(A/N: OK, I'm really sorry for not updating this in so long. I've been mowing over everything in my mind, not to mention I have auditions for plays coming up and my brother's wedding… Let's just say I've been busy. But I haven't forgotten this; it's one of my favorite works when it comes to my own stuff. Anyway, here's Chapter 19…)

Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda… Of course, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference if I did… (Laughs maniacally)

Chapter 19: The Surprise

Another two years had passed… King Daphnes was still in good health, and Hyrule was happy. Thankfully, no wars had broken out, and the kingdom was at peace. Ganondorf seemed to be a bit tenser, knowing the rime limit for the King's lifespan, but he seemed to be the only one who took notice of that. We were happy for the first time in ages.

It was on this day that I had decided to take Zelda to the lake. I had a big surprise for her…

"So, what is it?" Zelda asked.

"I'm not telling you until we get there… And even then, you'll have to wait a bit." I told her. We were trotting along across Hyrule Field, headed towards Lake Hylia. I had decided to wear my Zora Tunic, as befitting the place we were going and, of course, bore my Guilded Sword and Hylian Shield… I also had a very special item stored in my pouch. Zelda decided to wear a most elegant blue dress. It was similar to the one she wore when she first revealed her identity to me in the alternate timeline, only her back was partially exposed, and the top portion curved to fit her body a bit more instead of hanging down like it used to. The entire dress had intricate patterns of knotwork running down the sides and along every hole and at the both the bottom of the skirt and the top of the dress itself. Her blond hair was draped down behind her, with parts of it flowing over her shoulders.

"OK, then…" the Princess started. I had hoped she had given up on trying to find out… "Are we there yet?!" And I was wrong…

"You'll know when we're there, because you'll be able to see more than just white cloth." I told her… Oh, yes, I had forgotten, she was also wearing a blindfold…

"How about now?" She asked again, just as we had jumped the fences blocking the standard way to the lake.

I simply dismounted Epona and lifted her off, taking her blindfold off her face.

"Why don't you tell me?" I replied.

Zelda opened her beautiful cerulean eyes and looked out at the lake, gasping and covering her mouth. The hour of twilight had recently struck, and the orange sky shone down on the water, with ripples running across and shining in multiple directions. It was easily one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen, and it had become obvious that Zelda agreed, because before you knew it we were both on the ground laughing with each other, with Zelda occasionally sighing…

"Anything wrong?" I asked.

"What makes you think that?" Zelda retorted.

"Well, you were sighing… It sounded like you were thinking of something…" I told her.

"It's nothing important… Just…" she began. "My father only has a year left to live… And… Zantauri is still out there… He might find the last Fused Shadows soon… Who knows, he may have already found them…"

I looked at the princess intently. "I know about all that… Remember, I'm the hero here, so I have to worry about it a bit more often… But… right now…" I paused and reached into my pouch to pull out what I had been saving. "The one thing that's really on my mind is this…" I held up the box in front of Zelda's face and opened it, revealing a sapphire-coated ring with two small rubies and a large emerald decorating the top.

Zelda looked at it and stood up quick. As soon as I was able to move freely, I got down on one knee.

"Zelda… we've been at this for quite a few years now… Your father even knows about us… And, I think he would appreciate it if he died knowing he had an heir…" I began. "Not to mention… I'm hopelessly in love with you… To a degree that I can't even comprehend… Princess Zelda… I ask this now… Will you become my wife?"

Zelda looked at me, then at the ring, and then exchanged looks between the two for a solid minute… When she finally stopped, she smiled warmly.

"Yes… I will…" she said, finally.

I took the ring and placed it onto her left ring finger slowly… She offered a hand to help me up, and I rose.

"You know, I'm not just doing this for the status…" I told her. "I don't care if I'm King, Consort, or just some guy you keep around… I love you… And that's all there is too it."

"Stop talking…" Zelda replied as she made sure my mouth was preoccupied. We stayed like that for quite a while… in utter bliss, as the twilight settled further…