AN: While the story is marked complete, I felt the urge to write a little bit further in this particular vein. I just can't write a oneshot to save my life, I guess :)

Zelda kissed Bertrand lightly on the mouth, and smiled, turning and waving her hand to the audience that stood to applaud them. They ran out of the church, their hands held tight, Zelda gripping her bouquet close. Bertrand climbed into the waiting carriage, pulling her up after and kissing her again. He was a good man; a little silly in the ways of the world, sure, but he was good looking, with dark eyes and curly hair. Zelda waved out the windows of the carriage as they rolled away from the cathedral and up to the castle for the celebrations. People waved and applauded, and for a split second she thought she saw a blond man in green clapping solemnly, far behind the other revelers, and staring into her face.

She pulled away from the window with a frown. She had not talked to Link in a few months. It was easier to resist him when she was holed up in the castle, planning her wedding. And he had not come to see her. Bertrand patted her hand, still smiling, and turned his face again to the revelers waving.

They arrived at the castle to a great deal of fanfare and cheers, women hugging Zelda tight and praising her gown, the flowers, her hair. Ambassadors and other nobles clapped Bertrand on the back, applauding him for a great catch. They took their place at the head of the table, where servants quickly served them some food from the elaborate buffet, and plenty of wine. Zelda looked around now and again, trying to be surreptitious about it. She didn't look very long, but from what she could see, Link was nowhere around. She sipped her wine, and tried to be happy, ignoring the gnawing sadness in her gut. She'd hoped he'd come, if only to see how happy her life would be now. Bertrand would treat her right, and they would rule together.

For most of the party, they watched a band play, the hired dancers celebrating the wedding throughout the room. Zelda smiled and applauded politely at the end of each performance. She could do this; she could be happy for a little while. Bertrand was a good man, and he would treat her well, and Hyrule would thrive under their hand. Zelda took another sip of wine, accepting when Bertrand asked her to their first husband-and-wife dance. He moved well, holding her appropriately. Maybe that was the problem; that Bertrand had little passion in him. He was polite and reserved to a fault, and when Zelda had first met him, that had surprised her. But it was boring, now; he'd never tried to sneak in on her in the bath, had never pushed her up against a wall, pinning her by the wrists and kissing her forcefully.

As if those actions would be appropriate until they were married! She wondered now if he would reveal the man behind the title. They danced, ate a little, drank a little, danced, drank a little, danced, talked, drank a little more. A fire was roaring in the pit, and their chairs were closest. Zelda stood, excusing herself on wobbly feet to get some cool air. Bertrand kissed her lightly on the cheek, having stood with her, and she smiled as she unevenly wandered to the balcony, sitting down on the bench out there. It was cold now that the sun had set. She closed her eyes and sighed, and a sense of melancholy washed over her.

Neither of them had quite been able to believe it when she cut it off for good. As usual, they laid in bed. Link had one arm around Zelda's shoulders, holding her to his chest. She traced a thin scar on his ribs with one nail, watching his chest move up and down with his breath. It was peaceful. "Link."

"Mm."

"I'm getting married in three months."

He stiffened, as he always did when she brought up the subject of her impending wedding. Not in the way she liked, but crouching like a suspicious animal. Zelda pulled reluctantly away from him, and pulled on her clothes, managing to lace up her corset on her own. Link watched her, sitting up in bed. She pulled on her light riding cloak and looked back at him. They stared at each other wordlessly for several minutes, before Zelda finally turned away and walked out. And that was it.

Remembering this now, her hands clasped in her lap, she stared down at her rings and shook her head. Her eyes started to tear up. She started crying, honestly crying, the tears smearing her delicate makeup as she brushed them away with her fingers. Someone settled down on the bench next to her and wordlessly handed her a cloth. "Oh, th… thank you…" she looked up at her companion, and nodded wordlessly, a lump in her throat getting heavier.

Link nodded back and looked away. He hadn't shaved in about three months, and a sparse reddish beard was growing in. There were bags under his eyes- or was that just a funny shadow in the moonlight? They sat there in wordless silence as Zelda dried her tears, handing his kerchief back. "Congratulations," he muttered dryly, his fists pressing into his knees. Zelda looked away. They remained sitting there in dead silence for several minutes until Bertrand came looking.

"Sweetheart? There you-oh, hello." Link stood and bowed to the new king. Zelda smiled and rushed over to him. "You've been crying?" Bertrand asked her softly, touching her chin with his thumb.

Zelda shook her head. "I just heard a very sad story. Bertrand, this is an old friend of mine, Link."

Bertrand looked Link over; a beggar? Really? But he smiled kindly and shook Link's hand. "Good to meet you, sir."

"Good to meet you, my lord," Link replied.

Bertrand gestured inside. "The band is playing again. Would you like to dance?"

Link cleared his throat. "Actually, sir, if you wouldn't mind, could I dance with her?" Zelda closed her eyes tight; she could appreciate the strain it put on Link to act so deferential to this man. If he didn't, Bertrand would take offense and have him thrown in the cellar.

Bertrand chuckled and nodded. "Certainly, certainly. Just don't go running off with her."

Link took Zelda's hand and walked back in with her, leading in a slow dance. He didn't know the proper steps, but he'd never taken kindly to correction. He held her close, and Zelda inhaled his tobacco smell, the undertones of fresh hay and trees. Link squeezed her hand once, gently. He couldn't speak.

Zelda closed her eyes and thought back to the first time they made love, only a month or so before she met Bertrand. Link hadn't known he was going to bed the future queen; they'd just been talking, sitting in his kitchen, sipping at tea.

"Urgh, it needs more sugar," Zelda had muttered.

Link apologized. "I didn't know how you liked it."

She looked around again. "This place is very nice." Zelda added another heaping spoon of sugar to her tea, stirring and sipping. Better.

Link had finished his, and he stared into the mug with a worried expression. Zelda set down her cup and tilted her head. "Are you alright?"

He shrugged. "I'm fine."

Zelda drank the last of her tea, having to brush by Link to rinse out her cup. She shook the water from her hands, tensing when she felt a wolf's gaze on the back of her neck. She glanced out of the corner of her eye and realized Link was staring her down. "Wh… what?" she asked softly. He turned and pulled her close with a hand on her cheek, kissing her very deliberately on the mouth. Zelda broke it off with her eyes wide, stepping back. "Maybe I should go..." she mumbled. Link stepped towards her, his eyes alight with intent. Zelda watched him, unsure if she was afraid of him or excited.

She turned to run, and he caught up, wheeling her around and pushing her up against the wall, his hands pinning her wrists as he kissed her again. He pressed his body up against hers, and Zelda could feel how much he wanted her. Link pulled away, letting go of her wrists and cupping her face in his hands, kissing her again. He took his time, stroking her face and hair as he kissed her over and over again. Finally, he broke away, smiling a little bit. Zelda grabbed him forcefully by the shirt and pulled him back in, kissing him hard. Link groaned in surprise, gripping her by the waist and pulling her in. She reached her hand up his shirt, stroking the smooth skin of his back. Link unlaced the back of her dress, clumsily, unfamiliar with the knots and ties in place. She turned around to help him, and he undid them much quicker, pushing the material off her shoulders and swearing when he encountered the laces of her corset. "You're like a Noelmas present," he grumbled, untying the restrictive item in the back as Zelda unhooked it in the front.

"Should I be flattered by that?" she asked softly in response. Her heart quickened in her chest; what was she doing. Link's hands moved away from her skin, and when he came back, he pressed the whole of himself, bare, against her body. She moaned as he bit her ear, a little painfully, and his hands reached around to cup her breasts. Zelda braced herself against the wall with her arms, Link touching her body, biting the back of her neck possessively—

Bertrand gently took Zelda's hand again at the end of the dance. Link thanked them both, congratulated them again, and headed back to the balcony with a glass of wine. Bertrand smiled at Zelda, stroking her cheek and kissing her forehead. "You're very beautiful," he said softly, kissing her mouth. She smiled and thanked him, stroking his hair. But it felt so fake, her smiles and affection for him. He kissed her again, stroking her hair. Oh. It must be time for her to perform her wifely duties.

They laid together on the bed afterward. Bertrand had been good, but gentle. And boring. She pretended to get her orgasm, and let him cuddle up to her. "Let's hope for some children, hm?" He smiled and put a hand to her belly. Zelda nodded, waiting until he closed his eyes for sleep and glaring up at the ceiling. Honestly. Children? Had he enjoyed it at all? She gripped the bedsheets tight under her hand, finally rolling over and glaring at the wall.