The best mornings usually begin with a silent struggle. To stay under the warm blankets and enjoy waking up slowly, or beginning the day to see what adventures it would bring. And this, certainly, was one of those mornings.
Zelda blinked sleepily and rolled over. In her sleep, she'd snuggled close to Link and was currently curled up under his arm, her lips nearly touching his bare chest. He was sprawled out on his back as usual, with his mouth hanging open ever so slightly as he snored. Her eyes drifted down his body then back up to linger on his peaceful face. Desire swelled within her and she bit her lower lip. Her fingertips ghosted over his warm skin. "Soon," she told herself, she'd be able to explore and touch him without hesitation. She leaned in and pressed a kiss against a scar on his chest, hearing him let out a quiet groan. Lidded blue eyes met hers and his fingers brushed through her hair before he spoke.
"Morning… won't be long now," he mumbled, still half asleep.
Zelda shifted so she could lean over his shoulder and gently kiss him. "I can't wait. Having you beside me stops all the bad dreams so far."
"Good. Doesn't stop the dreams of wanting you though," Link groaned. Warm lips trailed down his neck then back up towards his ear. "Princess… please," he pleaded huskily, writhing against her caresses. "My self-restraint isn't that strong when it comes to you."
She pulled away respectfully. "Why do I get the feeling that I'll be the one begging you to remember propriety once I'm on the throne and you decide you wish for my undivided attention," she commented in amusement.
"Because it's something I'd do," he said bluntly, adjusting the blanket as he rolled to face her. "Regardless of what your priorities will be, mine will always be you. If you're getting too caught up in everything else, I'll just have to remind you what's really important."
"I hope you do," Zelda whispered. "It's going to be different when I've been crowned. In that respect, I'm thankful that we've decided to be married now. I'm not sure how we'd possibly have time to take a honeymoon with all that expectation on us."
"Expectations on you," Link corrected. "Unless you plan on announcing our marriage during the coronation ceremony."
"That was my thought." She tucked her hair behind her ear and snuggled against him again. "Announce our marriage then, and you'll be crowned as 'Prince Consort' as the title goes for those who marry royalty when they have no royal blood themselves."
"Prince Link…" he made a face as he said the title. "Not overly fond of it myself, but I'll get used to it."
"It could be worse," she pointed out. "I could give you the title of Duke or something else if you'd prefer."
He made an even more disgusted face. "No thanks. I'll keep 'prince'."
She giggled and sighed softly. "Tell me that I'm not dreaming. That this day is really happening."
He pressed a kiss on her forehead, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist. "Is this proof enough? In a number of hours, we'll be saying our vows and be bound forever as husband and wife."
Worry crept into her mind. "What if I'm not good enough? My mother didn't live long enough for me to witness how a husband and wife should interact… and Impa married during the long years after I sealed Ganon away. I have no example to look to." She hadn't realized she'd voiced her fears until Link's grip around her tightened.
"Princess." He tilted her face up to look at his, voice softening. "My Zelda… there's no way for you to fail. We're in this together. As long as you do your best, things will go smoothly for us. Nothing you do or say is going to change how much I love you. Being my wife isn't going to alter that either."
A pair of tears rolled down her cheeks, and she hiccuped softly as she clung to him. "Promise?"
"I promise," he vowed, gently wiping the tears away with a fingertip. He kissed her forehead, then claimed her lips. He wanted to take away her fears. Make them vanish. Show her that she had nothing to be afraid of.
Zelda eagerly returned the kisses and deepened them, silently pleading to make her forget about her worries. Her body pressed against his, begging for more attention. She could scarcely breathe, her eyes pressed firmly shut, but it didn't matter. She wanted him. Needed him.
Link broke the embrace, gently pushing her back on the bed while he sat back on his heels, trying to ignore his own state of arousal. "Zelda… please… If I make love to you now, we'll regret it later. I promise I'll make it up to you tonight."
She whined in the back of her throat, her eyes blinking open to stare at him. The sight she made against the bed was nearly too much. Her face was flushed, hair disheveled on the pillow, her nightgown barely covering her, and a sultry pout graced her lips.
He closed his eyes with a guttural groan, and rolled off the bed. He faced away from her while pulling on his pants, attempting to hide how much he was affected by her. "Get dressed. If you want time with Impa, we'd better get moving."
Embarrassment overshadowed her arousal and she buried her face in her hands. She couldn't believe how she'd been acting. Not like a princess, that was for sure. No better than a-.
Link's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Princess… I promise I'm not upset with you." He sat on the edge of the bed, his right hand gingerly touching her shoulder and sending a shiver down her spine. "It's my fault that I allowed us to get so worked up now. Please, focus on other things. It'll make it easier for the moment."
She nodded and sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "How late is it?"
"We slept longer than most mornings recently. It's nearing midday. Shall we eat before you talk to Impa?" Link asked.
"No. Knowing Paya, she'll prepare tea and a light meal as soon as she knows I'm staying for a while," Zelda explained. "What time are you taking them to Tarrey Town?"
"I made arrangements for the ceremony to begin at four. I'll be taking them over at three, and I'll collect you at two, so you have time to prepare."
She gently sighed. "That should be adequate. Thank you."
"Of course. I'll leave you to your talk with Impa. As soon as you're dressed, I'll take care of packing the last of our belongings here and check on progress at Tarrey Town," Link stated.
Zelda didn't reply, gathering her blue outfit that matched his tunic into her arms, along with her boots and disappearing into the washroom. Time was running far faster than she planned, and she wanted to make sure she had time to ask Impa all the questions that she wanted to.
Zelda's face burned as Impa finished her explanation. When she'd begun her line of questioning, she'd kept things vague. Simple ponderings about expectations on her as a wife turned into Impa giving advice on far more intimate details than she wanted to consider. What could she say to all of that?
Paya interrupted then with their lunch. Red-rimmed eyes showed both other women that she had been crying, though she said nothing. Zelda watched the young woman fumble with the teacups, and gently put a hand over hers. "Paya, allow me to assist with the tea."
The teen's eyes widened, and she pulled away. "No, Princess. It's unsightly for you to pour your own tea. You're our guest!" she protested.
"It's only pouring tea," Zelda insisted. "It's hardly dishonoring me. Please. Take a minute and wash your face. It'll help you feel better."
Paya's eyes flew to Impa, who nodded in agreement. "Join us after you've had a few moments to yourself."
The Sheikah woman burst into tears and fled up the stairs, her sobs carrying down to the pair below.
Impa shook her head. "She's taking your engagement and upcoming marriage to Link harder than I hoped she would."
Zelda's eyes flew wide. "That's why she's upset? She-"
"Ever since Link arrived at my doorstep with no memories to call his own, she's been infatuated with him," the old Sheikah confirmed. "I thought when she saw that you had returned with Link that would be enough to discourage her feelings."
"But that wasn't the case," Zelda finished, staring down at the ring on her left hand. "She's jealous of me."
"She will be going to the wedding this afternoon. I offered her the chance to decline, but she felt it improper to say no. Though at this point, I can't speak to how her disposition will be." Impa sighed. "I have a feeling it will take her awhile to overcome her heartbreak. Deep down, I know she's happy for you both, however."
"Perhaps I can help find her some potential suitors once things settle down a little, if that might help," Zelda mused. "Is there nobody with Kakariko who's caught her fancy?"
"Most people here are old like me, or too young for her," Impa shook her head sadly. "Since the day she was left on my doorstep to raise, she's been a reserved, anxious girl. It will take some time for her to open up."
The princess frowned slightly. The first face coming to mind as a possible match was not at all like the Sheikah young woman, and she had a hard time justifying it, so she remained quiet on that subject. "She's your granddaughter, correct? Where are her parents then?"
Impa gave a sad smile. "My husband and I were unable to have children of our own. About a year after he passed, a baby was left on my doorstep with no explanation and no name to call her own. I took her in and raised her. Calling her my daughter when I was already an old woman would raise too many questions, so we've referred to her as my granddaughter."
Zelda's mouth fell open. "You… never had children of your own?"
"My late husband was unable to father any children. We discovered this after years of trying with no success." Impa patted her knee and gave Zelda a stern look. "Don't you go feeling sorry for me, young lady. My life has had plenty of fulfillment and happiness."
The princess ducked her head and took a long drink of her tea. "I'm reminded of something Fi said while we were in Rito Village, about both Link and I…"
Impa laughed. "Judging by your reaction, it's going to be no difficulty for you to bear children for Link."
Zelda's red face was all the answer she needed.
"I don't regret that Paya was not my blood child. I do think she sees her lack of parents as a detriment against her when it comes to knowing who she is."
"For that reason, I hope that whomever I find for her will aid in helping her become more comfortable and secure in her sense of who she is," Zelda said, worry creeping into her tone.
"You've got your work cut out for you, Zelda," Impa gently reminded her. "Not just with Paya, but when the coronation takes place."
"I'm aware," she whispered. "We have some time before that day. The castle must be cleared of monsters, and restored to appropriate living spaces before we can hold the coronation there. With an occasion as momentous as that, I don't feel it's right to be held anywhere else."
"No, I suppose the only other possible suitable area would be the Temple of Time. But even then, if what Link shared with me from his travels is true, that needs every bit as much restoration as the castle itself," Impa closed her eyes and let out a soft sound. "Much of Hyrule has changed in the last hundred years. I don't get out like I used to, but that doesn't stop the stories from trickling in as people come to visit."
"I know what I must do. The time in Rito Village gave me the peace with my duty that I was seeking. It's just… maintaining that role that I'm afraid of," Zelda admitted, gazing out the window.
"You'll find your strength. Every prince, princess, king, or queen finds the inner strength to fulfill their duty. If they do not, they don't deserve the title. And you, princess, have shown your own mental fortitude." Impa gave a sound akin to a slight chuckle. "If you can seal Ganon away for a hundred years, you can rule Hyrule with wisdom. Besides, you're going to have the best support you could ever have."
She blushed like only a soon-to-be bride talking about her lover could. "He's been so good to me. More than I have ever deserved."
Impa barked out a laugh. "You're going to do just fine. You deserve him every bit as much as he deserves you. You need each other. Your strengths balance each other out. A word of advice though: if he insists on taking care of you, listen and let him. Men aren't as naturally perceptive as women are, nor as attentive. When he notices and decides to step in, your natural reaction will be that of pride and stubbornness. Lay that aside. He's going to see you at your best and your worst, and love you in the midst of it."
Zelda mentally tucked the words away, nodding slowly. "What about me? What can I do?"
"Let him be a man. Don't try and change him. If he needs to swing a blade around or hunt for your dinner to feel secure in himself, allow him to do that." Impa closed her eyes. "Life is going to change for both of you once you're crowned. Know that he'll adjust differently than you will. Recognize and embrace those differences."
The princess threw her arms around the old Sheikah woman. "Thank you for your wisdom, Impa. I'm so thankful that we've had this time to share together."
Impa patted her back gently. "You'll do just fine, Zelda. Don't allow anxiety to control you. You're a strong, wise, intuitive woman. Link is fortunate to have you."
"I remind myself of that every day." Link commented from the doorway, watching the pair embrace.
"Link! Is it two already!?" Elation filled her voice at the sound of her knight's arrival.
"It is. Rhondson has your dress ready as soon as we get there, and she's going to… do something with your hair. She refused to tell me what," Link huffed. "I don't understand the big deal with keeping things a surprise."
Impa chuckled softly. "It's to give you something to look forward to during the ceremony, beyond focusing on the honeymoon."
Zelda blushed, remembering their earlier conversation. "We'll have plenty of time to focus on that later. Thank you for everything, Impa. I'll see you shortly."
Link pulled Zelda into an embrace and kissed her tenderly then activated the runes that took them from Impa's house to the Dah Hesho shrine. A sniffle caught Link's attention and he caught only a glimpse of Paya's distraught face before the house disintegrated around them. He made a mental note to ask Zelda about it later.
A swift glider flight had the couple landing in the heart of Tarrey Town a mere couple of minutes later. Zelda shivered with excitement when she saw the simple backdrop that had been set up around the small statue to Goddess Hylia in the center of town.
"Love, you need to get ready," Link urged when she paused to stare at the scenery. "It'll be there when you're dressed."
"Oh, give her a minute. It's not every day that a woman gets married," Rhondson chided as she approached them. "Princess, I have your dress finished but I may need to hem the bottom. We won't know until you try it on though. Come with me. You're going to prepare in our home.
Zelda gave the surprised pregnant woman a warm hug. "Thank you, Rhondson. We greatly appreciate your skills, as well as your hospitality with such little time to prepare."
"Hmph. Think nothing of it. Anything for my fellow woman. Getting to make the wedding dress for the Princess of Hyrule is going to be something I can tell my children and grandchildren." A smile graced the normally severe woman's face as she returned the embrace. "Besides, I had a feeling the last time you were here that you'd be needing one sooner than later, so I had a head start on all the embroidered trim pieces."
"Embroidery?" Zelda cocked her head, trying to picture it in her mind.
"I'll leave you ladies to it then. See you shortly, my princess," Link said with a rare grin.
Zelda turned to give him a hug, but he was already jogging toward Kapson. She sighed softly and followed Rhondson.
"Do you have a ring for him?" the Gerudo asked.
Panic covered the princess's face. "I didn't even think about that!"
"Take a deep breath, Your Highness. It'll be okay. I'll send Hudson to talk to Fyson while I get you ready. We'll get you and Link taken care of," she assured her.
Anxiety remained on the blonde's face, but she took a deep breath, followed by another. Ring for Link or not, it wouldn't make a difference. What mattered was the commitment they were preparing to make in front of the Goddess and their friends. Everything else was secondary.
Link adjusted the top of his tunic for the fourth time and smoothed out the wrinkles as he stared into the looking glass of the washroom. Zelda had insisted that he wear his Champion's tunic for the wedding, despite his protests that it wasn't formal enough for such an occasion. So, he had agreed, to keep her happy. A small part of him wondered if there would be an outcry and demands for a public ceremony when word of their secret marriage was made public at the coronation. He could only imagine what her response would be. Knowing her, she would oblige her people, though it was far from her first choice. Hence the small wedding today.
His stomach twisted. Wedding. The only wedding he'd ever recalled seeing was Hudson and Rhondson's wedding. And given what Kapson had told him, his own would be similar, though with several key differences. Apparently there were customs and rituals when it came to binding a princess with her chosen spouse.
A knock on the door sounded. "Ten minutes, Link. You ready?" Hudson cheerfully called.
"Ready," the Hylian confirmed, opening the door.
"Everyone from town is gathering. A couple unfamiliar faces are here too. An old woman, and her…"
"Granddaughter," Link supplied. "The young woman is Paya, and Impa is the other. Impa's been a longtime friend to the princess. I brought them both here."
"Oh, so that's why you asked to borrow the horse earlier," Hudson nodded in understanding. "You brought them down from the shrine."
"I thought it best so they didn't have to walk, or trust the glider I use to get them over here." The groom-to-be blew out his breath and rubbed his hands together, suddenly feeling restless within his own skin. Impa had been pleasant, chatting as he brought the two women down from the shrine. Paya had been quiet, her makeup heavier than usual around her eyes, though it did nothing to hide the bloodshot veins. It didn't take much for him to deduce the reason for being upset. Still, he had to give her credit for being present. The easier choice would've been to refuse to come. Knowing what he did of the young woman and her attraction to him, he kept to himself with the exception of giving her the hand up and down from the horse.
"You nervous?" The older Hylian asked. "No need to be. You got yourself quite a fine young woman there. Soon she'll be popping out babies for you to chase around too."
Link's ears turned red. "I don't think that's going to be her first priority. She IS the princess, after all."
"True. But most young women want to settle down and raise a family too. Heck, that's why Rhondson agreed to marry me!" Hudson boasted, puffing out his chest in pride. "She's got a hardworking husband, and she's got her sewing stuff, and now we've got a baby on the way. Life couldn't get much better!"
Link smiled in spite of himself. "I'm happy for you, Hudson."
"Enough about me. Don't keep your little lady waiting. We'll be there for you two. Just say the word if you need anything," the Hylian promised. "Oh, and about those two friends of yours? I'll make sure that we get them safely back to Kakariko, so you two can enjoy your honeymoon."
The Champion nodded, murmuring his thanks before following the man out the door and across the courtyard to the small arbor that had been erected in front of the goddess statue. Kapson stood waiting for him, and the townspeople had gathered, with Impa and Paya off to the side for the best vantage point. Link glanced self-consciously down at his beige trousers and boots, making sure they were clean and free from dust. He stopped beside the Zora priest who offered a slight nod to him. Now, they waited for Zelda.
Rhondson made her appearance first, adjusting the loose tunic top over the growing swell on her stomach. She said not a word, but took her place by her husband a few paces back from the arbor. Link watched the doorway of the couple's house and swallowed down the nerves that threatened to rise in his throat. Then, she appeared, and he had to remind himself to breathe.
The redheaded Gerudo had outdone herself with the dress. The dress was white and flowed down to her ankles in a style reminiscent of what her predecessors wore, trimmed with a blue and gold embroidered sash around the natural waist that matched the blue of Link's tunic and trailed all the way to the hemline. Flowing, long sleeves draped off her arms, accented by a wide band on each upper arm that matched the sash. The neckline was scooped, though not low enough to be indecent, and trimmed with more gold and blue embroidery. Gone was the braid across the front of her hair. Instead, it was replaced with a braided gold headband that transitioned to a thin veil that fell past her short hair and down her back. At each of the transition points on the veil, a pair of Silent Princess flowers had been pinned just above her ears, accenting Zelda's blushing face. She carried a trio of the largest and prettiest Silent Princesses that Link had ever seen.
He made a soft sound in the back of his throat. There were no words to express how much love and joy he felt at that moment. She always looked beautiful but this took things to an entirely new level, and all he could do was drink it in while she made her way over to him. She looked every bit the royalty she was, and he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Kapson cleared his throat when she finally took her place beside Link's right hip. "Friends and honored guests alike, we gather today for a quiet celebration. A union of love, and history before our very eyes. Long have been the years since a royal wedding, long enough that I daresay no Hylians remain who could share the tale."
Link took Zelda's bare left hand in his and squeezed it snugly. Her eyes briefly lifted from Kapson to his face, a brilliant smile mirroring his own.
"Princess Zelda… Champion Link… you have requested to be joined together in matrimony in front of the Goddess Hylia, and those gathered here. I need not remind you the weight of this decision. Since ancient times, the laws have been upheld that those of royal blood are forbidden from divorcing their spouse. They are to be forever bound to their chosen partner. Princess Zelda, as the soon-to-be crowned ruler of Hyrule, do you acknowledge this rules?" Kapson turned to her first.
"I acknowledge the statutes passed down by my forefathers," she replied, as rehearsed.
"Champion Link. By agreeing to be joined to the Princess, do you acknowledge the penalty upon your head should you seek the affections of others in lieu of the Princess?" Kapson asked gravely.
"I acknowledge my life to be forfeit should I allow anyone to come between myself and the Princess," Link vowed.
A shiver ran down Zelda's spine. There was no cause for worry in her. But knowing that the laws stated that he could be sentenced to death for adultery? It had only occurred once in all of the history of the previous rulers of Hyrule since the Hyrule Historia had been established.
"In accordance to the customs handed down by generations, I ask, Princess, that you face your groom and offer your right hand to his right, and your left hand to his left hand, crossing your wrists between you," Kapson instructed.
Zelda offered shaking hands to Link, silently thanking him for the reassuring squeeze he gave. His hands too, were unable to be kept still, though whether it was excitement or fear, she had no way of knowing.
"Gold is the cord that binds you together. It's the color of purity, set forth by the Goddess. Three times it will be wrapped. The first symbolizes Wisdom," Kapson explained as he wrapped the thick gold cord around their wrists for the first time. "Do you vow to seek wisdom from the Goddess, to follow her will?"
"We do," Zelda and Link chorused.
"Do you, Zelda, vow to utilize wisdom in speaking with your husband in a way that's respectful and not demeaning his lack of royalty?" Kapson asked.
There was no wavering in Zelda's voice as she tilted her chin up and said clearly, "I do."
"Do you, Link, vow to utilize wisdom in speaking to your wife in a way that is respectful of her role in your life, as well as being the ruler of Hyrule?"
"I do," he confidently proclaimed.
"The second wrap of the cord represents Courage. Do you, Zelda, vow to remain courageous when your marriage is tested, to stand boldly by your husband's side, regardless of circumstances?" Kapson again addressed the Princess.
"I do."
"Do you, Link, vow to remain courageous when your marriage is tested, to stand boldly by the Princess's side and protect her, regardless of circumstances?" The wording was slightly different from her vow, something that Zelda picked up on immediately.
"I do," Link stated, more solemnly than before.
"The third wrap of the cord represents Power. Do you, Zelda, vow to remain loyal to your husband, to exercise your power as ruler when necessary, but recognize when to temper it for the good of your family?" Kapson inquired.
"I do," Zelda said, feeling the weight of that vow more heavily than the rest. Normal relationships demanded that the husband be the head of the household. But this was different. Because she was royal, the expectation for her to oversee her family was heavy. She had no doubt that Link would be her equal and work alongside her, but for the purposes of meeting expectations, the vow still remained.
"Do you, Link, vow to remain loyal to the Princess, to do everything within your power to submit to her authority when the circumstances demand it, and utilize power to protect your family to the best of your ability?"
Link's jaw tightened at the phrasing but he nodded and said aloud, "I do." He didn't like this particular vow any more than Zelda did. The phrasing of the Princess being in authority, with the expectation of him to bow to her every will as if she was a cruel mistress was ridiculous. Yet, for the sake of keeping peace and meeting expectations, the words were spoken.
"Three strands of the cord binding the couple together. Three strands symbolizing Wisdom, Courage, and Power. Goddess above, wife and husband below. May this couple forever find favor in your sight, oh, Hylia!" Kapson proclaimed.
Those gathered clapped, as if prompted by a silent cue. Zelda's eyes met Link's and she let out a soft breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. The hardest part was over.
"May the bonds created in the presence of the Goddess Hylia and these witnesses never be weakened by the hands of men. You may unwrap the binding." The Zora instructed them. "Just as one of you is incapable of doing so on your strength, let this be a reminder that forevermore, what you do in this lifetime, you do together. No longer are you two. You are one."
Their hands fumbled at first, then wordlessly, the couple found a rhythm to unwrap the cord that held their hands together. Once free, Link held the long, gold cord in his left hand, unwilling to let go of his princess with the other.
"As a circle has no end, may your love never come to an end. Link, slide your ring onto the Princess's left hand, please." Kapson handed him the heart-shaped sapphire ring, which Link easily slipped onto his beloved's hand.
Zelda flashed a bit of a grin when she saw Link's surprised look when Kapson repeated the words and gestures for her to do so. A simple gold band, with a single inset sapphire was slid onto his left hand, resting behind the furthest knuckle.
"By the power, courage, and wisdom bestowed upon me by the Goddess Hylia, I pronounce you husband and wife," Kapson smiled fully for the first time during the ceremony. "Complete the bond of holy matrimony and share a kiss with your beloved."
Link didn't have to be told twice, pulling his wife into his arms and kissing her tenderly. He was vaguely aware of the clapping and cheering from those gathered to witness their marriage, but he couldn't find it within himself to care. There was only one thing that mattered. Zelda was his. Forever. He would do everything in his power to cherish her. To lavish her with all the attention he could possibly give. There was nobody else like her, and he intended to make sure she knew how deeply she was loved. A princess like Zelda only existed once in a lifetime. Now she was his.
Had he been paying more attention as he reluctantly pulled away, he would have seen the ethereal form of Fi floating behind the Goddess statue. She had been present for the entire ceremony, and now watched as the people of Tarrey Town took turns congratulating the newlyweds. "My time draws short. But Master Link and Princess Zelda are expressing copious amounts of joy and peace. Perhaps such emotions are of some value," she mused aloud to nobody in particular before taking her leave.
Only one person present took notice of the spirit, and the old woman smiled. "You did well, Fi, leading them to this point. Your time of rest once more is approaching."
"Grandmother, who are you speaking to?" Paya asked in confusion, not seeing the spirit.
"Don't concern yourself over the mutterings of an old woman," Impa chided. "Come, child. Let's go home."
