Hey guys! WOW! I actually finished this thing in less than a month! That's crazy! But don't you worry you "Torn Destiny" groupies! I'm half way through chapter 15! So progress is still being made ;) Anyway, MANY thanx goes out to the Readers and ESPECIALLY the reviewers out there!

Greki- Thank you! (WOO! Quite a compliment! hehehe!) I'm so happy you like it!

Some Say the World will END.:Yes, you can definetely expect one much sooner than usual!

MageWriter14: Awe thanx! Yay I'm alerting you! YIPEE! Me too! I'm a Link X Zelda fan. I can't see it being any other way! Thanks for your review!

Hylian Princess: Gee! Thanks! You're sooooo sweet! I see your name EVERYWHERE! You're quite popular, so I'm gonna take a peek at some of your stories! hehehe! Well, don't you worry, I'm working on "Torn Destiny" AS I WRITE! (which is actually imposible...BUT I MADE IT POSSIBLE!) HA-HA! Anyway, about your review on Chapter 14, sometimes they are erased! At one point, I had 127 reviews, then it was 122! I mean, granted it's 129 now, but this was like before I posted Chapter 14. GRRRR! I share your agony! Oh, do you not like the formality? Sorry if you don't :( I guess I'm being all weird! Well, enjoy this chapter 'til Chapter 15 comes out!

lil-dragon-blue: Geez! I AM being weird! I'm not a big worded person either. I believe employing such an extensive vocabulary to illustrate one's knowledge may obstruct one other's knowledge capacity to be inferior, rather than he/she finding it duteous in their behavior to encourage others' explicit terminology...oops...uh...thanx for reading!

Gosh! I don't even know if what I said made sense! Oh well, I'm being stupidly smart! Well, enjoy Chapter 2!

CHAPTER 2

A Scheme Against Another

Evening came with a gust of wind blowing through the open castle grounds. Chills ran through anyone outside, but for some reason, they didn't embrace the tall, dark Ganondorf standing just outside the castle gardens. Surely he wasn't cold because of the amount of armor he wore, simply because he was immune to the low temperatures. In the west, where he resided, the bad lands were hot and dry under the scorching, blaze of the sun, but at night, it was colder than the arctic temperatures of ice. Such an odd immunity to temperatures!

Though Ganondorf's comfort was at ease, Zelda couldn't feel the same. She sat in the castle gardens enjoying the sweet fragrances as she billowed in her book. Her eyes grew tiresome at the cold winds, but she didn't want to finish her reading. Soon, her shivers were more violent and her nose and cheeks blushed into a pinkish-red. The princess was cold, yet too stubborn to show it. Finally, she closed her book and gripped her shawl closely around her freezing skin as she paced towards her exit.

Zelda walked between the large arches that seperated the gardens from the courtyard, but in the corner of her eye, she spotted Ganondorf. What was he doing there?

"Your Grace," his words stopped her as she turned to face him completely, "May I offer you some warmth?" Zelda smiled, yet looked a bit embarassed because of the lack of warmth her attire accumulated.

"I give you thanks," her smile was blunt, yet greatful, "But I am retiring completely for the evening. So it isn't necessary."

Nevertheless, he wrapped his cape around her near bare shoulders. She bowed her head and turned to leave, but Ganondorf began walking beside her. Zelda immediately noticed this, but gave no heed to his presence. Instead, she took the quickest exit to the indoors of the castle. Ganondorf still followed her by her side as she continued at her steady pace allowing him to supposedly escort her to her chamber. The silence was finally stirred.

"May I speak with you in private?" Ganondorf asked, "I have several questions I need to ask and comments I should share." Zelda's mind pleaded him to not ask of suitor issues and such. She found it embarassing enough to think he would beckon her as a wife, but Zelda kept her usual calm, graceful state.

"Of course," she smiled, "I would be pleased to answer whatever questions you may have about Hyrule." Emphasizing her land, she tried making a point clear that she only wanted to discuss that if anything.

"Well first, before I begin," he started as the two came to a halt, "I would like to apologize if my rudeness had upset you earlier today. I understand we're of different customs, which can easily lead to mixed opinions about ourselves. But you haven't anything to worry about, Your Grace. I have no intentions to pry upon you as a suitor of some sort." He smiled warmly to her, which for some reason, Zelda thought it was odd. However, he made her feel a lot more comfortable when he told her he didn't want to be her suitor, but a bit embarassed when he thought he was rude.

"Ironically I feel the same," Zelda began, "Although I feel I was more at fault seeing as how I am indeed a member of the Hylian Royal Family, I should have presented a more affable frontage to your welcoming. Apologies, good sir."

"It isn't necessary, Your Grace," the tall Gerudo said, "I understand that you are very well followed by many men and misconceptions are always encountered at times like these." Him referring to alliances, Zelda caught that immediately.

"So if you come not to woo me for an alliance," she tested, "What may I expect you will bargain from my father?"

"A friendship with the Royal Family, Your Grace," he was sincere in his tone, so she decided to trust him on a first name basis.

"You may address me as Zelda, if you please," she smiled.

"And I as Ganondorf," he said as he returned a smile. They continued to walk down the long corridor until they finally reached her chamber. She wished him a good rest as she entered her warm chamber and shut her door . Ganondorf smiled and left her in her room.

The chamber was much warmer than the corridor seeing as how there was a lit furnace with plenty of wood that had been waiting for her for nearly an hour. She started calling upon her servant just outside to help the princess into her gown. Zelda thought it was ridiculous for someone helping her into something so simple. Most of her dresses she understood because of their difficulty, but a simple nightdress with no ties or lace or even hooks made her loath being a princess even more. The king insisted that she have personal servants serve to her every whim, but Zelda wasn't fond of it. She found doing things herself was better for her character and gave a better understanding to her people, especially to commoners who haven't any sevants. The girl finished up quickly and smiled to the princess.

"Finished, Your Grace," said the young girl, who looked only sixteen, just a single year younger than Zelda, "Any other services I may assist you with?"

"None of which remains," Zelda uttered, then looked back at her servant with a gentle smile, "Now rest, you have had a long tiresome day, good miss."

The servant curtsied and exited the chamber. Zelda then sat on her bed, but before she could nestle under the thick covers, she noticed that her servant took Ganondorf's cape off her shoulders and rested it on the chair just beside the furnace. The princess forgot to return his cape. At first she thought she should return it in the morning, but instead, she decided it would be best to return it immediately so he didn't worry.

Zelda stepped towards her armoire to get her robe. She searched through until she came across a long, creamy-white robe with wool on the inside and sheer satin that covered the outside. The princess pulled the robe on and tied the braided silk around her thin waist so she would not expose her nightdress, which was considered very indecent to do. She then picked up the massive cape and hurried out the chamber.

Very few guards were about the castle grounds, perhaps because it was very cold, which made it easier for Zelda to not make any encounters. She made her way to Ganondorf's chamber, but before she could knock on the door, she heard voices. Two voices! One obviously belonging to Ganondorf, but the other sounded like her father. What business is taking action at such a late hour? Zelda listened intentively.

"...I see no reason it should be hasten so," the king's voice was faint, but very clear, "You are to gain as much trust within our people, especially my daughter's."

"She has already permitted me to recognize her by her first name," Ganondorf's voice was deeper than when he spoke to her, "She trusts me, I can sense it."

"Yes, but does she suspect your true nature of our alliance?" He asked.

"No," the Gerudo replied immediately. There was a pause.

"I still think you should gain more trust," her father finally spoke, "Zelda is always on her guard and would not settle so quickly with someone she trusts on a first name basis."

Zelda couldn't quite understand what they were talking about. She thought her father must be insisting Ganondorf to be her mentor or an advisor of some sort, but that wouldn't make sense. Then she heard Ganondorf's voice again.

"Why is it so necessary for her to marry so soon?" He asked.

"To be frank, I am old, Ganondorf," began the king, "I cannot rule the throne for all eternity. Zelda is the only heir to the throne and though she is beautiful, loyal and bound to her kingdom, I wish not for her to enter the throne as a Queen without a King. No woman may do so as of my wishes. However, Zelda has refused to choose a suitor, which is more and more pestering, but now it has forced me to decieve her." He paused for a moment, "Ganondorf, if you wish to concieve an alliance, you must aid me in marry Zelda off. Even if it is to you."

Zelda's eyes were shocked. How could her father say that? And to put Ganondorf in an akward situation where he would have to decieve her or even marry her made Zelda even more furious.

"She would indeed be a beautiful wife," Ganondorf's voice stung Zelda's ears, "And a well bred mother." Zelda sickened to his words. She couldn't believe they were saying this!

"Do you want my daughter?" Her father's voice questioned him, but there was silence for a moment, "Then take her!"

Footsteps came closer to the door, but Zelda quickly ran to the nearest corner and turned to run back to her chamber. Tears began welling up in her eyes as she ran down the corridors and into her chamber where her warm bed had been waiting for her. She plopped herself on it and breathed heavily. Zelda didn't want to cry, she wanted to be violent, but it wasn't in her. Then a knock came at her door. The princess feared if it was Ganondorf trying to woo her or her father scolding her if he had seen her running off from the Gerudo's door.

Another knock came to the door. Zelda's gut sank, she was actually scared to confront whoever it was standing on the other side of that door. Even if it was Impa, she wouldn't know what to say. She hesitated towards the handle, her hand shook very nervously, then finally she opened the door. To her suprise it was the servant girl she had sent to rest. Zelda was very relieved at her presence, but the girl had a worried look on her face.

"Your Grace," she whispered, "Is something troubling you? I may be able to help, if you please." Zelda quickly pulled her inside and locked the door.

"I am indeed troubled," she said breathlessly, "But I fear nothing you can do would help me. I am to be decieved by my own father and a dark stranger who wishes me as his bride."

"That is aweful, Your Grace," her voice was sympathetic, Zelda looked up to her.

"Please Fileen," Zelda said trying to calm her voice, "Refer me as Zelda. I am aware you are not to say my name in casual form, nor I refer my servants by their names, but I care not any longer! This life will sicken me to my grave!"

"Yo...uh...Zelda," Fileen corrected herself, "If there is anything I can do, I will help."

Zelda being caught up in her misery, looked up at Fileen and thought for a moment. Fileen was dressed out of her servant garments, but in her regular attire. She looked like a simple peasant, of course because she was always allowed to go to the Hylian Market. Then, an idea struck Zelda.

"Perhaps you can," Zelda smiled.

Ha-ha! I made a cliffy! ...well actually it wasn't, but I CAN make a cliffy! j/k, but seriously, I could. Anyway, I know there's a LOT of "formality" and large words in this chapter so if you don't like it, that's what the reviews are for. Let me know, and I'll be more than happy to adjust to your likings! ;) Thanks 4 reading! And don't forget to review...Questions, Compliments, & Criticisms are always welcomed! See ya next time!