~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"HOLY ELVES!!" screamed Din loudly.

"What is it?!" asked Nayru, approaching her sister.

Din turned around, wearing a gigantic grin. "Nayru, you're not going to believe it! You are NOT going to believe this!!"

"What?"

"Quickly, go get Impa and the others," Din said. "I feel that they may want to know about this too!"

As Nayru disappeared, Farore glided towards Din. "What's gotten you so excited, Din? What's happened?" Farore turned as Impa and her four other children (accompanied by Nayru) materialized.

"A-hem." Straightening and putting on a very serious expression, Din said, "I am pleased to inform you that...Prince Link of Hyrule has proposed to your dau...Zelda."

"Oh my goddesses, are you seri--" Before Dylan could finish her sentence, Nayru whacked her on the head.

"He did?!" Kathryn gasped, suddenly feeling very short of breath.

"What's a Hyrule?" asked Matt.

"How splendid that is!" Quentin said in a subdued tone, giving a declaration that could've qualified for the understatement of the year.

Impa stood there numbly. Happiness for her daughter silenced her, and she couldn't think of anything to say. After several minutes of this and of silent tears, she asked "And what has Darryl gotten up to?"

"He knows the whole story now," said Farore. "However, he's still having a bit of trouble deciding what do with himself, now that he's found out he's not really royal. But I have a feeling that Queen Madeline and King George may have something to say if he decides to depart."

"Leave the castle?" Dylan asked. "Why in heaven's name should he?"

"Because," said Nayru, through gritted teeth, "he feels guilty. Like he doesn't really belong there."

"It'll be interesting to see what happens," whispered Nayru.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Malon stood in her room. Her bags were all packed, lined up next to the door and waiting to get shoved into a carrige. She would not cry. She was calm. So it was true: she'd failed her goal of making Link love her...but she'd finally realized that such a plan could never succeed.

King Marcum, Marth and Malon stepped outside a few minutes later and prepared to leave.

"Have you seen Roy at all?" Marth asked, looking around.

"No, I haven't," Malon responded. "Has he gone missing?"

"Yes, I can't find him anywhere. . ."

The Hylians had come out to say their good-byes. Peach's face was stained with tears, her mind full of the dread of the day that Marth was to come back to marry her...for some odd reason, he was going back to Altea now and their wedding had been postponed until further notice.

Before stepping into the carrige after Marth and her father, Malon hesitated. She walked slowly towards Zelda, who was hanging in the back of the small crowd. Crying softly, she gave Zelda small hug.

"I'm sorry," the princess whispered. "I'm so sorry, Zelda...I've been so foolish, and too blind to realize how much pain I've been causing you. If my mother were still alive, she'd be horrified at what I've done! Please forgive me!"

Zelda stood there, shocked. Princess Malon was actually apologizing?? This was very out of character...she stiffened, and Malon let go. "It's all right, your highness."

Straightening, the Altean princess said, "I wish you and Link the utmost happiness in the future..." With something of a strained smile, Malon stepped into the carrige, and Zelda watched it until it disappeared completely from view.

Link walked up from behind her, and put his arms around her. She turned and clung to him. For once, things seemed to be looking up. Things were going right.

"Tell me," Zelda whispered. "Do you know where Roy has gone? I haven't seen him for the past two days..."

"I know where he's gone," said Scarlett, who had just exited the castle. "Sophie and I saw him running out of the castle...somewhat quickly after your engagement was announced ... I think it upset him a tad."

Zelda and Link walked down the east side of the castle, heading towards the stables. They saw Darryl there, saddling up his favorite horse, named May.

"Darryl, where are you going?" Link asked.

Startled by their presence, Darryl turned around. "Oh, hello Link. Zelda." He sighed deeply. "Until your wedding is to take place, I have decided to go out on my own. Forage my way through the land...make a name for myself."

"You're leaving?!" Link asked incredulously. "Do mother and father know?!"

"No, I'm afraid their majesties don't," Darryl answered. "And I wish to keep it that way, if it's all right with you...I don't want...Queen Madeline to get upset; because I know she might..."

"Must you really go?" Zelda asked.

"I'm afraid so," Darryl answered, heaving himself on top of May. "Good-bye, Link...good-bye, sister." Giving them both last, loving looks, Darryl gently kicked his horse's flanks, and he set off.

"I hope he'll be all right," Zelda sighed, leaning onto Link's shoulder. "He is, after all, my little brother."

"We'll make him stay here after the wedding," Link decided, grinning. "Whether he wants to or not...mother will be most distraught about him being gone...he always WAS her favorite child, after all."

Zelda turned and faced Epona. "I like these stables," she stated rather randomly, stroking Epona's furry cheek. "It's the...the first place we kissed, you know."

"Yes, I know."

Taking a deep breath, Zelda turned around and hugged Link. "When I was very little, my mother used to read me stories...fairy tales, if you will...and they always ended 'happily ever after,' with the prince and princess marrying because of their love. I always dreamed about that happening to me...falling in love. And it finally has. My mother told me that falling in love was wonderful..."

"So they say," Link whispered, stroking Zelda's hair with adoration.

"And there's no one else I'd like to share my life with than you," Zelda said softly, leaning forward to kiss her fiancé.

Hm...now what's the line I meant to say...oh yes:

And the two of them lived happily ever after.

~THE END~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N:

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, yes, its been fun. this was really fun 2 write. and now its over. done. complete. dont u just hate that? o well.

i am a total l/z obsessionist 4 those who dont already know, so if u r 2, i would suggest u read my other zelda stories!! total l/z romance!! (not 2 seem full of myself or anything)...

luv u reviewers!! maybe i'll write an epilogue 2 this...then again maybe not???

u r all great and once again: i luved writing this, so i hope u loved reading it!!