Woo-hoo, the wedding! Finally! Sadly, however, this is the next to the last chapter. But before I get carried away with that, allow me to thank my reviewers- Firefly Orain Xi-Wang; Spiritual Stone; Sakurelle; Ygfi; Gir Crazy; adrian-air-fire; Kariah; Hououza (for two reviews); and Ericketiting (for two reviews).
I made this chapter about a page longer than usual, and will most likely make the last chapter a little longer as well, as I still have at least one big surprise in store. :) But enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series, in whole or in part.
I continued my descent, stopping just in the doorway. I awaited for Impa to begin playing the Minuet of the Forest on the lyre, accompanied by Saria on her ocarina. It was a very special melody for me and Link, as it was the first song I taught him as Sheik (it's a long story).
As they began playing the melody, I could feel all eyes on me. With two servant girls holding my train, I began walking down the aisle to the makeshift altar that had been placed in front of the thrones. I heard the oohs and aahs, but didn't pay them much heed; I was too busy locking eyes with Link and smiling at him. The look he wore was one I had only seen four times previously- after I revealed that I was Sheik, when we admitted our love for each other, when he proposed to me, and when we-well, you know. When we gave ourselves to each other.
After what seemed like hours, but in reality was probably less than a minute, I finally took my place across from him. Link looked absolutely amazing. He was dressed in a blue doublet, a white undershirt with a lace collar and cuffs, black breeches tucked into brand-new black leather boots, and a blue, velvet cape bearing the family crest. My father had gone all out to make sure he looked like royalty. Link had even left his cap off; his blond locks were combed neatly into place, tied back in a low ponytail.
My eyes still locked with Link's, I listened as Rauru began the ceremony.
He seemed to drone on and on, and my mind began to wander. Wow, this is boring, I mused. I wish he'd get to the point already.
I heard Rauru clear his throat. "Uh, excuse me, Princess."
"What?" I asked sheepishly, snapping out of my trance.
"Do you take this man, Link, as your lawfully-wedded husband, to love, honor and obey, for as long as you both shall live?"
"Of course. I mean, I do."
He then turned to Link. "And Link, do you take this woman, Princess Zelda, as your lawfully-wedded wife, to love, honor, and obey, for as long as you both shall live?"
Link's grin widened. "I do."
"Then let us proceed. Bring the rings."
One of the knight's sons gave Rauru the rings, and he handed one each to Link and I.
"Please repeat after me as you put the ring on the wedding finger," Rauru requested before Link slipped the ring onto my hand. "With this ring, I thee wed."
Link did so, and I did the same with him. Once that was done, Rauru cleared his throat once again. "Let it be said that if anyone here objects to this union in holy matrimony for any reason, may he speak now, or forever hold his peace."
"Wait!" my father proclaimed, rising from his seat. "It just does not sound quite right for my daughter to marry a mere peasant." There were gasps around the room, and Link's jaw dropped to the floor. But all I could do was smile. It was that time at last.
"Father, I thought we moved past that!" I mock-protested, playing along.
"Well, dearest, I agreed to make some changes, did I not? Link, before you and my daughter officially become husband and wife, I ask that you fulfill one more request."
"Yes, Your Highness?" Link said, in a barely audible voice.
"Please kneel before the altar," my father instructed him, while taking the sword that Rauru was now holding.
Link gave me a puzzled look. "Just do it," I mouthed.
Link got down on one knee before my father, bowing his head respectfully for a few seconds.
"Please, look up at me," my father asked, and Link immediately did so. "Link, it is high time that you officially gain a title that you have long since earned. Therefore," he paused to tap Link's right shoulder with the sword, "I officially dub thee," he paused again to do the same to Link's left shoulder, "Sir Link of Calatia. Please rise, Sir Link."
Link did as he was commanded, and my father told him to turn around. He then went to Link's side, taking his right hand and slipping a ring bearing a gryphon, the knight's symbol, onto it, before holding up Link's hand.
"Citizens of Hyrule, I hereby present to you Sir Link of Calatia!" he proclaimed proudly, followed by nearly-deafening applause. As the applause died down, he told Link to return to his place across from me, before sitting back down. "Proceed," he told Rauru.
"Now, I ask again," Rauru said with a smile on his face. "Any objections?"
My father turned around and glared at the guests, causing laughter to ripple throughout the room. Once it was quiet again, Rauru proceeded.
"Then by the power vested in me by King Harkinian of Hyrule, I now proclaim thee husband and wife. Sir Link, you may kiss your bride."
Link lifted my veil and inched closer. Not wanting to make a show of things, we shared a chaste kiss. We would save the heated stuff for later.
"Citizens of Hyrule," Rauru said, standing between Link and myself and holding up our hands, "I now present to you the future King and Queen of Hyrule, Sir Link and Princess Zelda!"
Applause again filled the room as Link and I went down the aisle, flower petals being thrown at us. The reception would begin in about an hour, giving the servants time to bring in the tables and ready them. Link and I exited the ballroom and snuck down a corridor to his room.
We stopped outside the door, and Link opened it slowly, then scooped me up in his arms.
"Link, we don't have time for this right now," I giggled.
"Well, we're married now, so we'll make time."
"LINK!"
"Okay, okay, we'll wait until later. But at least let me change first," he said, setting me gently on the bed before closing and locking the door. Once that was done, he began to loosen the tie on the cape, catching it in his hands and folding it neatly.
I grinned as he headed over to the wardrobe to put it away, eager to see his reaction to his surprise. He opened the doors, and he gasped as he saw what was hanging on the inside of one of them. It was his new uniform, now that he was officially a knight. It was the same intricately-embroidered outfit that all the knights wore, much the same as what he wore for the wedding, but without the cape and with a gryphon on the back of the doublet, instead of the family crest. But the biggest change, one that even I hadn't expected and was not even aware of until I had seen it that morning, was the color. Unlike the other knights' uniforms, it was not red, but green. The same shade of green as the tunic and cap that he always wore.
"Oh, Zelda! This is so great!" he exclaimed. He took it out of the wardrobe and laid it on the bed, before pulling me into a warm hug and kissing me. "I'll wear it to the reception."
"Then you'd best hurry, because I still need to change."
About fifteen minutes later, Link and I were in my room, and I was changing for the reception. I put on a dress that matched Link's new uniform, and was much fancier than my usual formalwear, as this was a very special occasion.
"You look beautiful," Link breathed, kissing my neck.
If it wasn't for the reception, I would've taken him right then and there. But I wanted to wait until we had plenty of time, and not a huge crowd downstairs waiting for us, and for the massive feast that lie ahead.
"Link," I whispered dreamily. "We have to go to the reception."
"I know, darling, I know," he sighed.
I finished getting ready, and we finally made our way downstairs, just in time for the meal. Link and I ate and talked with our guests, going about and thanking them personally. After we ate the cake, we danced for awhile.
"Just wait until I get you to our room," Link whispered to me, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"What do you have up your sleeve? And what do you mean our room? We aren't supposed to move into our new quarters for a few days."
"Well, I pulled a few strings, so that it was finished sooner."
"Prove it," I teased.
"I was just about to do that," he answered, tugging my hand.
We stole out of the ballroom, and Link led me up to the second floor of the castle, as if heading up to my room. But once we reached the top of the steps, he headed down the opposite corridor, which up until recently had been reserved for visiting royals.
We stopped before the room at the end of the hall, and Link opened the massive double-doors. He told me to close my eyes and wait in the hall, which I did curiously.
Link came out a moment later, gently tying a blindfold around me. Now more curious than ever, my mind raced as he once again scooped me up in his arms and carried me into the room, setting me onto a soft place that I assumed was the bed. I heard him shut and lock the doors before sitting down next to me.
He told me to close my eyes before untying the blindfold. I could smell flowers and hear a fire cracking and popping, and was finding it harder by the moment to keep my eyes shut.
"Open your eyes."
My eyelids fluttered open, and a smile spread across my face as I glanced about the room. It was filled with fresh roses, and candles were on the nightstands next to the bed. I was relieved to see that he had indeed started a fire, because even though it was Spring, the nights were still somewhat cold. Although the room certainly wouldn't be.
"Link, it's beautiful," I breathed, allowing him to take me in his arms. He gently tilted my chin up, until I was looking into his eyes, gleaming in the soft light from the fire and the candles.
"So are you," he whispered. "And I cannot wait to take in all of you," he added seductively, the look of love in his eyes changing to one to passion and need that made me shiver with anticipation.
"Then I won't let you wait any longer my love," I whispered back just as heatedly.
We couldn't seem to get undressed quickly enough. But, at long last, our clothes were tossed haphazardly into a pile on a chair in a corner of the room. We would have time to appropriately put them away later.
Both of us drew deep breaths as we looked at each other's nude bodies. Now that he was my husband, I knew we could do this anytime we wanted without worry of getting into trouble, and that made him all the more appealing to me.
Link took his time exploring my body with his lips and hands, and I did the same to his. After awhile, however, we tired of our love games, knowing it was time for us to really consummate our marriage.
"I love you, my wife," Link whispered, pulling the bedding over us.
"And I you, my husband," I whispered back, blowing out the candles to leave only the firelight, then melting into his embrace.
We spent the remainder of the night uniting as one over-and-over, further sealing our bond, all the while enjoying each other. Our love for each other led us to know almost instinctively just what to do to please each other.
"Zelda," Link whispered my name in that special way that made my heart pound, as we went over the edge yet again. He collapsed into my arms, spent from our heated encounter. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too," I whispered back, pulling the bedding up higher. He rolled onto his back and drew me closer to him, and I laid my head on his chest, falling asleep to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Please review! A huge thank you!