AN:

ichigomatsudai: You're right. Though I've never drank, I know people do stupid things sometimes when they do.

TheOnePotatoToRuleThemAll: Debauchery! Debauchery! Debauchery! I can't believe that word was used in an episode of Spongebob. If I was any good at drawing, I would draw that and make it the cover.

Neo Aguni: Don't worry, I'm going to update pretty regularly. I want to get this entire thing published before I go back to school, and have it all written already. It's also over 30,000 words long, and I'm not sure how many chapters. I will probably end up posting a chapter every day.

Not Nintendo.

I wake up the next day to a splitting headache and an elixir being shoved in my face. "Drink."

I do as the voice commands and down the red liquid. She quickly takes another bottle filled with green liquid and hands it to me. I drink this one as well. "Good morning."

"It's almost noon, your majesty." Hannah, my handmaiden, informs me.

"Noon?" I panic. "Why did anyone let me sleep this long?" I try to hop out of bed, but immediately regret it.

"Because your father knew what Lady Urbosa was planning yesterday and was well aware of the hangover you would have."

"Aren't those elixirs supposed to fix me?"

"They take a little time to kick in." She helps me carefully stand up. "So, do you want to tell me why Lord Link was seen staggering away from this wing last night?"

Oh shit, that actually happened. "I was drunk, and he wanted to make sure I made it to my room alright."

"He came by earlier, asking how you were doing. He's the one who gave me the heart and stamina elixirs." Of course, he was.

"I need to speak with him today."

"Not dressed like that." I'm only in my underclothes, I didn't even bother to put on a nightdress last night.

"Then I will get dressed and go find him." I stand up, she helps me get dressed and I set off to find the blue-eyed marquess.

-oOo-

I decide to check the training yard. He still personally teaches the guards even though there is no requirement for him to do so. A small bridge overlooks the field, where several young guards all rush in on one man in the center. I've come to the right place. The bridge is not very high, so that officers and royals can watch the progress of their knights.

"You have to be faster than that!" Link yells. He's always so quiet, but when he's commanding his men he has the power of a king behind his voice. "If anyone manages to get into the castle, they have to be sneaky and quick. They have to be skilled. You won't be able to defeat them by being slow and taking your time."

I finally get close enough to get a good look at the men. Most of these guards have been around for a little while, Rito, Zora, Goron, Gerudo, Sheikah, and Hylian alike all cower in fear of a man I know would never hurt any of them.

"Your highness." Link bows. Everyone on the field turns and kneels to me.

"Rise! I did not mean to interrupt. I was just taking a walk and thought that I may watch for a while." I call back. But, with everyone else kneeling, I finally get a good look at him. He's sweating and shirtless, with a blunt sword in his hand and his hair pulled back higher than normal.

Goddesses give me strength. They continue with their training. Groups of three or four at a time would rush their commander. Each time he would deflect every blow. Eventually, he releases them all for the day and disappears into his personal office. I slowly follow, making sure he has time to redress. I knock softly on the door. "Come in!"

I enter and see his office for the first time in years. It's a clean, well-organized place. The symbol of the kingdom painted on one wall, with the triforce of courage outlined darker than the other two. That was an addition especially for him. "Good day."

"Good day, princess." He says from his desk. "And how are you feeling? You really shouldn't have been in the sun that long."

"Better, thanks to those elixirs you brought me. Thank you."

"I knew that your hangover was going to be awful, and I have noticed that heart and stamina elixirs really help."

"You drink that much?"

"No, but it's very common for the guards to. I generally have several bottles of each on standby."

"Makes sense." I agree. We stay in awkward silence for a minute. I am required to leave the door open, otherwise one may assume that something inappropriate is happening. "Though I do believe that in training you have an unfair advantage, and there is no way any of your men would be able to land a blow on you."

"I don't expect them to beat me. But, I know that I won't get hurt when four of them charge me. I don't have that guarantee with anyone else." He suddenly gets up. "Sorry, my manners are still atrocious as Lady Impa has reminded me daily. Sit, do you want some tea?" He nods towards the seat opposite his.

"Yes please." I agree and sit in the comfortable chair.

"Do you still just take honey?" He remembers.

"Yes." He places a steaming glass in front of me, thankfully it is Winter, so drinking hot tea at noon is not insane. I look around his office while the tea seeps. His Hylian shield hangs above his desk, with the scabbard from the Master Sword just below. He decided not long after the ball after my 17th birthday to return it. He claimed that there was no point in him holding onto it except for selfish reasons. I was present for that moment, deep in the forest. That was the last time we were truly alone with no threat of guards or anyone else finding us. That is, if you don't count the giant, sentient tree and all of his children. "Lord Link."

"Why do you call me that?"

"Because it isn't appropriate for us to have a personal relationship anymore." I echo his words from yesterday.

"You remember."

"Were you hoping that I wouldn't?"

"A little bit, because now we actually have to discuss this." He sits on the other side of the desk with his own glass of tea, the kettle between us.

We drink silently for a while, until all that is left of my cup is the dregs at the bottom. "I came to apologize for last night. I acted inappropriately and made you uncomfortable."

"Did you mean it?" He looks up from his cup to me. "Did you mean everything you said?"

"And if I did? Then what?"

"Then I would have to inform you that the feeling is mutual."

"Then why were you hoping that I would forget!" I laugh.

"I was worried that it was just the alcohol talking, that you didn't actually mean any of it. I didn't want to get my hopes up." He downs his last bit of tea before moving to refill my cup and then his own. "So, where do we go from here?"

"That depends. If you wish to, you may begin courting me, though you must get approval from the council and especially my father to do so."

"Do I meet all of your standards for a great Hylian warrior?" He teases.

"You are my standards for a great Hylian warrior." I roll my eyes.

"I will never forget his face when you began to insult his son. I'll also never forget the fact that he decided the best way to get what he wanted was to insult you to your face."

"Getting his approval will be hard, but thankfully majority rules." I sip on the tea. "That is, if courting me is what you want to do."

He gets up and walks around the desk, until he stands in front of me. I place my teacup down and stand up, looking him in the eye. "Princess Zelda Minerva Hyrule, will you allow me to court you?"

"Lord Link Allard Cavaleiro, nothing would make me happier." He grins broadly and hugs me. I wrap my arms around his neck and stand slightly on my toes, while he leans down. When he pulls back and looks me in the eye, I place my hand on his cheek, stand on my toes, and kiss him.

This time we taste like tea and honey instead of alcohol and cake. I also do not run away after two seconds. It's better than last night, but we still clearly don't know what we're doing. We just kind of stand there for a few second with our lips pressed together before pulling apart. As inexperienced as we are, we're still happy. We grin at each other from ear to ear. "We probably should go speak to your father."

"Probably." I sigh and start to back away from him. Except, he pulls me close once again and kisses me.

A slight knock sounds from the door, and it begins to swing open some more. "Lord Link I had a few questions about-"

We've jumped apart by this point, leaving a respectable distance between us, but my being here is still enough to stop the young Sheikah in his tracks.

"Oh, Princess Zelda." He almost falls down from attempting to kneel too quickly.

"Rise, please." He does as he's told.

"What's wrong?" Link asks.

"I just had a question about your order request form. I can't tell the difference between your ones and your sevens."

"Your handwriting still needs to improve." I inform the marquess.

"Sorry for only learning about three years ago, when I was already an adult." He takes the paper from the boy and looks it over. He reads each number aloud and the boy makes note of it. "Anything else?"

"No, sir, that is all." The boy bows to me once again and quickly quits the room.

"To my father?"

"To your father."

-oOo-

"Come in!" Father yells from the other side of the door. Link and I enter, making sure to keep distance between us. "Oh, Zelda, how are you feeling?"

"Thanks to a couple of elixirs I am fine, though I am sure that I will never drink any Gerudo alcohol ever again."

"That's understandable, that stuff is too strong for even me." He puts down his quill and blows on whatever it is he's been writing to dry the ink. "So, what brings you two here? Together?"

"Your majesty, I would like to request your permission to court your daughter." Link steps forward.

"It certainly took you long enough." What?

"I'm sorry?" Link says, just as confused as I am.

"Why do you think I gave you the title of marquess in the first place? If I just wanted to honor you for your actions against Calamity Ganon, I would have made you a general." Father stands and walks around his large, mahogany desk. "You have my permission. I will call for an emergency council meeting tomorrow so that you may receive their approval."

"Really?" I smile.

"Really." I throw my arms around my father's neck and thank him profusely. "Zelda! We must contain ourselves."

"Sorry father."

"Do not be, I am happy for you both." He turns to Link. "You are a fine young man, you have proven yourself to be worthy of my daughter a thousand times over. I cannot think of a more fitting partner for her." He grasps Link's arm and places his hand on his shoulder. "But do realize, that if I am wrong and you hurt her, you will be dead before the sun sets."

"I understand, your majesty."

"And you understand where courting ultimately leads?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Good." Father's tone brightens once again. "Now you two go somewhere else. I am very busy today."

AN:

I probably should have written more buildup to their courting, but I'm a sucker for fluff and denied you guys in the last story.