I don't know what to say…

These last few months have… well, changed things.

Even now, as I sit here in this quaint little house, watching him chop up mushrooms, I watch his hands delicately maneuver the blade and I'm instantly transported back to that moment…

When he saved me.

Just when I thought my life was over, when I felt the hate from the Yiga Clan drip off into a deadening vengeance, he was there for me. Without a single hesitation, he came to me when I needed him the most. Despite how childishly I've treated him, taking my selfish anger out on him at every turn. He protected me.

I won't ever forget that.

I can't…

Ever since that moment, I've grown close to him. I started by apologizing to him, to Link. He seemed confused. I don't think he quite understood why someone within the Royal family would apologize to a Knight…

But, he doesn't see just how incredible he is.

Those eyes who's gaze once agitated me, I have grown to crave. That quiet presence behind me, which once frustrated me, I now find comforting. His elegant swordsmanship with that sacred blade which once infuriated me, I now admire.

There's not much I enjoy in this life… my research and my adventures… but ever since I have developed this friendship with Link, I've found joy in almost everything.

"Would you like if I add a spicy pepper to your mushroom skewer?" Link asked, he turned to face me.

I snapped my diary shut and stood up from his kitchen table. We were making our way to Akkala research tower to visit Robbie. He had been making ancient Sheika relics which could help us in our fight against Ganon. After about a half days' ride into our journey, I became exhausted and Link offered to prepare us dinner as we pass the night in his home in Hateno village.

"I was actually thinking…" I responded as I edged closer to where Link stood in the kitchen, preparing our dinners. "What if we added a Moblin horn to the sauce?"

Link gave me a disgusted look.

"No, really!" I continued and immediately started riffling through my bag searching for the item. "You killed two of them yesterday and I kept their horns! I was reading that Moblin horns can provide an extra enhancement to ingredients that provide extra skill! Like spicy peppers."

Link ran a hand through his hair and turned to face me with a slight smile. "No way Princess, monster parts mix well with elixirs, not food."

"Please!" I edged closer to him and placed the two Moblin horns in his hand. "Can you test my theory?"

I watched as a slight blush danced across his cheeks. His crystal blue eyes gave a fleeting sparkle and he wrapped his fingers around the Moblin horns. His skin gently touched mine and my heart started to race.

"As you wish, princess."

"Thank you!" I was giddy with excitement.

Link watched as I jumped with thrill and clasped my hands together. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him smile as he ducked through the door to the cooking pot outside.

I bit my cheek, trying to hide the butterflies pounding on the walls in my stomach. I don't know what it is, but ever since Link and I have grown closer, I've been feeling… different… and I like it.

As Link cooked away outside, I decided I'd familiarize myself with the boy chosen by the sword. My eyes traced the edges of the tiny cabin. This was where he grew up. A single kitchen table with two chairs, a staircase leading to a single bed and a desk with a Silent Princess glowing in the lone window.

It was very different than the grand halls I knew. Those mahogany doors felt like a prison after a while… and when you have royal guard after royal guard escorting you wherever you want to go, it begins to feel like you're constantly under house-arrest.

But, sitting here, looking at Link's home… I didn't feel that way… not in the slightest.

I felt free.

"Dinner is served, Princess!" Link's voice chimed in from the doorway and I turned to greet him with a smile. "I can't promise it'll be any good, but it has the Moblin horn sauce as you requested."

"Excellent!" I beamed at him and took a seat at the table. Link's eyes lingered on me for a moment as he gently placed the mushroom skewer before me.

At least… I thought it was supposed to be a mushroom skewer. The mushrooms were barely visible and the spicy peppers looked like a congealed goo above the mushroom pieces. Surrounding the food was a greenish brown mush that had white pieces of Moblin horn sticking out.

Without taking a single bite, I glanced at Link sitting across from me. I expected him to have the same disgusted look as before, but this time when I glanced up at him, he was halfway done eating.

His eyes met mine and he paused mid chew, grimacing.

We held our gaze for a brief moment, then burst out laughing.

"I really thought it would work!" I explained, wiping away a tear from laughing so hard.

"Hey," Link smiled at me. "It's not that bad!"

"Coming from the man who will eat anything!"

"You asked me too!"

"Oh, and you'll do anything I ask?" I cocked my head to the side, joking.

Link's smile began to fade, and he looked at me with level eyes and I instantly regretted saying those words. That friendly atmosphere we had worked so hard to build and flourish under was suddenly shattered by the sharp edges of reality.

In that moment, we were both reminded of our positions and our duties. I carry the blood of the Goddess, it was my responsibility to awaken my power to seal Ganon away. He was my appointed Knight, it was his responsibility to protect me from danger and fight back Ganon… anything else, and we're just deluding ourselves.

"Yes, Princess," His voice was soft, but his eyes were serious. "I'll do anything you ask."

I bit my cheek and stood up from the table. Suddenly, I didn't feel so hungry.

"I wish you'd stop calling me that," I mumbled under my breath. "Call me Zelda."

Link was silent. I knew that silence all too well… I just never wanted to be the burden that caused it.

Wishing for a change of subject, I turned away from the table and climbed the stairs to the study and bedroom. Perhaps Link had some books that could preoccupy my mind. I heard his light footsteps tread behind second I climbed the final stair, my eyes fell upon something familiar and my body froze.

There, hanging next to the window, the rising moon spilling a luminescent glow upon the picture, was a painting of a beautiful woman, a royal knight and Link as a child.

There was more than one person I recognized in that painting…

"I know him." I pointed to the painting. "I know that Knight."

Link raised his eyes to the painting and then back at me, studying my face.

"Yes," He responded. "He's my father."

"Your father?" I tried to connect the dots, but I couldn't draw my eyes away from his familiar face. "He was my royal guard at the castle!" I caught my breath. "He was my guard up until my father appointed you." My voice became hushed. "He saved me."

"Yes," Link's voice was solemn. "I know."

"Where is he?" I exclaimed. "I must see him!"

Link's response was silent.

Slowly, I turned to face Link, fearing the worse. His steady, sorrow gaze confirmed my fear.

"Link…"

"He died a week after I was appointed to you." His voice was even. He stated those words like a true Royal Knight. No emotion, no expression, bearing all burdens without fault.

I bit my cheek. Link's father's death stung. He had treated me like a daughter, more so than my own father. I could feel my heart pang with a hurt I hadn't felt since… well… my own mother's death.

"I didn't know he had died," I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold myself together. Royalty wasn't supposed to falter.

"You and I were traveling to Rito Village. The funeral had already passed by the time we returned to the castle."

I raised my shocked eyes to meet his. Still, his bright blue gaze remained ever so steady.

"You missed your own father's funeral?" The words left my mouth before I could even comprehend what I was saying. I clenched my body tighter as the guilt almost wrecked through my body.

"He would have wanted me by your side."

I was silent for a while, staring at Link, desperately trying to find an inkling of feeling beneath that stoic figure. To know I was the cause of him missing his own father's funeral stole the words out from under my tongue. I could only imagine the hatred Link must have felt for me. I had treated him so poorly and after all this time, he'd been dealing with the loss of a family member.

Slowly, I raised my eyes to the painting again.

"What about your mother?"

Link was silent for a while, "You must be tired."

"Link," My voice was soft but firm. "I need to know. What happened to her?"

I saw a crack of humanity leak from those calm eyes. It wasn't pain or anger that he was feeling. No, it was worry. He was worried about me for some strange reason.

The loss of my father was too much for her to bear."

My knees gave in and I fell to the floor.

Link reached out and caught me before I even touched the ground. He scooped me up in my arms and brought me to the bed, gently placing me down on the feathered mattress.

Breath Zelda, breath," He cooed, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking. He firmly grabbed hold of my cold, trembling fingers and breathed with me, calming my nerves. His fingers felt warm as they laced themselves between mine.

His vibrant eyes searched my face. I glanced away from his captivating gaze.

"You must hate me." My voice was shaky and I was beginning to lose control again.

"Hate you?" Link gasped. He gave my hands a gentle squeeze.

"Zelda, look at me." His voice was dripping with concern. I didn't look at him. I couldn't bring myself to see my shame reflected in his eyes.

Gently, he placed his thumb under my chin and turned my head to face him. His eyes entranced me. He had nothing but admiration and concern for me.

"I could never hate you." His voice was soft, but pure. I could tell, he meant it. "It's not right, no. But, this is the way things had to be. I don't regret any of it." He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

Slowly, I recovered my breathing. His fingers remained under my chin and I didn't pull away. His eyes flickered down and I felt his forefinger gently trace the outline of my lips. I heard a longing breath escape his lips and I felt a heat suddenly start to rise between us. His fingers lightly traced their way up to my cheek and I leaned into his touch. He closed his eyes, trying desperately to calm his scattered breathing. I could practically hear his heart pounding in his chest. I raised my hand to my cheek and gently interlocked my fingers with his.

The second our fingers entangled, his eyes locked with mine. There was a fiery passion behind those ice blue eyes and I wanted nothing more than to become a part of that passion.

I leaned forward…

Link pulled away and turned his back toward me. "You should get some sleep, Princess."

My heart was pounding in my ears. I don't know what just overcame me, but it was something I'd never felt before.

"You'll need a goodnight's sleep if you want to travel to Akkala tomorrow, Princess."

"Zelda," I whispered. The way he spoke my name was enchanting. I liked it so much more than when he called me Princess.

Link cautiously turned to look at me. That fire was still burning in his eyes, I saw him assess me, sitting on his bed, as he slowly pulled away from me.

"I'll sleep on the floor, downstairs." He drew in a heavy breath before turning away from me and retreating to the downstairs.

Just before he turned to leave, he shot me one last glance from over his shoulder. "Goodnight, Zelda."