"I can't go through with this anymore," Zelda murmured. Urbosa stared at her with wide eyes.

"It is the Royal Law," Urbosa said gently, trying to ease the princess' mind. "You must find a suitor to marry, little bird."

Zelda paused, trying to search for words to say. Her lips were parched and her throat became hoarse. Her eyes welled up with tears. "I wish I wasn't born to inherit the throne! I wish I wasn't going to be forced into marriage!"

Urbosa sighed. "You are turning eighteen soon, Zelda. You mustn't act like a child."

"Why can't I join the Gerudo?" Zelda pondered. "I wouldn't have to marry then, right?"

Urbosa scoffed with a smirk. "Little bird, you want to marry eventually. We Gerudo tend to never marry. Period. I know you." Her lips softened to a smile. "You want to find happiness, some day."

Zelda groaned. "But why does that day have to be so soon?"

"You never know who your father may bring in," Urbosa wisely stated. "Please, just give the King some time to find a suitor perfect for you."

"There aren't princes perfect enough for me," Zelda rolled her eyes. "I don't want a prince. I want someone who actually loves me, not my heir."

Urbosa smiled. "You'll find that person soon enough, I'm sure of it."

Zelda ignored Urbosa's words. She would never understand the stress her father puts her under, trying to decide on a suitor to marry as soon as possible. Zelda slowly moved to her windowsill that overlooked the shooting range and training area for the knights of Hyrule. Even in the hours of dusk, the knights practiced, trained, and prepared themselves for battle, even until dawn. Most hardly slept. Many only sleep one or two hours each day. Such is the life of a hardworking knight, though.

One knight, however, caught Zelda's gaze. He stared up at her, and his bright blue eyes could be seen even from far away. Unlike the other trainees, this knight was not wearing the special garb one should wear while training. This one was wearing, what seemed to be, normal, everyday clothes. He clutched his sword in his left hand.

It was as if he couldn't look away.

And neither could Zelda. Something was different about him. His stance. His attire. Those glistening, ocean blue eyes.

Suddenly, the squad leader threw his hand down on the strange knight's shoulder. The young knight flinched, quickly turning around, breaking his gaze from Zelda. She watched as the knight was pushed toward a small group of trainees. The knight seemed to protest, yet the leader ignored his pleas.

"The trainees are going through cuts," Urbosa said from over Zelda's shoulder. "Those that are too weak will be sent back to Castle Town. Those that pass will be accepted as Hylian knights, tomorrow."

"Oh, I forgot!" Zelda gasped. "The ceremony is tomorrow!"

Urbosa slowly placed her palm of her right hand against her forehead. "You should know these things by now, Zelda."

Zelda sighed. "I'm sorry, Lady Urbosa. I must've forgotten."

Zelda couldn't wait another moment as she spun her head back to the knights' grounds. The knight Zelda was looking at earlier was now facing off against the squad leader.

"Why are the trainees being put up against someone as strong as the leader?" Zelda asked curiously. She rested her head in her hands as she placed her elbows on her windowsill.

"The knights that are weak will not stand a chance against the leader," Urbosa noted. "Come on, Zelda. Your father taught you this."

"I know, I know..." Zelda watched again, looking for her knight.

The young knight jumped and dodged the leader's many attacks. Skillfully, he maneuvered around the leader, finding ways to knock him down and take him off of his guard. Soon enough, the squad leader was on the ground, practically begging the knight for mercy.

"Woah," Urbosa stared in awe. "That kid sure is a good swordsman. He seems nimble."

"And strong," Zelda added.

Urbosa tolled her eyes. "I think it's time for you to head to bed, your highness."

"I think it's time for you to go home to your people," Zelda remarked, waving Urbosa off. "Goodnight, Lady Urbosa. Thank you for all of your help today."

Urbosa smiled. "Don't be up too late swooning over that boy, little bird."

Zelda's face grew red in the moonlight. "Lady Urbosa, why I—"

"Goodnight," Urbosa smirked, shutting Zelda's bedroom door.

Zelda calmed her nerves. She looked back down at the trainees fighting their way to have a spot as a Hylian knight.

The knight with the blue eyes was already looking up at Zelda with a smile. Zelda could feel her face growing warmer and warmer, until she forced herself to wave. The knight waved back, his smile seemingly growing twice as large as before.

Zelda laid one arm down on the windowsill, while she leaned the right side of her head into her other palm. The small smile she had plastered on her face would not leave. The knight continued to stare, until one of his friends slung his arm around his shoulder. The knight's smile faded, as he quickly turned to signal goodbye to Zelda.

Zelda waved once more, gently swinging her hand from side to side. The knight's smile returned, and he walked off with two of his friends, disappearing under the trainees' quarters.

Zelda couldn't shake the knight from her mind. His blue eyes were glued to the inside of her head. She sighed, walking over to her bed. Zelda jumped onto her mattress, pulling herself under the covers and burying her head into her pillow. Even as her eyes closed, she could still feel that knight's gaze. Her heart throbbed in her chest. Despite the feeling of happiness welling within her, a hint of sadness appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

I'll probably never see that knight again. I mean, what would the chances be? Zelda thought, keeping her eyes closed. Although many thoughts continued to swarm through her head, she could not forget about the knight she had made eye contact with. She silently hoped she would see him at the knight's induction ceremony tomorrow.

And with the thought of meeting the knight face to face, welcoming its way into Zelda's imagination, a smile crept upon Zelda's lips as she drifted off to sleep.

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