**Chapter 2: Bound Together**

A few hours later, the dimly lit room was still, except for the sound of heavy breathing. Princess Zelda was the first one to wake up, groggily opening her eyes to find herself in a unfamiliar place. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her head, making her wince. As she struggled to free herself, she realized that she was restrained. Her movements woke up Link, who groggily opened his eyes, disoriented. "Zelda...?" he muttered, trying to sit up. But it was easier said than done. As he tried to move, he realized that he was uncomfortably close to the princess, their faces mere inches apart. Zelda's eyes widened as she became aware of their proximity, and she tried to push away from Link. But it was too late. They were secured in four different ways, making it impossible for them to move apart. Their wrists were bound together with thick rope, their arms stretched out to the sides. A metal cuff encircled their waists, linking them together. Their ankles were tied with a sturdy chain, and a leather strap wrapped around their foreheads, holding them in place. Zelda's eyes darted back and forth, trying to make sense of their situation. But Link was already panicking. As a Hylian, he was not comfortable with physical contact, especially with someone of the opposite sex. In Hylian culture, personal space was highly valued, and being physically linked to someone was considered a taboo. "Zelda, I... I don't know how to explain this," Link stammered, trying to keep his voice steady. "As Hylians, we... we value our personal space. Being close to someone like this... it's just not natural for us." Zelda looked at him, confusion etched on her face. "What do you mean? We're just... restrained." Link shook his head, his face flushing. "No, it's more than that. Our bodies... they're not meant to be this close. It's like... have you ever felt like your skin is crawling?" Zelda hesitated, then nodded. "I think I understand. You're feeling... claustrophobic." Link nodded vigorously. "Exactly! And it's not just that. It's like... my body is reacting to your presence. I can feel... sensations that I've never felt before." Zelda's eyes widened, and she looked away, her face flushing. "Link, I... I don't know what to say." Link took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "I know this isn't your fault, Zelda. But please, you have to understand. This... this is really hard for me." As they sat there, bound together, Zelda couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Link. She knew that he was struggling, and she wanted to help him. But for now, they were stuck in this uncomfortable position, at the mercy of their captors.