She felt his hands gentle and warm rest on her cheek, and slowly and groggily opened her eyes. Yawning, Zelda glanced up at Link and smiled. Her head was resting in his lap and his other hand was lying on her left arm.

"Look down," Link said quietly, smiling benignly.

Zelda did as she was told and gazed at the landscape before her. It was beautiful. The sun was dipping below the mountains and leaving a mesh of pink, orange, and yellow in the sky above. It looked welcoming and serene.

"You fell asleep about an hour ago," Link said.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Zelda asked.

"That's easy. You look amazingly cute when you're sleeping."

Zelda reached up behind his neck, tousling his hair a bit.

"I'm happy," she said simply.

"And what would be the cause of that exactly?" Link replied.

Zelda thought for a moment, coming up with just the right answer, "You."

Link smiled and whispered, "Then I'm happy too."

Zelda sat up as the sun disappeared and scooted over next to Link. She noticed that her hair was no longer hanging at her shoulders, and felt it, finding that it was roughly braided down her back.

"What's this?" she asked.

"I wanted to see how good I was."

Zelda brought some of the braid around to the front where she could see it and snorted, "Link, one, that's kind of strange, and two, you're good at a lot of things. But trust me when I say, braiding is not one of them."

Link laughed and put his arm around her waist. Zelda turned partially and wrapped both of her own around his waist. She rested her head on his shoulder and they just sat for a while, caught up in the moment.

"Zelda! Link!" They heard suddenly behind them, and they whipped around to see Karane storming toward them, "What are you two doing?! Curfew was at sunset, and I don't care that you're getting married tomorrow! You can't stay out together while you are still residing in our building!" She came over and grabbed Zelda by the arm, lifting her off the ground. Zelda yelped a bit and stood on her feet to support herself, instead of having her arm try to hold the rest of her together. Karane began dragging her and she stumbled along, turning her head around and giving Link an apologetic look, then calling out, "See you tomorrow!"

~X~

Zelda stepped into her room and leaned on her door, with a "Sorry! It's for your own good!" from Karane through the door. Zelda knew she had good intentions. Remembering she had left her dress on her bed earlier, she scooped it up and folded it without creases, then holding it in one arm, opened her wardrobe and placed the dress inside. She sighed and flopped down on her bed, not tired at all. An hour long nap had her wide awake, and she was much too excited, not to mention nervous, for sleep to settle on her. She exhaled vehemently as she sat up and stood. She changed back into her green nightgown and climbed under her covers with her arms above the blankets and her head resting on top of her hands.

It took about another hour, but eventually Zelda's eyelids became heavy and sleep crept slowly upon her and laid siege on her mind.

~X~

It only took Zelda twenty minutes to get out of bed. Sunlight was pouring through her window and she moaned. I hate the morning, I hate the morning, I hate the morning, she thought groggily. She refused to get out of bed and let the horrid light come to her eyes. Just half awake, her head buried under her pillow, she vaguely heard her door open and someone walking towards the foot of the bed.

"Go awaayy…" Zelda moaned.

"Get out of bed, Zelda," She heard the voice of Orielle say.

Zelda sighed, "No. I'm afraid of the light."

"Zelda. You're going to be late."

"What in the world can possibly important enough that I have to wake up now?"

The lack of sleep had been catching up to her, with all the planning and preparing and setting up, and not to mention keeping sure that everyone was safe on the surface, taking late night shifts with Link to scour the area for lagging monsters, left over even now.

"You're wedding, Zelda," Orielle said obviously.

Zelda's head shot up, causing her pillow to fly across the room.

"What time is it?"

"The sun rose an hour ago."

Zelda shot out of bed and ran to Orielle, who handed Zelda a muffin to eat quickly for breakfast. She then held Zelda's gown in her arms, and Zelda snatched the dress and unfolded it, trying to get it upright. Multi-tasking, Orielle grabbed a brush and began brushing Zelda's hair.

Orielle left the room for Zelda to change out of her nightgown and slip the white gown over her head, then reentered to help her do up the buttons in the back. Once it was on correctly, pins and ribbons were used to put Zelda's hair up in an extravagant updo, beginning with a pony tail, then wrapping little strands up and pinning them next to the ribbon that kept her hair in the pony tail, creating loops that looked gorgeous. She slipped on a pair of slightly snug slippers and her bracelet, then Orielle clasped the necklace with the Triforce pendant around her neck, and they ran out the door.

"So what's been going on all morning?"

"Well," Orielle began, "You're father and Jakamar have been setting up the rest of the way and it looks beautiful. There are blue ribbons and flowers dotting the area around the Statue of the Goddess, and it's enough to look great, but not overdone. Link had Pippit help him get ready, which didn't take long, and everyone started boarding the Loftwings before we realized we were missing the bride."

"Well here's hoping they didn't start without me."

The dorm was completely empty and they burst open the doors and headed down the stairs, Zelda holding up the front of her dress to her ankles. People dotted the center of the small town and all looked toward her as she emerged. Zelda blushed and took a quick look around. The bulk of the snow on the ground had melted completely, but over the night, it had become chilly enough for dew to freeze, and the ground was totally white.

Groose approached Zelda and leaned into her, close enough so that she could hear him when he not so quietly spoke, "You, know, it's not too late to back out," with a wink.

Zelda laughed and replied, "Sorry, but yes it is."

Loftwings stood near their owners and one by one, each Skyloftian boarded their bird. Bertie held his two year old son on his back in a small carrier and Gondo was helping his mother climb onto her bird. Everyone had come from Skyloft, and the only two people missing were Link and Zelda's father. Zelda nodded to people as she passed by them, and she felt very aware of herself as she was stared at by everyone she ever knew. Except Impa. She missed Impa dearly, but knew there was nothing she could do to return to her. She had been trying to accept her guardian's leaving, but it was difficult, even though Zelda had only known her for a select week or so.

At the back of the group, Zelda's blue Loftwing was waiting for her, staring at her. She sat on it as everyone began taking to the sky and tucked her legs in behind her, trying her best to get a sturdy grip on her bird so she wouldn't fall off. Zelda took a deep breath and waited until all of her friends and family was far enough away. She urged her bird to begin flying and approached the ceremony from the side she always dreamed she would. But much more terrified and excited than she could ever imagine.