Castle Town was abuzz with many different people that bustled through the town speaking in all sorts of different tongues. Minstrels were gathered around the fountain in the middle of the square dressed in what looked exactly like Link's own garb, however the green cloth was sequined in a tacky way that made him gag. Link skirted around the crowd in the shadows and made his way to where Princess Zelda was waiting for him near the castle's entrance. When he approached Zelda smiled warmly at him and he bowed before his princess.

"Rise, Link, for you should not be bowing but all of Hyrule should be bowing to you," she said, addressing the crowd with a simple wave of her hand. The town that had gathered behind them stood silent as they waited for her to keep speaking. "Link, you have done us great honor with your bravery for saving all of Hyrule by defeating Zant and Ganondorf. For that, we are eternally grateful," she continued and then she bowed before Link. Everyone else followed her gesture and soon they were all bowing before him.

Link felt the heat rising in his face and he turned away; part of him wanted to enjoy the praise, but he hadn't been the only one fighting for the freedom of Hyrule or the Twilight. As Zelda righted herself she noticed the pained look on his face and dismissed the crowd by commencing the festivities. After the attention was removed from herself and Link she quickly led him away to the castle.

Though the summer air outside was warm and welcoming the castle was filled with a chill the seeped down to the bones. Link shivered in the sudden change in temperature and followed the Princess to a private study room. The guards at the door lifted their swords and allowed their passing through. "Do not let anyone disturb us," Zelda reminded them, though she knew they already would have turned anyone else away, and she closed the great oak doors behind them.

"Link," she said calmly. He turned around and met her captivating brown eyes. Zelda was beautiful, of course, but every time Link saw her it only reminded him of Midna. "Link, I know the pain you have been feeling these past few months. Please let us discuss the matter so you can at least relieve yourself of some of the pain."

"It's no use," Link said. "Talking about it won't bring her back. She's gone." He turned away from her and she looked at him with pity. A tear escaped from Link and he brought his arm up to hide it from her; he hated people seeing him cry.

"There might be a way," Zelda said. Link slowly turned to her and stared, incredulity gleaming in his eyes. "For now it is getting late and you need to rest. You can stay here for the night and I will send your village on without you." She smiled softly at him and added, "Do not worry; I will have someone from my own royal stable care for Epona." Link sighed in relief and let one of the servants lead him through the castle to an empty guest room. Once he was finally alone, he sprawled out on the bed and a soft smile spread across his lips. There might be a way, the words echoed around him. Midna, I will find you.

…

Midna curled her fists in anger and glared at the man before her. Sure, he was dashing for a Twili and his father was the King of a neighboring kingdom, but Midna refused to accept his offer. "Milady," he said, "I am here to offer you a once in a lifetime opportunity. There are many Twili who would give their lives to marry me, yet you refuse so greatly."

"Prince Aeron, please, I am not looking for a suitor," she said through gritted teeth, trying to be as polite as she could bear, "And you should address me as 'your Highness'. We do practice our manners here." His narcissistic attitude over such a great matter irritated her to no end.

"I apologize for my slip and I know how you feel, but soon you will have to marry or you will lose your right as ruler. After all, you are only a princess now," Aeron told her. His vain expression slipped to a serious tone and he straightened himself up before saying, "Princess, if you refuse my offer again then we will have no choice but to declare war. The peace treaty between our kingdoms is losing validation as the years go on that you are without a true Queen or King. We can only keep the peace for so long."

Midna's expression drained in horror and she thought about all of her beloved kingdom being laid to waste at the hands of Prince Aeron. She hung her head in defeat and nodded to the Prince. "We… will go on with a ceremony," she choked. Aeron clapped his hands together and laughed.

"So it shall be!" he exclaimed with a wide grin. "Tell everyone, this will be a wedding to remember."

Midna turned away as the prince laughed in his victory, and Chijin led her back to her chambers. The moment her chamber doors closed behind her, she burst into tears and sobbed into the edge of her bed, grasping at the covers and covering her face in them. "Princess," Chijin said, "an arranged marriage is not the end of the world. Think of your people."

"You don't understand," she yelled at him. Chijin bowed out of the room and then Midna was all alone. After a while her sobbing faded into short sniffles and she wrapped herself in the bed covers. Link, I am so sorry. I should have told you when I had the chance.

The twilight was darker in the evening and many of the Twili were asleep. A few roamed the streets and they barely even noticed the Princess as she slipped through the shadows. Midna had escaped through her window by using the blackened vines that climbed up to it. S he made her way through the town until she came to the outskirts of the city; dark trees reached up towards the twilit sky and she shivered at the cool breeze that whistled through their branches. Midna pulled her cloak closer around her and made her way through the forest trees. The last pool of light in this world, that's where I'll find what I am looking for.