Chapter 10—Proven, Passed and Prevailed

Zelda walked through the castle toward the throne room, where her father was most likely to be. No one stopped her from wandering the halls. No one questioned her presence. No one commented. She was almost not there. She gazed with empty, tear-slicked eyes at the tapestries hanging on the wall, at the stands that held pottery, sculpture, framed artwork. Empty items. Empty, expensive, worthless items. She pulled her shoes off her feet, felling the cold stone floor, wishing her emotions were as numb as her feet were from the cold. The corners she turned were not noticed. The pieces she passed were not noted. The maids she passed paid her no heed. The guards ignored her presence. She wondered if her father would do the same.

She wondered...but didn't care.

The throne room was bigger then she remembered it. Her father sat in his throne. The one where her mother had sat once was empty as always. Then Zelda's, the smallest, was empty too. It called to her to take her rightful place. As she walked up the red carpet, vaguely grateful for the small warmth vs. the cold stone, she noted that her father continued reading his book. He didn't look up at her—not once. She sat in her throne with a light sigh.

"Have you come to your senses, child?" her father asked softly without looking up.

"...I will not torment Link anymore...yes," she said, catching tears in the palm of her hand. "Yes, I have come to my senses,"

"Then welcome home," he placed the book in the throne next to his, then turned back and pulled her to him and hugged her. He looked at her, wiped away her tears. "Welcome home," he repeated softly.

"I'm sorry, Father," she mumbled.

"Oh, Zelda... don't be..."

"Why not? I disobeyed you, denied my duties, tortured Link—"

"Hush, child... you've been through enough for a while."

"I'll say," they both turned toward the voice.

Link stood in the doorway, hands on his hips. He walked toward them. "I have had enough of this merry-go-round, and I hate merry-go-rounds. You might be her father, but you cannot control or protect her for life. Swallow that before I go on," Link stopped in front of them. His cool tone suggesting determination. Zelda was crying harder now.

"And here I was about to be disappointed," the king said.

Link stopped what he was about to say. "Do what?"

"I was about to be disappointed in the both of you,"

Zelda looked up at him, frantically trying to rid her face of the tears. "Why would you be...?"

"Zelda..." he took her hand and stood, pulling her to her feet. He then reached out and took Link's hand, even though the obvious objection showed on Link's face. "Link... I am so sorry to have put you both through this... but you've passed... you've won..."

Impa, Jay, Fay and Blake, Mark, and others walked in from one of the back entrances. "You were made to see a dire situation, a negative and not entirely true situation. You were put through trials, the natural way of life flowing at you. The hard times made harder. The quite times quieter. You have won against the odds, you have proven yourselves,"

"Proven for what? Passed what?" Link asked, staring at the king.

"It was all a test. Most of what you saw was planned," Jay said stepping forward. "It was a test," he repeated. "for the both of you,"

"The emotions you felt were real," Fay said. "The situation, even though it was planned, was real."

"And by passing these tests, you have both proven that once I'm gone, the throne will be well cared for,"

"But, Father! You will be king for a long while yet."

"No, Zelda... my time is almost gone."

"Father..."

"Link... you will make a good king. I know you will take care of my daughter, the throne and the people. And Zelda... you will be a wonderful queen, much like your mother. With Impa, Jay, Mark and Fay, you will be wise rulers... you've proven yourselves to both me and the kingdom. And I am so proud,"

Epilogue

Link could not believe the turn out for the festival. New Year's was a wonderful time. New chances, new experiences.

He watched the growing number of people, some carrying the decorations, a few carrying in food. The game stands for the littler kids were going up. The last of the adjustments to the dancing circle were being made. The sun was low in the sky—the sunset would make for an extra romantic dance that he anticipated so, so, so, so much.

Zelda caught his eye. She was directing everything. Food there, sit the tables further apart, the decorations higher, lights brighter, more colors here, there. Her plain blue sundress caught in the wind and her now short hair was easily lifted. She was beautiful. Being married and having a little baby was something he had not foreseen in his future.

Eva made a bubbly noise. Link carefully lifted her from his shoulder and smiled. She was blowing bubbles. He understood why Jay and Fay so loved Blake. A child changed everything. Her hair was the same bright color as Zelda's, but her eyes looked like Link's. And she had her grandfather's smile. Oh, she was so precious, so cuddly, so tiny.

The instruments were being tuned up. Link could hear the makings of a song somewhere in the squeaks...he smiled. The musicians warming up were the apprentices. It would be an interesting sunset dance.

Link returned Eva to his shoulder and watched Fay lead Blake to the games; he was still learning to walk.

The air began to fill with excitement.

The music started.

Link walked around, smiling. Jay and Mark were discussing something. Link guessed a race. They'd been talking about racing each other and the winner getting the first dance with Fay.

One of the children was handing out some kind of desert. Link smiled and accepted the small piece from her. "Thank you. Your dress is a pretty color,"

"Thank you, Master Link. Mama helped me sew it," she did a small twirl. Link smiled down at her and she moved on to finish passing out her basket's contents.

A burst of laughter erupted from one corner. Link stood on his tip toes to see.

Someone had been pied. He laughed.

He moved Eva around in his arms so that she could see better, and so that he could see her face. Her eyes danced with the reflections of things going on around her. She was fascinated with everything. Link smiled, content to just hold her and marvel at the little bundle of joy.

One of the children squealed. Link turned and saw that the little boy had won something, though he was too far away to tell what.

The sun was now near the horizon. Link realized he'd lost sight of Zelda. He turned and found Jay in front of him. Jay held out his hands.

"Go dance," he said as he took Eva gently into his arms. "Hurry up, before the sun sets anymore," Link nodded his thanks. He found Zelda on the outside of the dancer's circle, watching the few couples who had already started. The song, played on fairy ocarinas, was slow and romantic. He took her by surprise, pulling her into the circle. Her smile was worth the hassle to sneak up on her. She rested her head on his shoulder and let him lead. For a few moments, Link kept his eyes on Jay, watching Eva. He soon decided yet again that she was okay.

The stars began to shine as the dance ended. A shooting star finished off the dance as the last note was played, the sound lingering in the now fast growing darkness. The oil lamps were being lit. Link knew they would have so many more nights like this, even after Zelda was queen.

Jay appeared from behind them and handed Eva to Zelda, then disappeared as swiftly as he'd appeared.

The stars began appearing.

Zelda leaned against his shoulder as she brought Eva to the space between them. He kissed Eva, then Zelda. The moment stood still and nothing and no one existed beyond them. The people, sights, smells, and place seemed to vanish. Link wrapped his arm around Zelda.

"This is what I leave you with..." her father's voice came from the air, "Zelda, you will never again wonder why you are the chosen heir... Link, you will never again be alone. The child will change everything...Live, and be happy... good-bye..."

The end of an old era and the beginning of a new...

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For me, this story has been a wonderful adventure. It was the second fan fiction I started, and the first to come to close that I am proud of. When I started it, I only knew that I wanted Link to have an ordinary life with a not-so-ordinary twist. The reviews I received, day dreaming, and a few ideas when I was supposed to be focused on school gave me the chance to go beyond my first assumptions and a challenge that I couldn't ignore.

I would like to thank the following people, my reviewers: Encumbrance, Nonnahs, Lily-cPotter, ShadowZero00, harrypotterfan, ZGMF-x20A, Dark-Keyblade-Master, Bruna, Erica Rilley, links tiger, The Beast and the Harlot, Karen, NOOOO, AHHH, happy reader, HELP ME, and dgaga, x, h2pm, Alicia, jill2282, link-fierce-diety, TheGoddessKnight, SHiNiGAMiLENNE, anime/videogame freak, Lily'n'Rahun, Paine18Warrior, MysteriousStranger, Kels, UrlickYumiforever, Terashi Leon Goken, lilykat, Yusuke343, EnlightenedKing, Mythicall, Princess Zelda of Hyrule, N, Linkfizzle, Zelda Heir to the throne, oldcross, and trevor19. Thank you all.

I would also like to thank anyone who only read this story. Authors never know the extent to which their books (or fan fictions, in this case) are appreciated; there are always readers who remain in the shadows. You know who you are. Thank you.

I still welcome reviews for just this chapter or the whole story. Please, let me know your opinion. It does matter to me that at least someone other then myself has enjoyed this tale.

DreamWeaver010