"Enter," Zelda said, as someone tapped on her suite door. The door opened, gliding silently on its hinges to reveal Impa and Link.

"Here he is," Impa said, standing aside and allowing him to step through. Link bowed as Impa crossed the room and disappeared into Zelda's bedroom.

"Link," Zelda smiled, laying down her quill and rising. "Thank you for coming."

Link nodded and stood by the door, his back straight. His eyes flickered from one side of the room to the other, taking it in. A second passed, and he looked back to her.

"How can I help, your Highness?" he said.

Zelda took a moment to compose herself. His expression gave no indication of what he was thinking. Was he angry with her? Upset that her father had decreed what he had following his disobedience? She could not tell. She rose, carefully laying down her quill on the blotting pad. "I would like you to tell me what you have found out about the stranger."

"Thoria," Link said. His mouth twisted oddly. "She is… different."

"Different? How so?"

"She… well." Link shifted his weight. "She seems to have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. All day, she's been asking me questions about Hyrule, our history, our culture. She read five books in seven hours in the library, and then talked non-stop about them."

"So, she is inquisitive," Zelda said. "Do you think she is searching for weaknesses?"

Link shook his head. "I don't think so," he said. "She seemed genuinely curious. She said she didn't know how she got here, or how to get home, or how long she'd be here, so she wanted to learn about Hyrule. I guess she wants to fit in."

Zelda touched her chin with two fingers. He didn't seem upset. He seemed like he always was. Stoic, measured… Handsome.

"Did she tell you anything of where she came from?"

"Nothing I could really make use of. Odd phrases and fragments. She did not expand when I pressed her."

"Do you think she could learn enough about our culture to fit in?"

Link paused.

"In time," he said, carefully. "Thoria has some interesting views."

"Such as?" Zelda pressed.

Link gave a tight smile.

"Over dinner, many of your courtiers were staring at her. She stared back, quite unashamed, and then told me she has no respect for the pompous rich."

Zelda raised her eyebrows. "I do not appreciate that kind of attitude."

"But she then showed respect to a serving girl," Link continued. "She explained that the girl had probably had a hard enough life as it was, and was good enough to serve others, so she had Thoria's respect."

Zelda shook her head. "That makes absolutely no sense. The nobility of Hyrule strive to care for those less fortunate in the country, it is through their generosity and taxes that we have been able to rebuild what has been destroyed, to feed them when food is short, to-"

She stopped. Link was looking around the rooms again, taking in the pristine white carpet, the marble pillars holding up the high ceiling, the gold filigree decorating the borders of the walls.

"That is different," she said, hardening her tone. "I did not build this castle, and certain things are expected of royalty."

Link blinked, eyes widening.

"I'm not sure what I said to offend you, but I apologise," he said, bowing. Zelda cursed herself.

"No, it is not you," she said.

Link smiled. "That's a relief. I'd hate to think I've upset you."

Zelda returned his smile with a demure upturn of her lips. She ran a hand over her hair. "I do not think you could ever upset me, Link. However, I do not like a stranger, to whom we have shown the utmost hospitality, challenge and spit on those who have made it possible."

"I don't think that's what she was doing," Link said. "Perhaps I didn't explain it very well."

Zelda waved her hand. "Never mind. Did you learn anything else of her?"

Link shrugged. "She remembers nothing of herself, but oddly, remembers things about the land she is from. More with each passing moment, it seems."

"That is odd," Zelda agreed. "Do you think she is hiding something?"

"Possibly," Link agreed. "She claims it's some kind of… uh… amneeshuh. Memory loss. I'll find out."

Zelda smiled. "I know you will."

"If she is hiding something," Link continued. "It's probably because she's scared. She affects confidence, and seems happy to talk to anyone… but she is a stranger in a strange land. She's alone. I would be afraid too."

"You are not afraid of anything," Zelda said.

Link's face went curiously blank. Then, he bowed.

"Your Highness, that is all I've found out. Do you require me for anything else?"

Half-a-hundred possibilities ran through Zelda's mind. She could ask him to stay, and share a cup of tea with her. Or share a cup of wine. Or her bed. She swallowed.

"The prophecy," she said. "I believe I have completed it."

Link's expression didn't change, but he gave her his full attention. Zelda stepped to her desk and drew out the parchment from beneath the Historia. Without prompting, Link approached, standing closer to her than Zelda would ever allow of anyone else, except for Impa. She cleared her throat and ducked her head to the parchment, allowing her hair to hide the colour of her cheeks.

"Dark times may befall Hyrule when a dark stranger comes," she read. "They will have power beyond reckoning, and the wisest minds will fall prey to dangers of their own making. The homes of the innocent will light in the fires of fury and courage will kneel before a broken heart. Beware the betrayal, the spirit is loyal to a false god."

Link's eyes darkened. Zelda watched him anxiously as his eyes roved over the parchment, taking in her elegant script.

"What do you think?"

"I don't like it," he said, slowly. "It doesn't bode well."

"No," Zelda agreed. "But I cannot fathom just what the danger is, aside from this stranger. You must watch her carefully, Link. I have not the proof to eliminate the problem before it occurs…" she trailed off, hoping he would say something. He didn't. "But I hope you will be able to see the danger before it happens, and deal with it accordingly," she finished.

Link nodded. "I will."

"Do you have any idea of what it might be? The danger?"

Link shook his head. "I don't. Whether it means Thoria will bring darkness herself, or is simply a warning of hard times to come… I don't know. I wouldn't want to make that guess without more evidence."

"I hope you find it," Zelda said. He was still close. His hand moved as if to rise and pat her shoulder. It hovered for half a second, before Link scratched his nose. Zelda held back a sigh, imagining the warm weight on her shoulder, the tips of his fingers on her neck. There had been a time, when they were teenagers, when she was taller than him by half a head. Now, he was a head taller than her. She had to tilt her head to look into his eyes. Eyes that were as feral and blue as the day she had first met him, cursed into the form of a beast. She wondered, then, what it would have felt like to stroke his fur, to touch his face as both a wolf and a man. She shivered and berated herself silently for her girlish fancy.

Impa slipped back into the room and coughed delicately. "Your Highness," she said, quietly. "It is nearing the midnight hour, and you barely slept last night. You must rest." Zelda stiffened, and set her shoulders. She shot a look to her aide, who gazed back impassively.

"If I may," Link said, quietly. "Impa's right. Princess, you seem tired, I'm concerned for your health. Please don't let me keep you any longer than I have to."

"Your company is pleasurable," Zelda said. "But yes, Impa is right." She sighed. "I must rest. I give you your leave."

Link bowed once more, and turned to the door. As he opened it, he paused, and half-turned. His eyes were shadowed under his lowered brows.

"When…?"

"Tomorrow, after nightfall," Impa declared. "I will find you."

Link nodded silently, and backed out of the room. Zelda watched the door a long minute, her heart beating loudly in her ears. He was concerned for her. He cared. She allowed herself a small smile before returning to her desk.

"Zelda," Impa said. "I meant it when I said you had to sleep."

"I know," Zelda replied. "I wish to write up what Link has told me. Then I'll sleep." She dipped her quill and smiled at her oldest friend. "I promise."