Zelda sat with her feet curled up on the long sofa in Niko's library. She'd expected that, as a well-respected nobleman, Niko might have a decent sized library, but when she was finally led there, it was sadly pathetic. The local bookstores would have more than he did. She'd scrunched down on her knees to the single small shelf of about fifteen books on it just to see the titles. In the week since she'd stood up to Daltus, she'd managed to read half his collection of near useless books.

So, with the book Strong Gazes in her hand, she lazily flipped the pages. She almost wanted to cover the title with her hand whenever anyone walked by. While it almost looked like she was reading a romance novel, it was actually a book by an orator on speech and postures that convey authority.

Every now and then, she'd follow a motion that the book suggested, but she felt far more silly than powerful when it suggested sitting with her legs far apart and with her chest out. She snorted, knowing that it was written either by a man, or for one, because there was no way in the realms that she would ever do that, especially in the dresses she wore.

Letting the book fall to the floor, no energy even to hold it, she laid back and closed her eyes as she waited for Seres to return with the man she'd been waiting to meet. He'd finally arrived in the city, and he was as eager to meet her as she was him.

There was nothing comfortable about laying on the couch, so she put the book away before leaning against the doorframe to get a better look at her guard. It was Finn, who'd volunteered several times now to guard her to give Link a break. She was grateful, but she had far more trust in some of her Hylian soldiers now than she had before after realizing that they would answer to her over Daltus as the two Hylians had when Link had all but beheaded Daltus.

Link and Finn reported back several times that they'd tested several soldiers, and it held true, and while she didn't ask for their methods, they'd both returned to her very convinced that the Hylians were loyal to her.

"So," she asked Finn. "Do you have any thoughts on anything we've been doing?"

Though he was still nervous around her, he'd finally begun to speak to her like she was a person. "Nothing negative about you, but I do think Prince Daltus could be doing more. Rumor has it that he's been going off about you to his servants."

"Why this time? Do you know?"

"He didn't go into specifics, just that you were being—and these are his words, not mine—a 'petulant brat.'"

She rolled her eyes. "At least I'm not a boring house guest. Have you heard anything on Ganondorf?"

"I'm afraid not, Princess. The last I heard was when I went out to Saria Town."

"Thank you, Finn."

"Mmm," he muttered, fidgeting a bit. "Have you seen Seres yet?"

Zelda settled herself comfortably against the doorframe with a light smile on her face. "I believe you'd be the one to see her first."

"R-right," he stuttered, clearing his throat, and looking away uncomfortably. "Right, of course."

"How are the people of Saria anyway? Do you know that?"

"I do," he said, relieved to change the topic. "Many of them are refugees here. Princess, the vast majority are eternally grateful for the support you sent after the attack. Some of them wish you'd sent support sooner, but we've been working to spread the word that it was the Prince and not yourself who refused to send support. There are a very small few though who…" he stopped and swallowed nervously. "Well, they believe you're at fault for going through their town in the first place."

Zelda sighed and shook her head. "It is my fault though, isn't it? I'm sure my mother or father could have figured out a way to avoid decimating an entire town."

Finn placed a comforting, though hesitant, hand on her arm. "You're doing better than you think, Princess. Link has told me some stories. You're a bit like the Goddess herself when he tells stories, I often don't know how much he's joking and how much really happened."

Zelda looked away to hide the red in her face. She could tell that Finn didn't know for sure about her and Link, but it was also clear that he was suspicious. Honestly, all it took was for someone to spend a few days with them in close company to figure there was something going on between them.

"Gods, what did he say?" she asked, playing it off as the joke he'd been making.

Finn chuckled. "Well, besides telling me how many times you've saved his life or stitched his wounds, he tells me you were in Hyrule Field before Ganondorf took power."

"I was."

"I wish I had been there to see it. I've seen nobles helping out before, though never quite in the capacity I hear you've helped. Especially given your status. Many of the more robust ones will fight with us, but thanks to their status, they're mostly relegated to safer roles. He also tells me you want to come on the front lines when we fight Ganondorf."

"Link likes to talk, doesn't he?" Zelda laughed.

"He does like the sound of his own voice, doesn't he? Well, when you're at the taverns, you need something to do," he joked. Finn, Link, and several other trusted soldiers had begun taking turns listening in at taverns where there was most gossip. They'd worked to quell harmful rumors against her, and on occasion, those against Daltus as well. But they'd also spread word of the Princess' need for brave soldiers. And as soon as it became a personal request from Her Majesty, many people found themselves eager. It baffled her, but Link and Finn had assured her that they knew what soldiers fought for: family and love, freedom, homes, loyalty, money, and at the bottom, because they have to.

"I'd love to see all of you in action," she admitted, staring back into the hallway. "Obviously I can't come to the taverns with you, but you all do so much and I'm stuck here reading—" she turned around and waved at the bookcase in disgust, "—Strong Gazes because Niko doesn't apparently know how to cultivate a library with useful texts."

"You know what?" Finn said, suddenly turning to her. "I know this won't help you, uh, 'strongly gaze' at anyone, but you should read some of the soldier's reports. They get out far more than we do, as your guards, and you'll get a better understanding of the field. I don't think Commander Ashei would let you take them from her office. She's a stickler, but she'd absolutely let you read every one if you wanted."

Zelda smiled. "I like that idea. I'll do that, perhaps tomorrow. Thank you."

"Of course, Princess." He stiffened beside her, looking nervous again. "Seres is coming."

Zelda moved to his side to get a better look down the hall, and sure enough, Seres was coming toward them with clasped hands. She looked between them both. "Master Link has them in his room. I suggest we go there soon. The guards are Bardo and Leon, so we should be okay for a few more hours until they swap."

"Then let's go," Zelda said, trying not to rush in her excitement and bring attention to themselves. She'd been waiting anxiously for too long, and she just wanted to see who Seres was intent that she meet.

But it was too rare that something would ever go smoothly, and Daltus came around the corner with a wide smile on his face. "Cousin!" he practically shouted.

Zelda made a face and stopped. "Cousin?" she offered in a weak reply.

"Where are you off to? Come! Come, let me make amends for my behavior! I'm sorry, I've been a fool! Let's have a glass of wine and discuss how we can move forward together! I would love to have a word with you about something rather important. Actually, I suppose, I have something to tell you."

Zelda gave him a sweet smile, one she'd nearly perfected after being in his presence. "Oh, Daltus, I would love that. However, I'm feeling a bit queasy right now. I was just on my way to have a rest in my room. How about if I'm feeling better, we can have that glass after dinner or even tomorrow?"

"Of course, of course," he said in a strangely enthusiastic tone with an alarmingly excited glint in his eyes. It made her wonder if he was already drunk. "Yes, we don't want you ill. Go, go! Rest! I shall hopefully see you soon!"

With a wave, he continued down the hall. Zelda waited until he was out of sight before motioning for Finn and Seres to follow her down the hall he'd just come out of. She put her hands behind her back, wringing her fingers as she peeked into each room they passed. And it wasn't until they heard the mumbled complaining of Niko that she had them stop close enough to his doorway so they could hear him.

"—and have him come quickly. Tell him it's at Prince Daltus' request, not mine. We spoke earlier so he is aware. I'm sure she will get the credit once again, but at least we'll have his soldiers."

"Yes, Master Niko," a voice replied before they could hear his footsteps making their way towards them.

Zelda felt Finn pushing her and Seres into the nearest room and he closed the door just in time for them to hear that same voice.

"What are you doing here? This is Master Niko's private rooms, and only his guards are authorized to come here. I should have you whipped for such a breach of privacy! Move, let's go, you moblin!"

Zelda sucked in a hard breath and turned to Seres. "Will he really do that?"

"If he's in Niko's quarters, it's likely one of Daltus' guards. You won't have his loyalty, so he just might."

"Why can't anything ever be easy?" Biting her lip hard, Zelda threw the door open and dragged Seres out. "I can't believe it's not there!" she sobbed, tears springing to her eyes as she bit her lip again for good measure. "I just can't believe—" she stopped as she saw Finn being practically dragged across the hall, though the other man stopped as well. "What are you doing to my guard, soldier?"

The man's expression tensed. "I found him outside of Master Niko's room. There is no admittance to these rooms except for those with special clearance."

Storming over to them, Zelda grabbed her own wrist. "I assume I have that clearance? He is my escort, and this is my lady. I lost…" she choked on a fake sob. "Yesterday, I came down here looking for my sweet cousin, Prince Daltus, but I lost my bracelet in my hasty search. It was… it was my mothers. It's all I have left of her."

"I'm sorry, Princess, but—"

"I never wear it for this reason!" she said, letting more tears spill, thankful that her already painted red lips disguised any blood that might have accidently shown. "I can't believe I was so stupid. We just retraced every step I took. Have you seen it?"

"No… I haven't."

"Pearls. White pearls. Simple, but elegant, like my mother often wore, Of course, I suppose she was only in simple clothing to me because I was her daughter, so I saw her on her most casual days. She was lovely. She'd be so upset if she knew I'd lost them."

"Princess," the man tried again, choking on any articulate words as he watched her.

"Please, I must keep looking! She's gone, and so are her pearls! Let him go so I might look!"

"I…" the man was uncomfortable, but he let go of Finn. "I'll send word to you immediately if anyone sees them, Princess."

"Thank you," Zelda said, pushing Finn behind her and pulling at Seres. "Come, let's check my room once again and start anew. Thank you for your assistance sir," Zelda smiled back at the man as she hurried away.

When they were long away from the man, Zelda snorted out an excited laugh. "That was awful. I didn't know what else to say."

Seres laughed along with her. "Poor Finn though. Thank you for getting us inside that room though."

Finn blushed worse than Zelda had ever seen as he turned away with a muttered 'of course' and then little else for the rest of the walk back.

When they reached Link and Zelda's rooms, they all nodded a greeting to the guards, Bardo and Leon. "They're all inside," Leon said with a nod to the door.

"Great," Zelda breathed, smoothing off her dress and glancing at Seres. "Let's see if you were right about this guy."

And she pushed the door to Link's room opened, prepared for anything.