AN:
Hello! I am still not Nintendo. I'm also no good at writing combat, so sorry.
Neo Aguni: Perhaps.
Super-mega-punch: Good, you're supposed to.
Revali won the archery contest, no surprise there. And now, it is time for the swordplay competition.
"Zelda, would you please read the names of the first two contestants?" Father asks.
"Yes, father. Sir Mord Eanlac and Baron Ernest Mildoina." It's a quick fight. The knight takes down the Baron in only a few minutes. "Lady Urbosa Nabooru and," I have to pause for the Gerudo to quiet down, "and Lord Link Cavaleiro."
"Really?" Father asks.
"Yes." I nod. Yes, already.
"The final fight is going to be very boring." He comments. He's right, every year, this is the most interesting fight.
Link and Urbosa exit the "barracks" from opposite sides of the arena a few minutes later. They walk to the middle, shake hands, and turn to us.
"Ready?" They unsheathe their weapons and put their shields on their arms. "BEGIN!"
The reaction is immediate. They launch at each other. They're too fast for anyone to tell what really is going on. Weapons clang against each other, and shields bash together. Grunts and yells echo around the arena. I don't really know what's happening, but almost twenty minutes later, Link has his blade at Urbosa's throat.
"I concede!" Urbosa announces. Link sheathes his sword and helps the Gerudo up.
"Congratulations, Lord Cavaleiro." The two walk off, Urbosa grabbing Link and draping her arm over his shoulder. They're smiling and laughing as they leave.
The third fight of the next round is Link versus Narkell's son. "Lord Link Cavaleiro and Lord Simon Narkell." This should be fun. The two men enter the arena and walk towards the middle. Link holds out his hand to shake the man's hand. He doesn't get a reply. Link lets his hand drop and turns towards us.
"Ready? Begin!" Simon is naïve. He instantly swings at Link. Apparently, he tried very hard to hurt Link's pride, because instead of just stepping to the side, Link backflips over the blade. A second later, Simon is on the ground, unarmed, and with two blades at his throat. After he started jumping, I could see Link move, but no one else could. I saw him flip and rush the boy, grabbing his weapon out of his hand and kicking him over. I've seen him do that before, it's an ability the Triforce gave him, which is why I can see it happening, and no one else can. It's also something that no one else knows about. They know that he's fast, but the slowing of time for him thanks to the Triforce is something that we want to keep quiet about. But sometimes he can't help it, instinct takes over, and it happens.
"That's cheating!" Simon declares.
"What are you talking about?" Father asks.
"I didn't see him move! He must be using some magic!"
"Just because there is something that you cannot understand, does not mean that it's magic." It is in this case, but Link can't really help it.
"You wouldn't allow this to happen if he were not your daughter's suitor." What is with the Narkell's?
"He beat you using his own skills, concede or I will have you removed and banned from this festival." Please do it anyways.
"I concede." Link removes the blades from the boy's throat and offers his hand. Simon swats the hand to the side and storms off.
"Congratulations Lord Cavaleiro."
The rest of the fights are relatively uneventful. Though one woman gets sliced across the arm. Apparently, the protective sealant wasn't applied thickly enough on one part of the blade.
But, Link won and was unharmed. He easily cut down every challenger.
Now, Link has cleaned himself as best he could, and we're currently walking around the festival, looking at the different vendors, laughing, and just generally having a nice time with the champions, Impa, and their families.
"You did very well. I am proud of you." My head rests on his shoulder.
"This is the sixth time I've done it."
"And probably your last." Once we wed, he won't be able to compete any more.
"Probably."
"Do you think that you'll miss it?"
"Considering that the last year and the year before that, I only did it to get a kiss from you? No."
"What? Really?"
"I didn't have anything to prove anymore, I just…wow that sounded creepy."
"Is it less creepy if I admit that I only looked forward to it for the same reason?" I offer.
"A little bit."
"Why did you do it this year?"
"I'm bored." His shoulder shrugs beneath my cheek. "It gave me an excuse to have less lessons."
"After this year I probably won't be kissing the winners anymore."
"Good."
"Are you jealous? You shouldn't be. You get to kiss me whenever you want."
"That I do." He takes advantage of this and gently turns my head to face him, pressing our lips together. Several people groan, and we pull apart to laugh.
"Could you at least warn us so that we can look away?" Revali gripes.
"Please." Mipha's small voice follows. I don't think she meant for us to hear that.
"Sorry." I give the girl a sad smile. She's getting better. She's being present for much more and will now look me in the eye.
"You two are disgusting. It's cute, but it makes me sick." Daruk informs us.
"You're married!" Link cries. "With a child!"
"As am I, but I don't want to see that either." Sauron reminds us, Siriah (his and Urbosa's daughter) latched to his hand.
"I'm fine. I've worked too hard for this to not see the fruits of my labor." Urbosa. Why? Why must you be this way?
-oOo-
Later that night, when we have already returned to the castle, Link and I are walking through the gardens.
"Would you like to dance?" He asks once we reach the clearing we practiced in.
"I would love to." I take the Sheikah Slate from my hip and open the music files. "What dance?"
"The Garnell." The first one I ever taught him.
"Okay." I click on the file, and a few seconds later the music begins.
"It's been a few years, I may mess up." He admits.
"You'll be fine." I assure him, and we begin. We sweep around the garden. Our graceful turns and in-time steps make me feel like I'm floating. I do love dancing with him.
Soon…much too soon the song ends. He bows deeply and kisses my knuckles, but he keeps going. He stops when one of his knees hits the ground. What is he-
Wait.
I know.
I know what he's doing.
Good job.
He pulls out a small box and flips the lid. "Princess Zelda Minerva Hyrule, will you marry me?"
"Yes." I feel like my smile may break my face. "Yes, I will marry you." He slips the ring over my finger and stands. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He kisses me, long and slow. I'm sure that we would continue longer, except people start cheering and clapping. He pulls back and rests his forehead and nose on mine. "Was that enough of a surprise?"
"Close enough." I drop my head onto his shoulder. "There's people." That last bit I whisper. We pull farther apart, still looking at each other. Our friends and family appear around us.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Congratulations!" Urbosa cries.
"Good job, little guy." Daruk pats my fiancé on the back. "I knew you had it in you."
"You are very fortunate." Revali, could you be nice to him once? For me? Please?
"Congratulations." Father smiles at us.
"Father." I hug him, not releasing one of Link's hands. Everyone takes turns congratulating us and hugging us.