Finally the final chapter is here! The next story won't start being posted for a while, not sure exactly how long but it will happen eventually. Either way this chapter contains elements from a few other fanfics, those other works are What a Fairy Tale! by AreWeGonnaHaveAProblem, Fi's Return by MikeyTaco, and Let's Wear Rings of the Same Color by Spacebeyonce. So definitely go check those out if you haven't!
Chapter Eight
The Happiest Day of my Life
The day had finally come, the moment I woke up the nerves hit me hard. But this time I knew they were from excitement. I would never forget this day, never. Fortunately, Chiron had allowed Zelda and I the day off from teaching our classes, due to the fact that it was unlikely we would be able to focus on the lessons given the givens. That did technically mean that the classes were done for the summer as after today there were only two more days until August's end. But I hardly cared at the moment, and I doubted I ever would. In part because my cadets had continued learning quickly, swiftly mastering dual sword and shield use in combat. I truly couldn't be prouder of them.
It was hard though, because in addition to everything else, I wouldn't be seeing Zelda until early evening just before dinner when we were holding the ceremony. Just before noon I raced over to the cove again, picked about two dozen of the silent princesses and tied them together with a piece of twine. I rushed them back to camp and handed them to Chiron to pass off to whoever would hand them to Zelda later on.
Time seemed to crawl along at the rate of a snail throughout the day. I could barely eat anything, a rarity for me. I was jittery and fidgety, barely able to hold still for more than a few seconds. Much to my utter dismay, frequently checking the time did not make time go by faster. Around mid-afternoon, or more specifically 3:30PM by the slate, Austin came up beside me.
"How are you holding up?" He asked, voice warm and friendly.
"I feel like I'm going to be sick!" I exclaimed, clutching my stomach.
"I'm not surprised! It's OK to be nervous about this, you know." He reassured me.
"It is?" I focused entirely on him, hanging off his every word. It was funny how I could face down hordes of monsters without fear, but yet this terrified me.
"Of course!" He laughed, "This is something that takes a whole different kind of bravery, to be honest I'd be concerned if you weren't nervous at all!"
"I suppose…" I started, sighed, and continued, "Yeah, you might be right."
He chuckled, "If it's any help, just remember I'm there for you my friend."
We sat there for another hour in silence as I tried to calm my nerves. Eventually Austin looked at his watch and then said two words that resounded in my head, "It's time."
0000000000000000000000
I made my way over to the goddess statue, where Rachel was already standing, waiting. The whole way over I thought my knees were about to give out underneath me. I came to a stop about four feet from her. Austin, truly the most suitable best man he was out of anyone I knew, whispered a brief statement of reassurance before backing off a little as we and the others who'd gathered nearby to watch simply waited.
It was really no longer than a few minutes probably, but it felt like a few years to me. I tried not to nervously pluck at my tunic or cap and possibly damage my garb, or fiddle with my earrings. My heart was racing, just as it had the night that I asked Zelda to marry me.
The beginning of a song being played on the harps and other musical instruments of the Apollo cabin drew me from my thoughts. I saw another group of people approaching, Lexa in the front. I glanced away, meeting my mother's gaze, she nodded approvingly as she smiled warmly at me. I gulped and nodded back, then turned my gaze to the man beside her. My father smiled back at me, looking very proud. I nodded again. I then met the gaze of Apollo, he smiled and nodded his approval to me. Just as I turned my gaze to the group of people approaching, I saw my father and Athena give the same proud look to each other. I heard Apollo's voice in my head: "You take good care of my daughter."
After another minute, the group stopped. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes to calm my nerves. I opened them when the music changed to a familiar melody. A melody that was from ages past, one that was quite fitting for this moment. In the sense of a namesake, anyway. Either way as they began playing Zelda's lullaby, as we'd requested, the recently arrived group stood apart, making a pathway to reveal her at the end.
I stopped breathing, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on. She was…she was…divine!
She was wearing a beautiful white and blue dress with Triforce emblems stitched into the fabric in various places. She was holding the bouquet of silent princesses in her hands, which were held just below her heart. Her dress almost brushed the ground, allowing me only the briefest glimpses of the heels she wore. Her gold hair glowed like the sun as it caught and reflected the light from the setting sun, making it look like liquid gold hung from her head down to her shoulders. If I was being honest, she looked like the goddess herself, which would have been the highest flattery as she carried the blood of said goddess. I wouldn't have been able to tear my eyes away from her even if I wanted to.
She slowly walked up to me, head lowered, looking at the ground until she was in front of me. I swallowed nervously. She handed the flowers to someone else, I don't know who though as my attention was locked onto Zelda. She then looked up at me shyly, her cheeks bright red. Her hands then slid into mine, and my nerves immediately quieted down, as the entire world felt like it was righting itself. I noticed that the ring wasn't on her finger currently, just like we planned.
We turned our heads when Rachel cleared her throat.
"Friends, family, welcome! We have gathered here today before the gods and goddesses and before the goddess Hylia and the three golden goddesses to bear witness to and celebrate the joining of our two friends Link and Zelda in holy marriage." She said, voice full of strength, hands crossed behind her back. We had requested to have our wedding be done in the old Hylian style, albeit with elements consistent with the Greek mythological aspect.
Rachel continued, "We stand here now so I can perform this task entrusted to me." Somewhere among the watching crowd there were a few sniffles, which we ignored. We also ignored the occasional sound of the slate snapping a picture as my dad took photos for us, like we'd asked.
She turned to me, voice and face completely serious, "Link, hero of legend, and bearer of the Triforce of Courage, before the eyes of these witnesses, the gods and goddesses, and the goddess Hylia, do you take Zelda to be your wife? To have and to hold in good times and in bad?"
I nodded, smiling while not taking my eyes away from Zelda's as I said with utter conviction and more sincerity than I had for anything else in my entire life, "I do."
She beamed at me, eyes threatening to spill her tears. I reassuringly rubbed my thumb over her knuckles. Rachel then added, her seriousness dropping momentarily as she smiled and said, "Please present a ring to officiate this vow."
I partially turned to my best man, Austin. He grinned at me as he handed me the ring I had given Zelda when I proposed to her, but with one addition. The words, together forever, having been engraved into the gold band. I turned back to the young, beautiful woman in front of me, and slid the ring onto her left ring finger. She raised her other hand and swiped away a tear that had leaked out of her eye. My eyes threatened to leak tears as well.
Rachel then turned to Zelda, regaining her serious countenance as she asked Zelda, "Zelda, you who carry the blood of the goddess Hylia, and bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom, before the eyes of these witnesses, the gods and goddesses, and the goddess Hylia, do you take Link to be your husband? To be by his side in sickness and in health?"
Zelda smiled at me, a smile that was as warm as the sun, as she nodded sharply and said, "I do."
Rachel smiled again, "Please present a ring to officiate this vow."
Zelda turned to Lexa, her maid of honor, and Lexa handed her a matching ring, save for the words, never apart, which had been made after I proposed. She turned back to me and with a watery smile slid the ring onto my left ring finger.
Rachel spoke again, "Then by the power vested in me by the goddess Hylia and all the gods and goddesses, I now declare you husband and wife! May your lives together be long and filled with joy!" She finally broke her intense countenance as she smiled widely raising her arms from behind her back for the first time since we'd gathered here.
I hardly noticed as once she was finished speaking I was too entranced by the sight of my wife in front of me, wife. Merely a few months ago, at the beginning of summer, she was still just my girlfriend, now she was my wife. I gently raised her chin a little with my hand (as I was slightly taller), curled my left arm around her waist and pulling her against me, and then leaned in to finally kiss the beautiful young woman who I could now happily call my wife. She finally couldn't hold back any longer and began to cry with joy as our lips connected, our Triforce pieces glowing brightly as we connected, her arms wrapping around my neck and shoulders.
Everyone broke into cheers and applause while throwing flower petals into the air as we sealed our vows with the best kiss we've had in the entirety of this life of ours. But if I'm being honest, we didn't really hear them. I was too busy basking in the knowledge that now, for the rest of my life, I would never be alone again. As my now wife and I connected in our kiss, I registered the form of Fi floating above us, invisible to everyone other than me and Zelda, and perhaps the three immortals who were present. What didn't go unnoticed, however, was how the goddess statue became wreathed in sparking light. That could only mean that our marriage had been blessed by the goddess Hylia herself.
Immediately after the wedding, we transitioned to the reception. Tables had been set up, laden with all kinds of food. My stomach, finally having settled down from the nerves that had been suppressing it all day was practically shrieking. Zelda flashed me a sympathetic look when my stomach rumbled loudly. She giggled at my look of embarrassment.
"I'm starving too! I just couldn't eat anything today, I was just too excited!" She admitted as we sat down at a smaller table that had been placed near the other tables at the pavilion.
This smaller table was just for us, it had been agreed that once we were married, it would be unacceptable for us to continue sitting apart with our respective cabins. The food was truly divine, and everyone enjoyed themselves I'm sure, but I wouldn't know as my attention was still fully on my now wife. After dinner, we headed over to the nearby stage, our hands gripping each other. Along with numerous pairs of the older campers, we began dancing. Fortunately for me, I remembered well enough now from our wedding in our last life.
As we slowly made our way in circles, the happiness buzzing through me hadn't diminished at all. I still could hardly believe it, that I was now married, married to the woman of my dreams. I could tell Zelda felt exactly the same as she had such a happy look on her face that it made me giddy internally that I was able to make her so overjoyed. As the night wore on, couples began to retire for the evening one by one. Soon, Zelda and I weren't dancing so much as simply swaying softly in place. I tilted my head down, going from resting my chin on her shoulder to pressing my lips against the base of her neck and just…stayed there.
Her arms rose to be around my shoulder blades, burying the fingers on one hand in my hair (I'd removed my cap and stored it on the slate right before we had dinner, as my father had returned it to me by then) while she gripped my shoulder with the other hand. She gave a shaky sigh as she slowly combed her fingers through my hair.
"Link?" She asked her voice still shaking, "I think…would it be rude for us to leave our own wedding celebration?"
I raised my head and looked around, seeing only a few pairs of people still present.
"I think…as long as were not overly hasty we should be fine. It's not like they're not expecting us to anyway." I said softly.
"Then I'm ready to go home." She replied as we started walking away, Zelda still holding my hand in hers.
Soon we were back by the goddess statue, looking up at the house, our house. Just like how it been agreed we needed to have our own table, we had also decided that we needed our own house here. This was due to the fact that it was no longer just my safety I had to think about, I had to consider the safety of my beloved wife. Indeed, her wellbeing would now be the primary focus of my every action. Every decision would be made with her safety in the front of my mind. Here at Camp Half-Blood, no matter what happened in the outside world, here I could be certain that my wife would be safe even if I wasn't there. A safe haven where we could live in peace. Camp Jupiter had a whole city essentially for people to call home, even regular mortals too, and we decided it was time we began to change that for Camp Half-Blood.
After all, there had been year-round campers here for ages. While that wasn't so much of an issue in everyone else's case since we were the only married couple here, but maybe one day there would be more. Maybe one day Camp Half-Blood could have its own town of residents.
We slowly ascended the stairs to the door, which was engraved with the crest of the Hylian Royal Family. We weren't the royal family obviously, but we did it to honor the past.
I turned to my wife next to me and asked, "You ready to begin the rest of our lives here?"
"Yes, my love, I am." She smiled at me, tired but warmly.
We opened the door and stepped inside. We turned on only a few of the lights as we would be going to sleep soon. We each got upstairs and changed into our nightclothes, Zelda into her nightgown, and me into my moderately loose nightshirt and pants. Zelda was already in bed when I came to bed myself. I climbed in beside my wife and she snuggled up against my chest, head resting against my neck, her legs tangled with mine. Her fingers absently drawing shapes on my torso, ghosting along the fabric over my numerous scars.
"It finally happened, it finally actually happened, we're finally actually married." I said softly, still in awe.
She turned her head to look up at me and she smiled tenderly before speaking, "Yes, it has, and we are."
I suppressed a yawn, causing Zelda to suggest we just go to sleep now. I told her that would probably be best. She dropped off almost instantly, and just a few minutes later, I followed as well, with the last thought going through my mind before sleep being, 'Married! Wow!'.
00000000000000000000000000
As we fell asleep that night for the first time as a married couple, far away in a remote part of North Dakota, in a shadowy cave a group of people gathered. The very cave I had visited once before, while it was still devoid of anything. The cave was illuminated by a dim magenta light. The light came from a strange, circular prism of some kind that floated just above the left hand of a figure in dark robes. He stood, his back to the group of people behind him. All but two of the people knelt on one knee, in allegiance to this person, although he was not their leader so it more of a recognition of alliance.
The two who were still standing were wearing masks like everyone else, masks that completely covered the face and was adorned with an upside-down eye. One man was short and had a bulging belly, the other man was taller and powerfully built. The big man had two long swords at his waist, and his hair pointed up before forking in two and curving down to make a sort of "M" shape.
"Our plan will soon reach fruition." The robed figure spoke softly, his rough voice carrying a strange accent. He did not turn as he spoke. In front of him, levitating above the ground were four entities. They hung limply, not dead but dormant, waiting to be awakened. They each were enshrouded in a magenta fog.
These entities were about the size of a person, but weren't people, these monsters were the very last ones from many millennia before. Soon they would be roaming it in hordes.
The pudgy man nodded, "Good, we will succeed!" He said joyously. The large man didn't speak, but nodded.
Then the robed figure turned to face the gathered people, the magenta light from the levitating object above his hand illuminating his face, which was pinched and sharp edged. His face was tipped with a narrow chin with distinctive edges, like he'd been carved from stone. His skin was ghostly pale, accentuating his bony and gaunt face. His eyes peered out above high cheek bones, with unnaturally small irises and pupils, giving them a very intimidating appearance. His long dark hair, just visible between his face and the lining of his hood. On his forehead was a talisman, one that was an obvious rendition of a malice eye. Just like the ones created by Calamity Ganon long ago.
He eyed the gathered people for a minute, then said one last thing, "Soon, our God will be revived. When He is you will go out there to find him and bring him here, fear not those who would stand against us, fear your leaders and me if you should fail!" He said, his voice carrying a dangerous timbre.
Everyone nodded, and the large man spoke for the first time. "Alright everyone, let's get some sleep and tomorrow we will proceed with the next phase of the plan, as guided by the prophet of doom here."
Everyone except the cloaked prophet left the room.
The prophet spoke one last thing, to himself, "Those who would stand against us are foolish, they do not have the means to stop us this time! This time, they will fail and the world as they know it will burn! This time our armies will be unbeatable! I will bring this world to its knees!" He chuckled with maniacal glee.
When the bearers of wisdom and courage return, they must be ready for the return of the one who desires power. Wisdom and Courage must stand together like times past to face evil, together will bring success, alone will bring failure. All must be ready for a darkness unlike any ever before, the return of Power is not the only thing that is returning. Something is stirring on the edges of existence, the original source of all evil. An ancient bane of light, a force of pure malevolence, from beyond this realm. Defeat of this being, shall bring the permanent peace that has been so long awaited. Prepare yourselves, champions.
Well that's it for now, definitely comment and favorite. Either way, the plot thickens...some of you will know who this maniac is.