"Boo, you know I cannot run in this dress!" Zelda shouted as she attempted to keep up with me in her long, fancy dress.
I laughed, "then you can't have your crown back, your highness!"
Running across the green and flowery private grounds, I swung myself into a tree and out of reach.
I waited for Zelda and when she got there, she wasn't even panting.
Grinning down at her, I held the golden crown in my hand. "Looking for something?"
She glared and put her hands on her hips then began tapping her foot.
"Give me the crown Nabooru, you know if I wasn't in this dress I'd of had you by now!"
I chuckled but didn't move. "Hmm I don't think so my dear princess."
She giggled and held out her hand to me.
"Probably not, but I still need that crown for when I meet my fiancé." She said.
I grimaced and hopped down, walking over and gently placing the crown on her head.
I said nothing as I gazed at my friend.
She was the Princess of Hyrule, but had become fast friends with me when I had decided to train with the Sheikah after rejecting Ganon and refusing any more suitors until I returned.
She was almost the exact opposite of me in regards to physical features.
Her skin was porcelain white with golden hair and bright blue eyes. She was as tall as I was though, but very slim and fragile looking.
Though that didn't stop her from being quick on her feet and, at times, having a sharp tongue.
"I don't want you to marry, who will I bother and go flirt around men with?" Though I said it jokingly, I would miss all our time together.
She took my arm in hers and we began to walk out of the grounds and into castle.
"This won't change much, besides, you'll also be taking a husband soon, since you are almsot the marrying age." She said.
I sighed. It was true, when I left the desert I was almost fourteen. Now I was seventeen and had finished all the training I could do here.
There was nothing else I could stall here for, especially now that Zelda was going to marry very soon.
Zelda released me after walking in silence for a bit.
"I have to go now, I must meet my father and husband to be! Wish me luck!" With that she kissed me on the cheek and raced away down the hall.
I watched her go, then turned down the hall and headed back to my room.
I had been a guest at the castle for four years now, mine and Zelda's families were very close and neither minded that I'd been here so long.
It had really just been an excuse, coming here and training, to get away from any more marriage proposals.
After Ganon, I had felt bad and was tired of the process. I decided I'd just wait for the right man, or even find him myself if I had to!
Though now I was glad I'd come here and made so many connections and relationships with the people here.
I felt like I'd found a home away from home here and-
"Umph!"
I turned a corner and slammed nose first into a hard chest. I reached out and grabbed the arm of whoever it was to steady myself.
I heard a familiar laugh and looked up into a pair of dark blue eyes.
"Even with all that training, corners are still your weakness eh?"
Releasing my hold I took a step back and crossed my arms.
"Everyone has a weakness, if that is mine, then I shall gladly take it over something that could really get me in trouble." I said, grinning up at my friend, Link.
He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. He was clad in the standard armor of the Hyrule Knights that consisted of black, sleek armor, leather straps and green tunics beneath. Though his was altered to be more agile, seeing as he was the Master swordsman in all of Hyrule.
And he was only twenty!
"As I recall," he began, beginning to grin. "You have been in plenty of trouble because of your sad corner turning abilities."
I laughed and patted him on the shoulder as I began walking. It was true I had run into some odd situations because of that, but I was never alone when it happened.
"Yes, but I always made sure you or Zelda were their to help break my fall." I said smiling as he walked beside me.
Zelda, Link and myself had become good friends when I asked him to teach me to fight like he did, and Zelda also become interested when he began to teach me. Link was considered one of the most handsome men in the kingdom, and both Zelda and I had quickly fallen under his charm.
Though the two of them never did anything because they knew she would marry and he would serve as her royal guard. They decided to avoid those awkward exchanges in the future.
That never stopped us from fooling around from time to time.
At home, it was common for young girls to be taught how men thought about women and their bodies. We are taught how to seduce them and charm them to get our way.
In exchange for the fighting lessons from Link, I taught him how to avoid being seduced by women. The outcome was not what either of us had been expecting.
For the four years that I had been here, Link and myself had this odd relationship where we would fool around, but be serious about training and keeping up appearances.
"So have you heard word from you mother, or siblings? I know you wrote to them not long ago." Link said to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I frowned and looked away. "Yes I did."
He waited for me to continue, but when I didn't he asked more.
"What did they say? Is anyone coming out here, or are you able to stay longer?"
I still didn't look at him, I knew this day was coming, but I had so wished for it to never be.
I sighed, "I am to return in a few days time, and no more."
Link stopped walking and caught my arm, turning me to look at him. "What? Why didn't you mention this earlier? How long have you known?"
I hadn't wanted to tell him, but I shrugged. "I found out about a week ago that I had to go back. I mean, I should have been back and married by sixteen, but here I am two years later and still not married or home."
He let me go and crossed his arms, his face marred by anger and hurt. "So you were going to tell me when, or did you plan to leave in the middle of the night without a trace like your kind do?"
"What?" I was shocked, how dare he accuse me or my people of being like that? "Where do you get the nerve to say something like that to me?"
He laughed, but it wasn't pleasant. "How about the many times you have snuck out of my bed before dawn while I slept?"
"You know why I do that! Not because I want to, but because...well because!" I yelled, throwing my arms out in frustration.
He strode up to me so that our bodies were flush up against each other and slip his hands up my arms. Leaning down he whispered into my ear. "And how do you suppose that makes me feel, as though you are ashamed to wake up next to me?"
I flushed and looked into his eyes. "Link...you know that I cannot be seen coming out of your room alone like that, even though I wish I could stay and keep you locked away in bed all day long." The last part we both chuckled at.
It was weird to see him react this way, we had never been serious about being together, just fooling around and being friends. I had always made sure no one was around if we ever did anything or acted out of line. I had to keep a clean reputation, which included having no boyfriends or anything of the such.
I held his face in my hands and he was leaning down, gazing into my eyes. Right as our lips brushed, I quickly pushed him and leaped away. Just then a guard rounded the corner and spotted Link leaning against the wall.
He struck up a conversation, and after a while left. When a couple moments had gone by, he checked the corner then said, "it's all clear, you can come down."
From my perch on the ceiling I quietly dropped and landed next to Link. He looked down at me and was about to speak when I interrupted him with a peck on the lips.
"I must go and begin readying for my journey home, I will see you before I leave though!" I called as I dashed away before he could protest.
"I'll make sure of that!" He yelled, making me smile as I ran down the hall.