A/N: Finally, the chapter I've been waiting to write! THE GALA! Thanks to my loyal reader, ultimateCCC for his continued readership, and to my NEW follower, TheRedDragon39. I own nothing. Don't sue me. Might be some light lemon-flavored stuff at the end of this chapter. Nothing heavy, yet.

CHAPTER 4

The time of the Royal Gala was drawing near. All the chores were done. All the errands were complete. All the AAAA butter, cheese, and milk was ready to go, including the oldest cheese the ranch had to offer: a three year old cheddar. Link had Malon's ring in his pouch and was clearing out his weapon inventory, as weapons are not allowed at the Gala.

'Bomb bag, bow, all the arrows, sword, shield, longshot, megaton hammer...'

"Link? Um, where do you keep all that stuff?" Malon asked, peeking into her father's room.

"Um, I dunno...various belt loops behind my shield, under my tunic..." Link started.

Malon interrupted him, "UGH! Never mind. I don't need to know. I just need you to lace me up in back,"

"Uh, okay...I guess..." Link walked towards Malon and motioned for her to turn around.

'Wow! This dress looks amazing on her!' "Okay, hold still, now...alright, I've got the lacing done...just have to tie it up...and...done!"

Malon faced him, "Thank you, Link. I appreciate that,"

"Trust me, Malon. The pleasure was all mine. You're beautiful...truly, and that dress is...wow. You really look amazing, Malon," Link reponded.

"Link...you're not just saying that? And why are you holding yourself? Do you have to pee?" Malon innocently asked.

"Um, no, I don't have to pee...I have to change, though...do you think you could..." Link started.

"OH! Of course, Link! I'll close the door for you!" Malon quickly realized she was inhibiting Link's ability to change clothes, and closed the door then left.

'Whew, that was close...I was really getting a hard on, there.' Link quickly took off his battle tunic and hat, and put on his fancy formal tunic and hat, along with black tights instead of his usual white ones. He finished off the look with his freshly waxed boots. He looked in the mirror. 'Well, it'll have to do. I don't look half as good as Malon, but meh...' He slipped Malon's ring into his belt pouch, and left the room.

Link stepped into the main living area, where Talon and Malon stood. Talon was wearing the typical black suit with white ruffled collar and black patent leather shoes with silver buckles. Malon, of course, was wearing her yellow dress.

"Well, don't WE look all fancy? Ok, everybody to the wagon! We gotta get to the castle before dark, an' it's almost 3 now!" Talon announced, as they all piled into the large wagon they were sharing with three large crates.

Just as they were leaving the ranch, a parade of Gorons led by Darunia and Zora (who weren't nearly as green as before, but obviously not 100% their normal blue complexion) led by Princess Ruto approached from the direction of Kakariko Village, and a parade of Gerudo led by Nabooru crossed right in front of the ranch on horses.

"And what have we here? Link? Wow, you clean up well. I take it you are accompanying my niece and her father?" Nabooru inquired.

"Yes. Malon is my date for the night," Link proudly stated.

"Malon is a very lucky woman to have such a handsome man by her side at an event such as this one," Nabooru stated, then whispered to Link, "You hurt her, I'll kill you," Malon blushed.

Link whispered back, "I'd rather die than hurt Malon,"

Nabooru nodded and smiled, then rode ahead to the city gate with her tribe.

There was a long line of people trying to get into the castle for the Gala. It was already 4:45 P.M., according to the gossip stones. The line ended at the well, but was moving fairly quickly. Talon had a vendor's pass, so they got to ride ahead of the crowd, but that also meant they'd be entering through the service entrance.

Impa greeted those at the service entrance, including Guru-Guru the phonograph man, Anju the cucco lady, and the two potion dealers. After those four people went in, Link helped Malon out of the cart, and while he was unloading the milk, butter, and cheese crates, Talon slipped out of earshot with Impa.

"Impa, Link told me an' Malon a disturbin' story last night, an' I'm wonderin'..."

"Yes, Talon, Link did indeed save Hyrule as the Hero of Time. As young as he looks, he's actually 37 years old, and has seen horrors you cannot imagine,"

"So...he's actually capable of dealin' with these errands the Princess has him runnin' all the time?" Talon asked.

"Talon, there is literally nothing that he's dealing with now that he couldn't have dealt with as a ten year old boy," Impa smirked.

"Well...that's...quite a shock to the ol' system..."

"Worry not. There is literally nothing to fear. Your daughter is in excellent hands. Link will take care of her, and yes, I know what weighs heavy on your mind. Everything will be as it should be, have no fear about that. Link has a destiny, yes, and the prophecies will be fulfilled, but not for a very long time," Impa consoled.

"Hoo, boy, I tell ya, that sure is a relief. Thanks, Impa. I better help get this stuff to the banquet hall," Talon explained.

"You know where it is. Show Link the way, he can help you. I see he's wearing his golden gauntlets," Impa smiled.

Just then, a stack of crates with legs appeared behind Talon. "Where do you want these, Talon?"

"What in tarnation?! Put those dow- you know what? Impa, can you take Link to the banquet hall?"

Impa laughed, "Follow me, Link. I'll show you where those go,"

Talon looked at his daughter, "C'mon. Let's go meet Princess Zelda,"

After thanking Impa for showing him the way, Link set up the spread: the crates folded inside out to form tables. This was an idea Malon had for setting up stalls in the market. One crate contained salted butter and crackers, one crate contained three year old cheddar and crackers, and the last crate contained the finest 2% milk anyone ever tasted. Link was quite satisfied with his set up, and so went to find Malon.

Malon, it turned out, was talking to the five Sages who turned out to be taking up the same 20 square feet of floor space, and they were all laughing.

"So, Link bested the Gerudo? And Darunia, you actually named your son after him?! And he...he was supposed to marry a Zora? This is almost too much!"

"Ha ha, I KNOW! Can you imagine? Me? Princess of the Zora? Actually MARRYING a Hylian? Oh, Goddesses! Our children would have been freaks!" Ruto squealed while laughing and clutching her stomach.

"Ah, but it was an honor to fight alongside Brother Link. He has the soul of a warrior!" Darunia clarified.

"Indeed. He fought hard and honorably. Which is how he was able to get through Gerudo Fortress. He could have been an excellent mate, worthy of the love of a Gerudo," Nabooru added.

"It's alright, I am more than happy with a half-Gerudo," Link walked up to Malon, put his arm around her waist, spun her around and kissed her mouth, which was open in surprise. After about ten seconds, Princess Zelda walked up to the podium in the back of the hall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to first and foremost thank you for coming to the Palace Gala. For those of you who have never been invited before, welcome! We only hold the Gala every five years, so many of you have just come of age and are able to join us. I love how the Kingdom is growing so rapidly, after 10 years of decline, and I think we all know who to thank for that. Link, please join me up here!"

Link stepped up to the podium, got on one knee and bowed his head, in the traditional Royal greeting. "Princess, it is an honor to serve the Kingdom of Hyrule as your Royal Messenger,"

"Link has served the Royal Family for many years. He has been my personal Messenger for the past ten years!" Then Zelda bent down and whispered to Link, "30 years, but who's counting?" Link stifled a giggle as she stood straight and continued her speech. "As such, he has earned this title I am about to bestow upon him. Link! I now, by the power vested in me, name you Sir Link, Knight of Hylia!"

The crowd cheered loudly as Zelda touched Link's shoulders with her ceremonial sword, and pinned the Hylian Crest on his tunic when he stood up. She whispered, "You may want to put that pin on your OTHER tunic at some point,"

"Nah. I'll keep it in a box under my bed," Link whispered back.

Zelda whispered her reply, "Most Hylian Knights do,"

"SPEECH!" Darunia shouted.

"I would like to thank all of you for being here to witness this event. I truly wasn't expecting to be made a Hylian Knight...I'm most honored,"

"YOU EARNED IT!" Ruto shouted.

Link continued, "Thank you. Though I must say. You're biased." The crowd laughed, then Link started again, "It seems that my life has been chosen for me by the Hyrule Royal Family. But there is one aspect of my life that is not in their control. And now, I would like to say something to Malon: When we first met, I was intrigued. By the time I saw you for the second time, I knew. I knew you were the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Malon. Will you marry me?" Link held up the burgundy ring box, and Malon ran to the podium and leapt into Link's arms.

"Yes! YES! Oh Goddesses, YES!" Malon cried.

"I think those sounds come later, Malon..." Zelda smirked.

"Well, put the ring on. Does it fit?" Link said, trying to suppress a laugh at Zelda's innuendo.

"Link, it's PERFECT! Wait..."

Nabooru and the other Sages had made their way up to the podium, though Nabooru got there before the others... "I recognize that ring!" She and Malon exclaimed, in unison.

"Talon gave it to me to give to you. I hope that's okay..." Link said, worried.

Nabooru shook her head, smiling, "Link, it is tradition among the Gerudo for the daughter to receive the mother's engagement ring upon being engaged. This is absolutely perfect! General Abeeru would have been most pleased that Malon has picked such a wonderful husband,"

"Well, this calls for a celebration! Let's PARTAY!" Darunia announced.

Link and Malon smiled and nodded at one another, before heading over to the snack tables hand in hand to join the others.

"Wow, this butter is AMAZING! Darunia, you have to try it!" Impa exclaimed.

"Hmm, slight smoky flavor...AH! Talon, you've used the special salt in this! Wow! I honestly had no idea that mere salt could make such a huge difference!" Darunia noted.

"Special salt?!" Many voices said at once.

"Heh heh, yeah...Link brought me back some 2954 salt, an' so I used it for the butter. Still have a few pounds left, thank the Goddesses," Talon replied, blushing.

With that, everyone crowded around and attacked the butter table, grabbing crackers and butter.

"Oh HO! Link! I thought you wanted the salt for yourself! In that case, we'll have to deliver MORE 2954 salt to Talon!" Darunia exclaimed.

"Wait, I thought that was your last five pound block?" Link asked.

"It was indeed! We still have ten, twenty, and sixty pound blocks available, though! Had I known it was for someone else, I would have given you the five pound block AND a ten pound block! HAW HAW! You sure pulled a trick on ol' Darunia!"

"How can there be so much 2954 left in the world?" Talon asked incredulously.

"It's simple. The finest salt commands the finest price. Forty years it has been since 2954. When we first started selling the salt, we thought nothing of it and charged 5 rupees a pound, as if we would any other salt. After a few days, though, demand for 'pink-grey' salt skyrocketed! We were selling one, three, and five pound blocks like crazy! Soon, we were out of the one and three pound blocks. The price jumped to 30 rupees a pound. For SALT! We could hardly believe it! We sold all but one of the five pound blocks, and by then, the price was too high for most people to afford. The Royal Family became the only customer, and since their last order was 120 pounds, well, I imagine they haven't used nearly all of of it, even though that order was twenty years ago..." Darunia answered.

"So, wait...how much is a sixty pound block worth, now?" Link asked.

"HAW HAW HAW! Right now, the going rate is no less than a purple rupee per pound!" Darunia laughed, knowing even a Giant Wallet couldn't hold enough rupees to purchase a sixty pound block.

"So, why not break some of the bigger blocks into smaller blocks, so you can sell more salt?" Ruto asked.

"Well, that is a thought...however, when you break salt, you always lose a few ounces. This salt is far too precious to waste. We wasted about thirty pounds making the one pound blocks! Once we realized how popular it was, we stopped breaking it down for fear of waste," Darunia explained, helping himself to some cheese.

"Wow! This cheese is AMAZING! Even better than rocks! What is the secret to such strong flavor?" Darunia excitedly asked.

"Well, we've been aging that cheese for three years...this is all there is. I mean, we could make another batch, but it won't be ready for another three years," Malon explained.

"THREE YEARS!? So, you can only sell this cheese every three years? How can you profit from such a thing?" Darunia questioned.

"Well, it's like this. The longer you age cheese, the more mold it grows, so the less cheese you have at the end of the process. I can make a pound of cheddar every 18 months. I can make two pounds of cheddar every year. Or, I can start with a ten pound block of cheese and have three pounds of cheese at the end of three years, which is what I did here," Talon explained. "This here cheese isn't for sale. Yet. I wanted to test the waters, so to speak. See if it was somethin' people would be willin' ta buy. I've had offers for 40 rupees a pound, an' honestly? I couldn't see mahself chargin' much less 'n that, what with all that goes inta makin' it. Compare that to the 18 month that's currently our best seller, which goes fer 15 rupees a pound," Talon answered.

"A bargain at twice the price!" Zelda exclaimed. "I would like to place a pre-order for twenty pounds of this cheese, and will give you a down payment of 500 rupees now, with 300 rupees to be paid in three years upon delivery,"

"Well, now, you've got yerself a deal, Princess!" Talon shook Zelda's hand, and took the full Giant Wallet she handed to him.

"Oh! Listen! Malon, the band is playing your song! Let's dance!" Link exclaimed, grabbing Malon's hand and leading her to the dance floor. Link put his hands around her waist, and Malon put hers on Link's shoulders. They danced slowly to Epona's Song.

"Did you set that up?" Talon asked Princess Zelda.

"I may have pulled a few...strings..." Zelda replied with a smirk.

'This is...wow...I can't believe how beautiful she is! I'm the luckiest guy in Hyrule!'

'His hands feel so good around my waist...and look at his beautiful eyes! He's so...perfect! Why did he choose me?'

Link put his forehead against hers. "Malon? Are you alright?"

"Link...I'm perfect. Everything is perfect,"

"I know. I was just thinking the same thing,"

"The song stopped..."

And so did time, as Link stopped dancing and kissed Malon full on the lips in the middle of her sentence. The two just stood there with their arms around each other and their faces pressed together, content with just tasting each other's mouths. Then the cheering began, as all of Hyrule rejoiced in their love for one another.

At the end of the Gala, Princess Zelda said goodbye to each and every guest as they left the castle. Link and Malon walked slowly to the exit, not wanting the night to end, and so walked out last.

"Link, may I just say, this was the most wonderful Gala we've ever had, and you had a big part in making it special," Princess Zelda said.

"Princess, I only serve you. Anything that needs to be done throughout the kingdom shall be done in its best interest, by your orders," Link replied.

"Link...be with your future bride. I have no errands for next week that others can't handle. Please. Take some time off. If I need anything, I will send word. However, if I hear of you on the castle grounds before I have sent for you, I will have my guards escort you back to Castle Town. Do I make myself clear?" Zelda warned.

Link gulped. "Yes, my Princess,"

"Good. Now go to her, Link," Zelda ordered.

Link turned to the path, and caught up to Malon who was standing about ten yards ahead.

"Are we ready to go now?" Malon asked impatiently.

"I have my orders," Link replied.

Malon sighed, "Of course you do. What is it this time? Trouble in Gerudo Valley?"

"No...I've been told to not do anything but attend to you, unless I hear otherwise,"

"She's ordering you to take a vacation?!" Malon squealed with joy.

"That's about the size of it," Link replied.

"Come on, let's go home before she changes her mind! Race you home!" Malon ran through the gate, ran through Castle Town, ran over the drawbridge, and ran to the ranch with Link right next to her.

"Well, look who decided ta walk home...except, Malon...have yeh been runnin'? In that dress?"

"To be fair, Talon, we were BOTH running," Link answered as Malon struggled to catch her breath.

"HAW HAW HAW! Of course ya were! Couldn't wait ta get home, could ya? Although if that were the case, you'd a left with me an' rode on the wagon," Talon reasoned. "Ah, never mind. You two go off and git changed. We gotta make some cheese before bed! I got a hundred gallons of milk needin' ta be staged! Link, yer family now. You can help. Malon'll show ya what to do,"

Malon and Link changed clothes, then headed over to the latest addition to the ranch. A large barn-like structure had been built on the south east corner of the property, which was where the cheese and butter were made. Once inside, Malon lit a few lanterns.

"Ok, Link. What we need to do is, empty all the bottles in these crates into this marble vat, then cover the vat with this wooden lid," Malon explained.

"Um, that's gonna take a while..." Link realized.

"Yep! So, let's get started!"

Link started opening the crates, and as he opened them, Malon started opening bottles of milk and emptying them into the vat. Once Link was done opening the crates, he too started opening bottles and pouring them into the vat. After a while, the vat was full, and Link and Malon picked up the lid and placed it over the vat.

"That wasn't so bad," Link recalled.

"Well, maybe not to someone who has saved Hyrule from a dark lord...but for the average farmer..." Malon ribbed.

Link pulled her close to himself, and wrapped his arms around her. She gave him a startled look.

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" Link asked.

"I-I'm really not...I don't wear makeup. I don't have a huge chest. I'm just a simple farm girl..." Malon argued.

"Really? That's not what I see. I see a woman who doesn't need makeup to look beautiful. I see a woman who has all the right curves..." Link paused as he moved his hands down her waist, over her thighs, and up to the side of her chest, before resting back at her waist, then continued, "In all the right places. I see a woman with the brightest blue eyes and hair as fiery as her spirit. With the cutest freckles..." Link kissed her cheeks and nose, where Malon's freckles were most prominent, "And with the most delicate features one could ever find in any woman. That's what I see," Link finished his speech.

'Oh...my Goddesses...I'm so hot right now...I need him! Oh, but we can't...not yet...not until we're married...wait...' "Link?"

"Yes, love, what is it?"

"I-I...I need..."

"Tell me, love...what do you need?"

"I need...this..." Malon whined, placing Link's hand over her womanhood.

"Malon...we cant!" Link reasoned.

"Not all the way...but...I need release. I need to feel...something..." Malon elaborated.

"Ah, I see...I don't see any harm in me having a little taste," Link sat down in front of Malon, and put her skirt over his head.

"LINK! What on earth are you...oh...oh my...Link...whatever you're doing...don't stop...Oh Goddesses. What is this? This must...oh, wow...Link...Ah! Link! LIIIIINNNNK!" Malon screamed as she reached her orgasm and held Link's head between her thighs. She thrusted a couple times into his face then helped him stand up.

"Link! What the...? What was that?" Malon panted.

"Malon...you taste wonderful. Like oranges and cream. And you're so beautiful down there...like a pink flower. I can hardly wait until we're married, Malon. I'm going to be the happiest man in the world!" Link stated.

"Kiss me, Link..." Malon started.

"Uh, are you sure? I mean, you're going to taste...you..." Link hesitated.

"Kiss me. Now." Malon insisted, pressing her mouth on his.

"Mmmph!" Link tried to talk, but his lips were busy.

"You know, Link...you're right. Oranges and cream. Interesting," She turned and left the barn, leaving Link standing there, stunned into silence.

Eventually, Link left the barn, and walked back to the house. Malon was nowhere in sight. Link walked to the kitchen, and washed his face in the wash basin, then emptied it out the window. He took a pitcher out to the well, and filled it, then refilled the washbasin with fresh water. Then he went up to his room. Talon was still awake.

"What're ya doin' in here?" Talon asked.

"Um, getting ready for..."

"The hell is wrong with you?! Yer engaged! Go! Cuddle! Enjoy each other's company! Hell, as long as ye don't git her pregnant, I don't care WHAT ye do! Just...SHOO!" Talon chastised.

Link was shocked. "Um, alright...if you insist..."

"Oh I insist! Go ta yer woman!" Talon definitely insisted.

Link knocked on Malon's door.

"Come in!" she replied.

Link opened the door. "Um. Your dad said I should sleep here tonight..."