Arguing with his master was useless. The decision had already been made and Alfon even hinted that there were "larger things at work… things that would require Link to be beside the Princess in the near-future." The squire tried to beg him for any relief – either to throw away this intolerable assignment, or to at least tell him more about what was planned. But the Marshal was obstinate and just shook his head 'No.' "You'll find out more soon, son, just… not now." Ruined and depressed, the boy excused himself and shuffled back to his own tent.
Letting his gear drop to the ground, he cast himself upon his small bed and dug his knuckles into his closed eyes. It was so unfair – going from being a knight-in-training: a man who would be a leader one day, to just some faceless, common soldier on the line. And now, after all of that, he had been removed from the line and ordered to watch over a party of sweaty cowards… and soon he would be watching over their princess.
Zelda. The very mention of her name would make him scowl darkly and clench his teeth. It was she who had asked him to open the doorway to the sacred realm. It was she who ordered the army not to protect his forest… and allowed his family to be destroyed. It was she who ordered his flogging – when all he was guilty of was saving the lives of the Kokiri and purifying the Forest Temple.
The weather continued to improve over the following two weeks. The rains stopped, temperatures warmed, and even several hours of unbroken sunshine greeted the Hylians each day. But the ground was quickly hardening and the Army Captains became more and more anxious of a renewed offensive by the enemy. Spies and scouts were sent forward – almost continuously – to monitor Agahnim's lines and to sound the alarm at the first sign of movement.
Link's assignment to the logging camp lasted for only a few more days before his master summoned him to the Temple of Water. Once again, the teen was directed to kneel before the throne and swear a renewed oath of fealty and to pledge himself to the Princess' protection. The ceremony was different from what the boy expected however. It felt… more personal – almost intimate. Normally, their majesties would stand on either side of the Princess, administering the oath themselves – with the Commander of the Hylian Knights watching over them and swearing to dispatch the Princess' Guardian – should he ever falter in his duties or betray the crown. But, with the deaths of the King and Queen, Regent Impa had to stand in for Her Majesty, and Lord Alfon stood for Zelda's father. With no Knight-Lieutenant available and Captain Russel detained at the front line, Captain Corin was asked to take the Marshal's place for the ceremony – which drew a rather ugly sneer from Impa.
The assignment itself was far simpler than Link imagined. He was expected to stand beside and just behind her throne during the day and to follow her around Laketown (at a respectful yet still traversable distance) if she ever went 'amongst the people.' In the evenings, when she retired to her bed chambers, the squire was permitted to leave her under the protection of the Temple Guard and return to his own tent to rest.
While he still hated being in Zelda's presence, Link could not make up his mind whether or not he liked his new station. True, he was protecting the girl that had ruined his life, but his day-to-day responsibilities were now indoors and sheltered from the elements. Impa had also commanded that the boy be given greater rations of food and to be allowed to bathe and wash his uniform daily – a privilege that only herself, Zelda, and Alfon were afforded at the lake. "It won't do to have the Princess' personal guard be frail and foul." She muttered, casting him a skeptical eye.
The only thing that the soldier was sure of, was the terrible case of tinnitus that seemed to plague him now. From the moment he would enter the throne room until he returned to his bed that evening, a constant low-ringing tone quietly assaulted his ears.
Afternoon, June 18th, 611 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 702
Provincial Throne Room, Lake Hylia
As the longest day of summer approached, Impa began to press the Princess for preparations for her birthday. "The sixteenth has always been celebrated as the beginning of the princess' journey to adulthood, your grace." She explained, "And with the oppression of the war… the people would do well to see their sovereign celebrating such a happy time!" Zelda smiled brightly up at her, and quickly searched over the bolts of various fabrics that her matron had brought before her. "Oh, they are all so pretty Impa!" she cried, "I… I just cannot choose one!"
Here, another terrible truth was forced upon the young squire who had been assigned as her guard: The princess was still a child. While many of the meetings that he was obliged to stand through were professional and somber, there were still several moments each day where Zelda demonstrated just how out of touch and naïve she was about the world outside the walls of her throne room. While the soldiers at the front struggled to survive on meager rations and a few minutes sleep each day – she was giggling and squealing with delight at the prospect of 'a pretty new dress for her birthday.' The entire affair filled him with disgust, but he maintained a stoic expression and remained silent. Alfon had warned him against any outbursts – no matter how small.
Once the clothiers were dismissed and their tables and bolts removed from the throne room, the princess fell back upon her high seat and let out a deep sigh. "Oh… these days are becoming too long, Impa. How about some refreshment?" she asked. "At once, your grace!" the sheikah replied with a smile, and called for the chamber servants. A few moments later, the two women were presented with an ample platter of spring berries, apples, pears, and other delicious fruits that the Princess adored, and a steaming pot of tea. Impossible as it was to believe, Link now watched as the two leaders of Hyrule giggled carelessly and shoveled large handfuls of precious food into their mouths – when only that morning Lord Alfon and the Army Captains had advised them of the desperate conditions at the line.
The squire's rigid discipline was slipping however, as the princess glanced over her shoulder to find him staring at her and the plate of food. Slowly, she lifted a plump strawberry to her lips and waited a moment before asking, "Would you like one, Link?" The young soldier blinked in surprise – he didn't realize that he had been watching her long enough to be noticed – then turned his face downward, blushing deeply with embarrassment. Quickly, he shook his head 'no' and tried to distract himself by studying the patters on the walls of the room. After a few more moments of watching him curiously, she turned back to her plate and resumed her conversation with her matron. After that, the boy would only steal quick glances her way and clench his jaw at the plentiful "refreshments" that she enjoyed… while his brothers were starving.
For the remainder of that day, the irritable ringing in his ears became louder than usual and he began to sweat with a slight fever. Though he kept his eyes locked straight ahead, Link could not stop his mind's eye from returning to the image of her looking back at him – holding that strawberry. How disgusting she looked – enjoying the food that should be sent to the soldiers. How careless and unbothered she was – talking with Impa about dresses and jewelry. How frivolous it was to hold a birthday party for some spoiled royal brat during a war. How… how… how beautiful her voice sounded… when she spoke to him. The incredible depth of her aquamarine eyes… the radiant gold of her hair… the softness of her pink lips as she held the berry close to her mouth.
The turbulence of the conflicting emotions nearly made the boy sick. Fortunately, one additional distraction would arrive before the end of the evening.
Late Evening, June 18th, 611 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 702
Provincial Throne Room, Lake Hylia
After dinner had been concluded and the last of the "kingdom's business" addressed, Lord Alfon arrived and asked to speak to the three of them privately. Impa dismissed the guards beside the chamber door, and quickly check her and Zelda's rooms to make certain no servants or spies remained. When she nodded to the Marshal, he began his instructions to the two teens.
"The enemy will undoubtedly attack us very soon. The ground has become firm from their front line all the way down to the lake's edge and our spies have reported a build-up of weapons and preparations for a heavy assault." He explained, drawing a fearful expression from the princess. "While every man will faithfully fight to the last to protect your highness, I am afraid that I cannot guarantee your safety if they bring all of their forces at once. Our men are exhausted and all of our pleas for assistance from the outlands has gone unanswered." He continued, as Impa clenched her jaw and looked down at the floor.
"Therefore…" the knight hesitated and turned his eyes directly to Link, "As protector of the realm, it is my command that: In the event the enemy begin to break through our line outside the gate - the Princess' Personal Guard should immediately take Her Royal Highness and flee southward, over the bridge, and into the Great Forest. Do not stop until you reach Komo on the southern shore. There you can decide whether to approach the Faronian Capitol at Rimba… or to take a ship across the sea. But whatever you will do – you will keep Her Highness safe and secure, at all costs."
The two youths stood frozen with shock. Lord Alfon was a wise, calculating commander – and often instructed his captains with contingency plans and 'what-ifs', but he had never been known to accept the possibility of completely abandoning a conflict. His squire tried to speak first, but the Marshal quickly set a hand upon his shoulder, "Listen to me boy, whatever your feelings about this war, this place, and even the Princess… you have to do this if the worst should happen. A thousand generations of legacy lay within her blood. She is the hope and the promise of a future for our people and… she was the cherished love of a mother and father who are not here to protect her anymore. You must guard her in their stead."
Link's jaw clenched and his eyes watered slightly. He wanted to be on the line. He had to be on the line! If the enemy were going to attack – that was where he could contribute the most. But more than that, he did not know if he could bring himself to flee - like a coward - when the people would need him most. Sensing the boy's thoughts, Alfon quietly added, "I will need to know that the two of you are safe, son… so that I may be free to fight and to die if the goddess calls." It was not a command this time -it was a plea. He looked into his master's eyes for a moment, before bowing his head and accepting the order.
"You may be able to command him, my lord – but you cannot command me! I will not abandon the throne and leave my people to the wolves!" Spat the princess. With a deep sigh, the great knight released Link's shoulder, and turned to face her. "There are many things that you command, your highness, even before you have come of age. But, in place of his majesty, I bear the responsibility for protecting your kingdom – and that includes protecting the royal line. Your regent has already acceded to this… I am afraid there is nothing you can do to change it." He answered.
The young sovereign continued to argue for several minutes, even turning to Impa and accusing her of betrayal, before falling back into her throne and pouting. When she folded her arms and turned her head away from them, the sheikah reached out and rubbed a hand up and down her arm. "This is only a plan of last resort, your grace. We will of course do everything we can to see that it does not come to pass. But… if it does – you need to be ready. Go south, get as far away from the danger as you can – and find the temple!" Link's ears twitched at the word 'temple' and he turned his head to hear more.
This was the part that Impa had dreaded the most – revealing some of Zelda's future to 'the brat.' Catching his eye, she quickly explained, "Hidden within the Great Forest is a temple. A very, very ancient temple – dedicated to the Goddess Farore. The princess will need to be taken there and allowed to perform a very special ritual before the Goddess. It will… help her with the battles ahead." He glanced from Impa, to Zelda, and finally to Alfon – who grimly nodded.
After a few more questions and soft whimpers from Zelda, the minister dismissed the men for the night, and the young soldier followed his Marshal outside. "I want you to prepare two large saddle bags of essentials – camp tools, spare clothing, medicines – the quartermaster will not object, I've already spoken to him. Have the bags prepared by morning. We're going to keep Epona outfitted with a double-saddle. Don't worry, we've been feeding her more and more over the past few days – she'll be strong enough." He whispered as they approached their tents. "Don't worry about it son, it's just a precaution."
Link did as he was instructed – preparing two large saddle bags of "mission gear" before dropping down onto his small bed and staring up at the canvas roof of his tent. Though the sun had long since set, the evening air remained hot and he quickly cast his blanket aside. So much, and yet so little had happened that day. On one hand, Link had simply stood inside of Zelda's throne room for twelve hours while people talked. On the other, he had been given the added responsibility of whisking her away to safety if the army began to fall.
He lay there for several hours, listening to the night-sounds of the camp and thinking over the past two years. It seemed that every day of his life since Navi had first brought him to the Deku Tree had either been filled with absolute terror or mind-numbing boredom. The memories of terrible losses, desperate fights, and being flogged – all still quickened his pulse and made his muscles tense. While the memories of training, drills, and even spending time with Malon all seemed to run together in a great blur.
As Link turned onto his side, his mind drifted back to his confrontation with Zelda. The vision… or dream that she had drawn them into – that place where he had nearly attacked her. He had been filled with such hatred and yet, only an hour later, when he was riding Epona through the gates – he was overcome with shame and regret. Later, when Ganondorf came to the lake, and the men proved powerless against him, Zelda had told him "I won't let you die, Link." If he were so worthless and expendable, why would a princess sacrifice herself to protect him? Finally, when they met at the temple entrance – the two had nearly embraced at the joy of seeing one another unharmed. At that moment, all of the boy's bitterness and anger had vanished and something deep inside of him was reaching out to her.
With a great yawn, the teen began to drift. He couldn't explain his chaotic feelings, so he simply decided that he had not been spending enough time with Malon, and fell asleep.