Wow, I'm really breezing along with this story. Greetings from the ninth chapter! And thank you again for the reviews!
Depending on how the story plays out in chapter ten, I will most likely extend it to twelve chapters.
Reminder: Zelda and Link, after temporarily switching bodies, are now back in their own bodies.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series.
As Link dressed for the ceremony, he heard the door to the secret passage slide open. Looking in the mirror, he saw his beloved enter the room. He turned around and flashed her a grin as he laced up the front of his doublet.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, marveling at how stunning she looked.
"I couldn't stay away. I kept thinking about what we shared this morning, and I just had to come and see you," she answered, swaying her hips as she crossed the room.
Zelda approached Link, and when she was near enough, he took her hand and pulled her in for a kiss. "You look amazing," he whispered, inhaling her scent.
"As do you, my hero," she smiled against his lips. "Do you need any help?"
"I thought I was doing alright, although now that you're here, I'm not too sure," he responded, a gleam in his eyes. As he looked down at her, it took all his willpower to restrain himself from a repeat performance of their morning event. "Are you about ready?"
"Yes. I just wanted to tell you that I love you, and I can hardly wait for my father to announce our impending marriage. Assuming you wish to marry me."
"Of course I do. It will make me so proud to call you my wife. I look more forward to proposing to you before the kingdom than I do to this whole knighting ceremony," Link admitted, tugging at his lace collar. "This thing is awful," he complained.
"Don't worry, my love. As soon as the day's festivities end, I will be happy to help you remove it."
"I would like that very much," Link grinned, giving Zelda a passionate kiss.
Later that day...
Link kneeled before the throne, King Harkinian standing before him, with Zelda standing to the king's right, wearing a proud smile.
"I hereby dub thee Sir Link of Hyrule," the king said, touching his sword to Link's shoulders, one at a time. "Arise, Sir Link, and take your place with the other knights, for you are now one of them."
Link did as he was instructed, ending a long, tiring ceremony. A few minutes later, the banquet began, and Link sat at the royal table with the other knights, surrounding the king and Zelda. Normally the knights sat in order of seniority, but since the banquet served another special purpose, Link was permitted to sit at Zelda's side.
The king tapped his goblet for attention. "Citizens of Hyrule and visitors alike, Sir Link of Hyrule wishes to make an announcement," he proclaimed.
Link arose from his seat, took Zelda's hand, and led her to the ballroom floor. He knelt before her on one knee, removing a velvet box from the pocket of his breeches. As she smiled down at him and all those present looked on, he opened the box, revealing a beautiful ring that had been handed down her family line for centuries, most recently worn by Zelda's mother until her death during Zelda's infancy.
"Fair Princess Zelda of Hyrule, I have known you now for many years. In all the times I have come to your aid, it was not until recently that I realized how much you meant to me. I kneel before you today to tell you that I love you more than I have ever or could ever love another. I ask of you on this very special day to allow me to take you as my wife."
Although Zelda knew of Link's plans to propose to her during the banquet, she was so captured by the beauty of it all that she could not speak. After what felt like hours, but was merely a few seconds, she at last found her voice.
"Yes, Sir Link. I accept with great love and honor."
The king beamed and the guests applauded as Link slid the symbol of their engagement onto Zelda's left ring finger, then stood and swept her up in a big hug, sharing a loving kiss with her. As they broke apart, however, their happiness was shattered with a sudden change in the atmosphere.
A maniacal laugh echoed throughout the ballroom as a dark cloud filled the room, materializing into a shadowy figure.
Chaos ensued as people screamed and ran in terror. For the monster before them was worse than the sorcerer that had terrorized the kingdom just a few years before. This malignant being that now stood next to Link and Zelda was a reflection of the former cast in a cracked mirror. An embodiment of Link as he was when he first defeated Ganon and rescued Zelda, yet possessed by the Evil One's power and spirit. Dark Link.
Instinctively hiding Zelda behind him, Link drew his sword and prepared for a battle. But what happened next proved more than even his fighting prowess could conquer.
With a snap of Dark Link's fingers, a vortex appeared in the center of the room. A hand emerged from its center, snatching Zelda away and drawing her into the whirling mass, warping her to the Great Palace. Link was dumbstruck as he watched his beloved being taken prisoner by the evil forces that had somehow managed to take power over the kingdom. When he regained his senses, he dashed over to the vortex, but it was futile. For as quickly as it came, it was gone. And so was she.
"Did you really believe that you could get rid of me so easily?" Dark Link hissed in Ganon's voice. "Since you have taken away the one thing I loved most- omnipotence- I will now take away what you love most. Except that you will never get her back, and any attempts to will only be the means to an end for yourself and this entire kingdom. But if you're as loyal a hero as you claim to be, there may be hope, provided that you recognize me as eternal leader and surrender the Triforce to me."
"Never!" Link proclaimed, firmly gripping the hilt of his sword.
"Then you can kiss your precious Zelda good-bye," Dark Link said, a complacent smile crossing his face. With another snap of his fingers, he was gone.
Link raced over to his room, pushing a stone in the wall near his bed to reveal his weapons cache. He returned to the ballroom to confer with the knights. They were to take up arms and protect the kingdom, while he would set out alone to rescue the princess. Except this time he knew the danger the both of them faced would be worse than ever.
"Sir Link, the fate of my daughter and my kingdom rests in your hands. You must bring aid with you!" King Harkinian implored, wiping tears from his eyes.
"No, Your Highness. With all due respect, this is something I must accomplish myself."
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