Forbidden flame: A Zelink story

Chapter 1

"What is an appointed knight anyway?" I asked whilst brushing my hair in the mirror. "Is it basically like a body guard?"

"I suppose one could say that," Said Olivia, my seamstress, who was laying out brand-new dresses on my bed for this week. "But it's more like somebody to protect you."

"That's literally a bodyguard." I rolled my eyes as my hand paused before returning to tending to my hair. "I don't need a bodyguard. I thought I'd told my father that already, but, here we are."

"How can you really know what you need," she began slowly, "If you don't even know what you want?"

I hesitated for a moment. "Okay, whatever that means. Anyway, father is meeting with me about this whole bodyguard thing in about five minutes. I should head downstairs now, so you need to clear off."

"Yes, princess." Olivia glided towards the door and swept out, leaving it to shut swiftly behind her. I went to stand at my window. My balcony was made of the purest stone, ivy crawling along the carved design. Father insisted we chop it all off a couple years ago but I begged him to keep it. It was too gorgeous to get rid of.

The view was of the mountains in the distance, and they were breathtaking. But if one was to actually enter the balcony and look directly down, they would be met with the very last section of the North training facilities. You could only see one little training area, but when I was younger and got bored out of my mind I would watch the knights train and gape at their abilities. Sword-fighting was an art, I had always thought. But unfortunately, not an art fit for a princess.

My father was sat rightfully on his throne, but stepped down from his position as soon as he saw me. "Zelda! There you are, my princess." He hugged me tightly but swiftly let go as he kept his arms behind his back neatly. 

"Father. I would like to talk to you about this appointed knight business. Now I know-"

"Now, now, Zelda, I don't want you to get worked up. I know fair and square that you take a liking to the idea of independence, but trust that this idea is traditional, and always came from a place of love."

"That's not the point, father, it's just-"

"No, my dear, but it is all you need to know." My father cut me off again. "And tomorrow, when we hold the competition, and pick a knight who is right for you, I can guaruntee that you will never have to worry about feeling unsafe again." He began to walk away from me. "Run along, now, dear, I shall see you at dinner."

His footsteps only stirred more anger inside of me. "No, but father, you don't understand." I began to utter, following his lead as I walked beside him. "I don't need a knight. I never have, you and I both know that, and-"

"Zelda, I am getting rather bored of this conversation now. Let it go, will you?"

"But father, that's just the thing! You never listen!"

"I said stop, Zelda."

"Why do you always treat me like a child?!" 

My father stomped his foot and stopped walking. "Enough!"

The room fell silent as he turned back to face me. "If I hear one more word of opposition against my decision, I will have the guards remove you from the throne room. Understand?"

I nodded, against my will.

"Yes, I understand, Father."

"Good. Now run along. You know what time the ceremony is tomorrow, i presume."

"Yes. Half-past eleven."

"Good. This conversation can go to rest until then."