Chapter Nine – wedding day (and night)

Link and I took our horses and spent the night before the wedding in Kakariko Village. I stayed in the great house with Impa and Paya, and Link stayed at Dorian's house, which would have excited the girls to no end if they hadn't already started out for Lurelin on foot with Claree several days ago. At noon the next day, Link would begin transporting the wedding party to Lover's Pond, one at a time, except for Teba and Kass, who had opted to simply fly to Tuft Mountain.

Link had visited Rozel a final time just a couple of days ago to ensure that all the preparations had gone as planned. He had placed the travel medallion at Lover's Pond while he was in the area. All the honored guests were to be waiting at the nearest shrine by noon so the transport process could be speedy. Once everyone was in place at the pond, he would finally transport our horses, with flowers braided in their manes and tails for the procession down-mountain. Then he would come back to quickly wash up and change at Dorian's house, and Paya would meet him there to accompany him to the pond. Link would give her the Sheikah slate to return to Kakariko and retrieve me. I felt bad that Link had to do so much back-and-forth traveling, but he insisted that it would be the happiest work he had ever done.

Although the Faron region was subject to frequent rain and lightning storms, Hylia favored us that day. The villagers and advance guests reported later, at the feast, that there had been a brief cloudburst around midmorning, but there was not a cloud in the sky for the rest of the day. The feast would not be spoiled because the villagers, who usually ate their meals outdoors anyway and were accustomed to unpredictable weather, had plenty of oilcloth tarps to cover the feast tables, and had canopies erected over the great spits on which two water buffalos had been cooking for two days on the beach.

Our ceremony began early in the afternoon. Kapson got a bit choked up himself as he recited the traditional wedding script. The ceremony was intimate; Impa, Yunobo, Teba, and Riju were our honored guests and witnesses. Kass played a sweet, tender song of his own devising on his accordion during the ceremony, standing several yards away to temper the loudness of the instrument. Paya was a lovely bridesmaid, and she played her part graciously, although I could see that she still hid her own feelings for Link. She could hardly keep her eyes off of him in his smart Royal Guard uniform, and I could hardly blame her. My groom was the most heart-stoppingly handsome I had ever seen him. Prince Sidon, steadfast and loyal friend, fulfilled his role with pride. I almost think that his exuberant smile outshone even that of Link's!

My father's spiritual presence and those of the other Champions – Daruk, Mipha, Urbosa, even the self-absorbed Revali - were tangible to me. I knew that my father was proud and happy, and that we had his unreserved blessing.

I gasped as Link slipped a beautiful Gerudo-crafted diamond ring on my finger. I had no idea when he had snuck away and ordered it, or how he had known what size to make it, but it fit perfectly and glittered like his wet, shining eyes as he smiled at me.

At the moment when Kapson asked if there were any present who objected to our union, I felt my father standing at my shoulder, could even smell his favorite cologne, and I swear I felt his hand squeeze my shoulder encouragingly. There were tears of joy streaming down my cheeks as I kissed my handsome groom.

Husband and wife at last, Link and I mounted our horses to begin the trek down the mountain. Purah, Symin, Ralera, and Rhodes had ridden to Lurelin in a farmer's cart. That morning they had decked it out with tropical flowers and vines, and Rhodes had brought it up the mountain for the wedding party to ride down in. Once everyone was safely aboard the wagon, we all started out.

The people of Lurelin Village had prepared a marvelous outdoor feast for us, and the friends who were not in attendance at the ceremony were waiting in the cove. Koko, Cottla, and Kass's five girls were playing with the Lurelin children. The villagers had brought out many tables and benches for the occasion, and along with the water buffalos there were fish and fowl, fruits gathered from all over Hyrule, breads, rice dishes, soups, and sumptuous desserts, including my favorite fruitcake. Link and I started out at the head table, enjoying the meal, then we began moving from table to table, catching up with old friends, getting to know new friends in my case, basking in the celebration of not just our marital union but the hope of longtime peace and prosperity in our beloved kingdom. We shared our ideas for rebuilding and unifying Hyrule, and we pledged to visit one another again soon to begin implementing plans.

When we joined the Sheikahs at their table, we noticed that Paya and Granté were seated next to each other, and their body language indicated that they were already getting familiar with each other. Link and I kept our faces neutral, as we began conversing with Robbie – the only one of the Sheikahs besides Granté that I hadn't seen before today – but squeezed each other's hands beneath the table. Paya's eyes were still drawn to Link, but Granté was doing a pretty good job of keeping her attention. He was obviously already smitten with her. Robbie introduced me to his wife, Jerrin, and to Granté, and they greeted me warmly. Link and I got into a lively conversation with Robbie and Purah about Sheikah technology, and Granté went back to his conversation with Paya.

Traysi of the Rumor Mill had somehow gotten wind of our wedding, and crashed our party hoping for an interview. At first I was rather indignant, but Link thought it was a good way to spread the word that I was still alive and tell everyone some of our ideas for reconstructing and unifying the kingdom, so we gave Traysi her scoop and allowed her to stay for the festivities.

Some of our guests were able to stay in the little inn in the village. The Rito in attendance opted to sleep in hammocks strung between the many palm trees. The rest were put up in makeshift tents along the low rise at Gogobi Shores to the east of the village. But for me and Link the villagers had arranged a grand tent just to the west of the waterfall, strewn with many large, cushy pillows, soft blankets, vases of fresh, fragrant flowers, and some small tables with oil lamps, pitchers of water and mead, and bowls of fruit. We would have privacy and be quite comfortable.

An hour after sunset, we left our guests still reveling at the beach in the cove. Kass had chosen to stay and provide his musical services for the party, and he played while his lovely daughters sang. A few of the villagers brought out their drums for accompaniment. People drank, danced, and laughed until the wee hours, and the sounds of drums, singing, and drunken revelry followed us all the way to our tent.

Link made me stand and wait while he tied back the opening to the tent, then swept me into his arms and carried me across the threshold.

"Okay, it's not actually home," he conceded as he untied the flaps and refastened them to each other, "but we can do that again once we get there." I simply nodded, waiting anxiously for our night to truly begin.

So many times in the past few weeks, Link and I had made love in our own way without the final act of consummation, not so much to adhere to stuffy old societal conventions as to save something special to look forward to. But now that we were officially husband and wife, we would finally experience each other to the ultimate degree. The events of the day should have tired me by now, but the anticipation had my nerves singing and my blood dancing in my veins. When Link turned to me after securing the doorway, I could tell by the smoldering look in his eyes that he was having the same thoughts. My heart leapt; he would make me fully his own tonight, and I him. We would be as one.

Wordlessly, he came and stood close before me. He lifted the crown of flowers from my hair and tossed it gently aside. I did the same with his Royal Guard cap. He cupped my face in both his hands, the tips of his fingers threading into my hair, and kissed me tenderly, but I sensed great restraint. He wanted to ravage me, but he also wanted this moment to be sacred. His kisses became more fervent. He wrapped one arm around my waist and grabbed my bottom with his other hand, pulling my hips sensuously against his hard member. He took my bottom lip between his teeth and bit down gently, running his tongue across it. In turn, I brought one hand up to hold his head and wrapped my other arm around his back, pressing my breasts hard against his chest. His tongue delved into my mouth, even running against the backs of my teeth, tasting every inch he could reach. Our tongues danced lasciviously together, our passion consuming us. I could hardly stand separating long enough for us to unfasten each other's buttons, buckles, and laces, but in a few moments we stood completely bare before one another.

Link drank me in with his eyes, seemingly spellbound, as if he had never seen me naked before. He reached out and touched my breasts with his fingertips, the softest whisper of a touch, raising goosebumps and causing my nipples to tighten and stand at attention. His fingers trailed like falling eiderdown, descending my sides to my hips, leaving more goosebumps in their wake. He moved closer and reached around to clutch my bottom, once again pulling me against his swollen member, a shuddering sigh escaping his lips.

Without speaking, we knelt facing one another upon the pillows and Link bent forward, bowing his head against my belly, his hands lightly gripping me behind my bent knees, a gesture of complete submission. I placed my hands on his golden hair, stroking it, accepting his fealty. Then I lay back in a submissive gesture of my own, awaiting his loving domination of my body. He moved into position, and the air fairly trembled with anticipation.

As my legs separated to accommodate him, I felt the air hit the dampness on my inner thighs. I was drenched in my desire for him to have me. He supported himself on one elbow while using his other hand to position himself at my entrance. He met my eyes, asking with restrained passion if I was ready. I answered by wrapping my legs around his thighs and pulling him toward me, into me. He pushed slowly, carefully, watching my face for any sign of discomfort, but as damp as I was, there was no real resistance, just the firm sheathing of his body inside of mine, my body stretching to allow him in. It was a strange, yet satisfying sensation, being full of him. This was the pinnacle of physical intimacy. It had been worth the wait. I gave myself over to him with joy. Oh, how deeply I loved this man.

Once fully ensconced within me, he had to stop and be still for a moment, panting with the effort of holding back. He lowered himself to both elbows and pressed his whole torso against mine, hands gripping my shoulders, kissing me with quick, birdlike pecks all over my face. He was trembling, forcing himself to take deep slow breaths, and it occurred to me that his restraint must be monumental. When he felt he had himself under control, he began moving slowly, in and out, and I pressed my feet to the ground and pushed my hips up against him to meet his gentle thrusts. His pelvic bone pressed deliciously against my sensitive spot each time he pushed in, and as we adjusted to moving in time together, his thrusts became faster and harder. There was another sensitive spot inside of me that I had never suspected existed, and he touched it with every in-thrust, adding to the pleasure.

All too soon, he pushed his arms under my body and grasped me hard against him as he lost control and thrust into me in long, hard, fast strokes. His face was buried in the curve between my neck and shoulder. His fervent groans, the musky scent of his body, the pressure of his pelvic bone against that sensitive spot, as well as his manhood touching that inside spot, my own knowledge that in this moment he was helpless against his intense desire for me, the idea that he was possessing me and I was letting him – all combined to bring me to my own climax as he poured his beloved seed into my most intimate place. We both cried out in ecstasy as we clung to one another until the throes of our passion ebbed.

He collapsed on top of me, and I bore his weight gladly, enjoying the panting kisses that he rained all over my face and neck. His hair dripped sweat onto me, and I enjoyed that, as well. My precious, steadfast knight and I were as close as two people could be, and words could not adequately describe my love for him at that moment.

Link stayed inside me until he was completely flaccid, then kissed me gently on the mouth before rising and fetching us cups of sweet mead. I sat up to drink as he sat down next to me, and after taking a long draught himself he dipped a finger into his cup and circled my nipple with his wet fingertip. He then bent down, cupping my breast up to meet his mouth as he sucked and licked the sticky honey wine from my skin.

"Mmm," I groaned, tipping my head back and closing my eyes. He gave my other nipple the same treatment, biting a little, then I pushed him rather forcefully down onto his back and did the same to him. Some of his mead sloshed onto his belly when he went down, and I cleaned that up with my mouth as well. The sweetness of the mead mixed with the saltiness of his sweat.

Going a step further, I smeared mead on his already semi-erect member, then licked it off, watching his reaction as I tasted not only the mead but the combined flavors of myself and his seed, and felt his limb twitch and begin to harden again. This made me feel excitedly wanton; I set my cup aside and lowered my mouth completely over him, sucking gently but firmly as I toyed with his scrotum.

Link's fingers threaded through my hair, combing through it languidly while I did my best to stimulate him back to another erection. It didn't take long; Hylia bless him, he was so excited.

"You be on top this time, Zelda," he suggested. "Remember our first night together a hundred years ago? It can be like that, only this time it's our first night as husband and wife, and I can actually be inside of you."

I straddled him, planting my hands next to his ears, rubbing myself against him, juxtaposing in my mind this night with that one so long ago. Link gently squeezed my swaying breasts, tweaked my nipples, then slid his hands down my sides and over my hips, moving with me for a few moments before reaching between us to lift his limb upward and fit it against me. I lowered myself carefully onto it, reveling once again in the delicious sensation of being filled with him. I started moving slowly, feeling for the best motion to stimulate myself against him, feeling a bit dizzy, closing my eyes.

"You're so beautiful, Zelda," Link breathed, and I opened my eyes to find him watching me. I smiled, flattered by his adoration, drinking in the sight of him with his damp hair sticking to his forehead, his face flushed and his eyes shining.

"So are you, Link, my love," I replied. I lowered myself onto my elbows and pressed my breasts to his chest, grinding my hips against his in slow, sensuous circles, trying to get him as far into me as I could. My pleasure was mounting once again, and it was not long before I succumbed to my second exquisite orgasm that night. Link pushed me upright so he could watch me in the throes, caressing my breasts and lightly pinching my nipples all the while. But he was still going strong, and we experimented with several other positions. I was on my hands and knees and he was hunched over me from behind, one hand wrapped up in my hair and the other reaching beneath me to cup my breast, when he finally reached his own climax, both his thrusts and his breath coming fast and hard. When it was over, he wrapped his arms around me, pressing his body against my back. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then lifted us upright, resting his chin on my shoulder and nibbling softly on my ear.

"You make me so happy," he murmured into my ear, making me shiver and my ear twitch.

"I feel the same," I replied, "and I'm glad I can give you such pleasure." I turned and tilted my head to kiss him over my shoulder. My mouth was dry.

"I'm thirsty," I said, so Link got up and searched for our cups, which had been forgotten in our lovemaking. Both had been overturned and the mead had soaked into the pillows and blankets where they had spilled. Link refilled them and returned, handing my cup to me.

"I propose a toast," he announced. "To many long years of wedded bliss. May we always find new ways to enjoy each other and never become bored."

"Hear, hear," I agreed, clinking my cup against his. We drank, and he leaned in and kissed me, his tongue searching for and finding mine, the taste of mead drenching our mouths. We set the cups carefully out of the way so they wouldn't get spilled again.

Link got a dry blanket and spread it beneath us, pushing any wet pillows out of the way. Then he unfolded a second blanket and lay down next to me once again. We both pushed and pulled the blanket around until we were sufficiently covered. He lay on his back and pulled me cozily against him, my head resting in the crook of his shoulder, my left leg draped over his left leg. I closed my eyes as he pressed his lips gently against my forehead.

"I love you, wife," he whispered.

"I love you, husband," I replied, smiling. The exhaustion from all the excitement of the day and the effects of the mead finally caught up with me, and I fell quickly to sleep in his arms.