On the surface a hero's welcome greeted the Hylian army when they arrived back in Castle town. This was certainly true for the rank and file solders. But for the knights and upper level officers; they were thrown back into the world of court politics.
"Apparently my father overlooked a number of unfortunate laws." Zelda explained to Link in her private throne room. "He striped many of their titles and abolished their direct rule over the land but didn't abolish their rights at court."
As it was members of noble families as well as knights, clergy and high ranking members of guilds had the right to directly petition the court. Title holders or their representatives could sit in council with the royal families chosen. Abolishing the right hadn't been important during her father's day since he was famous for killing all the opposition.
"Can't you abolish those laws?" Link asked.
Zelda shook her head. "I'm not queen yet, and even if I was I am not in a position to do so. With all the chaos the old families have been able to cement themselves in the army, the church, even the merchant guilds. Abolishing their rights would result in another war."
"That sucks," Link said.
Zelda blinked. "That is a succinct way to put it." She cleared her throat. "You might find yourself an even bigger target at court than before. The rumor mill has been working overtime. You're now either an uncouth social climber or my father's bastard son or both."
"Nice, you would think they might be a little grateful." Link complained.
"I'm afraid that would be too much to hope for." Zelda sighed.
…..
"Do not fool yourselves friends! Victory at any cost is not the way of the Goddesses! The temple of Din has been desecrated and her people scattered! There must be recompense!" The words of the High priest Kasuto echoed through the council chamber.
Link had heard Kasuto speak before and always found his interpretations of the legends…bizarre. This time however Kasuto seemed unusually animated.
"Are actions were necessary to secure victory. The Spirit temple was overrun with monsters, and the Gerudo tribes were openly hostile to us," Impa said firmly but calmly.
"Were is your faith Lady Impa!? The gods would not allow anything less than victory over a demon like Ganon. You jeopardized that with your impiety!"
The man had been ranting against the crimes committed during the Gerudo campaign. His goal-according to Impa—was to discredit and implicate the campaigns leaders. Namely Impa and himself.
"The gods do not give victory without effort and sacrifice." Impa countered.
"Do not dress up your crimes with noble words! You have blasphemed the gods and must pay!" Kasuto bellowed.
"Enough!" Zelda bellowed. "We will not accuse each other of being criminals in session!" She glared at Kasuto.
The priest bowed his head. "Forgive me your highness, I am but a servant of the gods and was overcome by my passion. It will not happen again."
Zelda sighed. "Never the less, I believe a break is needed. We shall resume this discussion tomorrow. The council is dismissed. Lady Impa, Sir Link, I shall speak to you in private."
The assembled nobles murmured in discontent but nevertheless obeyed. Even if she was only regent she could still theoretically end their careers...or their lives. Challenging her directly was not in the cards.
As the nobles, priests and merchants poured out one door Link, Zelda and Impa left though another door to a private chamber.
Zelda kept her back to Impa. "Was driving the Gerudo off their land truly necessary?"
Impa nodded. "It was your highness."
Zelda turned around. "And what do you think Link?"
Link looked away. It felt dirty contradicting Impa. "I disagreed. Even if it sped up victory I wanted to find another way."
Zelda nodded. "I see." She walked around to a table with a handful of documents on it. "I understand destroying the temple, but I cannot overlook the deaths of the Gerudo."
"Your highness…" Impa began.
"It was impermissible, even in war." Zelda continued.
Impa's face hardened. "With respect princess, nothing is impermissible in war."
Zelda's face hardened in turn. "That was my father's philosophy, not mine."
"You must see that you are being manipulated!" Impa said; upset. "Kasuto only wishes to weaken your power at court by separating you from your allies!"
Zelda sat down. "I am not blind Impa, but despite his hypocrisy, he is not incorrect. And despite the hate most people have for the Gerudo, he has convinced many in Castle town that the destruction of their temple was an impermissible blasphemy. I am afraid I have to do something."
Impa stood passively as Zelda paused.
"For the time being—no, most likely forever-I must expel you from court. If there is an opportunity I will put you back in, but unless that happens I must cut you off."
Impa bowed. "I am a retainer of the Royal family. If my exile will benefit the royal family than I will accept it."
"Even though I disagree with your decisions, in truth I did not want to do this."
"I understand. What you'd you have me do in the mean time?"
This took Zelda by surprise. "Do? I expel you from court and you would take on new duties?"
"If it pleases you."
Impa had lived her whole life in service of the royal family, taking on any dirty deed to keep them in power. She never worked for her own benefit, and consequently did not seem to care about her position.
The princess closed her eyes. "Very well. Please investigate the nobles allied against me and Link; quietly. Any information that would undermine their positions would be a boon."
"That shall take some time, but it should not be difficult," Impa replied.
…..
"As I explained, the matter is settled."
The court was in a minor uproar as Zelda explained Impa's exile.
"Your Highness this is most irregular, surely the destruction of a sacred temple warrants more than mere expulsion from the court!" Kasuto pleaded.
Zelda gave him challenging look. "Then lord Kasuto, what sort of punishment did you have in mind?"
Kasuto hesitated. "… It is not my place to pass sentence by myself; I only fear the god's displeasure."
"Lord Kasuto," Zelda began, "I appreciate your concern, however the gods have entrusted my family with the task of administering justice, and given the circumstances I feel that a somewhat lenient hand was necessary in this matter."
The assembled lords murmured amongst themselves. "What of the other officers?" One asked.
"Those who pushed for the raids on the Gerudo have already been dismissed.
There was some positive chatter at that. The army was full of knights and officers of noble blood. As such, the nobles in the council welcomed leniency for their own.
"And what of Sir Link?" Kasuto said; looking over at the young man sitting on what was Impa's seat on Zelda's right.
"Sir Link opposed the decision to drive off the Gerudo and was not involved in bombarding the temple." Zelda explained.
"Of course," Kasuto said, "But is there anything to confirm this?"
"I was there Yeah?" Sir Gonzo said in his idiosyncratic way. He was new to the council and not well liked because he got his position from his combat record rather than noble birth or economic importance. "Link didn't have anything to do with either of those things yeah? He's the straight forward type, fights at the front and only does what he thinks is right."
The room murmured at this. While most hated Link the testimony of a knight commander in the army couldn't be ignored.
"So if there are now objections we will consider this matter closed." Zelda concluded.
A few council members looked like they wanted to object held their tongues.
Zelda smiled, her victory secured. "Very well then, let's move on to new business."
…..
"I leave the rest to you Link," Impa said.
She and Link stood near the Castles drawbridge behind the front gate. Impa had a wagon taking her stuff back to her house in Kakariko, but she was going in a different direction herself.
"I'll try not to disappoint," Link said.
"I hope you'll take this seriously. The princess is counting on you."
After Impa was expelled from court, many her duties and authorities were passed onto Link.
"I don't like to make promises about the future. You never know what might come up," Link replied.
Impa nodded. "A realistic philosophy, if not very reassuring." Impa extended her hand. "Stay safe Link and don't let the bugs at court get to you."
Link shook her hand. "I'll remind Zelda about reinstating you, from time to time."
"Don't worry about me. There is important work to be done elsewhere. I believe the gods put us where we are needed," Impa said.
"I hope so," Link said. His interactions with the gods had giving him more questions than answers. he had faith, but the simple childlike faith in the gods most Hylians had was quite beyond him.
Impa went off out of the castle; no doubt off to track down dirt on some noble or merchant making Zelda's job difficult.
In a way he envied her. Link found life at the castle stifling to say the least. But with the existential threats gone for the time being Link felt it was his duty to help clean up Ganondorf mess. To that end he would toe the line as Zelda's supporter and endear himself to the military faction at court, perhaps the only faction which still supported Zelda. Until Impa could return he would act as Zelda's support.
…
"I hate politics." Link complained as he relaxed with Zelda in her drawling room.
"I don't blame you," Zelda said, "But we will have to grin and bear it a little while longer. They can't keep this charade up forever."
The noble faction, led by high priest Kasuto, had been doing everything it could to delay Zelda's ascension to the throne. Their goal was to force her to marry a scion of a noble house and let him rule or at least co-rule as king.
Zelda stirred her tea. "I got a letter from Impa today. She found some dirt on lord Feron. It will not be difficult to get him to see my point of view from now one."
"I still don't see why I can just challenge him to a duel or something." Link added. "I wouldn't kill him, just embarrass him a bit."
Zelda smiled "and that's why I'm the one in charge."
Link forced a smile. "As you keep reminding me."
"If you must fight the time will come, I'm sure someone will try to assassinate me as a last ditch effort." Zelda explained.
"That isn't funny." Link sighed.
"I'm not joking." Zelda smiled. "It is funny though normally I would see a monarch tying to consolidate absolute power as a tyrant, but now that I'm surrounded by these nobles and merchants it seems like the only logical choice. Or maybe my father was more of an influence on me than I thought."
"Well, your father wasn't perfect, but I think I prefer him over the slimy things at court."
Zelda laughed. "They're not all bad, and most of them aren't petty enough to abandon the crown for short term interests."
Link shrugged. "If you say so."
"But link, what do you intend to do?" Zelda said; refilling her tea.
"Hmm? I thought I'm taking over Impa's guard duties." Link asked.
"Besides that," Zelda said. "The war is over and these petty politics aside there will not be much to do once the succession is settled. In that case you should see to your affairs. On your salary you could probably build an estate, once I am queen I could even arrange you to take a noble title if you want. With the politics being a knight might not be enough anymore."
Zelda paused, giving Link a furtive glance. "Of course there are other options."
Link saw Zelda blush and blushed in return. He knew what she wanted. Wasn't it was he always wanted? His Zelda sent him back in time to give him back his childhood, and even though the will of the gods could but be circumvented by the act he had for a time chosen his own path, and he met this Zelda. She could not fight like his Zelda, and she had not suffered as he had, but she was still the holder of the Triforce of wisdom, even if it had not awakened in her. He felt the connection. The gods compelled the connection. And even if they didn't, there was a connection.
Link closed his eyes and took a breath. "I…." Link paused, "I will follow where you lead."
Zelda smiled a brilliant smile. "Let's both do our best then."
….
Author's notes:
Sorry this took so long, I was almost done when I was stuck by an idea for a short story and I pretty much dropped everything else to work on that. I'm also still working on by web novel. I'm trying to put out one chapter here for every two I put out of the novel.
Anyway expect a lot of time skips from this point on. This story will hit fast forward once Zelda becomes Queen.
Anyway, review and subscribe, check out my other work and please keep reading.
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Quick edits made for grammar and spelling
Man I can read my own work a hundred times, then read it again and find something I missed.
-Gedaemon