December 24

Zelda glanced around each corner of Castle Town. She held two bags stuffed with chocolate in each hand. She was supposed to be returning to the castle but something was keeping her.

Where could he be?

Zelda struggled with the heavy bags as she made her way down street corner after street corner. She had checked each street five times each at this point and she was exhausted.

Ugh I need a break.

Trying to escape the large crowds of people she headed out the south side of the town to sit on the stairs. She sat on the first step and looked over the southern section of Hyrule Field. The large stone steps led to a small section of the field decorated with white snow. There were a few openings in the ground where you could see the river leading out to Lake Hylia. Zelda looked towards the open view of Lake Hylia only to find someone there. They wore bright red armor and a yellowish cape. She recognized them immediately.

"Zelgius!"

Zelda called out as she made her way down the stairs to greet the man. He turned towards her and waved.

"I was looking for you Zelgius."

"What for?"

"I wanted to tell you about the tradition we have here in Castle Town. Every year on Christmas night we have a huge celebration party at the castle. It's a celebration we have to thank the goddess Hylia for leading us safely to the end of the year. It's in the main lobby of the castle. We decorate it with beautiful Christmas wreaths and crystals carved into snowflakes. We have and enormous Christmas tree that we decorate with over one thousand ornaments. We add one ornament for each year to represent the most recent year of Hyrule's history.

"It sounds really nice."

"It is! That's why I want you to come to the party tomorrow."

Zelgius looked away from Zelda for a while. He gave a long sigh. Zelda instantly frowned.

"I think I'll pass Princess."

"Oh… well how come?"

"It just doesn't seem like something I would like to do. I'm not into parties really."

Zelda felt her hands tremble slightly. She smiled despite not being happy.

"Well you said you didn't want to come to the carnival because it wasn't your type of thing but you liked it. So why not give the party a chance?"

"I'm sorry Princess but no thank you."

"Well what are your plans for Christmas then?"

"I don't have any"

"Well if you don't then why not just come along since you have nothing better to do? You don't want to be alone on Christmas do you?"

"I've been alone on Christmas every year of my life so far so I'm used to it."

"But Zelgius-"

"Princess I said I'm used to it. I'm used to being alone. I'm used to not getting presents on Christmas. And for the final time I don't want to go to the party!"

Zelgius turned to Zelda. She still had a smile on her face but she was teary eyed.

"Well if you don't come we'll probably not see each other tomorrow because I'm going to be really busy from now until then. So I guess I'll see you on the battlefield then."

Zelgius looked at Zelda for a while.

"See you later."

Princess Zelda turned away as she struggled to fight back the tears. She walked away briskly not wanting to wait for Zelgius' response. Zelgius watched her return to the town and clenched his fist tight.

I'm sorry Zelda but going would just make it harder to say good-bye…

Zelda took a side street of Castle Town to avoid people. She slowed down to the point where she was barely walking. The bags she held were now dragging across the ground as she walked. She didn't look up. She just held her head as she left out the west gate of the town. She came to a small wooden bridge. Suddenly she dropped the bags and fell into a sitting position. She brought her hands to her face as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Why didn't he want to come? This would have been the last time we got to see each other before the week of peace was over. I just wanted more time before we had to say good-bye and go back to fighting. I hate this! It's not fair! I reject and reject and reject all the men who ask for my hand in marriage and the one man I fall for has to be my enemy!

I'm such an idiot! I tried to fool myself into thinking that Zelgius and I could actually be in a relationship despite being enemies. I thought that some way we could have a miracle and end this fighting so we could be together. What's wrong with me?! This isn't some fairy-tail! This is reality and no magic will ever change the fact that it is what it is.

Zelda wiped the tear off her cheek and held the others in.

No. I can't cry. But I still don't understand why he said no. I was almost certain that he would say yes after yesterday. I thought we were good friends. Did that day even mean anything to him? Did he really mean it when he said we were best friends or did he just say it because that's what I wanted to hear? Were we ever friends at all?! Maybe I just fell in love with a man who didn't have a single care about me. But I just can't believe it's true!

"Princess?"

Zelda looked behind her to see one of her maids watching her with a concerned look on her face.

"Everyone is worried about you Princess. You were supposed to return an hour ago. What happened?"

"Nothing."

Zelda stood up and picked up the two bags. She walked past the maid and began heading back towards the castle. The maid grew even more concerned from the redness in Zelda's eyes but said nothing as she followed her to the castle.

Back at the south side of Hyrule Field Zelgius was still looking out at Lake Hylia.

Now she probably thinks I hate her for no reason at all. I just want to go and apologize but I just can't. If I see her one more time I'll never leave!

Zelgius sat down in the snow and rested his head on his hand.

I'm such a fool. I knew this would happen yet I let it! I knew if I went to that carnival I would get too close to her. I knew I wouldn't want to leave yet I let it all play out just like it shouldn't have! I knew all along that the week of peace was a bad idea but I didn't think I would end up falling for someone of the rivaling land. Especially not the princess herself! Damn it why does this have to happen?! Out of all the people I could have fallen in love with it had to be her. It just had to be her!

I want to go to that party. I want to see her again. I just want to spend that last day with her but I can't! It would be that much harder to say good-bye if I went to that party. But why? She was the only person in this entire world to get me to laugh. I haven't laughed that hard since… god damn it I never laughed that hard! I haven't ever had that much fun before in my life! For once I truly felt happy. But now that's gone forever.

Zelgius looked down at his hand. It was wet. He wiped his face to see that is was also wet.

Am I…crying? I'm really crying. Princess Zelda makes me feel emotions that I didn't know even existed in me anymore…

Zelgius felt tear run down his cheeks. He buried his face in his hands and tried to keep himself from bailing. There were just too many different emotions reeking havoc in his mind.

I can almost always isolate myself and keep from getting close to anyone. Yet I find that I struggle the most with my enemies…

Zelgius wiped his face and began to walk back to his hotel room.

I love you Zelda. I just wish I could tell you that.