Zelda leaned her head against Link's back, resting her eyes as they rode through the forest path. It had been several days since they'd found Daltus' soldiers, and they were both tired of the near constant riding, but the directions to Daltus had been clear.

"You're with the Prince, right?" Link had asked after some polite conversation.

"Isn't it obvious?" one asked with a harsh scoff.

"I want to join him. I'm a Hylian soldier, and I want my home back."

One of the soldiers leaned forward, inspecting Link closely. "Okay. You'll have to show His Majesty that you can fight, but we need everyone we can get. Don't expect to just walk in the front door and be a commanding officer, though."

"I would never dream of it," Link scoffed. "I need to know where he is. Where do we go?"

"Keep going north to the city of Damel. He's taken up residence with the local noblemen there while he builds up his forces. You shouldn't miss him, but ride fast. Word is that Ganondorf himself is headed to Saria. Rumor has it that Princess Zelda herself was spotted there."

Link leaned forward against the table. "Do you think there's any truth to that?"

The first soldier shrugged. "The Prince brought us to war to avenge his family and reclaim the throne. Then, rumors started about the Hylian Princess, and it became a rescue mission. Then, word came back that she was definitely dead. I don't know who to believe, and I don't care. As long as it gets that warmonger off the throne, I don't care which of them sits in it after."

"Zelda," Link said, tapping her leg to wake her. "I can see it."

She hummed as she stirred, wiping the sleep from her eyes. But when she saw the wide, protective walls of Damel, she was wide awake and alert.

"Link. When we go in there, everything is going to be different. I'm going to be different."

He turned to her, offering a small smile. "I've seen you go into 'Princess-mode' and it's a bit scary at times."

She tried to return his smile but couldn't find in in her. "We're walking into a whole new kind of battlefield, one where I'm the warrior. It can be far bloodier than any skirmish, and more deadly if a strike misses. Trust no one while we are there. Sometimes, you shouldn't even trust my words. But I swear, I will always tell you the truth in a dark corner of the woods where there are no straining ears to hear me. We're about to blow my cover, and there is no going back to Link and Zelda Forrester, as much as I would love to have one more night at an inn with you, we're needed with my cousin, who is not much like me."

"No, you're far prettier," Link interjected.

She chuckled and shook her head. "No more of those comments when we're around others. You're my guard to them. I don't trust anyone."

"I guess I'll just have to wait for the night then."

Her smile was sad as she took Link's hand. "There will be two guards on my door, and I doubt they'll let you in. Unfortunately, I believe we'll both have to readjust to sleeping alone for some time."

But his grin was ever cheeky. "Oh, I wouldn't doubt me yet, Princess."

"Nothing can break your spirit, can it?" she laughed, pressing a kiss into the side of his neck. "No more of that, either."

"Remind me again why it's better there then in the woods?"

"Saving a kingdom?" she offered.

"Right, that was it."

They continued to ride until the walls of the city towered over them, white and pristine, as if they'd never been touched by weather or wear. It was absolutely a sight to behold. Even Hyrule Castle itself hadn't been so meticulously maintained.

"Ready?" Link asked, turning around.

"Are you?"

"No," he chuckled.

"Good, neither am I. Let's do it."

They rode into the city and looked around. If there were words to describe Damel, they were: busy, crowded, rude, gorgeous, clean, and huge. Though many of those phrases didn't seem like they belonged together, they were the things that made up Damel.

And, among other things, they didn't need to guess where Prince Daltus was staying. It would be extremely easy to figure that out.

In the center of the city was a large hill, perfectly viewable from the entrance, where a large home was built atop it. While it certainly wasn't as large as the palace, it was certainly a castle in its own right.

"Is this what everyone's money goes toward?" Link asked, unable to look away.

"Unfortunately, yes, for the citizens of Damel. I've been inside only once before when I visited Niko with my father."

"Niko?"

"The man who owns that house, if that's what you want to call it. My cousin is staying with him."

Link made a face and urged Epona towards the center of the city.

Despite how large it actually was, and how difficult the cramped streets were to maneuver through, it didn't take them too long to get to the estate. And when they did, Zelda steeled herself for the inevitable chaos her appearance would make.

She slid off Epona first and waited for Link to follow, leading Epona on by the reins.

"Link, be ready. They'll likely take your sword for now, and it's quite possible they won't even believe us about who we are."

"Who you are. They don't really care who I am."

She offered him a half-hearted smile. "True, sorry."

They strode up to the two guards who stood in front of the gate, not even bothering to glance at them.

"Hello?" she tried sweetly. "Excuse me?"

"Yes, ma'am?" one said stiffly.

"Hi. I need to speak with Prince Daltus or Niko immediately. It's a very time-sensitive matter."

One of them offered her the most bored look she'd ever been given. "None are allowed inside. I'll pass the message along. What is it?"

Zelda smiled innocently. "I'm afraid that's for their ears only. But I will say that if they won't hear me, their lives are in danger. You are putting their lives in danger."

"Then tell us the message," the other said, a bit more urgently than the first.

"I'm afraid not," Zelda said, more firmly. She could feel Link's curious eyes on her, and then saw the smallest twitch of her hand, waving him off.

"Very well then," the guard said, pushing the gate open. "Follow us."

She gave them pearly smile, and once they'd passed her, she turned to Link and rolled her eyes.

The walk to the building alone was stunning. Topiaries lined the paved path to the steps of a porch, which led to double doors that were opened from the inside. And when they stepped in there, Zelda snorted. It had been re-done since she'd been there, and from the pristine nature of it, it had been done recently. And it was far gaudier than anything she'd ever seen.

Most of the ornaments around the room were plaited in gold, but the things that weren't were clearly expensive, meant to impress, not for practicality.

So, it was to their surprise that they were led into a room that was decidedly uninteresting. It had wooden walls, old, weathered furniture and showed signs of being ignored, cobwebs in the corner, dust on the table, etc.

The guard opened another door and Link reached for his sword, but Zelda shot him a look, and his hand relaxed against his better judgement.

They were staring at a small cell, just bars splitting a single room in half. Zelda walked into them without question, watching Link pull off his belt just as the guards went to rip it off him, and he joined her, groaning as the cell doors slammed shut.

"You'll tell us, or you won't get out of here."

"Then I guess this is our new home."

With a scowl, the guard slammed the door, and Zelda let out a relieved breath. Her head lolled towards Link with a wry expression. "Full circle."

"At least this one is nicer," he muttered, testing the locked door. "And I'm not chained to the wall."

"There is that," she admitted.

"Why did you do that?" he asked, getting comfortable in the corner on the ground.

Zelda joined him, resting her head on his arm, feeling his head against hers seconds later. "We got inside. That's all we needed. Now, we don't talk to them until someone gets frustrated and gets Daltus. My cousin is annoying, and maybe some could call him mean, but he is by no means 'evil.' We shouldn't have to fear torture. But he's impatient. The longer we stay quiet, the more he'll want to know what information we have, and he'll be here eventually. Regardless, we're safe from Ganondorf in here."

"So, we wait them out?"

"We wait them out."

And Zelda had been right about almost everything. The guards returned again and again, each time with threats of violence that they were never able to follow through on, slamming thigs against the echo of the bars, and accusing them of being spies.

The cell darkened as night fell, and Zelda tapped Link's leg when she heard the approach. He muttered something before sitting up with her. They were both on their feet when the door opened, but no one was there. It was a guard, holding it open from the side, only his hand visible.

"Goddess, you lousy oafs! I should dismiss the lot of you! You're useless! I can't believe I have to do this myself!"

And as that same voice appeared in the doorway, he didn't look up, just at the ground as if it was the thing that was most annoying him. "Fine, what information do you two have?"

Zelda took a step forward and leaned against the bars. "Hello, cousin."

His eyes shot up to her face and he stilled, stunned. "No, you're dead."

But Zelda smiled, letting out a little humming laugh before her eyes dared him to look away. "No, not yet."