Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay in the chapter! Life is still a bit messy, so please expect another delay for the next chapter. I'm hoping it won't be as long of a wait as this one was, but I can't promise. Thanks so much for reading!

When his shift ended, Link headed out to Hyrule Field. There had been some fantastic clam chowder for dinner that night, so he had plenty of energy to work off.

And quite a few thoughts to think, too.

Hyrule Field had been the hardest hit area, since it was so close to Calamity Ganon when it appeared at the castle. Link focused on hunting down some of the stray Guardians in the area.

Ready his shield.

Count his breaths.

Parry the blast.

Strike with all his might.

Zelda seemed…different, somehow, after the Calamity. She seemed far more relaxed around him, and yet, very restless. She had initiated quite a lot of physical contact that wasn't entirely appropriate between them.

Ready, count, parry, strike.

Honestly, Link had thought the first kiss had been a one-time "Congrats! We didn't die!" kind of kiss. It was pretty nice, but he hadn't expected it to slip into a habit. Zelda had given him another kiss on the cheek after the meeting today, even after Urbosa nearly shredded Link with her eyes alone. And he had kissed her hand, oh gosh, he was such an idiot-

He swung his sword just a bit more roughly, as if he could cut the thought in half with a simple arc of his blade. He had to stop, there was nothing else to it. It was entirely inappropriate for a man like him to expect kisses from the princess, especially the princess that he was supposed to protect. Too many people in history had died because their protector was too busy being distracted by beauty and not busy enough actually protecting them.

Ready, count, parry, strike.

Zelda was indeed very beautiful. That was okay to think, he reasoned, since everyone at court said so anyway. Although, personally, he found her unrestrained excitement the most entrancing. Whether she was studying herbs, wildlife, or technology, she always carried out her work with an infectious energy that brought a smile to Link's face.

Link's breaths steadied into a meditative pace as he turned to face yet another Guardian. Ready, count, parry, strike.

He never saw her as happy as she was when she was researching something. She seemed to shine even brighter when she was out doing "field work". Link didn't know why she called it that. They sure went to a lot of mountains and lakes to do "field" work.

Ready, count, parry, strike.

Honestly, Link admitted to himself, most of her research didn't make a whole lot of sense to him. He was pretty good at following her instructions, like swinging his sword at things and taste-testing concoctions. He didn't always understand why she wanted him to do those things, but he was delighted to see her happy.

Ready, count, parry, strike.

He loved it when she-

Oh.

Link froze, mid-thrust. Oh.

The beeping of the Guardian's laser suddenly tugged at the edges of his brain. He cursed and ducked into a roll, just in time for the laser to explode harmlessly behind him.

He charged forward with a cry, severing a leg from the Guardian in the process. This was a situation that he had no idea how to resolve. He needed help.

And he'd have to talk to Zelda. He cursed again, under his breath.

Maybe he could put off the talk until he got help first.

That seemed reasonable. He would get some help, then he'd talk to Zelda. It wouldn't make sense the other way around, right?

It was a rational plan, he told himself later that night as he took out a pen and paper. A strategic decision, he reassured himself as he posted his letter early the next morning. A prudent action, he thought, as he made his way to Zelda's room.

He definitely wasn't scared. Not at all.

Sir Osmund was on duty this morning, when Link took his place. Once he had exchanged brief pleasantries and the knight left the hallway corridor, Link softly tapped the door. She might not even be awake yet. Maybe she was resting a little longer before her meeting with the king.

His hopes were (thankfully and yet regrettably) misplaced.

Zelda nearly popped out of the door like a jack in the box. "Link, good morning! Oh, it is a wonderful morning! Come in and have breakfast!"

She grabbed his hand and practically dragged him in, apparently ignoring his protests of "Eyahhhh!" in favor of dropping food in his hands and forcefully seating him.

"I have already begun preparations for the meeting this morning with my father. There is so much I want to discuss with him!"

Link listened politely with a half-smile on his face as Zelda animatedly rambled on about the people they had met in their journey and all of the problems she had heard from them. She had just been discussing how to improve safety measures at outposts throughout the kingdom, when suddenly she faltered.

"Link, I am a bit nervous."

"Why?"

"I suppose…it is simply that this is the first meeting. I know I learned so much about the issues we must address while we fought the Calamity, but that was not our priority. I fear that I have missed an important detail or prepared a proposal of an ineffective solution. I wish only that my father finds me worthy to assist him in leading the people of Hyrule."

"I don't think you have anything to worry about. You've already done so much."

Zelda's smile warmed him like the sun. "Thank you, Link. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your belief in me." She chatted away, organizing her thoughts and putting final touches on some of her points before Link escorted her to her long-anticipated meeting with the king.

Precisely two hours later, Zelda emerged from the king's meeting tent. She walked stiffly towards her study, and Link, still on duty, quietly followed her there.

She motioned for him to enter and closed the door behind her, then dropped her notes on her desk with a sigh.

"Did the meeting go well, Princess?"

"Oh, yes! Father seemed pleased with everything I prepared."

Link did not think she sounded particularly pleased.

"Although," she sighed, sinking into her chair. "I missed something."

"What is it?"

Her eyes met his for just a brief second, then, she very slowly said, "I forgot that I am now of age."

"Um, okay?"

She sighed again, and dropped his gaze. "We were so busy preparing for the Calamity that I forgot my seventeenth birthday had already passed."

Link vaguely remembered hearing Zelda discussing her birthday right before Calamity Ganon appeared, but he had also been just a little bit busy preventing the apocalypse, so he felt a bit fuzzy on the details.

Zelda continued, "Since I am now of age, one of the pressing issues in the kingdom is the issue of my marriage."

Oh, Link thought, avoiding her gaze. Maybe I should have waited to send that letter.