That same night…
The King shuffled down a castle corridor to the Royal Bedroom, his mind already imagining the cool embrace of the soft sheets and pillows. It had been a long and vexing day, and the Council sessions hadn't helped. The front of his belly was sore from being rubbed against the Council Chamber's Table all day.
He nodded to the guards in front of his bedroom door and entered. He had to open both doors to fit through. The room was lit by candles, and the Queen sat in a chair in front of a large mirror, slowly brushing her hair. The King quickly changed into his robes, discarding his clothes on the floor, and prepared to ease himself into the bed…
"Pick them up, Leon," the Queen called out without turning around. The King sighed.
"You never let me get away with anything, do you?" He stood to his feet and moved the clothes from the floor to a basket near the door.
"If I did, I wouldn't be a good Queen, would I?" she replied.
"I suppose…" King Leon made his way back to the bed, and with some effort, slid under the sheets.
"Leon… about the Zoras…" the Queen began.
"Stop," Leon interrupted. "I know what you're going to say. I told you before we got married that I was not a politician. I am a warrior. I have no place in the decisions of what happens within the country!"
"Yes, you do," the Queen sighed. "You are the King."
"Why can't you meet with the Council?"
"Because then you wouldn't be doing anything of value, and Kings must know how to run their country."
"I didn't ask for any of this," Leon looked to where the Queen still sat, brushing her hair. "You proposed to me."
"Oh, come now… what ever happened to that little boy that wanted to change the world?"
"He grew up," the King grunted.
The Queen stopped in mid-brush, then put the brush down on the counter in front of her. She stood and faced Leon.
"You know full well why I chose you, of all people, to be my husband. I gave you a choice, if you remember."
"That wasn't a choice! I could either marry you and die saving Hyrule, or not marry you and watch the whole world burn to ashes! I couldn't just say no, could I?"
"Yes," the Queen stated. "You could have said no. It was your choice to make."
"And look at the result! I'm a walking disgrace! I was a strong, proud Hylian…"
"You still are a strong and proud Hylian."
"I'm fat. I have the IQ of a Goron and the weight of three. Not to mention sterile…"
"And yet," the Queen interjected, "you are the only person capable of setting the events in motion that will save the kingdom of Hyrule. My visions are never wrong. Would you rather we hadn't married?"
The King was silent for a moment.
"No."
Another few moments of silence passed.
"I've learned not care what people think of me." the King sighed. "But I wonder what your subordinates must think of you for marrying me."
The Queen leaned over the bed with a smile, and gave his beard a quick tug. "You worry too much. And stop giving that young Zora a hard time. I know you're doing it on purpose."
"That young woman needs to learn how to deal with difficult people in an appropriate manner, without losing her head to her anger. It's important for a leader to be level-headed, and respectful. Even around people they don't respect."
The Queen, now dressed in her robes, slipped into bed next to her husband.
"Even so," she responded, "you shouldn't intentionally nag her."
"Fine."
They both quickly drifted off to sleep…
