Zelda stood in front of a mirror, fascinated by the simple yet elegant dress Impa had brought her. "It's lovely..."

"Since my official title is no longer 'general' and now simply 'nursemaid', they put me in charge of inventorying the wardrobe," Impa explained as she pulled an enormous trunk from shadowspace. "They will never know what is missing."

Impa slid the trunk toward Zelda, and urged her to open it. Zelda sat beside it and lifted the lid, gasping at what she saw. Inside was all of her favorite clothing that she had been forced to leave behind, as well as numerous dresses and tea gowns that had belonged to her mother. There was even the lavender sundress that had been stained with Ganondorf's blood, which she kept for sentimental value. "Oh, Impa, this is... I... I don't know what to say!"

"I figured you would be pleased. Go on, take a look."

Zelda continued looking through the trunk with a smile on her face. She was halfway through when she felt something solid. "What is..." She gasped once she pulled the item free. It was her lyre, the very same one that had been passed down through the Royal Family.

"Oh yeah... That I stole from the reliquary. We can't have Baby learning to play on an inferior instrument, can we?"

"Impa, a few dresses are one thing, but this... This is something they will surely miss!"

"They won't notice unless they try to play the fake I left in its place, and no one will try to play it because of superstition," Impa responded calmly. "Besides... there are other things on their minds at the moment."

Impa let Zelda enjoy her present for a few hours, then sat down with her at the table. "There is something I need to discuss with you."

"Yes?"

"I am actually thankful that Ganondorf has come back into your life right now. I don't know if he knows this, but... the king has been trying to re-establish the line of succession."

Zelda sat up straight as Impa continued. "I'm sure you remember the last time he tried to remarry, when you were barely a teenager."

"Yes, he was trying to court the princess of the land across the sea. They ultimately rejected because they feared Hyrule's enemies would become their own."

"Yes. But now he is actively seeking out partners, with the excuse that Ganondorf and his people are too weak to be a threat. I do not believe they will buy into this bravado. But I do know that if all else fails, he will take the chamberlain's daughter. If that happens, and she births a child, the council will win. I truly fear for Hyrule's future if the council get their way."

Zelda stared at the table. "...I think you're right. That would not be best for the people. But what can we do to stop it?"

"Ganondorf has been visiting the king once a year for the past seven years as an attempt to broker peace. I don't know how he's been able to do it, given how much he hates the king. But the king truly believes that Ganondorf is a wolf who has lost his fangs. It might not be a bad idea for Ganondorf to demonstrate that he can still bite."

"Impa... what you're suggesting is high treason. You've stood by your oath to the Royal Family for years, what has pushed you to break it?"

Impa sighed, and bowed her head. "...They're trying to erase you from the minds of the people. They've slowly been neglecting your memorial, they shun anyone who speaks highly of you, and the last straw was when they told me to clear out your room and possessions. As far as I'm concerned, they are not the Royal Family I swore allegiance to. You and Baby are the only ones I look after now."

Zelda reached out for Impa's hands, and gave her a teary smile. "Thank you, for all you've done for us. I'm sorry you've had to go against your oath..."

"Now, now, no tears," Impa said after wiping Zelda's cheek. "Come on, let's go through the gowns and see what we can use for a ceremony. Apparently there's going to be a wedding in the near future."

"Oh, Impa, you mean it? You're not opposed?"

"Child, that man is a loud, arrogant, proud son of a bitch. But he's also loyal, protective, and the most loving father I've ever seen. I wouldn't trust you with anyone else."

Zelda was sitting on the porch, making some braille stories for Baby when she and Ganondorf returned.

"Mama, Mama! Lookie what Papa gave me!"

Baby came running up the path, with an enormous stuffed bear in her arms. Zelda had to run out and grab her, since she was in danger of tripping over the bear's legs. "Goodness, Baby, this bear is bigger than you!"

"Yeah, and it's nice and fuzzy! Imma go play with him in my room," Baby said, and squirmed out of her mother's arms and ran into the house. Zelda then heard a similar reaction out of Impa as she tidied the kitchen.

"Only the best for our little girl," Ganondorf murmured, as he came up behind Zelda and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I was going to give her a kitten but I didn't know if she was ready for it."

"Nabs might have gotten jealous," Zelda replied, closing her eyes and leaning back against her husband-to-be. "...I don't know why I didn't do this sooner."

"The past is the past, my love. What matters is that we're together now, and I intend to take care of both of you." Ganondorf left a kiss on Zelda's neck, then motioned to his horse.

Zelda looked at the loaded saddlebags, and the very large pack that Ganondorf must have worn on his back. "Ganondorf, did you bring the entire Valley back with you?"

"There are salted meats, dried fruits, pickled vegetables, and as much red rice as we could carry," he boasted. "My family will not go hungry."

"You loaded all that onto your horse? Poor thing!" Zelda ran over and loosened the load from the horse's back, then stopped and stared at Ganondorf's pack. "That... that's a keg, isn't it. You brought a keg of beer back with you, didn't you?"

"Of course not! That is ale, not beer."

"What use do Baby and I have for ale?!"

"To be honest, I meant it for myself and possibly Impa to enjoy."

Zelda pursed her lips, then sat herself down right on top of the keg. "No ale for you until your chores are done. Get all this food unpacked and put away, help Impa finish cleaning the house, then maybe I'll be generous and serve your ale."

Ganondorf found it so cute that Zelda was pretending to be annoyed, so he played along. "As you wish. I guess I better start by putting this keg away, then." He motioned like he was going to pick the keg up, Zelda and all, but instead grabbed Zelda and rolled her into the grass. The two laughed and smiled at each other.

"You're so damned adorable when you pout," Ganondorf mumbled into Zelda's ear.

"And you're so irresistible that I can't help it," Zelda responded, turning her head and taking her lover's lips.

From inside the cottage, Impa couldn't help but smile as she looked out the window. Her princess was happy, and that was all that mattered.