"Princess!" Impa nocked on her door excitedly.

Zelda detached herself from Link and stretched her arms above her head.

"Yeah?" She yawned.

"Happy Birthday!" Impa burst in and ran over to Zelda.

Impa was leader of the Royal Guard and was charged with protecting the Princess when she was in the castle. She had eventually became Zelda's maid, when she had first found out about Zelda's nightmares, she bowed to keep it a secret. In doing so, she would come every morning and bring her new clothes, change the bed and tell Zelda her schedule for that day. The Princess had repeatedly apologized for this, as she thought that the Leader of the royal guard would find it disrespectful to become a maid, but honestly, Impa was happy to do so. Now, Zelda was seventeen, and she ran over to her, her arms wide. Zelda hugged her and looked to Link, who had also sat up. Impa had seen Zelda go through her teenage years. She was quite disappointed that she had never seen a man in her bed before, after all, she had hoped that Zelda would be able to do things any other girl could. It was too bad that she had met the perfect man, but it was too late.

"Happy Birthday, Zelda!" Link smiled as he got up and stretched his own muscles.

"You must get ready, Princess, the Champions, bachelors and other nobles are due to arrive any minute soon!" Impa squealed before turning to Link, "You must wait outside so she can get dressed..."

Link rolled his eyes mockingly, "If you insist..." Zelda giggled as he left the room to get himself ready.

***

The Princess was shocked at how long it had taken her to get into the new dress. The King had ordered this special garment for her birthday and this was rather different from her usual gowns. For the first time in her life, she actually had an entire group of maids, including Impa, help her into the many petticoats and corsets. Apparently, this was normal for a Princess to take ages to get ready for a special event.

Zelda was reflecting on the events leading up to this, mainly all the time she had spent with Link...

They had just got back from Zelda's unexpected trip to the shrine. She had ran away from her father. Link had gone after her, she had shouted at him. She felt shame and anger at what she had done. She had to ask him why he was so silent. It killed her to think that he was holding back negative thoughts about her. What was he thinking? He was always so silent.

"Link? Why are you so silent most of the time?!" She turned to him sharply, she didn't mean to say it like that, so she looked at her feet.

Link only sighed before he spoke, "With so much at stake, and so many eyes upon me, he feels it necessary to stay strong and to silently bear any burden."

How far they had come since then, she thought. She had helped him, and he had helped her. At that time, Zelda had always believed him to be a simply gifted person who had never faced a day of hardship. How wrong she was...

"Princess, it's time to put on the outside gown." Zelda was snapped out of her trance.

She had been waiting for them to finish doing her corset for the last half hour. So far, she was only in her undergarments. She turned around and saw the beautiful gown Impa was holding up.

It was a beautiful masterpiece! The bust was composed of many emblazoned Silent Princess flower patters. The skirt was one huge Silent Princess flower, opening up to the rest of the fabric, which was a deep pink. She slipped it over her undergarments and looked in the mirror. She looked absolutely beautiful! Her hair cascaded down her shoulders like a golden waterfall, her figure perfectly complimenting the garb.

It was already midday! That was ok, the celebration started at two that afternoon. There was to be a grand ball. The Champions would be there as well as her bachelors... At least Link would be there as well...

***

"Now to present my Daughter, the Princess of Hyrule... Princess Zelda!" King Roahm announced as he moved to the side.

The double doors opened and Zelda appeared on the balcony, everyone gasped as they looked up towards the most beautiful creature they had ever seen. Link was one of them, among the croud, he was talking with Mipha. Everyone stopped talking and stared at Zelda.

Slowly, but surely, the conversations started up again as Zelda made her way down the stairs and started to talk to some of the people there. Many of the bachelors came up to her and kissed her hand before asking to dance with her. The music started up and Zelda reluctantly took one of the many hands held out to her and followed them onto the dancefloor.

Lord Robbie of the Sheikah tribe was first to dance with Zelda. The Sheikah didn't distinguish their leaders by making them wear special clothing, so he looked like any other Sheikah. Zelda had heard of him though, he was the one who began the technology research labs. Zelda was greatful for that, but she still didn't want to marry him.

Next was Prince Lephon of Lurelin Village. He was rather muscular and his skin was darkly tanned, such was the end result of so much sun from the South. Still, Zelda felt nothing. She could see herself marring him in the future and becoming at least friends with him, but she couldn't fall in love in a few days.

Zelda couldn't even remember the rest of the bachelor's names. She went up to the food table discreetly. She picked up one of the chocolates and quickly stuffed it in her mouth. She heard chuckling from the side, and she jumped in fright.

"I saw that Princess..." Link smirked as he came besides her.

She quickly swallowed and tried to act innocent, "I wish I didn't have to pair off with one of these nobles... Why can't I just marry for love?"

Link sighed, he wanted that too... They loved each other so much!

Link stood up straight and patted down his tunic before he bowed over exaggeratedly, holding his hand out.

"May I have this dance?" He asked.

Zelda smiled warmly and took his hand, "It would be my pleasure..."

Together, they took to the dancefloor. A few other couples were also dancing to the sweet music when they got there. Link placed one of his hands on the small of her back and she moved close to him. She placed one of her hands in his hands, before moving the other to rest on his chest. Some of the croud stopped to look at the two, confused as to why the Hylian Champion was dancing with the Princess.

They started to move in sync with each other, swaying to the melody. Zelda and Link locked eyes, nothing else mattered. Some of the couples that were also dancing, started to stop and look, retreating back into the croud. It wasn't long before Zelda and Link had the entire dancefloor to themselves and all the croud was looking at them, marveling at the beautiful sight.

Link lifted Zelda off the ground with the hand on the small if her back, twirling her around and pulling her back. They were having so much fun they never noticed all they eyes that were on them. Finally, the instrumental song came to a close and Zelda curtseyed to Link, who blowed and took her hand, kissed it quickly and they parted ways into the croud. They had realised now that every eye was on them, so they knew they should meet up later that night instead. To many questions would be asked if they were seen again together that night.

"What was all that about?" Revali huffed as he turned to Urbosa.

"You birds are all the same... Big on pride and ego, little on brains... Can't you tell they are in love?" She rolled her eyes.

***

Finally! She had only just managed to slip past all her guests and into the corridors. She was hurrying to her room, where she presumed Link was. She burst into her room, Link wasn't there...

She backtracked and walked up to Link's door. She opened the door and walked in silently. What she saw was unexpected to say the least.

He was standing next to a large plant pot with its own rounded glass lid. Inside was her favourite kind of flowers, the flowers that had been emblazoned onto her dress. The Silent Princess flowers stood tall and thriving in their enclosed case. She clapped a hand to her mouth, they were beautiful.

"Happy Birthday, Zelda" Link smiled, pointing to enclosure, "and that's not all..."

He came forward and took her hand, guiding her to the flowers. When she got closer, she sat the water bowl in the middle. What was that for? Suddenly, a small green creature jumped out from the stems of the flowers. A frog! Zelda squealed with delight! Best birthday present ever! She wrapped her arms round Link neck and kicked her legs in the air. Most would think it weird to give this as a gift to the Princess, but Link knew her, and he knew she loved those slimy things.

After her excitement had died down, she led him into her room.

The second the door was closed, she pushed him against the wall and started to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her and started to pull up the beautiful gown, leaving her in her many undergarments.

"How many layers does this thing consist of?!" He whined as he pulled of layer after layer.

Zelda only chuckled and started taking off his shirt.