Chapter 69 – Royal Zora Wedding
Summary: Astra attends Tona's and Sidon's wedding in the Calamity Timeline. In North Hyrule, Sheikah Chief Saldon explains what happened.
It was a cloudy early afternoon at Hyrule Castle as Astra finished changing into an outfit that made her look more like a princess than a warrior. She checked herself in her mirror and was satisfied with her appearance.
Today was Sidon's wedding day, and thanks to the Sheikah Slate, she could instantly travel to the Ne'ez Yohma Shrine in the heart of Zora's Domain and not worry about a long journey on horseback and then having to change when she arrived. Thinking of the shrine, Astra wondered how her father felt when he first visited it almost twenty-five years ago. Had he immediately made his way to the shrine after passing the Zora guards, eager to obtain another spirit orb and access to its travel gate, his memory loss preventing him from knowing how significant Zora's Domain had been in his life? Or had he first spoken to King Dorephan and eventually gazed at Mipha's statue, triggering a flashback and beginning to understand? Astra shook her head to clear her thoughts, straightened her dress slightly, and left the room to say goodbye to her mother.
She had to chuckle as she made her way up the stairs to the tower where her and Zelda's offices were located.
"I've got to slow down," she laughed.
Running up stairways as she often did was not a good idea in a long dress. When she neared Zelda's office, Royal Secretary and Chief of Staff Myra looked up from her desk.
"Highness! You look quite regal in that outfit, and it is most becoming on you," Myra exclaimed.
"Thank you, Myra. After all, I represent the Hyrule Royal Family, so I need to look princessy."
There it was - another memory - that made-up word she used to tease her sister whenever Zel had to dress up for a formal occasion while she was still too young.
"Is Her Majesty free? I want to say goodbye before leaving," Astra continued.
"She's always free for you, Highness. But she is indeed alone now, just reviewing documents. Please go right in."
"Well, I'm off to Sidon's wedding," said Astra as she stepped inside Zelda's office and closed the door behind her after knocking and hearing Zelda say to enter.
"And you look fabulous," said Zelda as she rose from her desk. "Oh, watch out for Mia. For some reason, she loves to sink her claws into velvet trim like that."
But Zelda's cat wasn't interested today. She glanced up at Astra and rested her head back down as she remained curled near the fireplace.
"Thanks, I modeled this dress after one I remember my sister wearing to ceremonies or other formal occasions," said Astra.
Zelda just smiled. Lately, she noticed Astra had been mentioning her family more often, the people left behind in the other timeline, and she wondered why. Was growing older making her miss them more? Maybe she could discuss it with her at one of their private breakfasts.
"Are you taking Fallon with you?" Zelda asked to change the subject.
Astra had considered inviting Fallon as her date but ultimately decided against it. She knew her mother wasn't ready to share their secrets with him, and Astra agreed.
"No, I think it's still too soon," said Astra. "If Fallon were there, it would be uncomfortable to tip-toe around certain topics in front of Sidon and his family, particularly anything related to the alternate timeline. Besides, he can use the time to study for the Royal Guard exam. I want him to pass."
"I'm glad you agree with me on preserving secrets," said Zelda with a smile. "I guess you're not always a rebellious teenager."
"I might still be rebellious on occasion," laughed Astra. "But I'm only a teenager for another year."
"Did you get a wedding gift? I don't think I would know what to give them," Zelda asked.
"I got Tona a gift on behalf of both of us," said Zelda. "A Sapphire bracelet with small silver Hyrule Royal Family crest emblems between the three jewels. It turns out wedding gifts are only given to Zora brides if they are given at all. Our gift is wrapped now, but I took a picture of it."
Astra called up a picture of the bracelet for Zelda to see on the Sheikah Slate.
"Very beautiful, and I never knew that," said Zelda after glancing at the picture. "How did you learn that Zora custom?"
"From Mipha," said Astra. "I still remember when it came up for discussion."
I was fifteen then, and it was a warm summer day at Zora's Domain as Mipha, Link, and I took a break from water sports and settled onto a picnic blanket under the shade of an evergreen tree by Veiled Falls. Tila, her husband Link, and their eight-year-old daughter Tara were still playing in the crystal clear waters and waterfall with Mila and Midon. Lapha was away at the time, working at the Royal Ancient Tech Lab. As we relaxed and enjoyed our surroundings, the sound of cheering and music could suddenly be heard in the distance from the Domain below.
Mipha recognized the familiar melody and commented, "Ah, the sound of a wedding. Another happy couple is beginning their journey through life together."
Link chimed in, "Yes, a happy day indeed. I remember ours well. And please, no teasing about my memory."
Curious, I asked, "What does one give as a gift when invited to a Zora wedding?"
Mipha explained, "Most guests are not expected to bring gifts. The couple welcomes their attendance and doesn't expect anything in return. However, a small gift may be appropriate if you are a close friend or family member. But even then, it is not required or expected. And it is our custom that only the bride receives gifts, even if you are closer to the groom."
Link interjected, "No wonder I never received anything special after we married!" causing me to laugh along with Mipha. "Of course," he added while quickly taking Mipha's hand, "I got you, sweetheart, which is priceless. Oh, and the armor, too."
Mipha playfully teased back as she caressed his hand, "Yes, my love, I think you got quite a bit in the bargain. We both did."
Mipha then turned back to me and continued answering my question. "To answer your earlier question, Astra, some small piece of jewelry made from a Luminous Stone, or if you are very close to the couple, a Sapphire would be a fitting gift."
"So, I thought a Sapphire bracelet would be nice," said Astra.
"That's a thoughtful gift, and I'm sure Tona will appreciate it," Zelda nodded approvingly. "And it's good to know about Zora customs. I'm always learning something new from you."
Astra smiled, feeling a warmth of pride at her mother's words. She glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was time to leave.
"I should be going," Astra said, smoothing her dress again. "I don't want to be late."
Zelda stood up and walked around her desk, embracing her daughter in a gentle hug, mindful of not wrinkling the fabric.
"Have a wonderful time, sweetheart. Give my best wishes to Sidon and Tona," Zelda said, pulling back to look at Astra. "And enjoy yourself."
With a final wave, Astra left the office and made her way to a secluded spot where she could use the Sheikah Slate. A moment later, Astra materialized at the Ne'ez Yohma Shrine in Zora's Domain. The air was crisp and cool, filled with the gentle sound of cascading waterfalls. She took a deep breath, savoring the familiar scent of water and stone that permeated the Domain.
Astra noticed the excitement buzzing through the air as she made her way towards the central plaza. Zoras of all ages were hurrying about, and workers were making last-minute preparations for the royal wedding reception. Colorful banners and strings of luminous stones adorned the area, creating a festive atmosphere.
As she entered the plaza, she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
"Princess Astra! How delightful to see you again!"
Turning, she saw Laflat, the Royal Secretary, approaching with a warm smile.
"Laflat, it's wonderful to see you too," Astra replied. "The last time we spoke was when you assembled the missing pages from Mipha's diary."
"Yes, and I was happy to do that for King Dorephan and Prince Sidon, though I had to wipe away tears with every page I read. But today, there should be only tears of happiness."
"Are you working today? I see you are carrying one of the domain's record books."
"I just need to record the date and times of the wedding and coronation in our official records," said Laflat, looking down at the book she held. "Once that is done, I can enjoy the party."
Astra nodded, understanding the importance of such records. "Of course. I'm sure it will be a momentous entry."
"Indeed, it will be," Laflat agreed. "Prince Sidon's wedding and coronation marks a new era for the Zora people. Speaking of which, I should guide you to your seat. The ceremony will begin shortly in the throne room, and I'm playing double duty as an usher."
Laflat led Astra up the stairs to a front row reserved for distinguished guests. As they walked, she couldn't help but notice the intricate ice sculptures decorating the area, each one depicting various scenes from Zora history.
"These sculptures are beautiful," Astra remarked.
"Ah, yes. Some of our most talented artisans created them," Laflat explained proudly. "Prince Sidon wanted them to honor our history as we move into the future."
As they reached Astra's seat, Laflat excused herself to attend to her duties. Astra settled in, smoothing her dress once more. She looked around, taking in the faces of the gathered Zoras, their skin color various hues of blue and red. She was the only Hylian present but did not feel at all self-conscious. She was used to mingling with Zoras, though she had never attended one of their weddings.
After several more minutes, music began, and everyone stood quietly as King Dorephan made his way to the throne room, followed by Tona and Sidon. They all took their positions before the throne, King Dorephan facing the attendees while Tona and Sidon had their backs to them. King Dorephan then began to speak.
"I welcome all of you to this doubly joyous event: the marriage of Tona and Sidon and the coronation of Sidon as our new king and Tona as our queen. I am pleased my last act as king will be officiating over such a happy and momentous occasion. As a father, I am proud that Sidon has grown into the fine young man he is and has found love with a wonderful person I happily welcome into the family. As I bid farewell to all of you as your ruler and swim aside for our new king and queen, I am confident they will successfully lead us into a bright future. And now, without further ado, let me begin."
There followed a short Zora prayer, asking for Nayru's blessing. Then, there was the wedding ceremony, during which each swore their love and faithfulness to each other. When that was said, King Dorephan declared them husband and wife, upon which they kissed as everyone cheered.
"And now let me proceed to the second of today's happy events," said King Dorephan after signaling the crowd to quiet.
Astra noticed an attendant had drawn near carrying a silver crown decorated with three sapphires. King Dorephan first addressed Sidon.
"Prince Sidon, do you swear before Nayru and all present to faithfully serve as Zora king, to uphold our laws and put the well-being of our people before all else?"
"I do, your majesty," Sidon answered.
"And Tona, do you swear before Nayru and all present to faithfully serve as Zora Queen, to uphold our laws and put the well-being of our people before all else?"
"I do, your majesty," Tona replied.
"Then, before officially declaring you king and queen, let me bestow upon you, Sidon, the crown I have humbly worn for many years. And for you, Tona, the crown my dear wife wore for far too few," said King Dorephan. "May you both wear them in good health."
He removed the crown from his head and placed it on Sidon. Then took the other crown from the attendant and put it on Tona's head.
"I now pronounce you Zora king and queen. Please, everyone, welcome and pledge loyalty to King Sidon and Queen Tona!"
Sidon and Tona then turned to the attendees, and everyone cheered once again, some shouting their names. When the crowd finally quieted, Sidon spoke.
"I thank you for your good wishes and support, which I will count on in the years ahead as I strive to be worthy of serving as your ruler. I wish to especially thank my father for all he did for me, giving me the love and guidance I needed to help me grow into the person I am today. He is my role model as he guided our people through the most difficult times. I would also like to take a moment to remember my dear sister, whom I also look up to as a role model. Her love and encouragement during the earliest years of my life helped me to believe in myself. Had fate been kinder, she would be the one addressing you now. And now I know Tona would also like to say a few words."
"As I humbly begin my role as your queen, I pledge to support King Sidon and to help in any way I can. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any problems, and I will do my best to make things right. I grew up not as royalty but the same way as all of you, and I understand what that entails."
"And now, let us all proceed to the plaza, where music, dancing, and good food await!" said Sidon as everyone cheered.
Sidon and Tona turned to speak to Dorephan, and Astra joined the crowd as they made their way down the long stairway to the slumber pool level and then down the curved staircase to the plaza level.
As Astra descended the stairs with the crowd, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. The ceremony had been beautiful, and she was genuinely happy for Sidon and Tona. Yet, there was a tinge of melancholy as she thought of Mipha and how different things might have been in this timeline.
The plaza was already alive with music and laughter as Astra reached the bottom of the stairs, and the air was filled with the aroma of various Zora seafood delicacies. Walking through the crowd, she noticed several Zoras glancing at her with curiosity and respect. She stood out as the only Hylian present, but she felt a sense of belonging nonetheless. Soon, Sidon and Tona joined the crowd and had a dance with each other. When a quiet opportunity presented itself, Astra approached them both.
"Princess Astra! Thank you for coming," said Sidon in a deep, jovial voice.
"We are honored you attended," said Tona.
"Your Majesties," Astra said with a slight bow. "Congratulations on your marriage and coronation."
Sidon's trademark grin spread across his face.
"Thank you. But unless you want us to keep addressing you as Your Royal Highness, please let us dispense with titles," said Sidon.
"Very well," Astra chuckled.
"Tona, please accept this wedding present on behalf of Queen Zelda and myself," said Astra as she presented the gift-wrapped box.
"Thank you, Astra," said Tona. "May I open it now?"
"Of course," said Astra.
Tona opened the package and gasped with delight.
"It's beautiful! I want to wear it at once. Thank you, Astra, for such a lovely gift. I will write Her Majesty to thank her as well."
"It's a perfect gift, Astra, and though unnecessary, is very much appreciated," said Sidon. "I gather you came alone?"
"Yes, that seemed best under the circumstances," said Astra.
"Well, you cannot leave without at least one dance," said Sidon.
"No, that is unacceptable," Tona nodded in agreement.
"May I have the honor?" asked Sidon.
"How could I refuse the king in his kingdom?" laughed Astra.
Sidon took her hand, and they made their way to the dance floor.
As Astra and Sidon began to dance, she couldn't help but notice how graceful he was despite his towering height. The music, a traditional Zora melody, filled the air with its soothing rhythms.
"You dance quite well for a Hylian," Sidon remarked with a grin.
Astra laughed. "I've had some practice at birthday parties and such, and you're not the first Zora I've danced with. Though I admit, I have never danced with someone quite so tall."
As they moved across the dance floor, Astra could feel the eyes of the other Zoras upon them. She knew it was an unusual sight - a Hylian princess dancing with the newly crowned Zora king. But there was also a sense of acceptance in their gazes, a recognition of the long-standing alliance between their peoples.
"I must say, Astra," Sidon said, his voice growing more serious, "I'm grateful for your presence here today. It means a great deal to have a representative of the Hylian royal family at such an important event for our people. It shows everyone our close ties. And, of course, on a personal note, we consider you family and hope you feel the same way about us."
There it was again - family. Astra nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Of course I do, Sidon. And I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
As the dance with Sidon ended, Astra was swept up in the joyous atmosphere of the celebration. The music continued to play, and Zoras of all ages danced and mingled around her. Zora music could do that to you - deeply affect your mood. She couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of belonging among these people who had always treated her with warmth and acceptance.
"Thank you for the dance, Astra," Sidon said, bowing slightly. "I hope you'll stay and enjoy the festivities for a while longer."
"Of course," Astra replied. "I wouldn't dream of leaving so soon."
As Sidon moved away to greet other guests, Astra made her way to one of the refreshment tables. She selected a small plate of various Zora delicacies, including some smoked fish and seaweed wraps. As she sampled the food, she overheard snippets of conversation around her.
"…can't believe how quickly Prince Sidon has grown up…"
"…Queen Tona seems so kind, I think she'll be wonderful for our people…"
"…wish Mipha could have seen this day…"
That last comment made Astra pause. There it was again - family and memories.
Meanwhile, at the North Hyrule Sheikah settlement along the northern bank of the Akkala Sea Channel, Sheikah Scientist Aldora made her way to Master Saldon's residence. The invitation on her Tab had been rather abrupt and cryptic: "I need to see you about something important."
She wondered if it had something to do with Dr. Lapha's concerns that her people needed to be more forthcoming about all the technology they had developed over the past ten thousand years after Hyrule exiled all their Sheikah scientists. She had passed that concern along to Master Saldon after her conversation with Lapha but had heard nothing since.
"Good afternoon, Master Saldon," said Aldora after knocking at the chief's residence and being told to enter. "You wished to see me?"
"Yes, Aldora, please come in," said Saldon. "Let us sit at the table here. Will you join me for some afternoon tea? It's fresh and not rune-made."
"Yes, thank you," said Aldora, taking a seat. She also couldn't help but notice Master Saldon's serious expression. It was clear that whatever he wanted to discuss was weighing heavily on his mind.
Saldon poured her a cup of hot tea, then one for himself.
"Aldora, I consider you as our primary connection to Hyrule in matters of science and technology," stated Saldon. "While Mistress Laray is our land's official ambassador for all diplomatic affairs, you are my go-to person for any technological concerns that may affect our relationship with Hyrule."
"I have strived to fulfill this role to the best of my abilities, Master Saldon."
"And you have succeeded admirably. However, it also means that I must keep you updated on any technology-related issues that may arise between us and Hyrule. I appreciate your concern relayed from Dr. Lapha about their interest in our technology, but that is not why I called for you."
Saldon paused to take a sip of tea after checking it was not too hot, and Aldora did the same as she waited for Master Saldon to continue.
"It seems circumstances have led me to need to reveal a closely guarded secret so you will be prepared for a possible eventuality. Have you heard of the time travel event our land underwent to fix the disaster caused by Tabs' excessive creation of unwanted items from stray thoughts?"
"I am familiar with it from my history studies, Master Saldon. It was a unique event that occurred long ago."
"Yes, that is correct. But now you may wonder how it relates to our current situation. It's not the time travel event itself that I need to discuss, but rather what took place in preparation for the event and its consequences."
Both paused to take another sip of tea, and Aldora felt a growing excitement at the thought of having reached such a position of trust that she would be privy to more secrets.
"Using the power of a vast number of Giant Ancient Cores, the scientists at the time created a temporal barrier between Hyrule and our land so our time travel event would not affect them. Incidentally, Queen Faray shared this much of the story with the elder Link and his historian daughter, Mistress Mila, over lunch. You can read about their conversation in volume one of Link's journal in the chapter titled 'Some North Hyrule History.'"
"I understand, Master Saldon."
"To get to the point, the temporal barrier prevented our time travel event from affecting Hyrule. But the barrier works both ways. So, when Hyrule's time travel to the past occurred in their year 121, causing a new timeline effective in their year 17, it did not affect us. However, our scientists could perceive both timelines, much like looking at two sets of images on two screens. The scientists of that day then needed to decide which timeline would be primary for us, the one that would afford travel between our lands. The other timeline would be secondary, something only accessible through technology."
"What!? So both timelines are accessible from here, Master?" Tona said excitedly. "That is exciting news indeed!"
"Yes, but only one directly, Aldora. The other through a special process using a portal much like a travel gate," Saldon explained.
"I perceive that the primary timeline, Master Saldon, must be the newly created one, referred to as the Victory Timeline."
"Exactly," said Saldon after taking another sip of tea.
"But may I ask why that timeline was selected, Master Saldon? And would not the Zora ruler of our land have a say in such an important decision?" Aldora asked.
Saldon chuckled slightly.
"Forgive me for laughing, Aldora. I mean no disrespect. But your questions are both right on point and quite well put. Let me explain. When Hyrule's timeline split occurred, our ruler was the infamous Queen Sopha. She had developed a lust for power and an ambition to conquer Hyrule, something we Sheikah opposed. Remember, we Sheikah had sworn to play only a defensive role in protecting this land. So, Queen Sopha would have had to achieve any conquest on her own. Our chief at the time felt a Hyrule spared the Calamity's destruction and whose army remained intact would pose a more serious challenge, likely strong enough to dissuade Queen Sopha from attacking. Therefore, the stronger Hyrule was chosen as the primary one, and the existence of the other Hyrule timeline was kept secret. Not that our decision put a stop to Queen Sopha's ambitions. She attempted to cause mayhem in several other ways, but that is another story."
"I see," said Aldora as she took a sip of tea and waited to learn the rest.
"But now, I need to explain what has happened to cause me to have this conversation with you," said Saldon.
Saldon took another sip of tea and then cleared his throat.
"Periodically, we inspect our connection to the alternate Hyrule timeline, the Calamity timeline as it's called, to ensure all is as it should be. A bit over a week ago, the scheduled time for the next inspection occurred, and the scientist on duty at our underground facility prepared to test the portal. However, it would have been wiser had they waited, for at that moment, a very severe storm was raging across the Akkala Sea area. When our scientist activated the portal, the difference in air pressure and the violent wind created an unexpected suction from our land to theirs. Fortunately, we keep the area near the portal free of loose items. Unfortunately, the scientist at the time was reading a physical copy of Mistress Mila's history of North Hyrule, which was lying on the table beside him. The book began to be sucked toward the portal, and the scientist was able to grab it, but not before the first few pages were torn from the book and disappeared into the portal before the scientist could deactivate it. So, unfortunately, we managed to contaminate the other timeline, something we have always striven to prevent."
"That is very unfortunate," Aldora agreed.
"Hopefully, those pages are lost at sea," Saldon continued. "But if any are found, especially Mistress Mila's dedication to her family, there are people smart enough there, like the other Dr. Purah, who can figure out what it must mean: that we can serve as a conduit between timelines, a link between worlds as it were."
"But what would a traveler from the Calamity Timeline find if they journeyed here, Master Saldon?"
"They could not travel here without technology," Saldon replied. "The barrier would work something like what happens in their Lost Woods. Any attempt to enter our land would safely transport a traveler back to where they began to enter. But my point is that knowing we are accessible will lead them to probe how to overcome our restrictions. And let us not forget Mistress Astra brought her Tab with her and knows all about us. She will have a strong motivation to have access to the life she left behind. And, of course, people here will be just as eager to renew their relationship with her or others they might miss."
"I see what you mean," said Aldora. "I guess this could be another case of being unable to put the crab back in its shell, as our Zora brethren like to say."
"Speaking of which, I will also have to inform Queen Faray of what happened," said Saldon, shaking his head. "I hope she understands why we needed to keep this secret, even from her."