A/N: My first fanfiction story! Please review and let me know your personal opinions on this, thanks!
Zelda
I gazed, leaning my elbow against the balcony and my hand to support my head; just gazing straight ahead without seeing...
I'd grown tired of the same routine everyday; my life as a princess was certainly the dullest.
Watching people go about their daily business around the market looked far more appealing than staying in a castle for your entire life.
I'd never left the castle grounds, not even into town, and to be honest I don't even know why anymore; my father just told me that I couldn't leave the protection of the castle because of something that happened a long time ago... And he wouldn't tell me what.
If there's one thing I need it is to get out of this place before I lose my head! And trust me I would've lost it a very long time ago if it weren't for the one person that actually brought some form of enjoyment to my life: My best friend, Link.
His father is captain of the royal kinghts and me and Link had always been friends since childhood, and now i'm 16 and he's 17. Though he's obviously allowed out of the castle, and most of the time when he returned, he brought a present for me from the market, which did help me feel better.
There was a knock on my door, distracting me from my reverie.
"Come in." I called, turning around to face the direction of sound.
Impa walked through my door, "Zelda, your father would like to see you." She smiled.
I sighed, "Thank you for the information Impa" I smiled back, "Could you lead the way?"
"Of course, follow me."
She turned to leave with me following after her. Impa has always been like a mother to me. She's always been the first person I would turn to if I needed help or advice.
She'd been the one that raised me, as my father never had time to rule the land and raise a child since my mother died...
She even watched over Link when his father was busy with duties since Link had no mother either.
We reached the door to my father's private study, but as Impa was about to knock, the door swung open. She stepped back as Link's father exited the room. He smiled at us briefly and held the door open for us to enter.
"Thank you Captain." Impa saluted him before entering with me close behind. "You're most welcome." He smiled before turning to leave down the hallway.
My father sat at his desk, reading sheets of paper.
"Your majesty." Impa bowed.
He glanced up and raised to his feet, "Ah, there you are Zelda. Thank you for bringing her Impa, most appreciated."
"I'm glad to be of assistance sir, i'll leave her with you and continue with my duties." She replied, and left, gently closing the door behind her.
Father walked over to me, "Zelda, I need a word with you, please follow me so we can talk."
Sounded serious... "What's this about?" I asked as politely as I could.
"I'll tell you on the way."
I nodded and we exited his study, walking beside each other through the endless halls.
"As you know Zelda, you are coming of a certain age..."
Here we go! I sighed. Just what I needed: Another lecture on how to be the perfect queen...
"Father, you tell me all the time. I already know what to do to rule the kingdom."
"Ah but "knowing" and "understanding" are two entirely different perceptions. Besides that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh? So what do you want to lecture me about?" I asked, tilting my head to the side in puzzlement.
"Well... Every kingdom requires both a king and a queen, and, this also provides us with unity between two kingdoms..." My father was blushing like a baboons bottom.
He was showing obvious struggle to choose the right words.
"You can't be serious." I didn't believe him for a second. There was no way I was marrying strangers; united kingdoms or not!
"Well, i've already chosen you a suiter-"
"YOU WHAT!"
"Don't argue, I chose with great care. He's a very kind man and you would do well to show him some form of respect, Zelda."
"NO! I REFUSE!" I can't stand this anymore! I hate the life of a princess! What I would give to be an ordinary citizen, at least for a day...
I froze against the ground.
"Come now Zelda."
"I don't have to be married for another two years, father." I said anxiously.
"I'm not expecting you to marry him this second. That's the whole point; If you can get to know him first then two years later, you can be wed. And if you do not like this man then I shall find you another. Fair deal?"
"You know I resent the thought of marriage." I groaned.
"You never know, you might change your mind eventually."
I'll be lying on my death bed before I change my mind about that!
I sighed in defeat, "Fine, i'll try. But don't expect me to be swayed so easily."
"I didn't expect anything less."
We continued to walk; Leading up to the door that entered to the throne room.
Father opened the door, and we walked out untill he stopped in front of the throne, with me at his side, to gaze upon the guards that stood in line behind the main suspect.
The boy that I presume to be my suiter, looked about the same age as Link. He politely bowed his head toward my father and straightened up proudly afterwards; glancing towards me.
"Prince Marth Lowell of Altea, it gives me great pleasure to announce that you will be staying with us, and I trust you will treat my daughter well, with high respect as you get to know her."
"I thank you your majesty. I promise to treat her with great care." He spoke whilst looking straight at me.
They speak as if i'm a pathetic prize to be claimed. A trial, resulting in either success or failure! And to make matters worse, they had been planning this behind my back!
"Princess Zelda? Would you like to walk with me?" The prince Marth asked.
I tried to hide my expression of annoyance as I walked over to him. Once I reached him, he smiled with delight. I gave the pathetic attempt to smile back, which faded after five seconds.
I turned back to see my father beaming at me, before turning to a knight that had approached him.
"You may resign your duty, I am under no threat." The prince admonished to his surrounding guards. Under no threat? Don't be so sure!
We walked out of the castle, and strode through the courtyard side by side.
Marth turned to me in confusion, "What's wrong Zelda? ...Is it, because of this arranged marriage?"
Had it been so evident on my face? Well there's a fail at trying to hide my emotions...
"You could say that." I replied simply.
"No really. I don't want you to feel unhappy because of me. All you have to do is say and i'll leave."
I stopped, he walked a few more steps before realizing and stopped to face me.
"It's not your fault, it's just that I hate the idea of marriage and to be honest I hate surprises, especially this sort of surprise..."
He laughed briefly, "Sorry to be a pain. I'd never liked the idea of marriage either, I wanted to explore the world, see what's out there... but I guess that's virtually impossible being a prince... Do you ever feel like you're trapped, searching for a way out but everywhere you look there's just walls without doors...?
I looked at him, studying his face in depth, I never really saw him untill now, all I could see a moment ago was hate clouding my vision. But he's actually not as bad as I thought; he understands how I feel...
"My life is exactly like that; everywhere I turn there's just duties and lecturing. And i've never left the castle at all."
"Why not?"
"I don't know, but my father thinks it's safer for me because there's something out there that happened in the past, that has something to do with me. Course I think he's lost it completely; It's ridiculous!"
"That's the strangest thing i've ever heard." He mused. "I meant symbolically, not literally!" He laughed.
I couldn't help laughing too. But it didn't last long...
A/N: I would like to hear what you think: Who would you choose out of Link or Marth, for Zelda's love and why? =D