A/N YAY THE CHAPTER WHERE LINK THE TWINK FINALLY GETS TO CUM!

If you haven't noticed, I have changed the format of the story to list each part individually so it's easier to jump around in the order that I will be giving you all at the end of the story. I hope that makes it easier for you guys to follow.

Lastly, I've taken liberties with where Holodrum and Labrynna are located in relation to Hyrule based on the Breath of the Wild map. I headcannon that Holodrum is directly west of Hyrule, sharing the border of the Gerudo Desert. Labrynna, however, I believe to be north/northwest of Hyrule. It basically shares its border with Holodrum directly west of Tabantha across that huge canyon. I'd draw a map but I don't want to lol

Part Seven: Council

The sun rose differently the morning of the council meeting. For some reason it seemed... delayed. As if it was hearing Zelda's request to hinder the arrival of the selected interim council members for today's inevitable summit and the topic at hand: The Fate of Hyrule.

She rolled over onto her stomach and groaned, content to hide away in her old room until the end of time, but she knew she had a duty to fulfill. Unfortunately for her, it meant speaking with people she had barely met and requesting they support her proposed ideas for upcoming projects and policies she wished to implement, and more importantly her claim as future Queen of a long destroyed kingdom.

Easier said than done.

There was a soft knocking on her door, signalling her it was time to awaken, and she muttered under her breath that her dutiful knight had impeccable timing.

"And hearing, Princess."

"Shove off, Calatia."

The door opened and Link slipped in with a small tray. She noticed he was wearing his Champion's Tunic, which was uncommon as of late. Link was frequently favoring his nondescript Hylian Tunic or his climbing shirt when he was working outside. He typically only wore the offending shirt when they were meeting with village leaders or when they first arrived at the Castle, so the sight of that familiar blue only further reminded her of today's agenda.

"Omelet and fruit water, Your Highness."

Zelda sat up as he approached her bed, smooth and fluid like he always was, and she sighed, "You know I was joking when I said you were going to be my chef from now on, right?"

Link nodded and set the tray on her lap, a small smile on his lips. "Until you permanently find someone else, I'd be happy to do it. Besides, Stamm made the fruit water."

"How kind of him," she remarked with a snicker, Link joining her. She met his eyes with a grateful smile and quickly set to eating her food. Link wandered to the door again, slow and purposeful as he nibbled on an apple he had taken from his pack. There was a strange stiffness to his shoulders that she recognized was from unease, but not from her.

"Something on your mind, Sir Link?"

He turned to look from a painting on the wall to her and he shook his head. "Lots to do today, that's all. Many of your esteemed guests are starting to show up. Prince Sidon of the Zora swam in shortly before sunrise, and Teba of the Rito flew in shortly thereafter. One of Hoz's men, Oren, scouted a traveling caravan from the East, most likely housing the entourage from Hateno and Kakariko."

"Any news from the Gerudo or Gorons?"

Link nodded and tossed his apple core out the open window. "Yunobo arrived last night while you were sleeping. And from what I was told, Teake is coming in Riju's place, as the Chief has been wrapped up in a civil dilemma regarding two of her people accidentally marrying the same man."

Zelda grimaced. "May the Goddess protect her during the conflict."

Link smiled and he walked over to her closet. As he pulled out her dress and took out the diamond circlet she would be wearing with it, he added, "Anessa asked that I inform you that she and Ali will be coming mid-morning to help you dress. And she also is fine with you doing your own hair, but she draws the line at your dress because you can't tie the back by yourself."

At the statement, Zelda scowled and she pulled herself out of bed, pushing her nightgown down her thighs in the process. "Why did Impa insist I still use my old dress? Despite the fact that she kept it in perfect condition the past century, it is terribly uncomfortable and I can easily wear my traveling clothes to this meeting."

Link's unenthused face was almost hysterical. "Your traveling clothes are no more suited for this meeting than mine. Now Princess, I will take my leave so you may freshen up."

There was a twinkle in his eyes when he gave her a short bow and strode towards her door. Had they not agreed to be more private with their relationship, she would have suggested he help her. But alas, she knew what she was doing when she said they needed to be discrete and ease into letting their... circumstance, being known to the people once things were more stable. Unfortunately that meant bathing alone when in the Castle.

Now she just had to bathe, quickly fix her hair, and wait for Anessa and Ali to show up to help her dress. Then, at high noon, the summit would begin.

By the time her hair was braided and her dress tied into place, Zelda was ready to run away. As she slid Link's diamond circlet on her head in lieu of her missing crown, she made her way to the door. He was there to met her outside of her suite, an achingly familiar sight amidst the wreckage that was her home, and began to lead her to the gatehouse where the summit would be held. As they walked, he murmured softly about the others who had arrived, including Bolson and Beedle for input as she requested. Dorian had come to represent the Sheikah in Impa's place. According to Link, Impa had initially asked Paya to come in her stead, but the young girl nearly fainted at the thought.

As for others representing the people of Hyrule, Reede of Hateno and Rozel of Lurelin had agreed to come on behalf of their villages, which made the entirety of her summit table reach ten, including Link and Hoz standing guard at the entrances to the gatehouse. She steeled herself at the thought of addressing them all, feeling quite out of place despite learning how to do this her whole life.

When they reached the archway to the gatehouse, Zelda felt herself shiver. On the trip up to the Sanctum when she first confronted Ganon, Guardians had been stationed above the pillars and had stared her down as she passed through, their empty glowing eyes pinned on her, but not attacking like they had to Link. Their absence - an adamant request on her part - was more jarring than she thought it would be. All that she had done up to that point was to move on from the destruction of the Calamity, but it seemed everywhere she looked, they would still be there in the back of her mind.

Link let her walk through the archway first, and she noticed his eyes had darted to the same place hers had just a moment prior. The dull ache in her heart increased when she remembered his journey through their home before they defeated Ganon. He still saw them up there, too.

As she strode into the gatehouse, her breath steeling, the other members of the informal council rose from their seats at the long table. She walked to her place, a seat salvaged from what had been the Queen's boarded-up study near the Sanctum, and she nodded at the people present. Though the table was wide enough for two people to sit at each short end of the table, on her side was just her seat. It would remain that way until she marries and her King takes his place to her right. The empty seat to her very right at the corner was glaring in pointing out that fact. Next to the empty chair sat Prince Sidon of the Zora with a welcome and comforting grin on his face. To his right was Teba of the Rito in Kaneli's place, and Reede of Hateno sat at the far corner. At the end of the table was Bolson and Beedle, her consultants, both seemingly nervous about their duty in the meeting. On her immediate left was Dorian of the Sheikah, another tradition instilled from ages past, and to his left was Yunobo of the Gorons in Bludo's stead. Teake of the Gerudo and Rozel of Lurelin sat at the end, rounding out the group she invited to her dilapidated home.

Link stood behind her to her left, and Hoz stood guard at the other entrance. He smiled reassuringly at her as she reached the table.

"Please, be seated."

They followed her soft command and she rounded to the front of her chair. She looked at all of them, remembering their faces from her travels with Link. Teake had been a surprising inclusion, but she recalled when Link introduced them and claimed she was one of the best fighters in all of Gerudo Town, with a shrewd mind to match. The fact that his comment made the woman blush over her veil was a delightful addition, and a fond and soft memory of the otherwise rough and tough woman.

"I would like to thank you all for coming here today," she started. Her words echoed in her head, all in the tones of her father's voice when he brought together the Champions for the first time. She closed her eyes and took another steeling breath. Link's presence behind her was a comfort, as always, and she drew from him and his strength to calm her shaking hands. "I understand a lot has changed in the past months, and I appreciate all of your willingness to come and discuss the path Hyrule will be taking from now on. As a customary note, I must inform you all that the information discussed and shared today is expected to be relayed to the leaders of the respective races, due to the informal nature of this council meeting."

She met the eyes of every being in the room. "I am Princess Zelda Eugenia Hyrule, Goddess Blood Princess, High Priestess of the Goddess Hylia, and rightful heir to the crown. After the defeat of Calamity Ganon, I have traveled the far spreads of the kingdom of Hyrule, meeting all of you in my journey, listening to the woes of the people and doing my best to aid in the reparations of this ruined kingdom. Now that the settlements are being rebuilt and our borders are being opened once more to our neighboring countries, it has become time to consider reinstating many of the lost... practices the monarchy had in place."

"Such as, Princess?" Reede asked. She looked to him, silently requesting he continue with the reasoning for his inquiry, and he did with a sigh, "The people of Hateno have, for the most part, remained untouched by the events of the Great Calamity. We have flourished in the time since. What I'm basically asking is, will we have to change our ways to accommodate to the practices by a defunct monarchy?"

At his borderline-pretentious tone, Zelda nearly seethed. But she remembered her training in her youth, before the training for her Golden power overtook any other priority, and she held her tongue. Instead she smiled and clasped her hands together at her waist, like her mother had when she dealt with people who, despite their tones, were overly defensive.

"I do not intend to make the citizens of Hyrule change their lifestyles," she started as she slid into her chair. "From what I gathered in old tomes found in the Castle, many practices that were in place when King Rhoam was ruling are still being implemented today. Taxes were paid to the crown through the Duchies, but since the Duchies are all gone the funds have remained in each settlement to be recycled back into their towns. Since the value of rupees has not changed in the last century, it's safe to say if taxes remained in place, then that will be a nonissue in that regards of having enough to cover what would have been owed.

"What I plan to do is reinstate the formal system for collecting taxes instead of letting them sit in town treasuries. Because most settlements have been recycling the funds back into their town to repair damages and to maintain infrastructure, many parts of Hyrule have been neglected due to the lack of formal funds in unincorporated areas. The treasury had more than enough to fund any projects that needed the most work, but there is still much to do."

"I would recommend having the village leaders or someone elected to the part to act as the informal heads of each providence," Sidon chimed in. Zelda turned to him and felt relief at his suggestion. "Before the time of the Calamity, that was, for the most part, the practice. The Duchy was more of a formality than anything else, just a way to fill the court and for the King or Queen to have eyes all over the Kingdom. Now that the population has dwindled significantly, that doesn't seem to be something that is absolutely necessary. It wouldn't be as much of a hassle to add the responsibility to the leaders in each area, considering the lack of populace outside of the villages, themselves."

"What of the providences without many villages or settlements?" Teake asked. "From the old records, there are only six main providences that a Duke or Duchess oversaw. Now that the population is much smaller than it was before, there will be entire providences that have no villages or settlements at all, aside from the stables. Do you intend on keeping the old providence lines or creating new ones?"

Zelda hummed, thinking back to what Link had mentioned to her when they passed the Lost Woods and the ruins of the Rauru Settlement.

"Although no one lives here anymore, it would be wise to rebuild over the destruction. Wipe it away so Ganon's presence no longer exists."

"Eventually people will live in those areas once more," Zelda replied. Her fingers wove together under the table. "In the words of a brilliant friend, it would be wise to rebuild over the destruction. We will implement someone in charge of the abandoned providences, and in time there will be more they can do once the Kingdom is back on its feet. It may not happen in our lifetime, but it will."

"And as for infrastructure?" Bolson inquired. Zelda looked to him with curiosity. "You told me in your letter you were in the process of planning the rebuilding of bridges and roads that link the land. When were you going to start that project?"

"After the existing settlements have finished their requested repairs. That project will begin alongside the repairs to the Castle and Castle Town."

"And of the stables?"

"They are currently being funded properly with the treasury for repairs and expansion. From what we estimate, all the specified additions for all stables will be done in a month's time."

Bolson seemed satisfied and nodded. "Reasonable enough. As for any future requests, have you decided on a system for that?"

Zelda nodded and reached under her chair for a tome she had left there for this specific discussion. She opened it to a ledger and started, "When my father was still King, there was a mail carrier system, organized and carried out by the Rito." She nodded to Teba and he gave her a small grin and nod in return. "With this system in place, it was easy for the people of Hyrule to formally request monetary grants through the treasury in the mail instead of coming all the way to the Castle to request audience with the King. Once received, the King and Minister of Treasury would discuss the request and either accept or deny it. From there, the Minister of Treasury would be in charge of getting the funds to where they were needed. I intend on doing it that way, because with the nature of this Kingdom and its size, it will be hard to maintain a less formal way of approaching these types of requests.

"That being said, I would prefer not handling every single thing on my own, so I was going to start accepting nominations for the five Ministers: Treasury, Infrastructure, Trade and Commerce, International Relations, and Defense."

"Isn't the Minister of Defense typically held by the spouse of the Head of State?" Rozel chimed in. All eyes went to him. "At least, that's how it was when my grandfather was leader of Lurelin. He said the King took care of that, even when the Queen was in power."

The eyes went back to Zelda. She swallowed. "W-well, until that position is filled, it will be my responsibility to take on those duties."

"You can't technically do that if you are not Queen, Princess Zelda," Dorian stated softly. She looked to him, feeling despair at the situation start to thrum in her veins. His reassuring look did nothing for her nerves. "The Sheikah have been wise to retain many records since the destruction of the Kingdom, and one bylaw is clear: A Princess Cannot Rule the Kingdom of Hyrule. It has happened before long ago, but she was of age and her parents had recently passed. Before you can take on any more responsibilities, you will have to consider the fact that you will have to become Queen of Hyrule first. A kingdom cannot be strong without a true monarch at her head."

Zelda looked to the grains of the table and sighed. She knew this was coming, but assured herself that she would not become Queen until her Kingdom was back in order. There was still so much to do, so many things to finish. She couldn't become Queen and have a celebration over it before her people were safe and happy.

In the back of her mind, she also felt a huge sigh of relief. Luckily for her, the law that required a Princess to be married before becoming Queen was abolished with the same Princess that Dorian had just mentioned. Bringing that onto the table would be a discussion she wasn't quite ready for.

"Princess Zelda, if I may, goro?"

She looked up and met Yunobo's beady eyes. He looked as unsure as she, but he mustered up enough courage - his face contorting like Daruk's would when he was forcing himself to be brave - and he said, "The Gorons will follow you, Queen or not. Big Boss says you fought to protect us for over a century against that big cloud of smoke. If that doesn't prove you're strong enough to lead us all, then I don't know what will, goro."

"At this point in time, being Queen is just a formality," Sidon added. He smiled at her when she met his eyes and he continued, "The people of Hyrule know who you are, and what you did for us. Some of us already consider you our Queen."

There was some muttering from the opposite end of the table, between Bolson, Reede, and Rozel, and Zelda frowned. From behind her, she heard Link shift, which was a huge surprise. Usually he was as silent as the Sheikah. If she could hear him, he was being deliberately noisy.

"Gentlemen," she called out to them. All three heads turned to her. "Is there a problem?"

Bolson cleared his throat, glaring daggers at the two other men, and he spoke up with a flippant tone regarding the other two, "They do not believe that you are the rightful Queen. After all this time, they have been content with their ways and are unwilling to change. Even if you come back into the picture."

Zelda turned her eyes to Reede, feeling the contempt towards him from earlier fester under her skin. "You do not believe my claim as to being the Goddess Blood Princess and heir?"

Reede sneered at Bolson, then turned a calmer, gentler face to her. A façade, she believed. "My apologies, Your Highness, but it's very hard to believe you remain this youthful and alive after apparently battling a malicious manifestation of evil for a century. Your appearance is believable to what the legends say you looked back then, but to be so young and vivacious after all this time is a little... what is the word... deceitful. We just feel that we may be getting duped into falling into a false order and lining the pockets of a scam artist."

There was a sharp inhale of breath from both Sidon and Link. She glanced over her shoulder to see Link had moved to her right, a step closer and his eyes narrowed at Reede. When he moved his gaze to her, it softened and he gave her a small nod. That was all she needed. Slowly, she stood and began tugging her glove off of her right hand, one finger at a time.

"Mister Reede," she started slowly, her voice as dangerously low as she could muster. Her eyes lifted and met the aforementioned man's across the table. "I can understand your suspicion. After all, most Hylians that are alive today weren't around when the Great Calamity struck. In fact, off the top of my head, the only ones who have living memory of the event are Zoran and Sheikah."

She raised her hand, showing Reede and the rest of the table's inhabitants the back of her hand where the Triforce glowed dimly under her skin. "I have been blessed with the blood of the Goddess Hylia, from a line that has remained strong since the inception of this kingdom many millennia ago. Blessed are the ones chosen by the Goddesses, and with my sacrifice for our kingdom came a gift: life after the Calamity. Hylia chose me to be her avatar in Hyrule's time of need, and in gratitude she let my body remain in stasis, immortal in my fight against Ganon."

Zelda willed her power to show and soon the whole gatehouse was lighting up with the proof of her power. Faintly, in the back of her head, she could hear the Master Sword beaming with pride. There was no doubt in Zelda's mind that her Master was doing the same thing, albeit with a smugger look on his face as he looked down at the skeptics.

When the light died down, Zelda fought the wave of dizziness she felt and kept her eyes pinned on Reede and Rozel, who both took up an astonished and shamed look on their faces. Teake was looking at them with the best look of triumph and disdain, while Yunobo and Beedle had the most awestruck smiles that it flattered her deep to her bones.

As for Teba, Sidon, and Dorian, the pride they had when they looked at her was enough to help her keep her ground. From behind her, she hoped Link had the same look on his face.

"Well I think that clears it up," Bolson declared with a clap of his hands, immediately breaking the tension that had filled the room. He smooth transition to the prior subject made Zelda bless him one hundred times in her head. "As for the Ministers, I do believe Mister Beedle would be excellent for Minister of Trade, considering he's the only salesman in the whole land of Hyrule that has been able to keep prices down and maintain a profit."

Beedle gasped from Bolson's right and buried his flushing face in his hands. "Oh, thank you!"

Zelda smiled at both of the men, grateful for Bolson's quick change of the subject and Beedle's sincerity. "Thank you, Bolson. Beedle has been recommended for the position by a multitude of people, including Sir Link. As for the Minister of Infrastructure, there has been one nominee thus far and he has been put forth by several people already."

"And who's that?" Bolson's curiosity and somewhat bitterness was poorly veiled.

"You."

"What?"

From behind her, Link snorted.

She felt triumphant and looked to the others at the table. "If anyone objects to these nominations, please speak now."

Silence greeted her. With a smile she tapped the table with her fingers and began slipping her glove back on. "Very well. As for Treasury and International Relations, do any of you have recommendations?"

Teake lifted her hand and cleared her throat. "I do have a suggestion. There is a vai of my people who travels frequently, Ramella. She has a knack for keeping track of her ledgers and funds when she trades for jewels, all the way down to the last green rupee. She's a walking, talking abacus."

"And where is this Ramella?" Zelda asked as she grabbed a pen and wrote down her name on a slip of paper.

"Goron City, goro," Yunobo spoke up. When Zelda's eyes moved to him, he smiled. "She's been looking for rare gems lately, even when Rudania was rampaging about. She'll buy them for a higher price than most shops will, so whenever I have more than normal I take them to her. She's got a gift, goro."

Zelda hummed and looked to Beedle with a wry smile. "Maybe she should be Minister of Trade and Commerce."

Beedle's deadpan glare was enough to make her laugh, and soon the whole table was laughing along with her. After a few moments, she wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes and shook her head. "My apologies, but as it stands we will induct you as Minister of Trade and Commerce. Do not fret."

He smiled sheepishly then gave Zelda a firm nod before suggesting, "There's a woman that travels between Hyrule and Holodrum that could be the Minister of International Relations. She comes to me with products to trade and sell that are hard to find here."

"Holodrum?!" Teba snorted. "How does she get to Holodrum? As far as we all know, the canyon between our countries has been impassable for a century. Not even the Rito can pass it with a proper updraft."

"She travels by skirting around the Gerudo Highlands and crossing the narrow pass at the edge of the desert," Beedle replied, causing most at the table to look at him with disbelief. "It's true! She meets me at the Tabantha Bridge Stable every fourth full moon. It takes her about a month to get there, but she always comes back. She's even been to Labrynna!"

"Amazing!" Sidon exclaimed. "Someone with an extensive amount of knowledge about our closest neighbors must have some great insight to their customs."

"And architecture," Bolson added in a hum.

There were nods and murmurs of agreement and Zelda made to write down what she could about this woman. "And what is her name, Beedle?"

"Serta," Beedle replied. "Her name is Serta."

"Alright. With Ramella as Minister of Treasury and Serta as Minister of International Relations, are there any objections?"

Silence once more.

"I will write to them both and have them delivered in the next day's time," Zelda commented. She quickly jotted down a few more notes regarding offices in the Castle and more places for these people to stay, when she remembered the last thing she wanted to discuss in the meeting. "Onto the next topic of discussion, we have a full program for the newly reinstated Royal Guard. They will be finishing their training within the next two weeks and we will deploy them to outposts throughout the Kingdom. The ones staying in the Castle will be able to deal with the influx of people arriving in the coming months."

"For your coronation as Queen?"

She looked up to Rozel and frowned. Of course it would circle back to this. She sighed and fought the urge to rub her temple. "Yes. But I will not have my coronation in this Castle. For generations, the Royal Family of Hyrule traveled to the Temple of Time and held the ceremony there. With the damage that has been dealt to this place, we need to fix it up before I allow anyone to step foot in such a holy home. Once it is complete, then I will become Queen."

"My company can take care of that," Bolson offered. When Zelda met his eyes, he added, "My first job as Minister of Infrastructure."

"How long do you think it will take to complete?" Zelda hoped it would be at least another year.

"With the right materials and conditions, I'd say give or take two months. I'd have to get a proper look but from what I saw on the way here, it's a mess but not completely destroyed. It's the surrounding buildings that need the most work, but they might as well remain that way since no one ever goes up there."

"I suggest we go ahead and set a date for the coronation," Teba spoke up. Surprised by his suggestion, Zelda blinked a few times to rid herself of her shock and he continued, "That way they don't dawdle and the people of this Kingdom can move forward. Since you've decided to open the borders again with that bridge, people from other countries will be eager to see what they can take from us. Having no real monarch in power will make us look weak and vulnerable. The last thing Hyrule needs is an invasion because the Princess is not Queen and she has no real authority or army."

There were heavy truths in Teba's words, such truths she figured out herself when she first was deciding on whether or not she really wanted to take her place on the throne again. After all, now that Ganon was gone, Hyrule's only real excuse to not have tourists was gone with him.

"Then a real army will need to be built again," Reede said. "If Hyrule needs to be defended from forces on the outside, we need to consider reforming the military and setting them up at posts on the borders, bridges, and ports."

"Hyrule's population is too small to create a formal military of that size."

All eyes went to the man behind Zelda.

She turned and looked at Link, urging him to continue. He met her eyes and she could see him swallow nervously before he continued, "Before the Calamity and I was assigned as Princess Zelda's Appointed Knight and Champion, I was a Captain of the Royal Guard. My unit consisted of twenty-five officers alone, plus another fifty lower Knights. We barely have half of that number trained at the Castle right now, and unless you intend on having every able-bodied Hylian in the entire Kingdom enlist to the military, we still won't ever have the numbers we once had until the population rebuilds. And that can take generations."

"In that case, limit the places people can enter the country," Teake suggested. "No one dares to cross the Gerudo Desert. The last time we found someone out in the badlands, it was their skeleton and Holodrumian clothing barely clinging to their bones. The fact that woman Serta is capable of crossing Mount Agaat without struggle is a testament of how far she is willing to go."

"That being said, the bridge we are rebuilding in Tabantha has a lot of empty area around it," Zelda remarked as she took the Sheikah Slate from Link's proffered hand and flipped to the map. She zoomed into the area south of the Tabantha Tower and turned it around to show the others. "We can easily build a fort of some kind, one to process incoming and outgoing travelers, rent horses and caravans, protect the people. I can have a mass of soldiers staying there and hire on people to maintain order, like they would in the stables."

"Have you considered setting up a port for sea-bound travelers?" Rozel asked.

Zelda shook her head. "Not at this time. The seas are treacherous, and always have been. The odds of someone making it to our shores are slim, and the amount of border we have with the sea is expansive. Creating ports will be done later down the road, if at all."

She sighed and looked at the pages in front of her, where her hand had absently written Coronation? and she closed her eyes as she said, "As for my Coronation, we will plan it for the day of the sixth full moon, which happens to be the anniversary of Ganon's demise. It is two full moons away. Mister Bolson, would you be able to finish the repairs on the Temple of Time by then?"

Bolson nodded and took a note in his little book he kept on his person. "I'll wrangle up my boys and we'll get started first thing tomorrow."

"Be sure to clear a path from the Gatepost Town up to the Plateau. That town should be finished being built by the end of this month so all that needs to be done is connecting the paths. The one that was there before flooded and caved in but that can easily be remedied. I am certain you can take care of it."

"You flatter me, Your Highness."

Zelda looked to the others at the table. "Are there any other requests?" At their silence, she said, "I will be sending out correspondence regarding the Coronation and notes summarizing what we discussed today. All other matters can be further discussed at a later time."

There were murmurs of agreement and she quickly stood, the others at the table following her.

"I thank you again for coming here today. Your participation in this summit is vital in the rebuilding of Hyrule. Now, there will be supper served in the Dining Hall at sundown, and I will see you all then."

They all bowed as she moved away from her chair and started heading towards the exit. Link followed her, as he always did, and soon they were heading up the path and towards the towers that housed her rooms. The walk was silent, for which she was grateful, and she breathed a sigh of relief when they went inside and up the stairs to her wing of the Castle.

The moment her door was closed behind her and Link, she turned on her heels and smiled at him. "I am so glad that's-"

She was quickly silenced by Link's lips pressing against hers, urgent and heated as his hands cupped her head and held her against him. She melted into him, sighing as his fingers slid into her hair and snagged in her braids. The kiss was hard yet languid, slow and purposeful and hot as his tongue grazed her bottom lip.

When he pulled away from her, the kiss ending as a soft murmur, she opened her eyes to see him looking at her with so much admiration it made her face hot.

"What?"

"You did an excellent job today, Your Highness."

Zelda bit her lip and averted her eyes, her flush growing to the edges of her ears. "Yes... well. You don't typically congratulate a successful council meeting with such a... passionate gesture."

"Maybe I should," he chuckled softly. "Perhaps that's what you deserve for all of the hard work you've put forth since we defeated Ganon. I'm very proud of you."

Zelda managed to smile sheepishly and her hands fiddled with each other at her waist. "Are you sure I did a good enough job back there? I felt like they kept second guessing me and challenging everything I claimed and wanted to do..."

"If no one questioned a Queen, then her rule would be foolish," Link remarked. He then looked off to the side and sneered as he added, "Besides, Reede is just a pompous kind of guy. He puts on this nice face but he wants to get glory for holding down the largest Hylian settlement in the entire Kingdom. If it wasn't for me, that village wouldn't even exist."

There was a rough glare in Link's eyes, mouth pinched together in a disdainful scowl. He was right, about Reede and Hateno. Without Link and ultimately herself, Hateno would not exist. The pureness in the eyes of the children she saw in the village spoke loudly of his sacrifice, without which there would have been no lasting strongholds left in Hyrule. And unfortunately not many would believe that Link was the warrior that defended Fort Hateno until his last breath. Thus was the challenge of persuading the skeptics like Reede and Rozel.

"Regardless," she sighed, causing Link to look back to her and soften his gaze, "we have a lot of work to do. Firstly, we need to finish up with clearing out the Castle, then finishing the Outpost and Gatepost Towns so people have somewhere to stay during my Coronation, then there's the actual Coronation to plan-"

"Zelda, I think we need to do one thing at a time."

"Like what?"

Link chuckled and his hands moved to her shoulders. "Relax, first off. Then, think with a clear head."

Zelda's shoulders hunched up, pressing against his palms, and she huffed, "I can't relax now. There's so much to be done! So many things to oversee, the letters to write, the Coronation, the implementation of the taxes. It's a lot to take on!"

His hands squeezed her and he smiled softly. "Well, then why don't I help you take your mind off of it all?"

At the curious quirk of her eyebrow, Link stepped back and knelt in front of her - like he had a century before at the Sacred Grounds - and he bowed his head with his hand on his heart. "Princess Zelda Eugenia Hyrule, I swear my undying loyalty to you, to Hell and back, through all of your endeavors on the mortal plane and through the spirit realm. Like my soul is bound to the Sword that seals the Darkness, it is bound to yours until the end of time. That I swear."

When he rose his eyes to her, Zelda felt her heart leap into her throat. It was similar to the vow he had to make when he was knighted, right before he drew the Master Sword. All he changed was the direction of his sworn fealty, instead of to Hyrule but to just Zelda herself. Tears burned in her eyes and all she could do was nod in acceptance. Link grinned, but instead of standing he shuffled towards her, still on his knees, and grasped the hems of her skirts.

"Link?"

There was a wicked gleam in his eyes as he said, "I'm helping you relax, Your Grace."

His hand cupped her ankle and slid up her calf, slowly inching towards her thigh. His other hand mirrored the action, grazing her skin with deliberate slowness that had her weak in the knees.

"What if someone comes in?"

"I locked the door. Supper isn't for another hour, and I'm not cooking so we have plenty of time."

His hands reached her ass and he squeezed it before hooking his fingers in the waistband of her panties and sliding them down her thighs. After they were discarded, He quickly stood and swept her into his arms, causing her to yelp in surprise, and he carried her to her bed. Without a word, he placed her on the bed on her hands and knees, and he flipped her skirts up so they were bunched at her waist.

Zelda gasped when the cool air of her chamber hit her dampening womanhood and it mellowed out into a soft moan when Link's hands grasped her ass and he started kissing the backs of her thighs. Her hips tightened and she felt her back tense at the new sensation.

When he gave her another soft squeeze, he murmured against her skin, "Relax."

She did her best, letting herself sag into the plush material of her mattress and let go. As Link's mouth dragged up the backs of her legs, her hips thrust upwards and gave him a plentiful view of her womanhood. His chuckle was low and rough, just enough to make her quiver, and he dove in.

The moment his mouth closed over her lips, she shuddered and sighed. He was cool against her folds, as if he had just taken a long drink of cold water. His tongue spread her wide and lapped up the wetness that was already building. When his tongue darted into her, his hands squeezed her cheeks and pulled her hips closer to his face, grinding her clit against his chin.

Her cry spurred him on and he moved his tongue down to her clit while his finger quickly slid into her.

"L-Link!" she keened as he added a second finger. Her hips shook and ground against his face in time with his fingers, meeting him thrust for thrust. Her head dropped to the mattress and she wished she could do something for him. Maybe she- "Link, stop. Wait a moment."

He stilled and as she looked over her shoulder, she could see him looking at her from over the curve of her ass with the most curious and confused look on his flushed face. The shininess on his chin made her blood rush.

"Let me help you relax, too."

His eyebrows shot up and he licked his lips. "You're still wearing your dress."

"I can do what you're doing," she suggested, flushing at her own boldness.

"But I want to..." He trailed off and his hand kneaded her ass again, thumb dangerously close to her - ahem - other entrance, and he shrugged. "I don't want to stop."

"We can do it at the same time."

At his unconvinced look, she rolled over and sat at the edge of the bed with Link kneeling on the ground between her legs. Her throbbing center was aching for him to continue, but she had to return the favor.

"Lay on your back, I'll straddle your face and take care of you while you take care of me."

His cheeks turned red and he cleared his throat, hands grasping her bare thighs as if he was trying to ground himself. "You're still wearing your dress."

Zelda smiled and leaned forward to give him a soft kiss on his lips. Her taste lingered and made her throb with want once more. "I can move it to the side. As long as you finish on yourself or in my mouth, we should be fine. Now, lay down."

He followed her gentle command and stood. His erection was straining against his trousers, pushing his tunic out in an almost comical looking tent. He pulled the pants down as he laid down on her bed, shimmying them down his thighs and pulling up his shirt to give her complete access to him. Her mouth watered and she gathered her skirts to the side as she crawled across the mattress to his face. After one more lingering look in his dark eyes, she swung her leg over his face like he was the saddle for her horse, and she leveled her own face over his crotch. The second his tongue dragged up her folds once more, she lowered her face to his erection and wrapped her mouth around it.

Link's hips stuttered the moment her lips wet him and his sigh cooled her entire hot center. As she licked and suckled on him, bobbing her head up and down his shaft and stroking where her mouth couldn't reach, Link slid his fingers back into her and started thrusting fast as his tongue and mouth worked her clit. They both kept even pace, every bob of her head matching the thrusts of his fingers.

The telling sign of an oncoming orgasm was hitting her: the flushed face, the panting breath, the tight and pleasurable sensation deep in her lower belly, the ache of her lips that was only slightly quelled by his passing tongue. Her moans vibrated down his shaft, causing him to flex up into her and go deeper into her throat. The onslaught of sensations was becoming too much, her cries muffled by his throbbing cock, and the second his fingers curled and his tongue and teeth bore down on her, she came hard.

She kept stroking him through her climax, mouth sucking instead of moaning and hips grinding down on his face. It pulsed through her, wave upon wave hitting her nerves and heightening every brush of her clothed body against his. Link kept languidly kissing and licking her, slowing down his pace and removing his fingers from her, and caressed her folds while she continued to service him.

Her spit dripped down her chin and covered him entirely, acting as the perfect lubricant for her hand. As she sped up, his breaths came in hotter and faster pants. He groaned against her swollen and sensitive lips and she gasped at the quick return of her arousal. He kept lapping at her, taking in every ounce of cum she let out, and she moaned hard around his shaft.

His mouth broke away from her, fingers taking up the furious pace that his tongue had used, and he started gasping, "Z-Zelda, I'm- I'm- aah!"

With one last suck, she felt him flex and throb in her mouth before suddenly something hot and sticky hit the back of her throat. She fought the urge to gag and instead swallowed it down as it came out in bursts. Her hand slowed and she sucked out every last drop of the tangy and bitter fluid. She felt Link gradually soften in her hand and his gasping was replaced with soft panting, felt keenly on her damp folds. As she removed her mouth, she gave him a little kiss on his head, causing him to jerk back a little.

"S-Sorry," he whispered. "It's a little sensitive."

"Mine too," she giggled as she swung her leg off of his face and laid down on the bed.

"Careful," Link said as he sat up and looked down at her. "Don't want to wrinkle your dress."

Zelda wiped her spittle and the remnants of his orgasm from her chin and wiped it on her duvet. "No one will notice. Now, let's get going. Don't want to be late for supper."

He gave her a nod, his private and satisfied grin still on his slightly flushed face, and stood. He quickly pulled up his trousers and tied them into place before tugging down his tunic and settling his belts. As Zelda pulled herself off the bed, Link bent over and picked up her discarded underwear off the floor.

She let her skirts fall to the floor, miraculously wrinkle-free, and she met Link's eyes as he straightened up and walked towards her. With a deviant glint in her eyes, she walked past him towards the door. Over her shoulder, she said to him, "Leave the panties."

The hungry and lustful look in his eyes was enough to keep her bold and proud throughout the entire supper.

tbc.