Chapter 21 - Always Tomorrow
A type of revelry filled the ballroom of Hyrule Palace in a manner not seen in living memory, and the celebration wasn't limited to the walls of the royal dwelling, nor had the festivities been limited to the evening time alone.
Throughout the kingdom, banners flew and cheers filled the air. Taps flowed with all manner of drink to raise in toast over lavish meals being shared with family and friends. All day long, the people celebrated their newly established era of peace and prosperity gained from victory, and there were even a few new faces joining in on the festivities—namely Link's paternal aunt and grandmother.
Just after lunch, a carriage arrived at the palace and an elderly Hylian woman named Kara was escorted out in a wheelchair by a few attendants. Over eighty years old, she appeared extremely frail, accepting a hug and a kiss from Lyonel where she sat with tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.
Yet, when she saw her grandson for the first time, she stood from her chair without assistance to walk over and greet him with the kind of hug only a grandmother could give.
She'd even brought him a basket of homemade cookies.
Link's aunt, Amyra, was just as happy to meet him and a lot fun to be with—according to everyone but Lyonel that was. Unfortunately for him, she knew some embarrassing stories her older brother insisted were all flagrant lies, and it wasn't until he threatened to reveal her own shameful tales that she withdrew her offer to tell them.
The afternoon was filled with such interaction for Link and his family, yet tragedy soon struck when Nissandra's handmaidens found him.
Sent by order of the Queen herself, they'd been instructed to prepare him for the royal address to be given that evening honoring Myriad for her work to safeguard the kingdom. According to Zelda—who Link hadn't been able to speak with at length for the past two days—the King was going to recognize the Sage of Light and reward her during a banquet accompanied by music and ballroom dancing.
And as the guests waltzed upon the ballroom floor that evening, Link realized the King and Queen weren't taking the affair lightly.
Standing at the crack of a closed drape shrouding one of the entrances from view, he watched as the dancers turned and spun upon the polished floor beneath a cascade of light cast by the crystal chandeliers so far above. Enchanting music filled the ballroom which had been decorated so lavishly that no one would've guessed at the extent of damage done to the palace during their battle if it was the only chamber they viewed.
While some of it had been repaired, the remaining problems were cleverly disguised by Nissandra's décor, such as draping deep blue banners sporting golden royal crests over breaks in the walls. Such touches almost made it seem as if Hyrule had already recovered, and nearly everyone Link and Zelda had met on their journey were enjoying themselves.
Those that weren't dancing were mingling closer to the edge of the room, and Link watched it all with a smile. Once the Queen's handmaidens had finished preparing him, Nissandra stopped by and instructed him to wait for Myriad on one of the balconies so that he could escort her out once the King was ready to recognize her.
Naturally, Link was proud to take on the responsibility, and Lyonel would've joined them, but as a royal guard, his station was to remain on the dais at the front of the ballroom where the royal family were sitting in their thrones.
Gazing in their direction, Link's smile grew brighter at the sight of them talking and laughing among themselves. Seeing Zelda with her parents warmed his heart in ways he couldn't describe, and the sensation redoubled when Hadinaru stood and took his daughter's hand to lead her down the steps of the dais and onto the floor for a dance.
Several people applauded them as they adjourned to the center of the ballroom and joined the others already enjoying the music. Not a soul present was unaware of the situation, and the sight of the King and Princess dancing together caused several to shed tears—Nissandra included.
As Link watched the Queen dabbing her cheeks with a handkerchief, Myriad's question caught him off guard.
"What are you looking at?"
The unexpected inquiry caused Link to jerk away from the crack in the drapes before exhaling a low sigh in realizing it was only his mother. Yet she didn't comment upon his surprise and merely smiled while stepping in to peer out at the dance floor along with him.
Doing so, her smile grew brighter as she sighed out the words, "Oh, look at that." On a voice betraying the fact that tears were beginning to well in her eyes, she took her son's hand to squeeze and added, "A father and daughter's first dance. What a touching moment to behold."
Link was in complete agreement with his mother, unable to wipe the smile from his face in watching them dancing to such enchanting music. The image brought to mind the numerous talks he'd had with Zelda when they were children concerning their true parents. They'd wondered for so long, yearned to know them, and now here they were. He was standing with his mother who'd just latched her arm in his, and Mira was dancing with her father in a royal ballroom filled with their closest friends.
Nothing could've been more suitable for the occasion.
How they'd arrived at this point, he truly couldn't say. He knew the result of their long journey had brought their families together, but it still didn't seem real, making the current situation as hard to believe as it was enchanting.
Still, he had no time to comment when his mother tucked one of the braids in his hair behind his pointed ear and remarked, "I see Nissandra's handmaidens got hold of you."
"Yeah," Link chuckled out, and though the memory of their fuss over his appearance was annoying, he couldn't say he disliked the results.
Wearing a green doublet crafted of the finest silk and a pair of white pants, the outfit had to qualify as the fanciest clothing he'd ever donned. The outfit was a bit too lavish for his personal tastes, but so comfortable to wear that he could overlook it.
Additionally, his hair had been tied back into a half ponytail with two segments braided back on each side of his head. Overall, it wasn't a look suited to everyday wear, but for the official function taking place, it was perfect.
In turning his gaze from the dance floor to Myriad, he couldn't ignore the fact that his mother had also been given the proverbial royal treatment. With her golden blonde curls pinned atop her head and her white gown glistening in the light of the sconces, she was simply radiant, distracting him from thoughts of his own appearance entirely.
"Wow," he drew out, looking her over in a stupor. "You're beautiful."
Smiling brightly, Myriad returned a heartfelt, "Why thank you, little love. Do you suppose that means we're soon to captivate the ballroom with our exceptional looks?"
"It's possible," he confirmed, adding, "at the very least, we'll be the best looking people in the room … well, aside from the royal family, that is."
Smirking, Myriad parted her lips to respond, but applause coming from the ballroom captured her full attention. In turn, they both glanced through the drapes again to see everyone clapping for the King and Princess as the music concluded and brought their first dance to an end.
Both smiled at their admirers in response before Hadinaru escorted his daughter back up the steps to join the Queen on the dais. There, he brought the festivities to a momentary halt in order to handle an affair of a more official nature.
"If I could have everyone's attention for a few moments," Hadinaru began, speaking loudly enough to be heard over any lingering chatter in the crowd. Instantly, his voice brought those whispers to a stop as Zelda took a seat next to her mother with a smile, allowing the King to address his audience uninterrupted.
"I'd like to thank you all for joining us in this celebration meant to honor the heart of our kingdom, and take a moment to recognize those who can't attend. After all, the heart of Hyrule is her people, and every soul deserves to be honored for their contributions and hard work."
A brief wave of applause rolled through the ballroom that was loud enough to show everyone's full agreement. The sound drew an approving smile to the King's lips as he continued, "There has never been a more fitting reason to host such a grand affair as this royal banquet than the impending restoration of our kingdom. From repairing its damaged infrastructure to eventually restoring relationships with our neighbors, we will inevitably return Hyrule to the fair and just land it should've always been."
After another round of applause, Hadinaru looked over each person present in thoughtful consideration and pointed out, "To do so, we will have to support each other just as we've always done, and were it possible, I'd travel out to meet all of my citizens to thank them for their hard work. Sadly, I can only recognize a few in person, but those few in attendance this evening are those who made Hyrule's restoration possible from the start."
Something in the way he spoke confused Link—this was supposed to be an assembly that honored his mother, but the King was making it sound as if … Oh no.
Almost instantly, his heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. Had they conspired to honor him as well? In front of all these people? Sadly, a single glance at the strangely knowing look on his mother's face confirmed his suspicions, and the moment he saw it, Hadinaru concluded his introduction.
"The first is a woman I've known most of my life who sacrificed everything she held dear in order to protect it. I'm as certain her dedication and selflessness gave us the chance to rebuild as I am that we wouldn't be standing here now without her son's valor and fearlessness in the face of adversity."
Link had no idea what to say or even think, frozen in place as the King spoke so highly of his efforts to save Hyrule. Yet it somehow didn't seem quite as difficult to handle when his mother squeezed his hand with a loving smile cast up at his face.
Something in her expression eased his urgent need to deny praise, and not because he felt it was owed to him. Instead, he knew deep down that everyone wanted a reason to celebrate, even needed it, and who was he to deny their excuse?
Perhaps he didn't need recognition, but they needed to give it. That aside, it was obviously Zelda's idea to keep their intentions of honoring him a secret so he wouldn't fret over the prospect, and he was glad for her consideration.
He would also find a way to pay her back for the mischief—eventually.
In the meantime, he quietly asked his mother, "You knew about this all along, didn't you?"
"Not the entire time," Myriad countered with a smirk, admitting sheepishly, "but for the past two days, yes."
Her confession brought a smile to his lips despite how the prospect of receiving praise from the King in front of a crowd rankled. It would be uncomfortable, but if it made everyone happy and, more importantly, meant his mother would receive the praise she deserved, it was worth enduring.
He just didn't get the chance to say so before Hadinaru concluded his announcement.
"So without further delay, allow me to introduce our guests of honor, Myriad and her brave son, Link."
As the curtains veiling the entryway into the ballroom were pulled open to reveal Myriad and Link standing with their arms latched, uproarious applause spread through the crowd. Link had to wonder if he'd ever feel such praise was deserved, and yet he couldn't help but smile in amusement when several familiar faces provided a few friendly shouts of encouragement.
Alia and Kiama were standing close to the edge of the crowd on one side, their fathers right behind them, and on the other, Tenio, Jada, and Olnor clapped and bowed their heads respectfully. Closer to the dais where the royal family waited, Nabooru and Impa responded in completely opposite ways, one cheering while the other quietly smiled and applauded them with warmth in her eyes.
Brahm and Nissa stood across from them, the former bowing while the chime of Nissa's fluttering wings signaled her own applause.
To see the smiling faces of everyone they'd fought for—and with—was heartening in a way Link hadn't expected, bringing a surprising thought to mind—maybe he did need this, but not as a reward. Instead, he needed to see those who'd suffered most enjoying themselves for his own peace of mind, to know everything truly was well and his efforts hadn't been wasted.
Indeed, Hyrule was now thriving with her people returned to safety, and he could finally put his concerns to bed.
Still, for all the joy that filled his heart to see so many smiling faces, it was the sight of his father standing sentry by the throne that had tears threatening to spill. Lyonel's face was visible through the visor of his helmet, and as Link arrived on the dais with Myriad, the soldier's smile spoke volumes of his love for his wife and son.
The sheer joy on Zelda's face didn't help matters. Having joined her father along with Nissandra to stand before their guests of honor, she gazed at him with so much prideful love in her eyes he couldn't stand it.
Link cleared his throat at the thought while averting his gaze to focus on the task at hand, coming to a stop with Myriad before the royal family to show the proper respect. Bowing low as his mother curtsied, each held the stance until Hadinaru requested they rise in order to be properly recognized.
And he wasted no time doing so with the words, "It isn't often that I'm made to feel unworthy of the typical respect a king is traditionally due, but the two of you have done so in fine style. Words will never convey just how grateful I am to you both. Without your efforts, I would've lost both my kingdom and the chance to meet my own daughter as the capable woman she's become."
With that said, Hadinaru turned to Zelda who was holding a small, wooden case with a lid embossed by a golden royal crest. Lifting it open, the King retrieved the contents from within and turned to Myriad and Link with two golden medallions in hand.
Crafted with a Triforce symbol etched into one side and the royal crest on the other, each glinted in the light as Hadinaru lifted the first over Myriad's head to settle around her neck, relating, "So it's with great pride and appreciation that we award you these medallions of valor. They are but small tokens of our gratitude and respect, but will forever stand as a testament of it where words would fail."
Turning to Link, Hadinaru hung the medallion around his neck with a proud smile the young hero found somewhat uncharacteristic. After how stern the King typically behaved around him, he expected a solemn show of respect without finding such a warm, even friendly expression gracing his face.
If that wasn't surprising enough, Hadinaru then delivered a bit of unexpected news.
"As for you, Link, I'm officially appointing you to the Royal Guard as a knight tasked with the duty of defending Hyrule and the responsibility of protecting my family. It's a post your own father has dutifully served for many years and I've no doubts you'll follow in his footsteps without falter. However … ."
Trailing, the King took a deep breath and assumed a slightly more casual stance, waving his hand with the words, "For as fitting as these offerings may be, I can't help feeling as if it's not enough. Your fight to save my kingdom is a debt I'll never be able to repay, and yet you've done so much more, specifically in keeping our daughter safe and returning her to us unharmed."
Link fought against the urge to deny that anything he'd done was deserving of more than what the King had already provided, biting his tongue to remain silent as Hadinaru finally concluded his statement.
"So the Queen and I would like to grant you a boon. Anything that's within our power to give will be yours."
Link's jaw dropped, the announcement leaving him staring at the King and Queen in a stupor for a long moment before he regained enough composure to respond with a denial. Yet Hadinaru seemed to expect it because he instantly lifted a hand and stated, "Before you turn me down, think carefully. There must be something you want, no matter how small or insignificant."
Shutting his mouth, Link did as suggested and thought for just a moment. Small and insignificant? Nothing came to mind, or at least, nothing he couldn't acquire by himself.
Still, as his vision drifted from the King and Queen to their daughter, he quickly realized there was something he could request which would mean the world. It was no small matter, and hardly insignificant, but it was within the King's power to give.
Link simply had to wonder whether it would be crossing the line. There were so many negative reactions he could imagine such a request garnering, and yet he couldn't waste the opportunity to have something he coveted so dearly.
So he took another breath and spoke, "You're right to think I'd tell you I need nothing for what's been done to restore Hyrule, Your Majesty. Fighting for the kingdom has reunited me with my parents and helped my best friend find hers. There's nothing either of us wanted more than that, and nothing you could give me that would surpass it."
With a nod of understanding, Hadinaru urged him on with the words, "But there is something you want?"
Finally, Link nodded and supplied, "Your blessings."
"Our blessings?"
Clearing his throat, he expounded, "I intend to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage, and knowing you both approve would mean a great deal to us."
Zelda's responding gasp wasn't surprising to hear, but the low murmurs from the crowd that punctuated the sound were—until that moment, Link had forgotten all about their audience. Still, he wasn't embarrassed, nor did he react to their onlookers, waiting as patiently as possible while Hadinaru exchanged a look with his wife—and the Queen was smiling so brightly there was no questioning her positive stance on the matter.
There was only the issue of her husband's acceptance, and Link couldn't help but wonder if his next stop would be the gallows.
As the thought crossed his mind, the King finally turned to him with a look stern enough to make him flinch. Yet, instead of issuing a denial, Hadinaru remarked, "You really know how to put me on the spot, don't you?"
Cringing, Link was too worried he'd offended the King to notice the laughter that rolled through the crowd, rushing out, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, that wasn't my intention!"
Still, for as nerve wracking as their exchange had started, his concern soon dissipated when Hadinaru let a loud laugh while placing a hand on his shoulder with an amused smile. There was also a solemn look in his violet blue eyes Link didn't understand until the King qualified, "All I can think to say is that there's no man I'd rather call a son than you. So yes, you have our blessings … that is, if my daughter accepts your—"
"I do!"
Zelda's abrupt acceptance cut her father off and elicited another wave of laughter from their audience that she ignored while rushing over to Link. Still, the thought of their audience resurfaced just as she reached him, and instead of grabbing him in a tight hug as intended, she merely clutched one of his hands in a tight grip and covered her mouth as their gazes locked.
Taking a deep breath to compose herself, the memory of their night together in the Gerudo Desert emerged and how she'd inquired if he'd ever want to be married under the right circumstances. His response was positive and she'd admitted a willingness to accept, realizing now she'd done so with more enthusiasm than expected.
Yet it didn't matter. All she really needed was to see the warmth in the sapphire depths of Link's eyes, and despite the fact that he seemed cautious because of their onlookers—or maybe it was just her father's presence specifically—his love for her was clear.
"Do you really want to ask?" she heard herself whispering breathlessly.
"Yeah," he returned dimly, too lost in her own gaze to respond more meaningfully at first. Yet he quickly recalled his plan to prove his sincerity, and Zelda watched as he reached into his pocket to produce a small, velvet box.
Holding it up in offering, he explained, "This was a gift my mother's father gave to his wife, and it seemed like the perfect way to prove my sincerity."
Taking the box to open if only because she was truly curious to see what was inside, Zelda lifted the lid with her lips parting in awe. A ring of white gold with a sizable diamond surrounded by smaller stones glinting in the light met her gaze.
Due to her preoccupation staring at the beautiful bauble, and Link's desire to gauge her reaction, neither of them noticed Hadinaru mentioning to his wife, "Well, I suppose I lost this one." Yet Link did hear Nissandra's resulting snickers—he simply couldn't focus well enough to question why she was making the sound.
That's when Zelda whispered, "It's so beautiful, Link … but I can't accept such a significant family heirloom."
With a warm smile, Myriad leaned forward and replied just as softly, "Link thought you'd say that, but we both agreed that we already consider you a part of our family, and always will."
Nodding, Link took the ring out of the box to place on Zelda's gloved finger properly. Watching it slide across her knuckle in a daze, Zelda couldn't move—and certainly couldn't argue the point. She and Link had always considered each other to be family, and despite her stupor, she found herself grabbing him in a tight hug the moment the ring was secure.
A low sigh of appreciation rolled through the crowd while several people had to dab at their eyes. Myriad and Nissandra were among them, though their children didn't notice, too caught up in the moment to pay attention to anything but each other.
During it all, Zelda whispered so only Link could hear, "I can't believe this is really happening, and I want to kiss you, but … there are too many people around."
Smiling, Link responded just as quietly, "We'll have plenty of chances. Our entire lives, actually."
Zelda squeezed him more tightly in response, and though it was difficult, she finally managed to pry herself away from their embrace after a few blissful moments if only so the celebration could commence.
Still, in stepping back, she took a moment to ask, "Will you save me for your first dance?"
Her question put a look of enlightenment on Link's face as if she'd just reminded him of something specific, and as his expression next turned sheepish, he admitted, "Actually, I was going to offer my first dance to someone else."
Confused, Zelda regarded him considerately before realizing who he meant, then smiled at Myriad and remarked, "I see."
Nodding, Link grinned and instead of turning to his mother, he centered his gaze upon the dais where the royal guards stood and asked, "So how about it, dad? Care for a dance?"
With a round of laughter filling the ballroom, Lyonel grinned, waiting for the sound of everyone's mirth to fade before responding, "I would, but I already promised my first dance to the King."
More laughter sounded with the audience's amusement renewed, the sound growing uproarious when Hadinaru turned to Lyonel and asked in a kingly fashion, "Then why are you still standing up there? I've been waiting all night!"
As their lighthearted exchange commenced with everyone smiling and enjoying the evening, Link forgot all about his worries over the ramifications of proposing to Zelda. Instead, he kissed the back of her hand in a gentlemanly fashion meant to convey both his love and respect for her before asking his mother to dance.
The music resumed, signaling the guests to take their places once again, and Myriad followed her son onto the dance floor with a loving smile. The sight of them together as they began their dance filled Zelda's heart with too many emotions to qualify, as did the way she noticed Lyonel watching his reunited family with prideful contentment on his face.
Perhaps in this life there was no such thing as perfection, and achieving a continued sense of happiness simply depended on the choices one made everyday. If a misstep was taken, tomorrow would bring a chance to set it right and continue on a path of contentment. Still, as Princess Zelda stood between her parents and watched the people of their kingdom rejoice while her cherished friend—and now fiancee—shared a dance with his beloved mother, she couldn't ignore the truth.
Things were as close to perfect as they would ever get, and no matter the problems the future could bring, there was always tomorrow.
The week that followed proved her right. Any issues raised were handled by working together, and ultimately, the people were content. There was even a sense of security in knowing everyone could rely on one another during hardship rather than being forced to seek alternative means of help with no idea where to find it.
Myriad mentioned as much to Hadinaru after joining him upon one of the balconies overlooking the western palace grounds. Vast hills dotted by towering oak trees spread out before them, the expanse of land a perfect example of the progress being made within the kingdom. Some of the landscape was still riddled with piles of debris being gathered together for disposal, but the rest was lushly green and vibrant.
As the King surveyed it all in quiet thought, the Sage of Light approached with a click of her heels signaling her arrival. Stopping next to her longtime friend, she happily remarked, "Queen Nissandra was studying the reports coming in from all over Hyrule and she's just determined something surprisingly promising."
Curious to know what his wife had discovered, Hadinaru inquired, "What's that?"
Without wasting a moment, Myriad supplied, "Evidently, the people are so enthusiastic to be rebuilding that we're roughly six months ahead of schedule on your plans of restoration."
The comment brought a smile to the King's face, his heart warmed to learn of the news, looking out over the lands again before observing introspectively, "Then it seems my perpetual nightmare has truly ended thanks to the efforts of you and our children."
"Perhaps," Myriad conceded, qualifying, "yet our victory is meaningless without you and the people working to restore what was lost."
With his eyes focusing on a specific point in the vast yard, the smile on his lips grew brighter. "I won't argue with you. After all, I'm pleased to simply be here witnessing these events, particularly after missing so much of my daughter's life."
Curious to know what the King was staring at in the yards so far away, Myriad turned her gaze out and scanned the area until she noticed two horses—Epona and Frost. Standing next to a rather large oak, the animals appeared to be calmly grazing, and it seemed strange that they would've been allowed to roam free unattended.
That's when she noticed a heartwarming sight at the trunk of the same tree explaining their presence—Link and Princess Zelda were sitting together, obviously spending some time alone before duty or obligation called them again.
Just as Myriad was considering how wonderful it was to behold such a loving sight, Hadinaru qualified, "And I must say, seeing her so happy brings a kind of joy to my heart I didn't know existed."
Smiling brightly as she gazed upon their children in the distance, Myriad shed her formal demeanor to casually slip an arm around her old friend's back in complete understanding. Their children had faced numerous hardships, a thought that was unsavory in itself. But seeing them so content now took the sting out of their more painful memories.
"I wish I could say we won't have anymore problems to solve in the future, and perhaps we won't," Myriad observed. "Whatever the case, I'm satisfied to see them finding peace together, and also in knowing they'll have one another no matter what may come."
Placing his arm over her shoulders, Hadinaru nodded with a bright smile that rivaled his daughter's where she sat with Link.
Wrapped in a blanket to keep the cold afternoon air at bay, Zelda's temple rested against his shoulder as their fingers thread together beneath the fabric. It had been a pleasant outing despite their inability to have a picnic due to the low temperature, and as they enjoyed the rest of their time together before duty called them back to work, she idly inquired, "Rupee for your thoughts?"
Casting his gaze down to regard Zelda settled so comfortably against his side, Link smiled and shrugged his shoulders in response.
"Just considering the future I suppose."
"Me too," she admitted, her eyes closing contentedly.
She and Link had discussed the changes in their lives and how things were so different now than when their journey began. It made them question what surprises awaited as they moved forward, though neither doubted their ability to handle whatever came along.
After all, they had family, friends, and perhaps most importantly, each other.
Smiling at the thought, Link's heart swelled with contentment over the sensation of Zelda squeezing his hand more tightly as if she'd been considering the same thing. Everything was perfect, or at least as close as it could get, and his eyes closed with the intention of enjoying the rest of their outing together.
It would've worked as well, but a nudge of Epona's nose against his shoulder served as a stark reminder that they needed to get back to work soon.
Grinning at the thought, Link turned his gaze to the animal and playfully chided, "Cut it out. I know you're eager to get started, but let me rest for just a few more minutes."
Zelda snickered when the horse snorted in response, realizing that despite all the changes in their lives, some things remained the same, and always would. It was a comforting thought, allowing her to relax against Link, the couple remaining warm together as a breeze swirled around them.
And that was how they'd stay.
Link once mused that the legacy was worth the fight, and it was true. Their path to destiny hadn't ended with their victory—it was a lifelong journey both were eager to follow. They'd saved Hyrule, reunited with their families, and yet they knew more was to come.
It was all part of their legacy, one that would carry on through the ages … .