At breakfast, it was Link's first attempt to sneak her more food, as per the nurse's advice.

Early that morning, they sat secluded in the mess hall where Link brought two plates for them.

While he piled her plate with the regular amount of food; two toast, a small tin of jam, an egg and one breakfast sausage, he piled his with nearly three times the amount.

The first look he gave to the princess' plate, he realised he had no idea just how she got through the day with so little with how much she moved around and did. When they sat together he watched as she ate, he looked around to see if anyone was looking and he slipped an extra egg onto her plate, sometimes an extra sausage, until the point Zelda had to complain.

"Link, I can't anymore." She whined quietly. "You still need to eat."

He shook his head. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I'm worried about you, she was right," He emphasised as he motioned to the food. "You do need to eat more."

She frowned and stubbornly put the extra egg back into his plate. "No."

"Princess," he pushed it back onto hers. "Your… condition … requires you to eat more." He whispered back. "Please?"

"No." She wasn't subtle with the way she picked it up with her fork and dropped it back onto his. "My condition lets me ignore you as well. Keep your damn egg."

"Two toast, an egg and a sausage is not enough until dinner time." He frowned as he flopped it back onto her plate. Before Zelda could do anything more, he swiped his plate off the table, holding it out of range of receiving the egg again. "Eat the one egg and I'll leave you alone about this."

Link sighed and watched her grumble something under her breath as she glared at him, then at the egg before poking it around with her fork. He just wanted her to eat even marginally more. He didn't particularly like having to force more food onto her plate, but she was stupidly stubborn, more so than he was, but this was just dumb.

He knew her appetite wouldn't increase if he didn't take any measures, and he didn't want to wait too long for her pregnancy to start kicking that appetite into gear too late either, she needed energy and she needed more of it now than ever, considering the season's hottest days were around the corner.

He didn't want her fainting or starving herself in the middle of the day where everyone could see. He didn't want to pull the attention of the castle medical staff unless he absolutely had to, and if she fainted or found herself too fatigued too often, then they would surely notice.

"I'm sorry Zel," he whispered quietly.

"It's fine," she mumbled as she took a small bite of the fried egg.

He desperately hoped the food would stay down this time. While he and Impa managed to diminish her morning sickness to mere nausea, he still kept a good eye on her in case it decided to turn to vomiting as it had while he was gone. She had a close call this morning as far as he knew, but nothing more.

He gave her as many things as he could to mimic him when he wasn't there, but it was rather difficult to do so around so many people.

With her birthday tomorrow, the castle staff were running around like cuccos without their heads, and the halls were almost a danger to wander aimlessly.

Flowers, vases, decorations, all of the like were being moved around haphazardly and Link had found himself, on more than one occasion, dodging them. He didn't see the Councilmen anywhere, but he did see the guards and knights posted in more places.

For one, he was happy that his security measures were being implemented. He managed to get a hold of Cassian's roster of knights and had written for additional security around the castle since hearing about the escaped Yiga. It wasn't the one assassin that worried him, but rather what might happen if that one person came back with a lot of them. He didn't want to lose any guards so close to her birthday and Nayru's Day.

"Listen, today is going to be busy," he tried to ignore the guilt from making her do something she didn't want to. "I'm going to be running around all over the place, so I might not see you much, I just want to make sure you're eating at least."

"I understand." She whispered quietly, not raising her eyes from the plate.

At least she finished it… but you messed up getting there.

"Chief Urbosa should be here later," he tried. "Princess Mipha too, Daruk and Revali. They're all here today."

"Really?" He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her smile and the excitement reappear. "They're here this early?"

"Sometime this afternoon I think?"

She sighed and rested her head on her hand. "Why is it you know everything that's going on for the next two days and all I'm told is to go for a dress fitting, drink tea and look pretty?"

He thought for a moment. "One, surprise factor. Two, stress, it's your birthday, why should you worry about everything? Three, I deal with your security, I have to know where to send whom and when, and finally, personally I think you should know your schedule, it's just not logical to expect you to nod and go along with every little whim."

"Right? Thank you." Zelda looked at him with a smile. "So, what am I doing today then?"

"Right," Link looked in his pocket for his small notebook that had everything written down. "Mhm… seems like you're having tea with numerous Ladies, Sir Ren and Dame Mara are going to be your escorts today, last minute dress fitting around noon, champions arrive late afternoon but this is one big open block so I guess we don't have a proper time estimate. You've got your evening prayers and then that's it for today."

"Entertainment then, that's what my father had planned for me." She rolled her eyes and took a long sip of her tea. "What are you doing?"

"Security meetings with Arn, Cassian, Lance and His Majesty. We have to get everything coordinated properly around the castle."

"Really? Now of all time?" She raised a brow.

"It's because of the recent breaches in security. The next week is going to be hectic with Nayru's day coming up too."

"Fantastic… Sounds like we won't have much time for ourselves then." She concluded with an exasperated sigh. "And I'll likely be surrounded with guards at all times."

"Sorry…" He apologised again. Just as her face fell, he continued. "But if you feel like you want less guards throughout the day or it's too much, I'll dismiss one, you just need to come find me."

"I'd rather only be appointed one," Zelda mumbled. When Link gave her a slightly concerned look she smacked his arm with the back of a spoon. "You , you ninny!"

The hours went by painfully slowly.

First it was the dress fitting. She was ecstatic to know her measurements hadn't changed in the three days since her last, saving herself from the seamstress' wrath once again.

Then it was tea, or rather entertaining she called it. She saw two duchesses, three ladies, and a viscountess, though she was glad for the Court Poet Razan's company as he played the harp nearby and sang. It saved her from the terribly boring conversations most of the other women were having while most of the conversations had been about the latest fashions, sometimes about something one of their husbands or brothers had done and she couldn't find it in herself to be very interested in the topic.

She hadn't yet seen her cousin, Duchess Deilia anywhere yet, but she knew she was wandering the castle in search of someone or something.

She was only actually interested in conversation when she met her final tea appointment in the form of Countess Litha, the wife of Lord Bram whom she had befriended the last time they'd met.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Your Royal Highness," said Lady Litha as she and Princess Zelda took seats in the parlour.

Today, the ornate curtains were pulled open in the parlour to let in the sun through the large glass panes; there were fresh flowers in the vases, vibrant and colourful for the numerous guests Zelda had entertained for the purpose of greeting before her birthday.

Lady Litha, the step-mother to one of her ex-suitors, was the last to be 'entertained' today. It was with her that Zelda felt she could let her guard down even a bit. While she was married to Lord Bram with a step son Zelda's age, she herself was surprisingly also very close in age to Zelda, and they seemed to get along fine.

Zelda remembered the day she had panicked and asked the countess if she was interested in being friends and had found that the woman was a great conversationalist and enjoyed writing letters back and forth. She wasn't at all negative about Zelda's subtle rejection of her son, rather she even seemed to not care about it one bit.

She brushed it off as if it was a leaf that fell on her shoulder and she continued a friendly correspondence with the Princess.

"A pleasure as well, Countess. How has your family been these last few days?" Zelda politely asked.

She smiled. "Oh you know how they've been. Anton is 'researching' his botany again, my husband manages the village problems." she air quoted with a small laugh.

Anton the anti-botanist (for women), he was always a pleasure to hear about because of his antics that made zero sense to anyone with half a mind. While he was entertaining for his antics, his views on women and education were less than pleasing, but the Lady was working on changing that for the better as far as Zelda knew.

"How are the preparations for your birthday celebrations?"

Oh the can of worms the countess had just opened.

"They're fine, I assume." Zelda started, knowing she was about to rant and there was nothing either of them were going to be able to do to stop it. "My father, the King, has refused to tell me anything and so has the council. I've had to go bother the Captain of my Guard for the schedules and plans."

The Countess nodded as if she'd heard the tirade a dozen times already. An Omega, Zelda figured out quickly thanks to her newly developed sense of smell, she seemed to know the intricacies of society as her designation.

"Unfortunately, this is unsurprising news, Your Highness, I mean no rudeness." she set her cup down and offered a shy smile. "You are not the first and I doubt you will be the last to suffer from the arrogance of alphas. The most we can do is sit by, listen and do as we're told."

That answer didn't please Zelda too much, but she hid it well. There was no way she would do any of that when the council was constantly trying to push their power and superiority around as if it was their goddess-given rights. Sit, listen and do as she was told? No way in hell was she going to be doing that.

"It would be nice to know what's going on for my own birthday," She muttered to the side.

"Oh Princess, I think you misunderstand me," Lady Litha's voice took on a sly tone, catching Zelda's attention immediately. "When I say listen and do as we're told, I mean do exactly that. "

As much as Zelda wanted to understand what that meant, she wasn't quite sure she was properly catching the meaning behind those words.

"You'll understand quickly enough. Rest assured, Princess." The Countess sipped her tea quietly. "Say, where did your maids find this tea, it has quite an addicting flavour."

"Oh, it's a spiced apple tea from Akkala. They say the best variety comes from the northern regions near Death Mountain." Zelda looked at the tea in her cup, swirling the faint red liquid around. "I'm not very knowledgeable on teas and ingredient origins, I'm afraid. You could ask Sir Link; I know he has a plethora of knowledge in the field."

"Does he? He didn't strike me as the type to know very much about the kitchen."

"Mhm, he loves his food and he's also an excellent cook in his own right. He's actually the one who prepares meals on my pilgrimages to the Springs." Zelda smiled. "He's offered to teach me how to make something, but I don't think it was very good. If I'm being honest here, I think he chokes it down to avoid my feelings being hurt."

"It's the sentiment that counts. I'm surprised he would offer to do something like that," she commented. "Those military-type men don't really seem to know very much about cooking, I know virtually nothing about the subject aside from what tastes good at mealtimes."

"While that may be true for many, some of the best meals I've ever had have been those prepared by Sir Link while we were in the middle of nowhere."

"My goodness, some of the best? Perhaps you'll allow me the honour of trying a dish one day, Your Highness?"

"Of course."

"Oh that reminds me," Lady Litha set her tea down and motioned her Lady's Maid over and took a box from the hands of the woman. "I have a gift for you, if you don't mind accepting it a few hours early." She pushed down a giggle and placed it on the table. It was no bigger than one of her small encyclopaedias, and it seemed quite light. "I know it isn't much of a gift for a Princess, but I think you might come to enjoy its contents."

"I'm sure it's lovely. I think I'll open it now; you've got me rather curious, Lady Litha."

Zelda carefully pulled the string that held the packaging together, pulling the freesides apart and uncovered a leatherbound notebook, three pressed flowers made into bookmarks and a rather long red quill.

"I hear you're quite the avid reader and note-taker," the other woman smiled.

She couldn't identify which bird species the feather originated, but the colour was one of the most vibrant reds she'd ever seen. The bookmarks' flowers were perfectly preserved and delicate, and the notebook had some of the finest parchment quality, smooth clean of any smudges or impurities. She flipped through numerous pages until she got to the end, where there was a small slip of paper sitting, unbothered and folded between the pages.

She took the slip and shot the countess a questioning glance before opening the slip.

Do exactly as they say and not a word or letter more.

Zelda looked up to see Litha sipping from her cup, a smile hidden as she tipped it back.

And a wink.

Zelda stood before her father's study door, wringing her gloves in her hands. She didn't know what he wanted, but she prayed it wasn't bad.

It's your birthday tomorrow, he just wants to tell you happy birthday. That's all it is.

As much as she tried to bring herself to open the door, her hand wouldn't respond. Her arm wouldn't raise itself, but her hand didn't grab the knob.

It'll be fine.

What was the worst that could happen? Her father scolds her for her powers again? She's not enough of a proper princess? What were the chances it'd be something she's never heard before?

She took a deep breath and laid one solid knock against the old oak doors, hoping she wouldn't need to knock again.

"Come in."

Here goes nothing. She shakily grabbed the knob and opened the door, forcing herself to stop shaking, to stop the hesitation in her voice. No cracks or weakness could show. Don't give him the opportunity to slip through.

She entered the study and closed the door behind her.

Her father sat in his armchair near the small fireplace with what she assumed was a small brandy in hand. She couldn't read him based off his face, but she could tell he was somewhat relaxed by the way he swirled the caramel coloured liquor in the cup.

She did as Link had taught her early on. She inhaled silently but deeply, trying to pull anything from the air, but it didn't seem to work with the wood burning nearby and the open liquor bottles. If she'd had her eyes closed, the smoke had her thinking he was furious, but she could tell that wasn't it. Mix that with the liquor and she'd have assumed it was drunken rage but her senses were clearly wrong here.

"Why are you over there? Come join me." He didn't turn to face her from the chair. All he did as she approached was grab the long metal poker and shift the logs sitting in the flames.

"You wanted to see me?" She asked, trying to make herself confident.

He only sipped his brandy, and rather than confirm or answer her question, he chose his own line of questioning. "How're your prayers coming along?"

"They're fine." She simply said, looking past her father rather than at him. "I'm thinking of going to the Spring of Wisdom in a few days." Again with the prayers, the least you could do is look at me.

Her father nodded, but didn't smile. "Good, you'll be taking Sir Link with you, I presume."

"Yes." Who else would she be taking with her? The court poet?

As she took a seat in the other arm chair, her father turned to face her, and his face was anything but positive.

His eyes bore down at her and she could feel her nerves starting to slip through the cracks. "While we're on the topic of your knight, I've been discussing with the council on a few matters." He continued to watch her, but she forced her expression to stay the same; unwavering, but not frozen cold. "They speak about so much illogical nonsense, but I'd like to ask you about it, considering it is your expertise since the last few weeks."

Zelda immediately understood what he was referring to. It wasn't her studies or her powers, he was referring to her as an Omega now, something he hadn't yet done since she presented.

"I have yet to know everything, but I can try to answer as best I can, Father." She tried to make her answer as pleasing as possible, but she wasn't sure if it cut it.

"Well I've done some reading of my own so I hope our answers align properly."

She felt her blood run cold. Just how much reading did he mean? Pick up one pamphlet and be done? Scour the library for days on end for an answer? With her father, she couldn't tell. When he wanted an answer, he would seek it out endlessly, but only if it didn't get in the way of his official duties in any way. She hadn't heard anything about him being in the library so she hoped he'd only asked around and that was it.

"The councilmen have complained that you 'overwhelmingly smell of your knight', would you care to explain why that is and what that means?"

Because I'm pregnant and we're together but I can't tell you that. She tried to take a deep breath. "Well, Sir Link and I do spend more time together than the average people in and beyond the castle." She explained as simply as possible, allowing her father to pull what he might need from that.

But she was wrong in her thought. He stood firm in his expression, cold and ruthless. He didn't think anything innocent from her words. "I will ask you one time and that is all," He turned and looked her dead in the eye. "Are you both spending time together behind closed doors?"

While the answer was yes, she couldn't say it, and she hated that he phrased his question using her own words. What was she supposed to say? 'Yes we've been sleeping together and you're going to be a grandfather in a few months'? The Calamity would be the least of her worries.

"We are not."

"Zelda, I forbid it. You are not to do anything behind closed doors with that boy, am I clear?"

She sighed. "Yes, father." It was far too late to forbid anything of the sort, considering she was almost three months pregnant with his baby. Her father wasn't going to stop her from seeing Link after hours or from sneaking those little touches throughout the day.

"That brings me to my second point." He turned back to the fire, breaking the intense cold stare he'd held her prisoner in. "Have you chosen whom you wish to attend tomorrow with?"

"I haven't." The less she said, the better.

"Would you like Sir Link to be your escort tomorrow?" He didn't turn to face her, but she could see his eyes focused on the fire.

"You'd allow him to be my escort?" She was sure her excitement was breaking through her voice. She hadn't even thought to hide it or hold it back, it fell from her lips before she could stop it.

It almost seemed as if her father had to force the words out. "I will, just this once."

She was sure this had to be a joke. He couldn't be serious. He'd never entertained the idea of allowing the public to think of him as anything but the hero and her personal knight attendant. Allowing him to escort her on her twenty-second birthday was sure to cause a few rumours at the very least, none of which would be innocent in origin.

"I thought you didn't approve of him?"

"I do not approve of him as a husband ," He clarified. "He is but a common man born from the people, you are still a Princess of the Realm with divine blood." Her eyes drifted to the flickering flame next to her. The burning logs crackled loudly for a moment before he continued. "You require a husband of sufficient rank and upbringing, but it won't do you well to go alone."

Of course he didn't approve of Link. Why would he? He'd made it clear so often that he didn't think of Link like that, why would that have changed so quickly?

He took a long drink of brandy. "I imagine you'll be akin to fresh meat to vulture tomorrow evening," he said, as if wanting her to know now like she didn't already know that. "I see the way your suitors and the peerage see Sir Link. They fear him, they don't dare approach those whom they see under his protection."

She didn't try to speak. She wanted to know where her father was going with this line of thought. It seemed so unlike him to think of Link like that. Yes he saw Link as her protector, but this was the first time she heard him refer to him as her protector. As if she was under his wing.

Almost like a possessive type of protection.

"But I would be a fool to deny that you are happier when he is near, so I will allow you both to attend the ball together."

It was nearly sundown when Link was finally freed from the endless meetings involving security. He had to track down Lance four times to deliver papers, only to have them rejected or edited, then he brought them back to Cassian to get fixed.

He was the unofficial page of that secret meeting.

And while Arn had his business in order, being the captain of the King's Guard, Link had to repeatedly prove he had Zelda's protection assured. He had to help place guards at every entrance, every possible exit, around the numerous bridges, any large opening anyone could slip through. He even had to dip into Cassian's reserve of knights to assure they had the manpower to protect it properly.

Due to the recent security breaches, King Rhoam requested the security be heavier than usual and no one found any reason to decline the request, it was understandable, even a good one considering how lax they'd been recently.

He was surprised to hear that Zelda wasn't at her prayers when he went looking for her, and after twenty minutes of looking, it was finally Sir Balar whom he found that informed him that she was sitting on the bridge that led to her personal tower.

He ran to the tower as quickly as he could until he finally spotted Sir Ren and Dame Mara standing guard at the entrance way, casually talking, but still keeping an eye on Zelda. They weren't close to her, but it was clear that Zelda had requested personal space and the two had granted the request as they were peering at her from around the corner of the doorway while Zelda overlooked Hyrule's fields in the orange glow of sunset.

When he finally stepped out onto the bridge, he finally spotted Dame Caya, sitting on the other side of the doorway outside, keeping a closer, more attentive eye. He quietly dismissed her with a wave of the hand and she nodded, standing up, bowing her head, and taking her leave.

"Are you alright?" Link asked her. Zelda turned to him, then turned back to admire Hyrule in the dimming light. It was sunset, and the sun was setting over the mountains, painting the sky a beautiful orange and pink.

But Zelda wasn't looking at the sight, rather her eyes were glossed over, unfocused, and staring through everything.

"Zelda?"

"Mhm?" She hummed, not moving from her position.

"Rupee for your thoughts?" He came to stand next to her and looked over the distance like she did.

It was a beautiful kingdom. Castle Town below was loud, the lights flickering and dancing in the town square told him the people were celebrating early. He could see the flickers of lights from Mabe Village further ahead though he couldn't see more than that. The mountains in the far distance called to him to explore, but he had a duty here. The far cracks of lightning coming from Faron were rare to see, but one could see them on a clear night such as now.

"Do you remember the day I first scaled Mount Lanayru?" She asked.

He remembered that day well. "I do." She stood in the freezing water from morning till nearly dinnertime on an empty stomach, refusing to eat or drink until he had to physically pull her from the frigid water of the snowy peaks.

"Do you remember the earthquake we had?"

"I thought the Calamity had returned." He muttered.

A strong tremor shook Hyrule, but no evidence that the Calamity had been unleashed. Death Mountain nearly erupted that day and the Rito village had been shaken well, but the Sheikah confirmed that nothing had changed, that the disaster hadn't been unleashed on the country.

"Sometimes I wish it had passed." She confessed solemnly. "I wouldn't be waiting every year like this… Waiting for it to appear on my birthday every year…"

He looked at her for a moment and saw a tear welling up in her green eyes. "Do you think we were properly prepared to face it then? Five years ago?" Why he asked this, he wasn't quite sure, but he did want to know what she thought.

"Who knows." She shrugged. "I know I should be counting my blessings; we haven't been trampled by a disaster yet, we're living in peace, the people are thriving."

"Is it really living in peace if we fear a war every day?"

"What?"

"You said we're living in peace," he repeated her words. "It's not peace if you're assuming war is around the corner all the time. That's just an illusion."

"An illusion… I guess that's not wrong."

Silence settled between them as the sun set below the peaks of the ridge separating the desert from Central Hyrule.

Link eventually heard the guards return and he snuck a dismissal wave again, telling Dame Caya to remain inside and out of sight, but to remain close. She offered no resistance to the order, doing as ordered without a sound.

Where would it even emerge? Would it appear in Death Mountain where the Gorons lived and where the extreme heat could protect it? Or was that its natural enemy? What if it appeared in Zora's Domain where the water and mountains offered enough protection? How big was it? How strong was it supposed to be? Was it possible it could be small enough to hide in the desert? Hide deep within Faron? Take refuge in the snows of Hebra?

He glimpsed at the sword on his back, eyeing the faint blue glow that became more apparent as the sun set and the sky turned its midnight blue. He looked around and noted that no one had lit the lanterns of the bridge, basking them in the darkness.

"Leave them out." She muttered. "I like it more like this."

He inhaled deeply, taking in the chill of the night and the dampness of rain.

He glanced at his princess. The tears rolled down her cheeks slowly.

"Come on, sit with me." He took her hand and pulled her away from the edge and sat them both down opposite to where they stood. He placed a hand on her head and leant it onto his shoulder.

It took no more than a few seconds before he felt the tell-tale signs of her sadness emerge, her shoulders shaking and a sob. "This isn't fair." She choked out. "Why do I have to live in constant fear of this damn thing never showing up?"

He didn't answer, he didn't know how. What was he supposed to say to that? It was a sick joke.

The Calamity prophesied to emerge the moment the day struck the Princess's birthday and it just never showed up. Every year, they worried it would come, the scientists and archeologists were frightened at the fact they could have miscalculated the year it would return. Some even suggested maybe it wouldn't come in this lifetime, but Link's very existence was a living proof of that being wrong.

The sword was never pulled in eras of true peace.

There was always a coming disaster when it was pulled from its sacred pedestal in the Lost Forest. The Great Deku Tree and said it, the King had said it, all of the legends spoke of it.

"It's just one sick joke," He finally muttered. He let his head smack against the stone wall behind him. Five years ago, he didn't share that same sentiment with Zelda. He just wanted it gone and that was it.

Now, he too found it to be cruel. He had that lingering fear in his heart surrounding the Calamity and its destructive nature. What would it do to the kingdom? Was he strong enough to defeat it? Would he lose anyone? It didn't take up very much space in his thoughts, but it was the lingering whisper in the back of his mind.

He remembered the nightmares. He remembered them all. He was battered, bruises beyond belief, the four champions unable to go on, Zelda crying and screaming. The Kingdom on fire. They plagued him this time of year, but he didn't let it show.

You're strong enough, just believe that you are.

"It's two hours to midnight." Zelda yawned.

He opened his eyes and realised they'd sat in silence for a long time.

"Link?"

"Yeah?"

She extended out her right hand, palm outwards. "Do you think this power is real?"

He did believe in it. He believed in the power of the Goddess. He believed it flowed in Zelda. "I do."

"Why do you think it's never manifested?"

"I-I can't say." he shrugged. "Maybe it's a one time thing? Maybe you need a trigger for it? I have no idea." He said honestly. Maybe there was a puzzle piece missing, there had to be something they weren't thinking of, but to go five whole years of trying alternatives and never reaching a solution? Something had to be missing from the equation, maybe she needed multiple conditions to manifest magical powers.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him. Her eyes were rimmed red, even in the darkness of the waxing moon. "Do you think you could use it?"

"Me?"

She nodded. "You said the bond… It could let you."

"I don't have the faintest idea on how to use magic, and even if I did, I'd have told you ages ago how to use it. I'm sorry, but I doubt I could use Goddess Magic."

"Don't apologise. It's a maternal line thing anyway." She sighed. "My father is right. I'm an heir to a throne of nothing."

He hated the despair in her voice. He hated the faint cracks in her voice, he hated the way tears spilled from her eyes. His only desire in life was to see her happy, living the simple life, void of all royal duties that painted her. He just wanted to rid her of this divine duty the Goddess seemed to have cursed her with. What good was the Goddess of Light if she caused so much pain to her own descendants?

He didn't care for the goddesses, no matter how blessed he might be. But Zelda? He cared for her, maybe a bit too much if he was being honest.

If she asked him to burn the country to the ground, he didn't think he would refuse, especially after all the pain it had caused her already.

"You'll never be an heir to a throne of nothing. Ignore him."

"But he's right. I'm the only one of my line that can't use magic, I'm a failure."

"You'll never be a failure. Not to me, not to anyone else."

"How am I not?"

"You're a genius. You're smarter than I'll ever be." He didn't even have to think. He just kept talking. "You discovered the Divine Beasts based on the most cryptic clues known to man, you found their pilots, you managed to get the first one working. You managed to build and revive Terrako when you were six. Six . You know what I was doing when I was six?"

"What?"

"Eating rocks under Zora's Domain." He wasn't even joking on that one, he was legitimately doing that.

He managed a laugh out of the Princess, but only momentarily. "The Sheikah could have done it without me"

"Maybe eventually, but you got them there much faster." He corrected her. "You're more diplomatic than Rhoam will ever be; you got everyone to cooperate together. If he had been left to negotiate the alliance: we'd probably be at war with half the continent by now."

He remembered the tensions between the Rito and Hyrule, the Gerudo and Hyrule but he attributed most of the friendly relations to Zelda's mother for having set the proper foundation. Zelda had definitely paved the way properly afterwards.

Rhoam never seemed to understand how to appeal to the Rito very well, they didn't like the idea of being ruled by a king of a different species, one that didn't understand them or their problems.

But Zelda empathised and connected with them as if she'd known them her entire life.

"It's really nothing." She whispered.

"It's not nothing, you need to start giving yourself more credit for these things. Sure, maybe it was somewhat of a group thing, but you were the one who reached out, you made the first friendly connections, you got them to come here. No one else did that. Not your father, not me, not chief Urbosa, not Princess Mipha. It was you."

"You're just saying that. Flattery doesn't work on me."

"When have you ever known me to flatter anyone?"

Silence. She didn't answer. She only looked to the sky in silence.

"Do you think we'll defeat Ganon? End this nightmare once and for all and finally be happy?"

"I do, and I think you'll be one of the best queens Hyrule's ever seen." He smiled and planted a soft kiss on her cheek. He didn't miss the quiet 'thank you' nor did he miss the way she tried to conceal her smile, but he let her cry, despite the anguish he felt every time he saw the tears. He hugged her as if his life depended on it, and she seemed receptive to it.

He swore that one day, they would have that simple life she wanted. She'd never have to worry about stupid goddess powers ever again, she'd never have to think about her image as a princess again, and he'd make sure she had anything and everything she ever wanted.

It was only after a nearby bell went off striking midnight that they finally retired into the castle. He lifted her into his arms effortlessly, despite her pleas to be let down and that she could walk, he carried her all the way back to her room, only letting her back down to the ground when they reached her door.

"Happy birthday, Princess."