I'm afraid your apologies fall upon blind eyes. The fact that you were able to sneak three letters was a surprise in itself. Please do not believe you have the power to bring your queen to her knees by missing your imaginary quota. We have a mutual understanding of priorities.

Remember, your safety is my everything.

No matter how you prefer it not to be.

Days folded into weeks and I was tied fast to the rolling waves.

The goddesses willed today to be kind. The skies were clear and though summer was coming to an end, the breeze that rustled the trees was still warm. Hyrule Castle's grounds are expansive and stretch into densely wooded forests owned exclusively by the Crown. Birds chirped sweet songs from the tall branches alongside the distant hum of the royal apiaries.

I shrieked. A clank of metal cut through the peacefulness.

My thin blade raked against the ground before its little momentum made it favor one side and hit the clay lamely. The backside of my hand burned an angry red and I pressed my lips together to hold a curse. The attacker, who I tossed an evil glare at, laughed gutturally.

"Infirmi vehvi."

The passing glance turned into a scowl. I straightened, shooting a pointed accusation at Urbosa. "I am not weak."

The corner of her mouth hiked upward. She even bent down to grab my weapon for me, tossing it my way instead of handing it over. I let out a short gasp as my fumbling hands took hold of the hilt.

"Oh, you've been studying!" Urbosa clapped mockingly with her own blade. "A shame your swordplay doesn't match your academia."

The sword was heavy in my hand, almost weighty enough that I needed to use both arms. My biceps burned and breath didn't come to me easily. I let the weapon droop, a particularly undignified stance. "Impa, I implore you to reconsider."

A tea table with two petite chairs sat at the edge of the copse. It didn't belong with the scenery and had been drug from the castle several weeks ago. Impa looked up, languish in her movements as she pulled down her spectacles – another quality to her that made her seem so much older than she was. Odd rocks acted as paperweights to hold down the documents before her.

"Certainly, Your Majesty," she said, dryly. "Inform me of which physical activity you prefer."

I almost whined. "None. This is counterintuitive."

"And wasting away in your office is better? No, don't say your bedchambers because I have caught you time and time against sneaking letters out in the middle of the night," Urbosa leaned on one hip.

Honestly? Even when I stamped my foot on the dirt and made a child of myself in front of the royal guard, I couldn't completely disagree. It was mid-August in central Hyrule and for weeks at a time I would go without seeing the sun. Urbosa and Impa had been scheming for this together; forcing me outdoors to play petty games and when I vehemently worked against them under the guise of productivity, they played a hand I hadn't seen coming.

"Ah, well," my advisor sat back in her garden chair, towards her work. "I ponder how I should word a castle report to General Forester now that our Queen has given up swordplay."

"Impa!" I met Anju who nervously shrugged from across the table.

As much as I hated it, Link didn't need another disappointment. No matter how inferior, especially as of late. The supply line had been established by the time any skirmishes began. Though, from the coming reports, it was a project that was started far too late. Our strength out bested Gerudo forces as they were largely unorganized – at first. The following battles showed their adaptiveness and exposed our own faults.

It seemed that no matter how fortified the supply line grew, there would always be an attempted attack. Seasoned travelers were growing rightfully paranoid and provisions couldn't be sent in large quantities, which burdened both the army and Gerudo Town.

And worse, the usurper was gaining ground.

Refugees were pouring from the Gerudo capital and, to my horror, learned that they attacked groups with small children. In our correspondences, I had to plead with Link to force one of his admirals to send men to sponsor their treks. There wasn't opposition in his letters, but the strain in sparing troops was evident.

If they take the capital, then it will give reason to fear they will be able to travel north, Link had written. Fierlin has already proposed to establish a temporary camp by the Great Plateau, but I can't do that to them now. Not this early on.

By them he meant his admirals, his captains, his men. I understood why Whitehurst had stopped me one day in the halls, admitting something he would never tell his counterpart.

"If you ever doubt our choice," he had said with an uncharacteristically sound smile. "Nathaniel spoke of him several times after he pushed for replacement hearings."

Urbosa attempted to bait me into swinging blindly again by lightly touching her blade to mine. Instead of loosening myself to anticipate her attacks, I tensed at the threat of suffering another rude smack to my wrist. The sight made her reprimand me.

"Feet parted!" she shouted, swiping at my feet. I gave a pathetic hop out of an irrational fear that my ankles would be cut through. She would never do anything to hurt me and the action was mostly born of annoyance: I haven't been the ideal student she had been hoping for.

"Truly, Urbosa." My voice was shaking more than I needed it to. "This is very harsh on a beginner!"

"Forgive me, my Queen," Urbosa said without a drop of sorrow. Then, she smiled with a measure of mischievous. "Although you did have the advantage of Hyrule's most renowned swordsman as your knight attendant."

"Renowned?" I yelped as her sword clashed against mine. She was holding back, I knew, but my arm wavered under the kickback. "I had no idea that standing beside a person warrants a personal gain of their skill."

Her response was in Gerudo and I paused our circling to process the words. I had been studying the language during my downtime. Since the Gerudo aristocracy was being housed within the castle, there was no shortage of conversation partners. Some words I couldn't make out yet the little I could made my face catch a rosy red beyond the sweat that caught my forehead.

"That is entirely unwarranted!"

I swung back against her sword with the strength she had been vying for. It made me curse myself when the pride in her face swelled. Urbosa harked out her triumph, "Translate your emotions into force. Even the most beautiful of desert flowers bare thorns."

A strand of hair had loosened from my braid and in grew matted against my damp forehead. "Some find my words to be prickly, but my bite has no comparison."

"Depending on your opponent," Urbosa nodded as I mirrored her footwork. I was a little shaky, my feet stuttering to match her own while keeping in mind where her eyes were. "Words with a sharp tongue can strike deeper than any blade. However, I think we can both agree that action has more immediate results."

Our sparring went on until my muscles trembled and the soles of my feet were sore. We weren't alone either. The notion of a group of noblewomen seeking solitude amidst wartime was laughable at best, outright reckless at worse. The ten men that surrounded us were once apart of my father's personnel, an inner circle of knights who were both experienced and battle hardened. They were at ease, much to my preference, taking turns scouting the area and sharing a basket of foodstuffs. At one point I had suggested they be allowed to join in the war effort but I was told that my general wouldn't even entertain the notion when it presented itself.

Still, I did my best to converse with those within the King's Guard (a name I hadn't had the energy to bother with changing). They were typically older men with families of their own presiding within the capital; each a story of their own that I would think of in the night when news trickled in riddled with death and carnage.

The victories, despite being so sparse, hadn't allowed me any reprieve. My whereabouts were a constant reminder of my privileges, luxuries I didn't feel fit for. Guilt – or was it shame? – made a home in the back of my mind when I would yearn for more than what my power could afford. As with my materials, I was rich in company to dine with. Platters that would never grow scant and goblets that would never run dry.

My father, Impa, Urbosa, and an army of advisors were dazzled by my smiles and ability to save face in adversary. There would always be those against war and my court was not without; all I could do was take it in strides with each evening I entertained the court.

"Any news?" I said to Impa as I maintained a neutral expression. Courtiers twirled about the floor, most were newly returned from the summer harvests and ready to gain favor with their still-new Queen. Little factions of particular lords and ladies clung to the borders of the throne room, gossiping or scheming, I couldn't tell. But, really, was there a difference?

It almost made me regret not socializing with these people in my youth. Not that Father would permit such free time.

Without turning my head, I heard her make a noise of acknowledgment. "Nothing of consequence, dear."

Exhaustion was heavy in her murmur. The real question was if that exhaustion was born of current events and from me. I kept the inquiry on my tongue.

"If there is," I kept my voice low. "Please send them to my room."

She didn't need to respond. I stood, acting indifferent to the hundreds of eyes watching me and made my own way to the door. The upside to power was the lack of need to request an exit. Outside the doors was a man of the Knight's Guard taking leave of another who he was talking to. I nearly felt bad for abruptly ending their conversation.

The knight bowed to someone behind me and Urbosa made herself known in a formal Gerudo fitting; glittering gold that would look odd on anyone that wasn't her.

"Do you need accompaniment?"

I didn't need to downplay the tiredness in my movements for her. "No, enjoy the reveling without me. I know how much you like the festivities and all too well of our aristocratic visitor's tendencies to celebrate nothing until dawn."

There was a critical look in her eye before it fell to a degree of understanding. We bid one another an uneventful goodnight with a short hug and I made my way towards the spiraling staircases without a care if there was anyone following.

My rooms were a bit tidier than I had left them. The bed was made with fresh linen and my night dress was spread over the covers neatly. Silently, I thanked myself for having Anju teach me how to lace a front-facing corset and let the drapes of fabric fall around my feet. Not long after, I was between the covers already half-way into sleep.

My mind clung onto the little consciousness I had left and I began to feel as if I were missing something. I tensed, the attempt to fall asleep slightly dashed.

He's not here, I told myself, he's not here and there is nothing I can do in this moment nor the next. The thought swirled like a mantra, but even then the coldness of the pillow beside me left no aid. A silly notion to miss a moment you felt only once in your life.

Step… two-three. Step.. two-three. Step… two-three.

A waltz, or at least a whisper of one, danced through me and into the movements that were both mine and not. My recollection didn't come from seeing but knowing that I was in the throne room. It was much different from tonight, emptied and desolate.

"Do I humor you?"

The man with striking eyes was here, the charm of before now replaced with an intimidating seriousness. I wanted to spit venom at this nightmare and tell him he hadn't broken me after all, but just like last time I wasn't here to do that. His gaze was glowering, heated with all intentions that dream me ignored.

We took a turn about the room. I tilted my head and blinked up at him, "Only in the ways you hate."

The words were backed by the knowledge of who he was. Knowledge I desperately tried to learn as I searched his vague outline.

Who are you? Tell me.

There was little response to my utterance aside from the slight pressure on my waist, which only caused a smile to form on my lips – barely there at all. I was teasing.

The pressure disappeared instantly. "You have met him."

I watched him carefully now, feeling suspicious of his tone.

"We will always meet."

The man's chest heaved in laughter. "Yes," he harked, "Indeed we will, but that was not in the way you and I shall. Never in the manner that he dallies in. We have an… inclination to put aside petty discrepancies, wouldn't you agree?"

Confusion soured me. It was odd to feel like a third wheel in a conversation I was meant to be partaking in. Words bubbled in my chest yet I seemed to decide otherwise. He made a sound.

"Alas, you need not to tell me. Your ways speak clear that the mortal walks in your steps. Worshipping you like the dog you've made him."

"You have come to mock me. Nothing more? As my children starve under your thumb?" I scowled, itching to say more but biting down on my urge. Already, I had said to much.

"Oh, no, my love," he spat, "I have come to sing you sweet songs of our future."

Suddenly, I was taken by scenes from far places. The heat was stifling, so hot I could hardly breath under the blaring sun. There was commotion around me and noise of huffing horses as wagons of supplies were being carried away. A quick glance at myself in my night gown said that no one could see me when they walked passed.

I breathed in the dry air, turning when I heard a particular conversation.

"The transport cases are too heavy for the mules to pull at once."

It came from a large tent, the opening flap fluttering in a breeze that was just as hot as the air around it. This was unmistakably the Gerudo Desert and my chest grew wanton at the thought of who was inside. The business around me toned down and I took my first steps towards the tent.

My breath rattled uneven in my chest as my thoughts were spoken without the shapes of my lips.

"Why are you showing me this?"

Soft dissuasions beat vaguely against my urge to continue on, but my newfound control of my body and piqued curiosity were overwhelming. I pushed back the tent opening to see a dimmer setting. Light filtered through the canvas and persisted enough to void the need for lanterns. A large table sat in the middle of the space, littered with books and loose papers. Unpacked boxes coincided with the miscellaneous items and at the table, bending over to speak, was a man in uniform.

However, I didn't pay much attention to him. The one in the chair held me rapt. I was unable to feel the carpet under my feet as I walked further within the tent, not particularly caring about much else.

"Then let's pull them one by one."

He was seated with his back to me and now I could make out the unmistakable wheat-blond hair. The man, officer, he spoke to sagged slightly in posture. "But, sir, by then-"

"Burn them," my general said chastely, "Unless you plan to leave them as a gift to the our Gerudo friends, we either take our supplies with us or burn it. I have no intention of assisting in even the smallest stick of firewood. Is that clear, Captain?"

The tone he employed was foreign to me. Link sat up, looking at him where I could a glimpse of his side profile. My heart ached in a way I hadn't expected. The man gave a silent sigh.

"Yes sir."

Without another word, the captain stood straight and walked by me without an ounce of awareness. I swallowed, watching Link lean over what he was working on. Warily, I approached him and studied the way his appearance had changed.

How many months has it been already? Four, almost five months since his departure.

More importantly, how was this possible?

His hair was hardly tamed and seemed to had been shorn with a blunt tool – probably a knife. Ruminants from the vast sands clung from his cheeks to his hands, a testament to his time out here. It was obvious that he wasn't happy and studied the pages of a book with heavy eyes that hadn't closed for sleep in far longer than I cared to examine. One of his hands thumbed the next page while the other braced the side of his face as he slumped over the table, a straight seat long abandoned after the captain left.

Link looked far older than he was.

I watched his eyes skim the words and whispered uselessly, "I wish I could help you."

Blue eyes wandered astray in my direction. I thought they would see right through me as all the others but instead…

"Zelda?"

A breath caught in my throat as his expression of distress morphed from shock to disbelief to a certain relief. "Goddess, Zelda… what are you… what are you doing here?"

Link stood to his full height, clad in uniform and every emotion flashing over him.

"This is a dream," I immediately said, staggering back. His confusion followed me.

"What do you mean?"

He began taking steps toward me.

"This is a dream," I repeated, this time more persistent.

It barely occurred to me that we weren't in the tent anymore. We weren't anywhere. Link didn't seem to care. He smiled, reaching towards me.

"I don't understand," he shook his head. "I don't understand, but I don't have to. I missed you, Zelda. More than anything."

Link's eyes held an adoration that I had always yearned for… and yet it was out of place. His hands shook as they closed around my shoulders. "I thought about you every night, Zelda. I crave only you and your light. Your love and pity. I have prayed for a moment like this and here you are!"

"Link-"

"Don't you get it?" his volume raised sharply. "I do this all for you. I slave for you, I plead for you, I kill for you!"

Then a sickening wet sound cut through his speech. He looked down first and I followed to where his gaze stopped.

Red coated his uniform, staining the midnight blue darker around the tear. Protruding from his abdomen was a silver blade tinged in his blood. I think I might have screamed. He looked back up at me with blank eyes and made a choking sound. Link's lips formed a word.

I wasn't in a tent with my dying general. I wasn't anywhere, but I could still see the image of him dying in my arms with overpouring blood running from his stomach. I wanted to scream. I wanted to sob. Only tears ran from my eyes as the man of my nightmares swung me through our dance.

"A reminder of what I've done in the past. A warning of what I'll do in the future."

I had awoken in a sheet of sweat and tears. My throat was scratchy from the sobs of my sleep and I didn't move to begin my day immediately. I spent the early morning hours curled in a ball on my bed without the energy to cry more nor the exhaustion to fall back to slumber.

Anju found me staring into the shadows of my room and decided to fetch my breakfast from the kitchen for me. While she sat with me, stirring a cup of strong tea in her hands, I didn't talk about my dream and allowed her to tell me all the silly rumors the castle maids push around. Gratefulness ebbed at me with every smile she pulled from my lips. I still don't think I deserve her loyalty and friendship.

"Any decent ones about me?"

She took a long sip of her tea, rolling her eyes. "Some ladies of the court fancy a royal wedding. They don't have much care for wars."

I hummed my understanding and took my time spreading strawberry jam on toast. "Predictable. I don't blame them for looking for distraction. I'm sure the bordering lands have heightened concerns with quartering troops."

My maid paused. "Quartering troops?"

I blinked. It was a dream, I thought harshly. It was a dream and nothing more. Why am I scaring her by thinking it was true?

"I meant for the injured," I mended hastily. "Transport isn't so secure until you cross Lake Hylia and some feel more comfortable healing in the towns than traveling all the way here."

"Ah," she nodded, "I suppose they aren't as patriotic as I thought. I get it, though, I would be uncomfortable by the idea too. You know how Kafei and my father feel about taking holiday away from here."

I breathed a breath of relief.

The remainder of the morning went without a hitch. I hadn't received any intel overnight and despite my increased pestering, my inbox lacked anything regarding the war to the southwest. It seemed that my mind had fled any sense of reason regarding the mythos of premonitions. I jumped at any counsel about the conflict or how Admiral Byron's spies should proceed.

I frowned at the sound of another unsuccessful mission. "I want eyes on him."

"We have been monitoring their encampments for months," Byron gestured to the war room's map. "All aspects of their movements are accurate to the square footage."

Half of the admirals, including Whitehurst and Fierlin, had taken leave early this month while the other end of the cabinet returned to Hyrule Castle.

"That's not what I meant," I watched the short man carefully. "General Forester has written that the war prisoners regard him with a reverence of a king. Please recall to me one specification he has recalled for us."

He rustled through his papers before coming upon one and folded his arms over it. "The one true King of the Gerudo, Your Majesty," he exhaled, then looked at me with tired eyes. "He is nothing but a usurper, a traitor, of the aristocracy."

"How am I to react when I have no description of this man? When our men only hear of him as this… fabled legend? I will not accept the prolonging of that," I sighed. "Do you see where my plight is coming from, Admiral Byron? I realize you're without a doubt an accomplished man and leader within my army, however this problem still pesters me."

The man pressed his mouth into a fine line, looking down. "I do. Moving forward I will follow through with this issue and provide you with results. Though I assure you that this Ganondorf is only below you, I will unmask him all the same."

I bent my head towards him with a smile. "You are will met, sir. Thank you."

The meeting in the war room was productive and filled appropriate guidelines to send Link's way. I was pleased to see a familiar face.

"Sir Elian!" I grinned when he approached me after the meeting. "What a pleasant surprise!"

The knight took a short bow with a muddied helmet cradled under the crook of his arm. He must have just arrived in time for the next set of deliverables. I had seen him every now and again lately; his visitations becoming scarce as the war drew on and more precautions were put into place on the road.

"Queen Zelda," Elian acknowledged kindly. "It seems the news hadn't arrived yet. I was recently handed down a promotion."

A conservative smile graced him as he sat on his heels, making the extra stripe on his uniform more pronounced. I clapped my hands together at his bravado.

"My apologies, Captain," I laughed and voiced my congratulations. He deserved it, after all. There weren't many that are up to the task of supervising shipments in this climate. "I must attend to Lady Urbosa in the gardens, however you're more than welcome to accompany me."

"Why, I could never turn you down," he acquiesced.

The path from the war room was winding if one wanted to go to the gardens and I was happy to have a companion. I learned from our conversation that the roads were steadily becoming less fraught with ambush but it did little to calm the nerves of anyone who travelled.

"The Rito are slowly warming up to the idea of aerial surveyance. Especially now that we've proven to uphold our trade agreements," I told him. "Their ambassador and Lady Urbosa butt heads constantly during court. It hardly helps."

Elian chuckled. "I wonder if the threat is the reason why they're barely trying to thwart us."

That made me turn to him with concern. "Do you think they monitor that?"

"If the walls have ears, I wonder how they use our secrets?"

I was about to ask him to elaborate when a strangled noise of a shout cut me off. The gardens were around the corner when we heard it.

"Where is she?" a voice boomed down the hall. "Relinquish me and tell me where she is!"

When I realized that Urbosa was shouting over the demanding voice, I gathered my skirts to avoid falling on my face and ignored Elian's warnings. Once I rounded the corner I saw Lord Ibauna staring down Urbosa's sword. Guards stood around them, unsure of what to do.

"What is the meaning of this?" I said about their shouting match. Ibauna twisted to me with eyes full of malice.

His fists clenched tightly. "It's your fault! My brother is dead and it is your fault!"

Lord Ibauna began towards me with a heavy foot, fury red in his face and step. Elian blocked his path with a heavy pull of his sword from its sheath. Two guards wrangled him to a stop before he made it to us and made him kneel. One of the man looked up with question.

"Lady Urbosa?" I asked, looking between her and Ibauna with growing worry.

"He approached me in the gardens looking for you," she sniffed in his direction, "I wouldn't tell him where you were because I've heard tales of his insolence… then he began insulting your honor, Your Grace."

"Because you are leading a losing war!" Ibauna yelled, struggling against his binds. "We're being slaughtered. Don't pretend, Princess! I have seen the reports and the dead eyes of my family. Give up the aristocracy to Ganondorf!"

I stared, words refusing to surface on my lips.

"Apologies, Your Majesty," a guard said, pulling the lord harshly back to his feet. "We should lead him to the dungeons for his sharp tongue. At your word, of course."

I pulled at my fingers and couldn't look away from his anger. Thankfully, my voice found me. "Who is it you speak of? How do you know that name?"

Lord Ibauna seemed to sober up and watched me with suspicion. "Consider it, Zelda. The very basis of this war is within an area that does not affect us. Send the aristocracy back and let them handle their own mess."

I considered him coldly and nodded at the guards. He struggled against their hold, "I know who you are, girl! You're meant to be a goddess among men yet you lead us towards tyranny and death!"

His screams haunted down the hall and I startled when Urbosa sheathed her sword. She gave me a look of concern.

"I suppose our teatime is cancelled?"

"Yes, I – um – I feel a little faint and I should retire," I said, frowning. My mind worked through his words and felt a feeling I hadn't since I was a girl. An impossible responsibility setting itself on my shoulders. A crown too heavy to bear. I turned to Elian, "I have another message for you if you wouldn't mind."

How did he know that name? The same way Link had learned of it?

Lord Ibauna came from money nearly older than the Crown. His silver spoon kept him from any type of military service that may be passed to an ordinary man. Very much like his family, he sought to gain favor in court circles through ways of blackmail and empty promises; a prime example was his attempted seduction of me at the ball. Everything he did was a double edged sword and when his first plan is rejected, another more devious execution settles into place – that being my subsequent judgement from my father.

The only regret I have now was not wearing more rings on my fingers when I hit him.

My hands were shaking when I reached my quarters. Despite my reassurances that I was fine, both the captain and Urbosa followed me. I asked them to wait outside as I scrambled through my desk drawers for my ink pot and pen.

I was going to write to Link to go through with moving resources back behind our lines. If he didn't want to transition his men there immediately, fine, but I wasn't about to let pride put anyone at risk. He wasn't going to be happy… though there would be a good chance he would understand.

A flash of yellow out of the corner of my eye made me freeze. My desk was cluttered already but the yellow yarn was unmistakable. I forced myself to look at the black button eyes and the mouth the formed a slight frown. My mind tried to process when I had taken it from my drawers. Surely, I hadn't forgotten. In reality, I had gone out of my way not to see it at all and briefly contemplated discarding it. I rose to my feet and swallowed my nerves, almost completely collected when I saw what the doll laid upon.

An envelope, sealed by red wax, was positioned on the side of my desk. It was in a place I knew for certain had been empty this morning.

Tentatively, I skipped the letter opener and ripped an opening with my hands. The doll fell to the floor. My movements were frantic, shaking, as I scanned the words within.

Someone had broken into the castle to place this in my room.

Someone had access to this wing of the grounds and placed this in my room.

Someone had been in my room.

With my introduction having been made, I patiently await yours.

Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo