Queen Elaina was interrupted by a knock on her study door. She sighed already knowing who was behind the door and what she was going to say. She rubbed her temples slowly, forcing down her irritation with each step she took toward the door. The other mothers at court never claimed to have this much trouble with their children.

"Lead me to her room, Alice," the Queen said before the maid could even curtsey. "I might as well deal with this myself. It's Gerrik and I she's truly upset with."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Alice bowed slightly then rushed them off to the Princess' room.

Elaina didn't knock, simply strode through the door to her daughter's antechamber. Dresses were strewn across the couches, petticoats were resting inside out on the end tables, and shoes decorated the floor like confetti. Elaina repressed a sigh and turned toward the arches that led to the bedroom. A scarf was thrown across one of the wall sconces and even more clothes littered the floor. The bed was arguably the most presentable thing in the room with three large suitcases opened and completely empty atop it.

"Alice, would you please-" Princess Zelda started before spying the Queen. She plastered an amiable smile across her face. "Hello, Mother. As you can see, I am currently unpacking."

"Rather violently I gather," Elaina glanced around the room again. The more she looked, the worse the room seemed. "Such a shame. The Bathorys will be rather perturbed to see you with only one dress for a week-long trip."

"Now we seem to have had a misunderstanding," Zelda smiled brightly. "I will not be going to Kakariko Village to meet with the Calatian Royal Family. I will stay here and continue my studies and observe the Council meeting coming up, entertain the court. There is so much I still must learn before I become Crown Princess."

"Zelda," Elaina sighed as she watched her daughter gather up the silk wrapped hangers from the floor. "You cannot miss this meeting. It was set in place specifically for you to attend."

"And there was no need for it," Zelda shook her head with slightly forced laughter. "I have no need for a husband, Mother. I am capable of ruling Hyrule by myself; you and Father have said so."

"How many times must I repeat myself?" Elaina reluctantly felt herself fall into 'Queen Mode.' "It is not about questioning your right to rule; it's about creating an alliance between Hyrule and Calatia."

Zelda began to form a retort, but the Queen cut her off, "Need I remind you that this alliance treaty has been in the works since before you were born?"

"Yet another reason why this is not what I want," Zelda snapped; her cheerful disposition completely vanished.

"This is not about what you want," Elaina felt close to shouting. "This is about what's best for Hyrule, or do I need to repeat that lecture as well?"

"No, Mother," Zelda grunted. She stopped attempting to clean up the clothes off the floor. "Can we at least find a compromise of some sort? I feel as if I am being forced into this marriage. I simply ask for some say in this aspect of my life."

Elaina sympathized with her daughter. It was hard to sacrifice your personal life for the sake of the country, but that was how monarchs lived.

"I will talk this over with your father," Elaina conceded. "But we may have to wait and see what terms the Bathorys come up with during our meeting and give you options from there."

"At this point, I would take anything," Zelda breathed. The Queen could visibly see the tension leaving the Princess' shoulders. "Thank you, Mother."

Elaina left to discuss this new development with her husband. As she walked down the hall, she idly wondered if the Bathorys were having just as hard a time with their son.

The rhythmic twang of a bowstring and thud of an arrow finding its mark filled the second floor of the Calatian Royal Castle. All the servants knew to avoid the area when these noises filled the halls, but King Clement was fed up with his son's temper tantrum. The King stalked up to the second floor hallway that was his son's favorite shooting gallery when he was particularly mad at the King and Queen.

But no amount of destroying the intricate woodwork of the hallway would sway the King on this matter, however. It was far too important for the future of the kingdom.

"Link!" Clement yelled as he neared the hallway in question. "Stop this nonsense immediately!"

"Good morning, Father," Prince Link calmly replied as he let loose another arrow aimed just to the left of a one hundred year old vase.

"Hold your fire while I'm talking to you, Link," Clement rubbed his face exasperatedly. Link lowered his bow and turned to glower at his father. "Your passive aggressive, little temper tantrum isn't going to work this time. You are going to Kakariko Village with us even if we have to drag you kicking and screaming the whole way."

"I'd like to see you try," Link scoffed. He turned around and lifted his bow to shoot again, but the King pulled on his shoulder before he could let the arrow fly.

"We agreed that you would withhold your judgement of this alliance until after you met the Princess of Hyrule," Clement said searching his son's eyes for an answer to his sudden change in attitude. "What happened, Link?"

"Is my personal happiness really second to that of Calatia?" Link asked, his bright blue eyes revealing the pain and uncertainty he must be feeling.

"How do you know you will not find happiness with Princess Zelda?" Clement countered with a raised brow. "Those words sound like Cia to me."

Link stepped away with a roll of his eyes.

"I thought you two had a mutual separation."

"So did I," Link snorted. "But some of the things she said made sense. I never put myself or my feelings first. What if I suffer for that in the long run?"

"Your mother and I have given you the opportunity to back out if that is what you wish," Clement explained again. "But you must meet with Princess Zelda first. Can you at least do that for us?"

"Yeah," Link nodded with a small smile. "I can at least do that."

The carriage ride to Kakariko Village was mindlessly boring to Zelda. King Gerrik was reading a report of some sort, Queen Elaina was creating a needle point, and Zelda was left to stare out the window at the expanse of Hyrule Field, which got really old after about a half hour. At the rate they were going, the Calatian Royal Family would make it to the mountain estate before them. Not that Zelda really minded; she had a few ideas of mischief she could pull if the Bathorys were settled into the estate first.

"Now you are to stay on your best behavior," Elaina lectured her like a five-year-old when they finally pulled up to the mountain estate. "You are a Princess and representative of Hyrule."

"So act like it," Zelda rolled her eyes. "I get it, Mother."

"We will meet the Bathorys at brunch tomorrow," Gerrik stated as he led them into the estate. "Ten o'clock sharp."

With that Zelda was excused to her room, but she obviously didn't plan on staying there. Luckily, she had hidden her Sheikah gear in her luggage. Her mother would be furious if she found out, but Zelda didn't care. She wanted to see this Prince Link without the barriers of propriety and the titles they were born with.

Zelda slipped on her Sheikah gear, leaving the kunai so as to not seem too threatening. She used a simple cloaking spell to color her eyes red and darken her skin, and Sheik climbed out from the room's balcony and stealthily slipped over to the room that housed the Calatian Prince.

Sheik was surprised to see the Prince leaning against the railing of the balcony attached to his own room. He was rather handsome with golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes she could make out even from her perch on the neighboring balcony's roof. She decided to reveal herself just as Link was turning to leave the balcony. Sheik was sure she landed quietly, so she was surprised when the Princes stiffened and quickly turned to see her.

"Are you an assassin of some sort?" he asked cautiously.

"Only when it's needed," Sheik chuckled.

"And is it needed now?"

"No," Sheik smirked behind her cowl at the relaxing tension in Link's shoulders.

"Then who are you?" he demanded.

"A friend of the Princess," Sheik replied. "I simply wished to meet you."

"And judge me, undoubtedly," Link rolled his eyes. "See if I'm worthy of your Princess."

"It would take longer than one meeting for me to determine your worth," Sheik glared at the Prince. "I do not make such lasting decisions lightly."

"But I'm sure you have deduced some things about me already," the Prince smiled and mockingly stretched out his arms. "You are one of those fabled Sheikah, yes? Is your race really as mystic as the rumors portray?"

Sheik paused and narrowed her eyes, staring at Link for a second before tilting her head thoughtfully, "You are a fighter. You rely on your instincts most likely because they never steer you wrong. I would bet you prefer combat with a sword, and maybe ride with a cavalry." She decidedly left out the aura of pride and arrogance the Prince carried. Only time would tell with those qualities.

"Very perceptive," Link begrudgingly nodded.

"If I may be so bold," Sheik took a step forward so she would be fully visible in the light. "May I ask you something?"

"I guess," he waved his hand in a 'go on' gesture.

"What are your true feelings about this alliance?" Sheik asked bluntly. "If you do not wish to marry Princess Zelda, it would be easiest to let it be known so this alliance treaty can be made without a marriage."

A small smile spread across Link's lips, "I have promised my father that I would reserve my opinion until I met Princess Zelda. But I am not opposed to the idea of a marriage alliance for my country. It has always been an option for my future, and I have since decided that I would make the most of that situation should it ever arise."

Sheik smiled, and she knew it must have shown in her eyes when she saw surprise quickly cross Link's face before it was replaced with a smirk.

"Does this mean I passed?"

"For now," Sheik smirked.

As soon as Link looked away, she disappeared into the shadows. Sheik prided herself in his shocked expression when he realized she was gone. Returning to her room and changing into night clothes, Zelda couldn't wait to re-meet the Prince of Calatia.

Zelda's mother came to her room early to help her pick out the perfect dress for her first meeting with Prince Link of Calatia. Despite the three hours spent on this endeavor while they were at the Royal Castle, the Queen second guessed the simple lilac dress they had decided upon previously on the grounds that Zelda looked much better in blue.

"It brings your eyes out, my dear."

"Well, my eyes are blue, Mother."

Eventually, they settled on a sky blue, off the shoulder dress that was a touch fancier than the original, lilac dress. There was just enough time to finish up Zelda's hair and make-up before they had to leave to meet the Bathorys in the first parlor.

Zelda was nervous despite herself. Link himself had told her he was reserving his judgement of her until they met. Zelda wanted Link to like her, but she wanted him to be against the marriage. Could she use Sheik to convince him to support an alliance treaty that did not include a marriage contract? She was so caught up in her thoughts that Zelda didn't even notice they had arrived at the first parlor until her mother cleared her throat.

"Are you ready, Zelda?" Queen Elaina asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be, Mother."

The butlers moved forward to open the doors for them, and a steward inside announced them. Zelda's eyes immediately zeroed in on Prince Link.

She allowed herself to take in everything she forced herself to look past last night. He was handsome with perpetually wind-swept, blonde hair and stunning, blue eyes. Their appearances seemed so similar Zelda entertained the idea that they shared a distant relative and wondered if she could stop any potential marriage with that fact. He smiled politely at her; her mother must be personally introducing her. Zelda smiled back trying to not look like the ditzy blonde most of the noble boys in Hyrule court thought she was. Zelda glanced at Link's parents, King Clement and Queen Adalynn. They were watching her and Link with rapt attention, and it unnerved Zelda slightly.

"Would you like to dine privately with me on the terrace?" Zelda asked on a whim. She felt her mother's hand on her shoulder ready to reprimand her, but Queen Adalynn spoke first.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," the Calatian Queen smiled. "Let's give the kids some time to get to know each other, yes?"

"I agree," Zelda's father took Elaina by the arm to guide her away from the Prince and Princess. "It'll give us time to talk as well." King Gerrik nodded twice to signal to Zelda to put on her Royal mask. Zelda subtly ignored him

"Shall we?" Link offered his arm. Zelda took it with a smile and directed him to the small terrace just off the first parlor.

"That was pretty smart of you, getting us away from the parents," Link smirked ever so slightly as he pulled out a chair for Zelda.

"I'm not going to lie," Zelda smiled demurely as she took her seat. "Your parents staring at us as if they might see giant hearts and rose petals suddenly form around us was what did it."

"Yes," Link frowned slightly. "They are rather invested in the idea of a marriage agreement between our two families."

"Now there's a story behind that," Zelda placed her napkin in her lap as their breakfast was placed before them. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Link considered her for a second before opening his mouth, "I've had an on and off relationship with a woman named Cia since I was sixteen or seventeen. My parents greatly frowned upon the relationship partly because of the tentative agreement of our potential marriage," he raised his glass to her before taking a sip, "but mainly because Cia is the resident Sorceress at the Royal Court in Calatia."

Zelda's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Is it as taboo for the Court Sorceress to be in a relationship in Calatia as it is here in Hyrule?"

"No, as long as her relationship is with anyone other than the Crown Prince."

"I wouldn't have pegged you as a bad boy," Zelda smirked as she took a bite of the omelet in front of her.

"Cia can be very persuasive but also manipulative and needlessly deceptive, which was the main reason for the 'off' in the on and off of our relationship."

"At least you stand up to the manipulation," she noted. "Always an admirable quality in leaders."

"I hardly learn from my mistakes, as my father enjoys reminding me," Link said bitterly. "But that's all of my story. Care to share yours?"

"My story's not all that more exciting than yours," Zelda shrugged. "As the sole heir of the throne of Hyrule, it's clearly expected of me to marry and bear children. But some in my country like to think that wedding a noble and bearing his heirs is my primary job in life."

"And obviously you think differently," Link sounded amused.

"My primary job is to justly rule my country," she skewered him with a glare. "I have had every form of schooling and training possible; I am more than capable of ruling Hyrule on my own without taking a husband."

"So you wish to prove yourself?" he asked.

"I shouldn't have to prove myself," Zelda fumed slightly before reigning herself back in. "That's why I've protested this marriage arrangement."

Just as Link was about to respond, a butler came out on to the terrace telling them their parents wished them back inside the first parlor to talk.

"Fifty rupees they immediately bring up the alliance treaty and marriage contract," Link smiled as he stood.

"No, they'll ask what we talked about," Zelda reluctantly smiled as Link pulled her chair out for her. "And another fifty rupees it's my mother that asks."

"Deal," he smirked as they walked back into the first parlor.

As much as Zelda didn't want to, she had to admit Prince Link was growing on her. He would make a good friend. Eventually. Zelda wasn't quite ready to completely warm up to him just yet.

"So what did you two talk about?" Queen Elaina asked as soon as the terrace door closed behind them. Zelda shot Link a look, and she saw him stifle a laugh.

"Just friendly conversation, getting to know each other," Link shrugged nonchalantly. "You know how it is."

"We're glad to see you getting along so well," Queen Adalynn smiled.

"I quite agree, Adalynn," Elaina nodded. "It's nice to see a budding friendship."

"I'm glad you see it as such, Mother," Zelda smiled a little too brightly to be sincere. "There certainly is nothing else budding, I assure you."

"There's no need to be so confrontational, Zelda," her mother scolded.

Zelda only conceded by smiling demurely and taking a seat in between the two Queens.

"The Princess was nothing but amiable while we ate, I assure you," Link gracefully took a seat next to his father opposite Zelda.

Zelda spent the rest of the morning only partially paying attention to her parents and the Bathory's idly chat and catch up on recent events. She nodded and smiled when comments were directed her way but otherwise tried to keep out of the conversation.

"Now we must break before supper," King Gerrik stood and everyone else followed. "We can discuss serious business during coffee after."

Link walked over to Zelda and offered his arm, "Mind if I escort you to your room?"

"I suppose not," Zelda shrugged. "But no funny business."

"You act as if you don't know me at all, Princess Zelda," Link smirked as they walked out of the first parlor together.

"On the contrary, I don't know you at all, Prince Link."

As soon as they ascended the stairs, Link and Zelda burst into laughter.

"You wish to give my mother a conniption," Zelda gasped through her chuckles. "Our parents will think we are actually getting along."

"Are we not getting along?" Link tilted his head as they came to a stop outside Zelda's door. "You could have had me fooled."

"I just think it would be easier to persuade our parents against a marriage contract if we seem to not get along," Zelda tilted her head to mimic Link.

"As you wish, Princess," he shook his head as he turned to go to his own room.

Zelda briefly entertained the idea of disguising herself as Sheik in order to visit Link but dismissed the idea in favor of freshening up before her mother undoubtedly stormed into her room demanding an explanation for her behavior.

"Zelda!"

There it was.

"I don't know how you managed to do it with that unapproachable wall you've put up, but you're actually getting along civilly with Prince Link."

Zelda turned her head in confusion. Had she just heard right?

"If it weren't for all the books and poetry you read, I'd wonder how you thought it up. But you must have decided a coquettish approach would be best somehow. They do say rejecting a man will make him pursue you all the more ardently. Oh I'm so proud of you my dear. Changing your mind on this marriage contract is such a mature decision."

"Mother," Zelda nearly shouted over Elaina. The Queen finally stopped her whirlwind of babbling. "I haven't changed my mind on the marriage contract. I even talked to Prince Link about this while we ate breakfast."

"Oh, Zelda you didn't," Elaina gasped.

"He understood my reasoning," she continued. "And he was sympathetic, too. Very kind."

"Why are you so against this?" Elaina frowned. "If we discuss your worries about a marriage now, we can discuss it after dinner and make provisions in the contract."

"I know it's pointless to say it," Zelda sighed. "But I hate talking about this huge chapter in my life like a business deal."

"Sacrifices, my dear," Elaina rested her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "I'm sorry something this large in your life has to be discussed in terms of a contract. But this could be such an amazing thing for you. Remember my mother participated in an arranged marriage, and she always called her husband the love of her life."

"Yes, but Grandmother actively chose the man she was going to marry, so even though it was contracted to benefit Hyrule politically, it wasn't technically arranged," Zelda forced down the urge to smile smugly.

"Then maybe you should think of this as your time to actively chose your demands in the contract," Elaina raised an eyebrow. "Pick your battles wisely, Zelda."

"I certainly intend to, Mother."

Zelda spent the rest of her free time before supper in the library studying contract law and reviewing past marriage contracts the Hyrule monarchy had participated in. While the estate's library was nothing compared to the Castle Archives, there was enough for Zelda to be confident that even if she could not prevent a marriage contract being included in the alliance, she could at least demand clauses that would delay the marriage until she was ready. She left the library feeling better about the marriage contract than she had since her parents first told of her the proposition nearly six months ago. She would enter negotiations as a future Queen expressing her right to dictate her own personal life and leave the childish Princess she had been behind.

Elaina was waiting for Zelda when she arrived back at her room. Apparently the Queen second guessed her dinner dress as well. After an hour of debate, they settled on a tea length, wine colored dress that was not as fancy as the original dress but perfectly matched the shade of lipstick Zelda wished to wear and showed off the silver heals she had picked out for the evening.

Supper was a rather casual affair. There were only four courses, and Link and Zelda were pretty much left on their own to make conversation since their parents were engrossed in discussing the upheaval in Lorule.

"Did you read anything interesting in the library?" Link asked abruptly during the soup course.

"Yes," Zelda tilted her head curiously. "If you consider contract law interesting."

"Not my particular cup of tea, no," Link chuckled around a spoonful of tomato basil soup.

"What is your cup of tea, then?" she asked, hoping to find out more about the Calatian Prince.

"Earl Grey, usually," he smirked in response. "Though I do like the new green tea my mother has imported from Termina. It's said to help one's health."

"So you're not interested in law?"

"My father had me sit in on a four hour council meeting dedicated to reforming trade restrictions and import taxes when I was fifteen, and I've been turned off from the whole subject ever since."

"Well yes, trade law is a bore, but welfare and health law fascinates me to no end," Zelda smiled.

"What welfare does Hyrule implement?" Link asked looking genuinely curious.

"Then same as Calatia as far as I can tell," she shrugged. "But I've been working with Father to set up a new law that requires employers to at least partially pay for the treatment of their employees' injuries if they were acquired while working."

"A novel concept," he nodded. "Would that come with paid leave if the employee cannot work due to their injury?"

"Not at this moment," Zelda let her spoonful of soup drop back into the bowl as she considered this new option. "Paid leave has usually been left up to the employer's discretion, but a law to regulate it would be beneficial to workers all across Hyrule."

Link leaned back in his chair as his soup was traded out for rosemary grilled chicken that was the main course, "I don't see why you desire to prove yourself as a credible ruler. It's obviously clear you are more than capable as you said this morning."

"I wish more men in Hyrule would see it like you," Zelda smiled ruefully. "There hasn't been a lone female on the throne of Hyrule for nearly one hundred and fifty years. The nobles have been adopting a steadily heavier patriarchy mindset ever since the passing of the last Queen Zelda."

"Ah, now I understand," Link nodded sagely. "You wish to uphold your namesake's matriarchal position as sovereign leader of Hyrule."

"Exactly."

They digressed to small talk and eavesdropping on their parents gossip on the nobles in each of their countries for the rest of the meal. Finally after the dessert plates had been cleared, King Gerrik stood.

"Shall we take coffee in the Annex?" he asked as if everyone wasn't going to say yes. They migrated to the Library Annex where more small talk filled the air with the bittersweet aroma of fresh coffee.

"Now, let's get down to business," King Clement smiled. "I believe the plan was to discuss the most pressing matters of the alliance treaty: trade, border security, military and aid support during crises, and of course a potential marriage contract."

Zelda was proud that she did not grimace at the dreaded words.

"Why don't we start with the marriage contract so the youngsters here can head to bed early?" Clement nodded congenially to the Prince and Princess.

"Actually, Your Majesty," Zelda smiled just as pleasantly to hide her frustration at the snide remark. "There is no need to discuss the marriage contract first simply for our sake. As the future ruler of Hyrule, it would benefit me to see and even participate in the negotiations of this alliance in person. It would be a much better learning experience than simply reviewing the alliance treaty after the fact."

Zelda silently reveled in the slightly dumbfounded look on the Calatian King's face, "But of course if Prince Link wishes to head to bed early, we can discuss the marriage contract first by all means."

"Wisely put, Princess Zelda," Link spoke before his father could gather enough composure to respond. "I, too, would like to stay for all parts of the negotiation, if that's alright with you, Father?"

Zelda couldn't stop herself from grinning triumphantly. She had most definitely found a partner in crime.

"Yes," Clement's voice audibly shook. "One can't gain experience if one does not participate, yes."

"I would have insisted they stay, anyway," King Gerrik smiled that one little smile Zelda knew from experience was a smirk. "This alliance will hopefully be held throughout their respective reigns. It is only logical that they help negotiate the treaty. Now where shall we start?"

An hour of negotiating border security digressed to a half hour of debating Goron citizenship since their settlement in the mountains straddled border of the two countries before transitioning to the amounts of military support and aid that one country would provide should a crisis arise in the other country. Zelda contributed as many facts and counter offers as her father during the negotiation, and when they double teamed King Clement on a specific issue, he was quick to fold to their demands. Of course they were quick to make sure Calatia benefited just as much as Hyrule. But then came time to discuss the marriage contract.

"Let's start with the easiest question," Prince Link turned to Zelda. "Do we even wish to include a marriage contract? I, myself, am not opposed in any way."

"There are a few questions I wish to ask before I agree," Zelda pulled out the paper she had written her ideas on while studying in the library. "Is the treaty going to be contingent on our marriage? That is, do Prince Link and I have to marry in order for the alliance to be fulfilled and the treaty ratified?"

"I personally always saw it as just another layer of security, if you will, to hold the alliance in place," Gerrik said. "The treaty itself could exist without it, but Elaina and I would prefer it be included as a contract."

"So we could, in theory, ratify this treaty, see how the alliance works out, and then draw up a separate marriage contract to strengthen our relations?" Zelda asked.

"If the eventual goal is union between our royal houses, I see no reason to hesitate," Queen Adalynn said. Everyone else nodded in agreement.

"Wisely put, Your Majesty," Zelda conceded. She doubted that plan of attack would pan out, so she barreled straight to her Plan B. "Alright, I will agree to a marriage contract to back this alliance but only if there is a clause stating Prince Link and I are not to be married until after I am crowned Queen of Hyrule."

"An interesting demand," Link said before either of their parents could voice an objection. "What is your reasoning behind it?"

"Perception of an action is just as important as the action itself," she responded. "I wish to be perceived as a woman who marries because she is Queen, not one that is crowned Queen because she is married."

"A logical argument," Link smiled, again cutting of their parents. "I agree to this clause. Do you have any other demands, Princess?"

"But Zelda, dear," Elain cut in before Zelda could speak. "Why would you wish to wait so long for the marriage? It would be better for the moral of all our people if they saw the physical union of our two countries as soon as possible."

"You've told me yourself that this alliance has been in the works since before I was born, and there is an excess of support and no great opposition in Hyrule to any alliance with Calatia," she replied. "There is no pressing reason to get this marriage over with quickly, and waiting will only give Prince Link and myself more time to get to know one another and familiarize ourselves with each other's culture."

"That is true, Queen Elaina," Link added. "There has been nothing but support for a Calatian alliance with Hyrule, and it would be better to slowly introduce the idea of a marriage between our families to the people. Springing sudden information on the people tends to cause more opposition. If it were to seem as if Princess Zelda and I would be courting for a time…"

"Link that is a genius idea," Zelda beamed at him. "The people of Hyrule always love to follow a love story."

Elaina looked concerned, and Clement and Adalynn exchanged worried, questioning glances. But Gerrik had a small smile across his face that said he was proud of his daughter.

"We could make it a clause in the contract if the concept worries you so much, Your Majesties," Zelda pressed on, aiming her attack at the Bathory's now. "The marriage will not take place until after my coronation, but Prince Link and I must officially court for at least two years or so and attend royally sanctioned events in both our countries to publically present ourselves to our people."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Gerrik agreed. "I agree with the clause of courting for let's say three years, just to make it safe, before the public announcement of a marriage between our royal houses."

Clement and Adalynn only nodded hesitantly in agreement, and the subject moved on to other matters. They decided clauses for heirs and the sharing of power could wait until an official marriage contract was written to be signed at Link and Zelda's eventual marriage. Now the only thing left to discuss was trade law. Zelda decided to sit out of that particular round and sit next to Link, who had rolled his eyes exaggeratedly when the topic was first breached.

"Thank you for the support," she whispered to him as their father's debated the import tax rate of each country. "My demands would have probably been dismissed without your agreement."

"I was doing that to save my own head to," Link smirked lightly. "Cia would take my head if she found out I actually signed a marriage contract while here. Courting you at least gives me time to convince her we're done for good."

"Should I worry about meeting this Sorceress?" Zelda asked, attempting to play off the question as a joke. "She wouldn't curse me, would she?"

"The thing is," Link grimaced. "You never know with Cia. One minute she's sweet and docile even, but the next, she's on a war path against everything, and she's convinced the whole world is against her."

"She sounds like the exact opposite of our Court Sorceress," Zelda hummed as the treaty talk turned to banned substances. "Lana is the gentlest creature in Hyrule. She so optimistic, and always has something kind to say to everyone."

"She sounds nice," he said.

"Alright I think that convers just about everything," Gerrik picked up the long scroll on which they had written all the agreed upon terms. "We can review and modify any clauses in the morning, but I believe this is a sound alliance treaty." Gerrik held his hand up to Clement, who shook it happily.

"Yes I do agree, King Gerrik," he smiled. "May a new age of light and prosperity come down over Hyrule and Calatia."

Twenty minutes later, Zelda was pulling on her Sheikah gear to go and visit Link. She was fairly certain she got a good read on Link's royal mask, but she wanted to see if there was more to the pride and arrogance she had caught a glimpse of the previous night. With her eyes colored red and her skin darkened, Sheik leaped from the Princess' balcony to the Prince's. Link wasn't outside, so Sheik simply waited on the railing and mindlessly tossed one of her kunai in the air. Ten minutes later, Sheik heard the balcony lock click and the door open. She didn't move or show she was startled in any way; Impa would have been proud.

"Are you sure you aren't here as an assassin, Sheikah?" Link's voice called out to her.

She finally acknowledged him, "If I was, you would be dead already. But that's not the point." She slipped the kunai into her thigh holster as she stood from the balcony railing. "The Princess says you owe her a hundred rupees."

"That I do," he laughed as he tossed her a silver rupee. "Make sure she gets it, will you?"

Sheik rolled her eyes and nodded, "How did negotiations for the alliance go?"

"Has Princess Zelda not told you herself?" Link smirked. Sheik wondered if he enjoyed testing her.

"I wish to hear from a more reliable source," Sheik tilted her head. "The Princess is rather biased towards certain clauses in the treaty."

"Yes, she made her distaste for the marriage contract known," he laughed. "I knew I would not be opposed to it the moment she asked to eat brunch alone. She showed that she is not submissive. Zelda is out to better herself by not getting married, which is literally the opposite of every other woman I know. She is strong and beautiful, and there is this light in her that makes you want to be better so you can actually be on her level. But look at me getting all sappy; I might as well be writing a sonnet."

Sheik almost laughed, "The Princess told me about the sub-clause stating the marriage must take place after her coronation. I was surprised you agreed to it."

"I agreed because I don't want to get married soon either," Link narrowed his eyes at the Sheikah. "Is there anything else you wish to know, or is this interrogation over?"

"You say you see this light in the Princess that makes you want to be better for her," Sheik started. "I have never known anyone else to see this light. That makes you different, Prince Link."

"Is different good or bad?"

"Only time can tell," Sheik's red eyes smiled as she jumped back up onto the balcony railing.

"Wait," Link called before she could completely disappear. "You've never told me your name."

"I like to be called Sheik," she said before quickly climbing on to the balcony roof.

"Sheik of the Sheikah," Link laughed barely loud enough for her to hear. "That's original."

Despite the few hours of sleep she got during the night, Zelda awoke refreshed and ready for the day ahead. She had negotiated her own marriage contract, and even though her mother was disappointed in the sub-clauses Zelda added, Elaina was proud her daughter stood up for what she wanted and made her demands like a Queen.

"It showed all that training I put into you was not fruitless after all."

"Thank you, Mother," Zelda rolled her eyes. She slipped on the hunter green dress that she fully intended to never wear while at the mountain estate. Green and gold were the colors of House Bathory, and after hearing what Link had said about her to Sheik last night had changed her mind. She wanted to honor their newfound friendship somehow, and Elaina was over the moon at Zelda's obviously display of congeniality.

Link and Zelda took brunch alone on the terrace again. They talked about trivial things this time, books they liked, favorite holidays, and childhood memories. Link alone probably spend ten minutes embellishing the tale of how he acquired, trained, and gained the undying loyalty of his horse, Epona.

"I can't wait for you to meet her someday," Link smiled widely, and Zelda couldn't help but laugh. "But don't be offended if she doesn't like you. Epona doesn't like my parents or many of the stable hands or even Cia for that matter."

"I'm sure I can find some way to charm her," Zelda smiled. This friendship between her and Link could be so easy. Maybe even after a year or so of courting, she might even develop real feelings for him, a thought that had usually filled Zelda with dread before now.

They joined their parents in the first floor office for the official signing of the Hyrule-Calatian Treaty of Alliance.

"There are only a few minor adjustments to the agreements set forth last night," King Clement smiled as he and Gerrik signed off on each clause. "Princess Zelda, you and Prince Link will need to sign for the Courtship and Marriage Contract Clause, and King Gerrik and I will sign as witnesses and secondary enforcers."

Link stepped forward to sign the parchment, and Zelda smiled to him as he handed her the quill. She signed her name with a flourish and took a step back to skim the clause. Her smile fell when her eyes caught the words "in five years' time."

"Father," she tilted her head toward him without taking her eyes of the contract. "What is this 'in five years' time' statement? I thought we had agreed the marriage will not take place until after I am crowned Queen of Hyrule?"

"I'm sorry, Zelda," Gerrik stepped forward to put a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "The Bathorys insisted the marriage take place sooner. I tried to give you as much time as possible, but King Clement drew the line at three years of courtship and a two year engagement."

"I should have been called in; Link and I should have been present at this renegotiation," Zelda felt fury build up inside her, but it strangely did not yet reach the outer surface of calm she was carefully holding in place.

"We did not want to interrupt your brunch," Clement smiled nervously. "It was only a small renegotiation anyway."

"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Zelda smiled dangerously. "That is not a viable excuse. And this was a complete renegotiation of one thing Prince Link and I had agreed upon."

"Zelda, you are still given five years before any marriage is to take place," Elaina stepped up. "Is that truly not enough time?"

"It is not about the amount of time," Zelda could feel herself getting close to yelling. "It is about the fact that I specifically asked the marriage not to take place until after my coronation, which won't take place until I'm twenty-five; that's over six years away. Prince Link and I both agreed to this term, and King Clement decided to go behind our backs in order to change it."

"Did you really have to do this, Father?" Link asked, his voice sounding oddly hoarse. "And not tell us about it? Really?"

"We thought it best-" Clement started, but Link cut him off.

"If another party had done this to you, you would insist on annulling the contract immediately."

"The contract is already signed," Clement sighed. "There is no point in annulling it now."

"On the contrary," Zelda eyed the parchment. "Neither you nor Father have signed this clause yet, and since both Link and I have grounds to revoke our consent…"

She let the small kunai that she always kept up her sleeve fall to her hand. She made to slash the parchment where her name was signed so that her signature would be invalidated, but an arm caught her before she could follow through.

"I told you not to bring your Sheikah gear," Elaina's voice was filled with venom. Zelda struggled to break her arm out of the Queen's hold, but Elaina wouldn't budge.

"Impa would have insisted for my own protection," Zelda kept a straight face as she continued attempting to break her mother's grip.

"Lady Impa would not approve of you running around as Sheik when we are entertaining such distinguished guests," Elaina fired back. The Queen showed off her own Sheikah training as she quickly disarmed her daughter. "I'm disappointed in you, Zelda."

"Wait, you're Sheik?" Link gasped, eyes bouncing from the kunai to the Princess. She met his questioning gaze, but could not find it in herself to lie to him.

"Goddesses above, you've got to be kidding me," he grumbled before turning and storming out of the office.

"And this is why I told you to leave your gear at home," Elaina sighed as she pocketed the kunai. "Now go apologize to the Prince."

Zelda grew furious. Without her there to argue for the annulling of the marriage clause, the two Kings will surely sign their approval, and then she would be stuck in a contract forged behind her back. But then she remembered Link talking about his relationship with the Sorceress, Cia. 'Needlessly deceptive,' he had said, and damn if he hadn't just seen the same quality in her.

"Now, Zelda."

"Fine," she eyed her mother dangerously before turning on her heel and marching after Prince Link.

Zelda eventually found Link on the terrace where they had eaten brunch. She decided against being quiet so she wouldn't startle him where he stood looking out on the garden. She paused for a second after she closed the door behind her, waiting to see if he would acknowledge her presence, before speaking.

"I came to apologize."

He sighed and didn't turn around, "I was ready to make this work. I was ready to defy a contracted law in order to extend our courtship or the engagement so that you could get what you wanted, so we could get married after you become Queen."

Zelda couldn't stop the little gasp that escaped her. Link would have gone against both their parents in order to make her happy. His feelings must have run far deeper than she realized.

"But then you had to go and do that," he slammed his fist against the railing. "You had to go and disguise yourself and interrogate me just to make sure I liked you. I didn't think you would be so insecure."

"No, Link," Zelda sounded close to pleading. "That's not why I did it."

"Then why?"

"I wanted to meet you," she said softly so the entreating tone would leave her voice. "I wanted to see you, Link, not as the Prince of Calatia but as a man."

"And all I got in turn was a faceless assassin," Link said cynically.

"I am more myself when I am called Sheik than I ever am as Zelda," she held her head defiantly even though Link could not see it.

"But why the interrogation?"

"Revealing your feelings out loud to others makes it easier to translate those feelings without words," she felt a sad smile form on her lips. "I'm truly sorry I deceived you in this way. I was being selfish and careless to your feelings."

"I don't know if I can forgive you," Link's head fell to look at the concrete floor.

"Understandable," she nodded. "I don't think I can forgive our parents for making us sign to terms we didn't agree upon."

"I can work to have the clause annulled," Link finally turned to face her. She didn't like the hardness she saw in his eyes. "This alliance can happen without us getting married."

"Link, it's too late," Zelda shook her head. "Our fathers will have already signed as secondary enforcers."

"I'm sure there are ways around that," he brushed past her to exit the terrace.

"Link!" she tried to call after him, but he was already gone.

Three hours of arguing later and they were still stuck at the terms in the signed contract. Apparently King Clement had grown a backbone sometime during the night and refused to budge from his five year timeframe. Zelda couldn't stand to be in the same room as the King, and from the look on Link's face, he couldn't stand being in the same room as her. And as Zelda met Link's eyes for the last time before the Bathorys departed back for Calatia, she was sure that he would be fighting this marriage just as fervently as she would. Instead of creating the fast union he obviously desired, King Clement had only ensured that the Prince and Princess would fight this courtship for as long as it took.