Chapter 9: The Princess of Hyrule

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Notes: Thi is an uncharacteristically short chapter for me (I think it's the shortest in the entire story), so I'm sorry about that. I hope you enjoy, regardless!

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The door swung open, and Link stiffened, facing calmly forward.

"Oh," the Princess said, her eyebrows rising. "Er… Good morning, Sir Link."

His heart raced. Turning his head slightly towards her, he gave a curt nod, hoping it would suffice. Can't talk to her. Not unless it's absolutely necessary.

Is being polite considered necessary?

The Princess frowned, hesitantly walking forwards out of her room. A few handmaidens followed, one of them closing the door as they walked gracefully down the corridor. Link felt sweat dripping down his brow as he kept pace with them, a few steps behind the Princess. Is this right? Do I walk with her handmaidens? Do her handmaidens follow her everywhere?

His mouth was dry and he wished he had thought to bring a full waterskin along with him. His knees felt weak and shaky; he tried to mask it by imitating the General's poised marching. The Princess kept glancing back at him, over and over and over again, with her brow creased - he couldn't tell if she was unhappy or anxious.

Well, if she's anxious, that makes two of us.

At the bottom of the next stair, the handmaidens turned the opposite way down the corridor, while the Princess merely continued towards the dining hall. Link, as instructed, had already eaten; he wondered uncomfortably what he would do and where he would stand while she dined. Behind her chair? By the door? Do I pull out her chair for her or does another servant do that?

His head was beginning to ache from so many questions; he drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Focus. My job is to protect her from harm, which means I need to be looking for potential threats, not obsessing over who pulls out her chair!

Eyes narrowed, he turned his attention outwards, listening for footsteps other than those belonging to himself and the Princess, loosening his stance to be more prepared for swift movement. He scanned the elegant walls lined with a few scattered wooden doors and framed pieces of artwork from various eras. There aren't any secret passages around here… any potential assassin would have to come through the main halls.

A washroom maid paused respectfully as they passed, her head bowed. Link moistened his lips. How… how suspicious am I supposed to be? Should I assume everyone we encounter is a Yiga in disguise?

He forced back a frown, realizing that the answer was probably yes. Everyone was to be considered a potential threat, from the humblest stable hand to the most prestigious Royal Guards.

He wrinkled his nose, remembering tales he'd heard the other men sharing. Yiga or not, they would all be threats to the Princess if they're drunk enough.

Inhaling deeply, he squared his shoulders and returned his attention to his surroundings. Focus!

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Link had never felt more invisible than during that first breakfast. The Princess dined with her father in a small dining room reserved for less-formal situations. They were joined by a few other nobles, including the King's advisors. Link had decided to stand just behind the Princess' chair, as a few of the other personal guards in the room assumed such a position behind their own charges.

After a few curious glances at the Master Sword buckled to his back, he was completely ignored. The nobles discussed money, the weather, money, the Calamity, money, and precious little else as they ate. The Princess herself also seemed to be invisible to their eyes, and upon seeing the unhappy slump of her shoulders and the downward tilt of her head, a pang of sadness crept into his heart. They don't understand... She's doing all she can, but they look only at her failure.

Even her father seemed to ignore her, although Link did catch a few disapproving glances her way. It was a shame - from what he had heard, families were meant to support each other, not abandon each other in times of despair. He, of all people, should understand what she's going through… He's closest to her, isn't he?

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful. Link followed the Princess to the little cathedral within the castle (there was a larger one in Castle Town, but it wasn't half as private) several times, twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon, twice in the evening. Her earnest pleas to the Goddesses, raw with desperation, pricked at his heart. Why do they refuse? he wondered, frowning to himself. Does she pray like this every day?

When she wasn't praying, she was studying. She spent a great deal of time in the library, poring through thick, dusty books bound in ancient leather - tomes that Link doubted he could ever read. Spending nearly all of his life devoted to combat had left him with only basic reading and writing skills.

While reading, she scribbled notes in the little journal he had seen her carrying that day in the courtyard, when he had destroyed the guardian attacking her. He noticed that there were several diagrams in the old books depicting mechanical creations with similar decoration to the guardians, whereas in other books there were illustrations of the Triforce and the dark, boar-like creature Link recognized as Calamity Ganon.

This wasn't just pleasure reading, he realized. She was determined to find some way she could join the fight against the Calamity. Perhaps some of those ancient texts described past daughters of the Royal Family and how they unlocked their sacred powers. Others were clearly descriptions or stories of the ancient Sheikah tech she was so passionate about.

A warm flood of admiration filled his heart. You're… really quite something, Princess.

He'd never met anyone quite like her. She was so determined, so dedicated, so… enthusiastic, even when faced by criticism and scowls on all sides.

If only her father could see it…

As the burning glow of sunset crept down around the castle, the Princess dined once again with the King. This time, however, the meal was served in the large dining hall on the eastern side of the castle. It was Link's first time setting foot in the grand room; it was beautifully well lit by candelabras, massive chandeliers, and sconces all along the wall. Red, blue, and gold hangings decorated the walls as well, along with portraits of the Royal Family and monarchs of ages past. One of them, hanging above the mantel over a glorious roaring fire, caught Link's eye - it depicted the King and Queen on either side of their young daughter. He couldn't help but stare; the Princess looked a great deal like her late mother, but he hadn't quite realized it before, as he had only ever seen the Queen and Princess from a distance. And the Queen, of course, he hadn't seen since he was a young child.

Several more people joined them for this meal. Captain Janin and the General were there, but they were the only ones Link recognized. The rest were clearly wealthy upper class Hylians, wearing colorful, expensive clothing and with perfectly trimmed hair and clear skin. As he understood it, these people were either leaders in their individual towns - Deya, Hateno, Gatepost Town, and so on - or they held some sort of high-ranking position, like the Captain and the General.

One among them didn't quite seem to fit in. She was a young Sheikah woman dressed in the traditional garb of her tribe, and instead of looking soft and pampered like many of the others in the room, there was a scar on her cheekbone and a hard look in her crimson eyes. Beyond that, there was an eightfold longblade strapped across her shoulders. She was a warrior, and no one to be trifled with.

Perhaps she's here with the other Sheikah scientists studying the ancient relics? Link wondered. It… was possible, he supposed…

Midway through the meal the King rose to his feet, raising his hands for silence. No further urging was required; he had a commanding presence, even a terrifying one at times. The cheerful burble of conversation died in an instant.

"This evening I have important news for the Hylian race," he began, scanning the room carefully. "As you well know, my daughter, Princess Zelda, has travelled across the kingdom in recent months on a mission to recruit Champions to pilot the Divine Beasts we uncovered in recent years. Thus far four have been chosen, representing the Goron, Zora, Rito, and Gerudo people in Hyrule's unified stand against the threat of the Calamity. They are at this moment travelling here, for a formal inauguration ceremony.

"However," the King continued, "Hylians are as of yet unrepresented here. No doubt many rumors have spread about the identity of a Hylian Champion. Tonight I will put those rumors to rest. After much deliberation, my councillors and I have come to a decision regarding the Hylian Champion." He raised his hand, and his stern eyes found Link. "Sir Link of Thyphlo, master of the blade that seals the darkness, will you represent the Hylian race in the battle against the Calamity, as their Champion?"

Every eye in the room turned to him in an instant. Link's mouth went dry as sweat trickled down his spine. "Yes, Sir." He bowed his head, hoping the action was not quite as stiff as it felt.

Really, what choice do I have, when he puts it like that?

He clenched his teeth, a drop of resentment piercing his soul. Instantly ashamed, he pushed it down, burying it deep within other emotions, other sensations, until his mind was clear once more.


Updated 7/8