Zelda was unable to sleep that night.

Her bedroom door was locked shut. Anyone that needed her would have to speak to her through the thick oak. She ignored any calls to come outside. Even Philip stopped by to talk.

"Listen, Zelda," he began quietly. "I don't want you to hate me."

"I do."

She might as well start practicing those two words.

"Come on," Philip tried, "I seriously just want to be on good terms, especially for the wedding tomorrow."

"Go away."

Zelda listened to the quiet footsteps that left her door momentarily. She sat on her bed with her arms securely wrapped around her knees. Her head was buried in her chest. She hoped she would just be able to stay in her secure position for the rest of her life.

And to think, starting tomorrow, she would no longer be owning her own, private bed.

The thought made Zelda shudder. She prayed Philip would let them compromise to sharing separate beds. It's not like she actually loved him. She was doing this for her kingdom. Her duty.

A mannequin stood silently and eerily still on the other side of her room. Draped upon it was a beautiful, silky white wedding dress, fit with a veil that swayed along in a cool breeze, due to the calm draft of wind entering from Zelda's open balcony door.

Her heart ached as she stared at the beautiful dress. Ever since she was a child, she dreamed of her wedding. Filled to the brim with happiness, flowers, cake, and love. Especially love. Although love was the prime component of a wedding, she knew she wasn't receiving it tomorrow. Instead, she was taking on the burdens of anxiety, misery, and vexation. She wanted to tear the wonderful dress to shreds.

She knew she would get in trouble for that, though, so Zelda decided against it.

There was a knock on her door.

"Who is it," Zelda groaned quietly in a bland statement, refusing to sound concerned or interested in anything anyone had to say.

"Link."

Zelda almost sprang from her bed. Perhaps she was a little bit interested this time.

She ran to her door, placing her right hand against the smooth wood. She held back more tears. Tears that never seemed to stop flowing from the crevices of her eyes. "What do you need?"

"You, Zelda," Link answered in a hushed tone. There was sadness in his voice. "Please don't shut me out."

Zelda's frail hand clenched into a fist. If she let Link in, she would be risking everything. Her marriage soon to come the next day, her duties as a princess...

No, as a queen.

"Open the door, Zelda," Link almost begged. "I haven't seen you since this morning. Please."

Zelda's hand grazed the surface of her door, slowly trailing its way down to the doorknob. Her palm shook gently. The doorknob almost began to rattle within her grasp. With her left fingers, she carefully turned the lock on her door.

As soon as her door swung open, Link shut it behind them, encasing Zelda in a hug.

Zelda almost gasped. It was so sudden. And it was all she needed.

Her arms wrapped around Link's waist. Link's hands delicately ran up and down Zelda's back, comforting her as well as he could without the use of words. He hushed her as she began to sniffle. He buried his head in her shoulder. His breathing was uneven.

"I'm okay," Zelda stifled. "I'm okay."

Link shook his head, raising himself away from Zelda. "It's okay to not be okay." He smiled softly. "You're going to get out of this, I promise you."

Zelda frowned. "As much as I want to, Link, I can't." She stepped away from her friend. "It's my duty as the new Queen. I must." She silently glided back to her bed, sitting on the edge.

Link walked up beside her. "This isn't what you want."

"I know," Zelda sighed.

"This isn't what I want, either."

"I know."

Link paused for a moment. "I've fallen for you, Zelda."

Zelda paused for a moment, too.

"I know."

The two sat in silence for a minute, both of them holding back tears.

"As much as I want to get out of this," Zelda broke the thick air around them, "I can't. Maybe some day I'll figure something out, but for now... I have to deal with this. It's my fate."

"Zelda, please," Link said, sitting beside her on the bed. "I..."

"I know," Zelda whispered. "We've only known each other for a few days, though, Link."

"You've only known Philip that long, too, but you're content with marrying him?" Link shot back, gently, staying calm and watching the tone of his voice.

"I have to," she responded, feeling the back of her throat become hoarse. She shrugged her shoulders sadly. "There's no way out of this."

It was strange, Zelda had thought to herself, how quickly she had developed feelings for Link. It was as if they had an instant connection. A spark. Although they had only known each other for a short period of time, they had grown close rapidly. Zelda trusted Link with almost anything. And now she was getting married to the man she despised the most. There was nothing she could do about it.

Zelda took Link's hands, standing up. She walked him to her bedroom door. "I'm sorry." She pushed Link out of her room. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Zelda!" Link tried to stop the princess from pushing him out again. "Please, don't do this!"

Closing her door, Zelda slid her hand to the lock, swiftly turning the knob so Link could no longer enter. If she had locked it any slower, she knew she would have opened the door again, begging to be held in Link's arms again.

She knew this was the way to go. What she had to do. She couldn't keep this up with Link any longer.

Zelda had a duty to uphold.

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