Chapter 7- Link's Beard
A far-off rooster crow from Lon Lon Ranch signaled the beginning of the next day. Zelda drowsily rolled to face her husband Link. She usually had to wake him up with a kiss or he would sleep in until lunch. So she tapped his bare shoulder and whispered close to his face, "Wake up, my prince." Then she drew her face in and lightly kissed his soft lips. But suddenly her eyes shot open. Something didn't feel right. She knew it was Link she was kissing, but there was something different about him. She felt something strange and scratchy. Zelda couldn't stand the suspense any longer; she pulled away from the smooch and examined Link's face. When she realized what she had felt, she gasped. "Link, you have a beard!"
Link's eyes shot open. "I do?" he asked excitedly, feeling his face. "I do! Oh, this is awesome! I've always wanted to try to grow a beard!"
Princess Zelda cocked her head. "You have? You mean you're not gonna shave it off?"
Prince Link stuck out his bottom lip and looked at his wife with pleading eyes. "Can't I try it Zeldwy? I'll shave it off if you don't like it, but can't I have a trial period?"
Zelda lips curved into a warm smile. "Sure, why not?" she replied, playfully ruffling his sandy hair. Then she started to giggled.
Link's face turned concerned. "What? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she laughed. "It's just you look so cute! You look like a grown up prince! I'm sure my father will like it!"
"Yeah, but the important thing is: do you like it?" Link asked, raising an eyebrow.
Zelda brought her face close to his and whispered against his lips, "What do you think?" Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and forced him into a deep passionate kiss.
Link closed his eyes and accepted the kiss fervently. "Mmm…" He carefully unzipped the back of her nightgown and gently caressed her bare back. Zelda was aware of this, and the touch of his warm fingers made her melt. She now didn't mind the scratchy feeling of Link's beard. She was just glad to be his wife.
After a few minutes of intimacy, Zelda gently removed her lips from Link's, though the young man longed to kiss her forever. Then she started to plant small, light kisses around his mouth and on his chin and jawbone. He just lay there, thinking of nothing in the world but his lovely wife; and that he was so blessed to have her by his side all the time.
Though Link could never get tired of, or annoyed with his princess, he softly whispered for her to stop. "Zelda…Zelda…" But before he knew it, his wife's lips were on his again and kissing him more passionately than ever. "She doesn't know when to stop, does she?" Link thought fondly, running his fingers through her long silky hair. Princess Zelda soon lifted her lips off of his mouth, giving him long enough to say, "I should have grown a beard earlier," before she once again brought him into a sweetly intense kiss. They didn't stop kissing, even when their puppy Cookie jumped on the bed and started to lick their faces. But, seeing that they wouldn't separate, Cookie eventually gave up and curled up against Link's back.
Five minutes later, the door opened and in walked Impa and the king. Seeing that the prince and princess were ardently kissing each other, the king was about to interrupt when Impa said, "Shhh."
The king rolled his eyes and waited. For five more minutes. But they didn't separate. They didn't even acknowledge they were there. So finally the king had to interrupt them. "Ahem."
That did it. Link and Zelda quickly released each other and became aware of Impa and the king's presence. "Oh, I'm sorry, Impa, father, we didn't see you there," Zelda apologized, her face bright red.
"Yeah," Link agreed. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Five minutes," the king answered sternly.
Link turned to Zelda with excited eyes. "You know what that means, Zellie? We've been kissing for more than ten minutes! That's a new record!"
The princess shook her head. "Nuh-uh, Linky. You're forgetting the time we fell asleep kissing each other."
"Oh, yeah!" Link remembered, rubbing his chin. "I woke up with the sorest lips. I think you were biting them in your sleep."
"Well I didn't mean to!" Zelda protested.
At that moment, the king interrupted. "Enough!" he bellowed, throwing his hands in the air. He was about to proceed in what he wanted to say when he noticed Link's face. "Young man!"
"Do you like it?" Link asked eagerly, referring to his beard.
Seeing how excited his son-in-law looked, the king's eyebrows turned less angry. "It's alright. It does make you look more mature. But anyways! I came up here to inform you that you have a visitor."
"Really? Who?" Zelda asked curiously.
"That farm girl from Lon Lon Ranch," the king replied. "So if you want to keep your friends, I suggest you be dressed and in the breakfast hall in ten minutes." He and Impa turned to leave, when he suddenly turned back around. "Oh, yes, Zelda, one more thing…ZIP UP THAT DRESS!" Then he and Impa left.
* * *
"Where are they? Where are they?" Malon asked impatiently, tapping the marble table of the breakfast hall. Suddenly she noticed Impa walking by. "Impa!" she exclaimed, getting the Sheikah's attention.
Impa stopped at her table and asked, "Yes, Miss Malon?"
"Where are Princess Zelda and Prince Link?" the redhead asked anxiously.
"They should be here soon," Impa replied. "Are you in a hurry to talk to them or something?"
Malon looked down at the table, ashamed. She was hoping no one would notice her hastiness. "Sorta. Zelda has really good advice about…men…and I need her help."
"Oh," Impa realized. "You're having men trouble?"
Malon nodded slightly. "Yeah." She was about to open up to Impa when suddenly Link and Zelda appeared.
"Hi, Malon," Zelda greeted with a friendly smile.
"Yeah, hi," Link said.
"I'll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me," said Impa. Then she left the table.
"So what's up, Malon?" the princess inquired. Both she and Link took a seat and waited patiently for an answer.
Malon let out a long sigh. "I need your advice…about Vaati."
"Oooh, this should be interesting!" Link exclaimed eagerly.
"Why, did anything happen?" Zelda inquired.
Malon was silent for a moment before she began the story. "Well, you see, yesterday me and Vaati went on a picnic. And I said that if he needed help with anything that I would help him. And then he told me to close my eyes. And then he told me to close my eyes. And before I knew it, Vaati kissed me and ran off!"
Prince Link gasped and then suddenly started to burst out in laughter. Zelda elbowed him in the stomach. "Link, be polite." Then she turned to Malon. "Gee, Malon, I don't really know what to tell you. I'm guessing that he probably likes you. Do you know where he is?"
"No," Malon replied, shaking her head. "I haven't seen him since then."
"Oh," Zelda said. "Well, when you see him again, just talk to him and all. And if anything happens, come tell me, okay?"
"Alright," the redhead responded, a little disappointed. She then stood up and left.
"I wonder why she didn't notice my beard," Link remarked.
Zelda sighed. "I wish I could help her. But I wasn't in the same situation with you as she is with Vaati."
A/N: Dum dum dum! What will happen with Malon and Vaati? Find out in a few weeks when I hopefully write the next chapter!!!
