Broken
The Tournament

Rated:: PG-13

Summary:: A princess is becoming broken and she is in need of a bodyguard. When a certain ex-assassin comes and aids her in her quest, will love cross between them or will betrayal tear them apart? {Malink}

- ^ - ^ - ^ - ^

"Come on, Princess! The matches are about to begin!"

Malon gazed critically at her reflection. She was wearing a white gown which had a v-neck. The sleeves were rather long and swung open like a fan whenever she made a twirl. She wore several skirts under it, in case the wind was to strong. Along with the beautiful dress she wore a headdress, the ends swirling about. (Think about Arwen's headdress!) It was a silver color, matching her white gown completely. Her hair was let down, but was curled, allowing her to look more fragile than usual. Around her wrists were dazzling bracelets, giving off, once more, that exquisite feeling. Her azure eyes turned in her lady-in-waiting's direction before she answered.

"I'll be down in a second."

- ^ - ^ - ^ - ^

The Princess stared at the fighting the men were doing below. It seemed that posting the messages all over the place did catch some eyes. A lot of them. Her head was on the palm of her hand, her eyes straying away from the battles.

'This is just boring'...she thought to herself.

Suddenly, a loud cheer from the crowds brought her attention back to the matches.

"What's going on, Zelda?"

Zelda turned to face the Princess, "It seems everyone's favorite knight has won again. With only one strike, too!"

The Princess raised her eyebrows, curious. "Really? That's wonderful."

"If he wins one more fight, he'll be able to be your bodyguard, milady."

"Who's he going against?"

"I hear it's Lord Ganondorf."

Malon inwardly shuddered. Ganondorf. What a disgusting pig. He had tried to marry her before, but she rejected him, along with her past suitors. He kept on sending her love letters, proclaiming his undying love for her. Yeah, right. He just wanted her kingdom. She made an un-lady-like snort. She hoped that the favored knight would just kick his arse. If the knight lost, she would have to take care of Ganondorf herself. She was quite unaware that a pair of azure eyes beneath a helmet was watching her every move...

The knight began the match with a blow to the head, but Ganondorf parried the hit with his blade. He swung the weight off, nearly flinging the knight ten feet away. Even though everyone couldn't see it, Malon had a gut feeling that Ganondorf was smirking evilly.

"BASH HIM IN THE HEAD!" A bystander cried, waving their fist in the air to add a more dramatic air to it.

A chorus of "YEAAH!" and "DO IT! DO IT!" was heard from the large crowds watching the match with sheer excitement.

Malon was rather shocked to see Zelda joining them, adding several countless profanities to her statements. "YOU BEAT THAT---"

Zelda's list of insulting names went on for a few moments, Malon sitting there, watching her lady-in-waiting show such aggressiveness.

The crowd cheered even louder when the knight swung his broken lance like a baseball bat, making a rather loud "KA-TANG!" as it smashed Ganondorf face-first.

Several men rushed over to make sure Ganondorf was still alive before rushing off the "arena" with the man on a stretcher. The knight raised both of his arms above his head, earning very large cheers from the crowd. Flowers were thrown in his direction before he took a bow. He stepped close to the area where Malon was seated and took a look, over-dramatic bow.

"Malon, it is time for you to congratulate your new bodyguard."

Malon seemed rather miffed to go down and get herself dirty. But, nevertheless, she had to be obedient to her father. Or else. She walked down the steps and made a small curtsy, causing the man to smile. He carefully took his helmet off and bent down to kiss the upwards side of her hand. She had seen that hair before...and...

She gasped.

The man looked up, his face slightly red.

Those eyes.

Those beautiful eyes.

The eyes she wished she could swim in. The ones that could see right through another's lies. The eyes that belonged to the man she had kissed at the town/village. She did what she could only do.

She fainted.

- ^ - ^ - ^ - ^

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, her mind trying to figure out what was going on. Above her was a beautiful blue ceiling, and blonde hair. Piecing it together, she had to be in her room and that had to be Zelda.

A husky voice broke her thoughts. "Hey..."

Her vision blurred for a few good moments before it re-focused and she screamed. She immediately rolled out of the bed, quickly regretting it. Her legs were entwined with the covers and she quickly discovered that she was dressed in nothing but bandages. What had happened? Oh, yeah...she made a complete fool of herself by fainting. What joy...but what was with the bandages?

"When you fainted, you rolled down a set of several stairs you were next to..." Link answered her un-voiced question.

She frowned and gazed at the bandages. They were around her abdomen and around her calves, some were wrapped around her arms, too. Suddenly aware there was a man in her room (besides her dad), she squeaked and rolled farther away from him before pointing her index finger at him accusingly. "PERVERT! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?"

The figure looked a little miffed at her comment and muttered, "Excuse me, Princess. I'm not a pervert. I'm the stranger you kissed, lady. And I'm your new bodyguard."

"WHAT!? WHY!? WHEN!?"

A low hiss was heard from him. "For a princess, you aren't very quiet..."

She made an un-lady-like snort, "Who said princesses were?!"

"Everyone."

"Well that's bloody ridiculous. You don't know everyone, you know!"

"Who said that I knew everyone? Who said that it wasn't everyone I knew?"

The Princess bit her lower lip in complete thought, "Says I."

"And what makes you so special?"

"Are you really that dense? I'm the princess!"

The two continued to quarrel before Zelda barged through the door, a look of happiness swept over her features. "I heard you two talking and thought that I might..."

She stopped mid-sentence, however, to see Malon holding up the covers to her chest and body protectively. Her free hand, however, was holding onto the bodyguard's hair, pulling at his blonde locks. He, in turn, was pinching her cheeks, giving off a weird feel.

"...like the food I brought." Zelda smiled weakly before stepping out of the doorframe, "Seems like you two are busy, so I'll come and visit later!"

Her comment was left alone, however, even after she left.

A rather loud "KA-WHAM!" was heard as the Princess grabbed a nearby book and hit the bodyguard straight on, right in the face. His right hand was gripped on her shoulder but was slipping down her collarbone before falling limp on her chest. She grew a bright red and screamed.

"PERVERT!"

KA-WHAM!

"MOLESTER!"

KA-SMACK!

"BASTARD!!!!"

KA-WHAMSMACKWHAM!

A/N:: Wee! This has got to be my favorite part of the story! XD As you can probably tell, Malon has some very quick personality changes! One time she's all shy and stuff, but then she's aggressive and violent! ^_^ Let's just say that she didn't want Link to know that she was the princess so she tried to act like a high-class village girl. But since her secret was let out (The posters!), she doesn't find the reason to go and continue her act anymore.

Kon Hoshi:: Yes, you are put in the story. XD

Spyke the Echidna:: Glad you like it. ^^

Chel Bel:: Hee hee. I updated it. See! XP

EDIT:: Due to a reviewer, I stated where the bandages were located and a reason why. Seems I forgot. _ _ Sorry I couldn't make a longer fight sequence. x_X;