A/N: I really suck at this updating thing. *head to desk*

Alright so I hope this chapter transitions well... I have read it over a few times and I think does... haha, so I'll let you all get on to reading! :)

Silence in the orangle glow of the few torches left glowing within the castle. Link was not sure if it was truly as late as he was led to believe or whether Impa really hated light as much as he thought.

He was too tired to think and settled himself into a comfortable day dreaming pace... that was shredded as the Shiekah to his left pounced.

Impa pressed the boy against the wall just before his bedroom with the aura of murder glowing about her. "Now, Little Lord, I should not have to express how very important it is to keep that oath you swore to the Princess." Her crimson eyes tore holes through his blue ones and ripped past his exhaustion straight to his heart. Where fear screamed out like a newborn babe.

Navi appeared just between the five inch gap between their faces and turned a menacing yellow. "No. You don't." Her voice, to her partner's suprise, was colder than the harshest winter atop White Tower's tallest spire. "Should I explain how Fae magick works or give you a lesson?" Navi's color reverted back to its normal sky blue tint when Impa stood straight though looking just as stoic as before. "Now, if we are all finished here, I bid you good-night."

Impa did not answer. She was already gone as Link blinked his tired cobalt eyes.

Running on the fumes, he stumbled around toward the door. "Thanks, Navi." He mumbled, rubbing away the sleepiness invading his vision. The doorknob was cold in his grasp but he was thankful when the heat of a raging fireplace hit his face. Lincoln made a mental note to ask the name of the servant that had done this favor for him... but as soon as he had ripped off his clothes to change... he realized that he was not alone.

Raven Hudson sat halfway in a large armchair next to his son's bed with one arm failing at holding his head up while the other held a dark, red, empty bottle. The old Lord was drooling, a sight amusing at any other time except when Link was naked, and emitting soft snoring sounds which were rectifed when Navi titled the man's head back into a more comfortable position.

"Is... he okay?" Navi asked, brows crinkled together with worry while she sat with her back turned to the ten year old. "I've never seen him like this before..."

In soft, cotton pants and tucked under his bundle of covers, the lordling shrugged with indifference. "Mother mentioned, once," He yawned. "that he and Edric like to drink together... but," He yawned, again, and laid back into his pillow. "I've only seen him..." His eyes closed. "drunk once." The "c" hissed between his teeth as he drifted off into slumber.

Navi smirked, crossing the room to brush off the strands of hair on her charge's face, and pressed a soft kiss to her friend's forehead. "We'll talk in the morning."

"Navi?"

"Yes, Link?"

"I kissed a girl." A goofy, completely dumb smile crossed Link's face at that moment and he looked for all the world his age.

Navi giggled, snapped her fingers, and appeared in a silk nightgown. "Correction, she kissed you." She pulled open the drawer next to the bed, a beautiful piece of furniture with new details emerging every glance, and tucked herself away into the warm confines of the hat Saria made the boy. Sleep evaded her for sometime as she thought about the tasks ahead of her and Link in the next few days but, mercifully, the Goddess of Dreams allowed her rest.

Waking with the morning, Navi got up and prepared herself for the day while making sure to keep an eye on the two Hudsons. When she was finished, the barefoot Fae landed on the plush arm of Raven's chair and peered up into the man's face. He was sleeping soundly, he had not tossed or turned during the night, but Navi could see the lines of worry burrowed in the sixty year old's face. The Sun shone his warm face across the horizon and spilled into the room with a brightness that Navi was not ready for. She shielded her eyes and sighed. "The day has started... suppose I should wake them up."

Her right hand tingled with the usual numb-like sensation prevelant when conjuring magick and, at the exact moment it was ready to fire, she pressed that hand against Raven's knee... literally, shocking him to life. The old Lord jumped, eyes shooting wide open, and glared at the Fae.

"Was that nesacarry?"

Navi giggled. "You expected me to shake you?"

"Ah-haha, no... I would expect you to shout." Raven chuckled and scratched at his newly shaven face that bore traces of new grey-black hair. His grey-blue eyes were red and pain pulsed behind them; a sickness brought on by his hangover from his previous encounter with King Edric's wine stores. "Ahhh, I hope I did not snore to loud..."

"You slept like a baby." Navi smiled, flicked her wrist and levitated a nearby bowl of cold water toward them. "You'll feel better if you wash your face, you know."

"As always, sweet Fae, you are right." Raven smiled, softly, and took the girl's advice by vigorously scrubbing his face with his hands before drying off with an offered towel. "You've been taking such good care of us, Navi... you'll continue to do this for our boy... won't you?" His voice, usually so strong and noble, was weak and shakey.

The Faerie blinked and nodded. "O-Of course. I would never abandon him." She lept into the air, gracefully, and sailed in a large backward arc onto Lincoln's bed. A nagging question snapped at the back of her mind and Navi found that she had to know. A few more minutes of sleep would not harm Link. "Milord... why were you in his room last night?"

"He... is my son." Raven's voice was thick with emotion and his face was hidden behind the cloth of the towel used to dry his face. The Lord of White Tower collapsed, slowly, back into his chair and sighed, agonizingly. "But, he shall not be-" The old man cleared his threat and swallowed. "Not be mine... soon."

"He shall always be y-"

"He'll need good..." And then she saw them... the tears. They were rolling down the old Lord's face in silence as he spoke. "He'll need good friends here, Navi. I-I am afraid I have signed-" Raven choked and drew his face away from the winged girl no bigger than his fist. "Signed him up for a dismal fate."

"Lord Raven?" Navi stammered but found she had no words to say. She was much too shocked to say anything of consolation as the man cried. Raven Hudson had never cried in her presence and nor had she ever heard of any such stories... even when his children where born...

"The day he was first placed in my arms... he melted away my whole world and put it right back together... I never thought I would have another child, never thought I would wed again... be this happy. That boy, my Lincoln, brought a light- A bright and glowing light that took away all my fears of dying a lonely, bitter man... and I have loved him so much... kept him at my side and kept him away from other children... because I did not want to part from him." Raven sobbed, pressing his hands into his face and shaking. "Evangeline will hate me for taking her son away... for shoving him into a marriage wrecked with war and danger..."

"Raven, c-calm down." Navi glanced backwards and noticed that Link's calm breathing had become irregular... he was trying to pretend he was asleep. He was awake! "Lincoln i-"

"I cannot have my son hate me, Navi!" Raven's eyes were swollen and the grey-blue color almost seemed white amoungst the angry red from his tears. The wrinkles on his face looked all the deeper as his face contorted into the sorrowful agony of a father with a broken heart. "There is so much that I never told him! He will hate me even more when he finds out." After that... no more words came... just tears... tears and sobbing.

"Finds out...what?" Navi questioned, squeezing Link's shoulder as best she could. She does not recieve a answer she can understand and does not even try to make out what he means between the moans of hurt. She leaned down toward Link and whispered. "Lie still. The drink has made him... unlike himself. He is probably delusional... I am going to take him to his room." The Faerie turned then and clapped her hands together, inhaling all the air her lungs could hold, then rose into the air. A green flame sparked to life between her hands and Navi released the breath she was holding into it... "Lord Raven Hudson," Her voice was etheral and an everlasting echo followed it as grey-blue eyes were captured in the magick. "I call you to my side... and bid you to follow me... follow me..." The door flung open and a servant stepped in but remained silent. "Follow me."

The servant rose a brow, keeping herself composed, and allowed the two to pass without commenting on the dead eyed look in the Lord's eye. She was fat in the face, red splotches all over her cheeks, but seemed the type to be cheery. "G'mornin', wee Prince, it's time to get up!" Her accent oddly mixed and, in his state of mind, Link found himself having a hard time understanding her. "I was sent ta fetch cha and 'ere 'Ah am.

Lincoln pulled his blankets tighter to his body and buried his face into his pillow. "Just a bit longer, pl-" The covers were ripped from his grasp and the cold, dankness of Hyrule Castle seeped into his bones. "ease." He wanted time to think. He had not even a moment to digest what his father could have possibly hidden from him that would make Link hate him.

"Now, now, m'lord. 'Ah was told to come get ya 'n bring yer lordly butt to da King... 'n ya wouln't want to be late for dat... would ya?

Link groaned into his pillow and prepared himself for a fight. This was going to be a long day.

Zelda huffed, tucking in her golden hair back into the headache inducing bun she currently had it in, and turned her violet eyes toward the sound reminescent of diamond scraping on glass.

"Have you been fitted for your dress?" Lady Goldmine, daintly plucking at her food, pressed her lips together and fluttered her eyelashes at the Princess, expectantly.

The Princess sat proper in her chair, right side to the King's, and wiped her mouth, neatly, before speaking. She allowed a soft smile spread across her pink lips and prepared her barbs to offend and kill the conversation. "I do not have to be fitted for my dress." Zelda allowed the briefest of pauses before the final strike. "I am the Princess. I do not have the time to sit about while some old," She did not break her facade as she inwardly cringed at the next word. "hag nips and tucks away. I am to be Queen and have my education to see to." Her napkin was folded as she was taught and placed above her plate which signaled for the servants to clear it away. "I am sure you knew that, Lady Venessa, for your daughter must never have the time for such trivial things." Zelda's violet eyes saw the wince Lady Goldmine made at that particular barb.

Goldmine's daughter was known for being quite the shopper and never hesitated to spend rupees on a new dress. The woman played the ten year old's jab off well and merely cracked a clench jawed smile. "Of course." The Lady turned without delay and leaped into another conversation that Zelda had no interest in.

A servant appeared and took the child's plate as she tuned into her Father's conversation with Jason Hudson.

"Despite all of the... shall we say, troubles? I would daresay that you look in better spirits this morning." Edric smiled and winked at Lincoln as the boy entered wearing his black colors. "I have heard you and your brother were at odds."

"He is but a child." Jason's green orbs focused into Link's colbat ones and he placed his meaty hand on his youngest sibling's shoulder. "But I should have more patience with him than I do... but no matter how angry I get at him. He knows I would die for him." Jason gave a soft squeeze and Link beamed at him. They did not need a heart to heart... they were siblings, siblings fought and forgave.

"You are a good brother, then." Edric chuckled. "And," The King smirked at the Lordling wiping sand from his eyes. "Young Link! I am glad you deicded to join us!"

Link blushed and shrugged, groggily. "I am sorry, My Li-"

"Call me Edric... or Father. Either one."

The boy inwardly cursed the King for garnering so much attention toward him while he was not fully awake but nodded. "Edric, then. Accept my apologies for being late... I..." He read Zelda's eyes in that moment and knew to lie. "Did not sleep well."

"With the things you have been through, Young One, I would not blame you." Edric gestured to the seat next to Jason which was occupied by the snotty, Reginald Horus. "My Lord, would you take another chair? I need to speak with my soon to be Son-In-Law."

A brief sneer but the man complied with little heistation. Link took the seat and thanked the man who brought him a plate. "What did you wish to speak to me about, S- Edric?"

"We have all of this day, the next, and then upon that next morning... you shall be my new son... I want to gift you something but, because I do not know you well enough, I have not the slightest clue what." The King summoned a new cup of wine and sipped at it. "You are remarkable with the sword, or so I am told, but the blade you have cannot be replace... it is the Kokiri Sword, is it not?"

Link swallowed his mouthful of eggs almost whole and shot a playful glare at the Princess who giggled at his attempt of doing so. "Yes... perhaps a shield?"

"A shield?" The King laughed. "There are millions of shields in the Kingdom, Son. Pick something more challenging! I like a good hunt."

"Hunt?" Jason choked on his own drink.

Edric rolled his eyes and slapped the Lord on the back. "I am King but I still enjoy shopping."

"Shopping, my friend? Is that not for the lady folk?" Raven's voice cut in with a humorous air that did not tickle at Link's funny bone. His Father's words still haunted him.

"AHAHAHAHA, I should have your head for that!"

"You should have had my head years ago." Raven gave a short bow to the King before going to stand between his two sons. "I am sorry I was late." Old withered, but strong, fingers squeezed at Link's shoulder... it was meant as a reassurance but Link felt none of its effects.

"Aye, I should have." Edric watched his goblet fill with eager eyes and allowed his plate to be cleared. "Now, be silent you fool." The King spoke in a half-laugh. "Your boy was just telling me what he wants as a gift."

"Father," Zelda's voice was quiet but it rang through the Hall which annoyed her greatly though she did not let that stall her. "you know, it is not custom for one to buy presents for the bride and groom, individually."

Edric gave his daughter an endearing smile then shot a glare toward the cast of Lords and Ladies eavesdropping. This did not stop them but it forced the sounds of cheap chatter and, when he saw Link's face relax more, he took a gulp of wine rather than pat himself on the back. "Sweetling, sometimes it does the heart good to break custom... and," He laughed."I am King."

"Your daughter is right, Sire." Lord Horus injected his voice into the conversation. "It might bring a bad o-"

"I moved you, Reginald, because this was to be a conversation between the Royal Family." A cold tone rolled from the King's lips and his brown eyes appeared almost like hot coals. "Do keep in mind that you are not apart of my Family."

Horus swallowed and gave a single nod. "Aye, Sire."

"Now... back to me being King-"

King... That word, that name, that title... sparked something in Link at that exact moment. His mouth dropped open, his heart sky rocheted into his chest, and his stomach clenched.

He knew what he had to do to help Zelda protect the Triforce.

But, Goddesses be Good, he knew his family would not like it.

"-and wanting to buy my Son-In-Law a gift."

"Perhaps you can give him a day to think it over?" Raven asked, stealing a piece of a roll from Lincoln's plate.

"No..." Link heard himself say. "I know what I want."

It was then that everything happened in slow motion...

Jason waved to Rowan and Thomas as the two Hudsons entered with dumb smiles on their faces... a looming shadow slid into the room... and the King turned toward the boy with coblat eyes.

"And that is?"

"Give me... give me leave, Father King, to go and visit the Gorons and Zora... to extend an invitation personally." Link swallowed and wondered at the strength in his own voice even as his heart hammered in his chest. "Unite the Kingdom... and show our enemies that we are One."

It was then that Lincoln Hudson made eye contact with a seething Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo.

And show our enemies... that we are One.

Those words hung in the air for a long time as the Court of Hyrule stared at that boy with courage raging behind his eyes.

*Gasp!* So, its nothing like the game or the manga really anymore... which is really weird because, when I first wrote the idea down, that is what I wanted. I like it better this way because I always wanted a realistic Zelda game... though everytime I play a new LOZ title I just fall in love with the whole whimsy of it.

Although, Zelda does have a dark side... Like Hyrule is flooded in WW (thats a lot of dead people, plus Ganon's sad story. :C), TP is just dark in whole, MM... same, and Skyward Sword had its morbid elements too. :D So, I'll forever be completely okay with that system.

BUT, this *is* what Zelda would be in my hands. I like depth in my characters and I want to show the stages each of them go through or at least some of what lies beneath their surface. Not all of them will get this treatment as I have my cast of main characters but I hope make a few of fall in love with some of the addtional people.

Like Thomas.

Thomas is my favorite brother.

Ramble: end.

Review and tell me what you think! Please! ;)

-Queaky