Zelda sat in her own private chambers on her bed, staring into nothing. She had one hand to her stomach, which had barely changed beyond getting a might thicker. Pregnant.

Now that she actually was, she was scared. In the past, with all their little scares, she'd been able to blow it off easily afterward. She would fall pregnant when she was good and ready. Well, she wasn't ready, and it happened anyway. At least now she was married, and the child would grow up healthy and a part of the royal kingdom. And she could claim it was Bertrand's, and Link's life would be spared. It had been another scare at first, until her cycles had never made their return, and she vomited now and again throughout the day. Bertrand had heard the doctor's proclamation and hadn't been as excited as she thought he'd be. He smiled and hugged her, but there was worry in his eyes. He didn't think the baby was his.

Zelda looked to the double doors that led to the balcony from her rooms, feeling a chill when she saw a figure approach. Link tested the handles of the doors; they were unlocked. He gently pushed them open and peeked in, stopping when he saw Zelda. They looked at each other for a few minutes, until Link slipped in and shut the doors gently behind him. She shook her head and looked away. "You… probably shouldn't be here," Zelda mumbled.

Link walked over and sat down next to her. "I heard about your condition."

Zelda stared at her hands. "Right…"

Link sighed and stretched out, rubbing his hands together. He could feel the little wooden box in one pocket, weighing him down. "Is it mine?"

"It's Bertrand's."

Link looked at her in a cold shock, and Zelda laughed once with strain, sucking in a deep breath and balling her hands into fists, looking at him. "I… that's what I've been telling everyone, but, I think it's yours. I don't know but I… I think it's yours." She reached out and put her hand in Link's, squeezing it.

He cleared his throat and stood up, pulling out the little wooden box. "Zelda. I came here to give you this." He put it in her hands. "I wanted you to know that… no matter what happens between us, I'll always… love you. But I have to let you go."

They stared at each other, Zelda shrinking into herself. "Oh." She held the little box in her hands, and slowly opened it. "Oh…" Zelda stared at the rings, sniffling and putting her hand to her face. "Oh..."

Link tucked some of her hair behind one ear and kissed her forehead. "I won't come back," he whispered hoarsely, "and don't come looking for me, because I won't be there."

"Link, no, please—" Her voice broke and she reached for him. Link took her hands and kissed the knuckles and fingers.

"My princess, we cannot keep this foolish run around. It's wrong. You have a marriage to uphold, and I'm going to do my part by… going away for a while."

"No! Please! No!"

He hugged her tight, kissing her cheek. "I swear it, Zelda. Do not come looking for me." Link pulled away, though it was hard. She shuddered and forced herself to stay seated, gripping the wooden box tightly in her hands as Link walked back out to the balcony, shutting the doors behind him.

Zelda stared again at the rings and let herself cry, shuddering. She held her breath, trying to stifle her tears, but it wasn't helping in the least. She snapped the box shut and got up, stomping to her dresser across the room and shoving it into the top drawer, in the very back. She stood there, breathing harshly through her teeth and trying to keep control.

"Is it mine?" Bertrand sat down with Zelda at the foot of their marriage bed, his eyes serious and staring at her.

Zelda looked at him. "I… yes, I believe so." She stared down at her hands.

Bertrand sighed heavily, holding her hands in his and staring at their wedding rings. "You believe so."

She shifted uncomfortably. "We'd never been successful before…" Successful? Was that the right word? "I mean that… I've never fallen pregnant by him in the past, so… I doubt it's his."

Bertrand nodded and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her lightly on the mouth. "I love you," he whispered quietly.

Zelda nodded. "I… know." They sat in silence, and Bertrand finally got up and moved away.

Link tucked up behind her, kissing the back of her neck and holding her around the waist. "Y'know…"

"Hm?" she raised her eyebrows, and looked back at him over her shoulder. "What is it?"

Link kissed her jawline. "What if… something happens?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if you fall pregnant by me? What will we do?"

Zelda chewed on one nail. "I don't know… I… I'd probably try to purge it."

Link tensed. "Don't do that. Come on. Look. I'm telling you," he started, as he sat up, "that if something happens, I'm here for you, one hundred percent, and we'll go through it together."

She rolled over and looked at him. "You're not going to ask me to run away with you again, are you?"

Link shook his head. "No, no. I just want you to know that… if something happens, no matter what it is, I'll be there for you."

Zelda smiled warmly and kissed him, her hands on his cheeks. "I know," she murmured against his mouth, holding him close.

Link wrapped his arms around her again, holding her to his chest. "What would you name your child, if it was a boy?"

She shrugged, toying with his hair. "Probably a traditional Royal Family name. It's more complicated than just liking something; past kings and queens have followed a strict pattern. That, and Bertrand might have an idea of his own."

"What if it was a girl?"

Zelda stroked the skin around Link's eyes, her fingers lightly resting at his temples. "I'd name her Ella. It was my great-grandmother."

"That's a lovely name," he murmured.

"Yes, I've always thought so."

She found herself staring again at the dresser. Zelda couldn't hold back any longer; and she stood up, pulling open the top drawer and ripping open the box once more. She put it on top of the dresser, staring with round eyes before she pulled off her thumb rings, putting the ones Link had left on in their place. They fit near perfectly. She studied them, turning her hands over and over as she studied the rings. At that moment, Zelda knew exactly what she was going to do with the rings. She took them back off and put them back, putting on the official rings.