Her 24th birthday lacked almost all the pomp and circumstance her 22nd birthday held. Granted, that one had been half military parade. That was at her own behest though and infinitely more joyful. There had been only one precious person missing from that one. Now– now there were three.

She pushed that thought away. No, dwelling on such things would only make things worse. And this was a joyous occasion as the Divine Beasts and pilots were combat ready. There had been no sign of the rogue Sheikah or extra monster appearances either. The Guardians were a true army and deaths due to monster attacks were at an all time low.

So in her fancy ball gown, Zelda forced a happy smile to her face. Impa stood by her side, there due to the fact the inventor would've run away at the first opportunity, Koshia on the other side of Impa. Paya was more nondescript in formal Sheikah robes already on the floor. She wasn't sure where Link was. She'd lost track of him after dinner.

She knew he hated parties. Still, she'd commissioned him a new outfit and he'd made no moves to say he would leave early. She wouldn't blame him if he did.

In the past two years she'd come to rely on him a great deal. So much so it scared her a bit. It also made her feel sorry for the uneven relationship between them. It wasn't fair that he should be so invested in her, so steadfast. Not when she'd done nearly nothing to deserve besides being kind to him when he was new to the castle.

No, she had to stay positive.

Reba was at her party, Darlas too. Kadli and Amphritus hadn't been able to come for a few reasons. Still, enough of the key players were present that Zelda sincerely figured something was bound to go wrong.

Zelda took a drink from the Gerudo fruit punch, her second that night. It was really good and she was glad that she'd asked for it. After she finished the drink, she left Impa and looked for a dance partner. As always, they were in large supply, and Zelda danced for the next few songs, her smile not all that fake. She took a break for more punch and found her mood lightening. Be it from lack of assassins, no lack of dancing, or the exquisite Gerudo drink, she couldn't tell. It was probably all three

Reba danced fantastically, as always, leading a Gerudo line dance. The musicians were a motley bunch from all around Hyrule. As such, they knew many styles of music, which made the usually Hylian centered music and dances diversify. Zelda joined in, after finishing her drink of course, and laughed with delight, glad Reba had taught her the moves.

After another few songs, she finally spotted someone she'd been wanting to talk to all night.

On her way to him, she grabbed yet another cup of punch for her parched throat. She hoped she wasn't sweating too much from her exertion in dancing. The room felt much hotter.

"You have to stop being such a wallflower," she called over.

Link smiled good naturally and asked, "I take it you're having a good time?"

"Surprisingly, yes," she said. Her body was so warm and light, and she drew closer to him. "What about you?"

"Would it be cheesy to say I'm always happy on your birthday?"

"Hmmm... " She put a finger to her lips. "Depends why you say that."

"Well, Princess Zelda, it's because I'm very happy you were born."

She giggled and pushed his shoulder playfully. "That is cheesy, but," she pouted, "It's not fair that I don't know when you were born."

"You know when I was born," he said, pausing for dramatic effect. "About 22 years ago."

"I may just assign you one," she said, "Then I'll know. I'll get you so many wonderful presents."

…

Link didn't say yet another cheesy line that he wanted to, because Zelda took another sip of her drink and it distracted him.

"Do you want some?" she offered, holding out the cup. Not knowing what to say, but curious, he took a sip. It was fruity and sweet– a bit too sweet for Link's taste. Though due to her excited expression he smiled.

"Very good," he said.

"I know!" she exclaimed, "I'm so happy these are here. And that you are here."

He felt his cheeks flood with heat and knew he was blushing. He was on the same level as sweet fruit drinks in her mind? Definitely a win.

The music changed to a slower partner dance, and Zelda's eyes lit up. "Oh, you know this dance, right? Don't even deny it, I'm pretty sure I taught you it."

She hadn't actually taught him, but she had been present when he'd learned.

"I need to remain alert," he tried, only half finding an excuse.

"To protect me, right?"

He nodded.

"So what better place to protect me from then as my dance partner?"

She was too lovely. Link couldn't exactly tell her that she was too distracting–he really didn't want to burden her with more. Though for as much as she had dreaded this event, she seemed to be having fun. And there hadn't been even a hint of assassins or other nerdowells. Against his better judgment, Link let her pull him onto the dance floor.

The dance he remembered well enough, though it was strange now. The last time he'd danced had been at Zelda's 17th birthday and he'd only danced with Reba. Dancing with Zelda was different and sort of amazing. He was highly focused on not missing any steps, but when he got the chance, he couldn't help but notice her flushed cheeks and bright eyes.

A smile that looked as close to a real one that he'd seen from her lately. Her gloved hands were soft on his shoulder and she– she filled out her dress nicely. Her hair was half up half down, and sometimes would brush his finger tips. He loved her hair. He loved her.

She smiled dazzlingly and then stumbled.

"You have really pretty eyes," she said, staring into them. "Did you know that?"

Unsure why she was complimenting him, Link only smiled back and tried to continue the dance.

"You're so handsome, did you know that?" she continued when he didn't respond, leaning closer and stumbled again. Link frowned slightly.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

She was about to deny it when the song ended and Link took the opportunity to take her off the dance floor. She protested slightly, but switched gears alarmingly quickly.

"Your wife is going to be a lucky woman," she said, leaning heavily on him. Not inappropriately so, but enough that Link was curious as to what was going on, and got the feeling he should find Paya or Impa to watch her in his stead.

But Link couldn't find Paya or Impa and it felt really nice to hear her compliment him. Still, he started to lead her outside to get some air. Maybe she was feeling light headed?

"Is she?" he asked. He couldn't help himself. They'd grown so close, and he knew she looked on him favorably. Still, there'd been a strange push and pull with her recently. He could guess at why, but that didn't make it much easier.

"Yes. You're quite the looker. You know, I feel bad about it sometimes…"

"About what?"

"I don't know… " she started, before losing track of her words and starting again, "I don't know if I love you the same way you love me, but when I think about marrying you I still feel excited. You deserve better."

Link didn't know what to say. Honestly, if she loved him at all he didn't exactly care how. Well, he did, but this was so much better than the serious, exhausted, guilt-ridden woman who'd told him he could ask for her hand in marriage as a reward. But also she should not be discussing these matters while in public.

"Princess," he started, "I don't know if now is the right time to talk about that."

For a second he worried he'd offended her, until she started giggling again. "Oh right, it's a secret." She shushed him in an exaggerated manner. "You can't tell anyone that you want to marry me."

"Princess," he tried. She was acting strange.

"I like your dress clothes," she said, "but I think you're cuter without them."

His face was on fire. His whole body felt hot with embarrassment… and a bit of desire. Which was also a tad embarrassing.

They were thankfully out of prying eyes when Zelda started to get more handsy. She kept trying to run her hands through his hair and unbutton his suit jacket.

"Zelda," he hissed, "What are you doing?"

She didn't answer his question, but muttered something about his hair being pretty. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her hand on the crook of his neck breathing deeply. The contact sent shivers down his spine, and were it not for the dazed look in her eyes and timing of it all, he may have followed this mood she was trying to set up.

But just in time, he saw Paya and Reba talking while strolling the breezeway and untangled himself from Hyrule's monarch. He half dragged Zelda over to her friends who regarded the two of them with amusement. Amusement Link felt was utterly unfair; his suffering went un sympathized.

To have almost been told the thing he wanted most from the woman he loved most only to realize she wasn't in her right mind while saying was extremely hard.

"Paya," Link started, "Reba, could you help me? She's– she's acting strangely."

"Link…" Zelda protested as he tried to hand her over to Paya. "I want to stay with you."

Reba laughed. "I did see her putting back those drinks."

Both Paya and Link frowned. "What do you mean?" Paya asked, "You mean that punch is alcoholic?"

"Of course it is," Reba said, "That's why it couldn't come out until the kids were in bed. Wait, none of you three knew that?"

A lot of things made sense now.

"How many did she have?" Reba asked.

"At least four," Paya said. "Oh, no wonder. Link, is she doing alright?"

"She's just been very… clingy and saying things that I don't think she means. It's a relief to hear that she's just drunk. I was starting to worry she'd been poisoned."

"She is poisoned," Paya said, "but not in a deadly way. I hate to cut the party short, but Reba, could you take the princess to her chambers? I need to speak with a few people before I can attend to her and I have a feeling her loose lips means she should be around people who can be trusted. Link, could you come with me?"

Reluctantly, Link followed Paya, at least pleased that he'd gotten Zelda to safe people, if not for his inability to help her. Still, the ghost of her hands on him, and the sweetness of her words couldn't help but set his blood on fire a little bit. He reminded himself she wasn't in her right mind, but still some part of him wondered how long he'd have to wait to experience something like it again. And then he cursed himself internally for such thoughts. How selfish was he?

…

While Zelda was happy to see Reba, she was unhappy for Link to go. She tried to follow him, but Reba's strong arms stopped her. Zelda made an un-royal noise of protest. "Reba, let me go. I want to go with him."

Reba only smiled. "And why should I let you do that?"

"He was blushing a lot. I like it when he does that. Reba, please."

"Zelda, as much as I hate leaving parties early, I think you need to go to bed."

"Will Link be there?" she asked stubbornly.

"Why do you want him there?" Reba asked.

"I–" Zelda wasn't exactly sure. He smelled nice and he was warm. "I want him near."

"Near as in how?"

"Well, I was thinking about it recently, and he and I know nothing about how to be husband and wife, unless he lied about only having eyes for me…" the more she talked, the more clear the plan became. "... so Reba, maybe you could bring him up there and I can braid his hair! Reba, could you do that?"

Zelda completely missed the concerned look that flashed over Reba's eyes. "Let's get you to your room first so you can get ready," Reba said ever so thoughtfully.

"Oh thank you Reba, you're going to be my maid of honor."

"I already knew that," Reba said.

After some effort to corral Zelda in her room, a task of epic proportion, Reba then tried to get some answers. "So when you say Link and you are going to be husband and wife, how do you mean?"

"Oh, you're right Reba, that is a good question, how do I mean…" Zelda worried for a bit. "What if he changes his mind because I'm broken?"

"Zelda, you're not broken."

"I haven't broken yet. It could happen at any time. I could shatter."

"Zelda, you're not– When did you two get engaged?"

"We aren't yet, technically," Zelda answered, "He hasn't asked yet. But he wants to."

"He wants to ask you," Reba repeated. "And when did you figure that out?"

"After… after my parents and brother died. He was interrupted, but I knew what he meant. I told him after we defeat Ganon he could ask a favor of the royal family."

"So after we defeat Ganon, he's going to ask you to marry him and you're going to say yes?"

Zelda nodded and smiled widely. "See? We've agreed to be engaged, which is like being engaged. I feel like tonight I should be close to him. Reba, he's so gentle and sweet. I want to braid his hair. Reba, he loves me!" Her thoughts were coming as a jumble, but the one that pervaded them was that Link loved her and she wanted to see him. Reba didn't seem to understand why she was so upset.

"Yes, I know. You know that I love you too right? That Paya and Impa, and all of Hyrule loves you. It's not just him."

"Reba, I love you too," Zelda said, confused what that had to do with anything. She tried to explain why Link's love was different. Not more important, but more… all consuming. "but you're not him. He loves me– he wants to marry me."

"Yes Zelda, you told me that."

"Reba, I want to marry him but what if I don't love him as much as he does me?"

"You do love him?"

"Of course I do. I always have. But, not as much as he did. What if he marries me and realizes he doesn't love me as much because I don't love him?"

"That won't happen."

Zelda was only half listening to her friend, and caught sight of a present from her closest. "Reba, he made me a scarf, do you want to see it?"

Zelda stumbled to her closet without waiting for an answer and pulled out her birthday gift. "Isn't it beautiful?" she asked, holding it up to be admired. "He made it for me. It smells like him. Smell it."

"Zelda, I don't want to know what the Hero smells like."

"It's strange how good he smells sometimes," Zelda mused, "I didn't think that was a real thing, just a romance novel thing." Zelda hugged the scarf to her chest. "Reba, when is he going to get here? I miss him. He's supposed to braid my hair."

"I thought you were supposed to braid his hair."

Zelda shook her head. "We can do both."

"I can braid your hair."

Zelda shook her head again. "No." she said with a sigh, "I shall braid your hair."

Reba shrugged and set a glass of water on the nightstand next to her inebriated friend. "French braid it."

Zelda hummed in response and started removing Reba's hair accessories. "Reba, have you ever kissed a boy?"

"You know I haven't."

"Yeah… I guess you would've told me… I was just wondering…"

It was Reba's turn to sigh. "So I take it you want to kiss Link."

"...Yeah…"

"Since when?"

"Since a loooong time ago."

It'd been so long she could hardly believe it. Though on some level she knew it wasn't something that happened to her as she was now.

"How long?"

"Since he fought for me…"

"Against the hinox?"

"No, no, since the first time," Zelda clarified, "Since he fought demons the first time. Even then I can't tell where it started."

Zelda suddenly felt very tired and very thirsty. She'd only undone Reba's hair ornaments and started brushing. She dropped her head on Reba's shoulder and waited to feel better.

"Let's get you dressed for bed," Reba said, standing and walking to help Zelda out of her ball gown

"Help me get ready." Zelda said, trying to remove her dress. "I'm too hot too. When is Link coming up here?"

"He's going to be here soon."

"Oh, that's good. Tell him he can kiss me if he wants."

Dressed more or less for bed, and her limbs feeling heavier and heavier, Reba helped her take a drink of water.

"Of course."

"But he can't do anything else."

"Right."

"Wait… he could hug me more if he wanted to. When is he getting here?"

"Soon."

"Oh… good." Zelda felt her eyes drift shut for a long second. "He can kiss me goodnight… Reba, I'm sleepy…"

"You can go to sleep."

"But what about–"

"He will wake you up."

"Oh… okay… tell him he's allowed to wake me up with a kiss… but… but I'm sorry because you'll have to leave… he's shy..."

And with that, Zelda drifted off to sleep, not to remember much of what happened after she started dancing with Link.