A/N: AA sorry this update took a while. School got hectic for a bit. And it still is. AP testing starts this week and my stress level is through the roof.
Anyways, as always, read and review! Thanks!
Midna groaned. Everything ached. Her ankles were swollen. And don't get her started about her back. Her back was what killed her the most. Every day, Link would use a bandage to help compress it and support it - but nonetheless did it ache.
Link was finishing tying the compression. When he finished, he felt his wife lean back on him. Holding her sides, he let her rest on him.
"I hate this," Midna hissed, turning her head to face Link.
"I could imagine. I'm sorry I put you through this." Link hugged her tighter, recalling the morning sickness, aches and pains. "At least it will be all be done in three months."
"It's okay. We both wanted this." Midna shrugged. "You have to finish that crib, too." Her eyes remained half lidded as she rested her head against Link's shoulder, shifting her position so she sat on the side of her hip. She enjoyed the comfort of leaning against him.
The warmth of their silence made her off guard when she felt a little jab at her stomach. Eyes widened, she grabbed Link's hand, which caught him by surprise, and put it over the spot. She felt it again.
"Did you feel that?" Midna grinned.
Eyes wide in shock, Link grinned and nodded his head. "Oh my goddesses…"
Midna felt her heart race out of joy. "I know." Wrapping her fingers around Link's hand, she brushed against his calloused, rough skin, before before wrapping his arm around her.
With a small laugh, Link pressed his lips against her cheek before whispering into her ear, "Aren't we supposed to meet with Khina today?"
"And then a council meeting afterward, I know." Midna sighed. "I just want to sleep."
Link shrugged. "I know. So do I." Glancing over at the clock on the all, be blinked slowly. He began to lift himself up, trying to take Midna with him. "We should probably get ready to go. Let me get your clothes."
Midna rolled her eyes at Link as she began to slowly sit up. "I'm not helpless."
Link made sure she stayed seated. "I know, but Khina doesn't want you doing a whole lot. She doesn't you to risk self inducing what happened last time."
Midna groaned. "Well last time I was given medication without knowledge. It's not like it was natural." She rolled her eyes and laid back across the bed. "Besides, I want to at least get moving again. I feel like I'm getting fat."
Link looked over his shoulder as he was grabbing his wife's gowns from the closet. "Honey, you look wonderful."
"So you're not going to deny that I'm getting fat?" Midna raised a brow.
Link shook his head. "Well, no? It's not even much. It's hard to see a difference besides your stomach. Besides, when I asked Khina about what you'd be going through, she said you're supposed to gain a little bit when you're expecting."
Midna just sighed, sitting herself up and resting a hand on her stomach. "I know… I just don't like it."
Closing the closet, Link walked over to their bed, resting her clothes beside him as he sat down beside his wife. "Just think of it as there's just more of you for me to love." In a fluid motion, Link wrapped his arms around her, pressing his face against hers. "And if it is any consolation - you don't look fat."
Midna shrugged. "Thanks."
In a warm voice, Link whispered, "I love you."
With a soft grin, Midna shut her eyes. "I love you, too."
"Now how about you get dressed?"
Midna only groaned loudly in response.
Midna laid back on the small bench as Khina examined her stomach. She had her sit up, stand, stretch her limbs, weigh her, measure the width of her stomach. Midna made vague eye contact with Link, who stood in a corner, reading a book on pregnancies and having children that Khina gave him.
Once Khina was all finished, she notioned for Midna to sit down. Relieved, she followed the doctor's orders. Link lifted his eyes from the pages and gently began to close the book.
"For the most part." Khina raised her brows. "Your pregnancy is going along just fine."
Midna and LInk exchanged looks, grinning.
"But-"
Midna's eyes reverted back to Khina, her smile disappearing.
"You need to gain a little bit more weight," Khina sheepishly sighed. "Just a few more, like five pounds or so. It's only for the health of the baby, I'm just following the recommended weights for your height and how far along you are."
Rolling her eyes, Midna grumbled, "Fine."
"And to forewarn you, during the last moon or two, I'll want you to be bed bound. After what happened last time, I don't want to risk any complications." Khina looked at Midna dead in the eye.
With a grimace, Midna closed her eyes and nodded. "Okay."
"I'm make sure she does that," Link chuckled from off at the side.
"Also, take that book. Read up on third trimester." Kinha helped Midna stand so she could redress. The doctor made her way out of the room.
After Midna dressed herself, she and Link left in a hurry, thanking Khina on their way out. They had only realized the council meeting was starting shortly, and they both needed to be there. Apparently, there was news from Zelda.
Quickly taking their seats, the meeting began at their arrival. Midna crossed her legs and grinned at the council.
"I hope you all have had a good moon," she lightly said.
One of the councilwomen in the front nodder her head. "We sure have. And, might I say you look as wonderful as ever? How much longer until the heir?"
Midna shrugged her shoulders. "Only three more moons. But, I don't feel as good as you say I look."
The councilwoman blushed and giggled. "I surely hope you do feel better, my queen." Going through her stack of papers, she pulled out an envelope and rose from her desk to bring it to Midna. "And some good news for you - a letter for both of you from Princess Zelda."
Midna raised her brows, her cheeks flushing and lips curling upward like an overjoyed child's. "Oh? Let me open it."
Curious, Link rose from his seat and glanced over his wife's shoulder as she tore open the letter, pulling out the paper. It was a gorgeous parchment - with lace and beads and sparkles of silver and gold. The lettering written in a fine ink, looking and curling and twisting ever so neatly.
'Dear Midna and Link:
I know you all are rather busy with the expectation of your child. But I would link to inform you of Eric and Cain's day of wed. I am hosting it in my hall. There are only a few invited, due to Cain's identity and safety, and their relationship.
It will be a small ceremony. The 22nd of September. In three weeks.
In accord with this event, I invite you two to the castle two weeks prior to the event. It's been five, almost six, months since we last met and I miss you both dearly.
I hope to see you soon,
Zelda.'
The council sat in their respective seats and watched as the monarchs read through the letter, their eyes widening and smiles forming. "What is it, Queen?" One extremely curious council member asked.
Lifting her gaze from the letter, Midna receptively grinned, lowering the paper from her face. "Well, a good friend of Princess Zelda, Link, and myself has announced his planned marriage with his partner. This was our invitation to attend."
The young council man nodded his head. "That is surely great news! When is their day of wed?"
Link's eyes scanned over the words on the parchment quickly. "Their day of wed is in three weeks. However, the princess has invited us to stay for the pre-wed celebrations, so she is allowing us to stay in the castle." He felt Midna's eyes burn into his side.
The council nodded unanimously. "I assume you'll be going?"
Midna quickly spoke out in confirmation.
And the news of the invitation settled down as the council began to bring up economics and other affairs. Midna was much more knowledgeable on those subjects than Link, such to the point where she took over and he just listened.
It went on for an hour. There was light discussion of Link helping train a squadron of the small, but growing, twilian army. He didn't dissent the idea, but he would rather it not be shortly after the birth of their child. He didn't want to be busy, which would take away time from helping Midna, and spending time with the little one.
Once the meeting ceased, the council filed out, leaving just Link and Midna. The silence went on for a minute.
"Why did you the Zelda was inviting us for 'pre-wed celebrations'? The letter had no mentioning of that," Midna stated blankly. "Why would you say such a thing?"
Link raised his brows and smirked. "Have you looked at yourself? Unless there was an actual reason to go a week before the wedding, they wouldn't allow you to. They wouldn't want to risk your health with how far along you are." Link stood from his seat to help Midna up from hers. Once she stood on her feet, Link wrapped his arm around her waist.
Link shrugged. "Besides, who said there wouldn't be pre-wedding festivities?" His voice hinting at an innuendo.
Midna snorted. "You don't drink enough to get drunk. And I can't drink. I doubt Zelda will drink. I only know she'll take a gin when she's in private."
Link rolled his eyes. "You haven't seen me drunk." The two were walking slowly through the palace, heading out towards the gardens.
Midna's tone dropped to a solemn gray. "But I heard about the time you were."
Link opened his mouth to send back another retort, but paused, the red flushing from his cheeks. Slowly, he closed his lips and remained silent. He continued to lead Midna to the gardens, whey they sat on a bench, surrounded by many flowers native to the realm. Link didn't know their names, but they were an eerie, glowing blue. They shone in their own way.
The whole garden was lit up by the flowers. It was rather dark, a small breeze rustling Midna's hair. Her face was soft and smooth under the dim blue lights.
"Midna," Link whispered. "What do you mean you heard about a time I've been drunk?" The tone of her voice earlier had shocked him, she seemed so serious. From what he remembered, he had never told her about that incident.
"You told me once," Midna knitted her fingers with Link's. "You were rather delirious, sickly. Twas the night the guards found you, shoved you in the jail, and I had to bail you out. I guess you hadn't remembered it after all that commotion."
"Zelda also told me, and so did Eric, but in more detail." Midna took her hand, and wrapped it about Link's head, forcing it to rest on her shoulder as she entangled her fingers in his scrappy hair. "I don't think you've ever realized that incident is the reason you can't eat certain things anymore without being sick for two days."
Link sighed, blinking several times. His inners felt cold now. He just wanted to push that memory to the side. He didn't want to have to bring it up. And yet she continued on.
"I've seen the scars on your wrists and your legs and ankles and sides. I'm not oblivious. I know you don't like to talk about it, though."
"Why did you bring all this up, then?" Link pouted, his voice shaking as he lifted his head from his wife's shoulder.
Midna sighed, followed up a quick inhalation of air. "I know you're scared. I can see it with your worries and actions. I know you're scared. I am, too. But I am also scared about you." Midna turned her body to face Link completely. "I know you're scared you're going to breakdown again. I know you don't want to be the parent like you father was. I know how much you're scared that you don't want to screw up."
Midna only watch as the tears welled up around his eyelids, only for him to quickly bury them in his sleeves as if they were nothing. She rested her hands on his shoulders and pulled him to her chest. "But, it 's going to be okay. If you have a bad day or week it's going to be okay. I'll still love you and so will the baby. You're going to do fine. I know that you're not like your father, and I know you're good with kids. It's… it's all going to be okay, Link."
Link shook against Midna's skin. She read him like a book. He didn't want to worry her with his fear.
"I know you're right," Link whispered. "You're just… really… right."
"I'm sorry I brought it up," Midna softly spoke. "I just… with everything coming up so quickly, I didn't want you enveloped in fear. I just want you to be happy."
Link sighed. "Well, at least we'll get a break when we're in Hyrule." He pulled his head away from Midna. "And … I can be.. Happy." He sheepishly grinned at his wife.
She rested her hands on his cheeks and met her lips with his. Pulling away, Midna grinned back at Link, whose cheeks were now flushed a rosy red.
"How about we go work on that crib?" Midna suggested. "Think about the happy things that are going to come in the months ahead?"
Link nodded as he wrapped his arms around his wife.
