"Link!" Ilia ran over to Link, excited to see him. Link had met Ilia when he was running as a wolf, he'd stopped at Ordon for awhile before setting off again. In that time, Ilia and Link had gotten very close to each other. Both of them had started developing feelings for each other before Link had left again, due to an uncomfortable presence in Ordon. Ilia still had feelings for him, but she didn't know about Link and Zelda's feelings towards each other.

Ilia stopped in her tracks once she'd spotted the Princess,

"Your Highness." Ilia curtsied and Zelda told her to call her Zelda, nothing posh. Ilia nodded and turned back to face Link,

"Link! It's so good to see you!" Ilia jumped into Link's arms, hugging him. Zelda felt like she hated the unexpected stranger. She knew she wasn't being very fair, but something inside her made her jealous.

"It's good to see you too, Ilia!" Link answered rather quietly, sensing the tension. Once Ilia had let go of Link, Zelda grabbed his hand, making Ilia annoyed.

"So... You two are a couple?" Ilia talked with bitter in her voice. Zelda decided to answer,

"Yes, we are." Ilia smiled coldly at Zelda and then turned her attention back to Link,

"Link, do you want to have dinner with me tonight? To catch up on everything? Alone?" Link didn't know what to answer but he told her he would, making Zelda seethe with anger.

"Bye Link! I can't wait 'till tonight..." Ilia winked at Link and ran off with a smug look on her face. Zelda turned round to face Link, she had to look up at him since he was taller,

"What were you thinking? You know what she wants to do!" Link looked at her calmly and smiled,

"I won't let her do anything, I'll make sure she doesn't get close to me. But we're just friends." Zelda wasn't sure she believed him but she let him kiss her cheek.

"I trust you Link." The Princess let go of his hand and went back to her room. Link was left alone to ponder over what he was going to say to Ilia. He had to make sure it didn't look like they were on a date. He'd finally made up his mind and decided to improvise.

Later that evening, Ilia came by to get Link. She'd put on a dress to try and impress him. But Link had barely noticed, the only person he found beautiful was his Zelda.
He followed Ilia, saying goodbye to Zelda. They entered a quite empty bar, making this far more awkward than Link had anticipated.

"Let's sit here." Ilia pointed to a small table for two, where the two chairs were awfully close to each other. link slowly sat down and looked at the list of foods. He decided to take just a salad, Ilia took the same.

"So... Link, why did you leave Ordon? I really miss you." Ilia pouted and moved closer to the Hero.

"It's a long story that I don't feel like explaining." Ilia didn't bother to question him any farther because she knew there'd be no point.

"Okay, since we're very close, 'mind telling me why you chose to 'love' Zelda? I mean, people are always saying she's demanding and secretive." Ilia's words annoyed Link a lot so he didn't mind replying in a bitter voice,

"I don't mind telling you that Zelda is an amazing girl, she's your age Ilia. She's not demanding, and I've never heard anyone say that about her. If all you're going to talk about is your jealous rage about Zelda, then I'm not interested." Link's crystal blue eyes stared straight at her, unnerving her. She shuffled around a bit on her chair before answering,

"I'm not at all jealous! Why on earth would you think that?!" Link looked at her and grinned,

"Because I know you Ilia, you liked me in Ordon and I have to admit, I liked you too. But I've moved on and fallen in love with Zelda. Maybe you should try and find someone else." Ilia felt hurt by his words, and suddenly despised Zelda. She felt like the Princess had stolen the man she loved. Meanwhile, they'd both finished their salad and Link went up and gave the desired Rupees to the bartender. He came back to get Ilia, but she'd already gone. So he walked back to the inn.

"Hey Zelda. 'You here?" Zelda popped round the door and smiled at Link,

"Yes, I'm here, I was just trying something. I wouldn't recommend coming in though, it's a big mess."
Link looked round the corner and smiled at the mess on the floor. he sighed in exasperation then chuckled,

"What were you doing?" Zelda blushed and revealed that she had been trying to create something out of magic.

"I'm not very good... People have tried to teach me but it doesn't always work out so well."
Link pulled her into a tight hug and smiled,

"You do know you're perfect and I love you very much." They stayed like that for a few minutes, just enjoying each others company. They were content with it being just the two of them : the Hero and the Princess.

The next day, they'd left Kakariko Village and were finally heading back to the castle. Zelda knew very well that Impa was not going to be very pleased with their relationship and with the fact that they had stalled in other places.

They travelled for a few hours before finally arriving in Castle Town. Everyone was looking at them with a peculiar expression. They all noticed how Zelda was holding Link's hand. On the way back, they'd decided to not care about what people thought. That they would do whatever they wanted and no one could stop them, not even Impa.

As they got closer to the castle gate, Impa appeared before them, furious,

"Where have you been?! I've sent guards everywhere to look for you!" Impa was fuming when she turned to address Link,

"And you... What were you thinking? You were supposed to bring her back as soon as possible!" Link looked down and Zelda started arguing with Impa, about how it was their lives and they could do whatever they wanted. Impa sighed and grabbed her arm, tugging her into the castle. She was going to have a serious conversation with the Princess. Meanwhile, the Hero had left and gone home.

"Zelda... I know you like Link, but you know you can't be together, you have to marry a Prince. " Zelda stared at the Sheikah before her, she was right. Zelda couldn't contain the words that tumbled out of her mouth like a river,

"But... I-I love him!" Zelda's heart was shattering as she didn't see Impa change attitude. Impa noticed Zelda's face and softened.

"I know Zelda... But do you remember that promise you made so long ago to your mother?" The Princess gasped and suddenly remembered what had happened when her mum had been lying on the floor, awaiting her death...

"Zelda... Promise me... This... Y-You'll marry a prince to... Make sure that... Hyrule lives on with a... A... A beautiful Queen..." She smiled at me one last time before she died in my arms. The life had left her eyes slowly, making me think I could have saved her.

"I-I will Mother... I promise..." I burst into tears and cried until I felt completely numb. My father had died in battle, and now my mother had been murdered in front of me because she'd tried to save a little girl. People had crowded around and watched as their Queen went to join the Goddesses.

"I remember, Impa." Zelda stiffened and told herself she wouldn't fall for Link anymore. She would marry a prince and Hyrule would stay rich and in power. No one would starve like in the old days. She was being selfish and she wasn't being reasonable. She had to think of her country before herself. She had learned that the hard way when she was a child.

"Zelda! Stop being so ridiculously selfish! You have to focus and learn how to be a proper princess! If you're not a good one, you'll fail Hyrule and all that your parents have done will have been for nothing!" Zelda was around the age of four and very ill. Her teacher was yelling at her. Insulting her because she couldn't keep her eyes open.

"I-I'm sorry. Please stop yelling." Her teacher ignored her and kept yelling. Zelda had closed her eyes and then the worst had happened.

"You ungrateful retch!" Her teacher had taken out an old punishment/torture equipment they used to use on horrible children. But that was long ago. They normally didn't exist anymore. The piece of metal would sear onto you an image of a bleeding Triforce, showing you were a disappointment to Hyrule.

Zelda had tried so hard to get away but her teacher was a very strong man and had inserted the bleeding Triforce onto her shoulder.

Impa saw Zelda's pained expression,

"Are you okay?" Zelda suddenly looked up and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I was just thinking about something." Zelda touched her shoulder unconsciously making Impa look at her with concern.

"Zelda...?" Impa walked over and looked at her shoulder. She stumbled backwards when she noticed the mark.

"Where did you get this?!" Zelda recalled her story to the Sheikah.

After she'd finished, Impa just stared at her and sighed,

"Why did you not tell anyone? Having a Princess bear this sign is treacherous. No one will believe your story."

Zelda sighed sadly and told her she knew perfectly well what would happen if someone saw that so that's why she kept it hidden. Impa shook her head sadly and smiled at Zelda.

"You'll be fine Zelda. You're a wonderful Princess who will make the best Queen that Hyrule has ever had. Your parents would be so proud of you." Zelda smiled meekly and asked to be dismissed.

She walked up to her room and shut the door behind her and decided to to something she hadn't done in a very long time.