Hello again! Yeah, I know I'm evil, leaving my readers hanging like that. But, fear not, I will get to the good stuff again soon. :) For now, it's fun to add some cliffhangers every so often. :P

So, as always, thanks to my reviewers- sasukeuchiha; Omega87; Ygfi; Belle89; TheGoddessKnight; Sakurelle; Silvara; Ericketiting; Kariah; Gir Crazy; adrian-air-fire; Infernal Flame Zero; Lachlan; lilykat14; Sheik's twin; ME;) ; shinsei101.

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"Impa, Impa, where are you?" I called out, my voice echoing in the nearly-empty corridor.

"What is it, Princess? Is everything alright?" she asked, hurrying out of her room in her night clothes and hastily putting on a robe. "Is there an emergency?"

"Oh, no, it's nothing bad. It's just that I really need to talk to you in private. You know, about... things."

"Come along, let's go in here, then," she said, opening the door to a small parlor in the Servants' Wing. I went in with her, and we sat in chairs opposite each other, at a table. "What is it you wish to discuss with me, Your Grace?"

"It's about Link and Malon," I explained. "I made a discovery today."

"Did you see them kissing or something?" Impa remarked, evidently noticing my fretting.

"No, no, nothing like that. It's just that I feel like a total idiot right now."

"Whatever for?"

"Because Malon doesn't love Link. She's in love with Sir Cullen."

"Is that so? Well, that certainly changes things."

"Yeah, not only do I feel horrible for giving her that awful advice, but I still don't know who Link loves. I mean, perhaps he does still love Malon, but at least I know she doesn't love him back."

Impa rolled her eyes. "Your Grace, he loves you. It is so glaringly obvious that it's a wonder that you have yet to figure it out for yourself. As intelligent as you are, I expected you to realize this much sooner. Even your father has taken notice, and I have a feeling that that's why he was suddenly so intent on speaking with Link in private."

My jaw dropped. "You really think he loves me?"

Impa smiled. "Of course. How could he not? You two have always been very close friends, but it is clear that lately he has noticed that you have blossomed into a lovely young woman," she said with a wink. "Besides, you heard what he said to 'Madame Hexe' earlier about the woman he loves. How could you be so blind as to not know it was you of whom he spoke?"

I was quite surprised by Impa's straightforwardness. "But what makes you so sure?"

"Trust me, Princess, it's you. Soon enough you'll see for itself."

"Okay, okay, but what about Malon?"

"I suggest that you retire the gypsy act soon, approach her, and explain what happened. Oh, and go to Sir Cullen and try to charm him into pursuing Malon. Lately he's been roaming around the castle, as if entranced, and the other knights say he often speaks of a beautiful young woman with fiery red hair."

"Thanks, Impa!" I said, jumping up and hugging her. I bid her good night and left the room, excited and anxious all at once. I want to believe Link loves me, but what if he really does have feelings for someone else?

As I hurried down the hall, I walked headlong into Link, who had just emerged from the room where he had met with my father.

"Princess, are you alright? My sincerest apologies."

"It's not your fault. I wasn't paying attention. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Not at all," he smiled. "Might I escort you to your room?"

"Of course."

Surprisingly, Link took my arm with his, leading me along like the true gentleman that he is. I could hear the few people still awake whispering about us as he led me down the corridor and up the stairs to my room. Once we arrived, he knelt before me, taking my hand and kissing it.

"Good night, Princess," he whispered, looking up at me with those dreamy cerulean eyes of his.

"Good night, Link," I smiled down at him.

He stood up and turned to leave, but I called him back. "Pardon my asking, but why is it that my father met with you?"

Link grinned at me warmly. "Well, I think it'd be best if he told you about it."

"Please, Link, tell me. Come on, you know you want to. I can tell from your smile."

"Okay, you got me." He stepped towards me until he was standing mere inches away. He drew a deep breath. "Well, you see-"

A servant boy hurried up the stairs, breathless. He hastily bowed to me before speaking. "Princess Zelda, Link, something is going on in the Grand Ballroom! Your father was lured in there by the suitors, but they have changed form and surrounded him!"

Without a word, Link hurried downstairs, and I followed him. As we rushed to the ballroom, he looked at the servant boy. "I'm going to go in there right now and fend off the suitors, or whatever they are. Go wake the other knights immediately."

"But what about me?" I gasped.

"You follow him. There's a secret weapons cache in the barracks. Grab a sword, and anything else you think you'll need. I don't know what the situation is, so I want you to be able to protect yourself, should the worse happen."

At that point, we reached the ballroom's double-doors. Link pushed against them to find them locked. "Go!" he commanded forcefully, noticing that both me and the servant boy were standing there in shock.

I turned around just in time to see him break through the doors and enter the room.

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"Zelda!" my father shouted, hurrying over to meet me.

"Are you okay, Father? Where's Link?"

"I'm...fine...Link...fighting..." my father stuttered.

I commanded two of the knights to bring my father to Impa, while the rest came with me. We crept up to the ballroom, wondering what kind of carnage we might find. I peered in through the doorway and saw Link backed into a corner, with the creatures closing in on him.

Without warning, we rushed the room. The creatures turned to us angrily, while our arrival seemed to renew Link. A grin crossed his face, and he swung his sword in a fury of power, instantly decapitating the two enemies nearest him, causing them to crumble into a pile of bones.

That still left five. I hurried to assist Link, as the two he'd attacked had started to reform themselves. The knights tackled the remaining five, while Link and I worked together.

In my peripheral vision, I could see the other five dying for good at the hands of Hyrule's bravest. Meanwhile, Link and I moved back-to-back in a circle, holding our swords out in front of us, in a dance of death with the two creatures. Suddenly we split apart, attacking one each.

In his youth and early adulthood, my father was quite the sword fighter; fortunately I inherited his prowess, coupled with the finest training as a child. The Stalfos aimed for my head, but I easily blocked the attempt. I knew it would then put up its shield and try to attack from below, so I beat it out, stabbing at its legs. The force knocked it backwards, and it tripped over the pile of bones that once belonged to the Stalfos that Link had just finished off permanently.

I thought I had the upper hand at last, but much to my surprise, it jumped back up quickly. With a savage grin, it took a few steps at me, its sword clashing with mine. Suddenly, it jumped in the air and went into a downward thrust.

"Zel, look out!" Link shouted, but I was too surprised to move. As I watched it jump, as if in slow motion, Link was suddenly at my side. I finally reacted, covering my head with my shield. I looked to the side and saw Link jump as well, barely able to see his sword shift into an upward thrust.

I could hear the sword strike the bony creature, and hear its scream as it was finally defeated. Link put his shield over his head as the bones, now separated from each other, rained down on us. My arms shook with the vibrating metal, the sound causing my ears to ring. At last, it was over.

Link and I lowered our shields and looked around the room, observing the piles of bones scattered throughout it.

"Are you alright, Zel?" he breathed.

"Fine, and you?" I said shakily.

Link pulled me into a hug. "I've had better days," he commented, actually grinning.

I smiled, too, reveling in the warmth of his body. He released me a moment later, but continued to stand close to me. I could hear him breathe deeply. "Zelda, there's something I really need to tell you," he said.

I looked at him curiously.

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