"Alright, men!"

Link was at the barracks addressing the few soldiers left. Most of them looked worn out in their grey tunics and plates and they all seem peeved by being called upon by their General.

"We need some guards for tonight's ball." He said to them, "Will any of you accept the job?"

"Forgive, us General, but we're quite tired." A soldier piped up.

"What, you guys have too many sleepless 'knights'?"

The soldiers groaned at their superior's comment.

"Come on, we need some guards for tonight." Link carried on, "And if you do I'll make sure to bring you a treat tomorrow."

"Fine, we'll do it." They said, "Only because we're serving our kingdom, not for the 'treat', obviously..."

"Obviously." The General repeated, "Well, if that's all, I'm expecting you all on duty later on. Good bye."

"What do reckon the treat is?" A soldier asked his peers when Link left.

"I hope it's some booze." Another said hopefully.

"Ha! You really think so!" One laughed, "He's probably going to bring us some of his milk! If he can't drink, he's not going to bring any for us!"

"Shaving probably wasn't the best option for him..."

"He looks about the same age as my son!"

"Oh, give him a rest!" One snapped, "He may be young, but he's the most proficient fighter in all of Hyrule."

******

Finally, the ball had begun. Link had barely managed to get to the ballroom in time to greet the coming guests, who filed into the room adorned in their extravagant clothing.

"Nice, to see you again." He had said to them, "How do you do? Glad you could make it."

Soon enough, everyone was chatting amongst themselves, a glass of various beverages in their hands. Link himself was lost in a conversation with a Prince from another Kingdom.

"My mother said she wants me to marry soon." He said in a rich foreign accent whilst flicking his chestnut hair out away from his face, "But I don't know. there are so many girls dying to be with me, I can't possibly choose."

"Of course..." Link said sarcastically, "That is so relatable..."

"Just between you an me." The Prince continues in his accent, which for some reason got under Link's skin, "I came to this ball to meet the Queen. I've heard that she's is very beautiful. If that's true, I shall marry her. I only deserve the best."

As the Prince took a sip of his drink, Link shot a disgusted look at him.

"I hate to break it to you, but she's really ugly." Link said, "There are prettier girls out there. You do not want to be wasting your time with her."

"I see..."

"And anyway, she's with someone already." The General continued, "A handsome fellow, he is."

Suddenly, a fanfare was played by the trumpeters, and the oak doors were flung open.

"Announcing, Her Majesty, Queen Zelda!"

Zelda glided through the doors and smiled at the guests who stared at her in awe.

"If she's classed as ugly, I want to know what beautiful is." Link heard the Prince whisper.

"General." Zelda said graciously as she approached Link.

"Your Majesty." Link smiled, "Would you care to dance?"

He held out his hand, which she took, and led her into the middle of the ballroom, where the guests were crowded around to see them. The conductor of the musicians nodded to himself, then turned around to the performers, and started waving his baton.

"Oh!" Zelda exclaimed as she placed a hand on his shoulder as he wrapped his hand around her waist, "This song-"

"I had them learn it for you." He explained as they begun to sway to the music.

"I haven't heard it in ages." She sighed as her grip tightened on his shoulder.

"Yeah, that's why I- Oh, never mind..."

He pulled her closer as they danced around the ballroom, staring into each other's eyes as the guests looked on at them. Zelda felt like she was in a dream. This music, it reminded her of so much. Of how her mother would often hum it to her. Everything seemed so perfect. So natural.

"Are you ok?" Link asked as her eyes began to water.

"Yeah I'm- I'm fine, thank you."

He smiled as he twirled her around, then lifted her into the air, much to the guest's enjoyment.

"Meet me outside in five minutes." Link breathed in her ear as the music was coming to an end.

As the guests flooded onto the dance floor, Link disappeared into the crowd.

"Huh?" Zelda mumbled to herself.

She struck up a conversation with a guard by the door, hoping to make those five minutes pass by quickly.

"Has the General been doing a good job?" She asked him.

"He's been great." The guard replied, "Especially at that age, too."

"Hm..."

Zelda decided that it was now time to go find Link.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to get some fresh air." She said to the guard.

He nodded and allowed her to leave. As she walked through the dark and abandoned hallway, Zelda couldn't shake away the feeling of someone following her. When she neared the pillar, she felt someone grab at her and push her against it, covering her mouth with their hand.

"Don't scream!" The person hissed.

As soon as Zelda saw who it was, she relaxed, and gave a sigh of relief.

"Don't do that!" She snapped, "You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Sorry, but you were about to walk straight into a guard." Link said sheepishly.

At that exact moment, a guard walked past them, oblivious to the couple hiding behind the pillar.

"And why do we need to hide from them?!"

"You'll find out, come on."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her along, staying behind the pillars. Link then tugged her into the gardens, and then made a bee-line for the garden walls.

"You wanted to show me a wall?" Zelda asked, bemused, "Its a pretty wall and all, but-"

Link then scaled up the wall, and crouched down at the top, holding out his hand to the Queen.

"What has gotten into you?!" She hissed.

"Just take my hand!" He groaned, "My legs hurt!"

Zelda sighed with annoyance and reached up to grab his hand.

"Alright, hold on." He called out.

As soon as their hands were interlocked, he pulled her over the wall and onto the other side.

"Well?!" She asked impatiently, "What do you want?"

"Hang on!" Link grumbled, as he took her hand again.

Then walked through the foliage and emerged into Castle Town.

"Oh my!" Zelda exclaimed, "What going on here?"

"The Carnival of Time." Link grinned.

"The what?!" She shouted, "Are you telling me that The Carnival of Time has been going on every year whilst we've been stuck in that boring ball?!"

"Uh, yeah."

"That's just-"

Link placed his hand over her mouth and grinned at her mischievously.

"Do you want to experience the festival?" He asked.

Zelda nodded, her mouth still covered by Link's hand.

"Good, then stop complaining."

He let her go and guided her through the bustling crowd into the heart of castle town, where most of the celebrations seemed to take place.

"Hang on, I'll be back." He said hastily before hurrying away.

"Where are you-"

A young boy of about eight years old looked up at Zelda curiously.

"Are you the Queen?" He asked.

"I am." She replied.

The boy grinned at her, which made Zelda smile, too. She then looked over to the dancing which was taking place in the town square.

"Would you like to dance?" She asked.

The boy went bright red, then nodded. Zelda held out her hand and guided him towards the folk dance.

"Could you show me how to dance?" She murmured to the boy.

The boy stared at her, then took her hands as he began to jump around wildly, swinging her arms about.

"Oh my..." Zelda mumbled.

The boy was smiling wildly as he and the Queen spun around on the spot, which made Zelda feel dizzy.

"Hey!"

Link tapped the boy's shoulder and looked at him sternly.

"Are you dancing with my girl?" He asked.

"I got her first." The boy retaliated.

"Uh, no you didn't." Link continued, "I brought her here."

"I taught her how to dance."

"I danced with her earlier."

"So now its my turn."

The two looked as though they were about to punch each other.

"Hey, look over there." Zelda said to the boy as she pointed to a lone girl who was watching the dance, "I think she needs a brilliant dancer like you to show her how to dance. Do you think you could do it for me?"

The boy looked at the girl, then glanced at Zelda, before sprinting over to the girl.

"The nerve of that guy!" Link muttered as he took hold of Zelda's hand and began to sway on the spot.

"An eight year old boy!" Zelda said sceptically.

"Exactly, he's got some serious cheek if he thinks he can compete with me." Link continued.

"You must be really insecure." Zelda murmured, "If you believe an eight year old boy is stealing the love of your life."

"What, he was stealing my food too?!" He exclaimed, "I'm going to-"

It was now Zelda's turn to cover Link's mouth with her hand.

"Just be quiet and enjoy the carnival." She whispered.

He stared into her eyes as they found themselves drawing closer. As their lips touched, Link couldn't help but remember a time where he couldn't even bring himself to look at Zelda, let alone hold her in his arms and press his lips against hers.

"I have something for you." He said.

"Again?!"

"Well..."

He produced two masks, one that seemed to be of a golden lion, and the other a silver colour with golden hair and intricate patterns.

"You can't be celebrating the Carnival of Time without a mask." He said.

Link gave Zelda the second mask as he put on the golden lion one.

"How do I look?" He asked.

Zelda couldn't help but giggle.

"You should see yourself." He chuckled as she put on her mask, "Agh, damnit! I can't kiss you with a mask on."

Zelda smiled as she lifted up her mask, then Link's, as they edged closer, again.

"Get ready for the fireworks!" Someone announced loudly, "They're about to go off!"

Link's eyes darted around the town, then he laid his eyes on a high building, then grinned to himself.

"Come with me."

Zelda was dragged along by the General, yet again, as he hurried towards the high building and climbed up it using the ladder.

"Hurry!" He urged.

Just as they barely sat down, a clock chimed midnight and a flurry of fireworks exploded in the night sky.

"Its midnight already?" Zelda gasped.

"Time flies when you're having fun."

She interlocked her hand with Link's as she rested her head on his shoulder and stared up at the vibrant sky.

"This is so surreal." She sighed.

Link smiled as he stared into her eyes.

"Hey, don't look at me, look at the sky." She giggled.

"There's a better firework display going on in those deep, lush forests..." Link said softly.

Zelda rolled her eyes and directed them up to the fireworks. Link didn't need to look up at the sky; Zelda's eyes reflected them perfectly, and he was perfectly content at gazing straight into them.

Once the fireworks were over, the couple stayed sitting on the roof of the building, neither of them wanted to move. The moment was so blissful, so sweet, so pure.

"Zelda."

"Hm?"

"Should we go back?"

Zelda shook her head and nestled herself into Link's arms.

"I want to stay here forever." She whispered.

"Let's get back, the guests will be wondering where we are." Link said.

When Zelda shook her head again, Link laughed and hauled her up into his arms, much to her delight.

"Hey!"

"lets just go back and dismiss the guests before we go to bed." He said with a smirk, "Then we'll have the whole night to ourselves."

-----------