"We'll figure it out, Zelda. I promise you'll be okay."

Zelda nodded her head solemnly. She listened to the herd of footsteps echoing down the hall. She could already tell it was Daruk, Mipha, and Urbosa. Revali was most likely flying down the hall in front of the three. Link slipped his hands under Zelda's forearms, holding her up. The two waited beside each other, for the rest of her friends to catch up. The princess couldn't help but flash a sad smile as they appeared from around the bend of the hallway.

"You guys," Zelda began.

"You can't just run away from us!" Daruk bellowed, rolling down the hallway in his balled-up rock form. He jumped up, unraveling himself. He landed on his feet, rattling Zelda and her friends.

Urbosa swiftly chased after the flying Revali, who was just behind Daruk. Mipha was gliding down the handrail that was attached to the wall. She held her long Lightscale Trident in her hands.

"Ugh, Link," Revali grunted vocally for all to hear.

"Nice to see you, bird brain," Link scoffed. He rolled his eyes, and Zelda watched as both of them comically turned away from one another, folding their arms and wings across their chest like young children fighting.

Daruk sighed. "Revali, come on. Now is not the time."

Zelda tried to console Link as well. "Please, Link? Please get along." She tapped his shoulder, waiting for him to open his eyes. "For me?"

Link lowered his stuck-up chin, looking down at Zelda. "Fine. But I still don't like him."

Urbosa exhaled for a while, showing her annoyance. "Alright, alright. We have to think of a plan to save Zelda. Everyone put their heads together."

Zelda ushered for her friends to follow her. "Come on, you all. We need to go somewhere private, like my study."

The gang of five followed behind their princess, all walking in a group. They blocked the hallway, causing maids and butlers to press their bodies against the railings to steer clear. As they all entered Zelda's private study, the princess shut the door gently, ensuring no one had heard them. Although, it was pretty pointless, considering her friends had made fools of themselves for blocking up the entire castle hallway.

"Please, help me," Zelda cried, tearing up. She wiped her eyes as quick as they had appeared. "I can't marry Philip. He isn't the person for me."

Link stared at Zelda with a sad look in his eye.

"I'm telling you," Mipha said quietly, "we should hide you, Zelda. Send you off to live with us, the Zoras!"

"Or high in the sky with the Rito," Revali grinned.

"Or in the comfy heat of Death Moutain!" Daruk smiled toothily.

Everyone stared at Daruk for a moment, before he shrug his shoulders.

"Right. She'd burn up. I forgot."

Urbosa shook her head. "Anyway, what about Gerudo Town? You're a vai. You'd fit in just fine."

Zelda nodded her head. "I could run away and hide for a while, and refuse to return until my father allows me to do what I desire."

Link took Zelda's right hand in his left. "Hey, wait a minute. You could be getting your friends in trouble if you do that."

Zelda nodded her head slowly. "Yeah... You're right." She looked over at the four Champions, her close friends. "I can't risk it."

"But we can!" Mipha argued, walking toward Zelda. "What if we were the ones to decide? You can escape from Philip and your father until they give you the right to choose your own husband."

"I'll need a bit more time to think..." Zelda pondered, delving into deep thought.

Her thoughts were quickly interrupted, however, just like her friends did moments earlier.

"Zelda! Zelda, I know you're in there!" Bellowed the King from the other side of the door.

"What do we do?!" Mipha whisper-shouted in fear.

"Zelda, you're out of time," Link nodded his head, grabbing the princess by her wrist. He charged at the window toward the other side of her study.

Urbosa ran after the two. "Where are you taking her?"

Before the two could jump out of the window, the King burst through the door. He gasped at the sight, furrowing his brows as he rushed over to his daughter. His face was a deep shade of carmine. He almost growled. "I am very disappointed in all of you," the King grumbled angrily. "And to think, you were my daughter's protectors, while yet, you're trying to aid her in escaping her fate. That is treason, you know!"

"It's my fault, father!" Zelda cried, running to the King. "They had nothing to do with this."

The King nodded his head. "And you're sure they didn't influence you to run away?"

Zelda closed her eyes, holding back tears. "Yes."

"I'm assuming you've heard."

"Yes, I have."

There was a long, eerie pause in the study.

"You are to be wed to Philip by sunset tomorrow."

The four champions, as well as Link, stiffened.

Zelda's eyes stayed shut.

As if the King was waiting for Zelda to resist, to fight back, to argue; he stood still, patiently.

Zelda's mouth did not open, nor did her eyes. She couldn't face her father. She couldn't face the problem surfacing.

So instead, she began to visualize her new life, ruling with Prince Philip beside her, for that was her fate, now.

A fate she would have to live out.

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