Zelda said nothing as she carefully slipped her hand into Philip's. She refused to make eye contact with him. She stormed out of the throne room, with him tripping behind her.

"My love," Philip chuckled nervously, "what's gotten into you? What's the matter?"

Zelda shook her head, keeping her temper calm. Her mind swirled around all of the imaginations she began to piece together. One where she yells at Philip, and kicks him out of the castle. One where she successfully runs away from Philip, forever. Another, where her father throws him into Hyrule Castle's dungeon. They all made her lips flip into a smirk.

"I think the Calamity has taken control of you," Philip joked, nervousness still painting his tone.

Finally, once she reached their room, Zelda turned to Philip, laying her blue eyes upon his. "So, for this trip you planned—"

Philip laughed, halting Zelda's speech. "I already have my two trusted knights ready to take you along for the trip. I have contacted the rulers of the many domains you will be traveling to, letting them know you will be coming and going."

Zelda puffed her chest, trying to intimidate Philip. "Alright, well I think it would be best if I—"

"These two knights are from my kingdom, and they have come from Aeryll to protect you along the way," Philip interrupted again, sounding all too prideful about his knights.

"My father believes it will be best if I take one of my knights along, because—" Zelda began, feeling defeated.

"No need, my knights are highly skilled and—"

"I am taking Link with me!" Zelda yelled, stomping her foot with clenched fists.

The air was cold, and an eerie silence filled the room. Zelda breathed heavily, tired and annoyed from each time she was interrupted by her husband. Philip stood still, unable to move his eyes from his wife.

Philip's mouth opened, as if ready to argue. Then, his head fell low, and Zelda knew he understood this was one argument he would lose. "My knights will come along, regardless of what fool you decide to bring with you."

Excitement filled Zelda's body, yet she could not smile. She was aggravated at Philip for being so inconsiderate. Instead of saying anything, she walked by him, out of her bedroom door. She shut it gently behind her, hoping Philip would not follow.

And he didn't.

~~~

The rest of Zelda's day was filled with Happy Birthdays, cake, gifts, and many smiles. People across Hyrule visited her, granting her everything she had ever wanted. Zelda was not a materialistic person at all, and when the children of Hyrule stopped in the castle, to craft crowns made from the kingdom's flowers, as her birthday gift, she could not imagine herself in a happier state.

The youngest girl, draped in an old beige dress, held out a crown, made from Zelda's favorite flower. "I finished mine!" she announced with a grin, handing the crown to the Queen.

"Queen Zelda," one boy chimed in, "why is the Silent Princess your favorite flower?"

Zelda took the crown from the little girl, patting her head gently. She placed the crown upon her head, closing her eyes. She sighed softly. "I cannot give you an answer to that."

The little boy titled his head. "How come, if you mind me asking?"

Zelda shrugged her shoulders after opening her eyes. "The Silent Princess is a mysterious flower. I heard, if you crush the flower into an elixir, it's elements give you the ability to become invisible."

"That's impossible!" the youngest girl proclaimed.

"Eyena, hush!" the boy growled.

"Sorry, Astril," Eyena said, hanging her head low.

"Please, do not fight," Zelda told the children, smiling to lift their spirits. She continued, "Yes, being invisible is surely impossible, is it not?"

The children around her nodded their heads in unison.

"Well, let me ask you this," Zelda said, pulling Eyena into her lap. "Eyena, how many people are in this room?"

Eyena began to look around the room, counting on her fingers, until Zelda's hands were gently placed over her eyes.

"Without counting," Zelda said.

Eyena folded her hands in her lap. "Umm, I think twelve."

Zelda pulled her hands from the child's face. "Please, count with me, everyone in the room."

Eyena and Zelda began to count off every child. "One, two..." they began.

The other children watched them count.

"...thirteen, fourteen... ah! Fifteen, counting you, Queen Zelda!" Eyena said with a smile, pointing to the queen.

"That's right!" Zelda said. "Now, knowing this, the three children you didn't count, would supposedly be the ones who took in the Silent Princess' elixir. They're still here, just unaccounted for." Zelda paused for a moment. "Unnoticed."

"Invisible," one child muttered.

"Exactly!" Zelda said excitedly. "If you pay close enough attention—to the patterns of the breeze, the movements of the grass, the sounds around you—you will be able to focus in on these people."

"Incredible," the oldest girl said in a hushed tone.

Zelda smiled. "And maybe that's why the Silent Princess is my favorite flower. It's so mysterious, and beautiful."

"Like you!" Eyena told the queen, turning around on her lap to hug her.

Eyena's arms wrapped around Zelda's neck. Zelda giggled with happiness, watching as the other children began to attack her with hugs.

"Alright, everyone, let's not suffocate the queen."

Link's voice startled Zelda, and she immediately rose from the pile of children around her. "Link! What are you doing here?"

"Just my rounds around the outside of the castle," Link said.

Astril took Eyena by her small hands. "Happy Birthday, Queen Zelda," he said, grinning. "We hope to see you soon."

"You all are leaving?" Zelda asked, sadness arising in her voice.

"It's almost supper time," the oldest girl said.

"Fawn's right," Astril agreed. "We should be heading home, and, aren't you leaving for vacation soon?"

Zelda gasped. "I haven't even packed!"

Fawn laughed, waving to the queen. "You should get on that, your majesty."

"We'll come back and visit again," Astril said.

"Of course!" Eyena giggled. "Bye-bye!"

Zelda waved goodbye to the fourteen children visiting her. They all left the castle gardens, running to their homes for supper with their families. Their flower crowns stayed perched atop their heads as they ran.

Zelda dusted off the white dress she wore, standing up to face Link. She took a few steps closer to Link, smiling. "Do you have to pack anything for tonight?"

"I'm coming?" Link asked, his eyes widening a bit.

"Yes!" Zelda jumped at Link with open arms. "Philip is allowing you to come along with me, but he has two knights of his coming, too."

Link wrapped his arms around Zelda's back. "That's great. We can just ignore them the whole trip."

Zelda giggled, pulling away from her knight. "I better go pack, like the children reminded me to."

Link chuckled. "You're right, that's probably a good idea." His hands moved from Zelda's back to her head, where he pushed a few strands of her blonde hair behind her pointed ears. Her flower crown fell down her forehead a bit, and the two laughed. Link pushed the crown back atop her head of soft, blonde hair.

Link leaned in, gently pressing his lips against Zelda's. His hand carefully held her cheek, while his other hand drifted down to her hip, holding the queen close to him. After pulling away, he leaned back over to her ear. "Happy Birthday," he whispered.

Zelda's cheeks turned pink after hearing his velvety voice so close to her.

Link laughed softly. "I heard the King wants you inside. Before you leave, the castle wishes to send you off after eating cake and properly celebrating your birthday."

Zelda nodded. "Will you accompany me as I enter the castle?"

Link held out his arm for Zelda to take. "Of course, your majesty."

~~~

In the tallest tower of Hyrule Castle, Philip and his two knights were discussing the plan for Zelda's trip.

"Her celebration down in the throne room will begin soon," Philip said with a dark smirk. "I will go down to walk her around."

"Yes, sir," one knight with black hair said. "We will continue reviewing our plans for tomorrow night."

Philip slammed his fist down on the table. "I know I've said this already, but tomorrow will be the night our plan is called into action. Just like Apollo said now, okay, Delian?"

The other knight, Delian, nodded. "Yes, sir. I hear you loud and clear."

"Zelda will not be coming back to Hyrule Castle," Philip growled, frowning. He folded his arms behind his back, standing up straight. "I hope she enjoys her vacation tonight, because tomorrow, I can't promise her safety."

~~~