Chapter 7

Sunlight slowly entered the King and Queen's room as the sun rose the following day. Zelda slowly blinked her eyes open as the sun hit her face then sat up slowly and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She looked down at Link noticing he was still in a deep sleep and snoring lightly. Zelda quietly laughed at the sight of the hero of Hyrule completely vulnerable and sleeping beneath her with his mouth slightly ajar. She bent down and placed a sweet kiss on Link's forehead brushing his bangs from his face. Link stirred slightly but remained asleep. Zelda placed her hand on Link's shoulder and gently shook him.

"Link…" Zelda whispered, "Open your eyes, Link."

Link's eyes fluttered open and looked up at Zelda. She smiled down at him and stroked his cheek sweetly. In response, he wrapped his arms around Zelda and pulled her down on top of his chest hugging her tightly. Zelda giggled at his actions then hugged him back.

"You need to wake up, Link," Zelda said softly, "My lady in waiting will be here soon."

"She can wait," Link said simply.

Link rolled to the side placing himself on top of Zelda and kissed her. Zelda tried pushing Link away but it was futile. He was too strong and she enjoyed his kiss too much. She kissed him back wrapping her arms around his neck. Link deepened their kiss and positioned his body between Zelda's legs. His arousal grew quickly and he was ready to take her again. Zelda melted under Link's passion and was ready to receive him. A knock at the door interrupted them.

"Your majesties," Hilda, Zelda's lady in waiting called through the door, "I apologize for the interruption, but breakfast with the sages will be soon and we need to help you get dressed."

Link groaned in frustration and removed himself from Zelda. He threw the covers back and exited the bed searching for clean clothes. Zelda steadied her heart after getting worked up by Link then looked to the side where he stood. Link searched through one the chests on the side of the room looking for undergarments and simple clothes. His few belongings had been moved to the room during the festivities the night before. Starting at Link's shoulder length hair, Zelda's vision slowly panned down his toned back to his feet taking in every muscle along the way. Link may have been smaller than most men but his physical prowess did not lack. Zelda could barely handle the handsomeness of her husband.

She then noticed the nail shaped scars on Link's back with some of them featuring dried blood. Her face flushed with embarrassment at the markings she left on him. Link slipped on a pair of underwear and simple pants, then threw a clean chemise at Zelda. She dressed herself in the chemise then stepped out of bed. As she stood, she became aware of soreness between her legs and hoped it would fade as the day passed.

As Link pulled a plain shirt over his head, Zelda placed one hand on his lower back and the other on his shoulder. She placed her lips by Link's ear and whispered,

"Tonight, we can make love again."

Link took a sharp breath flustered by Zelda's comment as blood rushed to his cheeks and groin. He quickly pushed the thought away as Zelda opened the door for Hilda and her other lady in waiting. They curtsied to Link then to Zelda once they entered the room. Link forgot that his new title meant he would be receiving special treatment from servants.

Hilda looked at Link and politely spoke, "Your majesty, your lords in waiting are in your dressing room ready to help you get dressed for the day."

Link paused then gave a simple head bow. Unless he was wearing full armor Link usually dressed himself whenever he was still a knight. As king that would no longer be the case and he would need to get used to it.

"Thank you," Link responded.

Link and Zelda made eye contact as he walked by, with Link giving a loving touch to her arm before exiting the room. The ladies in waiting gave Zelda a teasing smile.

"You are a lucky woman, your majesty," Rose, the other lady in waiting, smirked.

Zelda smiled and responded, "Link is a good man. I think he will be a wonderful king for Hyrule. As well as a good husband and father."

Hilda and Rose had been her ladies in waiting since she was a young girl and she considered them good friends. Rose began helping Zelda dress in her royal gown with a ruby circlet on her head while Hilda tidied the room. She picked up the clothing that had been discarded the night before and collected them in a pile to be washed. Zelda felt bashful seeing the evidence from her and Link's lovemaking being cleaned by one of her ladies in waiting especially once the bed sheets were pulled. Some distinctive stains were noticeable but no one seemed to notice them.

"So how was it?" Hilda inquired mischievously.

"How was what?" Zelda asked confused.

"You know…" Hilda nodded towards the bed, "last night."

Zelda felt heat consume her face and ears as she snapped, "Oh you are terrible! That is none of your business!"

Hilda and Rose laughed at Zelda's panicked reaction since it was a rare occasion for Zelda to break royal protocol. She always maintained proper decorum around other people. However, they had a close friendship with the queen and had spoken of intimacy and lovers in the past. Seeing her bashful about her wedding night was cute to them.

Zelda looked at herself in the mirror once she was fully dressed and her hair combed. She felt satisfied with her appearance and dismissed her ladies in waiting. They both gave her one final curtsey and walked towards the door.

Before they exited the room Zelda spoke up, "Lunch time in the gardens."

Hilda and Rose paused and looked at Zelda puzzled.

"Your majesty?" Rose asked for clarification.

Zelda cleared her throat and stated, "At lunch time we can meet in the gardens and…talk."

She said 'talk' with a smile and rosy tint to her cheeks. The ladies gasped and giggled in agreement then left the room. Zelda took a deep breath to collect herself then exited the room. She was surprised to see Link waiting for her just outside the door. He was dressed handsomely in an ornate version of his Champion's Tunic with formal pants and boots. His hair had been retied in his signature half up half down look with a diamond circlet upon his head.

Zelda admired her husband and said, "You look very handsome, King Link."

Link chuckled and adjusted his circlet, "Thank you, but I'm still getting used to the pomp and circumstance."

Zelda looped her arm through his and responded, "You'll adjust quickly."

They began walking through the castle as Zelda continued, "You know, you don't need to guard my door anymore."

Link shook his head and stated, "I will always be your knight, and you will always be my princess no matter what titles we have," he paused then continued, "and you look beautiful, Queen Zelda."

Zelda simply smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek.

Life continued on at the castle with Zelda leading the people of Hyrule with wisdom and Link leading with courage. They supported each other every step of the way and worked through the challenges that lay ahead.

A few months later, Zelda noticed that she was more fatigued than normal and experienced nausea frequently. Link was worried about her and insisted she speak with the castle doctor. After her appointment, Zelda had a message delivered to Link requesting him to meet her in the castle gardens around sunset. The gardens were a special place for him and Zelda since it was the place where they first met when they were children. As the sun was setting, Link made his way to the gardens and noticed Zelda smelling the roses that had just bloomed. She looked peaceful and almost glowed in the orange light of the fading sun. Zelda heard Link approach and smiled in his direction.

"Hello Link, thank you for meeting me here," Zelda said happily.

"Of course, but why did you call me here? You seemed urgent in your message," Link inquired.

Zelda took his hand and guided him to a nearby bench. They sat down with Link growing more confused by the minute.

Why is Zelda being so quiet and smiling so much? Link thought.

Zelda took a deep breath then met Link's puzzled gaze.

"Link, I asked you to meet me here because this place is special to us. This is where we first met and spoke to each other. We've shared many moments here, and I felt this would be the perfect place to tell you…," Zelda paused anxiously then grabbed Link's other hand so she was holding both of them.

"Tell me what?" Link asked nervously. His heart was racing faster with every second Zelda drew out the conversation.

"Link," Zelda felt tears well in her eyes, "there's a child inside me. You're going to be a father, and I'm going to be a mother."

Happy tears spilled from Zelda's eyes as Link felt his own eyes water. He mentally told himself to breath when he realized he had been holding his breath. Link struggled to blink his tears away and threw his arms around Zelda pulling her close. He buried his face in her shoulder to hide his tears as Zelda gently hugged him back.

"Are you happy?" Zelda quietly asked.

Link pulled away from Zelda and met her tearful gaze with his own.

"I don't have words to explain how happy I am," Link responded then cupped Zelda's face to kiss her on the lips. She kissed him back and gently guided his hands to her belly. Link broke their kiss to look at his hands on Zelda's belly and noticed that her dress was slightly tighter than normal across her midsection. All he could do was stare at her belly and carefully rub his hands against it. Zelda smiled at Link's gesture and squeezed his hands lovingly as she looked at their hands on her abdomen.

"Hyrule will have a new prince or princess," Zelda said to break the silence, "I wonder what the baby will be?"

Link leaned forward so the side of his face was pressed to Zelda's abdomen as his hands came to rest on her waist.

"As long as you and the baby are safe, I don't care if it's a boy or girl. I love you both more than life itself," Link affirmed.

Zelda caressed the back of Link's head with one hand and placed her other hand on his back.

"We love you too," Zelda replied with a big smile.

They stayed in that position until the sun was completely gone then retired to their room.