To Capture the Heart of a Hero

Chapter 17 – Confrontation

"Oh, there you two are."

As Link stepped out onto the balcony, he greeted the two women with a small smile. They both turned back to look at him, each flashing expressions of surprise. Clearly, they hadn't expected him to show up out of the blue like this.

Ashei was the first to greet him back. She gave a small smile in return. "Hey Link."

Meanwhile, Zelda just froze, watching in silent horror as the Hero approached them. After eavesdropping on his conversation, the last thing she wanted to do was run into him. She hadn't even been able to properly sort out her thoughts yet. How was she supposed to confront him when she still felt so confused and conflicted?

Nevertheless, she forced herself to utter a greeting, trying her best not to sound too dejected as she did so. "H-Hello Link."

The Hero just gave her a somewhat curious glance, clearly catching her tone. "Sorry, I just heard the two of you talking out here. Am I interrupting?"

"Yes, you are," Ashei replied bluntly.

Zelda immediately turned to the girl and gawked. How could she say that so blatantly!? "Ashei, don't be so harsh."

"What? It's true, yeah?"

Upon hearing this, Link suddenly seemed like the dejected one. "Er, sorry about that. A maid told me that I could find the two of you out here. I didn't mean to be so rude…"

Zelda just glanced at him with a look of sympathy. Even when her heart and mind felt like they were a complete and utter wreck, she couldn't help but feel bad for him in this situation. "No, it's fine, Link. We weren't discussing anything serious."

Ashei gave the Princess a curious look, but Zelda just scowled in return. It was a clear warning that the Knight should keep her mouth shut.

Link just rubbed his neck a bit, looking uncomfortable. "I can always come back later."

Zelda shook her head without a second thought. "No, don't be ridiculous. Please stay."

"You're sure?"

"I insist."

Upon hearing this, Link breathed a small sigh of relief, and allowed himself a smile. With Zelda's permission, he no longer felt like he was out of place. "All right then."

Meanwhile, as Zelda's words left her mouth, she couldn't help but inwardly scold herself. What was she thinking? She had just been dreading the thought of confronting him, and now here she was insisting on it? Why couldn't she have just let him walk away? Surely, she would have been able to talk to him again later? At a time when she wasn't feeling so out of sorts?

Zelda soon closed her eyes and breathed a silent sigh. She went to all of this trouble just so the Hero wouldn't feel bad about interrupting them. Clearly, the Princess had issues.

As Zelda berated herself, Ashei decided to approach Link. She crossed her arms as she gave the man a skeptical gaze. "So what brings you here anyway, Hero?"

Link leaned back a bit. "Nothing, really. I was just hoping to talk to Zelda."

Ashei shook her head, looking displeased. "Ah, so you have no interest in talking to someone like me, yeah? I see how it is, Link."

Link just frowned, and physically stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "That's not what I'm saying, Ashei…"

Ashei soon smirked, before playfully punching Link in the shoulder. "Aw, I'm only messing with ya. I know that my company isn't as valuable as some people's."

Link slowly rubbed his shoulder, noticing that Ashei seemed to have punched him harder than she intended to. It figured that she didn't know her own strength. "I'm not saying that either."

Ashei shrugged. "It's fine. Besides, I was just leaving. I'll let the two of you talk alone."

These words seemed to snap Zelda out of her trance, only to throw her into another state of alarm. If Ashei was leaving, then that meant that Zelda would have to face the Hero alone! She couldn't do that! Certainly not in her current state!

Zelda suddenly took a few steps forward, staring directly at the girl. "Oh, that's all right. You really don't need to go, Ashei…" Zelda nearly hissed the Knight's name as it left her lips. It was clear that she was trying to convey some hidden meaning in her tone.

Naturally, Ashei just chose to ignore it. "Nah, I wouldn't want to be a bother."

"You couldn't possibly," Zelda said, almost pleading.

Ashei just stared at the Princess for a second before shaking her head and flashing a smirk. She then walked over and whispered into Zelda's ear. "Talk to him," she said sternly. "It's the only way that you're going to be able to get your feelings sorted out."

Zelda just stared off into the distance, looking dumbfounded. Eventually, she gave a timid nod. "I…I know."

Ashei soon pulled back, and gave the Princess a quick wink. She then turned around, making her way towards the balcony's exit. "I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do. I'll talk to you later, Zelda. See you around, Link."

"See you later, Ashei," Link said, bidding the Knight farewell.

Zelda just gave the girl a mindless wave, still too preoccupied with her own problems. Was she really going to face the Hero alone? But how could she, especially considering what she had just learned that very day? Zelda nervously bit her lip. She knew that the following conversation was likely going to be awkward, sad, and incredibly painful. She had never dealt with anything like this before. How was she supposed to do it now, in this moment?

Zelda could only sigh. Suddenly, another encounter with Zant or Ganondorf didn't sound so bad. At least not when compared to this…

"What's up with Ashei?" Link asked abruptly.

"Huh?" Zelda replied, suddenly being pulled out of her thoughts once again.

"She seemed like she was in a hurry to leave," Link noted with a shrug.

"Oh, yeah..." Zelda said, struggling to piece together an excuse. "I think she was just…you know, being eccentric."

Link raised his eyebrows at this, but soon gave a small laugh. "You mean like how she always is?"

Zelda couldn't help herself. In spite of her nerves, a small smile graced her lips. When she stared back at Link's warm expression, she could hardly resist feeling a bit…pleased. "Yes, I suppose so," she agreed.

Link smiled back as he shook his head. "I've known her for a while now, but it's still hard to know what she's thinking sometimes."

Zelda surprised herself by releasing a playful giggle, as well as a humorous quip. "Give it time, Link. Believe it or not, Ashei is not a terribly complex individual."

Link just laughed. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me."

Zelda laughed alongside him, feeling some of the pressure start to melt away. As she did, she took a moment to focus her thoughts inward. She intended to berate herself once again, but this time for different reasons. What was she acting so nervous and upset for? In spite of everything that she had learned that day, she still enjoyed spending time with Link, didn't she? Zelda told herself that she needed to stop worrying about her situation. She should just live in the present, and try to enjoy these small moments of happiness.

Feeling somewhat resolved, Zelda flashed Link a meager smile. "Um, would you care to join me out here?" She then placed a hand on the railing next to her.

"Of course," Link replied with a nod. He soon walked over to the balustrade and joined her side.

There, the two of them stood in silence for a moment. Link gazed down into the courtyard below, admiring the green scenery. Zelda tried to do the same, but she couldn't help but admit that she felt a bit distracted now that the Hero was standing so close to her. Still, she tried to stay positive.

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Link asked, pointing his face up towards the warm rays of the sun.

"Yes, it is," Zelda agreed. "How was your journey to the castle? Well, I hope?"

Link nodded. "Yeah, the trip was fine. Although, strangely enough, I think that Epona might have been moving faster than normal. I'm honestly starting to think that she enjoys our frequent trips to the castle. At the very least, she seemed eager to return."

Zelda smiled at this. She always appreciated whenever Link talked about his mare with such fondness. "Well, please let Epona know that she will always be welcome here. After all, I suppose that she is also a hero who helped save our Kingdom."

Link laughed. "That's true. I definitely couldn't have done it without her. She's always been an incredibly reliable companion. She looks out for me and listens to my every command. And of course, I completely trust Epona, and she trusts me too." The Hero then paused before staring off into the distance. A sincere smile soon appeared on his lips. "I'm truly thankful for her. The Goddesses only know where I would be without her."

Zelda allowed her smile to widen too, as she nodded in agreement. "Of course. Epona is a magnificent steed."

Link then looked down, almost as if lost in thought. He soon spoke up again, but in a softer voice. "She's incredibly clever too. Sometimes I wonder if she knows more than she lets on."

Zelda glanced at Link with curious eyes. "What do you mean?"

"It's…kind of hard to explain," Link said, still speaking in a soft tone. "It's just…the bond between me and Epona feels so strong; it's like we truly understand each other. Sometimes I even wonder if she understands me better than I understand myself."

"That's rather impressive," Zelda noted, feeling a bit surprised. She felt like she had a strong bond with her own horse, Reina, but it didn't feel nearly as powerful as what Link was describing.

Link nodded at her words, but then produced a sheepish smile. "And, truth be told, I think Epona sensed that she wasn't the only one who was eager to return here today."

Zelda just blinked at this, wondering what he was trying to say. "Oh?"

Link slowly glanced over towards the Princess, still looking a bit bashful. "Yeah, I was personally looking forward to visiting the castle again too."

Upon hearing this, Zelda felt her heart give a strong thump in her chest, but she instantly quelled it. Now wasn't the time for such shenanigans! Instead, she strictly focused her attention back on the Hero. "You were?"

Link gave a nod. "Yeah, since I haven't been around often, and you and I haven't really seen each other much lately."

Zelda felt her cheeks threaten to turn red, but she managed to control herself once again. Still, she struggled to come up with a response, eventually settling for a simple, "I see."

"That's actually why I was interested in talking to you again," Link continued. "I know that our earlier conversation was interrupted, but I figured that we'd get a chance to talk after the meeting. However, when I went to look for you, it seemed like you had disappeared."

Zelda soon flashed a guilty frown. He had went out of his way to look for her? Well, duh, he must have. He had managed to track down her current location on the balcony, after all. Still, she felt bad about disappearing like that, especially when she had promised him that they would talk once the meeting was over.

"I'm terribly sorry, Link," Zelda told him as she bowed her head. "I got caught up in a few things after the meeting adjourned, and then, um…Ashei wanted to speak with me, so she pulled me away from the room."

As the words left her mouth, Zelda couldn't help but wince a bit. She hated having to lie to the Hero by coming up with such a quick excuse, but she honestly didn't feel like she had much choice. The last thing she wanted to do was let Link know the actual reason for why she had been avoiding him. Zelda could only imagine how embarrassing and depressing that would be. At least she was able to take solace in the fact that she wasn't being entirely dishonest. She had left to go talk with Ashei, after all.

Fortunately, Link just gave a shrug, not thinking anything of it. "Oh, that's okay. I know that being a Princess means that you're always busy."

Zelda nodded, refusing to meet his gaze. "Thank you for understanding."

Link then gave her an encouraging smile before glancing back out into the courtyard. "So what were the two of you talking about anyway?"

Zelda instantly frowned, feeling all of her accumulated confidence and joy drain away as that single question reached her ears. So much for trying to abandon her nerves. It seemed that they were all too willing to reappear at a moment's notice. But could the Princess honestly be blamed? Link had immediately started inquiring about her and Ashei's conversation! How could she possibly tell him about that!?

"Oh, i-it was nothing," Zelda stuttered, forcing her gaze even further away from the Hero.

"Really?" Link asked as a playful smirk appeared on his lips. "I figured that it must be something exciting, because Ashei seemed pretty high-spirited when I first walked out here."

Zelda frowned some more. She forgot that Link had arrived at the tail end of their conversation and had probably overheard some of it. What was she supposed to do now? Keep frantically coming up with excuses? Would she even be able to think of something believable?

Zelda nervously bit her lip. She wasn't sure what to do anymore, but upon glancing at the Hero's expectant gaze, she knew that she had to say something.

"Oh, you noticed that?" she eventually responded, trying her best to make it sound like it was no big deal.

"Of course," Link said with a small laugh. "It's not every day that she looks so proud of herself. And smug, for that matter."

Zelda closed her eyes and released a silent sigh. Well, that certainly sounded true. She needed to remind herself to give the Knight a lesson in humility later. Maybe then Zelda wouldn't often find herself in situations like this, where she had to desperately come up with so many excuses. Speaking of which, it seemed like Link was still awaiting an answer.

"Um, Ashei was just…kind of surprised by something," she replied, hoping in vain that the pauses in-between her answers weren't actually as long as they felt.

Fortunately, Link didn't seem to notice. Instead, he just grinned at this piece of news. "What happened? Did Captain Zander finally allow her to take some of the soldiers on an expedition?"

Zelda glanced over at the Hero, a little surprised. That certainly would have been a good excuse. Well, if it was true, anyway. "No, I'm afraid not."

"Did Ralis finally invite her to a reekfish feast?"

Zelda raised her eyebrows again. Where had that come from? "No…"

Link just laughed some more, clearly enjoying being able to make fun of the Knight for a change. "Well, when it comes to Ashei getting excited, the only other thing I can think of is when she teases other people. Specifically myself. But I don't suppose that was it either, was it?"

Zelda froze for a second, before gawking at the Hero. How had he managed to arrive at that conclusion so easily? Sure, it wasn't true, but it was certainly close. Too close for comfort, actually.

As the seconds continued to tick away, Zelda managed to shut her jaw. Still, she had no idea what she should say in response. "I, um…"

Due to her lack of words, Link just stared at the Princess, looking a bit confused and curious. It almost seemed like he wanted to ask what was wrong with her. However, his face soon settled into an expression of understanding instead. "Ah, I see. So she was poking fun at me. I should've known."

"N-No, that's not it," Zelda said, before quickly placing a hand over her mouth. She hadn't meant to blurt that out so easily. Every question she denied only brought Link closer to the truth, after all. Still, Zelda didn't want to give him the wrong impression. And she especially didn't want him to think that she had joined in on it!

Link just shook his head. "It's fine, Zelda. I know that's how she is."

"No, really Link," Zelda insisted. "This is just a misunderstanding."

Link stared at Zelda, looking confused again. "What do you mean?"

Zelda tried to stare back, but she soon looked away with a sigh. She couldn't keep doing this. She couldn't keep hiding the truth from him. She had a feeling that it would just lead to more misunderstandings, and Zelda didn't want that. She wondered if it was time to just come clean; to just be honest with Link. It wasn't ideal, but what other choice did she have?

Zelda took a deep breath, gathering her resolve. This wasn't going to be easy, but it had to be done. "Ashei wasn't making fun of you, Link," she slowly confessed, before flashing a small expression of guilt. "However, we were…discussing you."

"Discussing me?" Link repeated, still looking confused. "You mean…you guys were talking about me?"

"Yes," Zelda admitted with a frown. "Forgive us, Link, but we were simply discussing something that we had…um, just learned about you." She glanced down at the railing in front of her, and gently clutched it for support. She could feel her anxiety rising up again. "You see, Ashei and I accidentally overheard the conversation that you were having with Enzo and Ralis in the meeting room."

To Zelda's surprise, Link ended up blushing a bit. She watched out of the corner of her eye as he too looked away, refusing to face the Princess head-on. "Oh, th-the two of you heard all of that?" he asked, sounding completely embarrassed.

"Parts of it," Zelda clarified. As she did, she managed to raise her eyes up far enough to get a better look at the Hero. She was suddenly much more interested in watching his behavior rather than managing her own. "We happened to overhear that Enzo was offering to set you up with his daughter. But then you denied him, because…"

Zelda paused. She always hated having to reiterate this part. Still, she forced herself to get the words out, and did her best to speak in a steady voice.

"Because you had already entered into a relationship with someone else…"

Zelda watched as Link's expression changed a bit. He slowly started to smile as he continued to blush. However, he no longer seemed to be embarrassed. Instead, his expression almost looked like something akin to "mild giddiness".

Eventually, he reached up and scratched the back of his head. "Man, I guess the rumors really do get around fast in this castle, don't they?"

The Princess continued to stare at him for a few seconds. She didn't care to agree or disagree with that statement. Instead, she wished for something different. She wanted to hear the truth spoken directly to her, leaving no room for doubt or discussion.

"Is what we heard true?" Zelda asked in a quiet voice. "Or did we possibly misunderstand?"

Link just smiled some more, before giving the smallest of nods. "Yeah, it's true."

Zelda frowned a bit as she cast her gaze downward again. She thought that this was what she wanted to hear. That the truth would make things easier. But that wasn't the case at all. If anything, the Hero's words stung, and they left her heart with nothing but the feeling of a dull, aching pain.

So it is true, Zelda told herself. He's not interested in you. He loves someone else…

Zelda soon spoke up again, but when she did, her voice felt somewhat hollow and empty. It almost felt like the words came out on their own, without any actual input from Zelda.

"So…who is she? Tell me about her…"

Once again, Link seemed too caught up in his own thoughts to notice her unusual behavior. He folded his arms and leaned on the railing in front of him, staring out into the distance. "Her name is Ilia," he said, sounding a little proud as well as cheerful. "She's a girl from my village. We've known each other ever since we were kids, and we've always been good friends."

Zelda gave a few nods as she listened. Once again, that name started bouncing around in her thoughts. Ilia…Ilia…Where had she heard that name before?

Suddenly, she gasped as the memory returned to her. "Oh! You mentioned her before, didn't you?" Zelda said, quickly turning to Link, who looked equally surprised. "When we were in Gerudo Desert. You mentioned that she takes care of Epona for you."

Link just blinked, not having expected this response. Nevertheless, he soon smiled. "Wow, I'm surprised that you remembered that."

"It…just suddenly came to me," Zelda replied with a sheepish smile.

"But you are correct," Link continued. "Ilia has always had a fascination with horses. She especially enjoys looking after Epona, whether it's bathing her or brushing her mane. Those are tasks that I've admittedly failed to stay on top of over the years, so I've always appreciated her help."

Zelda slowly nodded. "She sounds like a reliable girl."

"Yeah, she is," Link agreed as his voice swelled with pride once again. "She's always been thoughtful and kind and friendly. And she doesn't just look after Epona either. She takes it upon herself to look after me as well. She's always concerned over my wellbeing, and making sure that I'm taken care of."

Zelda nodded some more, committing everything that she had just heard to memory. So this is the girl he fancies…The kind, sweet girl that takes care of his horse for him.

Zelda couldn't help but frown a bit as several negative thoughts drifted to the front of her mind. Thoughts of how this Ilia girl must truly be someone special. Someone that Zelda would never be able to compare to. How could she? Link spoke of this girl with such fondness, in the same way that he spoke of things like Epona and Ordon Village itself. Ilia was likely just another piece of Link's beloved home. Another memento that reminded the Hero of his humble roots. Another joy that he always loved returning to.

And what was Zelda compared to that? Someone that Link had just met recently, living in a large and unfamiliar castle? With a glum expression, Zelda was forced to realize her place in Link's heart. She would never be able to compare to Ilia. She would never be able to overcome the history that the two of them shared.

"Are you okay?" Link asked, staring at her with a concerned expression.

Zelda quickly hid her emotions away. Being a Princess, she knew how to conceal such feelings with ease. She could certainly act like she was fine, even if she really wasn't. "Sorry, I was just lost in thought for a moment there."

Link just smiled. "No worries. I know that this probably isn't the most exciting topic of discussion."

Zelda nearly gasped at this sudden accusation. She hadn't expected him to say something like that. "Nonsense, Link. I always enjoy hearing about your life outside of being a Hero."

Link produced a bashful expression. "That's very kind of you."

"It's my pleasure," Zelda insisted with a smile. She then decided to press on, wondering what else she could glean from the Hero. "So tell me more. You said that you and Ilia grew up together, correct?"

Link nodded. "I've known her for as long as I can remember."

"And the two of you have always been friends?"

"That's right."

Zelda paused, wondering if she should even dare to ask her next question. She felt like it might be pushing the conversation too far. That she might be inquiring about matters that were none of her business. However, she struggled to find the willpower necessary to resist the temptation. She was desperate to know the answer.

"So…why have you taken such a sudden interest in her?"

As expected, Link looked a bit surprised to hear this question, but he also didn't seem to be offended. If anything, he seemed somewhat embarrassed again. He soon stared down into the courtyard, and spoke up in a quiet voice.

"When the Bulblins came to Ordon and kidnapped the children, Ilia was also taken away. I embarked on my journey after that, and I always tried to keep an eye out for her, hoping that I could find her and make sure that she was safe. A lot of stuff happened, and we were eventually reunited. I was so happy to finally be with her again. Her absence had only made me realize how much I truly missed her…"

Link blinked, ending his longing stare. He soon replaced it with a small smile. "She really needed help when I ended up coming to her rescue. After that, I think her feelings for me started to change too. We've always been friends, but Ilia and I got a lot closer after I saved her."

Zelda gave a single, silent nod as a sad, painful feeling arose within her. What Link had just described…That was exactly how Zelda had felt…

She supposed that this was the problem with heroes. They naturally saved everyone that they came across, and they never thought twice about it. So what if Link had saved Zelda from a horrible fate too? That didn't mean that she was anyone special. He likely would have done the same for anyone.

As Zelda looked away, another odd feeling welled up within her. She wasn't quite sure how to describe it. Was it jealousy towards Ilia? Sorrow at her missed opportunity to be with the Hero? Frustration with herself for being so foolish?

She felt so conflicted at the moment, it was honestly hard to say.

"This is part of the reason why I haven't been around the castle as much," Link continued. "I've been spending a lot of time with Ilia back in Ordon. It's been very nice and relaxing."

Upon hearing this, Zelda had to forcefully stop herself from conjuring images of Link's time in Ordon. The last thing she wanted to do was imagine Link and this other girl doing things like smiling, laughing, holding hands, or, Goddesses forbid, kissing. Wasn't the news that Link was in a relationship already depressing enough as it was?

Instead, Zelda put her skills as a Princess into practice once again, and subdued her negative emotions. She adopted the facade of a soft smile, and for the sake of the Hero standing next to her, allowed some empty lies to trickle out of her lips.

"That's wonderful, Link. I'm happy for you."

Link just nodded in appreciation. "Thanks Zelda. It's still kind of hard to believe that it's real…" He then paused before giving a small laugh. "I guess that's why Ashei was so surprised, huh?"

"Oh," Zelda replied, suddenly recalling their earlier conversation. "Er, yes, she was. She, um…mentioned that she didn't think you had it in you."

Link frowned before shaking his head. "She really never stops making fun of me, does she?"

"Um, I think she was just being humorous," Zelda said, trying to make it sound lighthearted and innocent. "In her defense, I was rather surprised too. Although, not for the same reason, of course."

Link laughed. "No worries. If anything, I surprised myself by going through with it."

Zelda smiled at his positive attitude. "You didn't think that you could?"

"Well, I was very nervous," he admitted.

Zelda smirked, thinking of how sweet the Hero must have looked when he bashfully asked the girl out. Oh, how she wished that she could have been in that situation instead…

Zelda quickly shook her head. No, she needed to stop thinking such things! It no longer mattered how she felt. Link had made his choice and Zelda had missed her chance. Link was in a relationship with someone else, and the only thing that mattered now was…

Zelda paused, before glancing over at the Hero and softly speaking up. "So, this Ilia girl…Are you happy with her, at least?"

"Of course," Link said with a bright smile. "We've had a lot of fun times, and I'm truly grateful that we're together."

Zelda nervously swallowed. Those weren't exactly the words that she wanted to hear, but she knew that she was being selfish for wishing otherwise. Link had just said that he was happy. Wasn't that a good thing?

Adopting her facade once more, Zelda tried to give him a sincere smile. She truly did want to wish him the best, even if she currently felt terrible on the inside. "Well, I'm happy to hear that, Link. This Ilia sounds like a wonderful girl, and I…I hope that I get the chance to meet her someday."

Link gave another appreciative nod as he continued to smile. "Thanks Zelda. And you very well might get the chance to meet her, since you know her father and all."

This information caused Zelda to pause and blink a bit, as she snapped out of her depressing state-of-mind. "What?"

"Oh, didn't I mention this?" Link replied, noticing her confused expression. "Ilia is actually Mayor Bo's daughter."

"She is?" Zelda said with a small gasp. "I…I had no idea!"

"Yeah, I guess that's why me and Bo have always gotten along so well. Because Ilia and I were always really good friends."

Zelda took a moment to process this information. Up until now, she had unconsciously pictured this mystery girl as some majestic beauty. A woman who was full of charm and grace, and stunningly beautiful to boot. After all, who else could have managed to capture the heart of the Hero? Surely only the most attractive of women could have caught Link's interest?

However, Zelda now started to conjure a different image of Ilia. She tried to picture what a daughter of someone like Bo might look like. Needless to say, the results were less than appealing. How could they not be? Zelda honestly struggled to imagine how someone of Bo's figure could take on a more feminine appearance. Still, Zelda assumed that Ilia must have looked at least somewhat attractive. There was simply no other explanation for why Link would have taken an interest in her. Unless of course he didn't care about the appearances of others. Link had never seemed like the vain type, after all...

Nevertheless, there was something else about this information that caught Zelda's interest. Mayor Bo was the leader of Ordon Village, and if Ilia was his daughter, then that meant that she was…

The Princess of Ordon, in a sense…

Zelda nervously bit her lip. She knew that she was exaggerating. She knew that she was thinking foolish thoughts. And yet, she couldn't help it. How could she, when she had just discovered that Ilia was in a position similar to her own? Sure, the scale between Kingdom and village was vastly different, but didn't they still have some things in common? Their fathers were men in positions of power; both well respected and responsible for watching over their people. One day, Zelda would take up her father's role. She wondered, would Ilia do the same? Would she be asked to lead Ordon Village? Did the people of Ordon already go to her for help and advice, just as they would to Bo? Zelda wasn't sure, but if that was the case, then she and Ilia were much more alike than she initially thought!

"Hello? Are you okay, Zelda?"

Zelda quickly shook her head. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

Link just gave her a look that was mixed with doubt and concern. "It seems like you keep spacing out."

Zelda produced an apologetic frown. "Forgive me, Link. I was just…trying to recall if Bo had ever mentioned his daughter before."

Link continued to stare at her for a second, but his lips soon cracked into a smile. "Hmm…I doubt it. He probably assumed that the Royal Princess wouldn't take much of an interest in his personal life."

"Th-That's not true at all!" Zelda scoffed. "Just because I'm royalty doesn't mean that I disregard everyone beneath me!"

Link laughed. "I know that, Zelda. I'm just saying that this is how people that don't know you as well might see it."

"Well, it's utter nonsense, of course," Zelda said, turning away with a frown. "I already told you that I enjoy hearing about your life outside of the castle. You'll just have to forgive me if my mind tends to wander away from the conversation at times. I've felt very…distracted today."

"No worries," Link said, shaking his head. "I'll bet that things have just been busy here around the castle."

"Yes, that is true," she admitted with a sigh. Although, she knew that such things were hardly the reason for her scattered thoughts, but that was beside the point. "There's been so many plans and agendas to keep track of. Not to mention, so many individuals have been coming and going from the castle lately. Sometimes I wonder if I'm driving myself mad trying to stay on top of it all."

Link flashed a guilty look. "I'm sorry to hear that. I can always go if you have other things to attend to."

Zelda blinked in surprise before shaking her head. "Oh, don't worry about that, Link. I enjoy the company. It helps me relax and take my mind off of things."

"Very well. I'm always happy to serve as a distraction," he said with both a laugh and a grin.

Oh, you've done far more than that, Zelda retorted in her mind. Even now, she couldn't help but feel her thoughts drifting back to the Hero's newfound relationship, and the woman he shared it with. She knew that this information would easily distract her for days, potentially even weeks to come. And that definitely wasn't a good thing.

"Ah, this reminds me," Link suddenly spoke up. He turned to face the Princess once more. "Enzo told me that you had something to share with me."

Zelda quickly pulled herself out of her scattered mind, only to give the Hero a quizzical look. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure. Before I set off to find you, Enzo just said that you would have something to tell me. Something about a recent decision that the Hyrule Council has made?"

Zelda continued to stare at him for a second, before the realization suddenly hit her. "Oh! That's right!"

It was true. The Princess did have something that she needed to tell the Hero. She had actually completely forgotten about it due to all of the events that had taken place that day. More specifically, it was due to the shocking piece of news that she had overheard earlier. This was just another sign that she was far more distracted than she would have liked to be.

However, as Zelda recalled this information, she suddenly found herself experiencing a strong sense of reluctance. She knew that it was her duty to pass this news along to the Hero, but she was hesitant to do so. How was she supposed to tell him this now, after everything that she had learned today?

With a heavy sigh, Zelda forced herself to accept her fate. She reminded herself that this was her duty as a Princess and as a member of the Hyrule Council, and that she should not allow any personal feelings to get in the way of that.

"Thank you for reminding me, Link," Zelda replied, trying her best not to sound dejected. "I had nearly forgotten. The Hyrule Council wanted me to provide you with a proposition."

Naturally, Link looked surprised. "Oh? And what's that?"

"Do you recall what I brought up in the Roundtable meeting? About how I plan to visit all the civilizations within the Kingdom?"

Link nodded. "Of course."

Zelda suddenly stopped herself from releasing another sigh. Now wasn't the time to be sad. She just needed to fulfill her duty and get the words out. "Well, the Council wanted to know if you would be willing to attend the tour alongside me."

Link's eyes opened wide in surprise. "Wait…seriously?"

Zelda just gave a nod, refusing to look at him. "Yes. As the Hero of Twilight, we believe that your presence in Hyrule will have a similar effect to my own. Since you have already visited all of these locations, the people there will recognize you, and feel inspired and encouraged to know that you have come to visit them. We believe that it will increase their faith and trust in the Royal Family. The Council also felt that you could serve as a measure of defense for myself. We don't exactly expect that our caravan will come across any danger during our travels, but if we do, the Council would feel better knowing that I have you by my side, to ensure my safety."

"Wow," Link said, taking a second to let his mouth hang open in amazement. "So, I'd get to visit all of those places again? Kakariko Village and Zora's Domain and everything?"

"Yes, as long as you are willing to accompany us. Naturally, you'll have to be away from home for a few weeks, but you will be generously paid for your services, as always."

Link nodded a bit, still looking impressed. "Huh. I'm not going to lie, this actually sounds kind of fun."

Seeing his enthusiasm, Zelda couldn't help but allow herself a small smile. "You think so?"

"Of course. It'll be really exciting to see everyone again. And to see the sights as well. A lot of these places are really amazing to visit."

Zelda nodded. "Truth be told, that was actually how I came up with the idea for this tour. Back at our first Roundtable meeting, I noticed that Darbus and Ralis seemed excited to invite you back to their homes. It made me think that I myself should go visit some of these places, to show my support and help build friendships."

"Is that so?" Link replied with a smile. "Well, I think it sounds like a great idea."

"Should I inform the Council that you have agreed to accompany me, then?"

"Absolutely!"

Zelda soon smiled back. "Very well. I'll let the Council know of your decision. I'll also let Enzo and Fost know to alert the leaders to expect your arrival in addition to my own. I'm sure that they'll all be happy to hear the news."

Link nodded, before suddenly looking a bit reserved. "The only thing is…I'll need to inform Ilia of this first, to make sure that she's okay with it. But I think it should be fine."

Zelda paused as she realized what he was talking about. Now that Link was in a relationship, it seemed like he intended to ask his significant other for permission to attend, as a sign of respect.

Significant other…After the events of today, she honestly hated that term.

"Of course, Link," Zelda replied, trying to force her negative thoughts away. "I wouldn't want her to be upset with you."

"Neither would I," Link said with a laugh. "But I'm really looking forward to this trip. I'll bet it will be a great time."

Zelda just gave a weak nod as she looked away. She wished that she could agree with him, but unfortunately, this entire scenario had left her feeling rather conflicted…

This wasn't the way that Zelda had expected things to go at all. When she had first heard the Council's approval to invite Link on the tour as well, she had felt rather excited. The Princess and the Hero that she was interested in would actually get to go on a journey together. Zelda originally imagined that the two of them would get to spend a lot of time in each other's company, and also get the chance to know each other better. It was supposed to be a wonderful time. A trip filled with smiles, laughs, and lots of happy memories.

But now…now it felt completely different. Now Zelda would be spending time with a man who already belonged to another woman. A man who she really had no right to learn more about. Their relationship on the tour would be purely platonic; their friendship having been relegated to nothing more than business.

Zelda sighed. If she had her way, she probably would have changed her mind and spoken against having Link join her on the tour. There would be no point in having his presence around if he was just going to torture the Princess the entire time.

Still, Zelda knew better than this. She knew that the tour was more than just about her. It was about aiding her Kingdom, and she knew that having the Hero join her on this journey would inevitably lead to better results. The people would be happier. Relations would improve. There was arguably no reason not to bring him along.

So, for the sake of her duty, as well as her Kingdom, Zelda decided to once again discard her negative emotions. She forcefully suppressed them, so that she would no longer be able to feel any of the hurt or the pain. So that she wouldn't be able to feel anything at all…

"I'm looking forward to it as well," Zelda said, producing a weak smile.

"Have you ever visited any of these places before?" Link suddenly asked.

She nodded. "Some of them, yes. I've visited Kakariko Village and Death Mountain once when I was a child. I've actually been to Zora's Domain a number of times, since our family has always had a close relationship with Queen Rutela." She then paused before looking a little guilty. "I've admittedly never been to Ordon Village though."

Link's face brightened a bit at this. "Ah, so this will be your first ever visit to the Faron Woods?"

"That's correct."

"How exciting. I'd be happy to show you around once we're there. I know my way around the village and the forest better than just about anyone."

Zelda couldn't help but replace her fake smile with a genuine one. She had to admit, she was rather interested in seeing the place where Link had been born and raised. "That sounds lovely, Link. I think I'll hold you to that."

"It would be my pleasure," he said with a grin. He then paused for a second. "Oh, and hey, I just realized something. Now that you're planning to come to Ordon, I guess you and Ilia will actually get the chance to meet each other."

Zelda blinked. She hadn't considered this, but she assumed that Link would be correct. "I suppose we will."

"I'll let her know that you're coming then. I'm sure that she'll be happy to meet you as well."

Zelda just murmured her agreement before nodding and looking away absentmindedly. Once again, distracting thoughts threatened to overtake her. This time, the Princess couldn't help but wonder, was she actually looking forward to meeting with this Ilia? Naturally, she was still curious to learn more about the girl that Link had taken an interest in. She wanted to see her and talk with her, and try to discover what Link had managed to see in her as well. She wanted to truly learn how Ilia had been able to capture the heart of the Hero.

However, Zelda also needed to ask herself if she was truly prepared to face everything that would come with such an encounter. Would she be able to meet with this girl, all while knowing that she was the one that had unknowingly pulled Link out of the Princess's reach? Would Zelda be able to withstand that sadness? That pain and sorrow?

She wasn't sure. And she had a feeling that she wouldn't know the answer until the day that the two of them ultimately met face to face.

Oof, here it is, my longest chapter ever written across all of my stories. Over 7,500 words in total. Back when I was writing some of my older works, I tended to aim for consistent chapter lengths. Basically, I expected all of my chapters to be of a similar word count. I liked the consistency of it, and it meant that my readers could always expect a specific amount of content without being disappointed.

However, I found that it tended to cause unnecessary stress for myself. I would start thinking things like "This chapter is too short, I need to pad it out," or "This chapter is getting too long, I need to wrap it up". I don't think it ever affected the quality of my work, but it certainly forced me to write in a way that wasn't completely natural.

For this story, I decided to completely do away with that way of thinking. As long as the chapters cover a meaningful amount of content, and end on a good note, then I don't care how consistent they are when it comes to length. Some will be short and some will be long.

And I'm sure that nobody will mind.