When one takes the baton in a relay, passing from one runner to the next in hopes of reaching the faraway goal through legacy, the two athletes become—however briefly—the same person in essence. Fulfilling the same role, providing the same actions, and most of all, seeking the same end; much the same could be said of Royalty, in the way it passed its duties down through lineage, each ruler seeking providence and peace for their country.
And much like athletes bore the same banner, as her father's baton had been passed to her—both literal and metaphoric—Zelda took to providing the next link in the chain with the same eclectic manner she often showed all of her endeavors; donning the cape he'd once worn.
Far too long for her small stature and trailing like the train of a wedding dress behind her, the crimson cape swayed aflutter to her gracefully swift steps as she marched down the hall. It swept the plush carpet that covered stone as a whisper, falling from slender shoulders as its ornamental clipping drew attention to a swanlike neck, golden curls feathering across the back of it. With the Royal crest upon its silken fabric, splayed out in a joyously proud gold, it brought many an eye to spy it ponderously; residents of the castle finding it an odd and perhaps, juxtaposed sight upon their Princess.
But with a glass jaw held high, their curious looks and scrutiny did nothing to sway Zelda's want to wear it, serene features bearing a smile that suggested she found nothing amiss.
There was a bounce to her today, something cheerful and relaxed, though a regal posture betrayed a new found sense of authority. Rightly so, it seemed, for the girl was headed for the council chambers in order to lend her voice to the approval of her marriage—a simple thing, a mere agreement on her part to terms her fiancé had already set forward, and the only flimsy barrier left between her and the event. This day marked not only the first time she would be seriously looked to as a leader, listened to and the words she said respected, but also would cement the days of a Princess firmly behind her.
She wore her father's cape not only for the posterity it would lend her, but the transference of his status as well—she was, in all rights, a Queen; perhaps this symbolic regalia may remind others of the simple fact, also.
As she rounded the last corner to see the high arching windows spill light onto her carpeted path, the ornate double doors of the council chambers in view with all the imposingly exquisite designs they bore, Zelda found herself sparing and odd thought as to how beautiful her home truly was. From the gardens—and her mother's roses—to the stained glass in some halls, the decadent colour of tapestries and painted landscapes, and all the features carved in the masonry; her home was one she didn't necessarily require to be content, though found impossible to under-appreciate.
And standing to receive her, ever attentive, was a man that perfectly captured the feel of home to her, himself.
"Any longer and I'd have thought you wouldn't show, Zelda. The old men are grumpy enough as is, without you trying their patience as well."
He never seemed to change—she was constantly adjusting, trying on a cape two sizes too big and kicking off shoes that now seemed too small, finding different ways to wear her own form; Shiek always wore the same looks, same attire, and of course, the same subtle smirk.
Her smile grew, sending him a fond look as she drew near, a slender eyebrow curving cheekily with a tilt of her head. "Well, they'll just have to get used to it. They never held qualms with my father for taking his time… at least not in a way that he was aware of… I should be treated no differently." she giggled then, and with a purposeful flick of her wrists, brushed the sides of the cape so that it would flare behind her. Crystalline eyes shimmered, bright and expectant as a coy curve played on her lips.
With a light tapping upon his bicep over crossed arms, the disguised Gerudo arched a brow at such a thing—he'd noticed the cape the moment he saw her, she didn't need to draw attention to it. If anything, it seemed flamboyantly out of place upon her shoulders, but then, he supposed she would expect him to tell her honestly what he thought or at the very least, gauge his reaction to it accordingly.
…She'd better not spend the meeting flapping it about like some child with a new toy, he thought, a tiny streak of embarrassment in him for such a notion. …Though, I suppose she hasn't a crown yet, so the cape is something of a stand in.
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, he humoured her, a cynical and slightly amused scoff drawing back his smirk; somewhat hidden this time as his crimson gaze flitted sideward to the window. "Why? Because you decided to make a fashion statement today…? Bravo, Zelda. Really, that intimidating shade of red should still send them all cowering." He couldn't help the snicker that followed, watching her delicate features twist into a pouting frown.
Her victorious sort of mood faded a little as the girl slumped some, arms limp at her sides as she eyed him with a look of apathy, returning his sarcasm nicely. "Just because you wear the same thing everyday, doesn't mean I can't add a new article to my repertoire every now and then." She sighed, shaking her head as she let it slide, and took satin gloved hands to her hips with a tired look. "This was my father's cape, Shiek. I'd have hoped you would recognize it."
Simply unable to hide his laughter—made impossible by the tight nature of his garb—he let it loose when he noticed Zelda's ire at the tremors in his chest. "It looks ridiculous on you. It's too long, it's the wrong colour, and clearly, tailored far too broadly for your shoulders, Zelda…" stifling it quickly, he coughed, clearing his throat as he regained himself and hiding the remnant grin behind a fist. "I mean… Of course, it is a wonderful sentiment, my Sweet, but really, this isn't the time for it just now."
Zelda gaped at him, pointed ears giving a twitch as if to confirm what he'd said, running over it twice for good measure. He hadn't really just told her to be rid of it, had he? Perhaps not directly, no, but the insinuation that he would prefer if she didn't wear it seemed clear enough, and it struck a nerve within her. Crystalline eyes narrowed, the fists on her hips falling to the wayside as she took a daring step forward to glare up at him.
"This is exactly the time for it, actually, given we're about to set a date for the wedding! My father would have given anything to be present for such an occasion, and I'm certainly not leaving him out of it if I can help it!" she cried, hissing like a cat in water as her arm swept back to grab the cape, holding a corner up to him in point as she frowned. "This is the symbol of a great leader. This cape signifies everything my father achieved, every day that he wore it, as a King; everything I would hope to match in him, and also, a reminder of where he succeeded as opposed to where he failed."
The supposed Shiekah blinked down at her, surprised by such a strongly held belief in the object, as he found the humour stripped from him to be replaced by a grimace and the furrowing of thick silver brows. With the way the girl carried on, he would think she required it to breathe inside the chambers behind him… but something was occurring to him that seemed a dangerous thought to entertain—once again, it seemed he was giving her far too much leeway, these little allowances of influence affecting her in strange ways. With the way she was talking of her father so fondly all of a sudden, clinging to this old cape as if it proved her own worth somehow, Ganondorf noticed that her opinion of the late King had shifted into a far more positive light.
Again, he was reminded of himself, seeing some of his traits reflected in her; but these were not favorable for him. Much like he had, when finally liberated from years of living underfoot of the Hylians, the girl seemed all too keen to flex newly gained powers. He'd caught it early, fortunately, but the similarities were there—a haughty Zelda, who thought herself a leader and took to such a role with an inspired appreciation of her predecessors, was a dangerous thing to his own hold on this country. As Queen, and the blood ruler of the land no less, her opinions in council could begin to hold more than his, and her orders may be taken to override his own should she not agree. He would outrank her as King, yes, but subtle differences in influence could circumvent that entirely, provided she stayed the beloved wonder of the people she was.
If her confidence grew too large, her role may overshadow his long before the cycle came to be, and given the movement of the would-be Hero, any slacking of his control whispered of dangerous repercussions; especially if Zelda decided to do things without his consultation, as he often did with her.
Well, then…he mused internally, a vicious streak of self preservation overcoming his affections for her growth, perhaps it is high time she and I discussed the makings of a true ruler.
Tucking it away for later, he offered her only a hint of such malice, carefully concealed within a dismissive look of what seemed to be hidden disappointment. "Very well, Zelda… wear it if you must. But if you think dressing the part will make any difference to the quality of your new reign, I would advise you not mention such notions to the council." He turned from her, hiding a cruel smirk as he caught a glimpse of her face falling, and settled a large hands upon the door handles. "After all, you know well how they feel about childish ideals."
The Princess paused, her heart plummeting as his words sunk in with a painful truth—he was right, at least, about the council's opinions. She couldn't quite tell if he'd insulted her in any of that, the crawling feeling under her skin seeming to suggest that he had, though there was every chance he was only trying to convey how others might perceive it. A soft and quiet sadness mingled with some confusion, like a child told they were too old for their security blanket, painted her formerly confident features as her gaze turned to the fabric she held still. She bit her lip as her eyes briefly traced the design emblazoned upon it, and suddenly, she did feel quite childish; Gods only knew what the councilmen might think of her, judgmental and withered faces stoic with disapproval, if she waltzed in 'playing dress-up' given the events of late.
Shiek was right, it was a lovely sentiment and something she might enjoy privately, but for the moment, it was out of place; not to mention potentially damaging to her if the council did not approve, she realized, rather than serving to cement her place as Queen.
"W-wait…" her head snapped up, a satin gloved hand snatching the back of his uniform to tug upon the cotton, halting him from opening the doors. "Can… you help me unclip it, please? I'll… I'll just carry it, folded, instead… you know, for the sake of decorum…" she trailed off weakly behind him, crystalline eyes down turned and bashful. "I still want something of him there, after all… Even if it is just a cape to hold his place…"
Smiling to himself with a dark satisfaction, he lingered only a moment more before his bandaged fingers slipped silently from the brass, turning back to face her with a much more welcome look in his eye; approving. "Good form, Zelda. You don't want to risk upsetting the favorable reception we've had thus far…"
A step forward let him take to the ornamental clipping, dexterous few movements taking his concentration as the Princess avoided his gaze shyly, the occasional glance given to the fingers as they worked to free her of the cape. The faintest shade of pink tinted her cheeks for their exchange, and as the spell of security was broken by the removal of her father's mantle, Zelda felt the nervousness she'd suppressed flooding back with a vengeful twist of her stomach. Her hands fidgeting to pick at the skirts of her dress, when her attendant brought the silken garment before her, she was quick to snatch it from him in order to hide the old habit; folding it over her arms to hide twitching fingers.
She looked something like a scolded child in that moment, the woman who had strutted forward to greet her fiancé banished by discomfiture, and the disguised Gerudo noted it with a carefully concealed nod to himself, pleased already with the result of a little heckling. It was always good to reaffirm that although Zelda's wisdom often put her in the realm of an adult, the child he first encountered was still present enough to provide exploitable weaknesses—it was perhaps a fact he didn't often admit, due to the sexual nature of their relationship, but at fourteen, the Princess was only barely into the advent of puberty and still swiftly growing.
As far as what she would become, though she was certainly on track, he still wasn't quite out of the woods yet; not until he had his full Power at his disposal to quell any other options the girl may decide upon.
With an expectant look, lifting her chin so as to catch crystalline eyes, the disguised Gerudo forced an amicable smile in order to placate her some. "Now then, if we can finally get this over with, I'll take you out to Lake Hylia for the rest of the day. It's been some time since we've spent a day out together, hasn't it?" he offered innocently, with a caring sort of tone; Besides which, if we're away from prying eyes, there won't be a scene after our little 'talk'.
Hesitant at first, the Princess still somewhat demoralized about the cape, her voice seemed tiny as her hands shifted beneath the material; a lost sort of look upon usually serene features. "Shiek… Do you remember how my father used to always have everything about me 'just so'?" she began, a tiny amount of sadness behind it.
Her pointed ears twitched some to the low growl he made, as if warning her not to pursue it as his crimson eyes sharpened their focus on her own, narrowing a fraction, though with him holding her chin to force attention she found herself unable to retract it. Drawing a slow breath, she continued quietly, blinking long lashes as her brows furrowed and her gaze flicked downward in thought.
"I understand, given it is the council, why you would ask me to remove it… But…" her eyes returned to him then, steeled despite her nervousness for the meeting. "When I am Queen, I will wear whatever I please… And though I love you, I won't let you micro-manage me as my father did, even if it would help me politically." Lips pulled thin, her head straightened further, pulling out of his hand. "I appreciate you looking after me, but sooner or later people are going to see me for what I am, and not what I present; whether that's opportune or not. That will help the quality of my reign."
A tense and private moment passed, the air around them growing thick with a flicker of wills as they clashed, and though it was not the first time they disagreed, it did herald a potency that most of their quarrels lacked; quiet and calm to betray the serious nature behind it.
The man was stoic as he, too, straightened to his full height, staring down at the girl with silence. His expression did not warrant anything dangerous, nor would it imply that he held any qualm with her wishes, without a single twitch to his features to read. But behind crimson irises, flashing gold in the light as it spilled inward from the windows, anger began to stir stronger than before.
If the girl did not wish to be 'micro-managed', as she so succinctly put it, then perhaps he would have to show her the puerile worth of her own decisions—how futile and useless they truly were—so that she would decide against them herself… before this streak of independence grew any stronger. He needed her to keep himself sane in this place, depended on her to cleave to him for her every choice and thought so neither of them would be led astray; the Gerudo craving the comforts she provided far more, it seemed, than the girl was beginning to need his. It was only a seed, fragile and unwatered as yet, that she bore. He could pluck it from her plains before it sprouted with ease, though this new penchant for rejecting his influences—even to small degrees—was interesting.
Where she once found the sanguine twisting of a father figure in him to turn to, now that they would be married, she wanted only a husband.
But she forgets her own ridiculous culture, his mind hissed; Queen or not, she is her husband's property.
Turning wordlessly from her, the double doors were wrenched open with purposeful force, the rough handling the latches received allowing a loud click to resound through the chamber beyond, mingling with the oddly dimmed musings of the men inside. Stepping forth with all the semblance of a King, Ganondorf let his gaze roam to judge their reception; a grand marble arch above the doors set the tone immediately, rows of wooden seating holding a small audience of scholars and elderly looking men at all sides, a factual and crisp atmosphere about them. Silence fell as the pair ventured inward, steps muffled some by the royal blue runner of carpet underfoot, and underneath the hollow eyes of effigies placing faces to the Goddesses themselves, a strict air of scrutiny filled the large chamber.
The Gerudo focused upon the ornate wooden throne, held high upon a dais with an inviting call of velvet cushion, and despite his previous train of thought, he cringed internally as he decided not to take it up. No, given the nature of this meeting, and the appeal resting upon Zelda's rise to formal Sovereignty, it was far more prudent to allow the girl—if only for the men watching them—to take her place there instead. At the helm he swept to one side to stand, casting a stern and watchful eye over all those gathered, as he held out a large hand for Zelda to take. Regaining a pleasantly happy smile, the Princess was quick to take the offer, delicate hand allowing his to guide her softly into the small throne as the folded cape was sat neatly upon her lap.
Fortunately, the skirts of her dress still hid bare toes well enough under their shadow, wiggling with simultaneous excitement and anxiety as the tiny digits were.
Crystalline eyes scanned the chamber with some wonderment, viewing it with an entirely new perspective—she barely even recognized it from this vantage, though she tried to recall exactly where she was. She felt so elevated, though the dais wasn't physically that high; small and isolated, put on a pedestal for close inspection and knowing any flaw, any mistake she made, would be obvious as she sat there. Her heart began to flutter with something akin to stage fright, her gaze flitting about with a frantic want to focus upon something, anything, enough to give her some stability in the sea of harsh and weathered faces. She had never really dealt with any of them, save a few of the elder members who had given their personal advisory to her father; often present when he chastised her as well—in fact, most of them invoked some sort of negative memory from her childhood in one way or another.
But then she spotted a familiar smile among the stoic cynicism, a loose bow tied at his thin neck and round spectacles bringing a shine to cheerful eyes. Sir Shadrian was a part of this council too, and she had his full support… and that alone seemed to settle some of the butterflies in her stomach as she found her voice at last, clearing her throat silently in preparation of her first address to the Privy Council.
"Gentlemen, I assume you all understand well the subject at hand, as I'm sure you were made aware while I received the honorable visitation of his Holiness, the Sage Rauru of the Temple of Light. There are a few matters to be taken into account here, and I would ask that no man here take lightly any issue with which they have also been made aware of, so that they may voice it within this meeting." Her head tilted upwards, regal as she mimicked the ghost of her father. "That aside, this is as much about pending threats of national security as it is of early marriage."
Though she thought she did quite well, unfortunately, Zelda found herself met with a myriad of odd looks and a stiff silence that pressed an awkward hesitation to her once again. Her eyes lingered upon the members gathered, before a careful glance was sent to the Shiekah beside her, a question in them as she noted the thinly veiled surprise upon his harsh features.
Oh, Gods, please tell me I haven't made a fool of myself already, she pleaded to herself, her hands restarting their idle fidgeting beneath the silken cape.
After a moment, her attendant leaned close to her ear, whispering with subtlety and holding back what sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. "…Usually, Zelda, one simply starts by declaring the meeting open, and giving your 'Honorable Counselors' your permission to begin."
"Oh." She breathed, a tingle of mortification swimming down her spine as the man pulled away, and swallowing the feeling, she decided to simply roll with the new pace she'd set as she willed her face to remain the pale colour it was.
"Shiek has informed of the usual proceedings that take place here…" she began again, glad for the fact that her voice did not crack with the volume she used. "Though, before this meeting is officially opened, I might add that I have never been, nor do I intend to be, terribly orthodox. The fact is, Gentlemen, that there is little room for tradition under the severity of what we face, and as I have been made aware of crucial details before this council, my role today among you will not pertain to simply approving Orders."
Her heart beating in her pointed ears as the various eyes stared up at her with stale expressions, she looked to Shad once more, and seeing the silent nod he sent her way, decided that she'd said enough to appease. "…Let us begin." She finished quickly, almost forgetting to say it altogether.
No sooner had she said it did a flurry of activity fill the stark room; shuffled papers, hushed whispers, and the dipping of quills, until finally, a stout man rose to catch her eye, raising his hand as he did so to adjust his notes. His clothes almost seemed to neat upon him for his large stomach, a gold pocket watch tucked neatly into his vest pocket to suggest an anal obsession with time keeping.
"I might commend you on an… intriguing start, Your Highness, though the first issue of business is one that the people have pressed upon us gravely." He offered in a self-important and nasal tone, drawing nods of agreement from about the room. "Under the careful deliberation of these esteemed members, we feel it is far too long in keeping now that the fugitive from justice, one Link Lonell, be kept a private matter settled only in the hands of the authorities. The public outcry for his execution is one that can no longer be ignored, nor provided until his capture."
Zelda's slender brow furrowed some, her attention immediately caught by this, but the Regent was quick to answer this matter before she could so much as part her lips.
"As I did brief you in our last meeting, cut short though I was by interrogations into that very affair, Chancellor, I recall leaving this chamber with the express order that a solution be presented when next the issue was raised." Came a firm and powerful tone, commanding and smooth as if the Shiekah could flatten the stout man with just his gaze, if he so chose. He stood waiting coldly for such a thing to be provided, and the unnerved chancellor seemed to shrink some, flipping through his papers quickly.
The Princess watched her fiancé with interest, the very mention of Link all but stricken from her as she found herself mesmerized by his suddenly dominating presence. The man stood firm, stepping once outward to bring himself to the forefront, the imposing muscle of his shoulders squared and hands held neatly behind his back in a military fashion. He'd barely done anything, and already the girl could see all eyes had turned to him, a quiet submission etching itself onto wrinkled faces. A part of her mind told her to take in everything about him, in this moment, so that she may potentially use some of his technique herself in future.
"Yes, Sire, of course…" the chancellor began, a little more humbly than before. "It is the suggestion of this council that his bounty be extended a further hundred thousand rupees, to be opened to the contracting of professional assassins and, as an added measure, a specifically delegated group dedicated to his capture. We have also found it prudent, given the evidence against her, that one Ashei Delmoran also be added to his bounty in accordance to the raised reward offered, or else fetch twenty thousand for her own exclusive capture."
Allowing a rather sadistic smirk to sweep his face, the disguised Gerudo waved a hand eagerly, gold flashing in his eyes as he did so. "Approved. Have the scribes prepare letters with the amended terms and send them to the outposts, and ensure wanted posters about the settlements are changed immediately." There was something greedy in the way he said it, rich like a contented purr and smug.
"Also, Sire, given the prowess witnessed of him, perhaps we may also amend his bounty to account for death in obtaining him?" came the voice of another member, rising quickly so as not to miss his opportunity.
The change was immediate, as almost every man flinched under the sight of a fearsome scowl. "As discussed previously, he is strictly to be captured alive. No more discussion will be placed on it." He growled low, eyeing the thin man so severely the offending member paled as he reclaimed his seat. "Was there anything else, Chancellor, or may we continue?"
The Regent needn't even look at him to receive a prompt response. "…No Sire, all other business was resolved in our last forum."
A grunt was all it took to close the issue as Ganondorf brought bulky arms to be crossed upon his chest, the imposing tap of fingers against the tautly covered bicep bringing with it a few looks of apprehension from below. The council, by this point, knew well of the Shiekah's temper; better known than that was his inability to be swayed or pandered to, and once the Regent had spoken, he remained resolute on all matters. Whether or not it eluded them all as to why Link's arrest could only be accepted with such a traitor brought back alive, of all things, it was not an issue to be challenged.
To Zelda's mind, turning it over in her head and inspecting it with a thoughtful pause, such an order did find some sense—she had expressed her wishes to kill the boy several times, though given Shiek's penchant for protecting her, she could easily guess he would not share this with anyone else. Morbid though it may have been, the thought that her fiancé would go to great lengths to see her own personal vengeance was satiated was one she found oddly sweet, and despite herself, a fond smile slowly found her lips.
Her attendant's gaze met hers briefly, a knowing look exchanged before Zelda put her smile to work on the others. "Well, then. I suppose that leaves the rest of this meeting in my hands." She chimed with a saccharine tone, playing off the lingering intimidation left by the man beside her. Tilting her head some, golden curls tumbled over her shoulder as she skipped straight to the issue, trying her best to borrow some of the Shiekah's presence.
"As I mentioned earlier, the visitation of a Sage betrays the danger lurking upon our horizons." Zelda let those words sink in some as she gathered her thoughts, thinking on how best to word it all, icy pink lips pursed. "As you all recall, Shiek's appearance and subsequent service to my family heralded a blessing as well as a curse, for he brought with him a prophecy, sent at the behest of a deceased elder of his clan. I don't doubt my father would have held a rather serious discussion as to appraise this council's up keeping with Hyrulian history… I should expect every man in this chamber to know well enough of the Great Cataclsym."
Much to her relief, the next member to stand was her personal favorite; tentative as he removed the small spectacles from his face to hold her attention.
"Quite right you would be, Your Highness, and I can personally assure my own hand in such an effort." Sir Shadrian was, at that moment, perhaps the most serious she'd ever seen him; the elderly scholar drew his lips thin, as if reluctant to continue. "…Though we have yet to be made aware of the content of your meeting with his Holiness, the bleak reality of it is, quite frankly, that his appearance did send a bit of doubt about our security running rampant through this chamber."
A slow murmur followed that as the wiry man sent a glance about the room, drawing a breath to steady himself as his colleagues showed some unrest. "We could infer for ourselves what was relayed, of course, but with your permission, Your Highness, I would posit we are safe in our assumptions that the Evil King of Old is making his return rather shortly?"
The Princess felt herself grow silent as the gravity of those words hit her again, satin gloved hands seeking to smooth the fabric of the cape in some attempt at comfort as she allowed a solemn nod. A slow blink of long eyelashes showed even her hesitance to speak of it so forthrightly with others, but she found her voice again if only for the fact it was Shad.
"Yes, Sir Shadrian. You would be correct." She winced some as unrest flooded the room, heated whispers of fear and desperation seeming to stem from the suspicion confirmed. Bringing up her hand in an apologetic and calming gesture, Zelda's voice was raised to ring clearly amongst the subdued panic. "Rauru has informed me, in no uncertain terms, that He has broken his bonds and his influence has been unleashed upon the world once again, though it is likely he is biding his time until the cycle begins on my sixteenth year. The Sage has given his blessing upon the recovery of the sacred artifact heralded for the Evil King's defeat in the last Era, so I would implore you not to take the false burden of blasphemy upon any of yourselves in that decision."
While all of this was being said, the disguised Gerudo found it difficult to keep a smirk from his face, artificially pointed ears drinking up the sound of fear in the hushed voices like a fine wine; savored and appreciated with a connoisseur's taste. To see the Privy Council quiver at the mere mention of him, even the most pompous and stringent of the men reduced to unsure hosts of paranoia, filled him with a satisfaction he could hardly contain; given such close glimpses into the inner workings of these minds, it would take no more than a well placed description of his intent to see hysteria claim the chamber.
Tempting as it was though, the councilmen were in a perfect state to capitalize upon the real issue at hand; nestled so nicely between a rock and a hard place now that the marriage would see no resistance at all. Cocking his head toward the Princess, the subtle rise of his brow sent the signal, crimson eyes sharpened with impatience as his ward read him clearly.
Returning her gaze to roam the chamber once more, a sanguine tingle of power flowed through Zelda's veins; the council she had always been dictated by was now in the palm of her hand, and with a little prodding from her husband to be, even the most rigid members would stumble desperately to satisfy them. It had taken some time to sink in; an unsure start giving her pause, but it was clear to her now… this was her domain, and she could only be controlled here as far as she allowed. As a matter of fact, she could appoint and dismiss members as she saw fit—there wasn't any need for her to deal with these men of her father's any longer if she found the task a chore.
"As to the proposal of my marriage to the current Regent, for the sake of this country's stability in the early ascension of its next Queen, I invoke my right to Royal Prerogative in the absence of my father's approval, to appoint that duty to myself as backed by this council. If we are in agreement, the date shall be set two months from now, taken on the first day of the third. I trust there are no objections?"
Not a hand in the room was raised.
Both the Regent and the Princess were quick to stifle their laughter, each now thoroughly amused with it all, and the ease of which it had been granted beside minor scare tactics. As the room swiftly devolved into private deliberations and worry, the pair stole a moment to themselves, leaning in closely to whisper amongst the din as their victorious smiles went unseen.
"It's happening! Shiek, it's actually happening, we're going to be married!" she giggled with all the excitement of a schoolgirl, her voice reaching a higher pitch than usual as her happiness shone brightly in a perfect grin. Elbows upon the arm of the throne as the girl propped herself upon it, very nearly sitting sidelong in her seat, a bounce overcame her in a childlike joy.
The disguised Gerudo found himself distracted by the tussling of her golden hair in the movement, his gaze tracing the curving shine of it in that fond fascination he held; his anger from earlier almost abated for the moment as her good mood seemed to rub off on him. "Yes, Zelda, I knew that we would be…" he conceded softly, though the tone seemed to suggest some relief at the fact. "But there is another matter to attend to, once the current mood over matters of security settles some, if you get my meaning…" a glance was sent sideways to indicate the stress levels swiftly rising around them.
Though Zelda would blink, expectant for him to continue, whatever it was he had to say didn't seem as though it would dim her mirth. "Oh? You mean what we discussed about the soldiers?" Her brows furrowed, though her smile didn't leave her, a hiccup of laughter slipping out. "…Yes, you should probably leave that for the next meeting, Shiek. I don't think anybody wants to hear your plans to dismiss half of the guards at this point; there isn't a man in here that isn't at risk of a heart attack already."
A black humoured chuckle met her at that, a small shake of his head seeing bandaged fingers running though shortly cropped silver hair. "The council is well aware of the costs of upkeep where an army is concerned. It's better to be rid of the many useless wastes of resource employed here, while we still have some peace left to us, to focus on making up for it in forging effective elites. I'll give them some time to settle, but I will see it done."
The Princess gave him an affectionate look then, serene features brightened by her contentment as crystalline eyes shimmered with it, her chin rested upon a palm. "You always do." She smiled, her voice lilting sweetly between them.
It almost pained him to think that he may spoil such a beautiful face with bruising later for earlier insolences, but despite the affects she often held on him, Ganondorf was determined to see her charms did not sway him from his decisions—there was still plenty enough left that could happen in two months alone, and the rebelliousness he'd witnessed had to be squashed if he was to ensure their future security. Even with the happiness this day had brought her, even if he left it until tomorrow in sheer mercy to her, she was akin to the wild horses of the field she so admired; broken in with great effort, and kept tame through constant reminders of the saddle.
Crimson eyes took to studying the pendant necklace she wore still, the ruby in it cut to mirror his intentions; overwhelming to the fragile gold that held it in place. He knew it to be far more precious to the Princess than a simple cape, and somewhere in his twisted mind, the Gerudo knew he would always overshadow her father, but he simply couldn't stand the room she'd made in her heart for the King since his death.
And if he had to rip the beating organ out of her chest just to remove that piece of it, placing it back once again and stitching her wounds, simply to know that it was his and his alone…
He would.
A/N:
If anybody actually knows what one of those meetings is like, I'm sorry if I butchered it.
I realised, pretty quickly into this, that I totally don't. I mean, I have a rough idea, and I know—at the very least—bits and pieces about who a Privy Council functions based on the English one… Lucky for me, Zelda didn't really know either, apparently… But still, it's one of those scenes that better left to Fictionists like Selah Ex Animo (because as far as medieval accuracy can go in Zelda fics, that stuff is some of the best I've seen).
Buuuuut I tried anyway.
It was gonna be longer, but I'm running out of energy now, and I need to sleeps, so if I continued it'd just get progressively worse. So I'll just continue it next chapter… Badon is coming home.
Onwards to Glory! (until you run out of energy.)