Cursed Fate

Chapter one

They walked down the hallway with each other. Laughing and snickering when passing people. Link would mock the other guards as the walked by with their perfect posture and silly walking style. It would make Zelda laugh and that was always wonderful for Link to hear. He was her personal bodyguard. Link didn't complain about that one bit. Unless he had to attend meetings.

"I hate these meetings, I find them useless and it's always the same thing."

"But they are important, Link." Zelda looked at him, tall with strong features. His dirty blonde hair that never sat still across his forehead.

"But it's the same thing! You guys talk about taxes, the well being of the people, it goes on for hours! It's a little tiring just standing there in perfect formation while I watch you rest your head in your hands. You hardly get a say in any of the shit they talk about!" Zelda hit his arm.

"Sorry..."

"Honestly, Link. You have to watch your mouth." Her voice was quiet and soft. Her hair usually fell gracefully along her back. The small blonde curls that she didn't have to put effort into doing. But even with her hair up in a tight bun and her nicely done up bangs across her forehead, she was beautiful.

"Most of it is important." Zelda turned her head to him and he quickly looked back forward.

"You're still stuck in the past, aren't you?" Link sighed at her remark.

"I'm not trying to be, Princess. But you can't deny that life was easier when we were kids."

"I agree, it was easier. Unfortunately my father passed just recently, now things have to be more serious." As kids they would run around the town, free to do as they pleased. Link's father was a knight for the king. Died in battle. As for his mother, she died of an illness. Zelda's mother had passed after birth. Her father of old age. Some would say he died of a broken heart but suffered for a long time. It was difficult to separate the two. They only had each other for the longest time. Once Link was of age he joined the castle and became a knight. Soon after that he was assigned to Zelda. He wouldn't have accepted anything else. When the two were together, which was almost always, everyone could feel the atmosphere lift. The room brightened when they walked into a room. They barely fought and yet, they could never be more than friends. They started to approach the meeting room where the council waited for Zelda. They both stopped and took a breath before entering the large room. Then in they went. Zelda sat at the head chair while Link stood with his fellow guards and the doors were closed, they were now in the meeting.

"Welcome Princess!" Zelda nodded to acknowledge the man across from her. Otherwise known as Thane. He was second in command, next to Zelda. Then all six of them sat and the meeting commenced. As Link said before, they talked about taxes and the well being of the people and so on. Then something caught Link and Zelda's attention.

"Princess, you are to turn nineteen soon."

"Yes. That's right." Thane seemed a bit on edge as he fixed some papers.

"What is wrong with that?"

"You are to be crowned Queen soon. In order for that title to happen you must marry a prince." Zelda just froze as Link coughed. He was mid yawn and was taken by surprise.

"The meeting is over. We are done here. Thank you all for coming." Zelda's voice was very flat in expression.

"You can't avoid th-"

"I said we are done!" Zelda stood up from her chair and walked out, Link quickly followed behind.

Zelda made it to her private garden. She didn't have to be a princess here. Her elbows pressed into her legs gently as she bent over and put her head in her hands. Marriage. To a total stranger! Zelda could hear footsteps on the stone leading to her. She knew it was Link, no one else knew about this place. Once he sat down he gave a sigh.

"So... That wasn't as boring as I thought." Link looked to her waiting for her to do something. She only lifted her head and looked ahead.

"Yeah..."

"What part of this bothers you the most, Zelda?" She breathed out slowly.

"Well, marriage. Let's see... A stranger just coming into my life thinking that he can run the place."

"Why don't we get married?" Zelda whipped her head up and looked at him in shock. Link laughed and shook his head.

"I'm kidding. It's against the rules anyway." Zelda tilted her head.

"Link?" It seemed like he came back to reality after she said his name.

"Yes?"

"O-Oh, uh... Nothing." They both looked forward.

"Well, you seemed to have dodged that back there." Zelda only nodded.

"But now what will you do, Zelda?"

"I don't know, Link!" Zelda took a breath,

"I really don't know." Her head returned to her hands. Link lightly sighed. Pressure was getting to Zelda, she was stressing about this. After tears started to come from her eyes the only evidence to know she was crying was when she sniffed. Suddenly arms were around her and her face was pressed against something. Link was holding her. His strong arms had wrapped around her so fast.

"I'm still here..." His voice was a whisper. That's when the tears wouldn't stop and she grabbed onto his tunic. They sat together in an embrace. Once Zelda had started to calm down she realized who was holding her. Her face grew hot. As kids they had never done such things. They never hugged. Every time Zelda would try, Link would run away. She thought it was funny and would chase after him. It was a game for them. But this time he was holding her. Link didn't want to let go of her. It was a new feeling for him entirely. He didn't know what to call it.

"I'm okay now, Link." His grip tightened around her small frame slightly.

"I know, I'm just making sure..." His voice was still soft. Why did she feel this way? Zelda waited for him to pull away first, she didn't want to push him away.

'He smells like grass...' Her thoughts wondered. Then he backed away.

"Sorry..." Link looked forward once more as Zelda stared at him a little longer.

"Come on, we should get back, it'll be dark soon." When he went to look back at her she quickly looked away with a nod.

"Yeah, you're right." They both stood and Link took her to her room where she would stay until morning.

"Goodnight." Zelda smiles at Link as she spoke quietly. Link grinned at her with a nod. That night, as Zelda laid there in her silk sheets, her thoughts were flooded with Link. As he sat on the edge of his little bed, Link's thoughts were flooded about her marriage.