AN: Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read my newest fanfic. I would like to bring to your attention that this story is categorized as romance/drama for a reason, as it mainly focuses on Link and Zelda's relationship as they face various trials together. So if you don't like lots of drama and romance, you might want to stay away from this one. There is a solid plot of course, so don't think it's just a bunch of sappy scenes weakly strung together. At least, that's what I tried to avoid.

With that said, I hope you enjoy my story. Thanks again!

UPDATE 12/3/08: This chapter has been officially revised!

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Fortitude

Chapter I

Darkness.

Ceaselessly it stretched out before me…surrounded me.

Relentlessly it fogged my mind…weighed upon my heart.

Until, finally, it began to clear…

Clothed in nothing but a simple white nightdress, I stood in what appeared to be some sort of dungeon. There were two rows of prison cells on either side of me, their rusty iron bars just barely illuminated by two small torches that hung a short distance away. The flames were dim, as though struggling to stay lit amidst the thick cloak of darkness.

The room had an unnatural chill about it, one that seemed to strike the very core of me, and the air was thick and stale. It was difficult to breath, difficult to think…

Shivering slightly, I hugged my arms around myself and took a few cautious steps forward, feeling dirt and grime stick to my bare feet as I did so. I didn’t dare look about, as the low, monotonous groans emitting from some of the cells already betrayed what lurked within them.

I passed the dim torches and paused briefly when I caught sight of a metal door not too far ahead. My paces quickened as I continued onward, more than eager to leave that cursed room behind me—

A terrible, unnatural scream suddenly pierced the air, ringing through my ears and snuffing out what remaining warmth I’d managed to retain. A cry escaped my own lips and I brought my hands to my ears, blindly stumbling forward as I struggled to shut out the horrid sound. My body slammed into the bars of another cell and I sagged helplessly against them, breathing heavily as my heart thundered against my chest.

Make it stop, make it stop…

The scream cut off suddenly, its last abnormally high note echoing through the room before finally fading.

Slowly my hands left my ears to grip the bars of the cell before me. My forehead came to rest against their cold, metal surface and I shuddered, waiting for the lingering sense of terror to diminish.

It wasn’t until I became aware of another sound that I finally opened my eyes. It was the sound of heavy breathing… and it was coming from the cell I now clung to.

Cautiously I lifted my head and pulled away from the bars before looking to see who or what lay beyond them. At first I could see nothing but darkness, but after narrowing my eyes I could just make out the figure of a prisoner… a man.

A man…

Here?

Letting my curiosity get the better of me, I stepped up to the bars and peered inside for a closer look.

Stripped from the waist up, the prisoner sat against the back wall of his cell. His arms were chained high up above his head, and his entire body seemed to sag tiredly below them. I could not see his face, as his head fell limply toward his chest, and his grimy bangs hid his features from view. Save for the heavy rise and fall of his chest, he was completely still. Save for the sound of his unsteady breathing, he was completely silent.

It was a pitiful sight.

A wave of sympathy swept through me and I moved closer to the cell, bringing my hands up to grip the bars once more and opening my mouth to speak…

When suddenly the sound of the metal door swinging open cut me off, and I gasped, jumping back from the bars to face the intruder.

A tall figure cloaked in black emerged from the doorway and strode forward. He had an ominous air about him… but the fact that he expressed no immediate alarm at my presence confused me.

“…Who are you?” I finally addressed him in a sharp tone. “What is this place?”

The figure simply continued to walk forward in silence, as though he hadn’t heard or seen me at all.

“Stay away!” I shouted, taking a few cautious steps back. “Tell me why I’m here!”

Again the mysterious stranger did not respond, and I watched, dumbfounded, as he stopped before the prisoner’s cell and drew a rusted key from the folds of his cloak. I glanced at the key before turning slightly to look back into the cell. My eyes settled upon the prisoner’s still form, watching as he slowly lifted his head up…

My hands flew to my mouth in shock, muffing my gasp as I gazed wide-eyed at the dirtied, exhausted face of the prisoner.

It was Link.

There was no mistaking it…I knew that face too well.

A chill ran through my entire body the moment I looked into his eyes. Blue eyes…still so beautiful, but so…haunted. That rebellious spark I knew and loved was barely visible now, clouded by darkness and strained by fatigue. Upon taking a closer look, I could see a deep weariness that plagued him from within…and it frightened me.

“…Link…” I shakily whispered once I’d found my voice, gripping the bars of his cell. “…Link, darling, it’s me; what has happened to you…?”

But he made no response.

With a rush of fury, I grit my teeth and turned back to the cloaked stranger, reaching out to snatch his arm.

“What have you done to him, you-”

But I did not touch him.

My breath left me and I stumbled back in surprise when my hand passed right through his arm. An unpleasant tingling sensation shot up toward my shoulder upon contact and lingered for a minute or two before fading.

What…?

I looked up at the man in confusion, realizing then that he hadn’t even flinched.

It was as though I didn’t exist.

But that was impossible, it had to be a…

A dream.

Of course. It was all a dream…a nightmare…and I was merely an observer. No matter how much my heart desired it, I could not interact with others, and I could not alter the events I witnessed.

A brief rush of relief passed through me, but was rudely interrupted by the sound of the stranger unlocking the cell and stepping inside. Instantly I rushed forward and clutched the bars, watching as the cloaked man approached his prisoner. Link’s head was still raised but had lolled to the side and now rested against his right arm. His eyes were half open, and he almost appeared to be in some sort of daze.

Anxiously I watched as the stranger bent down to grab Link’s chin and jerk his face toward him. I tensed and strained to hear what the man said to him but caught only sharp, indiscernible whispers before he roughly released Link from his hold. Without a sound, Link slowly leant his head back against the wall and stared unseeingly into the darkness.

I desperately searched his blank face for any sign, any trace that he could see me somehow…but it was hopeless. His gaze seemed to pass right through me, and his solemn expression never changed.

The cloaked man had risen to his feet and I watched powerlessly as he reached into his cloak to pull out a pair of shackles. The chains rattled slightly as he reached up to clamp each shackle around Link’s wrists before unlocking the first pair that chained them to the wall.

Once freed, Links arms fell forward limply, landing on his left thigh and resulting in a dull metallic sound as the chains collided with the stone floor of the cell. Link simply sat there, motionless, as if nothing had happened.

The stranger promptly tucked the key back into his cloak and stepped back to look down at Link.

“Get up,” he ordered him gruffly.

But Link did not move.

“I said get up,” he repeated angrily, his voice sounding almost unnaturally low.

Again Link remained still. Whether his refusal was due to rebelliousness or pure exhaustion, I could not tell.

“Link…” I whispered fearfully as my heart pounded against my ribs.

The cloaked man suddenly moved forward and I gasped lightly as he bent down to grab Link’s elbow, roughly pulling him to his feet and shoving him forward. Link stumbled a bit but caught himself before slowly walking out of the cell. The chains around his ankles dragged along the ground and rattled with every step he took.

The stranger slammed the cell door shut with a loud clang, causing me to jump slightly. A terrible sense of foreboding stuck me then, sweeping through me with such force that I shuddered. Nervously I moved to follow Link toward the open door, dreading what lay ahead but driven by the need to know.

Then suddenly, my feet began to feel unnaturally heavy, as though I was wearing invisible iron boots. Alarmed, I looked down to see nothing but own bare feet. My head jerked up toward the doorway and watched helplessly as Link disappeared into the darkness.

No…no, wait…!

Desperately I dragged myself toward the doorway, needing to go through…

Link…!

But I never made it; not before the cloaked man had passed me by, grabbed the knob, and slammed the door behind him, separating me from Link. I grabbed the knob only two seconds later…

But it would not turn.

I stared at the door in shock, feeling a sense of panic suddenly rise up inside me.

“No… No, let me through!” I shouted, slamming my fists against the cold metal door. “What are you doing to him?!”

Nothing happened.

“Don’t you dare hurt him!” I continued to scream hoarsely. “Don’t you touch him!”

The air seemed to thicken again, suffocating me, crushing me…

“No, no, please…Link! Link!”

Darkness, overwhelming darkness…

“Liiiink!”

“Zelda?”

My eyes flew open and I found myself looking up into the same familiar face from my dream, only now the dirt and grime was gone, and the haunted weariness I’d seen in his eyes had vanished. His gaze, now clear and focused, reflected nothing but genuine worry and concern as he studied my face closely.

“Zelda,” Link repeated anxiously, and I felt his warm hand against my cheek. “Darling, you were crying… Are you all right?”

I gazed up at him for a moment before touching his hand gently, still a little stunned to be lying in my own bed with Link safe and sound beside me… The cold, unpleasant atmosphere of that horrid prison still lingered in my mind, as did the helplessness and fear I’d felt at seeing him in such a state…

“…Zelda?”

A strong flare of need for him overcame me suddenly, and I sat up, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck and burying my face against his warm shoulder. Immediately Link gathered me into his arms and held me close as he shifted into a more comfortable sitting position.

“You’re trembling…” He murmured softly, kissing my cheek as he soothingly stroked his hand up and down my back. “What’s got you so shaken, hmm…?”

Slowly I brought my arms down from his shoulders and wrapped them around his torso, clutching his back as I pulled him even closer.

“…It was that dream again…” I whispered to him quietly. “…The one with you in that…prison…”

“…The same dream?” Link asked me gently, a slight note of surprise in his voice. “Are you sure?”

I nodded against his shoulder.

“But… this time I saw a man…” I explained in the same hushed voice. “…He wore a dark hood over his head, and he… he forced you out of your cell…”

Link’s hand stroked my hair as he pondered my words.

“He forced me out of my cell…?”

“Yes… Oh, Link,” I leant back to look in him the eyes, gripping his shoulders anxiously. “He led you through a door into another room, but I couldn’t go with you, and I…I just knew something terrible was going to happen to you… I wanted so badly to help you, but I…I-I couldn’t-”

“Zelda, Zelda…” Link soothed, reaching up to take my face in his hands. “It’s okay; I’m right here…” He then lowered his hands to gently grasp my arms. “Just slow down…”

I shook my head urgently.

“No, Link, you don’t understand,” I argued anxiously. “It’s always so real… and there’s always such a strong sense of foreboding…” I hesitated, holding his gaze fearfully. “…It has to be a premonition…”

“And if it is, we’ll get through it,” Link assured me gently. “Just as we always have.”

I hung my head and fell silent for a moment, pondering his words but failing to draw comfort from them.

“I’m scared, Link…” I whispered softly, resting my hands against his chest and looking up at him worriedly. “…If…if anything ever happened to you, I…”

I trailed off as Link slowly leant his face toward mine, closing my eyes as he gently silenced me with a tender kiss.

“Nothing’s going to happen to me,” he told me softly, his lips still just inches away from mine.

“You don’t know that…” I murmured, leaning my forehead against his.

“I know you’re having these dreams for a reason,” he replied quietly, leaning back and tipping my face up to look me in the eyes. “And if something is going to happen, then we’ll be ready for it.”

I looked at him sadly for a long moment.

“I hope you’re right,” I finally whispered.

“I’m always right,” Link teased, smiling softly as he slipped his arms around me. “Now come here,” he added gently.

Wordlessly I complied and snuggled into his embrace, resting my head against the crook of his neck as he reached for the covers and slowly lowered us back down against the pillows.

“No more worrying,” he murmured, kissing my forehead tenderly. “Everything will be all right.” His hand abstractedly caressed my back a while longer before slowing and coming to rest against my spine, a sign that he had fallen back asleep.

I remained awake for a little while longer, pondering the meaning of my dreams and struggling to find some sort of conclusion from it all until the gentle sound of Link’s slow, rhythmic breathing gradually lulled me back to sleep as well.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“A council meeting. What a lovely way to start the day.”

I laughed humorlessly at Link’s sarcastic comment and sat down at my vanity.

“If you were king you’d have to meet with them nearly everyday, you know.”

“Yes, but then they’d be nothing but advisors to me,” Link countered, “and not the bloody judges they are now. And plus I’d be with you,” he added, his reflection smiling at me in my vanity mirror.

I smiled back sweetly, pretending to be coy as I busied myself with brushing my hair and earning a soft laugh from Link.

Today’s council meeting would not be like the usual meetings I, as Queen of Hyrule, attended on a daily basis. In fact, it was hardly a council meeting at all, considering the ministers weren’t so much advising as they were evaluating. Evaluating Link, that is.

About five months after Link and I were married, which had been almost two years ago, my father passed away from an illness he’d been struggling with for quite some time. The ministers had urged me to take the throne as soon as possible, and my coronation had been held within that same month. Link, however, had been denied his rightful place as king.

This was all because Link had been born ‘common,’ meaning he was not of royal or noble blood. For centuries, Hylian law has required a princess be married only to another prince or high nobleman in order to preserve the ‘purity’ of the royal family. It was forbidden for a princess to court a commoner, even one that had been granted noble status by the king. Needless to say, my courtship with Link created a great deal of controversy. After our engagement was officially announced, my father and the Council had debated the matter for weeks until finally settling upon an agreement: Link and I could marry on the condition that Link would remain nothing more than a consort until the Council deemed him worthy of becoming a full-fledged monarch.

Although I was not the first queen to rule alone, I was one of few. The monarchy of Hyrule was meant to be ruled by a king and a queen, side by side, each with their own duties. A lone monarch must thus bear twice the amount of responsibility, and because I was still young and unfamiliar with many of the kingly duties, this had proved to be quite challenging for me.

For months Link has watched me bear the heavy responsibilities of my crown alone and has desperately struggled to earn the Council’s approval so that he may take his rightful place at my side. It has been a long and frustrating road for him, as his efforts have so far been in vain.

Ever since Link became prince, the Council has gathered at the end of every month to evaluate Link’s conduct over the past four weeks. If the ministers found no fault for three consecutive meetings, then Link could begin the next step toward his coronation. Unfortunately Link has never even come close to achieving this, as the Council has always found some excuse to hold him back.

Though Link’s chances for success appeared slim, he actually did have about half of the Council’s support. The opposed ministers were also finding it increasingly difficult to back their arguments, especially when their opposition clearly stemmed from an old-fashioned prejudice toward Link and his common background.

“I think it will go well today,” I cheerfully pondered aloud.

Link cast me a rather cynical glance and lifted his arm to fasten the buttons along the cuff of his sleeve.

“I’m sure they’ll find some reason to deny me,” he remarked dryly. “They always do.”

“There’s no need to be so pessimistic about it,” I argued positively, opening a small drawer to select a pair of sapphire earrings. “You did so well in the last meeting…Where is your confidence?”

I watched in the mirror as Link quietly crossed the room and came to stand behind my chair.

“I’m not being pessimistic,” he said quietly, leaning down to gently kiss my cheek. “I’m simply speaking the truth.”

His reflection then left my mirror as he moved on past me.

“Well, they’ll have to see the error of their ways eventually,” I told him, turning my head slightly to attach the first earring. “Otherwise they’re just fools.”

Link laughed lightly.

“I certainly hope you have no fools on your Council,” he teased. “Though…sometimes I do wonder…”

I sighed and reached for the second earring, knowing all too well whom he was referring to.

Lord Vasilis Durithan was an elder member of the High Council and a long time servant of the Royal Family. As a man of intelligence and great experience, Vasilis was especially valued for his knowledge and skill in foreign policy, which was precisely why he’s held his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs for many years.

Vasilis was also a man of tradition, and a fervent believer in preserving the “purity” of the royal bloodline. The idea of introducing “common blood” into the royal family was not only something he strongly disapproved of, it disgusted him. Ever since Link was a child, Vasilis has disapproved of his presence in the castle and had always scolded me for spending so much time with “that peasant child.” Vasilis had openly opposed our courtship and spoken out against our marriage, claiming Link would “taint the pure bloodline, alienate the kingdom, and anger the gods.” My father had been furious, and had threatened to remove the minister from the Council if he did not learn to control himself. Since then Vasilis has continued to oppose Link in smaller ways, and has done everything in his power to make sure Link remained nothing more than a consort prince.

“Vasilis isn’t the only reason you haven’t been coronated, Link.”

“I know, I know,” he sighed. “But he is the most opposed to it.”

Sighing quietly, I rose from my chair and moved to join Link where he stood near his bureau. Glancing down, I reached for his circlet, a simpler gold piece with no decoration but a small raised Triforce in the front. Wordlessly I reached up to smooth his hair back away from his face and set the circlet in place on his forehead. I then lowered my hand, letting Link’s bangs fall loosely around his eyes and over the circlet.

“There,” I said softly, brushing my fingertips along either side of his face. “Handsome as always.”

He gave me a dry look before leaning forward to chastely kiss my lips, just as a timid knock sounded from the bedroom door.

“My Lord and Lady?” the muffled voice of a servant called.

Link pulled away from me with a sigh.

“Come, love,” he said gently, “the scrutinizers await.”

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The Council Chambers was a large, spacious room with relatively small windows and a high ceiling. Long, extravagant tapestries featuring the royal crest of Hyrule decorated the otherwise bare walls, giving the room an air of both simplicity and importance. The only furniture in the room was a large table with nine extravagant chairs- one for each councilor and one for myself. Although the end of the table was wide enough for two chairs, there had not been two in place since my mother passed away. Occasionally the second chair was brought out for special occasions, such as today, so that Link could sit at my side.

As usual, the councilors were already waiting when Link and I entered, and they all reverently stood from their chairs as two servants closed the double doors behind us. Link and I made our way to the opposite end of the table and stood before our chairs as well.

“Councilors,” I greeted them with a nod, as did Link. “Please be seated.”

Everyone did so, each politely resting their hands upon the table. All eight of them were present, sitting in rows of four on either side of Link and me. To Link’s right sat Lord Pierson, the Minister of Imperial Affairs; Lord Timothus, the Minister of State Affairs; Lady Renae, the Minister of Religious Affairs; and Lord Kinsley, the Minister of Military Affairs as well as Link’s personal advisor.

Since the age of fourteen, Link has served as a military officer of the Royal Army. After a somewhat rocky start, he began to show incredible potential as a soldier and was promoted to Captain of the Fifth Company after only two years. The late Lieutenant Shayne had taken an immediate interest in Link’s abilities and brought him before Lord Kinsley shortly after Link’s promotion. Kinsley then proceeded to test Link’s skills and, after only a few meetings, proclaimed Link a natural-born strategist and military genius.

Nearly one year later, Lieutenant Shayne was killed on the battlefield, and my father offered Link the position as a replacement. Link was only seventeen at the time, but he accepted my father’s offer. Two years later, war befell Hyrule once again, and the late General Keiton lost his life on the battlefield. Once more my father turned to Link, and, in the midst of war and uncertainty, Link became General of the Royal Army at the young age of nineteen. It was unheard of, but Link did not falter, and Hyrule claimed victory within the next two months.

Link had retained his position as General even after our marriage simply because a consort prince had such limited power, certainly none over the military. The only way Link could shed his title as General and remain in charge of the army was if he became King. This produced an unusual situation between us because I, as Queen, maintained command over the military until a king came along to bear the responsibility instead. Technically, as General, Link served under me.

However, because I had practically no experience in the ways of war and was unfamiliar with military procedure, I had unofficially handed off those responsibilities to both Link and Lord Kinsley. I was very much aware that doing such a thing made me vulnerable to being taken advantage of, but I had nothing to fear. Kinsley was a very respectable, trustworthy man, and Link… Link I trusted with my life and more.

Across from Lord Kinsley sat Lord Matteus, the Minister of the Treasury. To his right sat Lord Vasilis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lady Elena, the Minister of Judicial Affairs. To her right and my left sat Impa, my childhood caretaker whom I had chosen to be my Council Dignitary shortly after my coronation. Impa was not an official minister of any particular department, but more of a personal advisor to me. Her duty within the Council consisted of keeping the ministers in check and informing me of their activities. She was, essentially, the bridge between me and the Council.

“Let us begin,” I addressed the ministers pleasantly. “Mistress Impa, if you would, please.”

Impa nodded and rose from her chair, eyeing each of the ministers before speaking in a calm, clear voice.

“As you all know,” she began, “we have gathered here to discuss Prince Link’s eligibility to assume the throne beside her Majesty the Queen.” She then sat back down and folded her hands. “Lord Pierson,” she addressed the minister, “what have you to say on the matter?”

The minister shifted slightly and cleared his throat.

“I have no complaints,” he said simply. “The prince spares the time to make a daily appearance in court as I asked, he properly greets our honored guests with the queen,” he added, giving a reverent nod in my direction. “He has even helped improve castle security. He is very much involved with the activities occurring both within and around the castle, and so, as of today, I have no complaints.” Pierson then sat back in his chair to let the next minister speak. “That is all.”

“Thank you, Lord Pierson,” Impa spoke. “And you, Lord Timothus?”

“I, too, have no complaints,” Timothus replied calmly. “His Highness has continued to show great concern for the citizens of Hyrule. As I’ve already stated during the last meeting, he has effectively used what little power he has as a consort to aid the poor and the homeless.” Timothus shrugged lightly. “Frankly, I would like nothing better than to see what he could accomplish as a full-fledged monarch.”

“I agree with Lord Timothus,” Lady Renae spoke up. “Prince Link has demonstrated in more ways than one that he is ready to take the throne. The lack of a king has put pressure on Hyrule’s monarchy for months now, and I believe coronating his Highness would only strengthen our reputation-”

“Speak for yourself, Minister,” the thin and unpleasant voice of Lord Vasilis interrupted. “The prince may do a fine job within his own kingdom, but his conduct outside of Hyrule is still sorely lacking.”

Forcing my face to remain neutral, I turned to face Vasilis as he spoke. I could almost feel Link’s tension as he sat in silence beside me, and I was certain he was bracing himself for humiliation.

“Recently his Highness traveled to the kingdom of Malchevia to personally negotiate a trade agreement with King Helmerin,” Vasilis continued, turning his head to meet Link’s steady gaze. “The negotiations failed.”

“What?” Link exclaimed suddenly, his slightly furrowed brow betraying confusion on his otherwise serious face. “You must be mistaken. The negotiations were a success. King Helmerin signed the treaty-”

“And then severed it nearly one week ago,” Vasilis finished rudely.

Link was speechless for a moment, and the silence, though brief, was deafening.

“...And why was I never informed of this?” he finally asked as calmly as he could manage.

I tensed suddenly, suppressing the desire to speak over Vasilis and prevent what he was about to say.

“It no longer concerned you,” Vasilis bluntly answered Link. “King Helmerin made it quite clear he did not wish to negotiate with you again. In fact, we wouldn’t have a treaty at all if her Majesty hadn’t smoothed things over for you.”

I stiffened and closed my eyes for a brief moment as my heart sank painfully. A thick and uncomfortable tension had filled the room, and I didn’t dare turn my head toward Link.

“…I see,” Link finally spoke, his voice tight but remarkably controlled. “And did King Helmerin provide any sort of explanation for this sudden change of mind?”

“He claimed you had deceived him,” Lord Matteus spoke up, eying Link rather disapprovingly.

“Deceived him?” Link echoed in disbelief. “That’s…absurd; I did nothing of the sort.”

“Clearly you left a bad impression in some way,” Matteus argued calmly.

“This isn’t the first time either,” Vasilis contributed. “If you continue to have this sort of effect of the rulers of the neighboring kingdoms, it could jeopardize Hyrule’s place in the Alliance.”

“That’s something of an exaggeration, Lord Vasilis,” Lord Kinsley spoke somewhat exasperatedly. “Don’t you think?”

“I do not,” Vasilis bit back. “And, as the Minister of Military Affairs, I think you should be far more concerned, Lord Kinsley.”

“That’s enough,” I suddenly intervened, raising my hand for silence. “Bickering will accomplish nothing, gentlemen; please restrain yourselves.”

The two men exchanged dark looks before settling back against their chairs.

The rest of the meeting carried on in the same manner, as the councilors continued to argue about Link’s conduct in foreign relations. Impa contributed little to the discussion but cast several concerned glances in Link’s direction as I struggled to keep everyone in order. Link had fallen silent, however, and finally he turned his head to look at me.

Please end this, his quiet plea echoed in my mind.

I subtly nodded to him and turned to address the bickering ministers.

“Councilors,” I spoke in a loud voice. “It is clear to me that you are not going to settle on any kind of agreement today. I urge you to further explore the issue of foreign affairs, but please do so in your own time without my husband’s or my company.” I paused, holding the ministers’ gazes. “Hopefully, by the next evaluation, you will have settled on some sort of agreement, or at least come to understand the each side of the controversy so that we may address it properly. Mistress Impa will keep me updated on your progress. You are dismissed.”

The ministers each rose from their chairs, bowed their heads, and quietly filed out of the room. Impa was the last to leave, but, knowing Link and I still had some things to discuss alone, she simply placed a comforting hand on Link’s shoulder and exited, closing the doors behind her.

It was such a rare occurrence for Link and I to share an uncomfortable silence, but that particular moment was most definitely one of them. Unable to stand it any longer, I shifted to the side to speak with him.

“Link, I-”

“If you’re going to clean up my messes,” he cut me off in a low voice, his blue eyes boring into mine as he turned his head toward me, “I would like to know about it.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling my heart lurch at the hurt in his eyes. “…I just… I didn’t have the heart to tell you…”

Link gazed at me sternly.

“You don’t have to protect me from the truth, Zelda,” he told me, his voice strangely quiet. “I’m not a child.”

“I know,” I replied in a hushed voice, my eyes never leaving his. “I know… I’m so sorry; it was foolish of me…”

Link studied me for another long moment before dropping his gaze and rising to his feet.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, Zelda,” he said wearily, walking toward a nearby window and resting his hands on the windowsill. “Not only do I have to earn the Council’s approval, but the neighboring kingdoms’ as well?”

“No,” I told him softly, taking a few steps toward him. “No, Link, the neighboring kingdoms do not hold sway over the entire Council.”

Link just sighed and shook his head.

“Politics, history, philosophy, etiquette, I’ve studied it all for years now…” he said quietly, lifting his head to gaze out the window. “I’ve always done everything that’s expected of me, but it will never be enough… I will never be enough,” he added miserably.

“Link…” I quickly moved forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Look at me…”

He hesitated before turning to do so, and my heart quivered with sympathy at the dispirited look in his eyes.

“It’s been almost two years since we were married,” I reminded him gently, “and barely a year has passed since I took the throne. For people who are so deeply rooted in their old traditional ways, that’s not very much time,” I explained to him softly. “They are still…adjusting to you. To us. One day they will all realize what a blessing you are to Hyrule… Just give it time.”

Link gazed at me for a moment before shaking his head.

“Once a commoner, always a commoner,” he said quietly, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall. “That’s how it is for them, Zelda. It’s fine that I succeed in the military, but as a king…” Link sighed and furrowed his brow slightly. “As a king I will only taint the royal bloodline and unwittingly destroy Hyrule’s grand reputation.”

“You know that’s nonsense,” I argued gently.

“Then what do they fear, Zelda?” Link asked me, frustration seeping back into his tone. “They hold an undying prejudice toward me over something that can never be undone… How can I possibly change their opinion of me when their minds are already closed?”

I reached up to gently cup his cheek.

“You will,” I assured him softly. “They just need time.”

Link fell silent, seemingly unconvinced.

“Their minds are set,” he finally said, his voice quiet. “Even time won’t change that.”

“Link…”

My hand fell from his cheek as he straightened to full height and turned toward the door.

“I should go; I’m late enough as it is…”

But I reached out to catch his hand, causing him to turn slightly and meet my troubled gaze.

“…I’m so sorry, Link” I whispered to him sorrowfully, “…I really am…”

“I know you are,” he replied soothingly, stepping closer to me and reaching up to stroke my cheek. “But you have no reason to be.”

I reached up to touch his hand, looking at him sadly.

“I want you to be happy…”

“I am happy…”

I shook my head somberly.

“No,” I said quietly. “No, you’re not.”

“I just…I just want to be at your side,” Link said gently. “Working with you, the way it should be…”

“But you are at my side,” I told him softly, my voice just barely above a whisper. “You’re my husband…”

Link’s expression softened as he brushed a stray wisp of hair away from my face.

“And I thank the gods for that every day,” he replied just as softly. “But I just wish I didn’t make things so difficult for you…”

“You’re not the one making things difficult,” I said firmly. “I have never blamed you for any of that nonsense, and I never will.” Smiling fondly, I reached up to tenderly stroke his face. “Whether you believe it or not, I am proud to call you my husband.”

Link gave me a rather cynical look, but I caught the appreciative smile that momentarily tugged at his lips.

“You feel proud even after our so-called allies snub you or sever age old treaties?”

I smiled softly and tiptoed up to lightly kiss his lips.

“Absolutely,” I whispered sweetly.

Link sighed as I proceeded to wrap my arms around him possessively.

“You’re impossible,” he murmured, holding me close and dropping a kiss to the top of my head.

The two of us slipped back into the hall a few minutes later, supposedly unnoticed. Link then reached for my hand and courteously brought it to his lips.

“My Lady,” he said in a low voice, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. It was his formal way of bidding me farewell, a reverent gesture he used only in public.

I gave him a gentle smile and lightly squeezed his fingers, feeling him squeeze back before dropping my hand and heading off toward the military training grounds.

I watched him go for a moment, slipping back into my usual state of worry when I was suddenly distracted by a strange sensation…one I instantly I recognized as the feeling of being watched. Cautiously I turned my head slightly to find none other than Vasilis standing a short distance away and watching me with disapproving eyes. He scowled slightly before turning and walking briskly down the hall.