AUTHOR'S NOTE: First Legend of Zelda story, I'd love to hear your thoughts :) My first story chapter is usually short, sorry. I guess they're like teasers? Well anyways, thanks for reading. Next chapter will be posted after some feedback.

Zelda walked through the castle, making her way to the garden, her mind flooded with worry. Tomorrow she would wed and become Queen...

And make link a King.

It was only right that she marry him, he saved her and all of Hyrule. There weren't too many rewards to offer that were greater than the hand of a princess. After all Link had done, he deserved the highest honor and marriage was deemed it. Her people wanted it, her council wanted it...but did she?

Link was a man of few words, or rather they had only shared few words. He was of course very handsome, Zelda would be lying if she said she hadn't noticed. He was strong and brave, risked his life for her and her land. He was a true hero. And now he would be her husband.

The issue of her betrothal to Link arose when Zelda's father died during the overthrow of her land. Of course Link reclaimed it under the royal family's name, but Hyrule needed a man to take the King's place. Who else but the one who avenged the fallen King? The council came to their verdict and it was decided. Link accepted notion graciously, announcing that he would be greatly honored to accept such an offer. The wedding was planned shortly after the resurrection of Hyrule Kingdom, during this time her and Link hardly ever saw one another.

Link was confined to the castle library where noblemen tutored him in the ways of royalty. He had to learn royal etiquette, poise, and sophistication. Of course he also had to practice for his coronation, and the wedding. Zelda spent her time with Impa in preparation for these events.

The air in the castle felt awfully stuffy, or perhaps it was merely her. Regardless, the air felt remedoulsy refreshing when she opened the door leading to the garden where she often played as a child, where she spied on her late father and Ganondorf before the seven year turmoil occurred...but now her father was gone.

The night sky shone from above, the stars glimmering down upon her in welcome. She stood in the center of the garden, breathing in the air calmly. The stone plateau with the triforce emblem lay beneath her bare feet, cold. A breeze wafted by her, ruffling her night skirts gently before stilling. Pain filled the cavity in her chest, causing the muscles to constrict.

"Father..."

Dropping to her knees she placed her hands on the stone platform, tearing up as an enormous wave of grief washed over her. Seven years she had lost to that cruel Gerudo but that did not compare to the legacy that was her father. Impa rode away with her that night, leaving the spilled blood where it lie at Ganondorf's feet. Zelda hadn't seen any of it, Impa forbade it.

Now she would wed to carry on Hyrule, her father would have been so proud of her, but now it was bittersweet. Tears dripped to the stone. She couldn't control the helplessness that filled her, she was merely a child when he father fell, she couldn't have saved him. Her land was ripped away and had Link not come to the rescue, she herself would have followed shortly after the fallen king.

She knew she had to follow through with the engagement tomorrow, there was no other way. As the princess the greatest honor she could bestow upon her father was to wed and bear an heir, but the circumstances just were so unsatisfactory. Her doubt shamed her, her newfound weakness only adding to her anguish. Her vision darkened and she struggled to maintain consciousness, panic filled her and she felt as if she had blacked out as she blinked her eyes persistently.

"Father...oh, how I must displease you." she muttered, choking back her sobs.

"How mistaken you are"

Zelda gasped, looking up quickly, but was met with no sign of who she thought she had heard. Was she losing her mind, she wondered. Tears spilled from her in frustration, wiping her face she look downed upon the triforce platform. A pair of feet glowed by her hand on the ground and she looked up again.

"Father!" she cried, awestruck. "What are you doing here? "

"Hear my words child" he murmured, "There is nothing to fear. You have done me proud, this land will prosper. I know it."

"Father, I struggle." she admitted. " Tomorrow I wed, the Hero will claim his land and my hand. I haven't a clue what to do. Your legacy...it has ended."

A cold touch grazed Zelda's face as her father held her under the chin.

"All is well, Hyrule will carry on strongly." he assured her. "Now wake my dear daughter, I've kept you long enough. Return to him"

Zelda jolted awake, a breeze passing over her, chilling her to the bone. The smell of flowers and grass reached her nose and she felt the solid surface of stone beneath her as she realized she was still kneeling on the triforce platform. Wetness still leaked from her eyes, sticking to her cheekbones. What had happened?

A heavy gloved hand settled softly on the pane of her shoulder blade.

"Your highness... is everything all right?"

Zelda remained still, disorientated. She recognized the voice though. Making no attempt to look up, she remained looking at the ground from where she knelt. Hands placed themselves on her waist, pulling her up despite her lack of participation in the assistance.

"Your highness?"

Deciding to look up, she was met with two large stoic cobalt eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asked. "What are you doing out here? Sunrise shall arrive soon."

Zelda took in his appearance. He looked at her seriously, confused. He was dressed in his green tunic. His boots and gauntlets adorned him as well, along with his large shield. Where had he been?

"I could ask you that as well."

Link blinked, brows furrowed.

"You're wearing your tunic and gear, and at this hour." she commented quietly, voice barely above a whisper. "Where did you go?"

"To the forest...the castle is can be so unfamiliar." he answered her simply, taking in her appearance.

Zelda's nightgown draped along her body, light and airy. The soft white material billowed in the air, chilling her. Her skin tightened from the cold, and she shivered slightly.

"Allow me to take you back, you shouldn't be out here"