"And I'm gonna find my way back to your side." - Mat Kearney, Ships in the Night
*Eighteen Years Later*
"Now, Temitri... you surely remember what we discussed?" Impa approached a strong Sheikah figure on horseback.
He pulled down his purple mask. "Of course, Mother. Father just asked me to run a delivery."
"Any suspicious beings?"
"No, Mother. The way was completely silent, just like usual."
"Temitri, I must ask you not to leave the village for any reason. The Yiga want nothing more than to get their hands on you, a life supposedly blessed by our lovely Zelda."
He slid off the dapple grey mare's back and patted her neck before turning back to his mother. "Of course, just let me return Morning Blossom to the pasture."
As they walked to where the Kakariko horses were kept, the air around them seemed to grow heavy. However, it wasn't until they were already back home, seated in silence for quite some time, before there was any noise.
"Mother? Why is it that you often don't give a title when referring to Champion Link or his wife, Zelda?" He figured, since she had not used 'prince' or 'princess' in years, he should find alternate titles.
Impa made a soft cooing sound as she mused on what to reply. "You always come back to that question... don't you?"
"It's been many years since last time and, at twenty five, I believe I am old enough."
"So it seems..." Impa chuckled softly. Oh, how her boy had grown up. "To tell you the truth, my boy... is because I don't know myself."
Temitri's face twisted in the utmost confusion. "You don't know why you refuse a title?"
"I don't know what to call them."
"What?! But you were the Royal Advisor! Surely you must know!"
Impa shook her head, pulling out a drawer with scattered journals, pens and a glass box that contained a very familiar anklet.
"Mother! Is that his wedding band?" He blinked in disbelief while his mother lifted the glass box and examined its sole content with a heavy heart.
"Indeed it is. Zelda was furious that we'd removed it. I promised her I'd keep it safe for him, when he returned for her." She sighed, sliding the box to the back of the drawer and flipping through her old diary. "So many things happened just before the Calamity... most of it was not public knowledge when the kingdom fell, so it was never learned." She led him to the upper room, then smoothly sat down on the mattress and presented the diary's open pages.
There was so much raw emotion contained by those pages, so much anger, confusion and fear. So much joy and sorrow... so much love.
Her Highness finally opened her mouth. For one of the first times ever, I am so relieved to hear her. The first entry that caught his eyes began. She has always had something to say, some opinion to voice like the roaring thunder, but she's been so quiet and distant for quite some time that I knew she was hiding something extravagant in consequence.
In fact, I almost wish I'd never her speak.
"We were all quite angry at her little... announcement." Impa's smooth voice distracted him. "Well, except for Aunt Purah."
How did she know which entry he was reading?
"It took a very long time for relationships within the castle to stabilize, and many never did." Impa flipped through a few more pages, glancing through the turbulent memories. "There was a skirmish about a week or so before the Calamity, and of course Zelda's baby was the subject. It was kept very quiet, as no one wanted more castle drama..."
"What about it?"
"It was the last straw for our Link, I'm afraid. He became very defensive and angry, more so than usual. Then came the night before the Calamity. It was very late at night, perhaps even early morning, when a great disturbance broke out. Link took me aside to a quiet region, then asked me to get Zelda and bring her to the throne, as he couldn't get back to their chambers, but could reach the throne room. So many things happened, I was so confused and frightened when Link ran off, but eventually I reached Zelda. She was so afraid, cowering near the end of the bed, figure gleaming in the moonlight. She begged to know where her husband had gone, and I told her there was a disturbance inside the castle walls, and that he'd given me a safe place to take her. She was not well on her feet, walking slowly with a slight waddle. I held one arm across her back as we ascended to the throne room, the sanctum. Just before we arrived, there was a great roar that seemed to shake the walls. She whimpered, her baby frightened by the sound, and almost buckled to her knees on-site. I remember so clearly... even after all these years... she squeaked out 'L-Link? Wa-was that you?' through shaking breaths, and I helped her draw closer to the sanctum. When we finally arrived, a score of guards under Link's control guarded the entrance and let us in. Link had blood spattered on him, I assumed he'd encountered some hostility during his escape, and bounded towards Zelda on four legs. He took her to the base of the stairs and tucked her gently into where the stairs lifted from the floor, settling down to guard her by staring at the entrances."
"So you don't know what titles they have because there was a skirmish at night? How does that change it? The Prince had you escort his wife to a place he'd locked down."
Impa's eyes darkened. "There was a reason he chose the throne room. He knew that's where her father was."
"And?"
"After sending me off, he headed to the throne room and threw down his gauntlet. He usurped the throne that night."
"What?! How-Why?! How did you find out?!"
"After he'd surveyed all the entrances, he turned back to Zelda and kissed her softly, cooing to her about how she was safe, and how no one would ever hurt her again. I came a little closer and asked him where the king was, to which he replied with dark eyes: 'You're looking at him.' Zelda wasn't entirely too sure what to make of it, but he lifted her and took her to what once was the Queen's throne, where he laid her on her back and sat down on the throne beside it, bent over the armrest. Not to much surprise now that I think about it, he was a young Wolfbred compared to an older Hylian. Seems logical he would win rather quickly."
"So you do know his title. He's the king. And by that, Zelda is queen."
"That I'm not one hundred percent sure of. He usurped the throne to accelerate Zelda's ascension, not his own. Link and Zelda, The King and Queen, or Prince and Princess, or the Whositswhatsits, I don't know, were hardly at the castle at all the following day. The only formal notification was that Rhoam had been overthrown overnight by his children, but that neither one had officially claimed the throne. Zelda wasn't feeling well, and still in shock, and Link wanted her on the throne. A Wolfbred fights only for his Queen, you know. The decision was supposed to be discussed upon their return, but Ganon revived before then. They never made it back. Since Link died before an ascension decision was made, he was not formally declared a king. Zelda also disappeared from the face of Hyrule, so technically, she will not be queen until she's proven alive. Officially, they're usurper royalty. The castle staff just referred to them as Usurper Prince and Usurper Princess, but that was unnatural and odd, so they continued with Prince and Princess after Link's death, especially because it kept the true story from spilling."
A cry of pain suddenly rang through the walls.
"There's someone downstairs!" Temitri recognized, and they both made their way quickly to the main floor where the cry had been heard.
"Impa! It's the Princess!" Horacio was over by Zelda's side, who herself had half-collapsed and was gasping in pain, doubled over herself. She tensed and a little, somewhat dignified, whimper slipped her lips and the onlookers saw tears streaked on her face. "I think her little one's coming out." Horacio stroked her stomach softly as he'd seen her husband do.
Temitri approached slowly, kneeling before the downed royal. "Princess..." He reached out gently, smoothly taking her in his arms. "It's okay... you'll be okay... you just focus on bringing that little one out." His hand gently slipped onto her belly, which suddenly tightened a few moments later.
But the unthinkable happened. Instead of hissing in pain at her apparent contraction, demanding he leave her alone to deliver in private, Zelda had the audacity to laugh!
"My apologi-" The wince he was expecting earlier finally arrived. "Zelda Ivee, do not kill me!" She muttered under her breath to her child. She took a few breaths before trying again. "My apologies, but I am not in labor." She waved her hand over her stomach, and the outline of her child, lending strength to their mother's battle, became clearly visible. "Impa, I'd like you to meet someone... my daughter."
"Zelda!" Impa gasped. "She's his?"
Zelda nodded once. "Yes." She giggled in Temitri's arms. "She'll be beautiful, and strong like her father."
"Congratulations, Your Grace." Temitri bowed ever so slightly, while Zelda cooed softly.
"Yes... we're talking about you, my little Zelda Ivee..." She made a variety of other quiet, nurturing sounds before adding "...my little bird."
"Hey... that was Urbosa's nickname for you..."
"It was, Horacio... it was..." She stretched out, Temitri struggled to contain her.
"Your Grace, pardon the offense, but you are quite heavy. Why don't I put you to bed for just a minute? You can rest your weary body and continue talking there."
"Oh! I can get going if I've overstayed!" She tried to roll out of his reach, but Temitri tightened his grip on her.
"Your Grace, I think you need a little rest. Come on, when's the last time you rested?"
Zelda grimaced and Zelda Ivee noticeably shuffled and squirmed inside her belly. "Not since the Calamity..."
"Oh, Zelda!" Impa gasped. "You must be so worn! Imagine if you were to contract right here, you might not have the strength to make it through!" She waited for Zelda to hitch a breath, watching her infant struggle. "Horacio, roll out a mat right here. She'll get some rest." She stroked Zelda's side while her husband prepared a resting place. "Look at you... are you sure you'll be okay?"
She nodded as Temitri slid her body onto the mat. "We're here... in Hyrule Castle. For all these years we've been fighting... but I'm starting to grow weary... Please... keep an eye on Link for me. Tell him we're okay... but we need him to come to our aid..." Her knee came up to cradle the bulk of her, watching her child grow stronger with the gentlest gaze known to Hyrule, soothed even more by the exhaustion in her eyes. "She's got her father's strength... She's been quite a blessing in this battle... but I hope she stays in. The Castle is no place to deliver her as it is now." Suddenly, she looked back at Temitri. "This is sudden to note but... I already miss the warmth of your arms. It reminds me of my husband, and it's been so long..."
He climbed onto the floor and slid next to her. "You don't think Champion Link will hurt me for this?"
"He knows it is for my comfort and wellbeing."
Satisfied that the motion wouldn't cause Hyrule's next king to execute him, he wrapped an arm around Zelda's back and pulled her slightly closer in a very slight, snuggle-like fashion. "Are you a bit more comfortable?"
"Yes, thank you. Although I cannot stay for long. I cannot allow Ganon to break his seal, and you are in greater danger with every moment you spend in my shadow."
"I understand. But, may I ask you one more question?"
"Certainly..." She was briefly distracted by a jab in her side. "Ooh, no, little one, this isn't your father either..."
"She misses him, doesn't she?"
"Was that the question you meant to ask?"
"Oh! No, I'm sorry. It was just your usage of 'either' that struck me then. I meant to ask of your title. None of us are certain."
"She was aware when her father passed. I've spent a lot of energy keeping her from forgetting him, so she reacts in this vivacious manner whenever she believes I might have found him. Her memory, however, is not completely developed." Zelda shook her head. "She cannot sense her father. To her, he is just as far as he is near, and just as dead as he is alive. He is everyone and no one. There are no parameters for her."
"That's ... quite sad actually. To be aware enough to witness a loved one's death, but not aware enough to remember their life..."
"She is able to remember how much he loves us, and that will have to suffice."
"At least you both have a memory of him."
Zelda nodded, a few tears slipping away as she bobbed her head up and down. "We'll be okay." She settled back down on the mat, obviously enjoying not having to bear her weight. After she'd rested for a good amount of time, her eyes opened again. "And for your other sentiment..." She pushed herself up to his level. "Tell the people their queen is alive."
"So you accepted the throne that night?"
"Yeah, sure, why not." She glanced at her fingers, then saw he was unappeased. "I understood my husband's motives, I just wish he hadn't done the overthrow as he did. Us storming up there with only the gauntlet, none of the turncoat guards or secret setups, would have been just fine and wouldn't have given me such a fright."
"So you two had been planning for a while?!" Impa fumed.
"Not as long as you think. Call us traitors if you wish, but it was never our long-term intention to overthrow Father!"
"Then how did you have alternate plans?!"
"That last fight. I was crying in our room. Link brought me a little comfort food and a hug. After I was a little soothed, he brushed my cheek and just told me 'This cannot go on. It's obvious he's never going to stop treating you like this, and I would bet money that he'll treat the baby the same way.' I knew in my heart it was true, and I saw the tears shine in his eyes. 'What kind of father would I be if I let him hurt Little Hyrule like he hurt you?' I'd been beaten, screamed at, ridiculed, sworn out in front of the entire court, I still have scars from a few... I knew I couldn't do nothing, so I asked him what he thought to do. He sighed and said 'I never wanted to think of this... but we have to take him out of power.' I cried, asking him if he was seriously considering treason. I couldn't be married to a traitor, I was to be queen! He hugged me and just whispered that if there was any other way, he'd take it, but he knew no one could stop Father from hurting me or the baby as long as he was King, so I had to become Queen. He told me only of humane ways to overthrow him, ones where Father would not perish, and we decided on the gauntlet because of Link's heritage. That's how it all laid out. Link and Father had an argument the night before my birthday, and obviously he decided to attempt our plan in revenge. Link never told me what was said in that argument, but he was livid."
"Perhaps Purah knows," Horacio turned to Impa. "She was on Link's side that night. Gave him a few backup inventions should the gauntlet go south. She was not letting that night end with Rhoam still on the throne. Must've been something worthy of supplying Link with weapons that were obviously hers."
Impa sighed. "Purah did tell me. That night. It was so horrible I didn't want to believe it. I don't know everything, and I certainly don't want to remember. However, at some point, Rhoam commented that, if the baby was male or stillborn, he'd make Zelda pay for the humiliation and, if the baby was female but struggled with her powers, like her mom, he'd make them both pay."
"W-what?! B-but, Father would-"
"He did, Your Majesty," Impa bowed. "that's why Link was so put off that he overthrew your father while you slept. He knew if you rose up and your father caught you, he would have the liberty of doing anything short of killing you that he wanted. Link refused to run the risk with either of you. If he claimed the throne by himself, he could give it to you without any treason on your part since you're his wife. So that's what he did." She suddenly turned to her son, who was tending the shell-shocked queen. Her princess, although not wise enough to understand, reacted to her mother's fright, and that's what Temitri was tending to when he noticed his mother. "That's why the Yiga want you so much, Temi. You serve the Goddess Descendant, her unborn child, and her Wolfbred husband, who overthrew the King with barely a finger lift. That match up is terrifying to them, and if you've been blessed by them, then you might be the one to finally wipe the Yiga out. That's their logic anyway. Anyone related to the Royal Family, by blood, marriage or otherwise, must be destroyed."
He remembered that day, those conversations, forever. Ganon took the Queen back to the Castle shortly after, but she was able to somehow communicate through the Spring of Wisdom's guardian, Naydra. All the Sheikah older than seventeen raced to the peak of Mount Lanayru every year following the revelation for Zelda's birthday.
It was during one of those trips where the Yiga finally took him out. But not before he left behind someone else to lead their King and Queen whenever they should return.