Chapter 9
Disclaimer: Nintendo owns Zelda and related characters- not little ol' me.
Zelda braced herself for the worst as Link took a deep breath and began his story…
Six years previously…"Do you take this man as your husband; to love and obey, in sickness and health, till death do you part?" The priest asked Zelda, as the guests at the wedding stared at the couple standing at the alter.
Zelda gritted her teeth and answered the priest with a simple "I do" with slight sarcasm that only Link could pick up.
The priest raised his arms. "Then I proclaim Prince Jonah of Sytania and Princess Zelda of Hyrule husband and wife under the eyes of the three Goddesses." He smiled at the couple. "You may kiss the bride."
Link shut his eyes, not wanting to witness the love of his life being forced to kiss someone else.
He fiddled with the edge of his formal tunic, as he stood next to a pillar. As Zelda's new bodyguard, he was meant to protect her from any form of threat that could come her way. Link just wished that he could get rid of Jonah as a possible threat. But the guy wasn't cruel to Zelda and he almost included Link in his conversations with other nobles.
But there was always a nag at the back of Link's head whenever Jonah came to visit Zelda. Something was definitely off about Jonah of Sytania.
Cheers and clapping pulled Link out of his thoughts and looked up. The couple was walking back down the aisle as the guests cheered their future King and Queen. Link could feel Zelda's annoyance through their connection with the Triforce.
"Where are you Link?" She asked with her power.
"On your left, near the pillars…I'm following you without being seen, remember?" Link joked as he made his way quietly in the shadows as he saw Zelda throw him a sad smile and quickly turned back as she and Jonah walked out through the large, double doors of the Temple of Time to the outside, where more cheers erupted.
Link quickly slid through a hidden door and made his way towards the carriage that would take them back to the castle. There was no honeymoon planned for the newly-weds; the council and the King wanted to put Jonah to work as soon as possible.
Sitting down, he heard another message from Zelda: "Get me out of here! It's bad enough that I have to marry this dickhead, but why did I have to wear this corset?!"
Link laughed out loud, which made the driver of the carriage turn and stare at him in confusion. Waving him off, Link walked to the back of the carriage and sat down on the baggage shelf that stuck out.
"I think I'll just leave you there to deal with the common folk." He answered. "Just make sure that you don't trip over your skirt like you did last night!"
"Oh SHUT UP Link! Last night stays between you and me. You have no idea how much this is ticking me off- Jonah is constantly pulling my arm like I'm his personal dog!"
Link grinned at that thought, making sure that Zelda knew that he was smiling. Last night was still in his mind. They had slept together. Full stop. Nothing can change that- Link had taken advantage of her when she was sad and vulnerable- but she was the one who had come to his arms that night, not him.
Link looked up and saw the crowd bustle towards the carriage; the royal couple was making their way towards the carriage.
Straightening up, Link looked around for any suspicious-looking people who wanted to do Zelda harm. Seeing no danger, he mingled along with the crowd.
A sharp jab suddenly came through Link's arm and he wondered what it was about. Raising an eyebrow, Link found the source:
"I know you want this over and done with- but trying to gain my sympathy by jolting pain through my arm isn't exactly the right way to do it."
"I just wanted you to feel what kind of torture I'm going through- and I've barely been married to this low-life for ten minutes when he starts to enforce spouse violence on me!"
"Bit early for a divorce now, isn't it?" Link commented.
"Just wait till I get my hands on you!" Zelda threatened.
"And what?" Link curiously asked. "You'll cover me in kisses?"
Link heard her scowl as the royal couple stood in front of the carriage. Jonah was waving to the cheering crowd and a group of young- and some middle-aged- women formed a group in front of Zelda.
"Throw the bouquet!" They shouted, some of them desperately.
Zelda turned around, a fake smile on her face. She threw the bouquet over her shoulder into the screaming group of women.
They scrabbled furiously, some of them throwing slaps and kicks. Then, eventually, a young woman of around twenty stood up, all bruised and battered, holding the bouquet high as if it was some trophy. The crowd cheered while the rest of the women who missed out on the bouquet scowled and muttered curses.
Link sat down next to the driver of the carriage as the royal couple walked inside the compartment, with Jonah closing the door after one last wave.
"Let's go," Link told the driver.
The driver nodded and urged the horses in a lively trot towards the castle.
The banquet that was held in the royal couple's honour seemed to last forever in Link's point of view. He leaned against the wall that was behind the dais where Zelda and Jonah sat.
Jonah's parents, the King and Queen of Sytania and Zelda's father, the King of Hyrule, sat on either side of the couple.
Link could feel Zelda's annoyance and boredom as the night wore on. There was music playing from the orchestra in front of the ballroom, but no one seemed to want to dance unless one of the royals decided to stand up and bother to dance.
Link rolled his eyes, wanting some entertainment. He walked towards Zelda's chair and held out a hand.
"May I have this dance your highness?" he asked formally, hiding a smile.
Zelda's face showed calmness as she took his hand. "You may have this dance Sir Link."
Still holding her hand, Link led her to the dance floor as the orchestra struck up a waltz.
Having had learnt how to dance months before from lessons conducted by Zelda, Link felt comfortable in his steps as the guests watched.
Both he and Zelda wanted to stand closer as they danced, but public etiquette and the fear of their secret relationship being revealed kept them at a distance enough so that their arms only touched.
"Thanks for saving me," Zelda murmured, as other couples made their way towards the dance floor. "I thought I was going to die from boredom from having to put up with Jonah's long-winded conversations."
Link grinned. "Your welcome highness."
The song changed to a livelier tune as more couples flowed onto the dance floor, including the King and Queen of Sytania.
Link noticed that it was beginning to get a little crowded as he kept bumping his elbow into people. Then, he noticed something interesting: Jonah was dancing, but with a young noble woman who's dress was considered quite revealing, as it was cut low to show a good portion of her bust.
Jonah seemed to enjoy having the woman as a partner, because each time he said something, she would giggle and twirl a piece of hair in her hand, like she had no brain.
Link saw him lean down and whisper something into the woman's ear. The woman giggled and turned red as she nodded. Link turned away as Jonah looked around for anyone looking in his direction.
Zelda noticed Link's quick turn of his head. "What is it?" she asked.
Link looked down at her, wondering if he should tell her. He knew that she wouldn't care if Jonah slept with ten women in one night, but he didn't want to be the one to tell her.
"Nothing Zelda," Link said. "Just a couple of admirers giving me the look of wanting."
Zelda rolled her eyes. "And you probably enjoyed it."
Link put the look of thoughtfulness on his face. "Well… now that you've mentioned it…" He grinned.
Zelda playfully stepped onto his foot as they continued dancing.
Link took a quick glance to where he saw Jonah last. He was nowhere to be seen.
He looked down at Zelda and felt the need to hold her in his arms, close to his body. He bent down and whispered into her ear, "Do you want to get out of here?"
Zelda looked up startled, but then grinned. "Why not? I haven't been exactly faithful so far."
Link smiled back. "Meet you at the usual place?"
Zelda nodded and curtseyed to him, in the manner of a polite noblewoman thanking her dance partner for the dance. Then turned around and walked away towards the dais.
Link made his way towards the main doorway, where the guards gave him the nod of exit.
Walking towards the small courtyard where they first met, Link thought about what would happen to Zelda and his relationship after the wedding celebrations had ended. She would have to eventually sleep with Jonah so as to produce an heir to the Hyrullian and Sytanian combined throne.
Link sighed as he opened the doorway to the small courtyard. He could hear the gentle trickle of the small stream that ran around the edge of the courtyard. The moon shone down and lit up the gardens with it's pale light.
A gentle tap on his shoulder made him turn. There Zelda stood, her white wedding dress glowing slightly in the moonlight. Link smiled, but Zelda didn't smile back.
"What's wrong Zelda?" Link asked, cupping her cheek with his hand.
Zelda looked at Link, her eyes slowly filling with tears. "I'm going to become pregnant Link, very soon. Maybe tonight."
Link froze, stunned. "What…? How can you know?"
Zelda forcefully brushed the tears off her face. "What do you think the Triforce is used for other than communication? It told me with a premonition into the future of me having a son."
Link looked at his feet, letting go of Zelda's face. He felt an over-whelming feeling of hate for a second, but it disappeared as soon as it came. He took a breath and turned back to face Zelda again. "Well, this is unexpected. Did the Triforce tell you who the father was?" Link's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Zelda glared at Link. "It didn't tell me who the father was, just me and a little boy who I called my son. We were sitting in this very garden and he was picking flowers." Her face softened. "And I thought you'd have more sense to know that I'd never lie to you."
Back to Present…
"But I had to lie, otherwise Jonah would've found out and would've banished me and Derek." Zelda said, gripping her dress nervously.
Link looked at her. "It's alright Zelda, I'd already forgiven you by the end of the conversation."
Six Years Previously…
Link sighed. In his mind, he was thinking that the Triforce might have a glitch and could've been telling tales. But he wasn't sure in how to answer to this type of situation.
"Well, whatever happens, we'll sort through this." Link replied looking at Zelda.
Zelda smiled slightly. "I can't be gone long Link- Jonah would be wondering where I went." Sarcasm over-powered her words, as she walked closer to Link until their bodies were almost touching. "I'm going to miss this."
Link wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her securely to his chest. "So will I." He said, then pressed his lips to Zelda's.
(A.N. MWAHAHAHA!!!! A cliffy! I love these now! But what comes next will be kinda obvious, so don't come after me with pitchforks and torches if you don't like the next chapter.)