Nine days til Coronation

Crown Princess Zelda looked up from her breakfast at a knock on her door.

"Come in." She invited. Two maids entered and began clearing the remnants of her meal and disappearing into her adjoined bedroom. Another woman followed them in commanding her attention. She was quite tall and lithe, but limped forward, and bowed her head slightly before bringing her haunted red eyes to meet the sympathetic gaze of her princess. Her clothes were well made but simple. Close fit leggings and short sleeved shirt in black over which there hung a dark grey taberd. The taberd was embroidered with the eye of truth in silver and fell past her hips, secured with a wide purple sash about her waist. A light silver pauldron rested on her right shoulder and her forearms and hands were wrapped in grey bandages with black leather bracers overtop. Her silver white hair was gathered into a braid high on her head, falling down her back to her waist and a purple bandana adorned her forehead.

"Mira." Zelda breathed, "how are you feeling today?"

"I am much recovered and am ready to stand at your side once more your highness." Mira smiled as Zelda stood and took her hand in her own.

"Come my old friend, no need for titles. I have a meeting with the council in an hour I believe?"

"Yes, but the royal jeweller needs to meet with you first for your decision on the design of your crown."

"Very well, lead the way." Brushing her plain blue dress out as she stood, Zelda slung the gold chain about her waist and attached the heavy taberd and exited her rooms.

Forty minutes of going over designs Zelda and the jeweller agreed upon a silver crown similar to her current gold one but with vines intricately weaved around the leaves and rising towards the back to invoke the image of the legendary bird on Hyrule's royal crest, and a lighter blue gems cut in triangles at the front and back.

Zelda smoothed down her hair as she left the workshop greeting Mira, who'd stood guard in the doorway.

She kept her pace slow to accommodate her guardians limp on the way to the Council room.

"Will your knee fully heal in time?" She asked.

Mira smiled, "With a daily potion and physiotherapy it'll be good as new in another month."

Zelda gave a sigh of relief. "Join us inside?" She invited when they reached the council room. A servant fetched another chair and placed it just behind Zelda's at the head of a long table.

The council members arrived shortly after they took their seats. To her right was Rauru, High Minister of Hyrule's temples and her advisor. On her left sat her Steward, Lord Elliot, tasked with the day to day running of the castle and planning of events. Next to him was her Minister of finance, Duke Byron, then Lord Keates the minister of agriculture. Beside Rauru was the Minister of Relations Countess Shelley, General Swift, Lady Dickinson Minister of Health, and lastly Lord Shad, apprentice to the late Minister of education.

"Good morning Council." Zelda greeted over the shuffling of papers and servants setting down coffee before each person.

"Firstly, Lord Elliot. Have we yet received replies from the Hero and the other members of the Resistance?"

The steward brought forth a thin folder. "Madam Telma has replied with humble acceptance, and Ms Ashei has agreed to meet to discuss her enlistance and title. Messengers from Kakariko and Ordon should be arriving today or tomorrow."

"Thank you. And Lord Shad have you reached a decision regarding your elevation to Count and position of Minister?"

Shad stood and bowed. "I have, your highness. I will accept both rank and position with deepest gratitude."

Zelda nodded. "You will make your late master proud, I am sure of it." She turned to Duke Byron and began to discuss the repairs to the kingdom.

The council breiftly broke for lunch then continued late into the afternoon before tabling further topics for the next day.

Zelda retired to her office to go over more proposals only to be disturbed moments after sitting down by a servant.

"Your highness, this just arrived for you." He bowed low and handed her a scroll tied with simple twine. She dismissed him and unfurled the scroll to find a letter from Link, and a smaller scroll that she set aside.

Your Highness.

Zelda.

Rusl has sent our response to your summons to High Minister but I wished to write to you anyways. I am undecided on how to accept your very generous offerings but I would beg an audience with you. Not to ask anything of you but some of your time. I feel you alone may understand the effects Twilight invasion and the departure of Midna have had on me, and perhaps that you also need someone to listen to your own thoughts of that tragedy. Im sorry if this is a bit forward I'm really not sure of the protocols around seeking friendship with the Princess. Rusl and I should arrive At the castle seven days before your Coronation.

Sorry if this letter was weird and unwanted.

Your servant

Link

P.S. I thought you might like something to remember Midna by, this was the best I could do

Zelda unfurled the smaller scroll to see a charcoal drawing of Midna, in her true form.

While not as perfect as some of the sketches in the gallery, Links skill was evident, he had captured the mischievous glint in Midna's eye. She was moved by his thoughtfulness and determined to have the drawing hung in her chambers.

She read through his letter twice more then set to write a letter back, not wanting to hold him suspense til his arrival. When satisfied she rolled it up and sealed it, writing his name next to the seal. She rang for a servant to fetch the steward, the falconer and to bring the drawing to the gallery to be framed.

She handed the letter off to the falconer and discussed arrangements for Link and Rusl Blade with Lord Elliot.

That night, after preparing for bed, Zelda reclined on the divan in front of her fireplace, teacup in hand and admired the Midna drawing where it hung next to door of her balcony, a rare smile gracing her lips.

AN: so a lot of OCs in this chapter, sorry not sorry, but only Mira has any real importance to the story, the rest are just background filler...hence why I was pretty lazy with my naming scheme for the minister's, Rauru aside. 10 points for anyone who gets it :)