I Love You, Always Forever; A Medieval Zelink Story AU

The New Assignment (11)

Hey peeps! 

Not too much to say here except enjoy! Unfortunately this chapter is also pretty short, but most of the next chapters should be longer!

Thank you for your support and faith in me. More chapters are coming soon.

780 words in this chapter excluding the author's notes, and I own the non-Nintendo characters and the plot. 

Please enjoy!

-West

When Link spotted Zelda down the hall he saw her give him a friendly smile.

Link nervously pulled his glove on tighter as he swallowed. Is this something formal or casual?

Her smile widened as he neared. "Sir Link, I have some good news."

"Yes your highness?"

"My Father has assigned you to be my appointed knight."

It took all of Link's mental capacity not to grab his head in frustration as he tried to hide his confusion. How could the king known about him specifically? Out of all of the knights in Hyrule, why was he the one chosen for this?

If this assignment had waited one more day, I would be out of Hyrule and searching for my siblings. Though he liked spending time with Zelda, his family was always on his mind. He could not be completely at peace until he knew he had done his part to save them.

Zelda didn't seem to sense Link's frustration. "Isn't it wonderful? I've wanted to spend more time with you, and I'm sure there many things we can find to talk about."

Link looked up at the Princess, "I cannot accept this task your highness."

Zelda froze and stared at Link. She looked completely shocked, not to mention confused. "Excuse me Sir Link?"

Link looked at the ground, "there is something I must do. And I must leave Hyrule. I cannot stay here."

"But your King has assigned you," Zelda said as her eyes narrowed warningly. "You would follow him to certain death wouldn't you?"

Link didn't answer.

"That is the vow you took when you became a knight! You will truly turn your back on Hyrule?"

Link hesitated and then asked, "which is more important to you? Your family or your kingdom?"

Zelda was taken back by the question, possibly because he had avoided her question and instead asked a question of his own.

She hesitated to answer. "My kingdom," she finally said.

Link shook his head and sighed, "you misunderstand what is most important your highness."

"How can you speak to me like that?" Zelda asked, cheeks flushed. "What is the meaning of all of this? Why must you leave Hyrule?

"I cannot say," Link responded as he continued to stare at the floor.

"Are you planning treason?" She accused with a raised voice.

"Of course not!" Link looked back up at her with a determined look. "I would never commit the crime of treason. These are purely personal matters."

"Hyrule has always asked that we put the kingdom before our own personal needs," Zelda explained. "If we all pursued our personal interests, we would not be united."

"You mean to say to me that this assignment has nothing to do with your personal interests?"

"My father is worried about my safety. He wants someone to protect me from potential harm."

Link sighed, he was stuck. This assignment had decided his fate, and possibly the fate of his siblings as well.

"Forgive me your highness," Link said as he finally humbled himself. "I suppose I will have to cancel my plans. I accept the new position assigned to me."

"You've got quite an attitude," Zelda said stiffly, "I was going to ask you to escort me around the castle, but you may not be capable of that."

Link stared at the ground, not caring what she said.

"Please meet me at my quarters tomorrow morning with a desire to serve the throne." She walked in the other direction, away from Link.

_^_

Zelda closed the big doors as she entered her quarters and sat on the end of her bed.  Then she sighed and laid back on her bed. 

He is so very mysterious,  she decided internally. For some reason that makes him so...intriguing. What is he hiding? 

He had her convinced that he wasn't up to something that would harm Hyrule, but not knowing what these personal needs of his were still made her uneasy. Why wasn't he willing to discuss it with her? 

Zelda chuckled to herself, and why am I so desperate to pull his secrets out of him? 

Someone knocked on Zelda's door and she heard one of the suitors speak. "Your highness Princess Zelda? This is Prince Nib, and I was wondering if you were available for a stroll around the castle gardens? I was thinking we could spend some more time together."

Zelda sighed and got up from her bed slowly. She considered ignoring him, but he hadn't asked if she was in her quarters or not, but had asked if she would accompany him. Her father must have told him of her whereabouts, which meant she was not in a position to refuse. 

She reluctantly opened the doors and faked a smile at the shorter-than-average prince. "Very well."