As Zelda walked out of the dungeon the Key Keeper stopped her. The guards were called and her father accompanied them. They took her from the dungeons and back to her chambers.

"Zelda, you deliberately disobeyed me!" He yelled once they were back in her chambers.

"You never said I couldn't go into the dungeons to visit him," Zelda said, feeling bold. Her father looked at her and huffed out a sigh. He took a seat.

"You are so like your mother," her father said quietly. Zelda's breath caught in her throat, this piece of news taking her by surprise. He looked at her for a long time, the room bathed in silence, before finally speaking again. "I'm growing old, Zelda."

"Father…"

"I need to make sure I am leaving Hyrule in capable hands," he said as he looked to the ground.

"You don't think I'm capable?" Zelda asked quietly, a spark flaring inside of her. Her father seemed reluctant to answer. "Father?" Zelda said louder.

"Of course you're capable! Just not how you are right now. The magic you possess clouds your mind," he said. Zelda looked at him, a glare growing on her face. This was the Goddess's magic! It was a gift! She clenched her hands into fists, allowing the magic flaring in her core to take over for a brief moment. That was all she needed to send the furniture flying backwards in a powerful blast.

"You dare use your curse in my presence?!" Her father bellowed.

"My curse?! My magic is a gift from the Goddess herself!" Zelda yelled back.

"Never raise your voice to your King!" He bellowed angrily, as he raised his hand and swung it forward, making contact with Zelda's cheek. She stumbled backwards, stunned by the blow but also shocked that her father had just hit her. Tears formed in her eyes and dropped to her cheeks from the sting and the horror.

"Leave me," she said.

"Zelda, I am so sorry," her father tried, stepping towards her.

"Leave me!" She commanded with authority, thrusting her hand out and creating a barrier between her father and her, halting his advancements.

"I never meant!" He said. "Please forgive me! I didn't mean to!" Zelda's barrier flickered briefly as she watched tears form in her father's eyes.

Not once had she seen him shed a tear. Not after her brother's deaths, not after her mother's. She knew he had grieved, but never in front of her. He had always remained strong in front of her… For her.

"Father, you…" she tried, but was overcome with tears, struggling to maintain the barrier that now stood between her only family.

"Forgive me, please!" He begged, his voice becoming raspy. She looked at him, showing her pain, and shook her head. "I'll do anything!"

"There is only one thing I want," she breathed, "and you would never do it." She finished thickly. Her father looked at her before lowering his head to hide his shame, leaving her chambers. Zelda dropped the magic barrier and quickly made her way to her sleeping chamber. She collapsed on the bed a disheveled mess and thought of Link.

There was no way she could let him leave Hyrule. She would make her father see that before the end. Link is the Hero of Time.

King Kaeru remained outside of Zelda's doors for quite a while. He could not believe what he had done. He had hit his daughter, his precious Zelda. She would never forgive him unless… Unless he gave Link his freedom. But he was not convinced that this delinquent was the true Hero of Time. He had no reason to believe it.

So he would not free him, and Zelda would get over this… He hoped. She always forgave him in the end.

But perhaps he could give her freedom. Freedom of the guards, freedom to do as she pleased… Even visit the earthling if she wanted. But he would never free him. Ever.

Link would remain in the dungeons until Zelda became Queen.

Zelda listened for the twelve strikes of the clock tower before cautiously leaving her chambers. She had made sure to grab her sword and as much food as her satchel could carry, now that she wasn't lugging around that god-awful book. She tightened the dark cloak around her shoulders as she opened the door.

Zelda stopped in her tracks. The hallway was empty. There were no guards posted outside her chambers. Did her father feel that sorry? Her throat tightened as she lifted her bare hand to her cheek and felt the small swelling. She swallowed and continued through the main hallway, testing the will of her father.

Along the way down from her tower to the Throne Room, she met with nobody. Servants didn't matter, they would never tell her father for they liked her better. But there were no guards. It almost chilled Zelda. The palace just seemed wrong without the guards.

She hurried through the Throne Room and took a side passage that would take her to the far dungeons – where Link was being held prisoner. She moved cautiously in the dark passage, careful so she didn't miss a step.

When she came out on the other side of the passage she had to travel through the back rows of cells and into the neighboring rows. She approached Link's cell quietly.

"Link?" She whispered. She listened carefully, hearing his soft breathing. She walked up to the cell to find him sleeping on the cold, hard ground. Her heart ached once again to see him like that. She kneeled on the ground and reached for him through the bars of the cell. "Link." She said again. He was just out of her reach, but he shifted in his sleep, nearly lying upon her hand.

She gently touched his shoulder. "Link, wake up. I have come for you." His hand sleepily found hers and held it. His skin was rough, probably from his profession on earth. Zelda's heart skipped a beat. She didn't want him to leave. She wanted him to stay here, with her.

She sat on the dungeon floor for a while, watching the rise and fall of his chest, watching his serene face. She couldn't bring herself to wake him, to fill that face with doubt and worry. But she had noticed something during their brief moments together. When he looked at her, all of his worry disappeared and his eyes shone and he looked as if he had finally been awoken from a dream.

Zelda awoke on the cold ground as the clock struck four. Four! How had she allowed herself to fall asleep for four hours?! She pulled her hand back and tried to sit up, but then remembered Link. She promised that she would get him out.

"Link," she said loudly. He jerked awake, looking around wildly.

"You came," he said, his face instantly brightening as a smile crossed it. "You look so tired," he said, his eyebrows creasing.

"Yes, I uh… I came for you earlier but fell asleep," she said modestly.

"What's the plan?" Link asked with a smile.

"Well I cannot bring you to my father. After he caught me in the dungeons we had a… Fallout of sorts," Zelda said as she involuntarily touched her cheek.

"So then why have you come?" Link asked.

"I will still get you out."

"Where am I to go? We both know I can't go back to earth."

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"Stay with me in my chambers," Zelda said boldly. Link's eyes widened.

"Being invited into the Princess's chambers? How could I refuse?" He said with a dorky smile. Zelda smiled at him.

"I just mean you'd be comfortable there. My servants can keep a secret and there will food, and a hot bath, a warm bed…"

"There's just one problem," Link said.

"What?"

"I'm still in this cell."

"Oh that's no trouble," Zelda said as she reached for the lock. She called upon her gift and shaped it into a key, fitting it to the lock. It clicked open, ringing through the dungeons. They heard footsteps approaching.

"That was fast," Link said as he looked down the hallway. Zelda unfastened her cloak and threw it around Link, pulling up the hood.

"Come with me. He will raise the alarms when he sees you are gone. We need to get to my chambers fast!" Zelda said as she grabbed Link's hand and made for the back passageway. They hurried through the far dungeon and up the passageway, remaining in the shadows when they reached the Throne Room. It was still empty.

"Where's my sword?" Link asked suddenly.

"I don't know, but I can have Impa locate it for you."

"Awesome," Link said.

Zelda and Link hurried through the castle, taking the servants' dark passageways to remain unseen. She could tell the alarm had been raised because she could hear the trample of guards' boots on the stone as they ran to the dungeons. They hurried up the flight of stairs to her part of the tower. She quickly pulled Link along and through the door.

She closed the door and leaned her back against it, taking deep, calming breaths.

"You're a fast runner," Link said who had chosen to take a seat on the ground as he tried to calm his heavy breathing.

"I train," was all Zelda offered. She helped him from the floor and brought him to her dining room. He removed her cloak and neatly folded it on the table. Zelda snuck a glance at Link and his defined muscles. He looked at her and she smiled at him.

"So this is where you live?" Link asked in awe.

"Yes. I have five rooms within my chambers."

"Five? That's incredible," Link said with a smile. "Do you mind if I look around?"

"By all means," Zelda said. Link took off without hesitation. "Feel free to bathe too," she said as she observed all the grime that had found its way to him in the dungeons.

"Thank you, Zelda," Link said. "I'll do that first."

"Alright," Zelda said, feeling timid. Other than her tutors and father she had never had a male within her chambers. If her father found out, he would be furious… But that's why he cannot find out.