Caranril: Hold yer 'orses folks! Here's a little more to sate your hunger for more.
Thanks to: Sphinx Jinx (Not quite done yet! Just a little more.) and RayxJade (scuffles foot) Aw, shucks! You think it's cute?)
Legolas: Read on!
The Dark Before The Dawn - Epilogue: As Time Goes By...
"I have an appointment at two o'clock with the contractors and Malon on the ranch project, which will be settled as she takes over. We are meeting the ambassadors from Termina for dinner tonight, so you'll need to have your dress tunic steamed. Next week they'll be hosting a gala in our honour, and this will hopefully restart the trade we'd begun all those years ago. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the surveyors to determine if we can salvage anything from the upper rooms. You are visiting the Gorons to invite Darunia and Link to the wedding. I imagine they'll have you stay the entire day, so I'll reschedule your suit fitting to the day after, when I do my dress fitting. Now the cooks-"
Link sighed and wrapped his arms around Zelda, silencing her rattling mouth. "Do you ever take a breath?"
Zelda smiled. "Sometimes, but not until everything is done."
"That could take a while. Our wedding's not for a few more weeks."
"But we have lots of planning-"
Link pressed a finger to her lips. "They say married folks' characteristics rub off on each other. Take a clue from me: breath deeply and take a leisurely walk."
Zelda was slightly puzzled, but she followed Link's suit. They took deep breaths, then slowly walked to the courtyard.
"This is where we first met, remember?" Link reminisced.
"How could I forget?" Zelda grinned. She gave Link a big hug and didn't let go. "I didn't know at the time, but you rescued me from myself. I would have probably become a nun or something if you hadn't spoiled my rhythmic life."
"Or Ganondorf would have killed you," Link added.
"That too." Zelda hesitated a moment. "Um, Link? I've been meaning to ask you...Did Nabooru ever...you know..."
"Get pregnant? Nope. I've been keeping in touch with all the Sages, and Nabooru's just as prickly as ever, though not from a baby. Actually Lenina was pregnant last I wrote."
Zelda giggled. "That's probably what's irritating Nabooru."
"Yeah."
While Zelda was momentarily distracted by servant, Link meandered to the edge of the wall and gazed at the sunset. The fiery colours reminded him of Din.
Din. Farore. Nayru. Link smiled at the thought of the goddesses. He and Zelda still hadn't figured out how to be adequate Guardians of Time, but thanks to the goddesses, they both had their entire lives ahead of them. Meltose had disappeared from Hyrule, at the least from the surface. Link couldn't sense on his presence in Time anywhere nearby, and that left him satisfied.
Link pulled out his ocarina and played the Melody of Memories. Sheik appeared next to him, leaning on his elbows against the stone wall, gazing at the sunset. Link followed suit, content in the silence.
"Genicca says hello," Sheik said. He and Link's aunt conversed often, and Sheik would bring news from the Sheikah colonies around the fields. The dead no longer roamed at night or any other time. There was even rumours that the former Dark Sheikah had been marrying Hylians.
"Is she coming to the wedding?"
"Of course, though she imagines her entrance will be missed, as she doesn't want huge amounts of media attention."
"I understand. She never did like being popular. Doesn't seem like she could be related to me."
Sheik chuckled. "No...it doesn't."
"Hey Sheik," Zelda smiled, sliding an arm into Link's.
Sheik gave her a nod. "You're doing well in piecing Hyrule back together. I believe you two will be just fine without me."
"Huh?" Link and Zelda asked in unison.
"Guys, it's been nearly a year, and the goddesses said that I could cross over. But it was up to me. I need to choose whether or not to cling to the world of the living or to give myself up to the Heavenly Realm. No offense, but being a ghost isn't as cracked up as it seems to be."
"We understand, Sheik," Link said.
"We'll miss you," Zelda added sadly.
"Ah, just name one of your kids after me," Sheik winked. "Farewell, my friends."
"Goodbye." Link watched Sheik disappear in a shower of sparks, then looked at Zelda. "Kids?"
She nodded. "Of course. That's one of the products of marriage, isn't it?"
"Um, how many are you planning on?"
"However many the goddesses allow us," she answered matter-of-factly.
"Oh...boy...um, yay?"
Zelda laughed and gave Link a big hug. He returned the embrace and led her inside as the sun slipped below the last hill in the fields.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Caranril: Maybe that's enough to satisfy those of you who might need a more solid ending.
Legolas: You still left the ending wide open.
Caranril: With plenty of room for a possible sequel.
Legolas: ...Okay.
Caranril: (hands Legolas fireworks) Here, help me celebrate the end.
Legolas: Really?
Caranril: (hands readers fireworks) There's enough for everybody! Okay, we'll light them on three. One...Two...
Legolas: ...Three!
(explosions)