Chapter 1

A problem

Zelda walks quickly, excited to finally have convinced Link to spend some time with her. "Greetings Sir Link," Link nods his head a bit, smiling. "Hello Princess,"

He holds out his arm to her and she gladly takes it. Even after two years of Link by her side she still could not stop the blush that rose every time she touched him. She could only hope he didn't know about her feelings. Oh goddesses if he knew, Two years may sound long but neither her nor the hero were adept at making friends. In year one Zelda was sure they had only spoken twice, Link was such a quiet man. If he knew she had felt that way about him since the day Midna left, what would he do.

"Unfortunately I do expect the council to summon me soon, they've been hinting at it by how suspicious they act around me." Link laughs, Zelda sighs.

"Public opinion of me is dropping. Soon I could be facing a revolt... an uprising.. I may be forced to abdicate."

Link stops, "i didn't come out here to talk about politics Princess, though I see you are worried, your people are not statistics or numbers on a page. I came here to be with my friend."

A servant rushes out of the castle and whispers in Zelda's ear, "Princess, the council has summoned you," Zelda nods her head in acknowledgement. The look in her eyes when she focused them on Link could only be "I told you so". "Come Sir Link, let us hear the councils wisdom." She turned and walked towards the castle with Link only a few steps behind her.

"Welcome your highness, we have a few different matters to discuss." Zelda gave her practiced smile and sat down, she discreetly made sure Link stood at his station. Only to remember her first question,

"Why wasn't Sir Link permitted into this meeting?" Councilor Cole replied, "Your Highness we will be discussing your marriage and your reputation with the people, these are not things fit for a bodyguard's ears."

Zelda sighs, "I see, please proceed." Councilor Sherman smiles, "As you know your reputation is falling, people believe you are responsible for the Twilight invasion do to surrendering to the shadow masses." Zelda masks her feelings with a calm facade, "I do know this and what does it relate to my marriage?" Councilor Cole smiles, "You see Princess, you are of age, we the council find this convenient as a good way to prove you can be Queen and still be a person."

The feeling Zelda had was only a little less than fury. She knew all too well the council wanted her to be a living statue, on how they wished she had no emotions and would be easy to control. That is why they choose to use her as a political tool. To marry her to a man, Lord or Prince or noble of sorts that could be controlled. She could be a Princess and still love flowers. She just had to show the people.

The council was a tradition and they were well loved by the people. Her publicly accusing them with no base to her accusations would only hurt her.

She was so tired of manipulation. She had to end it somehow in someway. "My dear. Councilmen I believe I have an idea on an ideal candidate." What was she doing? Link would hate her for this.

"I believe Sir Link is ideal, the people love him and he is a full blooded hylian to keep the royal line pure." Councilor Cole is silent for a moment. She wanted to feel victorious but she only felt like this was betrayal.

"The council will have to consider this Princess. Thank you for the input." She could hear th disapproval and anger in his voice. Link would not be easy to control. Zelda smiles, "If that is all I shall be on my way, Please do alert me as soon as possible of your verdict." Zelda turns and sweeps out of the room with a confident smirk on her face...until she gets to the courtyard. "I'm an idiot, if they accept Link I will have sold him into an arranged marriage of sorts. He'll hate me, he would never want to be royalty.

Zelda hurries off worriedly to find Link and tell him of this possibility and how sorry she is and that she'll make it up to him and whatever she could do to make him forgive her.

I wanted to really emphasize how much the council hated her and wanted to sabotage her is the rewrite of the story. Don't worry I sweat to continue it past chapter 4.