21

"Link, you were my personal knight."

"Now he'll really be personal in the night!" A heckler said from the back.

Oh. Yes. That was probably bothering her too. It might be the real reason she was stalling it. Public speaking or not, he had to try. "I will never push, only please you, Princess Zelda."

Zelda blushed at his comment and the crowd made some funny noises and a few whistles. Yes, he'd better fix that. Oh, that's what he got for public speaking! He leaned closer and whispered. "Sorry. I meant nothing until you're ready." There. That was better. "Then, in whichever way pleases you."

Oh. That one made her blush more, but he felt himself become a little warm with that comment too. Oh, this is why he never spoke.

It all felt a little unusual. He never pictured himself in a position to do anything but protect and fight for the princess. Romantically? Well, he was her protector, the thought should never even cross one's mind.

Untouchable.

But now? He would be married to her. One day . . . she wouldn't be untouchable.

"Link, you're getting married," Sidon whispered in his ear. "Stand up straight."

Link stood straight up, almost getting lost in his own thoughts. He tried to regain his composure as he noticed Sidon next to him?

People did what they wished. Besides, it was a good thing he was there. Link paid attention and tried to put the near future more out of his mind. Zelda didn't seem to notice, she seemed placated in the same fashion.

" . . . I now pronounce you Queen Zelda Link of Hyrule and King Link Link of Hyrule. You may kiss the bride."

Oh. The ceremony was over now, but the first intense thing was already on them. How should he kiss her? There didn't seem to be a rule, and he had just told her he wouldn't push.

Instead, Zelda leaned forward and took charge kissing him on the cheek. She blushed but seemed to stay in control. "I hope you don't regret your decision, Link."

He didn't, and how could he complain? She was a hundred times more gentle than the giant fairies when he upgraded his clothes. He just held her hand in his as the crowd kept shouting King Link over and over.

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Five Years Later

" . . . so that's why you don't wear much white, mother?" Zelda asked her mother.

Zelda smiled at her daughter on her lap. As tradition stated, she named her daughter Zelda. Hyrule had taken a great deal of time to be restored, and it was still being restored. It had grown so much more, and their relations with neighboring kingdoms had stayed healthy since Link and her often traveled between them.

In fact, they tended to take their son and daughter with them as well if the adventure wasn't too dangerous. Being at a castle was never really for either one, and in the chaotic time of reconstruction, it was better to be out there with the people.

Link believed the more they continued to see her, they would feel less threatened to the point she wouldn't feel incessant worry about the malice anymore. Hardly anyone called her a monster now. Mainly, the gossip mongers, but even she became old news to them.

"That's why you have to visit another fountain again too?" her boy, Bond, asked. "How come we have to stay when you visit fountains all the time?"

Link came up behind Bond and just laid his hand on his shoulder nodding no. A gesture she was accustomed to seeing from him. Link continued to follow most of her commands, but when there was something that seemed against her own welfare or health, she would get her 'knight's refusal'.

Bond didn't protest, just looked disappointed. He wasn't one to argue with his dad as much as Zelda or her daughter Zelda had been. He, however, would be an incredible prince someday. Brought up wise and with courage, he'd be watching over his sister, Princess Zelda.

Princess Zelda moved from her mother's lap over to her father and held her arms out to him. "I'll give extra hugs if we can go?"

Link still gave her his trademark 'no' look. She started to pout and he picked her up and touched her nose and smiled. She gave him a hug anyway.

"King Link, are you ready?" Brigdo asked. "I will watch your children carefully. Nekk will be watching from outside for you."

"I'd rather you stay home." Princess Zelda didn't want to let her father go, but Link put her back down. He would spend time with them later. Instead of raising them with a firm hand and royal teachings, Link tended to raise them supporting the qualities they needed to be good people and leaders.

Maybe generations after them they would go back to stricter royal ways, but when a king was actually a queen's knight, and a queen was actually classified as a monster? Tradition didn't always have to be done in the same way.

Zelda kissed her children goodbye and headed out with him. "Do you have the warm outfit for afterward? It's always so cold."

He would bring it but it wouldn't matter much. He would always be there to warm her up and make her feel better. He also never had to look away anymore when she was in the middle of a blessing, so he could watch all of the surroundings even better.

Although, Bond's conceivance was certainly due to some distraction. Zelda was beautiful, his wife, cold and trembling, and while warming her up . . . there tended to be distraction. Link tried very hard to stay focused, but Princess Zelda's conceivance seemed to be from distraction afterwards too.

He watched Zelda disrobe and start her blessings again. No distractions. He couldn't get distracted again. He already got distracted recently again, and he couldn't do it again.

"You have blessed me so many times, yet every time, I am grateful for everything you have done. You have helped our kingdom so much." The blessings never really requested for anything else. Zelda hadn't gotten worse. She just thanked them for everything they had done.

She never received a response back anymore, yet she still stayed dedicated. Dedicated as ever. However, Link saw something new. Instinctively, he hitched up his sword lightly, but didn't disturb the blessing.

The water around Zelda started to glow slightly. Zelda didn't move, well-trained in her art of blessing. She stayed still while the goddess statue spoke to her.

"The one who can wield the chosen power has now healed you."

Link looked at Zelda. All of the malice, every scrap of it had disappeared from her chest and the scratches upon her had healed. He waited patiently for the water to stop glowing.

Zelda came out of the water and he greeted her with a blanket, warm clothes, and a bridal style hold as he moved her quickly away. He'd never heard that from the goddess, but he knew what it meant.

"I guess number three was the magic number." Zelda couldn't help herself.

Number three. His next son or daughter would wield the power. That child would be able to defend Hyrule well against any foe. In the meantime?

Three. Three children. Bond, Zelda, and now . . . "Distraction."

"I think you were always meant to be distracted, when you weren't supposed to be," Zelda teased him. "King Link of Hyrule. Do you think it will be another prince or princess?"

Link just sighed as he tried to warm her up by getting her down as fast as possible. Yet. His heart felt so warm too. His wife was finally healed of Ganon's torturous trick. She smiled so carefree. None of the royal charm she showed to her subjects, just her smile for him.

And . . . and well she was already pregnant anyway . . .

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After one distraction later . . .

If there was one thing Link never messed up, it was buying that old hundred-year home. He might not use it often, but it had been a life saver more than once. Zelda was cuddled up right next to him on their bed.

He just stared at her. Her long blonde hair as she slept so serenely. He ran his fingers through it. Three was the magic number.

Prince or princess, it wouldn't be alone in whatever happened in its future. It had a brother and a sister to help. A mother and a father. And the knowledge. For a fact, Zelda and him would teach it so that it's children, great grandchildren, or ancient grandchildren would know:

Power doesn't come just from relying on the gods. It comes from within. With courage, wisdom, power and something else:

Love.

The End