Zelda was in the castle. She was resting a little from all the adventures she and Link just had. She was just looking at the beautiful landscape outside the window. She had had enough of the battles, and the monsters, and the maps to read. She wasn't old enough to want to settle down, but she had a kingdom to take care of, well she would have to take care of it in the future, and she also thought she should let Link travel and do what he wanted. She didn't have to follow him everywhere as she did until now. She wanted to open a new chapter, a chapter where she would have adventures, but as a Princess. Not as a hero. So she was now learning how to take care of her future kingdom. Link was already busy preparing for his next quest, mumbling things while looking at mysterious maps. He loved it : the unknown, the mystery, the danger. She loved it too, but she wasn't as free as Link. Far from it. Being from a royal family, she simply couldn't come with him anymore. And she was sort of happy with this fact, because she had had enough adventures for now.
She was sad to leave adventure behind, sad to know that Link would rather spend his life travelling than staying here. He would continue on his own, or maybe he would find a new partner. She would never see her friend as much as before. But she got used to this thought. Link was who he was, and nobody could change that. He would always go on adventures, it was in his heart to do so. And Zelda's place was here, in her kingdom. She wasn't as sad about the adventures as she was about the friend she would see less. She looked around her room, suddently feeling lonely. Link wasn't gone yet, but she really felt alone only by thinking of the future, when he would be on the road, and she would be here.
She was afraid of being alone. She had no friends, other than Link. The people living in the kingdom were only that, her people. She was a princess, nobody ever came to see her without doing formalities. She had no friends other than Link, and it was starting to sink in. What could she do about that ? Because of her rank, nobody ever approached her normally. She couldn't really do anything. She would just have to get used to the lonelyness. She had to spend time with Link before he went on a new adventure. She wanted memories to remember when she would be on her own. How sad was this : she was a princess, and yet she was not happy. Well, her mother had said to her once that being a Queen would not be easier in any way. This title would be even worse.
Because she was daydreaming, she didn't notice Link coming into the room. She got startled when he waved his hand in front of her face. She screamed :
- Link ! Where did you come from ?
- I went through the door, and found you all dreamy. I thought you didn't hear me enter, and I was right. I wanted to talk to you about something, Zelda. I met somebody at the market today, and I think you'll find this person interesting.
Zelda felt a cold shiver going through her back. She had known this moment would come, and here it was. Link had found somebody to replace her during his adventures. It felt all too real now. Link was going to leave the kingdom to live adventures, and she would stay here, all alone. She got startled again when Link waved his hand in front of her face a second time :
- Zelda ! Why are you so...spacey today ? Is something bothering you ? You know you can talk to me, right ?
- Sorry, Link. I got lost in my thoughts. I am fine. What were you saying ?
He didn't ask other questions, continuing on his subject of the day : the mysterious person he wanted her to meet. He told her that the person was in the castle. Zelda agreed to meet the person, feeling curious and anxious at the same time. She didn't really like not knowing what was going to happen. But Link loved this feeling. Adventures were always like that. They went down the stairs, going into a little room Zelda didn't even know. She had spent way too much time outside of this castle !