A/N: Not sure how many chapters this will go on for. This is why I never wrote the wedding into A Farmgirl's Hero. I knew it would make a better story than a chapter. As for the lack of snow in the story, despite this story taking place in Hyrule's winter, please keep in mind how quickly time passes in OoT. Now then, I have logged hundreds, if not thousands of hours in that game, and have never seen snow once! Except for when Gannondorf made the Zoras freeze over, but that was magic, not weather. I own nothing. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 3
The next day, Link joined the Royal Family in the castle dining room for breakfast. He was joined by Princess Zelda, King Harkinian III, most of the Royal Knights, all of the Sheikah, and a random barn swallow that found it's way through an open window. A plate of rotting fruit surrounded by a cloud of flies served as a meal for the misguided creature.
"This close to the North Wing, we get barn swallows in here quite often. We discovered that leaving a plate of rotting fruit that attracts flies keeps the creatures from starving until they are able to get back outside," King Harkinian III explained.
"We tried leaving birdseed out, but they wouldn't touch it. After Zelda discovered one dead from starvation in the hall, we sent out a research assistant to observe them. It was discovered that barn swallows eat flying insects, so now we keep flying insects where barn swallows have been spotted the most, which happens to be near the North Wing," Impa added.
"So, they live in the North Wing?" Link asked, after swallowing a large portion of hashbrowns.
"Yes. It makes sense, because the North Wing is uninhabitable. It was partially destroyed during the Imprisoning War, about twenty years ago, or so..." King Harkinian III started.
"That reminds me, father," Zelda interrupted. "Link brought up a loophole in our law. In particular, Article II, Section 53c,"
"Preposterous. There is no loophole in Article II, Section 53c," Harkinian III began.
"Well...there kind of is...in relation to me kind of turning back time..." Zelda trailed off.
King Harkinian III slammed his hands on the massive table. "THAT'S RIGHT! Some of us here are twice their age! Which means 53c needs revising! I will call a meeting of the council right after breakfast! Oh, Link, this discussion wouldn't have to do with Medigoron putting stairs on the old Forest Fortress, would it?"
"Yesh, Yer Majishty gulp. That would be correct, Your Majesty," Link replied, trying to answer the King promptly while eating.
"I figured as much. Zelda, while your initiative is admirable, you must know that of the five temples in Hyrule, only two were ever Royal Properties. After you sent Link back in time and screwed up the timeline, I gave the Great Deku Tree control of the Forest Temple. Nevertheless, revisions to time-sensitive laws need to be done. Article II Section 53c is not the only law in need of revision. This is going to take time to hash out, indeed," Harkinian III excitedly said.
"Um, excuse my impertinence, Your Majesty, but why are you so excited?" Link asked meekly.
"Well, my boy, since Gannondorf was sealed away, I've had very little to do around here. This is the most exciting thing to happen since Princess Zelda here turned back time! HAW HAW HAW!" King Harkinian III laughed at his own little attempt at humor.
"Well Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness, I must take my leave. Thank you for the magnificent hospitality, as well as the forced vacation," Link bowed.
"Mmm...think nothing of it, my dear boy! You have the rest of your life to decide how to use the time that has been given to you. BWAHAHA!"
"Dad, just...no..." Zelda whined, putting her hands over her face.
"Hey, you started it! BWAHAHAHAHA!"
Everyone at the table joined in on the King's laughter at this. Zelda's face reddened and everyone faced her, still laughing, as she stormed out of the dining room. She bumped into Link as she headed towards the courtyard.
"What's wrong, Princess?" Link asked.
"I don't have time for this..." Zelda grumbled.
"You could always just make more time, right?" Link asked, smirking.
"UGH! Not you too! Just...go...get out of here!" Zelda stomped off.
"As you wish, Princess!" Linked shouted after her, smiling.
Link got on Epona and rode back to the ranch. 'Looks like I have a lot of work to do...seems the storm damaged the silo, the barn, AND the house! Oh, well. Better get to work, right?' Link took Epona to the corral where Malon was brushing the horses.
"Where were you last night? I was so worried!" she cried out, before hugging Link like her life depended on it.
"Zelda had me stay the night at the castle. I came home as fast as I could," Link explained.
"That was nice of her. I was scared you and Epona had got caught in that storm. I'm glad you're safe," Malon sighed in relief.
"In more ways than one," Link said, bringing out the letter Zelda had sent to him. Malon grabbed it and opened it.
"Link! Oh, this is wonderful news! This is great! We can always be together, never apart, we can plan for vacations and gatherings without worrying about interruptions...oh I'm so happy!" Malon jumped into Link's arms her legs around his waist as he spun her around in victory. He put her down and they kissed.
"I love you...so much," Malon sighed, her arms around his neck.
"I love you too. More than you could ever know," whispered Link into her ear.
It took most of the day, but Link and Malon were able to eventually get the farm back into shape. They patched the holes in the barn, removed the tree branch from the spare bedroom's window, and rebuilt the roof on the silo. They also cleared storm debris from the corral and finished the normal chores. It had been a long day, and they still had to get wedding invitations out.
"What day do you want the wedding to be? I was thinking the 23rd, since that's a full two weeks before the Royal Wedding. I hate to have a wedding after Her Royal Highness, and we also need to let people rest up between weddings," Link suggested.
"Yes, I like that date, Link. The 23rd is perfect! Very easy to remember for anniversaries. 1-23-95.
"Great! 1-23-95...done! Now, I just have to write out some more of these...'You are cordially invited to the wedding of Sir Link Kokiri and Lady Malon Lon of Link Lon Ranch to be held at The Forest Temple in The Lost Woods. Signs will be posted showing the path to the Forest Temple. Save the date 1-23-95. RSVP by 1-15-95. We look forward to seeing you!' How's that?"
"That's perfect! Anju has agreed to be my Maid of Honor...do you have a best man?" Malon asked.
"Darunia is my best man..." Link answered.
"This is going to be the most interesting wedding Hyrule has ever seen," Malon muttered, picturing Darunia acting as best man.
The next day, Link took the wagon hitched to Epona with a sack of invitations to be distributed across Hyrule. First, he decided to stop by the Forest Temple to see how the stairs were progressing. He was shocked upon entering Kokiri Forest by a sight he never expected.
"Wha-what is going on here? What are you doing, Saria?" Link incredulously asked.
"Making it easier for all the races to get to the Lost Woods, of course! I don't think Gorons can use vines..." Saria answered.
"Good call. So, where did these logs come from?" Link asked.
"The storm two days ago felled a bunch of trees, and we decided to make stairs! We also made signs out of the smaller branches, pointing the direction to the Sacred Forest Meadow," Saria explained.
"That's great! I mean, sorry for the trees falling, but thank you! Here's some invitations to hand out to everyone," Link replied, handing Saria a handful of invites.
"Oh, that's great! I'll hand these out right away!" Saria proclaimed.
Link ran up the new stairs and found the first sign pointing to the log tunnel. He followed the rest of the signs Saria and the others had posted, and went through the maze. He discovered that the wading pools had been drained and filled in. 'That makes it easier for everyone! Wonder who came up with that?' Link climbed the stairs and Medigoron greeted him at the end of the long corridor.
"Brother Link! I just finished up the stairs! I also noticed there was some water on the path, so I got rid of it, and also made the doorways big enough for Big Brother Darunia to get in," Medigoron smiled.
"I noticed! Great job! Thank you so much for your help! How much do I owe you?" Link was astounded.
"Just let me come to the reception," Medigoron replied. "I won't fit in the Forest Temple, so I can't attend the wedding, but I still want to be there for you two,"
"Of course! We'd be glad to have you!" Link replied happily. "Here's some wedding invitations...if you could give one to each Goron, including yourself, it would be greatly appreciated,"
"Ah! Of course, Brother! I'll get to that immediately!"
Link stepped aside, and Medigoron rolled out of the forest and back to Goron City. Link walked up the new stairs and through the doorway, whereupon he was attacked by two wolfos. Link shot both of them with his bow, and they died in a cloud of smoke.
"That takes care of THAT problem...now to see what's behind door number one!" Link muttered to himself, opening the door. "Our contestant has won the grand prize! Two Skulltulas and a Keese!" Link shot the Skulltulas and the Keese, and they all vanished, as they do when vanquished. The main hall cleared out, Link was satisfied with the large central room as it was. The Poes were long gone, and the torches unlit, so the elevator was just a square on the floor. There seemed to be plenty of room for all of their friends to stand or sit during the ceremony. All that had to be done was to deliver the rest of the invites, and make the final preparations. Link left the forest, and headed to Zora's Domain.
"Link! What brings you here?" Ruto asked with a surprised smile.
"Just delivering wedding invitations. Do you think you could hand these out to your loyal subjects?" Link asked, handing Ruto several wedding invites coated in wax. (To protect them from the water, you know...)
"Of course, Link! Thank you on behalf of all of us for the invites...oh! I see the RSVP date is in two weeks! I'll have to start preparations immediately!" Ruto announced, heading to her chambers.
Link decided that was his cue to leave. He headed towards the ranch, as it was getting late in the day. He was going to have to deliver the rest of the invitations tomorrow. The sun was setting just as Link rode Epona into Link Lon Ranch.