Sorry for the late post, I've been on vacation with... (gasp!) no internet connection. Fortunately I found time to write a lot, but couldn't post it. It was just a matter of where to make the chapters start and end, so I decided to completely torture you for about a day. I promise to post tomorrow ;) For now, enjoy the cliffy.

Zelda

Our footsteps clicked against the stone steps. Light poured in from the window, giving Link's hair a beautiful golden sheen. Link had just woken up from a nap, and he still looks perfect without having to fret over himself at all. (I don't find it fair)

He still wears his tunic, but had dusted it off before leaving. His eyes met mine and I realized I had been staring. No, admiring him at that. I could see how so many girls liked him so much, he is just so… beautiful. I quickly turned my eyes away as we near the bottom steps.

The dining hall is filled with candlelight and many exotic-colored fruits and other food lay on the table. People mingled around and laughed, just having a good time. There wasn't a crowd of people, just a few noble families and their advisors, all together for the small autumn banquet that I probably would have missed. I see Ealing notice us and scowl, not bothering to hide his disdain. I simply raise my chin and give Link a reassuring look.

Then I notice him. Without a doubt, this is my suitor

Decked out in white royal attire with inlaids of gold, a shining rapier blade at his hip, dark raven hair that is glossy and full, but not too long. He is tall, with green eyes and fair skin, looks to be about nineteen. Very handsome.

He smiles and walks over to me, his teeth are a lovely pearly white. "Princess Zelda," He says, his voice smooth and sweet. I extend my hand and he gracefully presses it to his lips, kneeling down slightly. His lips tingle against my gloved hand. "A pleasure to meet you." He says. "I am Lord Aeris, of the Eastern Sea Region. Son of Alasdair Sage the Fourth." I almost gawked. His father was an amazing war general and esteemed noble, one of the best, in fact. I nod. "Nice to meet you, Lord Aeris. Welcome to Hyrule Castle." Lord Aeris looks around the room. "Thank you. It's lovely." His eyes land on Link questioningly. "This is Link, Hero and Champion of Hyrule." I said. Lord Aeris nodded to him curtly. "Nice to meet you." Link gave the noble a small nod, but said nothing. Aeris looked at him suspiciously. "Does he speak?" I open my mouth again, but Link beats me to it.

"Yeah," Link snaps. "I can also sit and roll over if you have treats." He spat, then turned angrily away. "Link!" I call after him, but he is already lost. "I-I'm sorry, he's usually not like this." I muttered. Aeris had a faraway look in his eye. "Oh dear. I should hope not. And I hope I didn't offend him in any way." I sighed and shook my head. Lord Aeris took my hands and turned me to look at him. "We shouldn't worry about him. I came here for you, Princess." I blush a little and smile. "Shall we eat now, Your Majesty?" He says in that lovely voice of his. I nod and we make our way over to the table. I sit at the head, with Aeris to my left and an empty chair to my right, where Link would have sat. I kept it empty just in case he showed up. Lord Aeris looked at the empty chair in front of him. "I see you hold him to a high esteem. What noble branch is he from? I would guess Sarafino?" I shook my head and reply. "He isn't of noble blood." A look of surprise passed the Lord's face. "And he lives in the castle?"

"Yes."

"What branch is he from in general? Perhaps an honored warrior's line like Alvise or Bvena?"

My brow scrunched and I realized that I don't know Link's last name at all. In fact, I don't think anyone does. "I-I don't know." I said. He responds with a simple 'hm'.

The rest of dinner was quite fun, we spoke and I learned a good deal about him. He lived with his mother and father, but his mother died at a young age like me. He was so charming, so refined and so… perfect. Not my definition of perfect, but the definition my father would have thought of. He was everything that he wanted, he was the perfect my father would have loved. Hell, he might even have announced our marriage tonight. It made me want to run away.

I don't want to get married, but I promised my father that I would be good. That I would meet every suitor that arrived and give them a chance. Dress up nice, act accordingly, be perfect. I didn't want to and I never will want to obey the promise, but I do it anyways. In honor of the King and my father.

"Princess Zelda?" Aeris asked as if he'd said it more than once. "Yes?"

"Would you like to take a walk?" I nodded numbly. He rose to his feet and helped me from my chair. I turned to walk out of the doors but Aeris's grip on my hand tightened. I turned around to the entire banquet table standing in respect. "You may all be seated. I am going for a walk with Lord Aeris." They sat. Aeris and I exited the dining hall, submerging ourselves in the brisk night air. I leaned against the stone railings and overlook the courtyard below.

"Is it difficult?" He said. I blinked. "Is what difficult?"

"Being a monarch over the entirety of Hyrule and having so much on your shoulders? Must be hard to have to do everything by yourself."

"It is." I reply.

And then he was kissing me. It was sudden, one moment we were standing there and the next his lips were on mine. His arms weren't around me, but he was close all the same, leaning in and kissing me softly. It seemed delicate, like it would break if I moved. I leaned in and kissed him back, which surprised him, but he ran a hand through my hair. His hand caressed my jawline as he leaned into me. The electricity that had been present when Link had only leaned in wasn't there. It seemed wrong to kiss Aeris, and I don't know why. I broke away and looked at him. "I'm sorry," I whispered. He looked at the ground. "Me too."

Link.

The thought and clarity hit me so hard I almost fell over.

I love him.

Of course I had thought this before, but not in this complete way. This way that falls into place and everything makes sense.

I am in love with him.

I want to laugh, to cry, to run away from Aeris and this stupid banquet and into his arms.

But I can't.

Hyrule needs me. All I could see is my father's face when I thought of being with Link, when I thought of being his. I promised him I would marry noble, and if there is anything I can do to honor him, it's this.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Lord Aeris." And I smile.

After I left the banquet, I set out to find Link.

"Link," I called quietly down the hallway. There was no reply.

"He isn't here." I jumped at the voice behind me. A servant stood there, a thin young boy with dark hair. I cleared my throat. "And where would he be?"

"In the torture chambers below." A lump formed in my throat. "W-why?" The boy shrugged. "I saw him go down there, he was following some people," He finched when I looked at him to say more, and rubbed his forearm. Even in the dim light, I could see that his arm was red from being stricken. I take his arm in my hands to inspect. "Who did this?" I ask, looking at the boy's deep brown eyes. I narrowed my eyes.

"Who hit you?"

The boy looked at the floor

His eyes were wide with fear, like the eyes of a gazelle. "Don't worry. I won't tell whoever did this that you told me." I lay a gentle hand on his shoulder and give him a small smile. He frowned deeper and furrowed his brow, then whimpered silently. I sighed and wished him well and made my way down the steps to the torture chambers.

Link

Earlier that night.

I don't like him. I don't like the way he treats servants, I don't like the way he looks at Zelda. I don't like his posture, his eyes, his speech, nothing. The way he acted like I was an animal, some kind of pet, like I wasn't even in the room or simply couldn't understand conversation. My opinion doesn't matter, and it never will, but it still makes me angry that these are the kind of people Zelda spends her time with.

Or maybe she is one.

I felt bad for being so angry and bursting out, but I just couldn't stand there with those people. I'd apologize to Zelda later.

I climbed the side walls of the stairwell, up to a sunken-in window. I just sat there with the mirror shard in my hand, absentmindedly grazing my fingers across the surface.

Stupid boy, I could almost hear Midna say. Stop trying to find me. It's hopeless, you know. You might not even survive the banishment if you make it that far. Her voice pauses, then continues in a different tone. I miss you, Link. More than you know.

"I do know." I whispered silently, desperately pleading for her.

A wail of pure excruciation pierced the air. "No!" It screamed. "Please! I'm sorry! I don't know anything!" I peered down from my perch, hidden from view below. Four soldiers were dragging a boy down the steps by each limb. I could tell that there was something familiar about him. He had bronze skin and sandy hair bleached from the sun, an angular-featured face, and his clothes…

I realized with a start that he was Sheikah. I looked more closely. His eyes were crimson. Blood-red with gold flecks. I hadn't seen the strange mixed Sheikah eyes since the battle, and it all came flooding back.

He had been the one who stabbed me in the gut. The wound would have been fatal. He almost killed me.

Where were they taking him? I waited and climbed silently down after they had left, taking the screaming boy with them. I followed them deeper into the basement of the castle, down into a place I had'nt ventured, nor had I wanted to. The torture chambers were dark and gloomy, a dusk color set across the rooms and cages. They dragged the boy to the center of a circle, and a cloaked figure appeared. They called him The Viceroy. He was tall and gaunt, and as bloodthirsty as anyone could ever be. At least, that's what the rumors say. This man held an ominous presence, but almost seemed bored and ready to get it over with than bloodthirsty. I watched from the shadows.

"You can stay if you wish, boy." The Viceroy said in a strange tone, referring to me. "I… Sorry sir." I said quietly. He simply nodded.

The torturer took a knife from his belt and held it to the boy's chest. "Tell me why you attempted to personally assassinate the Hero of Light, and tell me what information you have." I realized with a start that he meant me. That they found this boy interesting enough to torture because he tried to kill me.

"That wasn't my intention! I swear! I dont know anything!s He is the only one-" His sentence cut off as the knife was dragged across his chest. The fabric was torn apart to reveal diced skin and torn flesh, seeping into the white fabric. He screamed. "I'll have no more of this," The Viceroy hissed.

"Wait. Let him speak." I said, surprised at how firm my tone was. The torturer shot me a look, then nodded and waved his hand across the cut to heal it. "As you wish. And here." He handed me a jagged blade. "Use it at your own disposal, even kill him if you feel there is nothing more to gain." I just stared at the blade in my hand as he walked away. The boy lay tied on the floor, gasping for air. "Speak." I said.

"I didn't approach you to kill you, I wanted peace and I know you're the only one that can achieve it. I tried and… I saw you kill. There was no remorse in your eyes for killing innocents, and I lost all hope. I still tried to talk to you, but you lashed out at any noise, and I happened to be one. I defended myself and… I stabbed you. I ran away because I was ashamed of hurting you. I just wanted to explain."

I stared at him. This didn't make any sense, all the war was was a string of skirmishes, nothing really to declare peace or war on as far as I knew.

I just knew that the Sheikah and Gerudo had risen up against the Hylians, and they had recruited monsters somehow and invaded our lines. It wasn't like it had been the second civil war

"The fighting is over anyways. I see no further use to hurting you." I said. "What is your name?"

"Vasmai."

I looked at the boy, wondering if I should kill him, make him bleed to death the way he had sentenced me to, but I couldn't find any anger. I didn't really care whether Vasmai was telling the truth or not, but I forgave him in that moment.

I put the knife away and searched for The Viceroy. After walking down the corridor I came, I found him among another dungeon and gave him the blade. "See that he is set free, or cared for in the least." I say. The Viceroy nodded and gave a small bow. "If that is what you wish, then I will obey, Hero." I was surprised at the response, but was grateful all the same. I walked along the gray stones up to the steps, and Zelda stood there, wide-eyed. "This place is terrible," She choked. "W-why did you come here?" Then she ran to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders. It surprised me, but I wasn't about to complain. "Im sorry for earlier," I murmured into her soft, chestnut-colored hair. She pulled away enough to look into my eyes. "It's okay, Link." She looked down and hesitated. I tilted her chin up with my fingers lightly, to where she looked at me again. "I need to talk to you," She whispered hoarsely.

Before I knew it, she was dragging me by the hand down the hallways and up steps, through a seemingly neverending labyrinth. Finally we arrived at her study. A simple room with a table, a decorative couch and a loveseat, and the entire wall to the left covered with books. "Why are we-" I started.

"Link." She grabs my shoulders and faces me directly towards her. Something on her face was strange, like she was about to drop something huge. But what could have happened in the time from the banquet until then?

Zelda

"Link." I say firmly. He looks at me quizzically. Am I really going to do this? A stone drops in my stomach and I feel like vomiting. I need to tell him how I feel, but how can I tell him about something that I don't completely understand myself? If he feels the same way, how can I tell him that it can never be public? How do I explain that my father wanted me to marry noble, or none at all?

"What is it?" He asks, his goddamned eyes so distracting, and his hair, and… everything. I need to keep my head straight. I take a deep breath.

"I… Link, I... love you."

Yep. I can just feel the vomit.