As everything always does eventually, life went back to normal. Link and Zelda saw each other rarely over the next couple months. Link felt painfully guilty after the night he spent with Zelda after his wedding, when he should have been making love to Malon. So he stayed away, and he busied himself with his new life on the farm. It was a life he had to get used to. At first, it made me unhappy. It wasn't the life he'd expected to have after being Hero of Time and holding the Triforce of Courage. He had expected to spend his life defending his country, protecting people. It was what he lived for. But instead, he'd married Malon and married into the life she had. He woke up early every day to work in the garden and to clean the stables. Malon fed and cared for the animals. She also cooked for him and cleaned the ranch. They both worked all day, along with Talon and Ingo, and it was almost certain that they did so in order to forget the distance between the newlyweds, to draw attention away from it. When their minds weren't busy, it was only more noticeable.
Despite everything, despite Link's cold and almost nervous attitude, despite the way he turned away from her in bed, despite his lack of words to his new wife, despite his distance, Malon seemed happy. Link could not imagine why, but he didn't question it. She smiled all the time, and was happy to just be near her husband. She had what she'd wanted her whole life, and wasn't going to question it.
Link knew that Malon wanted to have children, but at night he didn't truly try to satisfy her. He didn't want children with her, but he didn't want her to know that. Instead, by restraining himself in bed, during the rare times he did make love to her, he put forth little effort to satisfy himself. Perhaps if after several times of trying and failing to have children, Malon would give up, and think herself incapable of carrying a child.
It had been nearly two months since Link snuck into the castle to see Zelda when one afternoon, when the sun was at its hottest and Link had droplets of sweat on his brow, Malon came hurrying out into the fields. "A messenger his here from Hyrule Castle," she said breathlessly.
Link frowned. "Was it mentioned why?" he asked.
Malon shook her head. "No. They just asked if you could be there tomorrow at midday."
Link nodded. He looked distressed. Malon asked, "Is everything alright with the princess? Has she taken ill?"
"I don't know," he said. "I'll find out tomorrow," he concluded, ending the conversation.
Malon was concerned, Link could see it in her face, but he said nothing else and went back to work. Malon walked away, and Link became lost in thought. What if Zelda was sick? Or what if someone had seen them together, and hadn't had the courage to come forward till now? His mind wouldn't settle, and all night he twisted and turned in bed despite Malon's efforts to get his attention. "Link, I want to have children," she murmured, kissing his neck lightly. But Link only turned away. Malon was perceptive, and he knew something was wrong. But she didn't press him. If he didn't want children, so be it. All she wanted was his love.
The next morning, he set off for Hyrule Castle to see Zelda.
Princess Zelda was not well.
At first, she thought she'd taken ill with influenza. Every morning after she woke, she rushed to her washing room to vomit. She felt dizzy and sweaty. Something was not right.
She went to Impa first. The Sheikah woman was skilled in the healing arts and herb lore. Perhaps she would be able to cure whatever Zelda had.
As Zelda described her symptoms, a crease formed in Impa's brow. "When did you last have your monthly bleeding?" she asked.
"Not for two months," the princess replied. "Why?" Then the realization of what was happening occurred, and the color drained from her face. "No," she said shakily. "It can't be."
Impa sighed deeply, immensely troubled. "Who was it?" She posed the question simply, but her crimson eyes said that she already knew, and Zelda didn't answer.
Impa was quiet for a long moment. "And what are you going to do?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"I don't know," Zelda whispered, starting to cry. "I can't tell my father. No one can know. I'll be a disgrace to the kingdom and to my family." She sniffed, and tears poured from her eyes. "And to you." She closed her eyes briefly. "I'm not even engaged yet. How can I have a child?"
"I don't know," Impa said, "but I know this. We must get you away from this land." She thought quickly. "Tell your father you wish to travel and go to school. A princess must be educated. He will not question you. I will make arrangements for your transportation."
Zelda felt relieved first, but then fearful. How could one person feel so much at once? "What of my baby?" she asked softly.
Impa sighed again. "If you wish, my lady, I will accompany you to Termina. Once your babe is born, we must find foster parents for her. She cannot be raised in Hyrule. It is too dangerous. A child of yours and Link's will be recognized at once. Now call a serving woman to pack your belongings. We leave tomorrow afternoon."
Zelda nodded faintly. "Thank you," she said softly.
"One last thing," Impa said, almost as a last thought. "Before we leave, you must tell Link."
" No!" Zelda cried, getting to her feet. "He cannot know! It is my burden, it is my mistake, not his! I should've known better, and now I am paying for it! If Malon was to find out, she could not bear it!"
"You cannot take responsibility for something you both partook in!" Impa argued. "He deserves to know he will have a child. He may never know or see his son or daughter, but he deserves the knowledge if nothing else!"
"I will not tell him," Zelda said stubbornly, crossing her arms over the chest and not meeting Impa's eyes.
"Take as long as you must," Impa said coolly. "But we must depart before you start to show. The sooner, the better."
Once Impa left the room, Zelda let herself sob. So much happened in one conversation. All at once, she'd discovered that she was pregnant with Link's child, that she must leave her homeland to have her child, and lie to her father about it, no less. Then she must give her child up to people she didn't even know. Could she survive giving up her baby? Could she live with it? And could she find the courage to tell Link what she was doing?
Zelda's head ached. She stood up and called one of her men to go to Lon Lon Ranch and send a message to Link, telling him to go to the castle the next morning to see her. Then, scarcely able to keep her eyes open, she laid down and fell asleep.
