"Goddesses, her eyes! They're opening!" A familiar voice shouted. "Get the doctor! Call her father! Hurry!"

Zelda's vision was blurred. Her weak hands slowly rose to her face, and she began to rub her eyelids, praying the blurriness would disperse. Soon enough, her vision cleared. She gawked at the sight before her, as she came to her senses.

"Where am I?!" She cried. She wasn't in her bedroom, nor was she in the castle. She was in a strange, small room. A white cloak was wrapped around her body. As time passed, the room seemed vaguely familiar. However, at that moment, she had no idea where she was.

Shelves stocked the room, filled to the brim with books. Bottles of what looked to be potions scattered the area. Shards of glass were spread in a small area on the floor, signifying someone had recently shattered a bottle.

"Don't worry, my dear," a voice said softly. "I've taken care of your arm."

"You mean, I took care of her arm," another voice argued.

Zelda craned her head, facing the direction the voices were coming from. Her eyes widened. "Doctor Borville?" She was staring at the short, stubby old man, who was the doctor of Hyrule Castle Town, as well as the doctor for the royal family. Zelda had grown up with him, often visiting his small home to learn about medicine and healing properties of herbs and flowers.

To the left of him, was Mipha, the Zora Champion. She smiled. "I was home, in Zora's Domain, with my father and brother." She turned toward Link. "This one over here was the one that called me to help."

Doctor Borville grunted. "I could have handled it myself."

Mipha closed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm just happy I came when I could."

Zelda looked at Link, who was staring back at her with scared eyes.

"Mipha? Doctor Borville?" Zelda began. "Can I have a moment alone with Link?"

The doctor looked at Mipha, as Mipha did the same. They both nodded, exiting the room Zelda was situated in.

Link began to walk to Zelda, slowly. "You're hurt, and it's all my fault."

Zelda shook her head. "Please don't say that," she said quietly. She watched as Link sat down beside her, on a stool next to the bed she was laying in. He placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I'm so sorry, Zelda. I should have protected you, like I said I would."

Zelda smiled. "It's okay, I promise. You weren't killed, and that's all I care about."

A knock emitted from the door of the room. "May I come in?"

It was Philip's voice.

Zelda's voice shook as she spoke. "Just a moment."

"Okay, dear," Philip called back.

Tears spilled over Zelda's eyes. "What are we going to do?"

Link shook his head, running his thumb over Zelda's cheeks.

"If I tell my father, Philip would be banished, but he would expose..." Zelda trailed off.

"Us," Link finished.

Zelda nodded.

Philip cleared his throat from the other side of the door. "I'm coming in." He opened the door, stepping into the room. He stared at Link. "I would like a word alone with my wife."

Link raised his hand to Zelda's, squeezing it gently. "I'll be back."

Zelda nodded. "I'll see you soon."

It was risky for the two to be talking as such, for Philip was listening to them. At any time, he could expose them both. Zelda, for treason. Link, for treason, as well. Both would be executed.

As Link exited, Philip locked the door behind him. "Zelda. We must talk."

"Then talk." She looked down at the bandage wrapped around her arm. Blood stained the white fabric. She could remember the immense pain she felt as her husband stabbed her. She would never forgive him.

"Don't do this," Philip said, frowning. "You've ruined us, dear."

"I've ruined us?!" Zelda yelled. "You stabbed me!"

"I was aiming for that knight of yours," Philip rolled his eyes. "That wasn't my fault you decided to play hero. You gambled, and you lost. That's on you, dear."

Zelda clenched her teeth together. "Don't call me that!"

Philip stomped his foot like a child. "I will call you what I want, because you're my wife!"

"I hope the Calamity attacks us while you're King!" Zelda screamed, raising her voice as loud as possible. "You deserve to be killed by a monster of your own kind!"

Philip's blood boiled. "Your knight is to be sentenced to death by tonight."

Zelda's movements ceased.

"I am the King! Not your raggedy old father!" he yelled. "I will decide who is committing treason, and who isn't! Your knight is. I will announce his beheading tonight to the entire kingdom. I'll give you this day."

Philip stared at Zelda, before running to the door. He opened it, gently, before looking back at his wife. "Only this day." He was about to shut it behind him, when Link barged through.

Link slammed the door behind him, locking it before Philip could enter. He smirked, taking his time as he walked over to Zelda. "Got the little sucker out! Ha!" He met the queen by her side, taking her left hand into his. "Zelda? Is everything alright?"

"It escalated so quickly," Zelda breathed, unable to form any emotions around her words. "Run away, Link."

Link's eyes widened. "What? No, Zelda. I'm not leaving you."

Zelda's face began to melt. "Leave! I told you to leave!" Blood spilled from her mouth, gushing onto the floor. Link backed away, horrified at the sight before him.

A demon. No, even worse. The Calamity.

Zelda screamed ear-gratingly, and Link winced. Her hands deformed into bones, with long nails growing at the end. Her sockets were hollow, her eyeballs no longer visible. Her body flopped out of bed, onto the floor, making a loud crashing sound. Her skin continued to flow off of her body like some kind of liquid.

"Zelda?!" Link screamed. "What the—"

Zelda lunged for Link on all fours, crying out as she threw him to the ground.

Link woke up in a cold sweat, heart slamming against his chest. He shot upwards, gripping his bare chest with his clammy palm. He blinked his eyes, looking around the room he resided in, grounding himself by searching for any familiar surroundings.

He was in the barracks at the outskirts of Castle Town, his post for the night.

Thankfully, other knights were willing to take Link's position for the night.

He looked over at books sprawled out across the floor, signs that someone had been researching monsters of some kind in order to prepare for battle. Link raised from his bed, hoisting himself to his feet, and began to walk to the books that intrigued him. One cover, a deep olive, had scratch marks on the cover, which only made Link more interested in it. He began flipping through the pages, wondering what was lying inside.

Monsters were depicted all over the pages, filling the entire book. Link shuddered, shutting the book forcefully with his palms, and he tossed it to the ground.

He was grateful for his friends to take his place. Tonight was the night he would visit Zelda, the night he would fully, willingly profess his love for her. The love that welled up inside his chest like a dark cloud that became heavy from the rain it kept within. He had only seen the newly crowned Queen a few times, but he had already felt a divine connection to her. He couldn't rid her from his mind.

And yet, at that very moment, that was all he wanted to do.

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