"This is where you two will stay," the King said. He ushered for the new couple to enter their large bedroom. It was to the east of the castle, in a tower in which hardly no one ever visited. Now that her new room was located here, Zelda would have to get used to traveling further to go to sleep at night.

"It is wonderful. Thank you, your majesty," Philip bowed slightly. He took Zelda's hand carefully in his own. He pulled his wife into their room, leading her to the middle.

Zelda admired the bedroom for its beauty. I could get used to this, probably, Zelda thought to herself with a slight smile.

The King nodded his head. "I'll leave you two to it, then." He shut the door behind him, leaving to return to his study.

The room was eerily quiet. Zelda wanted to call her father's name, to run out to him like a young child, and to cling to his leg. Beg him to take her away from this scary man.

But she couldn't.

"It's lovely, isn't it?" Philip asked aloud, looking at the golden tassels hanging from the large bed. There were curtains surrounding it for privacy, if need be. There was a balcony to the other side of the bedroom, like in Zelda's old room, however, it was much larger.

Zelda imagined herself standing out on the balcony in the morning, listening to the singing birds, feeling a gentle breeze. Her sweet image was interrupted by Philip, walking out onto the balcony with her. When Zelda snapped from her thoughts, she realized she wasn't alone anymore.

Philip's hands wrapped around Zelda's waist. His body was pressed against the young woman's back. "We get to share this, together, love," he said happily. "Isn't it wonderful? You and I, against the world."

Zelda broke free from Philip's grasp. "Just because we're married, doesn't mean I wish to be intimate with you." She backed away from her husband, crossing her arms securely over her chest. "I've requested a separate room for me. I wish to sleep alone at night."

Philip's smile faded from his lips. "Why, Zelda? I would never harm you in any way. You know that."

Zelda shook her head. "I don't know that, actually."

"Please," Philip began, his lips turning to a sad frown, "I want to be able to love you, Zelda. I want to be with you, happy and in love."

Zelda turned toward the balcony. "I don't."

Philip sighed. "Hopefully, you'll change your mind. Maybe after I prove to you how much I love you, you'll love me back."

"You called me crazy, unkept, and undeserving," Zelda shot, turning to Philip. "You said you'd never come back, but look who came crawling on over to my luxurious and fruitful kingdom."

Philip's eyebrows furrowed in anger. "I never called you unkept and undeserving. I mentioned you were a little out of hand, yes, because you were very against the idea of marrying a suitor for your father, who needed to step from the throne."

Zelda pursed her lips. "The audacity...!"

"How many times will it take?" Philip asked, stepping toward his wife. He placed his hands on her arms, looking into her eyes. "I love you, Zelda! I don't care how much you hate me. I'll never stop loving you! That's exactly why I left my kingdom a second time, because I didn't want to give up on you. On us."

Zelda pushed Philip away once again. "There is no 'us.'"

"Are you really going to spend your life in anger and hatred, bound toward me, your husband?" Philip asked, sadness painting his tone. "Let me prove to you how loyal I am, and will be, to you."

Zelda stared at Philip for a moment, thinking to herself. Was she really ready to throw away her life in anger, living in misery for all of the years to come? All because she refused to love a man she was wed to? Did she need to grow up, and finally accept that she would have to move on from her childish ways?

"How?" Zelda asked blatantly.

Philip stepped toward Zelda one last time, hoping she wouldn't back away again. "In any way I can. Name it, and I'll do whatever you say."

"For starters," Zelda smiled playfully, "you can run to my old bedroom and fetch me my cases of clothes and jewelry and things. Not my maids — you."

Philip nodded his head. "Of course, my beloved."

For the first time around Philip, Zelda blushed. She gritted her teeth. "Be on your way then," she said.

Before he left, Philip pecked her on the cheek. "Be back soon," he smiled, waving goodbye. He opened the bedroom door, then shut it as he exited.

Zelda sighed. She plopped herself onto the large bed she would most likely be forced to share. All of the bedrooms in the castle had been used up, and there was no way her father would let her spend time away from Philip. Maybe resting beside someone was something she must get used to.

"Zelda. Psst, Zelda."

Zelda's eyes widened. She looked around her room, searching for the voice she had just heard. "Hello?"

There was a knock on the balcony door. Seeing it was her good friend Revali, swinging his wing against the glass, Zelda ran to her bedroom door, switching her lock, ensuring no one, not even Philip, would be able to enter. She ran over to the balcony, throwing the doors open.

"Hello, my Queen," Revali bowed.

Zelda snickered. "Revali. Just because I'm Queen doesn't mean you aren't one of my friends." She hugged the Rito, holding onto him tightly. "No need for formalities, please. You know this."

Revali sighed with a smile, hugging Zelda backed "You're right. I apologize, Zelda." As the two backed away from each other, Revali flew up into the sky. "I brought a present for you. Think of it as a newlywed gift, from me to you. I'll see you later!" And with those words, he flew off, over the castle and back into the sky.

Zelda watched her friend fly away. "A present?"

"That would be me."

Sitting on the edge of the balcony, was Link.

Zelda gasped, and her eyes immediately began to water. She ran over to her knight, throwing her arms around his body as he hopped from the banister of the balcony. She clutched onto him securely. She couldn't believe he was here, in her arms.

"Link, oh, goddesses, I'm so scared," she hiccuped, crying uncontrollably. "I don't want to be here. I want to leave! I can't do this!"

"Shh," Link calmed the new Queen. "It's okay. Everything is going to be okay. I'm here."

Zelda continued to cry. "He scares me, Link. He scares me so much."

Link gripped the back of Zelda. "I won't let him lay a finger on you, Zelda. I promise."

"Please don't leave," Zelda gasped, trying to breathe evenly once again. "I need you!"

"I have to leave soon," Link replied sadly. "Philip will be back any moment. He'll be suspicious if you take a while to open the locked door." He pulled away slightly, wiping the tears from Zelda's fair cheeks. His golden hair shone in the afternoon sunlight.

Zelda pressed her forehead against Link's. "Promise me you'll be back. Promise me, you'll visit me at night, after Philip is asleep. Promise me, Link. Please."

"I promise," Link said, closing his eyes. "I promise, Zelda. I won't leave you."

A knock emitted from the door. Link pressed his palm against Zelda's mouth, to keep her from gasping.

Link hugged Zelda tightly, one last time. "I'll see you tonight, okay?" He said.

Zelda nodded. "Tonight. Okay."

Link pecked Zelda's right cheek. The other side from which Philip had kissed her. He looked at the door.

Zelda sniffled. "Okay," she whispered. She looked at the door. "Coming, dear! Wait just one moment, I'm indecent!"

Philip called back from the other side of the door, "Alright! Take your time!"

Zelda turned back to Link. "Be careful, okay?"

Link smiled. "I will. Don't worry." He hugged Zelda one last time. "Same goes for you. Stay safe."

Link walked to the edge of the balcony, hoisting himself onto the stone wall. His fingers carefully slipped themselves into the crevices, allowing him to scale downward. He chuckled softly. "Should have asked Revali to stay."

Zelda giggled, wiping the rest of her tears from her face. "Careful," she reminded him again.

Link's head was just below the balcony banister as he nodded.

Zelda quickly pushed herself over. "Wait!" She whispered.

"What is it?" Link asked.

Zelda lowered her head to her knight, softly placing her lips against Link's. She carefully held his head in her hands. Her heart thumped wildly against her chest.

Zelda pulled away. "Sorry. That was a little much, wasn't it?"

Link shook his head, his face as red as a beet, now. "No, it was perfect." He laughed. "Now get going before you get caught! I'll see you soon."

Zelda waved goodbye to her knight. "Right. I'll see you soon, Link."

"Goodbye, Zelda, my sunshine," Link smiled, quickly scaling the wall.

Zelda's heart was aflutter. She watched to make sure Link was safe, before running back inside. She shut the balcony's doors swiftly, running to the door.

"I'm sorry, love," Zelda said with a slight laugh, opening to door, "I couldn't wrap this strap around my back—"

Philip shut the door behind him as soon as he entered. "What's with the sudden change in demeanor?"

Zelda cocked her head slightly. "Huh?"

"You seem much more, I don't know, wife-like," Philip smirked. "Happy to be with me, so suddenly."

Zelda swallowed the bile that wanted to erupt from her body. "Because I realized I needed to get over my childish ways," Zelda laughed. "If it is my duty, I may as well enjoy it."

Philip smiled, wrapping his arms around his wife. He seemed even happier when he noticed she wasn't hesitating or backing away. "I'm glad you think so, love," he said quietly, placing his lips against Zelda's.

Zelda couldn't back away. She refused to show any weakness. So, instead, she pressed back.

When the two broke apart, Philip was almost out of breath. "Wow. You seem happy."

Zelda pulled her husband in for a hug. A way for her to hide the tears that began to slide down her cheeks once again. "Yes. Ever so happy, that I am."

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