A/N: The oath on the knights, that's thanks to Shinobi Kitten. Love ya, hon!

More Than Meets the Eye

Zelda flipped through the pages in the old text, looking specifically for more on those little gifts of the gods. But she came up with nothing more than what she already knew. And that was getting on her nerves. She placed the old book on the stack beside her chair in the library. The stack was already reaching the arm of the chair and with each knew book, it'll only get bigger. She sighed and leaned forward in her chair. Zelda rubbed her temples as a headache set in. And then the sound of swords hitting each other softly was made apparent.

"Vincent," Zelda said sternly. She looked up and she saw Vincent walking around the library. He casually took a book from the shelf, read a few pages, and then set it back, returning to pacing around the library. "What do you think your doing? Your swords are making an annoying noise."

Vincent stopped and looked at her, "Just checking out the books here. Nothing much else." He sighed and walked over to the second chair across from Zelda. He plopped down on it and stretched. Noisily. He yawned and looked over to Zelda, "What are you looking up?"

Zelda glared at him. Vincent was just a temporary fix for the problem. He was only needed to make sure she was safe. And as soon as she found more information on the Fruits of the Gods, he would take a hike and she would be with Link. "And why do you even care to know?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Vincent asked. "As long as your in here, therefore making me come in here, I might was well know why. Plus, if you tell me, then I can help you look it up or something. I think you, above everyone else, would know that two minds work better then one."

"You don't have to come in here with me," Zelda said. She could really care less for Vincent. He was just an annoyance that wouldn't go away. She knew he was bored out of his mind. And she wanted him gone. "Look, why don't you go chase some floozy and just leave me alone?"

Vincent gave a small laugh, leaning his head back against the chair. He looked back to her, "I personally don't go after those kinds of women. I do have my standards. If anything, sexy blond princess are more of my ideal lady."

Zelda couldn't believe her ears. That was a breaking point. She didn't need her so-called bodyguard hitting on her. But of course, that was Vincent and that was coming. No, not for Zelda though, she was oblivious to the fact that she could've attracted other men. Sure, Link just fell in love with her because of her beautiful mind. "Your so full of yourself…." She muttered, "You do know I'm married."

Vincent smirked. That cocky, arrogant, narcissistic smirk that Zelda hated so much. The one that can make lustful girls weak at the knees and the one that can enrage an opponent. That smirk, the one he was shooting to her. "That's just another obstacle to get through."

Zelda had enough. She stood up and stormed away. Before she opened the great doors, she stopped and looked over shoulder. "You are quite possibly the most big headed knight of them all."

"But I'm still a knight," Vincent replied to her.

He still sat on the comfy armchair leisurely. His red hair casually falling over his crimson red eyes, eyes that always seemed to hypnotize Zelda. Those passion filled orbs that screamed love and lust. He still wore that conceited smirk but Zelda didn't hate it, not as much anyways. Then there was how his undershirt beneath the white jacket cut into a v, showing off his defined chest. Pink touched Zelda's cheek as she noticed how… well, to say it bluntly, sexy Vincent looked. Zelda looked away shamefully, she couldn't believe herself. Link was the only man she wanted… and undressed with her eyes. Well, until a few moments ago anyways.

She cleared her throat, "Vincent… could you just please go do something else?"

Zelda heard him give a disgruntled groan. He got up from the chair and passed her, careful not to look at her. She thought it was her imagination that he did that. Whatever the case, he hadn't said a word and left her alone. She breathed a sigh of relief. Zelda didn't know what came over her.

But that isn't too hard to see, is it?

She went back to her chair and pulled up another book. She remembered that it was one that Vincent was leafing through before. Around a few days ago he had added this to the pile. Zelda didn't know why but she looked at its old cover and read its title. The Angelic Knights and Other Legends. Her brow furrowed at the title. Zelda figured that it was nothing more than background on the Seraphim Order but the 'other legends' part intrigued her. Zelda opened the crusty book and skimmed through it. She was right, nothing more that the tall story of the ten knights who were saviors of Hyrule. Zelda was going to put it down until one passage caught her interest.

The princess heaved the book closer, "Let's see… 'And so, the Seraphim Order quested for a Fruit that could bring back their beloved Azrael. They searched to the most northern point on the map and found the ancient city. Suffering from the icy cold weather and the dangers within, they found the old temple. All ten knights returned to Hyrule…' wait a minute. They found that Fruits? And they resurrected Azrael?" Zelda flipped through the book and found out that Azrael's one true friend and rival was Ares, the Knight of War."

Zelda closed the book and began to search the library for any information on either knight. After going through the hundreds of books, Zelda was tired, exhausted, and was ready to give up. She pounded on the bookcase with her fist. A small leathery book fell from the top and landed next to her feet. She bent down and picked it up. No title. Zelda opened it and read the first line. All it said was one thing…. Ares. Zelda flipped through a few pages and found them in dated format. It was his diary. It was a log. It was the shining beacon of hope that she needed. And then it came together, there was a map in the middle, with a specific place circled. She squealed and in her mind, a plan was formed.

But she didn't count Malon coming in at that moment. Yes, the gentle, caring redhead that was a real close friend to Link and Zelda. Princess Zelda always looked at Malon as a friend, but not without ruling the thought of her as a rival. Sure, Zelda was beautiful and a princess, but something Malon beat her to first. You could count Link, and you sure as hell can say Malon developed a little quicker and more that Zelda did. Not to mention Malon had that exotic hair color. One had to wonder where it came from…

"Malon, what're you doing here?" Zelda asked, putting back the diary. She didn't want anyone noticing anything suspicious.

"Oh, nothing really," she answered. "I was just worried about you. I heard about Link. I don't think you want to be lonely."

"Thank Malon, that means a lot," Zelda said. "But I'm okay. I'm sure Link will get better."

Malon nodded. "Well, anyways. What was going on here a few days ago? A mess load of people came around Hyrule and straight to the castle."

Zelda groaned. "My dad got it into his head that I need someone around me to make sure nothing happens. So he set up this tournament to find the perfect person. Oh and did my dad find somebody…"

Malon looked at her with a curious stare, "I take it you not happy then? I mean, I know your not but… so your new guardian isn't up to your high standards?"

"You can say that," Zelda said. She went over and sat back down on the chair. Malon sat down on the one Vincent was one. Zelda looked over to her friend. Of course, she wasn't going to tell that Vincent was just as good looking. But his ego and arrogance countered that. "Let's just say that he's overconfident."

Malon thought about it, "Yeah, I guess that's a turn off. So… is he good looking?"

"Malon!" Zelda said with a little surprise. Malon didn't act like that… most of the time. It wasn't hard to see but she really wanted a knight to sweep her off her feet. Zelda blushed as she thought back to how Vincent laid on the chair. He was almost dead se- Zelda shook the thoughts from her mind. "No, he isn't. He's just another man trying to get a girl into bed."

"Aw," Malon said disappointedly. That was just different of her. She looked over to the grandfather clock, "Look, Zelda, I have to go. I just stopped by to see if you were okay. And it looks like you are…" She got up and started for the door. "I'll talk to you later."

Zelda waved as Malon left and looked over to the fireplace, "Right Malon… later." She went over to the shelf and picked out the diary. She carried it with her when she left the study. Zelda was a princess with something to do…

Later that night, when everyone in the castle was asleep, a small light lit up in Zelda's room. The princess crawled out of her bed, not making a sound. She went over to her closet and took off her sleeping gown. Instead of reaching for a dress as always, she took something that would help her in what she was planning. She chose something more form fitting. Deciding it'd be better; Zelda went over to her mirror and began to braid her hair. Whether she liked it or not, her blond locks were one of a kind in Hyrule and she did this once before… Maybe it could work under a different guise.

She snuck out from her room and the cemented brick walls of her home. Underneath a heavy cloak she road on horseback to the closest dock from the castle. It was situated north of the castle, the docks weren't too far from but it took some time to get there. She got off the horse, paid for its stay at a small stable and walked over to the docks. Under her boots the planks of wood creaked as she looked for a vessel that'll give her passage.

But her luck turned for the worse when she was looking up at one ship and one of its crew bumped into her. Accidentally no doubt but that didn't stop Zelda. "Excuse me, the least you can say is that you're sorry, you pig."

The gruff man turned around. He was a sailor through and through. He grunted, "Why don't you grow some?"

"You big oaf, have some common courtesy," Zelda said. She was just digging a deeper hole wasn't she?

The seaman was getting agitated. "Look here," he said. He took a few steps forward, cracking his knuckles. Maybe Zelda's disguise actually pulled through. But it didn't really work out the way she had hoped. "I don't need this from you."

But a hand gripped the sailor's shoulder, making him stop and turn. It was another redhead and he was calmly speaking to the sailor. "Look, the guy's just a little… flowery. Just walk it off, grab something to drink." Zelda couldn't see her savior's face but she did see the motion of the man putting something in the sailor's hands. The sailor nodded and walked away. And when he did, Zelda's world shattered. It was Vincent. There with his smug smiled and his hands in his jacket. "What're you think your doing?"

Zelda's eyes narrowed, "I'm not going back. I have to find this little miracle so I can heal Link." She was almost to tears. "I'm not going back, not with you or anyone."

Vincent sighed, "No… I'm asking why you didn't even consider asking me to come. You think I'm going to just let you do this on your own? And let me get in trouble? I don't think so princess… your going to need me."

"Vincent?" Zelda asked softly. "Why are you doing this?"

Vincent rolled his eyes, "You're a bright girl, Zelda. I'm your knight. My duty is to protect you. And I will honor that duty. It's like the old oath of the knights…"

Zelda bit her lip and nodded her head. Together they managed to find a ship that would take them in. Thankful for Zelda's money, Vincent and Zelda had their own room to a luxurious ship that catered the rich of Hyrule. They were in luck that it was stopping by the north port first and it would sail to the south end of the map. As Vincent and Zelda boarded the ship, she wondered what Vincent was talking about before. Did he really have such a high degree of honor? Was it because becoming a knight was just more of a title to him? Had he been with that mindset for his life? She didn't want to think too much and just asked him. "Vincent, what was that knight talk about before?"

Vincent looked over to her, "Every Knight serves to protect something, whether it be the king or a friend. A Knight is not always the one in armor, but the one with the noble heart. The one who stands for what they believe in, and most often, the one who in the end loses the most." He turned back, "That's the old oath… that's what I hold close to my heart."

"Oh…" Zelda said, rather stunned at Vincent's sudden depth. "Thank you…"

"Don't break on me now, princess," Vincent said. "We still have to get whatever it is we're looking for."