Epilogue
King Harkinian waited several days before putting Zanei and her supporters to trial. He wanted to ensure that they had a fair trial, and he did not want his anger to impede this. Zelda, meanwhile, was a little bruised but otherwise fine. Her mental healing would take much longer, but Link's presence brought her great comfort and had spent the past few days in the castle with her, after returning to the Kokiri Forest to get a new tunic and tell Saria that he was all right. Saria was relieved to hear this, because when Link had not returned hours after Impa's visit she had forgotten her anger and had begun to worry.
Zanei and her supporters were convicted of kidnapping, treason, murder, and the attempted murder of Link. Harkinian did not put them to death as he had originally planned. He decided that death would be too good for them. Instead, they were sentenced to life imprisonment. Harkinian himself chose the darkest, dankest, most rat-infested cells in the dungeon for them. Nabooru attended the trial, and afterwards declared that she would push for the treaty to be signed as soon as possible.
The night after the trial, Harkinian sat down to a quiet dinner with Zelda, Impa and Link.
"I am glad it's all over," he said.
"Me too," said Impa.
"I'm just glad that Zelda is safe," Link smiled at the princess, who smiled back.
"I am forever in your debt, Link," Harkinian said. "I will never be able to thank you enough for being brave enough to sneak into the fortress on your own."
"Actually," Link said, "About that. There is someone else that you should thank."
The following day, the lake scientist was investigating the red potion. He had travelled to Kakariko Village the day before to visit the old woman. He returned with the potion and a date for Friday night. Still convinced that his own medicine was superior, he added the potion to it. The potion gave the mixture an even worse smell than the one Link had experienced, but the scientist's nose was immune to all things fish.
All of a sudden, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," the scientist said. The door opened, and Link entered the room, followed by Zelda, Harkinian and Impa. All four turned up their noses at the smell of rotting fish that was strong inside the house.
"Hi," Link greeted the scientist, whose face lit up in recognition. "Why don't you come outside for a moment?"
They went back outside and gasped for fresh air. The scientist followed them.
"How did it go with the princess?" he asked, noting four soldiers standing nearby.
Zelda stepped up to him. "I am Princess Zelda," she said, "And I want to extend to you my thanks. Link told me of everything you have done, not only to rescue him, but to help him rescue me."
"Yes," Harkinian chimed in, "On behalf of Hyrule I thank you for saving my daughter. As a token of my thanks, I have an offer for you. I will provide you with lifetime funding for your work and a professorship at the Royal Academy of Hyrule so that you can educate others about your discoveries."
The scientist's eyes went wide. He, a professor? Lifetime funding? It was too good to be true. "Thank you," he replied, whisper quiet.
"No," everyone said, "Thanks to you!"
The scientist returned to his laboratory, and the others climbed into their carriage. All of a sudden the laboratory door was flung open, and the scientist rushed out, his arms full.
"Wait!" he cried, running over to Link. "Here is your tent and the stuff you left at Lake Hylia. He passed it to Link. An item fell off the pile and landed on the ground. The scientist bent down and retrieved it. "And your dress," he said, winking at Link as he remembered Link's horror at the idea of wearing it. Link took the dress and put it with the rest of the stuff.
"Wait a minute," Impa said as the carriage headed back to Hyrule Castle, "Tent? And isn't that Zelda's dress? How did Zelda's dress end up at Lake Hylia?
Link and Zelda looked at each other.