Chapter Four: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
"Ugh. Ruaru always tells me to think. And what did I do? 'One little peck on the cheek' I shouldn't have done that, that's the last time I listen to myself." Zelda chastised herself silently as she made her way up the stairs to the main table where her father and his guests were waiting for her. After her standard formal greetings she sat down.
"Zelda, I do trust you understand that when I say 'two hours past moon rise' I don't mean whenever you feel like it." scolded Zelda's father the King with a firm raised eye brow.
"Forgive me father, I'll see it will not happen again."
"Good. Now I trust you remember King Heuaris." Heuaris sat smug with a spoon in his mouth that he was lightly nibbling on and gave a un enthusiastic smile and lifted his pinky towards the Princess to "wave".
"Of course I do. Your majesty." Zelda gave a formal curtsey. She didn't really remember King Heuaris the last time she visited Calatia with her father and older brothers, was before the imprisoning war. The King of Calatia and the King of Hyrule had a "blood pact" of sorts. All of Hyrule's princes were wed to Calatia's princesses through arranged marriages. This would ensure the too kingdoms would always remain allies as long as the too royal families were linked by blood.
"Now then, I know you have never met his only son Zensha. Zelda, Prince Zensha of Calatia, Zensha, meet Princess Zelda of Hyrule." Zensha stood and bowed to Zelda with intense eyes that seemed to burn right into her mind and soul and touch everything that was there, which made her feel very uncomfortable, almost violated. She couldn't wait for the evening to be over with, the sooner she was away from the spooky prince the better.
During the meal, in which the two Kings engaged in small talk about the old days Prince Zensha continued to glare at the princess and wouldn't take his eyes away from her for anything. It cost Zelda her appetite, she wished Link was there. Zelda's father brought up some business. "Very good. Now then Zelda, you are no doubt wondering as too why I asked you to join us this evening."
"I'm sure you have better things to do than listen to two old men prattle on eh?" joked the ill-humored King Heuaris.
"Alright, Alright. King Heuaris and I have been in negotiations the past few months, and I felt as my daughter you should be told of my decisions first before I announce them to the people."
"Al-Alright." Zelda was beginning to feel a bad premonition.
"You see, the economy of Hyrule has become somewhat slow since the imprisoning war ended."
"Father, the economy is just as strong as it's ever been, what do you mean?"
"Heh, heh, nothing worse than a woman with an opinion eh old boy?" King Heuaris, slightly drunk held up his glass towards Zelda's father and then tipped it all the way back and drank the rest of it's contents with a single gulp. Zelda was offended by the King's remark, yet her father did nothing to remedy it.
"On the contrary, most of the court's revenues have come, this year, solely from taxes alone. And frankly my dear, something must be done." Zelda sipped from her glass and shrugged as she put it down.
"So it was a bad fiscal year, we've had them before,-"but before she could finish, her father cut her off.
"Exactly my point Zelda, exactly. We have had them before, and too often. I've met with the official revenue advisors and we've concluded that the source of the problem is the Hyrule market. People just aren't buying goods anymore. And the reason is the goods themselves. There simply is no demand for them anymore."
"Then we find goods that people do want."
"Ooo, she's sharp as a sword that one. Ha ha ha ha ha!" bellowed the un welcome King Heuaris. Once again Zelda's father conceded to Heuaris' rudeness and simply rolled his eyes. It was bad enough Zelda had to fend for herself against the obnoxious Heuaris but she had to do it while under constant attack from Zensha's intruding stare.
"That's half of what Heuaris and I have been discussing. You see, Hyrule's main trade is with the Gorons and the Zora, and the goods they have to offer are just not in demand anymore. Therefore, I have decided to break all trade with the Gorons and Zora, effective one month from now."
"What?! You can't be serious father!"
"I am dead serious Zelda. We are going to open trade with the Calatians."
"We can't trade with Calatians! They live across the Hylian sea."
"Which is what I have been discussing with King Heuaris here. We have decided to sign the Hylian/Calatian Military Trade Alliance. Hyrule and Calatia will work together to establish a trade route through which we will trade goods, workers. Calatians will come to open businesses fronts on Hylian soil and vice versa."
"Well it is a sound plan, but what of the Gorons and the Zora, and the kokiri? And the guerdo? What about them? What will become of them if they have no one to trade with? And what of the alliance between the Hylians and these races? If we break trade, and thus communication with them, will that not be breaking the peace treaty we share with these people?" The King leaned back in his chair for a moment to plot out his answers.
"Yes Zelda, the peace treaty will be broken. Which is why Calatia has agreed to supply us with military support in the inevitable event of a war. The Gorons and Zora do not have to war with us however, and we will still prefer a peaceful coexistence. But in the event of expanded civilization, they will eventually refuse to surrender their land to progress, and it deeply pains me to see old friends become enemies, but we cannot sacrifice progress for useless traditions of the old ways. And as far as the kokiri is concerned, they're nothing more than a myth. They've never been seen. Therefore it will be alright to use the kokiri forest as lumber for ships, since nothing lives there." Zelda cupped her mouth with her hands and slowly leaned back in her chair. She was horrified at what she heard. Her heart was broken. Ever since the imprisoning war ended her father had become a greedy man. And now he casually spoke of eliminating races that trusted and depended on him for support, all for the purpose of profit. "Zelda please don't take it as a bad thing. You see we-"Zelda immediately stood up and held her hand up to signal her father's silence.
"Stop. I don't want to hear anymore of this."
"But you need too. There is more and it concerns you directly." Zelda slowly sank back into her chair and braced herself. She knew what she was going to hear was in someway going to ruin her life." As part of such an extreme pact we've decided that just a signature and seal will not do. Therefore we have decided to use the blood pact system."
"...But all of my brothers are married."
"True. Which is why I feel that amidst the topic of change, and expansion, we should change old habits and expand them to fit modern needs." The King stood up and flashed a large smile. He held up his cup in the same manner King Heuaris had earlier and said "This is a truly joyous occasion indeed. Zelda, my daughter, I have arranged for you to be married to Zensha, prince of Calatia!" The words hit Zelda like fiery arrows. She turned to Zensha in horror as the suave, cocky prince from Calatia smiled a very serpentine smile. Zelda stomped to her feet in protest.
"Absolutely not! I refuse to hand over my life to be used to seal a deal of a corrupt quest for profit!" Zelda shouted with anger. There were so many factors that fueled her fury: the betrayal of the neighboring races, her father's unquenchable greed and disregard for anyone, including his only daughter. The fact that he would just decide who her eternal mate will be without her consent enraged her.
"Now, now Zelda, I happen to know that Zensha is a fine young man. He will take excellent care of you. He can provide lavish comforts, possibly better than I can and the best protection."
"Is that all that matters to you anymore? Material things and money? What about love? Companionship, loyalty, courage, things that last longer than rupees. That's what's important. I don't know this person and I honestly do not want to."
"Come now my dear, let us not speak so hastily to those we will spend our lives with, you may say something you'll regret." the sound of Zensha's voice made Zelda's skin crawl.
"I doubt that." hissed the princess as she scowled at the perverted prince. The King then stood to his feet.
"That is quite enough young lady! I'll have no more of these childish outbursts. You are to be wed to Zensha and that is final!" Thundered the king.
"It's all right your majesty..." tittered Zensha, "...Pretty young ladies such as herself are often so absorbed in themselves to think anyone is worthy of them. After a night with me I'm positive she'll see things differently." Zelda grabbed her drink, leaned across the table and splashed it on the prince.
"Cool off!" The prince immediately stood up whimpering and mourning over his wet clothes.
"Oh! You...You dirty little bitch! How dare you?! How dare you?! You will respect your husband! I'll make sure! I'll make you sleep in rags woman! This vest is rare spotted Zora skin! It cost me one hundred silver rupees!" Zelda was abhorred that the man had a living breathing being killed for a vest.
"Zelda!" The King screamed at the top of his lungs. "Enough! You will treat our guests with respect! Now apologize to the prince immediately!! This is no way to start a marriage young lady!!"
"No! I refuse! I'll have no part in this barbarism! "
"Hold your tongue daughter! This is not barbarism! This is progress! It is business!!"
"It is madness! You're talking about tearing apart the country! And you want to use me to confirm it! You don't care if I'm happy! This person is detestable! I'd soon rather lie with swine than bed with him!"
"You will be part of this! You will be wed! My decision is final!"
"Then you may as well have simply sentenced me to the dungeons! The cruelty would be no different!" scorned the Princess. The King was taken aback by his daughter's harsh words. Never had she spoken to him so, especially in front of guests. "You're a horrible King! You don't care about your people at all!" Zelda shouted at a vision of her father that was blurred with tears. She couldn't help but think of the gorons , and the Zora without a place to live, and the kokiri who, to leave the forest, meant death; they would be extinct. She thought of the sages. Each of which came from one of the races. Zelda adored Saria, the sage of the forest.. Princess Ruto, sage of water, was one of Zelda's close friends. They were both about the same age and were both princesses, they could always turn to one another for support. She thought of Big Brother Darunia, no matter how grumpy he looked, he always had something nice to say. All these people who trusted the King would be betrayed for money, and she had no choice but to be the catalyst of the tragedy. "You don't even care about me." The King was appalled but he was so blinded by greed he could not see that what she said was true. Zelda thought of losing her chance to love someone, by being not much more than a slave to the cocky, skinny little prince; she would serve one purpose only, and it made her nauseous.
Then she thought of Link. After that, the tears finally broke free from her eyes and she fled the room crying. All three watched silently as left. Zelda's father slowly sank back down into his chair with the look of shock still stricken across his face. The drunken King Heuaris sat and watched the whole ordeal with a drunken smile and after a few moments of silent contemplation, belched:
"I'd say that went rather well. Wouldn't you? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha BURP!"
Zelda ran down the hall as fast as she could. She ran blindly while crying, as though she was trying to escape the terror that loomed over her. She ran aimlessly. She didn't know where she was going or what she could do. Then, as she rounded a corner, she ran head first into Link, who was just leaving from Rauru's study.
"Whulf!" Zelda had a full steam head build up of speed that knocked the wind out Link. He never saw it coming. Zelda didn't know who she ran into, but she immediately tried to stop crying and apologize.
"SNIFF Excuse me I-I-"she finally wiped away enough tears to make out who she hit.
"Zelda?" when she saw Link she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed hard. Which didn't feel to good as he was still winded, and the unprovoked hug made his eyes bulge.
"Link! It's awful! Father! Calatia! It's horrible!" Zelda wept and her babble didn't make any sense to Link. He pulled her off of his chest and tried to calm her down so he could get some words out of her.
"Zelda! Calm down! Tell me what's happening!" Link's calm voice soothed Zelda's panicked spirit and she took a few deep breaths and preceded to tell Link of the treachery her father was planning.
"It's my father. He's going to betray the kingdom."
"Betray the kingdom? What are you talking about?"
"He's going to break trade with the neighboring races. The gorons, the zora, the kokiri, all of them! He's going to break trade with them and have them removed from their land so he can open trade with Calatia!" Link's look of compassion contorted to a look of shock and disbelief.
"Your not serious." said Link in his hushed serious voice. Zelda started crying again because it was so horrible even Link wouldn't believe her, and yet it was true
"Yes I am!" she shouted, "I'm dead serious! Father is going to...is going to..."she was hysterical and couldn't finish. Link pulled her close and held her to still her shaking. He felt like his world had been turned upside down. What Zelda spoke of was impossible. He fought so hard to protect the races from Ganondorf. He knew the King. It was the same man that showered Link with praise after the imprisoning war, the man that held a week long celebration that lasted into the hours of the mornings in his honor, and demanded that all races were present to celebrate their freedom. He was a man that didn't care about money, only about people. "We have to do something Link, we have to." Zelda couldn't bear to tell Link of her arranged marriage to Prince Zensha. It already broke her heart, and she didn't want to spread the pain.
"There's nothing we can do now." said Link. "I can come back tomorrow and see the King, maybe you didn't get all the facts." Zelda scowled as she remembered all her father had told her.
"Oh yes I did."
"Well, uh, come on, let me walk you to your room, you've obviously had a pretty bad night." Link walked silently with Zelda for about a minute when they came upon the hallway leading to her bedroom. Link stopped cold at the end of the hallway.
"What's wrong?" asked Zelda as she looked at Links unprovoked look of concern. His eyes narrowed and shifted quickly back and forth at the walls.
"Where are the guards?" asked Link in a very hushed tone. Zelda responded sarcastically.
"Father probably has all the guards combing the castle searching for me. I wouldn't worry about it." But Link was worried, very worried. The corridor was long and dimly lit, as if one lone candle was lit in the whole castle. The ever-present honor guards were mysteriously absent. It was exactly like Links dream. Only this time, the Princess was with him and he had his sword. He reached back and put his hand on the hilt and kept it there, ready to draw it on absolutely no notice. He then took Zelda's hand and proceeded cautiously down the corridor. This frightened Zelda. She trusted Link's judgment, and if he was worried of danger, she was worried. So she walked behind him for protection. "Wh-whats' wrong?" she asked.
"I gotta really bad feeling." he whispered. Finally they reached her room. Outside the window, all of Hyrule was bathed in a cool blanket of white moonlight. Three candles raged above Zelda's bed, just like his dream. His pulse began to quicken. The tension coming from Link was so thick Zelda could feel it. And it worried her. Link looked back and forth several times, scanning every detail. Then he looked down on her bed and saw a piece of wood. "What's that?" whispered Link so low Zelda could barely hear him. Zelda took a few steps forward.
"It looks like a mask..." Link immediately drew his sword and pulled his shield. His movements were lightning fast, coupled with the loud sound of metal on metal; Zelda was startled. She saw Link with a look of cornered panic. He was sweating profusely and he even began to slightly bounce in his battle stance a little bit. Zelda couldn't understand what would provoke Link like that, seeing as how he's always so calm headed under crisis. But she didn't even see a crisis or opponent of any kind. It looked like Link was losing his mind. Zelda reached for the mask to see what was so dangerous when behind her she was startled by Link's thunderous voice.
"Don't touch it!" he screamed such a deep scream Zelda was almost afraid of him, she had never seen him so ferocious before. Link slowly approached the mask with the wily glare of a madman. He kept his sword in front of him and used the tip of it to flip the mask over and see what it was. "...That's not it." It wasn't the fierce deity mask, like he feared. After seeing the mask, his face relaxed, as did the rest of his body and he put his sword and shield up and began to rub his face with relief.
"What? What's not it?" Link wouldn't answer her. Zelda walked over to the mask and picked it up to look at it. "It's a wedding mask Link."
"Oh, that's all." after a moment he realized what she had said and became overly flushed and nervous. "Oh! A wedding, uh, m-mask." Zelda looked at him in confusion. He was behaving strangely to her, even for Link. She held it up to examine it and a piece of paper fell from it that she didn't see. Link picked it up and decided it was okay to read it, seeing as how Zelda didn't know anything about the mask either:
To my beloved Princess Zelda,
Please my sweet. Forgive what has transgressed this night. Words I spoke were out of anger and haste that reflect not the feelings of my heart and soul. You are the reason I was born. I was born to love you, to make love to you. I understand that you feel as though you were robbed of your choice. But I implore you to give me another chance. I know if you were to let me love you, for just the shortest time, you would see that you would have made the choice yourself. I promise I can give you all you need. And I promise to give you all you want. No matter the cost, and no matter the exhaust. You will never have to work for anything again; all I'll provide is everything all I'll withhold from you is nothing. Here in your bedroom, I saw our future, this is where our lives will begin, the only way they can. Please share my vision with me. And I promise to share my soul.
Your one true destiny,
Prince Zensha
Link's heart took a blow so heavy he doubted the possibility of recovery. All had ever hoped for, all he had ever dreamed of, now seemed like a distant dream. The keystone of Link's life had been shattered. And with the news of the Kings wicked treachery at hand it seemed like reality had shifted. He felt like he was still in a nightmare, just a different one. But despite Link's silent prayers, he didn't wake up. It was really happening. His hand began too shake and he watched it shake with disbelief. He had never felt these feelings before and he didn't know how to handle them. He wasn't scared, so that didn't explain it. Zelda looked up from the mask to see Link watching in awe as his hand trembled. He then reached up with his other hand and clamped down on it and his expression changed to one of pain.
"Link what's wrong?" Link looked up startled and dropped the note. Seeing the princess' eyes caused him only further pain. He felt that by looking at this woman, who was promised to another man, that he was doing something wrong. He felt like he didn't belong. And he reacted accordingly as he slowly shook his head as Zelda approached him.
Zelda couldn't understand why Link was all of the sudden afraid of her.
"Oh there you are." a voice from behind them said. Link whipped around and squinted in the dim light. Prince Zensha glared at Link with annoyance. He then put one hand on his hip and gave a cock-eyed smile and said, "My Zelda, I didn't know you liked to share. But you see I only share with other women love. So unless you have some debutantes handy, tell the homeless guy to leave." Zelda squinted at the Prince recognizing the slimy voice, but it took her a moment to place the face. "Like what I've done? It's a very sensual lighting pattern don't you agree?" Zelda's eyes widened as she realized it was the prince she dreaded more than anyone.
"Zensha!" she said. Link knew the name from the love letter. Seeing him in the Zelda's room, he knew what Zensha had come for. His eyes widened with fear and he felt moisture collecting in them. Link didn't know what to do so he did what he normally did in battle when he wasn't sure of his chances of coming out alive, he ran. "Link, tell him to –Hey!" she shouted as Link bolted out the door as fast as he could. He pushed Prince Zensha out of his way on the way out sending him against the wall with a loud thud. "Where are you going?" Zelda tried to run after him but she was wearing her evening dress and shoes, so she would never catch him.
"Well don't take it so hard. Jerk." said the smug prince as he brushed himself off. "So, I see you got my note..."
"The note!" said Zelda as she ran backwards just as Zensha was about to put his arms around her, leaving him squeezing air. She picked it up. "After he read this he was terrified of me, what could..." she stopped as she read the note. At first her look was one of disgust, but then she put a hand over her mouth as she finished the note. She then looked up "Oh no..." she said and turned to walk after Link only to walk right into Prince Zensha.
"So he can't handle rejection, trust me lover, the peasant is the least of our worries..." The prince tried to seduce her and slowly reached a hand to her face to softly stroke her skin. Zelda watched his hand slowly rise and then it stopped right before it touched her face, then she looked at Zensha, who looked at her and raised an eyebrow to the princess. Zelda stared blankly for a moment, then she punched the Prince right in the mouth sending him careening to the floor. Then she started walk after Link in a hurried pace.
"Oh please, please Link, don't do anything rash..."
"Ugh. Ruaru always tells me to think. And what did I do? 'One little peck on the cheek' I shouldn't have done that, that's the last time I listen to myself." Zelda chastised herself silently as she made her way up the stairs to the main table where her father and his guests were waiting for her. After her standard formal greetings she sat down.
"Zelda, I do trust you understand that when I say 'two hours past moon rise' I don't mean whenever you feel like it." scolded Zelda's father the King with a firm raised eye brow.
"Forgive me father, I'll see it will not happen again."
"Good. Now I trust you remember King Heuaris." Heuaris sat smug with a spoon in his mouth that he was lightly nibbling on and gave a un enthusiastic smile and lifted his pinky towards the Princess to "wave".
"Of course I do. Your majesty." Zelda gave a formal curtsey. She didn't really remember King Heuaris the last time she visited Calatia with her father and older brothers, was before the imprisoning war. The King of Calatia and the King of Hyrule had a "blood pact" of sorts. All of Hyrule's princes were wed to Calatia's princesses through arranged marriages. This would ensure the too kingdoms would always remain allies as long as the too royal families were linked by blood.
"Now then, I know you have never met his only son Zensha. Zelda, Prince Zensha of Calatia, Zensha, meet Princess Zelda of Hyrule." Zensha stood and bowed to Zelda with intense eyes that seemed to burn right into her mind and soul and touch everything that was there, which made her feel very uncomfortable, almost violated. She couldn't wait for the evening to be over with, the sooner she was away from the spooky prince the better.
During the meal, in which the two Kings engaged in small talk about the old days Prince Zensha continued to glare at the princess and wouldn't take his eyes away from her for anything. It cost Zelda her appetite, she wished Link was there. Zelda's father brought up some business. "Very good. Now then Zelda, you are no doubt wondering as too why I asked you to join us this evening."
"I'm sure you have better things to do than listen to two old men prattle on eh?" joked the ill-humored King Heuaris.
"Alright, Alright. King Heuaris and I have been in negotiations the past few months, and I felt as my daughter you should be told of my decisions first before I announce them to the people."
"Al-Alright." Zelda was beginning to feel a bad premonition.
"You see, the economy of Hyrule has become somewhat slow since the imprisoning war ended."
"Father, the economy is just as strong as it's ever been, what do you mean?"
"Heh, heh, nothing worse than a woman with an opinion eh old boy?" King Heuaris, slightly drunk held up his glass towards Zelda's father and then tipped it all the way back and drank the rest of it's contents with a single gulp. Zelda was offended by the King's remark, yet her father did nothing to remedy it.
"On the contrary, most of the court's revenues have come, this year, solely from taxes alone. And frankly my dear, something must be done." Zelda sipped from her glass and shrugged as she put it down.
"So it was a bad fiscal year, we've had them before,-"but before she could finish, her father cut her off.
"Exactly my point Zelda, exactly. We have had them before, and too often. I've met with the official revenue advisors and we've concluded that the source of the problem is the Hyrule market. People just aren't buying goods anymore. And the reason is the goods themselves. There simply is no demand for them anymore."
"Then we find goods that people do want."
"Ooo, she's sharp as a sword that one. Ha ha ha ha ha!" bellowed the un welcome King Heuaris. Once again Zelda's father conceded to Heuaris' rudeness and simply rolled his eyes. It was bad enough Zelda had to fend for herself against the obnoxious Heuaris but she had to do it while under constant attack from Zensha's intruding stare.
"That's half of what Heuaris and I have been discussing. You see, Hyrule's main trade is with the Gorons and the Zora, and the goods they have to offer are just not in demand anymore. Therefore, I have decided to break all trade with the Gorons and Zora, effective one month from now."
"What?! You can't be serious father!"
"I am dead serious Zelda. We are going to open trade with the Calatians."
"We can't trade with Calatians! They live across the Hylian sea."
"Which is what I have been discussing with King Heuaris here. We have decided to sign the Hylian/Calatian Military Trade Alliance. Hyrule and Calatia will work together to establish a trade route through which we will trade goods, workers. Calatians will come to open businesses fronts on Hylian soil and vice versa."
"Well it is a sound plan, but what of the Gorons and the Zora, and the kokiri? And the guerdo? What about them? What will become of them if they have no one to trade with? And what of the alliance between the Hylians and these races? If we break trade, and thus communication with them, will that not be breaking the peace treaty we share with these people?" The King leaned back in his chair for a moment to plot out his answers.
"Yes Zelda, the peace treaty will be broken. Which is why Calatia has agreed to supply us with military support in the inevitable event of a war. The Gorons and Zora do not have to war with us however, and we will still prefer a peaceful coexistence. But in the event of expanded civilization, they will eventually refuse to surrender their land to progress, and it deeply pains me to see old friends become enemies, but we cannot sacrifice progress for useless traditions of the old ways. And as far as the kokiri is concerned, they're nothing more than a myth. They've never been seen. Therefore it will be alright to use the kokiri forest as lumber for ships, since nothing lives there." Zelda cupped her mouth with her hands and slowly leaned back in her chair. She was horrified at what she heard. Her heart was broken. Ever since the imprisoning war ended her father had become a greedy man. And now he casually spoke of eliminating races that trusted and depended on him for support, all for the purpose of profit. "Zelda please don't take it as a bad thing. You see we-"Zelda immediately stood up and held her hand up to signal her father's silence.
"Stop. I don't want to hear anymore of this."
"But you need too. There is more and it concerns you directly." Zelda slowly sank back into her chair and braced herself. She knew what she was going to hear was in someway going to ruin her life." As part of such an extreme pact we've decided that just a signature and seal will not do. Therefore we have decided to use the blood pact system."
"...But all of my brothers are married."
"True. Which is why I feel that amidst the topic of change, and expansion, we should change old habits and expand them to fit modern needs." The King stood up and flashed a large smile. He held up his cup in the same manner King Heuaris had earlier and said "This is a truly joyous occasion indeed. Zelda, my daughter, I have arranged for you to be married to Zensha, prince of Calatia!" The words hit Zelda like fiery arrows. She turned to Zensha in horror as the suave, cocky prince from Calatia smiled a very serpentine smile. Zelda stomped to her feet in protest.
"Absolutely not! I refuse to hand over my life to be used to seal a deal of a corrupt quest for profit!" Zelda shouted with anger. There were so many factors that fueled her fury: the betrayal of the neighboring races, her father's unquenchable greed and disregard for anyone, including his only daughter. The fact that he would just decide who her eternal mate will be without her consent enraged her.
"Now, now Zelda, I happen to know that Zensha is a fine young man. He will take excellent care of you. He can provide lavish comforts, possibly better than I can and the best protection."
"Is that all that matters to you anymore? Material things and money? What about love? Companionship, loyalty, courage, things that last longer than rupees. That's what's important. I don't know this person and I honestly do not want to."
"Come now my dear, let us not speak so hastily to those we will spend our lives with, you may say something you'll regret." the sound of Zensha's voice made Zelda's skin crawl.
"I doubt that." hissed the princess as she scowled at the perverted prince. The King then stood to his feet.
"That is quite enough young lady! I'll have no more of these childish outbursts. You are to be wed to Zensha and that is final!" Thundered the king.
"It's all right your majesty..." tittered Zensha, "...Pretty young ladies such as herself are often so absorbed in themselves to think anyone is worthy of them. After a night with me I'm positive she'll see things differently." Zelda grabbed her drink, leaned across the table and splashed it on the prince.
"Cool off!" The prince immediately stood up whimpering and mourning over his wet clothes.
"Oh! You...You dirty little bitch! How dare you?! How dare you?! You will respect your husband! I'll make sure! I'll make you sleep in rags woman! This vest is rare spotted Zora skin! It cost me one hundred silver rupees!" Zelda was abhorred that the man had a living breathing being killed for a vest.
"Zelda!" The King screamed at the top of his lungs. "Enough! You will treat our guests with respect! Now apologize to the prince immediately!! This is no way to start a marriage young lady!!"
"No! I refuse! I'll have no part in this barbarism! "
"Hold your tongue daughter! This is not barbarism! This is progress! It is business!!"
"It is madness! You're talking about tearing apart the country! And you want to use me to confirm it! You don't care if I'm happy! This person is detestable! I'd soon rather lie with swine than bed with him!"
"You will be part of this! You will be wed! My decision is final!"
"Then you may as well have simply sentenced me to the dungeons! The cruelty would be no different!" scorned the Princess. The King was taken aback by his daughter's harsh words. Never had she spoken to him so, especially in front of guests. "You're a horrible King! You don't care about your people at all!" Zelda shouted at a vision of her father that was blurred with tears. She couldn't help but think of the gorons , and the Zora without a place to live, and the kokiri who, to leave the forest, meant death; they would be extinct. She thought of the sages. Each of which came from one of the races. Zelda adored Saria, the sage of the forest.. Princess Ruto, sage of water, was one of Zelda's close friends. They were both about the same age and were both princesses, they could always turn to one another for support. She thought of Big Brother Darunia, no matter how grumpy he looked, he always had something nice to say. All these people who trusted the King would be betrayed for money, and she had no choice but to be the catalyst of the tragedy. "You don't even care about me." The King was appalled but he was so blinded by greed he could not see that what she said was true. Zelda thought of losing her chance to love someone, by being not much more than a slave to the cocky, skinny little prince; she would serve one purpose only, and it made her nauseous.
Then she thought of Link. After that, the tears finally broke free from her eyes and she fled the room crying. All three watched silently as left. Zelda's father slowly sank back down into his chair with the look of shock still stricken across his face. The drunken King Heuaris sat and watched the whole ordeal with a drunken smile and after a few moments of silent contemplation, belched:
"I'd say that went rather well. Wouldn't you? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha BURP!"
Zelda ran down the hall as fast as she could. She ran blindly while crying, as though she was trying to escape the terror that loomed over her. She ran aimlessly. She didn't know where she was going or what she could do. Then, as she rounded a corner, she ran head first into Link, who was just leaving from Rauru's study.
"Whulf!" Zelda had a full steam head build up of speed that knocked the wind out Link. He never saw it coming. Zelda didn't know who she ran into, but she immediately tried to stop crying and apologize.
"SNIFF Excuse me I-I-"she finally wiped away enough tears to make out who she hit.
"Zelda?" when she saw Link she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed hard. Which didn't feel to good as he was still winded, and the unprovoked hug made his eyes bulge.
"Link! It's awful! Father! Calatia! It's horrible!" Zelda wept and her babble didn't make any sense to Link. He pulled her off of his chest and tried to calm her down so he could get some words out of her.
"Zelda! Calm down! Tell me what's happening!" Link's calm voice soothed Zelda's panicked spirit and she took a few deep breaths and preceded to tell Link of the treachery her father was planning.
"It's my father. He's going to betray the kingdom."
"Betray the kingdom? What are you talking about?"
"He's going to break trade with the neighboring races. The gorons, the zora, the kokiri, all of them! He's going to break trade with them and have them removed from their land so he can open trade with Calatia!" Link's look of compassion contorted to a look of shock and disbelief.
"Your not serious." said Link in his hushed serious voice. Zelda started crying again because it was so horrible even Link wouldn't believe her, and yet it was true
"Yes I am!" she shouted, "I'm dead serious! Father is going to...is going to..."she was hysterical and couldn't finish. Link pulled her close and held her to still her shaking. He felt like his world had been turned upside down. What Zelda spoke of was impossible. He fought so hard to protect the races from Ganondorf. He knew the King. It was the same man that showered Link with praise after the imprisoning war, the man that held a week long celebration that lasted into the hours of the mornings in his honor, and demanded that all races were present to celebrate their freedom. He was a man that didn't care about money, only about people. "We have to do something Link, we have to." Zelda couldn't bear to tell Link of her arranged marriage to Prince Zensha. It already broke her heart, and she didn't want to spread the pain.
"There's nothing we can do now." said Link. "I can come back tomorrow and see the King, maybe you didn't get all the facts." Zelda scowled as she remembered all her father had told her.
"Oh yes I did."
"Well, uh, come on, let me walk you to your room, you've obviously had a pretty bad night." Link walked silently with Zelda for about a minute when they came upon the hallway leading to her bedroom. Link stopped cold at the end of the hallway.
"What's wrong?" asked Zelda as she looked at Links unprovoked look of concern. His eyes narrowed and shifted quickly back and forth at the walls.
"Where are the guards?" asked Link in a very hushed tone. Zelda responded sarcastically.
"Father probably has all the guards combing the castle searching for me. I wouldn't worry about it." But Link was worried, very worried. The corridor was long and dimly lit, as if one lone candle was lit in the whole castle. The ever-present honor guards were mysteriously absent. It was exactly like Links dream. Only this time, the Princess was with him and he had his sword. He reached back and put his hand on the hilt and kept it there, ready to draw it on absolutely no notice. He then took Zelda's hand and proceeded cautiously down the corridor. This frightened Zelda. She trusted Link's judgment, and if he was worried of danger, she was worried. So she walked behind him for protection. "Wh-whats' wrong?" she asked.
"I gotta really bad feeling." he whispered. Finally they reached her room. Outside the window, all of Hyrule was bathed in a cool blanket of white moonlight. Three candles raged above Zelda's bed, just like his dream. His pulse began to quicken. The tension coming from Link was so thick Zelda could feel it. And it worried her. Link looked back and forth several times, scanning every detail. Then he looked down on her bed and saw a piece of wood. "What's that?" whispered Link so low Zelda could barely hear him. Zelda took a few steps forward.
"It looks like a mask..." Link immediately drew his sword and pulled his shield. His movements were lightning fast, coupled with the loud sound of metal on metal; Zelda was startled. She saw Link with a look of cornered panic. He was sweating profusely and he even began to slightly bounce in his battle stance a little bit. Zelda couldn't understand what would provoke Link like that, seeing as how he's always so calm headed under crisis. But she didn't even see a crisis or opponent of any kind. It looked like Link was losing his mind. Zelda reached for the mask to see what was so dangerous when behind her she was startled by Link's thunderous voice.
"Don't touch it!" he screamed such a deep scream Zelda was almost afraid of him, she had never seen him so ferocious before. Link slowly approached the mask with the wily glare of a madman. He kept his sword in front of him and used the tip of it to flip the mask over and see what it was. "...That's not it." It wasn't the fierce deity mask, like he feared. After seeing the mask, his face relaxed, as did the rest of his body and he put his sword and shield up and began to rub his face with relief.
"What? What's not it?" Link wouldn't answer her. Zelda walked over to the mask and picked it up to look at it. "It's a wedding mask Link."
"Oh, that's all." after a moment he realized what she had said and became overly flushed and nervous. "Oh! A wedding, uh, m-mask." Zelda looked at him in confusion. He was behaving strangely to her, even for Link. She held it up to examine it and a piece of paper fell from it that she didn't see. Link picked it up and decided it was okay to read it, seeing as how Zelda didn't know anything about the mask either:
To my beloved Princess Zelda,
Please my sweet. Forgive what has transgressed this night. Words I spoke were out of anger and haste that reflect not the feelings of my heart and soul. You are the reason I was born. I was born to love you, to make love to you. I understand that you feel as though you were robbed of your choice. But I implore you to give me another chance. I know if you were to let me love you, for just the shortest time, you would see that you would have made the choice yourself. I promise I can give you all you need. And I promise to give you all you want. No matter the cost, and no matter the exhaust. You will never have to work for anything again; all I'll provide is everything all I'll withhold from you is nothing. Here in your bedroom, I saw our future, this is where our lives will begin, the only way they can. Please share my vision with me. And I promise to share my soul.
Your one true destiny,
Prince Zensha
Link's heart took a blow so heavy he doubted the possibility of recovery. All had ever hoped for, all he had ever dreamed of, now seemed like a distant dream. The keystone of Link's life had been shattered. And with the news of the Kings wicked treachery at hand it seemed like reality had shifted. He felt like he was still in a nightmare, just a different one. But despite Link's silent prayers, he didn't wake up. It was really happening. His hand began too shake and he watched it shake with disbelief. He had never felt these feelings before and he didn't know how to handle them. He wasn't scared, so that didn't explain it. Zelda looked up from the mask to see Link watching in awe as his hand trembled. He then reached up with his other hand and clamped down on it and his expression changed to one of pain.
"Link what's wrong?" Link looked up startled and dropped the note. Seeing the princess' eyes caused him only further pain. He felt that by looking at this woman, who was promised to another man, that he was doing something wrong. He felt like he didn't belong. And he reacted accordingly as he slowly shook his head as Zelda approached him.
Zelda couldn't understand why Link was all of the sudden afraid of her.
"Oh there you are." a voice from behind them said. Link whipped around and squinted in the dim light. Prince Zensha glared at Link with annoyance. He then put one hand on his hip and gave a cock-eyed smile and said, "My Zelda, I didn't know you liked to share. But you see I only share with other women love. So unless you have some debutantes handy, tell the homeless guy to leave." Zelda squinted at the Prince recognizing the slimy voice, but it took her a moment to place the face. "Like what I've done? It's a very sensual lighting pattern don't you agree?" Zelda's eyes widened as she realized it was the prince she dreaded more than anyone.
"Zensha!" she said. Link knew the name from the love letter. Seeing him in the Zelda's room, he knew what Zensha had come for. His eyes widened with fear and he felt moisture collecting in them. Link didn't know what to do so he did what he normally did in battle when he wasn't sure of his chances of coming out alive, he ran. "Link, tell him to –Hey!" she shouted as Link bolted out the door as fast as he could. He pushed Prince Zensha out of his way on the way out sending him against the wall with a loud thud. "Where are you going?" Zelda tried to run after him but she was wearing her evening dress and shoes, so she would never catch him.
"Well don't take it so hard. Jerk." said the smug prince as he brushed himself off. "So, I see you got my note..."
"The note!" said Zelda as she ran backwards just as Zensha was about to put his arms around her, leaving him squeezing air. She picked it up. "After he read this he was terrified of me, what could..." she stopped as she read the note. At first her look was one of disgust, but then she put a hand over her mouth as she finished the note. She then looked up "Oh no..." she said and turned to walk after Link only to walk right into Prince Zensha.
"So he can't handle rejection, trust me lover, the peasant is the least of our worries..." The prince tried to seduce her and slowly reached a hand to her face to softly stroke her skin. Zelda watched his hand slowly rise and then it stopped right before it touched her face, then she looked at Zensha, who looked at her and raised an eyebrow to the princess. Zelda stared blankly for a moment, then she punched the Prince right in the mouth sending him careening to the floor. Then she started walk after Link in a hurried pace.
"Oh please, please Link, don't do anything rash..."