precaution" the shiekah said. The king nodded.

"Let us go to my chambers then, Impa" Zelda said, hurrying out into the hallway. What she really wanted was to see Link.

"I will be the one to keep watch over you" Impa said as though she had read the princess's mind. Zelda looked at her with wide, innocent eyes."Don't look at me like that... I know you were thinking of Link" Impa added.

"Nonsense" Zelda said, but tried to keep a straight face. They walked in silence the rest of the way, and Zelda kept looking for Link. Impa made sure the princess's room was empty before bidding her good night. But Zelda didn't sleep. She paced the room, worrying about her hero of time. She heard voices outside her room and pressed her ear to the door. It was Impa and, bless the goddesses, Link.

"... without a trace. I don't know who or what it could have been" Impa was telling her hero.

"I don't know either. I'm gonna stay here and keep watch over Zelda too, though" Link said. She half expected Impa to refuse and send him away, but was surprised when the austere shiekah agreed. Still, knowing Link was ok, and with that creepy aura gone, she could try and get some rest. It had been a terribly long day. So many things had happened and she hadn't realized how wore out she really was. She should make sure her guests were alright. She should speak to them and reassure them but her bed was so warm and comfortable... before she knew it, she fell asleep.

The next morning at breakfast, the atmosphere was tense. The guests were worried and scared. They wanted answers. Answers Zelda didn't know herself. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. She could hear their murmurs, their worry.

"My Lords and Ladies," she began and the room quieted down, "last night there was a disturbance in our castle. I can assure you, however, that—" but she was interrupted.

"Are we safe?" a Lady asked. She sounded annoyed. Zelda scanned the room to see who it was but couldn't locate her.

"Yes. We would never let anything happen to our guests, in our castle" Zelda said calmly.

"Well I don't feel safe. I think the last two challenges should be held today" the lady said rudely. Finally Zelda did find her. She was a member of Lady Athina's court. Lady Athina looked mortified and was quietly scolding the rude woman. But the princess was not upset. In fact, she thought that was a wonderful idea. The sooner the challenges were over, the sooner everyone would leave. But with that thought, came another more serious one. Who would win? There were still four men left to compete. Could she really marry the winner, even if the winner was not Link? Her heart sank. She would have to. She was a princess. Stupidly, she had given her word. And she never went back on her word. Besides, how embarrasing it would be to have brought all these people together for nothing... no. She had to marry the winner. Even if the winner was not Link.

"Well, I agree with Madam Lorin. I don't see why we should wait for the next two challenges. I propose we ready ourselves for the challenges this very morning" Lord Leoni said, though unlike Madam Lorin, he wasn't rude. He sounded quite happy. There was general agreement between the guests. Zelda sighed.

"Very well. The challenges will take place this afternoon. It will be archery, followed by a duel between the winners" she said.

After that very tense breakfast, she had left instructions to her servants as to how the archery range should be set up. Thankfully, the Gerudo's Master of Horseback Archery had agreed to help. Zelda was making her way to the grand hall to entertain her guests as the archery range was being set up, when several things happened at once. She was engulfed in darkness and silence. Someone came up from behind her and held her arms in such a way that she couldn't struggle without hurting herself. She couldn't scream. Not because she was unable to, but because no noise came out when she tried.

"Ah... sweet, beautiful princess... it is almost time to claim my prize" the person said behind her. It was a deep, scratchy voice. It sent a tingle of fear down her spine. His face, though she could not see him, was next to hers... his breath fanning her cheek. He licked her ear and she cringed, trying to pull away.

"What? Do you not like that? But you do. I know it. I saw you and your lover boy that night. You were quite the whore. I don't know if I want to take a whore for a wife... but, ultimately, you are not the prize I seek. You are but... an extra benifit. If I rule Hyrule, I can rule the world. And I will have a nice whore to keep me company" he said, and his hand snaked up to squeeze her right breast. Tears leaked from Zelda's eyes. She felt dirty and humiliated. More so than she had felt with Calatia, when he had tried to force himself on her. No, this was more humiliating because she could not defend herself. Humiliating because she knew this man spoke the truth. That shadow she had seen that day... it hadn't been her imagination. This man had seen her and Link... she squeezed her eyes shut. How embarrasing. How cruel. What was more, the aura the day before... she would bet anything it had been him too. She fought to break free but almost dislocated her shoulder.

"My bride. We will meet again real soon" he said, and kissed her cheek. Then he was gone. The light and sound returned. It was as though nothing had happened. She coughed and gasped for air. The corridor was empty. The guests were in the grand hall, their laughter and chatter coming from the slightly opened doors... nobody had felt anything. Nobody had noticed. She was terrified, and in her fear, she made a mistake. She didn't tell anyone.

A/N: Hi guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, tell me your thoughts! I'll try to upload chapter 12 by Sunday :) see you soon!