A/N: I won't spend much time explaining the stress of the last two months, but I am happy to finally have another chapter ready for you all. So welcome back! I realize that this is the chapter I had been dreading to write, and I don't really have a good reason for feeling so - I just wanted to do justice to the character's emotions, but my life has been so filled with my own lately. A recent bright side was coming home from a trip to find my home infiltrated with koroks. Thank you Steph - that was incredibly sweet! This chapter is dedicated to you!

Wow - seriously, thank you for following the story. My sincere thanks to Windwanker, letsgoboys, MayhemPrincess, Alice-Ann Wonderland, AmourRabin, InnatePotato, SpicyOrangutan0410, EarlGreyAtlas, and firestarterxz. And of course, how could I forget Bobert4242? I'm happy to have you back for the third time.

WindWanker, you rock, thank you for your review! And if anyone reads these, then PLEASE check out his story. He gathered his whole dorm of Christian guys to write a chapter of Zelink erotica - not usually my thing, but this one is derpy, bad, and wonderful in all the ways one would expect. The boys still get together to talk about it, and it's hilarious. Anyway, you're awesome, my friend.

Jynx, Hey again! Agreed, cows are awesome! They are soo cute! They'll have some time in the fanfiction later on, so stay tuned!

James Birdsong, twelve chapters now! - thanks for your review! Stick around!

Alice-Ann Wonderland, Hey there! Welcome to the story. So glad you're loving it! The characters and their issues mean a lot to me. I want to see them happy and healthy, but that, of course, entails a journey. I hope to add a lot of cozy things to their processing! So stick around, yeah?

TheAnBruh, Hey, thank you for your encouragement! I've been itching to get back to writing and the comments always help with that process. So thanks for thinking about me and the story. Happy to get this one to you!

P.N. Blackford, Thank you so much for your review! Yeah, I don't always know what I'm doing here, so thanks for your comment. As for the carrots, I can't imagine Link turning down a task or saying no - hopefully, he can be around more people like Zelda who look out for him in that way. And as for time alone, definitely more to come!

Let me conclude this note by thanking you all again. Two notes, look forward to (1) the reposting of edited versions of earlier chapters and (2) possible artwork in the future revolving the story. Comment or review, telling me what scenes you'd like to see and I'll let you know where you can find the art in the next chapter.

Thanks again!

Chapter Eleven

Zelda held her breath as they gained distance from the stables. Around her, the tight circle of guards marched in unison, escorting her back to the Elders cottage. The sound of their boots, batting against the dusty ground, raptured the Princess of Question, taking her back to Castletown, where she had learned to imprison her emotions for the sake of looking Queenly.

She closed her eyes to shut out the anxiety, but shame rioted against the kingdom's gates - What was she thinking? Asking for more of Link's time? Prying into his personal feelings? Making him talk about the horses he had lost? Daring to name the steed that he had purposefully left unnamed?

How imposing! Uncompassionate! Uncouth! - Zelda felt herself crumbling beneath the heavy eyes of the festering crowds. Just past her guards, she could see Kakariko villagers gawking in the middle of dusty streets, children pointing, and young gang members climbing roofs to look in on them - oh, one-hundred years of waiting would do them no pleasure. Yes, they smiled today, but how long did they have until Yiga lined their hillsides? No, Zelda couldn't take the sight of waving children, colorful streets, and quaint carts abundant with cantaloupes and sugar cane. The image of it all in flames was too hot to handle - especially beneath the scorching summer sun, lighting her head like a torch.

Dipping her wicker hat low, Zelda hid her emotions and wrung together the ends of the carrot sack in her hands as the entourage made their way up the cottage stairs. When the door was opened for her, she slipped off her shoes and rushed over the threshold. On the inside, an emphatic greeting welcomed her. It was Impa at her table with hot jasmine tea and cookies from Ollie, the innkeeper down the street.

Zelda dared not to look up at the Elder and all the standing bodies - all servants and guards and people lucky enough to be inside to see the harbinger of doom. It was not until she was alone upstairs in her room did she realize that she had excused herself. A fluid gesture it had been - a fake smile, a low voice, asking for a moment of rest before dressing for tonight's festival. And they let her go, the Elder bearing an obvious look of concern. But that Zelda could ignore. For, the loneliness of the room upstairs felt right - a worthy punishment of a Princess so cursed.

Sweaty, back against the door, Zelda let herself slide down to the floor. There, she let loose the thoughts, flitting like bats in the night, and bowed to the inner-perfectionist who feasted on the day's insecurities. Self-criticisms and hate sprung up like Malice from the heart of Hyrule Castle, summoning a dark shade over her. Suddenly she found herself dwelling on the proposal she had offered to Link - the one she had stayed up all night writing and rewriting; every word articulated to empower the Hero; not enslave him. But who was she kidding? Surely, a man like Link - so courteous and dutiful - could not reject such a proposition, even if it was "optional." And now, the golden Hero was abruptly tethered to another impossible task - escort the Princess of Doom somewhere safe, protect her, and (goddess forbid) take her in. Goddesses, he even mentioned he had a home in Hateno - surely, he was not offering that as a bunker for her, was he? Regardless, she couldn't take it.

Stressed, Zelda scampered over to the trashbin by her desk to find the torn-up drafts of that very proposal. Yet, the trash bin had been emptied - that, she realized looking in.

Staring into the emptiness, she felt a blood moon of mind rise, resurrecting the questions Zelda had no energy to bury - why was she the one that lived? Why was she alive now? Hadn't she posed enough as a burden? Gods and goddesses, why not strike her down out of mercy for the fallen world? No inn needed to be burned; no families needed to be uprooted; no ancient peoples such as the Sheikah needed to be threatened.

Heavens - she should have fled the stable after saving Link; she could have stolen a horse and ridden out into the night so fate could cut her down in private.

Then and only then could Link be free.

Feeling her eyes well up, Zelda surrendered and tossed her hat to the ground. She yanked at her hot, heavy hair until the braid came loose.

But such alone time was cut short. All too soon there was a knock on the door.

Zelda turned.

"U-Um, Princess Zelda," she heard, "My grandmother wanted me to help you get ready for tonight."

It was Paya.

Heart thumping, Zelda thought to open her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Ashamed, Zelda wiped her eyes, ran her fingers through her hair, and drew herself up onto her feet. She then feigned a quick look of confidence in the unforgiving mirror and answered the door.

"Hello," Zelda choked.

The girl seemed just as stunned and uncomfortable, standing there in a ceremonial Yukata, holding a tray of jasmine tea. Flowers adorned her hair, and over her shoulder was a wicker satchel. Letting seconds pass, she just seemed to stare.

"My grandmother told me you like jasmine." She finally said.

"Um - yes. Yes, I like jasmine."

Again came the stare.

Feeling just as awkward, Zelda gestured to the inside, "W-Won't you come in?"

The girl entered hastefully, practically shuffling over her feet all the way to the desk. After setting down the tray, she slowly turned, "A-Are you finding everything satisfactory?"

"Yes, I am."

"A-Are you sure? Is there something I can help with?"

"Oh, well - I was just looking for the trash I had discarded last night. Do you know where it went?"

"The servants clear it every morning."

"Oh." She paused, not sure what to say to get it back.

Again the girl just stood there, but in one fluid movement, she took the satchel from her shoulder and gave it to Zelda, "This came from the Hero last night, and my grandmother said you might want to have it."

Slowly, Zelda took the satchel and looked in. Bundled in a scarf was the sheikah slate. Suddenly excited, she took it into her hands and traced the shattered screen with her fingers as if it had been her own face. She could even see herself in the black, dead screen - those heavy bags under her eyes; her pale complexion; her chapped lips; scraggly hair twisting down her face.

She tapped feverishly on the screen, hoping it could come back to life. And when that failed, she took it back to her desk with a fool's errand. "Do you mind if I - " she started.

"Please go ahead, Princess!"

Desperate, Zelda slipped into the chair, flipped the slate onto its front, and picked at the screws with her the nail of her fingertip- it didn't work. Of course, she'd need better tools to get it open, so she scanned the room and picked a wick from the incense holder. "Can I - ?"

"It yours, Princess!"

Nodding, Zelda snapped the wick in half. She knew it wouldn't work, but wedging it in there offered temporary refuge from the feeling of uselessness. Snap! - the wick broke in half. Still, she drove the sharp edge back into the screw.

"M-My great aunt," peeped Paya, staring from behind, "She assembled that, d-didn't she?'

Zelda looked down at the device in her hands, realizing that such a sad thing was a relic to the Elder's family.

"Yes," Zelda stuttered. "I actually saw her do it."

The girl just stared - allowing herself a slight smile.

The awkward silence cued Zelda in. Soon she found herself anxious to talk about it. "It should activate with a touch, but there seems to be some damage with the motherboard."

"M-Motherboard?" Said the girl with a slight cock of her head.

Zelda met her eyes, "Y-Yes." And looking between the girl and the slate in her hands, she stomached the shameful pleasure of sharing such a relic. "The board connects the device's features, allowing it to sense elements nearby. Maybe the reason why it's not turning on. Perhaps it took too many hits and - "

The sheikah girl nodded, inflating Zelda's confidence. Truly, the Princess could go on, but she cut herself off short. Feeling awkward, she thought to apologize for her rambling, but then the girl abruptly spoke, "Cado - one of our guards - well, he has better tools if you wanted to open it, of course."

"O-Oh, that would be wonderful."

"I don't know what he has - those screws look very small, but I can ask."

"Thank you, yes, that'd be - "

"He might have a screwdriver, though he's always losing his tools."

"O-Oh, I see - "

"But, it's not his fault! You see, the whole town borrows his things. He's a very generous man."

"O-Of course."

Then the girl just stood there, staring, before turn-tailing, "I-I'll go see what he has!"

And suddenly, the girl was gone, leaving Zelda with a surprising dose of excitement. Perplexed, she sat herself down in the chair and, bafflingly, contemplated taking a sip of the tea - as undeserving she felt. But, the girl was back before Zelda could decide. Paya rushed in, hauling a wooden caddy of tools. Sweat dripped from her brow; she couldn't get back her breath - as if she had put all her energy into this meaningless task. Uncomfortably touched, Zelda found herself ogling the pristine tools as they were set down by her feet - a bundle of screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, and nails wrapped in a sock.

"I hope there is something here that can help." Paya huffed..

"Yes," Zelda gawked at the collection, "Most definitely."

On Impa's schedule, there was a two-hour block of time dedicated to the Princess's preparation - whether she needed to bathe or perfume herself or rest before the festivities. Her yukata had been pressed and placed on the upstairs bed at one-thirty, Paya had gone up with tea at two, and surely with the girl's anxious help, the Elder expected the pair to be done by three-thirty. At four, they'd open the cottage to the visitors. And surely, the whole town wanted to meet the fabled Princess - the girl practically stole the holiday, which was fine according to the Elder as she reflected on the nature of the Equinox Festival.

As ancient star watchers, the Sheikah peoples were first to understand the orbiting of the land and the changing of the seasons - counting each minute of the day and night until they balanced harmoniously. Such knowledge granted the people group a certain prestige that outlasted civilizations - wishing whales, sky people, dark lords, and Zonai tribesmen fell into legend while the Sheikah survived the test of time. Adaptable, the people honored the Equinox at the pillar of their culture: survival. The darkness eventually comes to swallow the day, but by their intelligence, they'd live on - they'd baptize their leaders in prayer, gather their crops, and sustain themselves until the light returned.

Hylians, however, were different culturally - this the Elder knew by serving Hylian Royalty in her youth. While the Sheikah sought to adapt to the coming of darkness, the Hylians bent their lives to eradicating it - digging up Gargantuan relics from the mountainsides, assembling robotic warriors, and doubling armies to meet the mythological face of darkness, whether he was real or not. Fighting him, according to the Shiekah scientists, felt like waging war against the moon. What was there to fear? Darkness, night, and winter always came to swallow the light - why was this form so bad?

While the scientists mocked the royals in secret, Impa always held her tongue. Perhaps she believed in the Hylian religion. Perhaps she liked the concept of Hylia. Perhaps the Hylians had a convincing case of their hands - why is it that the land of Hyrule was war-torn and moon-scaped? Why was there a hole right through Hebra Peak? Wasn't it strange that every culture had a Dark God and a savior? Did the all-knowing Sheikah miss something in their endless calculations?

Regardless, Calamity Ganon was too real to her job position to discount - hearing his name fifty times a day, organizing field trips to oversee his demise, and preparing the vessel that would seal him. And surely, he existed to torment the Princess of Hyrule. Perhaps that was why Impa brought her to the sacred festival; it was an implicit encouragement to find another way. Did she have to beat it? Did she really need the goddess? Could she adapt like a sheikah? Could she embrace what was coming? - whether it was big or small.

Regardless of belief, the Calamity did come.

He destroyed everything.

And thus, the sheikah did what they do best and adapted - ninety percent of their numbers converted to Yigism, leaving Impa alone while the Princess of Destiny confronted the Beast.

Now Impa the Elder was too old to cry - that she had done many times before in her youth. Now, it was time to move on. For the Princess was safe, and Shiekah queen would make a happy adult out of the child, securing her a place in Kakariko, building her a palace out of red wood and hay, and adorning her with servants, meals, and gifts until she aged into satisfaction. And of course, they'd spend every night together drinking tea and talking about the good times.

As for tonight, they'd have themselves an Equinox Festival alright, but this one would begin a new tradition. The holy basins had been tripled and filled to the top for a purpose. At five, the Princess would descend, greet the visitors, and eat her supper. And the village, as well as the Hero and his entourage of hoodlems, would mingle and partake in the festivities. And when it came time to baptize the elderly in the center of town - well, the Eldest of them all had a surprise. This time, she'd look the other way and let the kids throw the water at each other. Perhaps a water fight would have everyone celebrating.

Chuckling to herself, the Elder spilled her jasmine tea all over her desk.

"Oh, damn-it." She cussed, popping to her feet. The darned thing had spilled all over her papers. Worse, her trash bin had not been returned to her. Fussing, she collected the wet papers and meandered towards the kitchen.

"Koko." She passed the lazy sheikah child, "That's right, I see you in the corner there. Make yourself useful and rewrite this schedule for me."

The girl pouted.

"Don't give me that look - do what you're told."

Rolling her eyes, the child took the dampened schedule.

"Smile dear - it would suit you better."

The child let out a menacing grin.

Rolling her eyes, Impa continued to the kitchen to toss out the rest of the papers, but as she approached the trash, she looked in to find something with the Princess's handwriting on it. She couldn't believe that she still recognized it - after all these tears. The characters took her back a century. Intrigued, she then picked the document from the pile and read.

"What is the meaning of this?" Koko heard in the kitchen. "Someone get me Link!"

The next thing she knew, the Elder was throwing a fit in the living room, waving around a piece of paper. Annoyed, Koko tossed the Elder's schedule into the trash and afforded herself the audacity to sit in the kitchen parlor.

All day the old crone had been bantering and stressing about every little thing. For example, the Princess's eggs were undercooked at six-thirty. She ate them anyway, but that didn't stop the Elder from getting all fussy. The florist was too upitty at eight, the bins of sacred water needed more filling at eight-thirty, and Rola's archers lacked accuracy during their demo at ten. And watching that woman replace one of Rola's men got Koko going. It was then that she realized that death by Yiga might not be such a bad thing. Sure, a shot to the ear would hurt, but then she wouldn't have to listen to the Elder obsess about her precious schedule - oh Princess, it's time to have tea with me. No? You want some alone time upstairs? Goddess forbid! I wrote down on my schedule that we would have tea and my schedule cannot be wrong - bleh!

Bullfrogs, what business did the Sheikah have in protecting the Princess anyway? Yeah, yeah, the sheikah served the royal family back in the boonies of time, but it's not like the royal family still mattered. The world was fine as it was - even with all the twists and turns of bad luck.

Stubbornly scooting herself into the parlor seat, Koko noted the window and the long shadows casting over the glen. A quarter to four, the sun was slipping into the steep cliffs. Anticipating the start of the festival, people were coming out of their houses in elegant clothes. Gang men tried to fit in - some sleeked back their hair in attempts of looking nice. Didn't work.

Around the chaotic cluster was Claree, make-up caked, going between all the booths, lighting up the sheer excess of candles - oh wouldn't the Elder be giddy? And was that Yume walking hand-in-hand with Jome? Goddesses, just marry each other already! Maybe then Yume would stop acting like a silly dote!

"Hey," Koko heard behind her - her father's voice. She didn't turn. Yet, he made himself apparent by setting down a plate of three rice balls in front of her. "The Elder said you and your sister can get ready with Paya - she's up there with the Princess now."

"Don't I look ready?"

"No - you're still in your tunic and you've got sauce on it."

"I will only get more food on it."

Her father was giving her that look - she could feel it. Countering, she pressed on, "What? What's the point anyways? I'm not even allowed to go outside."

He was quiet for a moment, "Not a lot of people will get to interact with the Princess. Go upstairs - it's a good opportunity."

Koko rolled her eyes. "Good opportunity. I share a bed with her."

He let the silence in for a moment, then continued on with a sigh, "I'm sorry you won't be able to experience the festival like last year."

"They've been pretty sucky for a bit."

"Look - Koko, my daughter."

"Nope!" She popped off the bench - he was not trying this again, "Don't want to talk about it."

"We should talk about what you saw in the forest yesterday."

"We've got that covered - we're trapped in a cottage because the Yiga killed mom and threatened you. I get it."

And when she sought to brush past her Father, he stopped her with a firm hand. Surely, he was giving her that look again, but this time Koko confronted him. Eye to eye, she glared back. However, she had forgotten about his pulsing, black eye - it had only gotten worse. Slowly, her defiance melted to unruly misery.

"Look I just need some alone time."

Her father must have understood because he let her go.

Princess Zelda used the last twenty minutes of her allotted two hours to dress herself. Reluctantly, she had to tear herself away from the sheikah slate - for she had been tinkering at Paya's expense. The kind girl had been patiently observing the Princess's workings as time ticked on. With the help of pliers, they had managed to get the back off the slate - its minuscule screws lay primly on the desk while the tinkerer set down the device for good.

"I apologize for taking up so much time." Commented the Princess, standing up from the desk. She shook away the glow of excitement bustling within her, "I just didn't think it would look like that on the inside."

Looking relieved, Paya grabbed her Yukata from the bed and held it out for Zelda to take. "It looked like you were doing surgery, Princess."

"It felt like it!"

"I thought it wise that you used the wick over the pliers."

"Yes, I thought the pliers would harm the small mechanics." The Princess took the dress and pondered, "Will Impa mind that I'm not bathed?"

"Oh - um, would you like to bathe?"

"Oh - not if it makes you late."

The girl let out a sheepish smile, betraying the Elder's importance of timeliness. She let out a pitiful laugh, "The Elder lost her smell a decade ago anyway."

"Is that right? Then, she won't smell me?"

"Oh! Um - I didn't mean to imply that you smell, Princess. Goddesses, pardon me!"

Zelda laughed, shocking herself, "Please, I take no offense."

"But, you don't smell Princess!"

The Princess found herself smiling.

"You smell nice!"

Funny, talking to the granddaughter felt more manageable. Hopefully they could talk about more than just the anatomy of the sheikah slate, but having done so made it easier to look her in the eyes without seeing Impa. The Elder would have neither let Zelda tinker before an event nor emphatically boast about the slate's capabilities. Truly, Paya was her own person - one who could arrange a braided updo out of Zelda's hair in ten short minutes. She dotted the blond tresses with pink cherry blossoms and applied a thin coat of make-up right up until the four-fifty mark. And without looking at herself in the mirror, Zelda slipped on the provided sandals, went with the hurrying granddaughter, and descended the stairs.

Hurrying negated any time for emotional preparation - getting to the foot of the stairway meant confronting a room full of busybodies and servants. They froze upon seeing her and fled the room. Strange. Only when the servants had departed did she catch sight of Link, looking stoic by the doorway, eyes fixated on the Elder before him. She appeared to be yelling.

Leekah was there beside Link with one hand on his shoulder, "Now, my Elder, I'm sure there's more to the picture. "

"I'm not your Elder! I'm not your anything! You Hylians refuse to acknowledge the importance at hand - even after one-hundred years!"

"Impa!" Zelda had to interrupt - what was the woman doing? "Is something wrong?"

Leekah was the first to perk up, "Wow! Don't you clean up well!"

Zelda scampered in, paying little mind to Link as he watched her with wide eyes. Ashamed, she watched her feet. Leekah met her halfway across the room, kissed her cheek, and lassoed her into the conversation, "Princess, you look gorgeous! Doesn't she look great?"

"Princess Zelda!" Uttered the Elder - echoing throughout the already empty room. A vein pulsed from her head as she held up a piece of paper. "Care to explain this?"

Zelda plucked the document from the Elder's hand - her worst fear: the Elder had found her draft of her proposal to Link.

She sighed, "I was going to tell you about it."

"When? The day you left?!"

So much did Zelda want to wrap her arms around the woman, but she knew her place. She stood her ground and folded up the piece of paper, "Impa, please - "

"I mean why come to Kakariko if you were just going to leave?"

"I want to talk to you about this."

"We don't need to talk - as long as you understand that whatever is written here is overruled. Not happening."

Her defiance froze the room. In the corner was that rebel guard rolling his eyes.

"Impa," Zelda pressed on, "You need to understand."

"We're not talking about this, Princess."

"Are you sure? Because if you wished to avoid this subject, then you would not be here yelling at Link. He's done nothing wrong. Why summon him?"

"Link!" The Elder said, jabbing the paper in Zelda's hand, "Has been called upon by royalty, and he's a part of this plan as decreed by you."

"Yes, I wrote the plan, but he has nothing to do with it yet. It's an offer, Impa."

"You think I don't know what it is? - "

"You need to understand! I need someone to help me get somewhere where I can be anonymous."

"You're staying here, Princess. You have everything you need here."

"Just getting here put the whole glen at risk. What happens when the Yiga return?"

"We fight them off - just like we did, yesterday."

"No, that will not work. These men cannot stay here forever. Link cannot stay here forever."

"You listen, Zelda - "

"My Elder!" Interjected the guard from the corner of the room, "Won't you listen to her case?"

"Shut it, Dorian - you are not in the place to speak."

"She voices the concerns of every guard here. She's being reasonable."

"Bah!" The Elder threw up her hands, "What is reason anymore?" The woman teetered out of the circle, meandering back to her seat at the dining table.

Zelda found herself following, "Impa, please isten to me - "

"I lost you once! " Exploded she, "The day the Calamity came I looked for you endlessly! I ran all the way to the castle grounds to receive you - just to find that you'd be leaving with him!" She jabbed her finger at Link. Zelda anxiously examined him, looking for signs of discomfort. But the boy stood his ground. Yet, that stoic face broke into one of concern. He pressed his lips together as she continued to yell at him.

"It should have been me escorting her somewhere safe! I raised her!"

"Impa, please, stop yelling at him!"

The woman grabbed Zelda's hand instead - a death grip, "You don't know how I felt the day you left. It killed me. So, no, I'm not letting him take you away again."

"I'm not being taken away."

Unyielding, the women went on, "Zelda, stay here with me and the Sheikah. We will protect you."

"I want to, but - "

"But why?"

"The risk."

"Risk is everywhere. Do you want all of Kakariko protecting you? Or just one boy?"

Zelda fell silent - slowly, she could feel the guilt seeping into her soul. "I desire none of it."

"But here you are imposing on the boy again?"

"No." She choked, avoiding his sorry gaze.

"Then, tell me what you are doing, Zelda!"

Suddenly, Zelda found herself shouting, "The thing I want most is for Link to be free." She bravely met his kind eyes, "And Link, I need you to believe that. If you walked away tomorrow, I'd honor your decision. But, Impa, I have to leave. Everything is gone, and the last thing I need is to see my favorite place in all of Hyrule come to ruin because of me. So please," She addressed the room, "I'm taking my leave with whoever wants the job."

"I'm just looking out for you both," Said the Elder, shaking her head, "Link needs his own life; you need protection, and we can arrange that for the both of you."

"How Elder?" Said the guard with his arms crossed.

"Quiet Dorian!"

"You think you can protect the Princess? - you couldn't protect Isla."

"Ilsa?"

"My wife." He commented. "My late wife."

"Don't bring Isla into this! I warn you, Dorian! This is much different."

"Is it?"

"That's your next warning!"

"And now you're charged with protecting my daughters! Aren't I allowed to be worried as a father?"

Stressed, Impa sat down at her spot at the table and rubbed her temples. "Oh, wouldn't you love for the Princess to leave? Then you can send your friends after her, right?"

Dorian spun in anger, paced, and then locked himself back up in his corner.

No one spoke for a whole minute - Zelda felt her hands; they were shaking. Angry, she puzzled over what to say next.

Though the Elder interrupted, "Are we all done talking now?"

"I'm not." Cheeped Leekah with a finger. "You've accused this boy with meddling, Elder - "

"Now, I've never said meddling!"

"- but surely it was implied. And from what I assume, this boy has amounted to all his responsibilities since they were given to him a century ago. Can't he be trusted to do a good job?"

"Link," the Elder droned lazily, bobbing her head up, "Tell me - was it the right decision to rescue the Princess without the Sheikah's aide? You told us nothing about your plan, and then the next thing I hear is that you're wounded? What if you had died? Then who would protect the Princess?"

"Pardon yourself, Impa!"

But then Link interrupted, his voice was hoarse and quiet, "I couldn't tell you I was going."

"Oh, he speaks! If that's the case, then can he tell me why?"

"You thought you had been infiltrated."

"Infiltrated?" The Elder crinkled her nose as if she didn't know the meaning of the word. She looked between the boy and Dorian, "How did you know?"

Link turned to Dorian; the guard nodded his way, "It's fine, Link."

Reluctantly, the boy went on, "I couldn't be sure."

"Why wasn't I informed, Link."

"Because I wasn't sure."

With a breath, the Elder rose to her feet, "Alright, I'm done with this conversation. It's a minute to four, and I must open the doors to the public. Let's just end things like this - I'm taking the proposal you have there in your pocket, Link."

"Elder." Scorned Dorian, "They're not children."

"They are acting as such - give it to me, Link."

All eyes fell on the boy.

"Stand your ground, kid."

"That's your last warning, Dorian!"

"Throw me out, Elder, I don't care."

Zelda held herself, not knowing what to say.

Again the Elder pressed, "C'mon, hand it over."

And slowly, Link took his sobering steps forward and surrendered the document.

Ashamed, Zelda turned away, hoping to go back upstairs. But, something in the Elder's voice made her freeze.

"It's signed." She said. "You signed it."

Zelda turned.

The Elder shook the paper, "Why did you sign it?"

He froze, glaring at the Elder with so much sincerity.

"This is legally binding now. Why'd you sign it?"

But, he negated to give a response.

"That's now the property of the Princess's." Pointed Dorian. "Give it back to her, Elder."

And before the woman could rage, Paya peeped in from the kitchen, "Grandmother, it's five."

The woman steeped with anger, examining her opposition with so much urgency before turning her back. "J-Just open the doors."

Zelda drew near. "Impa."

"I have nothing to say to you, Princess." She turned to her granddaughter before leaving the room. She left the contract behind. "Paya, greet the guests. I need a minute to myself."

The woman trudged towards her bedroom door in the corner of the room.

Zelda found herself following, "Can I come with you, Impa?"

"No."

And so Zelda let her go, taking the contract back into her hands. The stress of watching her leave had her scampering back towards Leekah and Link. Ashamed, she bowed her head. "I'm terribly sorry you two. I did not think this would happen and I - "

"Don't worry about it, honey." Came Leekah, "We warriors have faced monsters scarier than the Elder here. Am I right, Link?"

He looked stunned, looking between his signature and the Princess's face, "I-I'm sorry. I know you said to wait, but - "

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Link." The contract burning in her hands, she shoved it towards him, "Please hold onto it for a couple more days. If you change your mind, then we can dispose of it."

But the boy just shook his head, not moving to take back the document.

"I don't want you to feel forced, Link."

"I don't."

Slowly, Zelda recoiled her hand - too afraid to feel the relief or to express her joy.

"All will be resolved." The mother laughed, "You both just need to focus on enjoying your night."

Zelda consented to try.

Immediately, the guests entered. As they bowed and greeted with overwhelming handshakes, Zelda recounted the courage she had stored up from the day's surprises: first and foremost, Link had accepted her proposal - more than that, he signed it immediately! Second, she had gotten to talk to Paya about the Sheikah Slate. Third, she tinkered with the device! Fourth, Leekah seemed to be enjoying herself. Her joy heightened when her husband entered the room with their two kids. Watching her kiss his cheek, Zelda found it easier to pretend allwas well and project a convincing, Queenly air.

For the rest of the hour, there was a lot of mingling, bowing, and, to Zelda's discomfort, thanking - sheikah people came clapping their hands together, kissing her cheek, and praising Hylia in the Princess's name. Zelda didn't know how to take that, especially when considering how small their numbers were after a century of war. Regardless, she tried not to let the guilt show. But one person did not seem fooled: besides the Princess was Paya, noticing the nervousness beneath the makeup and holding her backside in case she should faint once more. The girl helped Zelda sit when supper came on wooden carts.

At five o'clock dinner time, Impa returned as a new person - this time, full of feigned smiles and jubilance. Everyone followed as she took her seat at the dinner table beside the Princess of the hour. Doing so, she withheld no anger. Her glare was right, but she suddenly blinked away her emotions when a servant bent low to ask a question. Momentarily, the first course was then set before them: a sublime summer salad of arugula, walnuts, and stacked watermelon cubes drizzled with some sort of plum dressing.

Zelda's stomach growled - and as it did, she couldn't help wondering how Link was feeling. And surely, she found him on the other side of Impa, eyeing his meal with wide, adoring eyes. That expression made her smile - Link was still a glutton even after all these years. Glad to see that some things never change. He must have noticed her staring because he peered over at her. Embarrassed, she felt the heat rise to her cheeks. But at that distance, she couldn't explain his gluttonhood nor why it was meaningful to her nor gush out her thankfulness for him.

So she nodded, hoping to convey some sort of respect.

And before she could look away, he gave a half-smile, picked up his chopsticks, and gestured an awkward salute. All night the warmth of that gesture stayed with her, patching up her battered soul.