A/N: Sorry that it took so long to update! I have been pretty busy with a bunch of my other fanfics! Anyway, thanks to those who are reading and reviewing this story! I appreciate all the reviews, they make me so very happy! There is an explanation to Zelda's behavior but you'll just have to wait and see what that is!

Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda.

Chapter 11: The Plan Begins to Unfold

Link strode purposefully into the main hall and passed several more guards. They didn't even spare him a second glance as he entered the Main Foyer. In fact, the guards at the entrance had just waved him in when he had arrived...it was as if Zelda was expecting him. Link flinched. Just thinking about her made his blood boil. What right did she have to put Malon in a cold dungeon? Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding on the guards part. Maybe Zelda didn't really want Malon to be arrested. Then again, Zelda wasn't the sweet young princess she used to be. She had changed, and not for the better.

Link burst through the large oak doors into the Throne Room. Zelda sat on the large throne in the middle of the room. Staring at him with a warm gaze. He returned it with a cold, icy glare. The Hero of Time walked angrily up to the Princess of Destiny and then stood defiantly before her. As was custom, he was supposed to bow...but there was no way he would bow to her considering the circumstances of his visit.

"Ahhh, Link. What a pleasant surprise!" Zelda said joyfully. "What can I do for you?"

"Tell me why you ordered Malon to be arrested. Now." Link tried to remain cool but it was hard when he continued to think about an innocent girl sitting in a cold, damp castle dungeon.

"Oh, that." Zelda threw her hand nonchalantly to the side. "Don't worry, that can be taken care of quickly."

"Why did you do it in the first place?" Link exhaled.

"Why? Why is not important," Zelda sat straight, "It is the how, my dear Hero of Time."

"What do you mean how? I want some answers, Zelda. Not some more cryptic words. I want Malon out of that dungeon immediately."

"Come now, Link. That is no way to talk to a princess," Zelda chided as she shook her finger at him.

Link rolled his eyes. "What kind of princess rules her kingdom unjustly and unfairly? Punishing those who deserve reward, not punishment."

"You sting me with your words, Link!" Zelda pretended to look hurt and wounded. "If you must know, Malon is being put on trial right now-"

"What! Why? For what?" Link yelled.

"For attempted murder, disobeying orders...the list goes on. Shall I continue?" Zelda said.

"That is unbelievable! You can't do that! She's innocent and you and I both know it!" Link said, astounded.

"Ah, therein lies the problem. You are correct: only you and I know about it. Who are they going to believe? A princess or a forest boy?" Zelda smiled triumphantly.

"Forest boy? It seems to me that you have forgotten that I am the one who saved your sorry hide on more than one occasion!" Link countered.

"I am certain that I have no idea what you are talking about..." Zelda looked to the side with an innocent smile plastered on her face. A smile that Link wanted to whack off her smug face.

"I see. So that's how it's going to be." Link crossed his arms. "It is such a shame."

Zelda looked curiously at him. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, nothing." Link said.

"What is it, Link! Tell me!" Link could see how much it bothered her to not know what the Hero was thinking.

"I'm sure it isn't anything to concern yourself with."

"Damn it, Link! Tell me!" Zelda screamed at him.

"First, let Malon go," Link ordered. It was worth a try.

Zelda regained her posture as a guard entered the room and ran up to her, handing her a note. A smile spread on her face as she read it. Link suddenly had a very bad feeling about what that note said.

"What is it, Zel?" Link asked, unable to hide his curiousity.

"It would seem that Malon's trial has ended," Zelda rolled up the note, "She's been condemned to death."

Link felt as if the walls were closing in. Death? How could a court rule that sentence? Malon was innocent! He took a step back, he felt like he was going to be sick. He regained his position in front of Zelda and took a menacing step forward. Zelda crossed her arms, obviously not concerned with the young man.

"Where is she now?"

"Hard to say," Zelda stated.

"Where is she, Zelda?!" Link yelled.

"You know that you have such a temper, Link." Link looked into Zelda's eyes and noticed something was definetely different about the princess. "But there is one way to save her..."

"What?" Link asked quickly.

"Substitution," She said simply. "You can take Malon's place and be executed instead of her. That is the only way."

Link looked to her then to the floor. His mind was made up the moment she told him that there was a way to save her. He would do anything for her. He would even sacrifice his life to keep her safe.

"Well, Hero of Time? What is it going to be? Let Malon die for a crime that she didn't do...or are you going to be a man and take her place?" Zelda said.

Unknowingly, Zelda had let something slip. "You know that she didn't do it! This was your plan the whole time, wasn't it?"

"Silence. I will hear no more of your lies, traitor." Zelda motioned to the guards. "Take him out of my sight, I'm done listening to his lies-"

"I'll do it," Link said at last.

Zelda motioned for the guards again. "Good. Guards, release the farm girl and arrest this forest boy. He will be executed, take him now."

The guards grabbed Link easily and began to take him to the execution chambers. Link put up no fight and went peacefully. This was the only way to save Malon. He loved her and this was the only way to save her. Shortly after being escorted out, he was thrown into a smelly, damp cage. He was about to stand up when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck.

"Oh, Link!" Malon squealed. "What happened? Why are you here?"

"Zelda refused to listen to reason. She seems determined to kill you..." Link looked away. "But that's not important now, you are going to be released."

"Good because I was getting sick of this place...Zelda really doesn't have good taste in interior designing." Malon said with a forced smile.

"I love you, Malon. You know that, right?" Link said softly.

"Yes, of course I know! I love you too. I'm glad that this will soon be over." That was when Malon noticed Link's shackled wrists. "Link-"

"Malon, please understand...this is the only way to save you-" Link avoided Malon's worried gaze.

"What are you planning on doing?" Malon said softly and with uncertainty.

"I'm...I'm taking your place." Links said.

Malon gasped. "No, Link! You can't..."

"There would be no reason to live if you weren't by my side." Link looked up at her.

"No, Link, no. You can't do this." Malon cried. They finally knew the extent of one another's feelings and now it was all going to be taken away? The very thought of losing Link sent her mind reeling and shattered her heart.

Link forced her to look at him. "I love you. I love you more then anything and I want you to know that before I-"

"I can't watch you die." Malon turned away, her red hair hanging over her face, hiding the tears that were streaming down it. She wanted to be strong, for Link, but couldn't find the strength within herself at the moment. "When you were brought to my house in critical condition, my heart was shattered. I thought that you were going to...and then you lived and for once in my life, Link, I was happy. Truly happy; happy and in love." Malon's voice trailed off.

"Forgive me, Malon. It has to be done. I wish there was another option but...there isn't." Link smiled at her reasurringly. "Don't worry about me, just make sure that you stay as far from Hyrule as you can, maybe go to Termina or somewhere safe away from here. Zelda is different, I don't know how to explain it...but she's not Zelda anymore. There is a...darkness...in her."

Suddenly guards entered the cell and grabbed Link roughly. Others grabbed Malon by the collar.

"Time to die, boy." The tallest guard looked to Malon. "Lucky for you, Zelda has permitted that you watch his execution."

Malon's eyes were blurred with the tears she was keeping welled up inside of her. Link reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze.

"I love you, Link. Forever," Malon said softly. Link merely nodded as he was dragged off.

A/N: Review please! The more reviews, the longer and better chapters become!