-Kanyou, Capital of Qin-

Link grumbled. He felt a vein in his forehead pulse angrily. He was started to regret poking at the barbarian king. He may have found the man had a weakness of curiosity but there were things he hadn't taken into account. The man was prideful, strong, and as self-entitled as any noble.

"You make a wonderful footstool," Ganondorf smiled from where he sat above him. Link sat beneath him and the barbarian had his feet on Link's head. "Just the right amount of shortness. Do you ever plan on hitting your growth spurt?"

Link growled. He wanted to move, but the blasted dog was sleeping on his lap; and under Ganon's orders no less. Just as Link had figured out the dark man's weakness, so Dragmire had figured out his.

The others in the group laughed. They kept a wary eye on Ganondorf but weren't struck numb with fear anymore. Link gave them the stink eye. "Yeah, you laugh you little shits! I'll get you! Ow!" Ganondorf kicked him on top the head.

"I apologize on behalf of my footstool. It has no manners. It truly belongs in no place but under the boot."

The carriage approached the main city gates. As well traveled as the city was, there was a bit of a line to enter. The guard's eyed Ganondorf curiously from his throne of boxes. Ganondorf waved as they passed.

"Security seems to have laxed," Link observed. Momentarily he forgot about the feet as he worried about the state of the capital. He could see uncertainty in their eyes and it looked like everyone was stressed. The streets were not as dense as before.

"They are scared and uncertain," Ganondorf figured. "Between so much of the capital being caught in flames, repeated invasions, armies right outside the gates, and the monarch changing hands from one to another in rapid recession it is no wonder. Anyone would flee under the circumstances. The capital must feel like a very unsafe place right now," Ganondorf narrowed his red eyes in thought. "If the capital feels its foundation to be this rocky then how must the rest of Qin feel? How great of a ripple did Prince Kyou cause?"

"But then wouldn't that mean more security so people feel safe?"

"Too much security also tends to make people feel there is a reason, a threat, to validate the security. Zelda must be keeping the security in the city lax so the people can feel there is nothing to be concerned with so life can return to normal."

"Perhaps..."

The caravan reached the outer palace walls without incident. The guards inspected their goods, and found them to be good, but did not allow them to pass.

Link exclaimed, "What's the big deal? We were allowed here before! We know the princess!"

"No, we weren't. We had to force our way in last time," Ganon reminded him. "However he is right, the princess would know us. Call for your high princess. She will recognize us if you doubt my words."

"No, can do. You really think the princess would know a peasant and barbarian? Don't insult us." The guard replied.

Ganon growled. He wanted to pummel the man, but he kept his peace. It was not a battle worth fighting. Looking around, Ganon decided to see if he could find any guards that recognized him from the battle.

He also realized the boy had disappeared. "Where did that brat go?"

-A few minutes later, Zelda-

"Your highness, we have captured an intruder."

Zelda gave a silent prayer of thanks. That was exactly what she wanted. The meeting she was in was long, pointless, and full of bravado.

"Ah, well. I should see to it," Zelda rose. "I apologize, minister. But it seems matters demand my attention."

"Surely you have officers for local security who can handle this?" The minister wondered.

"True enough, I do, but also you may recall, I like to handle things personally. I bid you good day." Without waiting for a reply Zelda walked out the door with the guard following her. "Your timing was excellent. If I had to sit for another hour and listen to him talk about how the size of our flags is traitorous I would have slapped someone."

"I am glad to have pulled you away from such trivial matters, but there truly is an intruder. He was found trying to climb the walls to the inner palace."

She was brought to a room where a dozen guards stood over a sack. The sack wiggled frantically and something, or namely someone, inside was not happy. Zelda felt a deep headache coming on. She knew that voice.

"Cut him out." The guards opened it to reveal Link. Zelda could only stare at him, dumbstruck.

Link spit out whatever they had stuffed in his mouth and smiled at the sight of her. "Hey, Princess!"

The guards looked at her. "Do you know him?"

"No," Zelda said evenly.

"What?! Princess!" Link exclaimed frantically, he wiggled around like a worm to get out of their grip. The guards started to pick him up to take him away, but Zelda stopped them.

"Yes! Yes. Yes, I know him. Unfortunately. Let him go," At their concerned looks, she repeated herself. "Let him go. He doesn't pose a danger to anyone unless he is trying to help."

Link was released, but the guards did not go far. Zelda pinched the bridge of her nose and groaned, "Link... I have to ask, do you do this on purpose?"

"Yes, I do. Well, did. Do? Did? I don't know, but I figured this would be the only way to get this far."

"Sneaking in?"

"Getting caught. The guards wouldn't let me in, so I figured this would be the best way to get in."

Once more, Zelda stared at him. He intentionally got caught? What kind of logic is that?! On one hand she marveled at the ease by which he figured out how to bypass security by using her security against itself, and succeed in doing it; but for all the potential brilliance and cunning it would take to come up with such a plan that bordered on madness, she equally marveled at the sheer stupidity of it for one simple fact: he could have been killed!

"Do you do this on purpose?!"

"Why do people keep asking me that! First Ganon-Grumpy and now you! Yes I do this on purpose!"

"I don't know, perhaps the fact that it is dumb! Did you not think you would be killed?!"

"Of course, I could have. But didn't you do the same with the Majora?" Link questioned.

"That was with a nation at stake!"

Link and Zelda stared at each other. Link was the first to look away. "Okay, fine. Not the brightest idea. You win. This time!"

Zelda sighed. She pinched the bridge of her nose again. "Link, what do you want? What is so important that you had to risk death?"

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"The village and I brought tribute."

"And you couldn't just leave it at the gates like everyone else?"

"We could have, but Ganon and I wanted to come and visit."

"Ganon? Chief Ganondorf Dragmire?!" Now that she thought about it, she could feel the mark on her hand pulsing gently, something that only happened when Link or Ganon were near.

What was the Majora chief doing here? Didn't he have business with ruling Joket and the mountain?

"Yep. Grump's himself. Red eyes, temper, and all. The big guy should still be near the gate."

Zelda groaned, "Someone let him in." A guard hurried off to obey.

"You act almost like you aren't happy to see me," Link frowned. "Aren't we friends?"

"I-" Zelda stopped herself. Her initial response was that she had no friends. But then why was she so concerned with his wellbeing? So far as she remembered, she didn't do friends, yet she also remembered her time with him as always being open in ways she wasn't with anyone else. He treated her like an equal, and she appreciated that.

"I don't do friends. I don't trust enough to have them," Zelda said. Link frowned sadly. "But you are an exception." His frown brightened into a smile. "I apologize for my temper as well, but next time just wait. "

"No biggy!" Link waved it away.

"Let us go greet the chief," Together they walked to the throne room. There they met Ganondorf Dragmire, and Elder of the Fae decided to make a short appearance.

Elder stood tall as a two-legged Qin of palace wood adorned with rich robes and fine jewelry associated with the nobles of Qin with a fresher wooden body. In all sense he seemed to be a proud and true noble of Qin were it not for the wooden skin and glowing empty eyes. Before he looked like old rotten wood from a forest covered in moss and bugs, and though he considered such an improvement in aesthetics to be nonsensical, it gave the palace ministers, and nobles around the capital, a better impression of him. To put it simply: He was trying to fit in.

Seeing Zelda and Link approach, the Fae bid his goodbye and went on his way back to his grove.

Zelda greeted, "Ganondorf Dragmire, Chief of the Majora. It is my honor to accept you into my home. May I inquire as to the nature of your visit to the capital?"

"My business is my own," Ganondorf said mysteriously. "The relationship between our peoples at Joket is shaky ground at best, and so I thought this would be a good time as any to seek a way to steady it. To see how your people are, learn-"

"To eat your food," Link inserted.

Ganondorf clenched his jaw and turned a shade of grey. Zelda's initial response was disbelief, but Ganon's lack of rebuttal confirmed it. Much unlike herself, she felt the overpowering urge to laugh at the man's embarrassment. She hid her mouth behind her hand.

Ganon growled and leveled a menacing glare at Link, who smiled innocently, "I'm going to kill you."

"Not in my throne room, if you please! This room has seen enough bloodshed as it is. If you insist, do it outside," Zelda jaded. "Be that as it may, you two are welcome. Link, will you be leaving with the others from your village?"

"Yeah, I'm kinda working as a bodyguard. I should make sure they don't trip on the way back."

Zelda called for a servant and said, "Take one of my royal guard with you, and please inform the merchants from his village that I will have the guard protect them in Link's place. There is business I have with him." The servant bowed and departed.

"What? Don't I get a say in the matter?!" Link exclaimed.

Zelda leveled a dead-pan look at him. "Do you want to babysit a bunch of merchants tomorrow or stay a while and learn of something interesting?"

"How interesting?" Ganon's ears almost seemed to perk up like a dog.

"Hey! Don't get pulled into her pace so easily!" Link yelled at the black man. "It's a trap! She's cold and heartless and manipulative and scheming and-"

"This coming from you? You thought the best way of getting to me was getting caught!"

Ganon guffawed, "Haha! So that's what you were doing!" Now it was Link's turn to be embarrassed.

"Fine, I'll stay and see what is so fascinating." Link pouted.

"Good that you would see things my way," Zelda looked to the barbarian king, "Ganondorf Dragmire. The same invitation extends to you. As a representative of the Majora clan, you are welcome at the royal palace and what I have to say to Link will greatly interest you as well. Will you be staying long? Do I need to send a messenger to Joket on your behalf?"

"No need. I already sent back my partner to inform them of my stay. As for how long..." Ganondorf shrugged.

-Later-

"The matter to which I wanted you to learn is a subject the Fae Elder wishes to teach."

"Oh?" Link wondered.

"Yes. I have asked, but he wished to wait until you two were also present. Your presence then is highly convenient as, from what I understand, it is important."

They were outside at a table in the Palace Grove. The two men had traveled far and, being a good host, Zelda called for some of the best food the palace had to offer to be prepared.

Sarah placed her plate before her, bowed, and stepped back.

"Who's she?" Link asked. He rubbed his hands together as a plate was presented to him as well. "Thanks!"

"You can answer for yourself," Zelda looked to her.

Sarah gulped nervously and said, "I-I am S-S-Sarah. Zelda's personal co-concubine and servan-"

Link almost choked on his food, "You have a concubine!?"

"Well-" Zelda started to answer.

"What do I have to do to get one?!"

"Start with being royalty," Ganondorf grunted. "It is hardly something a commoner can afford unless you get a cheap slave. Though I do not know of Qin ways, am I right to assume it is standard for royal family members to have regular concubines?"

"That's right," Zelda answered. "It is the responsibility of all members of the royal family to produce as many children as possible as to assure a strong and stable bloodline. My brother was betrothed since birth and when he reached of age Kyou would have been expected to keep multiple wives and as many concubines as he could imagine."

"And you?" Ganondorf wondered.

Zelda felt her stomach turn at the thought of what his question implied. She smiled politely even as her fists clenched painfully. She evaded the implications, "I was a peculiar case. I have never been betrothed."

Ganon eyed her. It was a simple question in his mind, a mere part of the conversation, but her reaction to it was far from normal. All he could figure was it was a touchy subject and let it drop.

No noticing the sudden tension, Link dug into his food. Zelda eyed him uncomfortably. Though he had gained some manners in waiting until everyone was served, the way he devoured his food down was atrocious. His elbows were on the table, food was all over his face and falling around the table, he didn't close his mouth but rather ate like a cow, and he wasn't taking the time to chew properly or-

Ganon belched.

Zelda's eyes grew wide. Ganon's plate was almost empty. The last bite was on his utensil. Even Link and Sarah stopped to marvel at it. The man had eaten the entire thing in seconds. Seeing them stare openly at him, Ganon put the utensil down, cleared his throat, and grunted, "Delicious."

Link laughed, spitting food everywhere.

"I can see that," Zelda said in disbelief. She looked at Link. "Means you sure as Realms didn't cook it."

"Phey! I'fe wiph fafe wuw phoa-!" Link swallowed. "I will have you know, I've gotten better! I live on my own now and can't shrug the cooking off on others. Speaking of which, you should come and see the place! I've got a nice spit of land and a whole hut with a sturdy roof and wooden floor and everything! If you want to visit, you won't have to sleep on the ground."

"If I wanted to visit, I assure you, my men wouldn't tolerate me sleeping on anything short of a lavish, thick rug with pillows." Zelda started to eat as well with a more polite pace and with more manners. Her training assured she made no mess, ate slowly, and did not bother them. She refused to eat like a pig.

"Oh, that's what I need! A rug!" Link exclaimed. "What do you think I should go for?"

"I don't know, what beast can you handle?" Ganon smile turned predatory. "How about a good bear?"

Link gulped, "Bit too much for me. How about something more tame."

"Like what? A feral wolf?"

"Err-I was thinking a chicken."

"You cannot be serious."

"He is," Zelda assured him. "Farm animals and him do not get along."

As the talk went on, Sarah could only marvel at what she saw. In the time she had known the princess, she had learned that her reputation as an Ice Queen was well deserved. She approached everyone with aggression and distrust. At most she was neutral and silent, showing nothing of herself and accepting nothing of others. She was completely closed off. Sarah did not know what she had done to earn the princess' recognition, but even in her presence the princess never did anything more than smirk no matter her efforts to please the monarch.

Yet here was the princess smiling, having weak laughter, and, dare she say it, normal conversation, with a couple of strange people! One was clearly a boy from the lowest caste of society and the other was a barbarian outsider!

One thing Sarah remembered Zelda saying to Link was how she had no friends, because she trusted no one, and that Link was the only exception. Zelda was wrong. She had two.

-Later-

Seeing the three Destined had finished their meal, Elder rose from the water and approached.

"It is good that you are all here," Elder said. "There is something of great importance I wish to tell you while you are here in one place."

"Is this pertaining to what we discussed before?" Zelda asked.

"It is," Elder looked between them. "It is no coincidence the three of you are here. There are powers at work here beyond any of us, and at times past I have promised to explain. Before I thought I would have to hunt you three down separately and explain it, but thankfully I will not have to. Zelda and Ganondorf understand what I want to explain in part, but I do not know how much you know." Elder looked at Link.

"About what?" Link asked.

"The mark on your hand."

"Oh, that! I burned myself in the battle for Zelda's throne."

"No, you did not," Ganon replied.

"Of course I did, what are you on about?" Link looked at him like he was mad.

Ganon sighed. He pulled off his gloves and put his hand down on the table. Link's eyes widened slightly. At Elder's beckoning, Zelda did the same, only making Link's eyes widen further.

"It seems you have been left ignorant of something. No matter!" He grew back legs and leaned back against them. "I was already planning to start from the beginning."