A/N: Chapter Seven for you all! I hope I'm not giving away too many spoilers in this chapter but I really hope you guys will love it! :)
Riding through the light world gave Link an exhilirating feeling everytime. He loved feeling the wind whip his face, mussing his hair. He loved the aching feeling in his hips after riding for hours. But most of all, Link loved pushing Epona to run as fast as she could, which made Midna wind her thin arms around Link's sturdy waist. Probably only because of the fear she was going to fall off, but either way, Link could still feel electric jolts course through his body.
He had awoken that morning with an aching in his back, wondering why he was laying on a bundle of blankets and not on his high-rise bed. As his thoughts began to gather, Link remembered the events from the previous day, butterflies building in his stomach, a grin widening on his face. Stepping out on the front porch and seeing Midna perched on the edge perfectly, her hair mussed from sleep, ruby eyes glinting, could make Link completely forget about her absence for the past year and have him following her like a lost puppy for the rest of his life.
Link and Midna spent more time in silence than they did talking, riding through the now peaceful Hyrule Field. Zelda must have been crazy when she asked them to be there in the morning, because they didn't approach Castle Town until late afternoon, when the sun was starting to dip in the sky.
Link was planning on stopping at a new shop in Castle Town, one that he had heard about from Rusl. It couldn't have been more than a few weeks ago that he had asked Link to accompany him to Castle Town in search of a new ring for his wife, one to mark their twentieth anniversary. Link had politely declined, knowing that anything remotely connected to romance would send him over the edge and into a spiral of depression. So Rusl had set off by himself, returning a few days later with an empty wallet and a diamond encrusted ring that shone even with no sunlight.
Link had meant it when he told Midna his stop was going to be a surprise. Just not one he could share with her right away. He was intending to make Midna his wife, no matter how long it took, no matter if Link had to find his way back to Twilight, he would do it.
He had grown up learning to be a proper gentleman, mostly from Rusl himself, but also from Bo, and all of the married men in the village. They had taught Link that the highest honour in life was to marry the one you were in love with, and shower her with affection and give your heart and soul into everything that connected back to that one woman. So that was what Link intended to do. He had waited his entire life to feel genuine love for a woman.
At the beginning of his quest with Midna, he found her to be annoying, self-centered and conceited. But as their time together rode on, Link grew to love the quirks that made Midna who she was. The way that she took to loving the light world, and wanting to save it just as much as her own. How she always had the same mischevious sense of humour. Link realized too late how strongly he felt. He could have told her before she broke the mirror. She could have stayed in his life for the past year. He just hoped that proposing could make Midna forget about everything bad that had happened in their past and be willing to spend her future with Link.
Rusl had told him that the store was in the central square, with a blue door, and no sign. Link wondered why, but realized it would probably work to his advantage if Midna didn't know what he was out to buy.
As they turned into the square, Link slowed Epona down, searching for the blue door. He had to make three rounds with his eyes, dodging townsfolk, before spotting the watery-looking painted door. Guiding Epona through the crowd of people, he jumped off, tying her to a post.
"I'll be right back, just stay here" he told Midna, not waiting for her answer before slipping through the door.
To say the building was amazing would be an understatement. The ceilings were high, draped in red velvet as were the carpets that stretched throughout the stores. There was a wide selection of everything from simple gold rings to diamond encrusted crowns. A well dressed, blond woman approached Link from behind the front counter.
"Is there anything in particular you're looking for?" She asked.
"Actually yes," Link felt his cheeks heat up, "I'm looking for an engagement ring."
"Well you've come to the right place!" The woman exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "What is this woman like?"
"She's...different," Link decided, "Nothing like an ordinary girl."
"I suggest the silver bands. We have a variety of stones that could be embedded," she offered.
"Alright," Link agreed, scanning slowly over the glass cases.
"Follow me," the woman motioned.
Link tailed her to the front, leaning over the selection of rings when he saw it.
The ring stuck out from all the others, clearly more special than the rest. The band was a rich gold, more beautiful than Link had ever seen. There was a simple ruby that reminded him exactly of Midna's pretty eyes. It was encrusted in a familiar pattern, one that Link recognized as the square shaped Twilight patterns.
"I'll take this one," Link decided immediately, pointing to the glittering ring.
"Ah," she smiled, "That is one of our best pieces."
"It's perfect," he grinned.
She pulled the ring out from under the glass case, setting it on top.
Link picked it up, holding it to the light and watched it shimmer.
He set it back on the counter, pulling out his wallet.
"It will come out to be 1500 rupees," the saleslady announced.
A little more expensive than Link had guessed, but he would do anything for Midna. He handed the woman the correct amount of rupees, stealing
another glance at the ring. She wiped it off with a soft cloth, and placed it inside a navy blue velvet case.
"Have a nice day," she smiled, handing the box to Link.
He thanked her, tucking the ring into his tunic pocket, and pushed the blue door open.
Midna was still sitting atop of Epona, clearly bored.
"Did they have what you were looking for?" she asked, shifting her weight on Epona.
"Nope," Link lied, averting her eyes.
"Oh," she said, seeming slightly disappointed.
He hopped onto Epona, undoing the rope that held her still, and directed her to the way of the castle. Link hadn't been here in what felt like ages. He had forgotten how big the corridors were and how long they stretched on for. They had to stop at what seemed like every corner to ask soldiers on guard for directions. After what felt like hours, they finally reached the highest tower, climbing stone stairs up to the top where Zelda awaited. Her door was partially open, and Link could hear her speaking quietly to someone he couldn't see.
"Princess Zelda?" Link asked.
Her voice stopped abruptly, and he heard Zelda's footsteps cross the tiled floor.
"Finally, you two are here," she pushed the door open, gesturing them inside.
Link looked around, seeing no one in the perimeter of the room.
"I thought you were going to be here a little earlier," Zelda frowned, pacing. "No matter. Let us get to work."
"Zelda, are you alright?" Midna asked, her black eyebrows knitted.
"Oh yes, I'm fantastic!" Zelda exclaimed brightly.
Link caught Midna's eye and shrugged.
She blinked, returning her attention to Zelda.
"Well then... Let's just get to work," Midna said.
Zelda seemed to relax, her eyes now wearing a slightly less bewildered look than they had a moment ago. She gestured for them to sit at the circular table placed in the center of the room.
"We'll start with how Midna came across the mirror," she said, "And I need the whole truth," Zelda added sternly.
"Alright," Midna sighed, "Well, the mirror was placed in a field across from my kingdom. I had...went to go visit it then. There was no actual mirror, just a murky grey haze, and the frame."
Midna took a deep breath.
"I had been standing there for a while, and nothing out of the ordinary was happening. I will admit, I had been crying, and my hands were wet from tears."
She looked down, her cheeks turning crimson. Link wanted to reach out to her sad-looking frame and reassure her.
"There was something tugging at my stomach after that," Midna explained, "Like someone had attached a rope to my waist and was pulling. I had no choice but to grab onto the frame. I tried to pull them away, but they were stuck like glue. There was another tug, and it sent me sailing through the mirror."
Zelda nodded patiently, gesturing for her to continue.
"So then, I was being pulled through something like a vortex, and then I was suspended in the air," Midna stated, "I could see you two from where I was. A tear of mine fell into the spring, and you know what happened after that," she finished shrugging.
"Thank you, Midna." Zelda smiled softly, pushing her chair back. "Now, if you will both follow me." She strode elegantly out the door.
"Where are we going?" Link couldn't help but ask.
"To the royal library," Zelda explained, "I believe we have some reading to do."