A/N Welcome to another chapter.

When I played through Tears of the Kingdom I was a little disappointed we didn't get any lead up to Link & Zelda's exploration beneath Hyrule Castle. We only know it was due to the Gloom and the discovery of a staircase mentioned in Purah's diary.

Therefore I wanted to make up my own scenario for what prompted them to go down there. I also imagine Zelda being quite stubborn and Link trying to be protective.

I also want to add that Link does not have the master sword yet either. That will come later.

Please feel free to comment to add to favorites etc.

Chapter Warning: None

Chapter Three.

The late afternoon sun greeted them upon their arrival at Lookout landing. By the time they entered the settlement which served as the main hub for Central Hyrule, Zelda was feeling quite weary. Nevertheless, it was imperative she speak with Purah as soon as possible, so as soon as they had boarded the horses at the mini stable, Link and Zelda immediately went to meet with the Sheikah at the research tower.

"I'm sorry that I had to bring you here on such short notice, Princess," Purah apologized. "But it's bad, really, really bad."

"How bad?" Link questioned, his voice tinged with concern.

Purah stared at Zelda's former knight. "Ah, Linky, long time no see."

Link shuffled closer to the princess, whispering in her ear. "I really wish she wouldn't keep calling me that."

Zelda smiled. "Oh I don't know. I find it rather endearing."

"Well perhaps I should start calling you Zeldy. How would you like that?"

Purah chuckled at Link's annoyance and Zelda's amusement. "Oh come now Linky," she teased. "You know you secretly love it when I call you that."

"I really don't!" he replied, sternly

Enjoying Link's outcry, Purah grinned. "Oh, you protest so vehemently," she said, her voice filled with playful sarcasm. "But your blushing cheeks tell a different story, Linky."

Link attempted to soothe his temper. "Well now you're just being ridiculous!"

She laughed heartily. "Ridiculous, what me?" she said, her voice filled with mock-offense. "I'm simply stating what I can see, Linky. Your face is as red as a rupee."

"Pfft, I only have eyes for the princess."

Purah raised an eyebrow at Link's sudden confession. "Oh really?" her tone dripping with feigned shock. "So, you only have eyes for the princess, hmmm?"

Link slapped a hand over his mouth and his face flushed even more as he realized he had just spoken aloud. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! he silently berated himself.

She snickered at his embarrassment. "Ohoho, looks like the mighty hero has a touch of the love-struck puppy syndrome, hmm?" Purah teased.

Now it was Zelda's turn to blush. She had no idea Link felt this way about her. She assumed that all of his little hints and comments were nothing more then just playful banter.

Purah glanced over at Zelda, noticing the princess's cheeks reddening at Link's words. She couldn't help but smirk at the sight. "Well, well, well," she said. "So it seems our dear princess is affected by Linky's little declaration as well."

Despite her cheeks heating up, the princess cleared her throat. "Absolutely not!" she objected firmly, eyes downcast.

The Sheikah chortled at Zelda's insistence. "Oh really now, princess," she said with a scowl. "Deny all you want, but your blushing cheeks are a dead giveaway. You can't hide your feelings from me, my dear."

Zelda was desperate to change the subject. "Perhaps we all need to focus on the situation concerning the missing workers," she instructed. "Don't you think?"

Purah's expression turned serious as she considered Zelda's words. "You're right," she said, nodding in agreement. "There are more important issues right now. I can tease Link later about his love-struck puppy syndrome and your blushing cheeks, princess."

Link's face was still red as a tomato, and at this point he was embarrassed beyond words at his own stupid mistake. He turned sheepishly to the princess. "I'm so sorry, Zelda."

The princess smiled gently at Link's apology, her expression softening. "It's alright," she assured him." You have nothing to apologize for. I...quite enjoyed hearing what you said."

"Really?"

Zelda nodded, her cheeks still rosy. "Yes, truly," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "Your words...they made me feel quite special, actually."

"So there's a chance you and I..."

The endearing look in her gaze vanished in a flash, replaced by something similar to panic. "It's best we not get ahead of ourselves, wouldn't you agree?"

Slowly the glee on Link's face dissipated. "Well I guess you are the princess and I am just a commoner."

Purah chimed in, interrupting their moment. "Oh, come now, Link," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're not just any commoner. You're the hero, the legendary champion chosen by the goddess herself. Trust me, status differences won't stop true love from blossoming."

Link felt a mix of emotions as Purah spoke. On one hand he was elated by her words, her reassurance that social status wouldn't be an issue between him and Zelda. On the other hand, he couldn't shake off the gnawing sense of worry that tugged at his heart.

"If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. Fate has a funny way of making things work when two people are meant to be together," Purah concluded.

Link attempted to suppress the strange sense of unease that suddenly washed over him. It was as if something deep within him was trying to warn him about something ominous lurking on the horizon.

Zelda's sensitive nature picked up on the sudden shift in Link's demeanor. She could feel the tension radiating from him, and it caused a ripple of worry to cross her own features. "Link," she said gently. "Are you alright? You seem...uneasy."

Link didn't want to worry her. "I'm fine, Zelda. Nothing to worry about."

Zelda eyed him skeptically, her intuition telling her that he wasn't being entirely truthful. She knew him well, perhaps too well, and she could see the subtle signs of anxiety and unease he was trying to hide from her.

"Like you said, we should concentrate on talking to Bolson and find out what's been going on at the castle," Link suggested. "That's the most important thing right now."

Composing herself, Zelda replied, "Yes, you're right. The sooner we know more details, the better." The princess then addressed Purah. "Would you mind taking us to Bolson now."

Purah nodded. "Of course, come with me, Princess."

Link and Zelda followed Purah towards the Emergency Shelter which was located beneath Lookout Landing. The underground bunker once served as a shelter for the Royal Family. Inside there were multiple beds, a cooking pot and a Goddess Statue. It was also where the injured construction worker was currently being treated. Bolson was sat nearby, keeping watch over his injured recruit.

As they approached, it was evident that Bolson was physically and emotionally worn out. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression weary and his shoulders slumped with fatigue. He started to rise in order to greet the princess, but she waved him down, instead taking her time to observe the injured man.

He was laid down on one of the beds, his face was pale and it contorted in pain while his breathing was ragged and labored. A makeshift bandage had been wrapped tightly around his head and his left arm.

"His name is Janarson," Bolson informed her. "We recruited him after he assisted us with some construction work over in Lurelin Village recently. A really hard worker he is."

Zelda's expression was filled with remorse and concern as she peered down at Janarson. As the princess of the kingdom, she felt a deep sense of responsibility for her citizens, and seeing one of them injured affected her profoundly.

"How is he doing?"

Bolson sighed, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "He's recovering, but it's been slow going. The injuries he sustained in the collapse were quite severe. Some of the cuts and bruises are not serious, but his arm was crushed, so he'll probably never be able to use it again. However, it's the head injury that we're more concerned about."

Purah spoke up. "He did sustain a nasty head injury. Unfortunately, it's impossible to know the extent of the damage until he fully awakens."

"This my fault," Zelda cried, tears brimming in her green eyes. "You were carrying out the repairs at my command, and now this man has suffered life changing injuries, whilst a further two are still missing."

Hearing Zelda's words, Bolson shook his head vigorously. "No, Your Highness, this is not your fault," he protested. "If anything, it's mine. Those men were entirely my responsibility."

"Could you tell us more about what happened?" Link prodded, eager to get to the bottom of this recent tragedy.

Bolson nodded, his countenance becoming more somber. "It all started two days ago," he began, his voice weary. "Karson and I had been making good progress with the repairs, but then Jayson and Dawson discovered that tunnel. They were excited, thinking it would lead somewhere interesting. Janarson said we should explore further."

Is that when you discovered the staircase," Zelda questioned.

"Yes," he confirmed. "As we continued into the tunnel, we came across some rocks blocking the way forward. Anyway, Jayson and Dawson were curious so they attempted to destroy the rocks. It took some effort due to their axes being weak, but eventually with perseverance they managed to break through and this revealed the staircase."

"A hidden staircase underneath the castle, I still can't believe it," Zelda said, still mildly confused as ever.

Purah turned her attention to the princess. "So not even you knew about this, huh?"

The princess shook her head. "I really had no idea. Bolson, please continue."

"Well it was after this that things started to get...strange."

"What do you mean?" Zelda pressed.

Bolson's expression grew more intense, his gaze drifting off into the distance as he recalled the events. "Well it's hard to explain, princess," he said, his voice tinged with unease. "As we descended the staircase, the air around us seemed to change. It felt colder, denser, almost oppressive. We could hear strange noises, like whispers echoing off the stone. It was quite disturbing."

"Why didn't you get out of there?" Link questioned angrily, as if stating the obvious.

"I told Jayson and Dawson to turn back, but they didn't listen. They just kept going, lured by the allure of discovering something unknown. And that was when the rumbling started, like the tunnel was about to collapse. We had to retreat. It was then that one of the loose rocks hit Janarson. It took every ounce of strength I had to pull him out of there."

Purah was curious. "And this tunnel, you say it wasn't on any of the blueprints?"

Bolson shook his head, his tone firm. "No, that's the strangest part. You see, I've been over the blueprints of the castle countless times, and that staircase is nowhere to be found. It's like it appeared out of nowhere."

"I wonder how far down it goes...or where it leads?" Zelda mused.

Bolson shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine," he admitted. "But I get the feeling there's something down there, something unnatural..."

"Then we need to get in there and take a look," Link insisted. "Surely it's imperative—"

"Wait, wait, wait, " Bolson interjected, holding his hands up in a calming gesture. "You really think going in there is a good idea? Surely you'll need a skilled team, supplies...some semblance of a decent plan."

"We really don't have time for that," Link snapped. "We need to locate the missing workers as soon as possible. Therefore, I should go."

Purah patted him on the back. "Heh, I knew you had it in you. You sure you're up for this Link. It could be dangerous. And you don't have the Master Sword."

"I have a sword," he quickly noted.

"Well if you're going, then I'm coming too," Zelda volunteered.

His blood suddenly ran cold, panic immediately swept over him. "No! Absolutely not!"

Zelda placed her hands firmly on her hips. "Excuse me?! Did you just say no?"

"You heard me, Zelda, the answer is no," Link repeated evenly.

The princess eyed him bizarrely. "And who may I ask put you in charge?"

Link and Purah exchanged worried glances. Link spoke up first. "Zelda, following that staircase could be dangerous," he cautioned. "We don't know what's at the end of it and we don't even know if these workers are still alive."

"Well I'm not going to sit back and wait to find out. I have a duty to the kingdom—to those missing workers."

Link stepped closer to Zelda, gently grasping her hand in his own. "Zelda, I understand your sense of duty and your desire to find them, but we really have no idea what's down there. Risking your safety isn't worth it."

"Yes, Princess, please reconsider," Purah implored, her voice filled with anxiety. "Link's right. I have a bad feeling about this. Do you remember during the Calamity, the threat came from beneath Hyrule Castle."

Zelda grimaced as she was forced to remember the harrowing events of the great calamity. It seemed a lifetime ago now, but the mental trauma and the heavy loss still weighed heavily on her mind. "That's exactly why I'm going, because I cannot...will not allow history to repeat itself. We need to know what's down there, no matter what the cost."

Link took hold of her shoulders, his grip firm but gentle. "I understand you want answers, but I can't let you throw yourself into danger. I can't risk you getting hurt or worse."

"You're forgetting, Link, that I'm the princess. I give orders, not take them."

His gaze hardened. "I don't care if you're the princess," he retorted. "It is my sworn duty to protect you and I can't do that if you're risking yourself."

"You're no longer my appointed knight. You don't have to protect me."

Those words hurt more then he ever thought possible. "I know I'm not your appointed knight any more," Link replied, quieter now. "But that doesn't change anything. You still mean so much to me and I can't just switch off my instinct to protect you."

She gazed deep into his blue eyes. "I know. But remember, where you go, I go."

His grip on her shoulders tightened. "Zelda please," he said, voice laced with desperation. "Let me handle this. I've faced dangerous situations before. I can handle whatever's down there."

I'm not a child, so I'm going whether you like it or not."

Link's frustration turned into outright anger. "You may not be a child, but you're behaving like one. You're being completely reckless and irrational. Going into that tunnel is foolish and you know it!"

Zelda stared at him incredulously. "It's my choice!"

He let out an exasperated sigh. "You're being unbelievably stubborn, you know that?" he said, his voice full of frustration. "Just because you're willing to take the risk does not mean you should run blindly into danger.

"Well us standing here arguing about it is wasting precious time," she pointed out.

Whatever protest Link was about to rebut with, it melted into a forlorn sigh. "Fine! Even though I can't support this foolhardy plan of yours, I do believe you're right. The longer we wait, the less chance there is of finding Jayson and Dawson alive." He whipped his head around to face Bolson. "Since you mentioned this tunnel doesn't appear on any of the castle's blueprints, would it be at least possible for you to draw us some kind of map?"

"Sure thing, Link." He reached into his satchel and pulled out a piece of parchment. After scratching the top of his head for a while he began to quickly sketch out a map. Once he was finished, he handed it over. "This is the best I could do."

Link studied the rough sketch, Bolson had drawn, his eyes examining the twists and turns leading to the tunnel and subsequently the elusive staircase. "This looks doable," he said, a note of confidence in his voice. "With this map we should at least have an idea of where we're going."

Purah still looked anxious. "Look, Linky, Mr Hotshot, Hero Boy, whatever you like to be called, just come come back safe, ok? And don't forget to look after our princess. Do you hear me?"

Link nodded in understanding. "I will," he affirmed. "We'll find those missing workers and I'll do everything in my power to keep the princess safe."

"We'll be back as soon as possible, but just in case we don't..." Zelda trailed off, her mind filled with dark thoughts.

The Sheikah gulped, her eyes filled with sadness. "Hey, let's not even think about that possibility."

Zelda took Purah's hand, flashing her a kind smile. "You've always been a good friend, and you've served the kingdom well."

Purah tried to hold back tears, her hands trembling in Zelda's grasp. "Thank you, Princess," she managed to say, her voice quivering. "You've always been so kind to me, just please... come back safely."

Bolson glanced up at Link, his eyes pleading. "Please find Jayson and Dawson for me...even if—"

No words were needed as he knew what Bolson meant by that. Link gave him a curt nod. "I will. You have my word."

A/N More to come...