Hello, and welcome to chapter two! As you've probably noticed, I've decided to make the characters speak more modern-day language, to make the story easier to write and read. Thank you to all my reviewers from chapter one- linky-gurl; Sakurelle; Tony the Tall; Gir Crazy, and Spiritual Stone. On with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series, in whole or in part.

"Are you okay, Zel?" Link questioned, calling me by my nickname (which, by the way, only he was ever allowed to use on me) and looking me in the eyes.

"I'm...uh...fine. I'm perfect," I stammered, as I got lost in a cerulean sea. "I'm just glad you're here, is all." I contemplated telling him my good news, but matters of the heart always made me trip over my tongue, even when they had absolutely nothing to do with my love for him. Sometimes just talking to him at all turned me into a jelly-legged, bumbling fool.

"Okay, whatever you say," he muttered, still looking at me in disbelief.

I blushed as I realized that I was still clinging to him, dropping my arms at last.

"So how are you feeling about later?" he asked.

"Why, what's going on later?"

"The suitors," he reminded me, in a tone remniscient of a parent reminding a child of chores.

"Of, of course, the suitors." Good one, Zelda. You might as well crawl under a rock right now, and never come back out.

"Well, I'm sure you'll impress them," he said with a playful smile, observing my formal appearance.

Is he flirting with me? Oh, who am I kidding. "Uh, yeah, but I'm not to sure if I want to," I answered. What kind of dumb answer is that? He compliments you, and you can't even thank him, like a normal person!

Link smiled ruefully at that, prompting me to think of a response.

"But thanks anyway," I added. "Even if I don't find someone to my liking, I figure the least I could do is look my best."

"Yes. I wish I could say the same about myself. I mean, about looking my best," he said, looking down at his tunic, breeches, and boots. "I always wear the same old thing. No wonder people complain about how boring I look."

"Hey, it's okay," I insisted. "When they start saving the kingdom from certain doom, they can create a dress code. For now, just work with what you have. At least you bathe and wash your clothes."

"Well, what can I say, just because I have to sleep in dirt sometimes and battle nasty enemies doesn't mean I have to look like it," he chuckled. Gosh, how I love that laugh.

"Princess!" Impa shouted from the top of the stairs. "You must get ready."

"I thought I was ready," I whispered to Link. "How much more torture will they put me through?"

"I don't think I want to know," he whispered back. "Besides, I think you look beautiful just the way you are right now. If the suitors want you, they'll have to accept you for what you are, not what tradition dictates you're supposed to be."

I started blushing again as Impa once again shouted for me. "Uh, yeah, thanks. Well, gotta go," I answered, hurrying up the staircase.

I could feel all eyes on me as I made my way down the stairs. All ten suitors were staring at me, wide-eyed and opened mouth, but I paid them no mind. All I cared about was Link. I saw him as I neared the bottom of the steps, smiling warmly at me. Oh, how I love him!

When I got to the center of the room, the suitors immediately swamped me, all asking if they could get me something to eat or drink, or if I wanted to dance. I feigned interest as I danced with all of them, keeping my eyes on Link. I couldn't help but feel pangs of jealousy as he moved around the ballroom with many maidens, each one begging him for a kiss on the cheek, and perhaps a bit more.

I could feel my face burning with anger. "Princess, are you okay?"

I stopped zoning out and looked at the suitor with whom I was dancing at the moment, Prince Erick, to see that he was frowning at me.

"I'm fine," I lied. "Sorry, I was just a little distracted."

"It's okay," his face changed into a smile. "Mind if I ask why?"

"Yes, I do, actually."

"Oh," he frowned again.

As we continued to dance, I snuck glances at Link and his many dance partners, my face still red. Enough of this already! I began to lead Erick towards Link and his current partner, causing him to bash into the latter.

"Hey, what's your problem?" the maiden screeched.

"Excuse me, but don't you have enough respect to address a prince properly?" Erick screeched back.

"Oh, you're a prince? Forgive me, Your Higness." She let go of Link, turning her face to him. "Forget you. You're just a soldier." With that, she grabbed Erick- who had since let go of me- and stalked off with him.

"Umm... okay..." Link muttered in surprise. "Would you like to dance, Zel?" he asked, recovering and bowing to me.

"It would be my honor."

As he twirled me around, I caught a glance of my father's face. He did not looked pleased.

"Uh-oh. Angry father at ten o'clock," I whispered to Link. But before he could react, my father was at our side.

"Zelda, what is the meaning of this? You know you are to dance with the suitors! Link is a fine young man, but you are here to find a husband, not putter around with your protector."

"But, Father, you see-" I tried to explain.

"'But, Father,' nothing!" he nearly shouted, causing tears to form in my eyes.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I found Her Highness very upset to see that her dance partner had abandoned her. I did not wish to see her become embarrassed by standing there alone, so I asked her to dance with me," Link said in my defense.

My father calmed down, but still looked cross. "Very well then. You two may finish out this song, but after that, Zelda, I order you to spend time with the suitors. That was part of our deal, remember?"

"What deal?" I said with a gulp. I didn't want Link to know of my plans to go into town and give love advice.

"Oh, nevermind," my father grumbled. "Just go find another dance partner when this song is over."

"Yes, Father," I answered, looking down at the floor. Once he was gone, I smiled at Link. "Thank you for defending me."

"It is my job, Zel. You know, your father asked you to dance with one of the suitors after this song. But if we never hear the song end, does that mean that you don't have to dance with someone else?"

"I suppose so," I whispered, my grin ever-widening as I noticed the gleam in his eyes, the one that always made me go weak in the knees.

We continued smiling at each other as he quietly led me to the other end of the room, sneaking away when we realized my father had become distracted.

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