Chapter 5

Zelda cursed the Goddess this night. She should have never brought Link back to the castle and never told anyone-especially the council-that he was alive. This forced her hand in a way that she never wanted.

Because Link was believed to be dead, she had been allowed to ascend to the thrown without having to be married first. She was allowed to choose a man, at her own discretion as long as he was a knight of royal blood, as long as it was in 5 years of her ascension.

However, when she announced that Link had been alive and escaped the fortress eight years ago they had completely taken advantage of the situation. They told her, that their fathers' old agreement still stood and that she had to be married to him before she took the crown on her 18th birthday.

She burst out in a rage saying she wouldn't do that. Even after she explained how he had no memory of who he was before, his family, the agreement, or anything before eight years ago; they didn't care. She protested it wasn't fair to force him into something that he had no memory of. He should be allowed time to re-accompany himself with his history and memories-if they returned.

They claimed that the three months until her coronation was more than enough time for him to learn about his family history, gain his memories back and become familiar with a weapon. She argued that if the memories hadn't come back in eight years what would change in three months?

Her. Apparently she was the answer to everything.

Praying to the goddess, Nayru, for guidance. To see the proper path to take. To do the right thing. As much as she still cared for Link, she wouldn't, couldn't, force him to marry her. She'd figure out this mess.

"Din's Fury!" She slammed her gloved hand on the stone balconys edge.

"You'll hurt yourself before you do any damage to anything. Let alone the stone," turning around she saw Sheik leaning against the wooden frame of the door.

"How long have you been there?" she asked.

"Not long. I called your name, but you were rather lost in thought,"

"Sorry."

"Don't be," he pushed himself off the frame and walked over to her. He placed his hands on the stone, "What did they say?" She could see the tension in his body. Something was bothering him.

"Exactly what we expected. They won't let me take the thrown unless I go through our father dream of us getting married. I tried to plead against it, but they don't care. They are just trying to delay me from taking the thrown. Although I'm sure if they didn't let me take the thrown on my birthday, we could just wait for a riot." Sheik gave her a disapproving look, "It was a joke."

"A rather bad one. Besides I'm sure they will bring in knights form out of country so they can keep ours from turning against them if it were to come to that. We should be careful in the meantime. My guess it they will be trying to get someone to assassinate you in order to stay in power."

"Bastards," Zelda watched as Sheik raised his fist and slammed it into the stone. "Careful, don't want to hurt yourself," she smiled.

"Yes, your right," she smiled back over to her. "I'll make sure to be around more. We will get your food tested before each meal as well."

"What about Link?"

"I'll get someone to watch him when we aren't around. He needs to be careful as well. If they manage to kill you, he can lay claim to the thrown as per your fathers' agreement. I'm sure they will try something against him as well. My guess is they will try to keep his arrival as secret as possible so that people w9ouldnt know the difference if they did kill him."

"Your right. You should stay with him. Impa can stay with me. I want our circle to stay tight in these upcoming months. Keep all out information to ourselves and keep an eye on the council. Any suspicious action and I will have them arrested."

"As you wish. I will send for Impa then go to Link." Sheik pushed away from the stone and walked away from a moment. Seconds later, "She will be here shorty," he called form the door way.

"Thanks," she smiled, "so I heard you had quiet the day in the market today."

"Yes. Link is still as hot-headed as ever, even under his new calm demeanor."

"Yes, the store keeper tried to have an audience with me today during my addressing of the people. He said 'you used magic to seduce the young Hylian boy to assault him,'" Sheik gave her 'you can't be serious look' it made her burst out in laughter "Yes, I told him that Link was a knight in disguise and that you had reported the incident first. When he heard Link was a knight he backed off right away, stupid man tried to get compensation from me."

"He deserves what Link did to him then. I can't believe he would try that…well maybe I can."

"I agree. Some people need to get past their prejudice."

"Princess?" a voice called from inside her room.

"Out here Impa," Zelda turned to greet her oldest friend. "Thank you for coming."

"It's no problem. I understand the need to protect you and Link is a great one. Those politicians should be watched closely. I will put guards that are loyal and trustworthy to watch them. I am sure they are scheming up something.

"Yes, thank you." Zelda looked over at Sheik, "You should go," he nodded. He walked over to her and gave her a quick, which she returned fiercely, "protect him."

"Don't worry I will," he released her and started towards the door. He nodded towards his mother and then he was gone. Zelda always thought it was weird that they didn't show their affection towards each other, but when you had been raised your whole life to not let anything show it would be hard to suddenly start. She'd only got Sheik to start acting more like a human a few years ago; he only started hugging her last year. Silly Sheikah things.

"How are you feeling?" Impa asked after Sheik had left.

"Tired. Stressed. I should have kept his identity a secret, at least until after my coronation. This only creates more problems. I wasn't thinking clearly."

"Even if you had they would have inquired after why he was here and who he was. Besides he looks a lot like his late mother and acts like his father. Not to mention there is the ring to consider, I'm sure they would have snooped around and found it eventually. Then it only would have been worse on your for hiding it to begin with." Zelda soaked up her wise words. She was always her voice of reason.

"You're right, as always," she sighed. What an infuriating situation. She was going to have to relook over the document that bonded her and Link together with a fine-toothed comb to see if there were any loop holes. As much as she wanted Link to be by her side, she wanted it to be because he loved her not because he was being forced into it.

"Come, you should rest. Preparations for the tournament begin tomorrow."

"Yes." She walked past Impa, throwing over her shoulder. "At least that will be somewhat enjoyable."

Sorry for the short Chapter, the next one should be longer :)