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The night before the celebration found Link and Zelda sitting together in the courtyard. They chose to sit in the courtyard because Link was teaching more constellations to Zelda, as they had done a couple of times during their journey together. They sat very near to each other, so that their sides touched. That way, as Link pointed to different formations in the sky, Zelda could look right down his arm and find them.
"And that one," Link said, pointing to the southern sky," is called The Constant. It is the one star in the sky that does not rotate like the others. There is a story…I'm sure you know this already…"
Zelda was resting against Link's shoulder, and looked up at his face, just inches away when she responded. "I know of the star, but not the story that goes along with it. Please go on."
Link smiled and looked back up at The Constant. "It is said that our ancestors used to live farther north, on the other side of the Hyrule Mountains. This was before our people took to the skies, of course," he said, referencing a constellation he had taught her earlier.
"A great horror rose up and attacked the people, who were a simple folk. They prayed to the goddesses for aid, and the goddesses chose a young woman to lead the people to safety—a land they had prepared, called Hyrule. But no one had ever been able to get through the mountains, you see, so the young woman gave herself to the goddesses, asking them to guide her people through her. So the goddesses took her up into the sky and she shined for her people.
There was a young man, however, who was very much in love with her. And as he lead the people south, through the dangerous mountains, his goal was only partially to get the people to safety. His main goal was to get back to this woman—his constant in life."
"Did he ever reach her?" Zelda asked, looking back at Link's face again.
"After his people were safe and founded Hyrule, the man kept walking south. He kept following his constant. He journeyed until he came to the edge of the world, and leapt into the abyss, reaching for her.
"If you look closely, you will see a second star near The Constant. It continually circles The Constant, as if protecting her from all the other lights in the sky. Yes, he reached her, and they now dance together for eternity."
Link looked down at Zelda, and found she was still staring at him. He smiled at her before saying, "It's late. And we've got a celebration in the morning."
Zelda, as if on cue, yawned. She then hugged Link tightly around the waist and said, "You're right. I'll see you tomorrow." She stood up and waved to him as she walked off, up to her quarters. Link's gaze followed her until she disappeared around the corner. He released a breath of air he didn't realize he was holding, looked back up the stars, and sighed.
The next day, Link was fitted for a white tunic, made of the finest cloth in all the land. It was strange how just months earlier Link was a poor shepherd, and had never cared about his clothes as long as they kept him at a comfortable temperature. Odder still that just weeks earlier his clothes were being burned off his skin in a volcano, ripped to shreds in battle, or muddied up in weathered travels. And here he was now, with a professional tailor standing before him taking measurements.
One of the Elders of the Council entered the room as the tailor finished and spoke to Link in a hurried tone.
"Well, you've cleaned up quite nicely, haven't you?" He waited for no response, but pressed forward. "We've determined to combine your and Zelda's ceremony today. Not only will it save on costs and time in this time of rebuilding, but we thought it fitting given your combined efforts in staving off evil. Your merits were accomplished together; your rewards should be received together, as well."
"So Zelda will be a part of this ceremony as well?"
The Elder turned to leave as he responded. "Yes, of course. You will be first. And she will follow."
The man left the room before Link could even ask what she would be receiving. Perhaps some title to match her accomplishment.
Link shrugged it off and took one last look in the mirror in front of him. He did clean up well.
Hours later, he was shown into the Great Hall by one of the servants of the castle. He walked up to the front of the hall where only two chairs sat facing the rest of the seating in the hall. Many esteemed guests had already taken their seats, as well as about half of the Council of Elders.
Within minutes, however the Hall filled up until every seat was filled except Zelda's. Then Link saw her enter. Since he was the only one facing the entrance, he was the first to stand up. Link would be lying if he said he stood up because she was a princess and he was showing respect. No, he stood because the woman walking down the Great Hall was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen, and he wanted to have the best view possible.
She looked regal in her dress and crown, each with a Triforce emblem embedded. Her blonde hair framed her perfect face, and even from half the distance of the Great Hall, Link could see her deep, blue eyes and was lost in them.
Only in the deep recesses of his mind did he register that the whole hall was now standing. She made her way up the stairs in the front and to the other chair next to Link. She flashed Link a brilliant smile before taking her seat and motioning for the hall to do the same.
For twenty minutes, Link tried to pay attention as the presiding Elder commented on the unfortunate circumstance that led to the Council being the chief governing body of Hyrule. He paid homage to the late king but mentioned a bright future of leadership. He highlighted the heroics of Link and Zelda and declared Ganondorf's defeat a cause for celebration.
"And to reward Link with his invaluable courage and service, we, as a Council, have determined to knight him, and name him Commander of the Hyrule Military." Two other Council members stood, retrieved a sword for knighting and carried it to the chief Elder.
"We regret that without a king or queen, it is I who must knight you. However, we thought it appropriate that when our new queen is coronated tonight she have a knight ready to serve."
Link bowed his head instinctively, but his mind was not focused on the knighting taking place. He had just processed what the Elder said and could not think properly. Zelda was being made a queen. The Queen of Hyrule…
Link and Zelda ran until they couldn't anymore. They then walked until they couldn't do that anymore either. With his tracking skills developed in trying to find lost sheep and hunt prowling wolves, Link left misleading tracks along the way and did his best to cover the real tracks. So when they reached a riverbed, Link felt safe stopping and resting.
Up until this point, he and Zelda were so winded and cautious that he had only explained to her that the castle had been attacked and her father instructed him to get her to safety.
Now he dreaded the conversation that would come after they caught their breath and quenched their thirst.
"How bad was the attack?" she asked, as they sat on large stones at the river side.
Link sighed before responding. "I've never seen a man so powerful and ruthless. He killed anyone who stood in his way."
Zelda nodded. "Did my father stand in his way?"
Link looked up and into her eyes. It was the first time he truly got a good look at her. Her face was red from the running and dehydration, but she was still beautiful. But her eyes were sad. As Link looked closely, he knew she knew the answer. But she needed to hear it, so he needed to say it.
"He stood up bravely once his guard had fallen and swung his sword. But this man—Ganondorf he said his name was—just hit it aside with his own sword like he was batting away a fly. When your father refused to give your location or bow to him, he killed him."
Zelda looked down as tears welled up in her eyes. Tiny water droplets fell from her face and moistened the rock on which they sat. Link, who didn't grow up with many people besides his uncle and aunt, didn't know how to best comfort her. So he simply moved over and wrapped his arm around her. She leaned into him, and for several long minutes she just sobbed.
As the tears slowed and her body stopped shaking, she never apologized for her grief. Instead, she reflected on her father's grandeur. "He was a perfect leader. The Council would often tell him, 'you can't please everybody.' But he found a way. He knew just how to rule—when to be merciful or execute judgment. It takes a special wisdom to rule this land. It takes a special man."
He loved her. And for a few foolish days he had forgotten somehow that she was a princess. He had entertained the thought of telling her he loved her. Of holding her. Of kissing her. Of marrying her.
But she was a queen, and deserved a king. Hyrule deserved a king. And that was one thing that Link was not. He was a shepherd and by some fate and fortune was now a knight. But wielding and waving a sword was no way to rule a kingdom. And sheep were Hylians not.
The Elder finished speaking and tapped Link's shoulders and head with the sword tip. He bid Link stand, which Link did reflexively, in addition to muttering, "thank you sir."
He knew his face had fallen—perhaps it looked depressed. Link hoped for the people's sake that he looked reverent or humbled, instead. But try as he might, he could not feel joy despite this honorable achievement.
As the Elder turned to Zelda, Link sat back down, unable to look her in the face. He didn't want to see the beauty that would never be his to gaze on. He couldn't look at the woman he loved but couldn't have. But alas, when the Elder finished speaking, and said, "…Queen of Hyrule," Link finally looked over. He was replacing her crown with a new crown. One that belonged to the Queen for countless generations. It was official.
In defeat, Link got down on one knee and bowed to his queen. The Great Hall again mirrored Link's gesture. Link looked up to see the Queen and was surprised that she was looking at him. On her face was an indiscernible expression. She, too, looked defeated. Sad. And if Link had been able to discern that expression—heartbroken.
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