Ding! Dong! The time we've been awaiting for is here! It only took two years...
*cough cough* Disclaimer time! I don't own The Legend of Zelda series. All rights are reserved to Nintendo.
The Wedding
The day has come. They are getting married.
Only a day has passed since their little outing in the wild. Upon their return, they had surprised the entire family by saying they wanted to get married immediately! It's safe to say the family had been puzzled but not unhappy. As far as any of them are concerned, the sooner the better. The family will be able to rest assured that Zelda will be free from Merari, and that they will hopefully be able to keep things hush and quiet.
Link and Zelda have a different motive. They had consummated their marriage before the wedding. Accounting the possibility that Zelda may be with child right now, it is a matter of saving face for mother and child from society.
That is why Zelda now finds herself in front of the church, wearing the jewel-blue dress that had been prepared for her wedding with Merari. But it isn't Merari beside her. It's Link.
Through her peripheral vision, Zelda takes in the sight of her future husband. His usually unruly hair has been tamed and combed. He wears his finest tunic—jewel-green with red embroidery, but not free stains—and his boots have been dusted and polished to as much of a shine as possible.
She smiles and squeezes his hand encouragingly. He returns the sentiment. Her hand trembles in his, and his in hers. Even though they only had his family and Holly attending the wedding, they are nervous. Perhaps it's because they are half expecting Merari to show up and ruin everything. Or maybe they just have butterflies in their stomachs.
Which is why their clasped hands are all the more reassuring. It means they will get through this together.
Officiating the wedding itself is none other than Father Brun. He had been the one to suggest Zelda find another husband. When the young couple showed up on his door asking him to facilitate their wedding, he jumped at the opportunity at once. The old priest is more than willing to see things to the end.
Addressing the family, Father Brun asks, "If there is anyone among you with reason why these two should not be joined, speak now, or forever hold your peace."
Silence meets the priest's request. Zelda sighs as she feels a weight she hadn't even been aware of removing itself from her shoulders. A quick glance at Link shows he is equally relieved.
Brun then addresses them. "Do either of you know of any transgressions that might prohibit your marriage?"
She and Link lock eyes with each other. She sees the warmth and loving kindness held in his eyes. It moves her to the brink of tears. Any remaining doubts she may have had vanish for in those kind eyes she sees a soon-to-be-spoken promise. She does her best to reflect that promise with her own eyes. It must have worked, for a look of wholehearted joy adorns Link's face.
"I know of no transgressions," Link replies to the father's question without taking his eyes off of Zelda.
"Neither do I," she says.
If either had been looking at the father, they would have seen the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkle on his weathered face, as he, too, is moved by the sight before him. Thus, he proceeds with the ceremony.
"Do you, Link, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and to love, uphold, and protect until death do you part?"
"I do," Link vows. His voice is steady and strong.
"And do you, Zelda, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and to love and obey until death do you part?"
"I do," she vows instantly.
"Then by the power entrusted to me by the goddesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Turning to Link he adds with a smile, "You may now kiss the bride."
He hadn't even finished talking when Link swoops her up into his arms, dips her, and kisses her passionately on the lips. The act catches her off guard, but once the initial shock fades, she responds with zest.
It is the best kiss of her life, not that she has much to compare it to. In the moment, it is only her and Link. No one and nothing else. Time halts, or so it seems. But apparently not. The cheers and applause of their loved ones break them out of the spell. Father Brun leans in and whispers in his froggy voice, "Get on with it! You're wasting the celebration time!"
Before any celebrations can begin, there is one more thing they must do. Father Brun presents the new couple with a simple but extremely important piece of parchment: their marriage certificate. All they have to do now is sign their names, and their marriage will be officially recognised as legal by the law.
When it's Zelda's turn to sign her name, she hesitates. For the past half, she has been living under a pseudonym, but now such a name seemed ill-fitting for such an important moment of her life. With trembling hands, she puts ink to sheepskin and writes her real name.
Griselda de Hyrule.
Only after she's set down the quill does she notice something off about Link's name. It's what he used as his surname. He didn't list his occupation or his father's name as his surname. He boldly wrote his name as Lincoln de Faron.
Zelda raises a brow at her husband, who merely shrugs in response. This is either ingenious or foolish. He is making a statement here. I can only hope he can back it up.
They hand the signed document to Father Brun. The two then walk away, hand in hand, to join their family in celebration.
Unfortunately, there isn't much of a celebration. Since they have to keep things under wraps, or risk Merari finding out about the fiancé swap and ruining the ceremony, things had to be done without the usual festivities. There isn't even a dinner. A toast is given to the new couple, and that's it.
In all honesty, Zelda and Link are disappointed that they can't celebrate their own wedding with the traditional pomp and grandeur. She has a feeling that everyone else is feeling something similar.
But the couple can't rest yet. In all due haste, Lysander escorts them to the docks where they board his boat and set sail for Labrynna.
The plan is for Link and Zelda to spend their honeymoon in Labrynna, and hopefully by the time they return, any trouble stirred up by Merari will be settled, and all the legal nonsense taken care of.
Zelda's just happy to have one headache over and done with. Now she can look forward to a month of peace with her new husband. If any trouble arises when they come back home, they will deal with it then together. For now, she can take things easy.
So she leans her head against her husband's chest, and allows the motion of the boat on the waves to rock her to sleep. While she sleeps, she has dreams. Dreams of her living a simple life with her husband, surrounded by little blond children with bright blue eyes.
This is a much shorter chapter than the average for this story. I suppose not every chapter can be over 3000 words.
You are all in for a special treat today. A double upload! The next chapter shall be posted today, 08 16, 2022 ASAP!
Remember to read and review, and stay tuned for the next chapter(s).