Chapter 3

The next few days were full of intense preparation, and the wedding day was set for a little over a month after Zelda's birthday. All of Hyrule was invited, everyone from Gerudos to Gorons. At one point, when Link was at home considering which of his friend to invite, he realized he couldn't invite his best friend, Saria, the Forest Sage. Being a Kokiri, she could not leave the forest. He made a mental note to come up with some kind of magic spell that would permit her to leave just for a little while.

He wrote the rest of his invitations, and decided to distribute the ones addressed to the Sages personally. The others he could leave with the courier to deliver, seeing as some were to be sent all the way to Termina.

He left shortly before lunchtime, and headed up Death Mountain to reach Goron City. Darunia, the Fire Sage, was also Link's Sworn Brother and good friend. The tall, stocky Goron was in his throne room as usual. His son, Goron Link (named for the Hylian Link) sat by his side, looking regal and all too calm.

"Link," Darunia greeted, standing up to greet his friend who had saved the Goron race so many times. "It's good to see you again. We didn't get to chat much at your princess's celebration, did we?"

Shaking his head and smiling, Link said, "No, I'm afraid we did not. It's good to see you as well."

"Won't you take a seat," Darunia suggested, more of a command than a request. Link did so obediently. "You remember my son Link, don't you?" the large Goron asked expectantly.

"Of course," Link answered. "Good to see you again, Link." It felt strange saying his own name. The smaller Goron merely nodded and gave a tiny smile.

Settling into his chair padded with some animal's fur, Link handed Darunia the invitation. "I came to invite you to my and Zelda's wedding," he explained.

"Oh...!" Darunia said. "Let me see."

He examined the invitation. As one of the few Gorons that could read Hylian script, Link watched as his eyes travel over the lines of his neatly written draft. "You can bring all of your race or just yourself," Link clarified. "Everyone is welcome."

"Wonderful. We'll be there," Darunia confirmed, beaming. "I'm so proud, Link. It's about time you and her got hitched. Makes me wish there were some female Gorons, but as you know, that's not possible." Gorons were an all-male race.

Link smiled bashfully. "I know. Well, I am afraid I must be going. I have more invitations to deliver, you see."

Darunia nodded understandingly. "I see. Good luck, Brother, and farewell. Be careful leaving this mountain; around this time of day rocks get busted loose from the mountain top."

Link hurried back down the mountain and then started off to the place he called home, Kokiri Forest. The ride on Epona wasn't long, and they had arrived within a half hour. The Kokiri children greeted him, excited and anxious about their hero's arrival. It made Link realize how much he missed home. His arch nemesis from childhood, Mido, stood off the side, arms crossed, a tiny smile on his lips. Link waved, a little flick of his wrist, and Mido nodded a greeting as well.

"What you doin' here, Link?" said a Kokiri boy with brown hair.

Link smiled sincerely at the child and responded, "I came to see Saria. I have something to give her."

"What is it?" someone asked.

The question of one was repeated throughout the forest. Link tugged free of the kids and hurried off into the Lost Woods. He wove expertly through the tunnels and found himself at the Sacred Forest Meadow. Once there he moved through the narrow paths and found himself at the spot where the Forest Temple, Saria's home, was.

He was standing on a grayish-silver platform that symbolized the temple as one of five, gazing up at the entrance and rummaging through his small rucksack for his longshot when Saria herself came out.

"Link?!" she cried in disbelief. "Is that you?"

She scurried down the temple and hopped to the grassy ground. Then she ran forward to Link. She barely came past his waist, Link noticed. He swept her up in his arms, lifting her off the ground. He got a rush from holding his best friend for so long in his arms once again, but couldn't help but feel like he was holding a daughter or a child, not his confidant. She was small and slight, even for a Kokiri, but wise beyond her years. She was immortal for the most part, like all Kokiri are, but more so in her case because she was the Forest Sage. Her eyes matched her hair, a color of emerald green brilliance. Her skin was pale and freckles dusted her tiny, ski-jump nose, and she wore a wide smile. Like all Kokiri, she wore a green tunic.

"I haven't see you in so long!" she said elatedly. She even sounded more mature than the other children.

Link nodded. "I know. It's been too long. But I've been so busy..."

"Of course." Saria grinned. "Being Knight of the Realm is hard work, I suppose."

Link cocked his head jokingly. "Nah. It's not so bad."

"It shouldn't be. Hyrule has been peaceful for so long. It's almost as if he never even existed."

"He" was Ganondorf, the evil Gerudo king Link had battled all those years ago. She was right; it did seem like forever, but at the same time, it seemed like it had happened yesterday. Something in the air. But that was just because Link remembered it so well.

"Come inside?" Saria asked, and Link nodded yes. The two friends, one mature and adult, fully grown, and the other childlike on the surface but adult inside, used the hookshot to go in the temple. She had arranged a little wodden table in the middle of the room. Flames of many colors lit up the main entrance hall from the four torches, making the room glow like a rainbow. A pink flower sat in a vase of water on the table. There was also a little white tablecloth.

Link looked to Saria. "Did you know I was coming?" he asked. He was trying to smirk but a look of pure pleasure overweighed the leer.

Saria just smiled minimally and tucked a strand of green hair behind one of her slightly pointed ears. "Sit down," she responded, gesturing.

They settled into chairs. Saria poured them cups of broth to sip at while they talked. After sitting and drinking for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company, Link took the invitation out of his pocket and slid it across the table to her.

She examined it closely. "What is it?"

Link remembered Saria couldn't read very well. "An invitation."

She was suspicious. "To what?"

Swallowing, Link answered. Suddenly he was nervous she might be mad, for several reasons. Not only because she was Kokiri and couldn't even leave the forest, Link had always thought Saria had a little crush on him. But he didn't know, so he said, "Zelda and my wedding."

Saria's eyes widened. "Oh, Link! Why didn't anyone tell me?" She looked excited, to Link's relief, but for all he knew, she could be faking. Which would be strange. Saria wasn't one to fake.

"I don't know," he said. "I wasn't even sure if you could come."

Saria wore a gloomy look now. She avoided Link's eyes, staring at her hands. "Oh."

Silence. Then, he asked, "Can you?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. I'll try."

He nodded.

Reassuring herself, she continued. "Yes. There must be a way." She stood up. "Go now, Link. I'm going to search for that magic spell."

With that, she was gone.

Link left the forest, and his next stop was Zora's Domain. He left Epona by Zora's River and made his way through, walking quickly but carefully on the small, verdant yet muddy trails. The water was shallow, but Link still felt a twinge of fear when he lingered too close to the edge.

When he entered the Domain, he was was once again breathless by the sheer beauty of the place. Waterfalls tumbled down cliffs and rocks, making lovely splashing sounds in the water. The water itself was clear and pollution free, and just the right temperature. Closing his eyes, Link remembered that water. He had swam in it so many times. Once he snapped out of his momentary trance, he started up the large hill that led to the king's chamber. He talked to a few Zoras on the way, all of them bowing to him gratefully. He had saved the Domain before, and their princess, Ruto, countless times over the years. The creatures trusted him, which was nice to know, weird as it was. Zoras did not trust easily, he had learned.

"Link," the king greeted the young Hylian man. "Are you here to see Ruto?"

A bit hesitantly, Link answered, "Yes. I have something for her. Actually, it's for your entire race, sir, but I would like to give it to her first."

"That's fine," the plump Zora confirmed. "Go and see her. She went to see Lord Jabu-Jabu, but she should be done by now. I hope she's alright..."

The Zora king was a notorious worrier. Link assured him Ruto was fine, though he had doubts himself. Though Ruto was around Link's age, she was a bit immature and maybe even careless at times.

The water where Jabu-Jabu resided was cold. Link shivered. He hoped Ruto was on her way back to her Domain.

No such luck. When Link found her, she had just started to feed the great fish. "Link!" she said breathlessly. "It...it has been so long!"

Then her divine violet eyes narrowed, just as Link was about to greet her back. "I can't believe you!" she shouted, throwing a piece of food on the watery ground.

Link took a step back. Ruto had been at Zelda's party, and had definitely heard what was to happen in a matter of weeks. According to Ruto, she was engaged to Link and Zelda was not, and she was obviously appalled by the announcement of marriage the Hylians had made.

"Cheating on me!" she exclaimed. "All this time! How long has this been going on? Tell me!"

"Ruto, we're not engaged," Link said. "I never agreed to marry you. You assumed that. All I wanted was the Sapphire. And that was a long time ago."

She glared at him, fists jammed into her hips. Her scaly skin was a pale blue, tainted with purple to match her eyes. She was quite attractive, for a half-fish, half-human creature. But, she wasn't Zelda. Not even close.

"I'm sorry," Link apologized. "I came here to invite you to my wedding." He handed her an invitation.

Ruto hesitated. For the first time in her life, she didn't seem to know what to say.

"Come if you like," said Link. "It's up to you. Your whole race is invited. Tell them that, would you?"

She nodded. She looked a little surprised Link had actually invited her. He smiled at this, and was on his way to Gerudo Valley.

It wasn't far at all. Epona took him over the bridge and into the Fortress. A few of the women greeted them. They all looked the same. Link couldn't tell them apart, other than his friend Nabooru.

He set out into the desert, leaving Epona behind. Luckily there wasn't a sand storm today. Nabooru's home, the Spirit Temple, wasn't hard to find. He didn't even need the Poe's help anymore. He had spent a lot of his teenage years with Nabooru, and as awful as it was for him to admit this, Nabooru was the one who held his virginity, not Zelda.

She greeted him in her usual manner: flirty and cool. Link still found her quite tempting, though she was a few years his senior. She never told him her age.

"How's it going?" she said.

"Good," responded Link. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was still stunningly beautiful, in an exotic way. She wore light pink pants and barely a top that matched, each trimmed in jewels and gold. Her fit, tanned stomach was also revealed, as well as her slim arms and midriff. He ached to touch that skin again, to caress her and run his hands along her...

Forcing away those thoughts, he said, "I came to give you an invitation to my wedding."

"Oh?" She snatched it from his hand. She didn't look angry, but her cheeks were redder than before.

"Yeah. Come if you want, you're all invited." Suddenly he was embarrassed.

Shrugging nonchalantly, she said, "Okay. We'll come."

Now it was his turn to be surprised. "You will?"

Tilting her head to the left slightly, she said it again. "Yes."

And then she lingered toward him, her hips swinging sensually. She brought her face dangerously close to his, her hands on his chest. On instinct, his were on her waist.

"Are you sure this is the right choice?" she hissed.

He didn't have to think about that. "Yes," he said automatically.

"Then kiss me one last time," she commanded.

So he pressed his lips to hers for the final time. It was like kissing his childhood good-bye. Their tongues flicked together for awhile, his hands stroked her abdomen and the small of her back. No romance or feeling was involved, as there was with Zelda. And then it was over.

He was done with Nabooru.

He felt no regret as he made his way out of the desert. He didn't need Nabooru. Even when they had been "together," it wasn't real. He didn't love her. He loved Zelda. He had been going through a phase in his life where he didn't know what he wanted, and Nabooru was just...there. Now he knew he was destined to be with Zelda.

He didn't feel guilty about Nabooru's kiss. Zelda didn't have to know about that. It didn't mean anything, anyway.

All these thoughts about Zelda made him want to go to the castle and see her, so he set off to do that. The ride was long, and he was exhausted when he arrived. Impa greeted him at the door.

"Did Zelda give you the invitation?" he asked.

Impa nodded vigourously. "Yes, she did. Link, I'm so happy for you two. You...you should be together."

It warmed Link's heart to hear Impa say this. She was usually rock solid and unemotional, to Link's eyes anyway. Now he was seeing some real passion in the Sheikah's nature. "Thanks, Impa. That means a lot."

She nodded and flipped through some papers.

"I'll just head up to Zelda's chamber," Link said.

Impa looked up. "She's not in her chamber. She's been in the library all afternoon."

That was strange. Zelda was usually in her room, tending to whatever her royal duties were for the day. Even so, he headed to the Royal Library, where Zelda was, as Impa had said.

She was sitting a maroon lounge chair. Being small and petite as she was, she made barely a dent in the cushion. Her gown was a bright reddish pink and sparkles were scattered here and there, mostly in her top half. Her golden hair was pulled back into a simple yet elegant bun. Beautiful, as always. Nabooru was nothing to compared to her.

She glanced up from her book and saw Link standing there, watching her. She smiled, taken aback, and asked, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Not long. I just got here. Impa said you weren't in your room. What're you doing?"

She stood up and went to greet him, sliding into his arms wordlessly. They embraced and she kissed him, a kiss that swept through his whole body. She pulled back slightly and they smiled gleefully at one another. Then he kissed him, running his hand down her back. Opening his jaw a little wider, he pulled her closer to him and she arched her back, pressing herself against him.

She pulled back without warning. As a princess, she had to refrain in an even remotely public place such as her palace. "I was just looking at Hyrule's history of queens," she told him.

"Oh?" Link said curiously as she took his hand and led him over to where she had been sitting. "Find anything good?"

"Not really," she said. "Just some stuff about how they created new laws or abolished a rule. Things like that." She shrugged.

"Ah. Sounds boring." Link grinned derisively. "So when I join the royal family, am I gonna start being boring like that too?"

Zelda chuckled. "No Link, you already are," she said sweetly and sardonically.

He simply smiled at his fiancee. His heart was brimming with love.

They sat in silence for awhile, until he asked, "Are you going to be the youngest queen ever?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. It depends on when and if we have children."

Link raised his eyebrows. "Well, obviously we are. Isn't it a rule?"

"More or less. It's not a rule, but it's a very wise idea. Anyway, if we have children, our child will become prince or princess, and then you and I will be king and queen." She closed the book with a loud thump and went over to a bookshelf to put it away.

"Then will you be the youngest princess to ever get married?" he questioned.

Returning, Zelda shook her head. "Goodness, no. I just researched that. The youngest princess to marry was seventeen."

Link grinned. "I would've married you when you were seventeen."

"Yes, but it wasn't the right time. I wasn't ready and neither were you."

He nodded. "I know."

He held her close for a long minute. Eventually they sat down on a couch that matched the chair she had been sitting on, and he watched her as her eyes fell closed, enveloped by fatigue. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, gently kissing her temple and jaw and smelling her hair, a combination of lilacs and vanilla. Tempting. He felt himself growing tired after several hours of this, and soon enough he had followed her to a deep sleep.