Link saw Zelda once a month during the seven years of peace. Once a month they would meet in Lookout Landing, then ride together to Hateno village the next day. They'd make it there by sunset and visit Symin in Purah's tech lab, and watch the sunset. They would talk on their way back to their house, and once there, they would climb into bed and hold each other through the night.
This month was different. Instead of heading south east from Lookout Landing, they rode due north, Link on Epona, and Zelda on her new golden horse she'd named Tetra. Apparently the name of a fearsome pirate in her family's history.
Link and Zelda rode in silence until they passed the ruins of Hryule castle. Zelda had decreed that the Castle would be restored only after the rest of Hyrule which meant Zelda probably wouldn't live to see her childhood home in its former glory ever again.
"You want to tell me what's been bothering you for months now?" she asked and Link started. "You avoid my questions about it… and I know it had something to do with Zora's Domain." Zelda paused for a moment. "I know it's been years since you last saw her, but did you truly return Mipha's feelings for you? I thought you might…"
"No." Link said quietly. He didn't look at Zelda.
"I saw her as an older sister. Even though for quite a while she looked younger than me, she was always looking out for me. Healing me when I got hurt. Taking care of me, like she did for Sidon. Even with half of my memories gone, I was still surprised to learn that she loved me romantically."
"Then what about the Domain that captures your attention, but simultaneously makes you sad?" Zelda asked, a bit of frustration leaking into her voice. "I've been talking to Impa about the issue for some time now, and she seems to know, but refuses to explain it to me. Purah knows too but-"
"I'm in love with Prince Sidon." Link said quietly. He met Zelda's eyes and lost his voice. He tapped Epona's neck twice to let her know that he was letting go of the reins, and turned his body towards a stunned Zelda.
"I'm in love with Prince Sidon." Link signed Sidon by making the sign for 'shark' but with his other hand in the sign for the letter 'S'. Zelda was silent for a moment before laughing a little.
"Sorry Link, but that's his name sign? Did you give it to him?" Link flushed, but signed, "Yes, your point?"
"No I don't mean to be rude, it just makes a little too much sense, you know?"
"Your name sign is even more obvious." Link signed 'Zelda' by making the sign for light and then moving it to trace a 'Z' in the air.
"True enough, but don't get me started on your name sign." Zelda dropped her reins, and made two letters 'L' with each hand, and then used her index fingers to link them together. Link laughed aloud and found his voice again.
"True enough," he said.
"Well, you're in love with Sidon… when did it start?" Zelda asked.
"When I saw him waiting for me outside Vah Ruta." Link spoke softly, the memories floating through his mind, "The Divine Beast had teleported me outside the Domain, but when I went to speak to Kind Dorfin, Sidon wasn't there. I realized he might be where I left him. I teleported back to Vah Ruta, and scared Sidon half to death. I was in Vah Ruta for about three days, Zelda. He waited outside Divine Beast Vah Ruta for three days. When he saw me he grabbed me in a hug and called me… he said, "Oh Link, my Pearl, you're alright." Even Mipha didn't call me pearl, she called me "dear reckless one" or "dear one" if I hadn't hurt myself recently." Link closed his eyes. "I think she used the Hylain term of endearment to make it more obvious that she liked me, but I don't know. Maybe it's because I love him, but…"
"I get it, Link. Urbosa called me "Little bird" but that day when Mother called me "Little Bird" it felt like more. Urbosa doesn't feel any less like a mother to me, but hearing it from Mother felt more personal… Special." Link nodded though the two situations weren't exactly the same.
"So what are you going to do about it?" Zelda asked, even though the question was phrased like she expected Link to do something about it, Link could tell that any answer would be accepted.
"Nothing. He also calls me his "best friend" almost as much as he calls me Link… I'm in the friendzone with him. Even if he likes men… even if he likes Hylains. I mean Gerudo, Hylains, Rito, Sheikah, and Zora are sexually compatible and it's not unheard of for the peoples to mix, but I've heard that some people just aren't attracted to different species-" Link rambled but cut himself off when he heard Zelda laughing.
"You've thought about this a lot eh?" she said, the teasing apparent. Link felt himself get more red. Great Hylia, even his ears must be red. Princess Zelda, most known for her empathy towards her people, laughed shamelessly at his red face, even above Link's protests. Once Zelda had had enough reveling in Link's embarrassment, she smiled at him.
"Link, if anyone deserves love it is you."
"And you." Link cut in.
"Yes," Zelda said slowly, "The both of us. And as Hylia is just and kind, we shall find our loves…"
"What?" Link asked as Zelda trailed off.
"It seems many of the people of Hyrule expect our marriage in a few years time." she said.
"What?!" Link's throat tried to close but he forced it back open for another word. "But-"
"I know Link. Neither of us wish to get married, but word of our sharing a house in Hetano has spread all the way to Gerudo town and up to Akkala. This is the impression the people of Hyrule have."
"Is this you asking me to marry you?" Link asked, "Because, no offense, that would be like marrying Mipha, or Aryll."
"Oh no, I don't want to marry you either, Link. You're right that it would be like marrying my brother. I just thought you should know, because this gossip has probably reached Sidon and the rest of the Domain."
Link sighed, and put both hands over his face. He hadn't been to the Domain in a few months, he was probably overdue for a visit. After they investigated the Gloom, Link would have to go to the Domain and see if Sidon believed the rumors.
"In any case I spoke to Impa about it, she said that Hyrule isn't as concerned about a Royal wedding then they are with heirs. They vaguely know that my sealing power is hereditary, which means I must have children to provide Hyrule with magical protection." Zelda continued, oblivious to Link's thoughts.
"So they just want us to have sex? Again, no offense, not interested."
"Also not interested." Zelda agreed, "but the reason I mentioned it was because I talked to Riju about it. A lot of Gerudo women are lesbians… like me." Zelda glanced at Link who smiled at her. "Their doctors found a way to asexually impregnate Gerudo women. They do need male sperm, however. I wondered… if you were willing… to.. to asexually be the father of my children." She said the last part fast with her eyes squeezed shut. Link smiled softly at her even though she couldn't see. The fact that he was the first man she thought of when deciding who would be the father of her children. He was honored.
"Okay." he said softly and she looked up. "On one condition." he said, faking seriousness, but Zelda seemed to be so off balance she believed him.
"What?" She breathed.
"I get to be their Uncle Linky."
"Umm, I'm not sure I heard you correctly, could you sign it?" she asked, clearly thrown. Zelda looked very focused as he slowly signed.
"I get to be their Uncle L-I-N-K-Y." Link fingerspelled 'Linky' for added effect. Zelda looked incredulously at him for a ten count before bursting into laughter. Link joined her, but soon saw that she was crying. Link quickly stopped Epona. Tetra stopped as well, and Link helped Zelda off her horse so he could give her a hug. He patted her head and ran his hands through her short blond hair, recently cut.
"I'm honored to be your kids Uncle Linky." Link stated and Zelda laughed wetly into his tunic.
"Thank you, Link. You're gonna be the best Uncle." Zelda said, which made Link feel a little bubble of happiness erupt in his chest, as the reality of their conversation hit him. Soon they were back on horseback.
"So when were you thinking about doing this?" Link asked.
"Well, I'll be crowned Queen next year when I turn 25, and I want a partner to help me raise them."
"Hey, you already have a partner!" Link said, gesturing to himself and faking offense.
"A romantic partner." Zelda laughed. "I wouldn't want to have the baby first and then have the pressure of finding a romantic partner and introducing them to a little one. So I think it will be around 5 years before Hyrule requires your sword for use." Link laughed.
"You've been spending too much time with Purah if you're making dirty jokes like that."
"Yes, I suppose she is overly fond of those, despite her disinterest in a romantic partner." Zelda agreed.
"On the topic of your interest in a romantic relationship, do you have anyone in mind?" Link asked, and Zelda shot him a rye glance.
"I've had an eye on someone for a good while now… I spend a lot of time in her town." Zelda said. Link racked his mind for places Zelda spent a lot of time in. She talked about talking to Impa a lot so…
"I'm sorry to break it to you, but I don't think Paya swings that way." Link said, honestly, worried about breaking the news, but Zelda just laughed.
"I do not like Paya. I was talking about Riju."
Link nearly fell off Epona.
"Riju is Urbosa's granddaughter. She's so young! At least Sidon was alive when before-"
"Are you telling me that you feel for him before the Shrine of Resurrection?" Zelda asked.
"No-"
"Technically you are 13 years older than Sidon-"
"And technically you are 100 and whatever years older than Riju!"
"However, biologically you, me and Riju are 24, it's Sidon that is biologically 100 and whatever. Whose the pedofile now?"
"None of us, I guess."
"Exactly because Zora age slower then Hylains, so if he was a Hylain-"
"He'd be about 24 years dead." Link interrupted.
"I mean if he was a Hylain born the same year as Riju, he'd be 24."
"Technically if anyone was born the same year as Riju they'd be 24 right now-" Zelda glared daggers at him.
"You know what I mean!" Zelda complained.
"Golden Goddesses above, our lives are weird!" Link exclaimed.
"Yes. Yes they are." Zelda agreed. They looked at each other and then burst out laughing at the same time.
"Also, since Zora ages slower than Hylians, wouldn't Sidon be biologically 22?" Link spoke his mind aloud.
"Huh?"
"He was like 4 when the Calamity struck, and he would have been around 104 when we defeated the calamity and it's been seven years since then… so he'd be like 111 now?"
"Well Zoran biological years don't match up with Hylian years so…"
"So he's 24, got it." Link said.
They laughed and moved on to other topics and soon came to Woodland stable, where they dropped off Epona and Tetra, and continued on foot. Once they got to the edge of the Lost Woods.
Zelda had never actually traveled to the Lost Woods on foot before, so she let Link lead the way through the mists.
"I've never understood why the Lost Woods are shrouded like this… I mean, I know why of course, to protect the Master Swords resting place, but I've always wondered where these mists come from."
"I always assumed the Deku tree created the mists, as a way to protect the forest children. Even before the Master Sword lay there."
"The forest children?" Zelda asked.
"It's just another name for Koroks. Hestu referred to Koroks like that the first time I met them."
They continued on, Zelda holding tight to his hand as they passed tree after tree with a creepy, gaping maw, in the center. Zelda only let go when they were truly inside the Korok forest. They made their way to the Master Sword, still resting where Link had placed it seven years ago.
"Princess Zelda of Hyrule." The Great Deku Tree spoke, his voice seeming to echo a bit, "And Link, keeper of the Master Sword, your blade has been fully restored. But I don't understand your desiher to take up the blade once again."
"Great Deku Tree, I have sensed a disturbance below Hyrule castle. Royal legends spoke of a mysterious something that dwells in the caverns below the castle and now a strange Gloom has made an appearance. It seeps up from beneath Hyrule Castle and contains a sickness. Link and myself are to investigate it personally. For safety reasons, myself and Purah the Sheikah scientist, believe it would be prudent for Link to take and wield the Master Sword once more." Zelda said, her voice firm, but Link knew that she'd practiced this little speech before they'd left. The Great Deku tree seemed to sense this and he chuckled.
"Dear Princess, I agree that to face this potential threat, Link must once again take the blade. However, you did not have to ask my permission. Link is her keeper and you are his Princess, as well as mine. Still, take comfort in my blessing if you must, Princess."
"Thank you for your words Great Deku Tree." Zelda said and then nodded to Link. He took a breath before stepping up to the sword. He took hold of the blade with one hand and easily slid the blade out of the rock below him. He was surprised that the blade didn't test his life force again, but didn't show it. Instead he gave the sword a few practice swings, getting used to it. It's unnatural balance, the way the grip melded with his hand until he and his weapon were one. Then he held it aloft examining it.
"Thank you, Great Deku Tree." Zelda said, smiling her princess's smile. The Deku Tree laughed.
"There is no need for thanks, I merely watched over it's renewal." Zelda looked at the sword Link held, and got a glint in her eye that Link knew well. It meant she was about to be a massive nerd.
"It is amazing that a sword can heal itself, no matter how badly damaged it becomes…" Zelda trailed off, almost asking the Deku Tree a question.
"It can do more than heal," The Deku Tree said, "The sword will continue to gain strength if bathed in sacred power. The stronger that power, the more powerful the sword becomes. The potential of this legendary blade may well be limitless. It is truly the work of a Goddess."
"A sword… that grows ever stronger." Zelda said, and Link moved to sheath the blade.
"The Master Sword." Link turned to face Zelda and saw that she had a worried look on her face, as if she was just realizing what the Gloom under the castle might entail for them.