Ya Like Jazz?

King Consort Link of Hyrule was in a conundrum.

His wife, Queen Zelda, had been acting coldly towards him. It had all begun on an innocuous Tuesday, the weather beginning to cool as Fall was close. The two had gone to bed fine the night before, staying up to do some reading before falling asleep. When Link awoke, Zelda had moved away from his chest and was curled up on her side of the bed. He stretched, letting out a yawn as he felt his joints pop. When she didn’t respond, he figured he would get up first to check on their son, Prince Griffin.

Link had been careful when he slid out of bed, making sure to remain quiet as he crept towards their son’s room. When he opened the door, he found their son already sitting up, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

“Papa,” he called out, voice still thick with sleep.

“Hey there, champ.”

Griffin looked up at him with happy eyes, his free hand reaching out for his Father. Link picked him up, pressing a kiss into hair that was the same color as his own. His chubby hands held onto his arms tightly, relishing in the feeling of his Father pressed against him. When he pulled back, he cocked his head to the side.

“Is Momma still asleep?”

Link put him down, rubbing the top of his head.

“Yeah, she’s still sleeping. Come, let’s go find Miss Mila.”

Griffin slid his hand into Link’s and the two quietly padded out. Zelda was still asleep and remained so as they made their way into the front room. Their family handmaiden, Mila, was setting up for the day, pulling aside the curtains and sweeping the ashes left in the fireplace. When she turned to face them, her face lit up at the sight of the young Prince.

“Well, look who’s finally awake!”

She squealed as he ran to her, gripping her legs affectionately. When she picked him up, she sniffed him and pretended that he smelled foul.

“Peeyuw! You are a stinky little boy!”

“No I’m not!” Griffin objected.

“I think someone needs a bath. Today we are going to explore the Castle.”

Griffin was too young for formal lessons, as decided by Link and Zelda, so Mila spent his day exploring and having fun. They had been spending time in the gardens and grounds, with a few trips into Castle Town proper. But, as he got closer to school age, his knowledge of the Castle would be important.

“Can we start in the kitchen?”

She laughed, ruffling his hair and heading towards the bathroom.

“Whatever you want, my love.”

Before they slipped out, she turned her head to look over at Link.

“I prepared your clothing for today. It’s hanging behind the privacy screen.”

“Thank you, Mila,” Link said.

Zelda had woken up when he returned to their bedroom. He bit back a laugh at how similar her face was to Griffin’s minutes before, rubbing the last of sleep from her eyes. Upon seeing Link, her face didn’t brighten like it normally did. Instead, it remained a cold facade of indifference.

“Good morning, my love,” he greeted her. “How did you sleep?”

“Did Mila bring breakfast?”

He blinked, startled at the sharpness in her tone.

“Er, no. But she did prepare our clothing for the day.”

She slipped out of bed, walking past him towards the front room.

“I’ll see you downstairs.”

Link stood frozen, wondering if he should go after her. His mind began to wrack through the previous day, replaying his words to her and how he had acted. Nothing of note instantly stood out, which made him panic more.

“What did I do?” he muttered to himself.

***

Zelda continued to shut him out during the rest of the day. When he came down to breakfast, she didn’t look up at his presence like she normally did. She was having an intense conversation with Shikari, who was content to babble on endlessly. When he reached out to brush her hand, she subtly pulled hers away. His schedule had him remaining in the Castle today, so he offered to walk her to the Council room.

“Shikari will walk me,” she said, dismissing Link.

When he broke for lunch, he was informed that Zelda was taking it in her own office and had requested not to be disturbed. He decided to go look for Griffin instead and found him wandering the Dining Hall, waving to servants and asking to sit at the head of the table. They ate together, with Link asking his son what he had seen so far.

As time passed and got closer to dinner, he hoped he would actually see his wife. His day had wrapped early, so he had a chance to go looking for her. He was walking down the hallway towards her office when he saw Ezlo rushing towards him.

“In Nayru’s name, what did you do?!”

Link blinked, staring at the Lord President with a confused expression.

“I-I’m sorry?”

“Your wife is in a horrid mood,” he hissed. “She was absolutely tyrannical during our Council meeting today!”

Link hesitated, trying not to squirm under the other’s eye.

“Er, I have been wondering the same thing myself.”

Ezlo sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“I tried to speak to her and she dismissed me. She has locked herself in her office and refuses anyone besides the servants.”

Link crossed his arms over his chest, letting out a long breath.

“I went through everything I said or did yesterday and nothing stood out. It’s as if she, quite literally, woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

A thought seemed to occur as Ezlo’s eyes went wide.

“Come with me to my office.”

As soon as they were in, Ezlo was quick to lock the door.

“Have you two been . . . still trying to have another child?”

Link’s cheeks burned. The two had agreed to start trying for another child, and their nights had been very . . . busy.

“Er, y-yes. Why is that any of your concern?”

“Well, it’s been a while since she informed me of her want of another child. Perhaps she is feeling . . . discouraged?”

The two had acknowledged that it would probably take a while before Zelda became pregnant, as the first time had been unintentional. They both knew putting pressure would make it more difficult, so they never talked about the “results,” so to say.

“We discussed that it may take a while for her to become . . . with child,” Link stammered.

“Ah, so it’s not that.”

Ezlo raised an inquisitive eyebrow, which caused Link to panic.

“Have you been doing a good job, my boy?”

“Ezlo!”

He held his hands up.

“I have to consider all options, Your Majesty. My apologies.”

Link collapsed into one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“We rarely fight, and if we do it’s more of a small argument and we resolve it quickly. I am trying not to look too deep into her behavior, but it’s troubling.”

A long silence stretched between them. Ezlo broke it, walking over to stand in front of Link. He placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“It will be alright. She is madly in love with you. Perhaps she is stressed and does not want to worry you.”

“I hope so,” Link replied. “I really do.”

“Why don’t you take your dinner in your quarters? Spend some time with Griffin, ey?”

Ezlo assured him he would take care of the dinner change and ushered him out. There was still time until dinner, so he decided to go find his son and take him for a ride on Epona in Hyrule Field.

***

Zelda came to bed a little before midnight. Griffin had fallen asleep not long after dinner, the excitement from his ride with Epona leading to an epic crash. Link had gotten through two pages of his bedtime story before he heard the familiar soft snoring. He had decided to wait up for his wife and see if the two could have a conversation.

However, he hadn’t expected her to arrive so late. He had resumed his reading from the night before but dozed off, the book falling onto his lap. The sound of the door opening gently pulled him from sleep, eyes focusing on the figure moving slowly towards their bed. Zelda had changed into her nightgown, her long hair braided as she slid in beside him.

“You worked late, my love,” he said, voice husky.

“I had a lot of work to do.”

She tried to grab the blanket but Link stopped her. Her eyes didn’t meet his but he continued to talk anyway.

“Have I done something to offend you?”

The long pause that followed had fear rising in him. By the Great Three above, he had done something wrong! He quickly ran back through the previous week, but continued to turn up nothing.

“Zelda, if I have, please tell me so I can fix it.”

“I’m tired. I want to sleep.”

She didn’t wait for a response and turned over, her back towards him. His heart sank in his chest as he studied her before he lay down himself and tried to sleep.

***

When he awoke the next morning, Zelda was not beside him. He glanced towards Griffin’s door and found it still closed, which meant she was elsewhere. Had she gotten up early to work? He frowned, getting up and heading to their son’s room to wake him up.

Mila seemed skittish when he walked into the front room. The smile she graced them with seemed forced, but she made sure to be as genuine as possible with Griffin. She was about to leave when Link stopped her.

“Have you seen Zelda?”

“Nope!”

Her response was quick and her departure even quicker. She was hiding something, but Link knew it was futile to corner her. As he returned to his room to dress, he began forming a plan.

***

Once a month, Link dedicated himself to training the soldiers stationed at the Castle personally. He drilled them in swordplay and archery, teaching them the basics that Rusl had taught him but also the ones he had learned from his ancestor. Perfection was expected, as the Castle had already been attacked twice before. It was known throughout the staff that he was not to be disturbed that day, and his schedule was cleared to make sure he was able to do so.

However, this month, Link had a trick up his sleeve. He had befriended many of the soldiers, especially the younger ones who reminded him much of himself. One in particular had stood out, a youth who had been raised in Castle Town but who came from nothing. Kilien always worked harder than the others, with the goal of becoming part of the elite Royal Guard. Another thing that Link had noticed was that he was sweet on Mila, and the two had struck up a secret relationship. The only reason he had found out was because he had stumbled upon them after overseeing practice casually. He hadn’t been spotted but he had shelved the information away for later use.

Now was that moment.

Link worked the soldiers until noon, breaking for lunch and instructing them to return at one sharp. Kilien had lingered, something he always did so he could talk to the King Consort. Upon seeing Link approach, he sunk into a deep, respectful bow.

“Your Majesty. It is always a pleasure to be trained by the great Hero of Twilight.”

Heat flooded his cheeks. It was rare that his pre-royal title was used, and it felt strange to hear. He instructed Kilien to stand, giving him a gentle smile.

“You are too kind. Come, would you like to dine with me today?”

The youth’s eyes went wide.

“I-I couldn’t possibly intrude, Your Majesty.”

“Nonsense!” Link clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Please, join me.”

The two made their way to the Dining Hall, where a plate of warm food was quickly served in front of them. The soldiers generally ate in their own barracks, with simple meals prepared for them. The awe on Kilien’s face signaled to Link that this was quite possibly the nicest meal he had ever had.

“Tell me, how is Mila?”

Link had to hold back a smirk when Kilien coughed on his first bite of food. His cheeks were bright red as he looked up with a withering look.

“Ah, you are . . . aware. I-I’m sorry, I understand fraternizing with the Castle staff is -”

“Oh, no, it is not a problem at all!” Link laughed. “I’m aware many servants are fraternizing.”

He waited a moment before speaking again.

“She was acting quite strange this morning. Normally she is quite bright and chipper, but it appeared as if she was hiding something.”

Kilien let out a long sigh, and Link realized he had hit the jackpot.

“Can I . . . be honest with you, Your Majesty?”

“Please do. I understand where you are coming from.”

The young soldier looked around, as if afraid his lover would appear out of nowhere.

“She has been under immense stress lately. It seems Her Majesty is rather . . . short.”

Link waited, keeping his face impassive to encourage the other to keep talking.

“I-I don’t feel right speaking with you about this . . .”

“Well, no one else is. You are my only option, Kilien.”

He nodded, reaching for his goblet and taking a long sip.

“I understand you two have been trying for another child.”

Oh by the Great Three, what had Mila told him?!

“That is correct, and I would appreciate it if you kept that to yourself.”

“But of course!” Kilien’s eyes went wide. “What the two of us discuss stays between us.”

Link vaguely wondered what Mila spoke of the couple, but pushed the thought aside.

“She suspects that Her Majesty may be with child.”

A vague ringing began in Link’s ears. He tried to recall how Zelda had been during her first pregnancy, but it was clouded by the takeover by Vaati. The memory had him bristling and he had to take a deep breath to steady himself.

“Well, that might explain a lot.”

***

Link was exhausted by the end of the day and was ready for a hot bath and to fall into bed. He had thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of his lunch with Kilien and made a mental note to get to know him more. When he entered his bedroom, towel hung low on his waist, he was surprised to see Zelda sitting in their bed. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of him nearly naked but quickly settled back to its normal state.

“Oh,” he blinked. “I didn’t think you would be in bed so soon.”

She hesitated before speaking.

 “I had an early start. I wanted to get to bed early.”

Her eyes traced over his body again, sending confidence through his body. He tried to act indifferent as he walked to their bed, stopping at the foot of it.

“Did you have a good day, my love?”

She blinked, eyes fixated on his bare chest and abs before looking up.

“Er, it was fine. Nothing of note.”

Zelda shifted in the bed.

“How did training go?”

His eyes flickered over to Griffin’s door.

“He is asleep. I read him a story about an hour ago.”

“Is it that late?” he asked.

He turned around towards his wardrobe, untying the towel so he could get dressed. When he turned back around, dressed in a low slung pair of sleep pants, Zelda was now standing. He opened his mouth to question her but she was quickly on him, kissing him urgently.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

His hand reached up to cup her face, stroking her cheek gently.

“It’s alright, my love. Come, let’s talk about it.”

The two crawled into bed, settling on their respective sides. Link lifted his arm so she could curl against his side, which he did. His hand settled on her shoulder, stroking the bare skin there as he waited for her to speak.

“I need to tell you something, and I’m afraid of what you’ll say.”

“You know you can always tell me anything, Zel.”

She bit her lip, and he noticed it was slightly trembling.

“Hey.”

He sat up straight, gently grabbing her chin so she could look directly at him.

“You can tell me, Zel.”

The sigh she let out had him worried.

“I . . . am with child.”

“That’s great!”

She shook her head, pulling back so she could press her face against his shoulder.

“I have been with child before, but I lost them.”

The blood in his body went cold. While he knew miscarriage was a possibility, it had never occurred to him that it could happen to his wife. She was protected by Nayru - didn’t that mean she was immune to everything? His mind was racing, and it took him a moment too long to realize that his silence was affecting Zelda.

“Zel, why didn’t you tell me?”

Silent tears began to pour down her face.

“I was worried you would be disappointed in me.”

“Disappointed? You don’t have any control over that, my love.”

He pulled her into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“Hey, it’s okay. I would never be disappointed in you.”

The way her fingers dug into his skin broke his heart. He knew now why she had been isolating herself, why she had been so distant for the past few days. When he pulled back, her face was flushed and tear-streaked.

“Have you talked to the Royal Doctor?”

She nodded.

“Yes, he confirmed the pregnancy last week. He has been watching me carefully, and he is confident that this time all will be well.”

Her hand reached down to her belly absently.

“I want to believe him, but it is incredibly difficult.”

Link reached down to place his hand over hers. To the naked eye, there was no sign that she was pregnant. But he could feel it, the subtle raise of her skin and the hard bump underneath. Something in him was trying to speak to him, but he couldn’t understand it.

“Link!”

Zelda’s gasp had him jumping. He looked down to see that their Triforces were glowing. When they pulled their hands away from her belly, the light faded. The two exchanged a look, and they realized that the Goddesses had given them their sign. This time, the tears that Zelda cried were ones of happiness and relief.

***

The morning sickness was, somehow, much worse.

Link sat next to Zelda as she was sick into a bucket, holding her hair back and murmuring words of encouragement. Mila would slip in and take Griffin out, making sure that he didn’t see the sight. Once Zelda was done she was exhausted, and she would go back to sleep for another hour or two. She began doing work in their front room, settling in front of the fireplace to look over important documents. Ezlo took over the Council meetings, stopping in after lunch to update her before departing.

It became a priority for Link’s schedule to become flexible, and he often went back and forth between their chambers and his duties. If he had to travel, he sent Rusl or Commander Viscen, who had become Link’s right hand man after his coronation. The two were happy to oblige, with Rusl quickly picking up what was going on.

“Another one on the way, eh?”

The two were in the stables, waiting for Rusl’s horse to be saddled. Link sighed, shaking his head as he looked away.

“Why is it hard to keep anything from you?”

Rusl laughed loudly, grinning so hard his cheeks must have hurt.

“Link, my boy, I have known you your whole life. I know what you are thinking about before you do!”

The two fell silent for a moment. Link hesitated before speaking again.

“Did . . . Uli ever miscarry?”

The smile on Rusl’s face slowly fell.

“There were a few times, but we saw it as a message from Ordona that the timing wasn’t right. Is Zelda alright?”

Link quickly explained their conversation, which led to Rusl’s face going grim.

“I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like this one will stick. How is she managing so far?”

“Sick as a dog,” Link sighed. “Much worse than with Griffin.”

“The second pregnancy can be easy or much worse. It depends on the baby.”

Rusl noticed that Link’s face had yet to brighten, so he reached over and gave him a reassuring pat on the back.

“All will be well, my boy. If you have any questions, you can ask. Zelda will be alright.”

A stable boy approached them with his horse. Link helped him into the saddle, and Rusl turned to give Link one last smile.

“I’ll see you soon. Give Zelda my love.”

***

If it wasn't morning sickness, it was exhaustion.

Zelda found herself much more tired, often having difficulty waking up in the morning. Link would let her sleep, tiptoeing into Griffin’s room and getting him up before quietly slipping out with him into the front room. Mila would take over then, greeting the Prince before guiding him to whatever adventure they were off to. The couple had yet to break the news to him, as they were waiting for Zelda’s symptoms to improve.

Ezlo had officially broken the news of the second pregnancy to the Royal Council, and explained that Her Majesty would be working as needed. The members were ecstatic at the news and offered to take on extra work to reduce her stress. Link had been asked to take over meetings, and he was nervous to do so. Since Zelda’s first pregnancy had been a secret and, well, the Castle had been taken over, she had continued to work throughout. With the two now married and with an heir, it was now expected that he would step up.

“Do you have my notes?”

Link was finishing up with getting dressed, brushing his hair neatly to place his crown on his head. Ezlo had insisted on the formal look, as he normally wore simple tunics or his General’s uniform. Zelda was laying in bed, a bucket on the floor and a fresh pitcher of water on her nightstand. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but she was trying to keep herself awake to go over the meeting with him quickly.

“Yes, my love. Do you want me to review them with you?”

She clasped a hand over her mouth, eyes closing for a second. Link was about to rush over but she shook her head. Sucking in a deep breath, she reached for the pitcher and poured herself a glass.

“No, I trust you. Just please take notes during the meeting. We can discuss when you come back.”

Link walked over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“Get some rest. Anything you can summon me, I’ll be here as fast as I can.”

He was nervous walking over to the Council, and it didn’t help that they all treated him extremely formal when he strode in. Every single member, including Ezlo, stood, bowing their heads deeply and greeting him with a united good morning, Your Majesty.

Link wanted to tell them to sit down and to avoid the formalities, but he recalled that Ezlo wanted this. So instead he returned the greeting, giving them a simple bow of his head and asking them to sit. They waited until he was seated and then sat down themselves, staring at him until he spoke.

“Good morning. Thank you for being here this morning. May the Great Three bless our meeting.”

There was a murmur of agreement, which strangely had his confidence regaining.

“Let me go over the agenda today. First up, Ezlo will be discussing a new trade agreement with Termina.”

The rest of the meeting went smoothly, and Link was relieved when it was over. He decided to stay a few minutes to finish up his notes, bading goodbye to each member as they walked out. Ezlo lingered a few minutes, clasping his hands behind his back.

“Good job, my boy. You led that meeting like a true ruler!”

“Thank you?”

Ezlo chuckled.

“You have a bit of a reputation for just being a military leader. I understand you are the Hero of Twilight, but the royal business is seen as Zelda’s domain.”

“That’s fair,” Link mumbled.

“Well, finish your notes and report back to Zelda. I’m sure she’s waiting for you to return.”

***

Zelda’s second trimester went fairly smoothly. Her morning sickness had abated, and while she was still tired it was more manageable. She had begun to show, a noticeable bump developing between her hips. Mila had ordered Anju, the Royal Seamstress, to loosen some of Zelda’s dresses, with a few maternity dresses ordered as well. Surprisingly, the baby had started to move, much earlier than Griffin had. She had been sipping some tea in the front room with Link when she felt the familiar fluttering.

“Oh!”

Link looked up from the reports he was reading.

“What’s wrong? Should I get the Doctor?”

She smiled at him.

“The baby is moving.”

He was at her side in an instant, kneeling down to press a hand carefully on her stomach. It took a moment but he faintly felt it, and he threw his arms around her.

“I love you. I can’t believe we made another baby.”

She giggled, burying her face in his shoulder.

“You’re so silly.”

The two sat in Council meetings together, and often made trips into Castle Town to visit Telma and also to see how their citizens were doing. It was strange to have her pregnancy be acknowledged this time - she never got used to the wide-eyed looks she got as she and Link navigated the streets. Telma had been over the moon at the news, pulling them into tight embraces and grinning.

“Y’all hoping for another boy?”

“Zel thinks it’s a girl. I’m not good at that kind of stuff,” Link laughed.

“The Doctor will be confirming next month,” Zelda mused.

“If it’s a girl, will it be another Zelda?”

The two had begun discussing baby names. Per Hylian tradition, their daughter would have to be named Zelda. The two had discussed male names, but she just knew they were having a daughter this time.

“It’s tradition,” Link drawled. “I’ll have two Zeldas to love.”

She leaned into his side while Telma jokingly made a disgusted face.

“You two are too sweet. Too sweet!”

The Royal Doctor confirmed the next month that the couple were having a daughter. He congratulated them, grinning as he gave an approximate due date and gave Zelda instructions for the next few weeks.

“Please continue to take it easy. I highly suggest going for walks, no more than twenty minutes. Your Majesty, if you can, take over a few more of her duties.”

Link nodded, shaking his hand and thanking him for his time. Once the Doctor had left, he turned to Zelda, a wide smile on his face.

“A girl, huh? Looks like we have a perfect pair.”

She hugged him tightly, pulling back to kiss him fiercely. Her eyes studied his handsome face, taking in how excited his eyes were and how he was looking at her as if there was nobody else in Hyrule.

“Zelda,” she whispered. “Zelda Sonia.”

“Sonia?”

She hummed, making her way back to her armchair and carefully sitting down.

“Have you heard the stories of ancient Hyrule? When it was first established?”

Link frowned, racking his brain for an answer.

“I thought the first Zelda was the reincarnated Hylia, and she settled in Hyrule after living in the clouds?”

“Yes, that was the establishment of Hyrule. But there are rumors that another ruler may have actually established it.”

“Huh?”

She chuckled, pointing to the chair across from her. He sat down, listening carefully as she spoke.

“I’m sure Shad or maybe Rusl discussed the founding of Hyrule. Yes, the first Zelda was the reincarnation of Hylia, and she and her Chosen Hero established the kingdom. But there is a theory that another group of people actually established Hyrule. There is some evidence to support it, but not much. It seems to have disappeared over the years.”

Link leaned in forward. His mind wandered to the Oocca people and their strange kingdom in the clouds.

“The first ruler was supposedly named Rauru, just like the Light Sage. His wife’s name was Sonia.”

“Zelda Sonia,” Link murmured.

She beamed in response.

“Yes, Zelda Sonia. Her brother will ascend the throne, so her royal duties won’t be as heavy as his.”

Right, the two had yet to discuss how their royal lives would be. Griffin was still too young, and the two had agreed they would delay his duties for as long as possible. He would be educated in princely duties of course, but Zelda didn’t want him to go down the same path she had.

Link opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by the door opening, revealing an excited Griffin who threw himself into his father’s arms.

“Daddy! Miss Mila butterfly!”

Mila came in chuckling, lifting a small jar filled with butterflies.

“We had a bit of a nature excursion today,” she mused.

“That’s excellent, my love!” Zelda said, leaning over to press a kiss to the top of his head.

With her bump now noticeable and her symptoms slightly better, they had explained to Griffin he was going to be a big brother. He had taken the news well, and was excited to know a baby sister was on the way. His small hands gently patted her belly and he pressed a kiss to it.

“Sister?”

“She’s good, darling,” Zelda said, ruffling his hair gently.

***

Queen Zelda was completely bedridden for her last trimester.

The exhaustion had increased tenfold, and her ankles had swelled up to the point that being on her feet was painful. She was incredibly self-conscious about it, often hiding her legs whenever Link came into the room. The Royal Doctor had assured her it was normal, and simply stated she had no choice but to relax and take it easy.

“Keeping your legs elevated should help with the swelling,” he assured her.

Link was now fully taking over her duties, sitting in on Council meetings, reviewing and signing documents, and hosting citizens in the Great Hall to listen to their concerns. On top of that, he had to continue with his military duties, which left him drained. Most nights he came into bed and collapsed beside Zelda, who stroked his hair until he fell into a deep sleep.

With the due date approaching, the two began to get nervous. The Royal Doctor would be delivering their daughter and had come up with an elaborate plan. Unlike Griffin’s delivery in Ordon, he would be there the entire time to observe Zelda and guide her. Mila had been instructed to keep Griffin away until Zelda Sonia was there, and then he would come to meet her.

“I expect labor to be much shorter since you have experienced it already,” the Doctor said.

Ezlo urged Link to take weekends off, and he did so. Most mornings were spent sleeping, with Griffin creeping into bed and snuggling between his parents. Once Link was up and about, he took the Prince into town to see Telma and the others or to simply explore what the city had to offer. Zelda would read to him once they returned, her voice soft as Griffin listened to her in awe. Sometimes the two would draw, with the young Prince drawing the many things he had seen while out.

“We might have an artist on our hands,” Zelda teased Link.

The swelling had started to subside the month before her due date, but the Doctor urged her to limit her physical exertion.

“Remember, walking for no more than twenty minutes,” he sternly reminded her.

Zelda began joining the two, but their walks were limited to the Castle. They spent hours in the garden, finding a shady spot to lay a blanket and enjoy the day. Griffin would chase butterflies, laughing loudly as his parents watched on with adoration. Zelda sketched the various flowers in the garden, showing them to him and watching as he scribbled and tried to replicate them. Link watched on with joy, just enjoying the simple moments with his little family.

It was during one of those moments that Zelda caught him staring. She cocked her head to the side, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

“Is something the matter, my love?”

He shook his head, scooting over to wrap an arm around her shoulder. She leaned into him instinctively, her head turning back to watch Griffin as he sniffed some roses nearby.

“This just makes me so happy. Our little family.”

His hand fell down to gently rub her belly, feeling their daughter’s feisty kicks.

“I can’t wait for her to join us.”