Chapter 2 - Lunch With Princess Zelda

Mipha and Link had never traveled together to Hyrule Castle. Later on, they would decide it was easier for Link to don the Zora Armor and swim with Mipha there. But at the outset, Link's instinct was to travel by horse. And travel by horse was a novelty for Mipha, so she went along with it. It was a two-day journey by horse. They left early in the morning, and after working their way through the hills by the Domain, they followed the road to Woodland Stable arriving by early evening. It was a tiring first day, so they were both glad to have a quick dinner at the inn and then get a good night's rest. They soon fell asleep to the sound of frogs croaking in Pico Pond.

The second day's journey was shorter than the first day. The path took them first through East Castle Town which was busy with shops of all types and shoppers crowding the marketplace. Then the road continued to Hyrule Castle.

Hyrule Castle was an imposing structure with giant towers, solid walls, and pennants blowing in the breeze. It was the home of the Hyrule Royal Family which at this time consisted of King Rhoam and his daughter Princess Zelda. It was also the seat of Hyrule's central government. The grounds around the castle were grassland interspersed with clumps of trees and several fountains.

Link had last seen Princess Zelda at his wedding. They knew each other quite well since he had been assigned by Zelda's father as her personal bodyguard knight. They had traveled a good deal together throughout Hyrule and gotten more comfortable with each other. Besides being her loyal subject, Link considered himself her friend.

Attendants met Mipha and Link at the castle entrance and took care of their horses. Upon entering the castle, Princess Zelda welcomed their arrival.

"Mipha and Link, it's so nice to see you! I meant it when I said at your wedding that you are always welcome here, and I'm so glad you are taking me up on my offer," said Zelda.

"It's very kind of you, Zelda," said Mipha, "And it's very nice to see you too. You are looking very well."

"Thank you. You are looking well yourself. And I can see Link hasn't changed much: as always at a loss for words," Zelda laughed. "Please come in and join me for lunch."

They adjourned to a dining area. Zelda had made sure the meal included some fish dishes she thought Mipha would like. She wasn't too worried about Link: she knew very well that his appetite was not very discriminating.

At the end of lunch, Zelda said "Mipha, it's time for my private meeting with Link. I have arranged for the Captain of the Royal Guards to escort you anywhere you would like. Is there something you would like to see while you are here?" asked Zelda.

"Thank you, Zelda. I think I would like to see the castle art collection if that's alright," said Mipha.

"Of course," said Zelda. Zelda asked one of the castle staff to summon the Captain of the Royal Guard. The Captain appeared a few minutes later.

"Captain, would you please give Princess Mipha a tour of our art collection," said Zelda.

"Of course, Your Highness. I would be honored", said the Captain. Then addressing Mipha, he said, "Your Highness, if you would please follow me? It's a short walk to the art gallery."

"Thank you for a delicious lunch," said Mipha. "I'll see you both later." She followed the Captain out of the room.

Zelda then asked Link to follow her to a private meeting room, and they sat down.

"Well, Link, it's certainly nice to see you again. I hope you're happy," said Zelda.

"I couldn't be happier, Zelda. Mipha and her family have been wonderful to me and make me feel at home in the Domain. And I am especially happy after my experience in the other timeline. Of course, to you all that is just a story. But I suffered through every bitter moment of it. I am so glad things worked out well for everyone."

Zelda absentmindedly brushed her hair back, and Link noticed a bruise on her neck.

"Zelda, what happened? I notice you have a bruise on your neck. Why didn't you tell us about it and let Mipha heal you?" said Link.

"Oh, it's nothing. I was exploring one of the rooms below the castle where some Sheikah materials were stored. I tripped on something and brushed up against some mold on the wall. I felt a stab of pain at first and ended up with this bruise," said Zelda. "For some reason when I was thinking earlier about asking Mipha to look at it, I suddenly felt this strong urge to not let her see it."

Zelda looked at him for a moment. "Anyway, we never really had a chance to talk much about your other life. I know it doesn't matter since now it never happened. But do you mind telling me a little more about it? For instance, how did you and I get along after Ganon's defeat?" asked Zelda.

"We got along very well. You were crowned Queen, of course, and were kept very busy restoring Hyrule. But you remained a good friend, and always made time for me when I visited. I tried to see you at least once a month. And we sometimes rode horses together so we could talk and for you to get out a bit. I also spent a lot of time in Zora's Domain trying to recover my memory. And you supported me doing that and my mission," said Link.

"It's so hard for me to imagine all the things that you say happened. You and all the Champions died, and then you were resurrected after one hundred years with no memory. It must have been awful for you," said Zelda.

"It was. As you said, when I first awakened I had lost all my memory. Over time I recovered some memories, and I was personally driven to recapture the Divine Beasts and free the spirits of my fellow Champions. You and I finally destroyed Ganon together in Hyrule Field. I imagine it was pretty hard on you too, having to contain Ganon for a hundred years alone in the castle," said Link.

"Yes, I imagine it was," said Zelda. She paused for a moment. "Do you recall if we were especially close in those times?" asked Zelda.

"As I said, we spent time together. You treated me well and were always very gracious. I felt we were very good friends," said Link.

"I mean did we have any feelings for each other?" asked Zelda.

He shifted a bit in his chair. " Since I was your bodyguard we spent a lot of time together," said Link. "But I don't recall having any romantic feelings for each other if that's what you mean."

"Are you sure about that?" said Zelda, looking into his eyes.

"Zelda, this conversation is making me a little uncomfortable. Can I ask what you are getting at?" said Link.

"Oh, I was just wondering how things would have eventually worked out for us in the other timeline. After all, with Mipha gone, I thought perhaps we would have grown much closer," said Zelda.

"Zelda, once some of my memory and feelings returned, I was still very much in love with Mipha in that timeline and missed her terribly. Whenever you and I met, I never sensed any romance between us. And I am not sure why you are taking our conversation down this path now," said Link.

"I was just playing what if in my head," said Zelda. "I guess it wasn't a foregone conclusion you would get the Temple of Time to work. In that case, you would have had to move on from your loss at some point."

"I imagine that's true," said Link. "You and Impa constantly urged me to move on anyway, albeit out of concern for my happiness. I was too stubborn, though. As long as there was some hope that Dr. Purah could restore the Temple of Time, I just couldn't give up. But what is your point?" asked Link.

She didn't answer right away and paused as if thinking. Then she said, "Well, speaking of the Temple of Time if we changed time once we can change it again, right?"

Link looked at Zelda in alarm.

"Now you're starting to scare me, Zelda," said Link. "We worked so hard to get where we are today. The Champions and hundreds of other people are alive now thanks to what we did. Everything has worked out perfectly for everyone. Why would we ever want to take a chance changing things again and risking something going wrong?"

"Because maybe everything hasn't worked out perfectly for everyone," said Zelda. "But let's move on to what you wanted to discuss."

He was feeling very unsettled by this discussion. What was Zelda getting at? Was she seriously suggesting tampering with their timeline? The very thought the idea had even crossed her mind made him very anxious. Something was very wrong here.

"Zelda, I want to become a full member of the Zora community and King Dorephan's royal family. To do that I need to renounce my Hylian citizenship and swear allegiance to the Zora Royal Family. I wanted to let you know my plans, and obtain your approval and assistance in accomplishing this," said Link.

"Absolutely not!" said Zelda. "You are the Hylian Champion and a role model for other Hylians. I can't let you renounce your Hylian citizenship."

"What? Why not? Why would you deny me the chance to join the people I have come to know and love?" said Link.

"Because you are being selfish and thinking only of yourself," said Zelda. "You are still needed here. My father may have given you leave to stay in Zora's Domain, but you swore allegiance to him, you are a knight in his service, and he has not discharged you," said Zelda.

"How am I needed here? What am I needed for? You're being ridiculous, and I don't understand why," said Link.

"And I don't appreciate that tone from you, Link. Are you forgetting to whom you're speaking?" said Zelda.

"I'm sorry Your Highness," said Link. "But I never imagined you would deny my request. My feelings on the matter made me forget myself. I apologize. It won't happen again."

"I accept your apology. And I trust the matter is closed now?" said Zelda.

"Your Highness, with all due respect, I accept what you have told me, but I do not consider the matter closed, and it saddens me you have denied my request," said Link. "Thank you for lunch. May I go now?" he asked.

"Yes," said Zelda.

With that, he bowed and left the room.