Dear Alexander,

I know how busy you are brother, so I am sorry to trouble you. Know that I would not do so were the matter any less important to me.

I was always jealous of all your travels included in your training as the heir, but my feelings have surpassed jealousy. As much as I love our home, right now it threatens to suffocate me. I need some time away, a few months maybe, to travel and learn and grow in a way I cannot inside the confines of the castle. I am sure you of all people can understand that.

However, you know our father has always been far more protective of me. I do not know that there is anything I can say to him to convince him to let me go. If you were to talk to him though, I think he might be convinced to see reason.

Please brother. You owe me nothing, but I ask that you do me this favor anyway. This is something I need to do, but I fear if I ask Father, and he says no, he'll send an entire platoon to retrieve me. This I beg of you.

Your Pleading Sister,

Zelda

Dearest Zelda,

Your letter distresses me. In the past, it would have been comprised of a single paragraph in which you detailed exactly what I needed to do with no thought given to whether I'd actually follow through. What happened to us that made you so tentative in asking a favor? We used to be so close.

Though my ever-growing list of duties the past couple of years has limited our time together, know there is no one in the world more precious to me than you. There is very little I wouldn't do for you.

Therefore, fret not, for I talked to Father. With a few concessions on your part, I can convince him to let you go. I hear you are accompanied in Zora's Domain by a soldier named Link. I actually served with this man during my year of military service. He is a strange man, not the best company, but I've never met anyone who could fight like him. If we had even ten men his equal, I doubt Hyrule would even need an army. If he were to accompany you, your safety would be all but guaranteed, leaving Father with little argument.

There's no need for you to come home before you travel if that is your desire, but you should write a letter to Father, explaining what you wish to gain from such a journey. You know how he is, so the more dramatic and proper, the better. He will appreciate a formal request for his permission.

My last condition: you must write me! The way we have drifted apart is unacceptable. I am willing to take the majority of the blame, but now I seek to rectify the situation. Tell me of your adventures, of your successes, your failures, your schemes. Tell me everything. Maybe then, we can become the inseparable siblings we once were.

I wish you all the best in your journeys and eagerly await your reply.

Your Loving Brother,

Alexander

I laughed reading Alexander's letter. Though he had slowly grown more serious over the years as he began to realize his duty, inside he was still that same young boy I played games with for hours at a time. My letter was so awkward because I had feared for the last couple of years that he had outgrown our friendship. I was glad to be proven wrong.

However, while his letter was far more than I ever dared hope, there was a part that filled my heart with dread. How could I possibly ask Link to accompany me? Just being in my presence hurt him. If my whole goal was to better myself, could I really ask him something that selfish? Would that defeat the whole purpose from the outset?

I confessed my dilemma to Impa that night (leaving out exactly why I bothered Link so much). She asked questions about my plans, and I timidly explained Ruto's idea: I'd travel south, not into the warzone (even I'm not that reckless) but onto its fringes, a bordertown called Calinth where refugees flocked.

Impa, as I guessed, was not thrilled at the proximity of danger and tried to convince me to find a different destination. Once she saw I would not be swayed, however, she told me I just needed to come right out and ask Link and Rhys if they would accompany me. She thought I might be surprised.

Even though Impa rarely led me astray, I had trouble believing it could be that easy. She didn't understand just how much Link didn't want to be around me, and I couldn't explain. His pain was not mine to share.

I would have held off asking forever if I could, hating the awkwardness of the request nearly as much as I feared Link would say no. My whole plan rested on his willingness to tolerate being with me for an indefinite amount of time. Why would he ever say yes? What was the point in even asking?

Time refused to stop, no matter how I wished it, and I didn't want to wear out my welcome in Zora's Domain. I was left to either ask or return to Castletown. I couldn't go back home, not now.

For all the time I spent agonizing over it, you'd think I would have found a more graceful way of bringing up my desire than blurting out, "I wish to go to Calinth," as the four of us were gathered around a fire to discuss our return journey.

Link and Rhys gave me puzzled looks while Impa tried to suppress her amusement.

"What I mean to say," I said, smoothing down my skirts as I gathered myself, "is that I have gained my father's permission for an extended period of travel, and I have chosen Calinth as my destination. Neither of you were given any indication this trip would extend beyond Zora's Domain, so I do not fault you if you are eager to return home. I would love for both of you to journey with me, but my father can send replacement guards if that is not your wish."

My plans would be ruined, of course, if they said no, but I refused to put that pressure on Link. It was the only way in which I could think to give him a true choice in the matter.

It wasn't Link, however, who spoke first. "Calinth?" Rhys asked. "Are you sure? Calinth is quite a dreary place, especially right now. I could offer a dozen suggestions of better travel destinations if you wish, your Highness."

I tried to smile graciously. "Thank you, Sir Rhys, but I have my own reasons for choosing Calinth. As I said, I do not expect you to accompany me if you would rather return home."

Impa spoke up. "Princess Zelda really only needs you to guard her in her travels. For the duration of her stay in Calinth, your time would be your own for the most part."

I hadn't looked at Link until now, but I saw his eyes flash, as if Impa had just given him something he wanted. "How long would we be there?" he asked.

"That is uncertain," I said hesitantly. "A month at least, maybe more."

I was afraid the time would dissuade him, but he nodded as if I had answered correctly. He looked at me, and I saw a last vestige of turmoil in his eyes before his jaw set in resolve. He bowed his head toward me. "It would be an honor, princess."

Even though I knew those words were a show, I couldn't help but wish for a world were the sentiment were true. A world where the Hero of Hyrule would do anything to serve his princess. It was silly, I should just be glad he was agreeing to come with me despite everything between us, but there was a part of me, deep inside, that yearned for his fealty. I didn't understand it, so I ignored it and plastered a smile on my face, turning to Rhys. Link was at his command. Rhys could refuse for both of them.

The knight shrugged. "My orders are to watch Link, and my duty is to you, princess. If Link is on board, I am yours to command."

I nodded my appreciation to both of them. "Thank you. You are both a service to the crown."

Rhys puffed up a little, but Link was unimpressed with the flattery. He was far more focused on working out the details of our travel plans.

I became so focused discussing how we were going to proceed that it took until I was walking away to my room before what I was about to do fully hit me. I had never let myself imagine I could really do this because I never thought Link would agree. Now the reality crashed into me, leaving me terrified. What was I doing?

I was an eighteen-year-old, pampered princess. What business did I have in a city on the border of a war? My father had given me permission to travel in good faith. If he had any idea how I planned to abuse his trust, he would send the entire army to retrieve me.

My self-doubt was interrupted as I felt a hand on my shoulder just as I was about to enter my room. I whirled around, surprised to see Link of all people. We hadn't necessarily avoided each other in Zora's Domain, but we never talked more than was necessary, and he had certainly never sought me out.

"Are you sure about this?"

He actually sounded and looked concerned, something I had never experienced from him. I was so surprised that I almost blurted out no, and confided all my new fears. But I didn't want to look weak, so instead I said, "What do you mean?"

"Calinth. When I mentioned getting away from the castle, I wasn't suggesting you stay in the middle of a warzone."

"It's on the border of a warzone," I corrected.

He rolled his eyes. "Close enough. At least I'm sure the king would think so."

My cheeks flushed. So he guessed the specifics of my travels had not been verified by my father.

"He trusts my judgment."

"Then he clearly underestimates your recklessness. What would he say if someone told him?"

I could hear the threat in his words, and anger coursed through my body.

"You would not dare," I said, a command more than a question. "If you do not want to go to Calinth, that is fine. But it is not your place to try to undermine my plans because you think you know what's best for me. I am not a child, and I will not be treated as one."

His intense blue eyes locked on mine, but I met his gaze evenly, refusing to back down. I didn't care who he was or what he had been through; I was still the princess of Hyrule. I would not let anyone tell me what I could or could not do.

After a beat, the corner of his mouth quirked, and he broke eye-contact. "Fine. But don't come complaining to me when you realize you're in over your head."

That said, he walked away, leaving me alone in front of my room. I couldn't tell if his concern had been for me or for time he was afraid of wasting if we traveled all the way there only to turn around as soon as I realized I was in over my head, but it didn't matter. The moment he had threatened telling my father and I realized this whole venture could be taken away, I realized just how important it was to me. I had to do this, and it wasn't for him, or my father, or even my people. I had to do this for me. I owed it to myself to see who I could really be.

Saying goodbye to Ruto was hard. Saying goodbye to my old life was even harder. I had my first real test as we passed the last large town in Southern Hyrule. Impa had brought up finances to me the night before; it had never been something I had to think about. I didn't need them in the castle, and on my infrequent trips outside, I could create a tab that my father's financial advisors took care of. But in Calinth I wouldn't be Princess Zelda, and I certainly didn't want to alert my father's advisors of my true location. No, I had to fund this venture myself.

The answer was easy, and came to me quickly, but I fought against myself, looking for any other choice. I so desperately wanted there to be another way, though even as I wracked my brain, I knew I wouldn't find a better solution. It made too much sense. I had to sell my dresses.

And I hated myself that it was so hard. I had thought I was above that sort of thing, that I wasn't some silly girl enamored with the superficial. I thought because I was not nearly as concerned with each new trend as some of the ladies of my court that I was above such things, but finery was all I had known, and for reasons I didn't want to admit to myself, I had brought several of my favorite dresses for this trip. When we sold them, they'd be gone forever, most likely ripped apart for the ornate fabric and precious stones inlaid.

I chided myself for my vanity, and handed the dresses to Impa to sell to the local merchants (it would not do to start rumors about the princess selling her own dresses). I couldn't stop myself from stroking the silky material one last time as Impa turned to meet potential buyers. As the dress slipped from my touch, I saw Link looking at me, having witnessed my longing. My cheeks flushed pink, and I hurriedly turned away, not caring to see his reaction. I was sure his Zelda would never despair over something so frivolous. She probably hadn't even owned anything so ornate.

I made an excuse to Sir Rhys and took my horse a ways away to where I wouldn't be disturbed. I wanted to try something while Impa was otherwise occupied. I sat against a tree and pulled a knife out of my bag. I took a deep breath and braced myself before making a shallow cut across my left forearm. Even though I had clenched my jaw in anticipation of the sting, a small yelp escaped my lips. I was not accustomed to physical pain. I decided I did not care for it.

After getting my breathing back to normal, I brought my right hand over the cut, which had started to trickle a few drops of blood that ran down my arm. A couple dripped on my skirts, and I hurriedly moved my arm, chastising myself for being so careless. With my arm in a better position, I refocused and closed my eyes, trying to remember the feeling of drawing on my magic from my center. I muttered words I hadn't spoken in years, words that were unnecessary for masters but helpful for extra focus, and I soon felt the warmth in my hand that accompanied healing magic's use. A red line of blood remained on my arm when I opened my eyes, but when I wiped that away, there was no other indication that my arm had ever been cut.

Victory swept through me that I had managed on my first try. I had learned the basics on healing magic when I was fifteen, but I had neglected the art since. It had seemed unnecessary given that my father wouldn't allow me to work in the infirmary. Instead I had thought of it as merely something to round out my education. An unfortunate choice if I was to be useful in Calinth.

I picked the knife up once more and cut much deeper, proud of myself for managing to keep my reaction to the pain silent this time. There was a lot more blood with this cut, and I was grateful I had learned my lesson about keeping my arm too close previously. I set the knife down and focused my energy once again. The power drain was much more significant this time, and I could feel myself tiring. However, when I opened my eyes, the cut had turned into an ugly, black-and-blue mess underneath a small, puckered line, and when I touched it, pain shot through my arm. Panicked, I tried to draw up my magic again to fully heal the scar, but nothing happened.

Stupid, I berated myself. My initial success had caused me to become overconfident, and I had tried to do too much too quickly. Worried that Impa would ask questions I didn't want to answer if she returned before I did, I pulled down my sleeve to cover the consequence of my brashness, put the knife back in my bag, and mounted to my horse to head back to our camp.

Link spotted me on my way in and, ever so chivalrous, reached out a hand to help me off my horse. As I came down, his eyes were drawn to the two bloodspots on my skirts. "Already ruining your new dress in protest? Wait," he said, looking closer, "is that-?"

"Fruit juice," I interrupted. "I should have been more careful when I came upon a patch of berries while riding. I didn't expect them to be so ripe."

His eyes flickered from mine to the stain. He seemed skeptical, but he nodded and dropped it. Impa, however, was a different matter.

I was able to keep my actions secret for little over two hours. I was helping with dinner (a fairly new experience for me) when she grabbed my arm to stop me from adding an incorrect ingredient. If my whole body tensing like she had just slapped me wasn't enough of a hint, the small scream I let out spoiled the game. She slid up my sleeve and was unimpressed to say the least with the angry, purple, puckered skin.

My guardian ignored dinner and immediately started making a healing poultice infused with Sheikah magic. She didn't say anything to me as she prepared the ingredients, but I knew a lecture was coming. I had heard enough of them in my life to feel her running through a list of options as how to best berate me.

When she finished, she scooped the mixture into a couple of Korok leaves, barked at Link to watch the soup if he wanted dinner that night, and grabbed my uninjured arm to take me somewhere private. At least she wouldn't yell at me in front of Link or Rhys.

Impa carefully wrapped the leaf around my arm and said in a stern voice, "What were you thinking?"

"I fell and..." The look in her eyes stopped me at the beginning of my lie. I should have known; it was near impossible to fool my nursemaid. It was better to just tell the truth. I made my eyes hard as I said, "I won't be useless when we arrive in Calinth. If refugees are flocking there, there will be many injured, soldier and civilian alike. This is how I can help, how I can grow. What would you have me do?"

"I wouldn't have you acting careless and stupid."

My eye roll turned into a wince midway as she pulled the leaves tight against my wound.

"You should have come to me. I've always helped you with your magic."

I gritted my teeth as the mixture started to seep into my skin. "You never would have let me cut myself."

"Of course not. What if that wound were to scar? If you go back to the castle with a mark on you, your father will throw a fit."

"I need to learn, Impa."

Her eyes met mine in a challenge. "And what is it that you learned?"

I sighed, not eager to talk about my failure. "I did it right on my first try, but I then I attempted too much too quickly. Now I know to go slower. See, learning."

Impa chided me with a click of her tongue. "Yes, but there is a different mistake, one that you've been prone to make since you were a child."

I looked up at her with a scrunched brow. "Really? Do enlighten me."

"You were too focused on healing the skin; you approached it on a surface level. It's like when you knew I was coming to check your room, and you threw all of your toys and clothes under the bed. From the door, it looked like you had done your job, but in reality, you had just moved the problem out of sight. You probably get that from your father. He's always been one to focus on surface problems instead of looking deeper for the actual cause. If you truly want to learn to heal, you must understand the wound or illness on a deeper level."

My mind bristled at the criticism, and instinctually, I wanted to refute my guardian's claims. It felt as though I was being called shallow once again. However, I took a couple deep breaths and nodded. "How do I do that?" I asked with all the humility I could manage. Given my clipped tone, that was an area that needed work.

Impa looked at me with a tinge of surprise before answering. If anything, that made me feel worse. Was I really so poor at accepting criticism that inquiring how to improve was that unexpected?

"You learned the basics of anatomy. Focus on healing the deepest injury the best you can, then move up, finishing by sealing it instead of starting there. Reach out towards the wound with your mind before working on fixing anything. It's easier to heal what you understand. Then take your time. I can see from the wound on your arm that you tried to heal it all at once. Instead focus on one thing at a time. That way, your energy will deplete less quickly, and you'll be able to understand your limits better. I have every faith that through patience and practice you can master healing magic."

"Through what practice?" I countered. "I'm not so foolish as to think you will let me practice on myself anymore." I could try to sneak off, but I knew she would be watching me more closely from now on, and I had no desire to play that game I knew so well from childhood.

There was reproval in her eyes for even thinking about harming myself. "Of course not. You will practice on me."

"Impa, no!" That was the opposite of my intent. Having someone hurt themselves so I could improve my skills was the exact kind of selfishness I was trying to overcome.

Her posture straightened in the way I knew meant she would hear no argument. "This is the only solution. You need to practice, and I will not see you harm yourself." Her face softened slightly. "Do not fret. I am no stranger to pain, and any scars left will have plenty of company on my body. I was not always a nursemaid."

"Impa, I can't," I said, voice cracking and eyes turned down to the ground.

"My princess." Impa's voice was tender as she lifted my chin with her hand. "I would endure far greater pain for you without hesitation."

Her uncharacteristic softness wasn't making this any easier. "I'm the one who's supposed to be making the sacrifice."

"You will make many yet. However, this one is not for you. You are the princess of Hyrule, and you cannot escape from that, no matter how far you run or who you pretend to be. This crusade you are on cannot be accomplished through your own effort alone. Sometimes you have to let others assist you. This is how I can help. After all, it is my duty to protect you."

After looking at me hard in the eyes for a minute, Impa released my chin, and I looked back down at the ground. Her words made sense, but I still didn't like it. However, I nodded my head and let out a reluctant, "Okay."

We practiced for two days, slowing our trip so that I could get as much practice in as possible so that I could be useful from day one of arriving in Calinth. The healing process took a lot of energy from us both, which didn't escape Link's notice. At the end of the second day, he asked me to help him gather firewood, a task he had never needed assistance with before.

When we walked far enough away so as not to be heard, he dropped the thinly veiled pretense. "What are you doing to Impa?" he asked, his voice harsh.

"What do you mean?" Given the look in Link's eye, it was clear that he didn't believe my attempt at ignorance.

"I mean that Impa is a fierce warrior with impressive stamina, yet she can barely manage to stay on her horse when we ride. The two of you sneak off consistently, and both return dragging your feet. What are you doing?" He slowly but forcefully said each word of his last sentence.

My cheeks blushed pink at the idea that he had noticed so much. I didn't think he had paid her any heed those last two days. "It is not... it is none of your concern," I said, hands on my hips. I wanted to sound strong, but I stumbled over my words.

His eyes, those intense blue eyes, met mine, and I could feel his anger. "She's hurting herself for you, isn't she? Letting you practice your magic on her so that your challenges are easier in Calinth, right?"

The disgust in his voice hit a chord with my own that I had buried deep down. My eyes filled with tears as I weakly said, "I didn't want her to."

He scoffed. "Yeah I'm sure you tried really hard to stop her."

How could he think that? Did he really find me so selfish? Was I so selfish? I started defending myself, but though I spoke aloud, I knew I was trying to convince myself. "I tried to hide it from her at first, but I messed up the second time I cut myself. She refused to let me practice on myself anymore, but insisted that I keep practicing, using herself instead. I begged her not to, but she would not be moved. I know that we do too much, that I'm driving her to the point of exhaustion, but when I try to end a session, she cuts or burns herself anyways, and then, what am I supposed to do? Leave her injured?"

The tears remained in my eyes, but my voice gained strength as I spoke. I had no desire to look up at Link, no desire to see if he believed my words or even cared about my excuses. But then I felt a hand on my shoulder, and when I looked up, I saw eyes filled with regret.

"Forgive me. I..." His jaw clenched, and he looked at a loss. "I had no right. There was no reason to assume. I just... I had someone in my past who took advantage of her own power and others' loyalty, believing a righteous end justified abuse. But you're not her, you're not anything like her. I just... I just didn't want to allow that again. I'm sorry."

I looked up at him, wondering. Who was he talking about? Her? No, I dismissed the thought as fast as it came. That made no sense given the way he described my other self. Then who?

I wanted to ask him, but there was a pain reflected in his face that had me think better of it. Maybe one day, he'd tell me on his own. Not that that was likely. At least he had apologized though. Fearing my voice might still be shaky, I nodded my forgiveness, which he understood given the relief that visibly relaxed his face.

Then his eyes swirled dark and serious. "But you're not going to let Impa hurt herself again." I rose up to protest that I couldn't control Impa's actions, but he stopped me. "You will practice on me instead."

My open mouth, so ready to argue, snapped shut in surprise. Practice on him? Why would he offer himself like that? Did he not realize what that entailed? We had formed a sort of truce since we had started traveling again, neither of us ignoring the other, but we hadn't exactly been friendly either.

"Why?"

"Because it's an easier burden for me to bear."

That felt wrong, but I wasn't sure how to argue the point. Why would he want to burden himself for me? Or was it for Impa? But they hardly seemed to know each other. If he knew her, he knew how she would react to his proposal.

"Impa will never accept that trade," I said. "She is independent and takes great pride in taking care of me."

The corner of his mouth came up in a sort of smirk, the kind lined with cockiness and mischief. For a moment he almost seemed to let go of the intensity and melancholy that always seemed to escort him. "Don't worry about that. I have no doubt we will come to an understanding."

A/N: Surprise! Turns out I'm not dead. Nor is this story.

You might have noticed (but probably not) that I changed the tense. I started this story in present tense as an experiment, and while it was interesting, I decided I don't care to write in the present tense, so I redid it in past tense, which is much more comfortable for me. Sorry if that throws anyone off.

I don't feel like this chapter is quite the bang that should follow a four year absence, but the dramatic, angsty stuff is coming, i.e., if you'd like to see Link and Zelda yelling at each other, tune in for the next chapter. As always, I'd love to know your guys' thoughts, so leave me a review or PM (even if it's just to yell at me for making you wait so long for a disappointing continuation). Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!