#zelinkweek

A gentle squall rose over the cliffside, not strong enough to wash away the sealife stubbornly clinging to it, but large enough to tip over a merman seated on the outcropping of rocks nearby.

He let himself fall backwards into the sea, head tilting up to look at the gray sky. The days had been passing slowly lately, yet the weeks were gone in a blink. He just wanted a moment to breathe without the watchful eyes of his father or the concerned gazes of his friends following him. 

He closed his eyes and breathed in the smell of the seawater, listening to the muffled noises of the waves hitting against the cliff. This is where he felt the most at peace–where the land met the sea, both pushing against each other in a battle neither would win. The water would eventually cause the rock to erode away, but the rest of it would still extend down to the bottom of the ocean. A disruptive harmony. He liked that.

“I knew I’d find you here, Link.”

Lifting his head, he turned to address the disapproving stare of his best friend. “Mipha.”

The mermaid sighed, red tail flicking in mild annoyance and concern as she drifted closer. “Your father’s looking for you. I think he wants to discuss something important.”

“Everything we talk about is ‘something important,’” Link rebuffed, shoulders slumping in resignation. “I thought he had an audience with Her Majesty this morning.”

“It’s already late afternoon,” Mipha answered, and one glance at the sun, partially concealed by the gray clouds, confirmed her statement.

He grunted in acknowledgment, pulling himself up on another rock. 

She watched him, her brow pinched with worry. “I don’t like it when you come up here. We really shouldn’t be so close to the Surface. What if we’re spotted?”

“All the way out here?” Link’s gaze swept over the scene. They were well away from the nearest human territory. “Frightened?”

“No, I just–don’t like it. Besides, you’ve been coming here more often. Do you really like it that much?”

He shrugged. “I like smelling the air. It’s different than Below.”

“It’s too loud. I get overstimulated on the Surface.” Her eyes narrowed in distaste.

Link didn’t respond because he couldn’t argue. Everything was more pronounced up here. Sounds were louder, smells were much easier to detect, the light was nearly blinding–it was all amplified in the air, so different from water. Where he was light and quick in water, he felt utterly useless moving his body out of it. Strange and unknown, yes, but also curiously exciting. He liked exploring this new world, despite everyone’s protests.

Apparently deciding enough was enough, Mipha swam over and nudged his fin. “Get down from there. I was serious, you know. Your father needs to speak with you.”

Link flicked his tail, splashing water at her. “As you command, Princess.”

“I told you to stop calling me that.” Red bloomed on her face, rivaling her tail’s color. “I’m not a princess, or your nanny. Let’s go.”

“You’re pricklier than an urchin,” Link grumbled, but obliged. He slid down into the water, careful not to let his tail catch. “Race you back.”

“That isn’t fair, you know you’re faster than anyone I know–hold on, Link–wait!”

He grinned back at his childhood friend, enjoying her look of exasperation as her flash of red chased his blue. “You used to beat me when we were kids!”

“For Hylia’s sake–I haven’t won once since I was a young nereid!” Mipha complained, doing her best to keep up regardless.

Link turned away as he swam. He knew the real reason Mipha was worried, and it only partly had to do with his time out of water. 

He’d been more listless lately, sleeping too often and isolating himself in various nooks he found. Even he could admit he’d been acting strange. The strangest part was that even he didn’t know why. He’d always been curious about the Surface, sure, but not to the extent of spending so much time there. His life had seemed so straightforward for so long, and he had always been content with that.

Still, the ache in his chest wouldn’t go away, and Link was at a loss to explain it.

Zigzagging his way through the coral with Mipha still hot on his tail, Link made his way towards the Queen’s palace, where his father, Arn, would surely be waiting.

~

“Where in the goddess’s name have you been?”

Link winced, his back ramrod straight and his hands clasped tightly behind him as Captain Arn, Head of the Royal Knights of Her Majesty Queen Faron, berated his son.

His father’s movements were agitated, jerking from side to side in frustration. “You know better than to disappear for hours. I had an urgent matter to discuss with you. I expected you to be training, not wasting your time. You aren’t a child anymore, Link!”

He swallowed back his guilt, bowing his head. “I’m sorry, Father.”

“That is not enough.” Arn’s lips tightened, his graying beard making him look his age for once. “You need to be more responsible. I thought you understood this already. You are not going to be just any knight–you are my son and heir.”

Link did not respond. His father wasn’t looking for one, anyway. This was a speech he had heard many times before. 

Arn sighed, rubbing his temples as he sank into a seat. “I do not understand you, son. You’ve put in an enormous amount of training. You are stronger, faster, more quick-witted than most fully fledged knights. I know you have the dedication necessary for your role. Yet your mind is elsewhere–bobbing around in the waves aimlessly. You are of age now. I expect you to behave as such.”

Link’s gut twisted.

Finally, his father raised his head, seeming to simmer down at last. “Which reminds me. I know you only recently came of age, but Her Majesty has given her approval to go ahead with your knighting ceremony.”

For the first time during Arn’s lecture, Link showed emotion: utter shock. “What…? I thought I was supposed to wait until–”

“If Her Majesty so wishes it, then there is no reason to delay,” Arn interrupted him. “While it’s true you are very young, you have also shown more potential than anyone else in the knighthood. Even I could not accomplish the feats you have shown in your training at your age.” Rising from his seat, the captain swam over to Link, who was still fighting to keep his composure.

Arn rested a hand on Link’s shoulder. “I understand your surprise, but I am also proud of you, son. You’ve finally accomplished your goal. You shall become a true royal knight. And I hope that…with this promotion, you will finally snap out of this haze.”

Link slowly looked up to meet his father’s eyes. Arn was battle-worn, scars marring his body from fin to fingers, and he was a proud merman. Isn’t this what Link had always wanted? To stand by his father? To earn his approval? To fulfill the destiny he’d been handed since he was a child–succeeding his father’s place one day?

“Let me tell you something, my son,” Arn continued, steering him toward a window in his chambers. “Look out into the throne room with me.”

Link stared down at the ornate throne room where the Queen usually resided. It was late enough now that it was empty besides a few guards, swimming around the grand oval-shaped room. An oversized throne sat prominently in the center, and large pillars led a long swimway up to Her Majesty’s pedestal.

“That throne symbolizes more than a seat,” Arn was saying. “It is where the Queen rests, where peace is secured, where merfolk look to for answers. Her Majesty has watched over her people for far longer than you realize. She was granted this position by Hylia herself, and it is the sworn and sacred duty of knights like myself to protect that peace. By securing Queen Faron’s safety, we are by extension safeguarding the entire ocean. Tell me, Link–do you remember the story of the Master Sword?”

Link nodded, head swimming. 

“Then you know of the legends. Long ago, when Her Majesty was appointed the position of Queen of the Oceans by the Goddess Hylia, she was also entrusted with a legendary sword said to vanquish darkness and evil. Queen Faron swore to protect this sacred object, but it was desired by dark forces. A fearsome battle ensued, and the Queen was victorious, but hid the sword away in an unknown place with only the words, ‘someday it shall return when the one meant to wield it has need of it.’ And so, Her Majesty and her knights protect her secret to this day.”

It was a story Link had heard since he was young, but he listened anyway. His father was insistent that old legends deserved respect.

Arn’s gaze fixed on the throne. “I have dedicated my life to protecting these waters and its ruler. Now, it is time for you to do the same.” His grip on Link’s shoulder tightened. “My hope is that, once you discover what it is you wish to protect, you will understand my fervor. I hope that you come to want to protect something sacred as much as I.”

He had always admired that steadfastness of his father’s–and for the first time, he was given an explanation as to why he was that way. 

What it is I want to protect… Link wished for an answer.

Was it truly the throne, as his father expected?

Or…did he have something else in mind?

“In any case,” Arn continued, snapping him from his thoughts, “the ceremony is the next coral moonset, next week. I expect you to be adequately prepared and mind your manners. Now you should return home and see your sister. It grows late.”

“Yes, Father.” With that, Link swam out of the palace with his stormy thoughts.

~

“Big Brother, you’re no fun to play with anymore,” Aryll complained, waving her coral sword in front of him. “You used to play knights with me all the time!”

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, admittedly ignoring his younger sister. “I thought Father told you to stop playing with fake swords.”

Aryll harrumphed, dramatically swimming over to her bed and flopping onto it. “You’re the one who made it for me! Father thinks it’s a waste of time, anyways. What does he know? Why couldn’t I be good at it? You are, and your mind’s swimming around all the time!”

His mouth twitched into a grin. “You’re still too young.”

“Now you sound just like Father!” She groaned, tossing the sword away. It drifted, coming to land on the floor between their beds.

Link turned over, staring at it. He thought about knighthood. He thought about the legend of the Master Sword. He thought about all of his apprehension, symbolized as this toy sword he had crafted for his sister.

“Big Brother?” Eyes snapping up, he met Aryll’s stare from across the dark bedroom. “Are you excited to become a knight?”

Excited…?

Since he was a child, Link had done everything necessary to become a knight. Every early morning, every grueling training session, every missed meal, all of it would be worth it when he accomplished his dream and was awarded knighthood by the Queen. That’s what he’d always thought. So this should make him happy. He should be excited. All his hard work meant something. Right?

And yet…

A deep, unadulterated yearning filled the hollow of his chest, sprouting roots and spreading throughout his body from the crown of his head to the tip of his tail. He yearned to feel complete. He was terrified of never finding that “purpose in life” his father told him about. What if he was knighted, and this hollowness still didn’t go away? What if this feeling of incompleteness didn’t lift? What was he yearning for? Was it knighthood? Or something else entirely?

Was he truly the master of his own fate?

He turned away so Aryll couldn’t see his face when he lied. “Of course.”

There was a beat of silence so loud he could hear his heart hammering in his chest. Finally, he heard Aryll’s quiet response: “That’s good.”

The silence was suffocating. Link thought of Aryll’s dream of being a knight and the guilt clawed at him. How could he show ungratefulness in front of her? 

He was about to speak again when they heard a soft knock at the door. His head snapped up.

“It’s awfully late for visitors…” Aryll frowned, voicing Link’s exact thoughts.

“Wait here. I’ll see who it is.” Swimming forward, he left Aryll’s protests behind and approached the front of their sea home. Peeking out, he caught a familiar flash of red and sighed in relief, opening the door. “Mipha. You’re out late.”

She tried to smile at him, obviously uneasy. Her hands were twisted together, whitening her knuckles. He waited for a response.

“...sorry for turning up like this. I was just worried, I suppose.” Her expression was pinched. “I heard about it from your father. Congratulations, Link.”

“Thanks, but…” he reached forward to rest a hand on her twisted ones. “You don’t seem that happy about it.”

Mipha stilled suddenly, staring at their hands. Her eyes were cloudy. “I really am happy for you. You’ve been a hard worker since we were kids. You deserve this.” Slowly, she unclenched her hands, turning them over to hold Link’s. “I suppose now you’ll start thinking about your future.”

The future. Of course, that was only natural. He was an adult now, and adults thought about these sorts of things.

“I-I just hope,” Mipha stuttered, her voice a bit high, “that we can spend some time together…once your ceremony is over.”

“Of course we can,” Link answered naturally. “You’re still my friend, Mipha. Just because I’ll be busy being a knight won’t change that.”

“Yes, of course. My father will be pleased to hear that.” Her voice was still high, but gaining confidence. “He told me to congratulate you, as well.”

“That’s kind of him.” Mipha’s father, Dorephan, was a well-respected royal advisor to Her Majesty. Mipha was considered nobility because of that. 

“Yes, well, he also wished for me to ask you about…” her face pinkened, and she coughed, hands tightening around his. “About your plans for marriage in the future…”

“Marriage?” He felt like he’d suddenly been tossed into a whirlpool. “I…I hadn’t really thought about it…I’m still young, too, so…”

“Yes, of course!” Mipha yelped, releasing him to flail her arms slightly. “I just mean that, given you’re an adult and a knight to boot, everyone’s going to have their eyes on you.”

Link just blinked at her. “Really?”

“Yes,” she stressed with no little amount of exasperation. “Honestly, Link, you know how the nobility think. Many suitors are going to start approaching you. You may as well begin thinking about it.”

“I–I don’t think I’m getting married anytime soon…” he mumbled, embarrassed. Mipha was right, as always, but romance was foreign to him. Wielding a sword he could do. Flirt with a girl…? He’d rather eat rocks. “Is this really what you wanted to talk about?”

Her shoulders sagged, and it looked like all the spirit was knocked out of her. Link winced, not understanding but still feeling guilty. 

“I suppose it is late. This is a conversation for another time,” Mipha sighed. “Just…think about it, okay? You’ve got to start taking things more seriously.”

“Right,” he mumbled, and Mipha leaned in to kiss his cheek before hurrying a goodbye and swimming away.

He watched her go, melancholy settling into his chest. 

~

“Revali, wait.”

The seagull scoffed, barely sparing Link a glance as he approached the Surface. “I thought I told you to go away.”

“You just met with Her Majesty, didn’t you?” Link asked, ignoring his rebuff. “Was it about the human territory?”

“Hah! That is between me and Her Majesty. Besides, that is information for royal knights only. You’re still just a guppy.”

Link frowned. “I’m being knighted, you know.”

“Yes, yes, I heard–tonight’s the big night. Congratulations. They’ll make anyone a knight nowadays, won’t they? I suppose they’re not as important as they once were.”

Irritation coated Link’s words. “And you are?”

Revali squawked out a laugh. “Of course I am! I am Her Majesty’s main source of information! How else would merfolk hear news of the Surface?”

“So it was about humans!” Link’s eyes glinted. “Tell me about it. I’ll be a royal knight soon, so I should know, don’t you think?”

“Hardly.”

“Bet you don’t actually have news,” Link mumbled. “You just pretend you do to feel important.”

Revali whipped around, feathers ruffled. “How dare you! I take my job very seriously, unlike you. If anything, I should be a knight. I’ve heard about you, you know. You drift through life with your head in the currents. Utterly ridiculous.”

“And yet, I’m being knighted and you aren’t.”

Link knew he was riling up the bird, but he knew Revali. It was the only way to get what he wanted out of him–information. He was curious about the human world, but it was so shrouded in purposeful mystery that he didn’t know much. He knew his father hated them, and they were merciless when it came to merfolk.

“But I know far more about Hyrule,” Revali countered.

Link’s ears perked at the unfamiliar word. “Hyrule?”

“The human kingdom, you dolt. The kingdom of Hyrule.”

“Humans have a kingdom? Like us?”

“Naturally. You don’t look so different, besides the tail,” Revali snorted, eyeing Link’s lower half distastefully. “Humans are odd, but beautiful too, in a strange way.”

Link had heard of this. Instead of a tail, humans had two appendages called ‘legs.’ Like a crab. It sounded weird to him, but if Revali, the vainest bird he knew, was calling them beautiful…

His curiosity grew. “Beautiful?”

Revali sniffed. “Don’t take that too seriously. They don’t even have wings. But, well, the princess is pretty…for a human, I suppose.”

“The princess?” A human princess. He wondered what she looked like.

“Instead of a queen like Queen Faron, who is reasonable and brilliant, humans have a king. He looks rather pompous to me,” Revali stuck his beak upward, and the irony didn’t pass by Link. “He has just one daughter, the princess. I forget her name. Something odd.”

The human world, which seemed odd to Revali, was even more so to Link. He didn’t know where this curiosity was springing from, but it was like an itch he couldn’t quite reach. Another kingdom, above the water. Another throne, with a king sitting in it, not a queen. And a princess, which he often teased Mipha for acting like, but he’d never actually met one before.

What was she like? Did she have knights, too? Did the king?

“What does she look like?”

“That’s quite enough,” Revali tittered, and Link knew he’d reached his limit for the day. “Don’t you have something more important to do than wonder about princesses you’ll never meet?”

With a jolt, Link came to the realization he’d spent too much time here. His knighting ceremony would be starting soon, and he had to get back to the palace.

Ignoring Revali’s lingering contemptuous look, Link swam as fast as he could away from the messenger bird and towards his looming future.

~

Unbeknownst to Link, two sets of eyes were watching him from the shadows. The eels snickered, the sisters amused at the sight of the young merman.

Their master, watching Revali and Link’s conversation through the eels’ eyes, felt a chill of anticipation. His mouth twisted into a grim smile.

“So this is Arn’s boy,” he rumbled, his deep voice echoing through the chamber of darkness he resided in. “He is very…curious. This might be the chance I was waiting for. Kotake, Koume, follow him. Do not let him out of your sight.”

The eels slithered out of their dark nook, chasing after the unsuspecting merman. Meanwhile, their master focused on his image with glowing eyes.

“At last, a weakness. Her Majesty will not be able to stop me a second time.”

Deranged laughter filled the cavern, floating up from the dark abyss.

~

“I can’t believe you’re late to your own knighting ceremony,” Mipha tutted, hurrying to straighten the ornaments he was wearing. “You’re lucky the Queen hasn’t arrived yet. Your father would’ve been furious.”

Link shrugged, his nerves causing a blockage in his throat. 

“Big Brother, you look like you’re gonna puke,” Aryll piped up unhelpfully from where she’d been looking out the window at the gathering knights. 

His mouth forced a grimacing smile. “Thanks.”

“She’s right, though. Breathe, Link,” Mipha told him, swimming back to admire her work. “You do look…dashing.”

He was wearing a royal knight’s regalia, a navy blue sash across his chest with silver ornaments depicting three crescent moons draped on top. Around his waist was a thick silver belt bearing the same insignia, and his unruly shoulder-length hair was tied back neatly for once. He had never felt more uncomfortable.

“Thanks for your help, Mipha.”

“Of course. I shall always be willing to help you,” she smiled, reaching up to tuck an errant piece of hair away. “Aryll and I will go join our fathers. We’ll be cheering for you.”

As Mipha swam away, Aryll followed with a: “Don’t puke on the Queen!”

Right. Easier said than done.

Now truly left alone, Link swam to the mirror to look at himself. He didn’t recognize the merman he saw. Not just because of the ornaments, but because of his expression. Since when did he look so scared and uncertain? 

“My son,” a deep voice spoke from behind him, and Link whirled around to face his father. “I have something to give you before we begin.”

He blinked at his father in surprise, naturally straightening his spine and nodding. Wordlessly, Arn swam forward and presented Link with a gift: a necklace with a small pendant in the shape of a sword. 

“This is a present from me, to remind you of what you’re protecting with the honor of a knight,” Arn spoke, his voice unwavering. “May you carry that burden with the strength and courage I know you possess.”

Link took the necklace, speechless, before fastening it around his neck. It rested against his sternum, a gentle weight to remind him of how fast his heart was beating. “Thank you, Father.”

Arn stared at him, his eyes full of too many emotions for Link to count. Finally, he sighed and briefly rested his hand on Link’s shoulder. “The ceremony begins soon. I will be waiting, son.”

With that, Link was left alone with nothing but the sound of his blood roaring in his ears and his heart in his throat.

~

“…In the name of the Goddess Hylia, I bless you, Knight. Over the seas of time and distance, when we need the golden power of the Goddess, our hope rests in you, to be forever by the Queen's side. We pray that you will be strong, in the name of our kingdom. Rise and receive the Queen’s blessing.”

Link lifted his head, hoping his face was stoic. The Queen stared down at him from her massive throne, and he shivered despite himself.

Queen Faron was not like the normal merperson. She was a water dragon, said to be almost as old as the ocean itself, and one of the last remaining relics of an era long past, when Hylia herself roamed the Surface. Huge and striking an awe-inspiring picture, Link could understand why she was so respected.

“In the name of the goddess, and my crown as Queen of the Oceans, I bestow upon you the title of a royal knight.” The Queen’s voice was powerful yet oddly soothing, and Link bowed deeply as the merfolk assembled cheered. “Turn now, and face the people you swore to protect.”

Having somehow made his way through his oaths and the formal part of the ceremony, Link turned to look at everyone–the assembled nobles, knights, and common folk curious to see the young prodigy. He spotted Aryll cheering by his father’s side, and Mipha next to her own father, smiling brightly.

Link waited for the feeling of completeness to come. He waited for his moment of proud realization that he was exactly where he was meant to be, and finally a sense of duty would fill his chest. He waited for the feeling his father described to arrive.

It didn’t.

Instead of pride or joy, dread filled his chest, strangling him with panic. He did not feel fulfilled. He did not feel complete. He only felt wrongness clawing at his skin, anxiety at the back of his neck.

This is wrong.

The thought, so small, flitted across his mind, and he was unable to banish it. He hated it. He wished so desperately that it wasn’t–that he’d found his path, his sense of duty, surely he was wrong, surely if he just tried harder–

Link couldn’t breathe. The sounds of clapping and cheering faded away. He couldn’t see his friends or family. He was going to erode away into grains of sand, cursed to float along the currents. His body was not his own. 

He fled.

It was something he had never done before. Never had he run away from his responsibilities. He had always done everything asked of him. So why now? Why was he choking back sobs? Why did he feel so panicked? What was happening to him?

Did no one understand how much that terrified him, realizing the path he’d led his entire life was wrong?

A hand roughly grabbed his shoulder. It stung, but was able to draw him back to himself. Belatedly, he realized his father was there. They weren’t in the palace. It was dark, and the open sea.

“–happened? What in the name of the golden goddess were you thinking?! You will take your tail right back in there and–”

“No.” Link’s tongue unstuck. “No, I can’t.”

“Excuse me?” He had never seen his father so angry. “You disrespected Her Majesty and her entire court. You are a knight. I expect you to–”

“I’m not!” Link finally snapped, shoving Arn’s hands away. “I’m not a royal knight! I don’t belong in there!”

“Nonsense!” Arn shouted, his eyes sparking with anger. “You’ve prepared for this your whole life, I will not allow you to–”

“I can’t, Father, I won’t–”

“Stop acting like a child!” Arn’s bellow reverberated in the waters around them, shocking Link to his core. “Your destiny is to follow me! To become the next captain!”

Link’s throat stung. His hands balled into fists. When had his father ever asked what his thoughts were? Wasn’t he worried about why Link had fled in the first place? Or did he truly only see him as a successor? “How can you say I’ll be the one to follow you when you just called me a child? You won’t even let me near the Surface!”

Arn’s gaze sharpened. “You know why.”

“It isn’t fair. If you truly saw me as a man, you wouldn’t keep me ignorant about humans!”

“Don’t mention them here,” Arn hissed. “They are dangerous, evil creatures–”

“What if they aren’t? What if–”

“You are speaking nonsense. I’ve had enough.”

Link felt his chance slipping away. The Surface and his curiosity about humans were the only things he’d ever felt were his own decision to learn about. The only things that made him feel interested in something. Why couldn’t his father see that?

“I just want to know more about them!”

“They killed your mother!” Arn screamed, and the resulting silence was worse than anything Link had heard before. The words hung between them, thick and heavy, and suddenly there was no fight left in him. Just emptiness.

“That’s enough.” Apparently his father felt the same. “You are not to speak of this again. I will apologize to Her Majesty and the court. Go home. I hope the morning will bring you back to your senses.”

Watching his father’s retreating figure, Link wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. He’d never felt so alone. 

Arn didn’t understand, which he couldn’t even be angry about. Link didn’t even fully understand it himself. All he knew was that when he was sitting in that spot where land met the sea, he felt alive for the first time in his life.

A shadow passed across his face. Duly, he looked up, only for his eyes to widen.

He must’ve swam further out than he thought. Well, he’d always been a quick swimmer, but still, he was closer to human territory than he should be.

Because that form above him was most definitely a human ship.

He’d seen them before, of course, floating along the Surface. He’d never gone near one, though. At the time, his father’s warnings of humans rang in his ears and his fear and respect were too great.

Link hated the flicker of curiosity in his chest. Hadn’t he learned by now? 

Yet, in the wake of his argument with his father, he realized if he didn’t do something, he’d be like this forever. Doing what his father asked without question. Fulfilling a role he was given, not one he chose. Marrying and continuing the cycle for the next captain. Wasting away for the rest of his life.

No. He couldn’t. It was time for a little courage.

She had his hand in a vice like grip, knuckles turning white. It ached, but not as much as his heart did at the sounds of her panting and pained screams. He kissed the side of her head where her hair was matted to her face with sweat. His emotions were all over the place but at the same time there was nowhere else he would rather be right now. As much as he hated her to be in any form of pain, he knew it was temporary and would be so worth it.

He murmured into her ear “You’re doing so, so well my love. Not much longer now, you can do this”

She panted hard and fast, anticipating the next contraction. He was perched on the edge of her bed, one leg laid straight alongside her, the other on the floor. He had one arm around her shoulders, hand rubbing soothing motions down her arm while the other was either placed on her stomach or, when her contractions started up again was held tightly in her grip for support.

From her parted legs and bent knees, Impa, her most trusted and loyal friend peeked above the white sheets that were draped over her. She grinned at the both of them before looking straight into Zelda’s eyes “I can see the crown! Another few good pushes and she’ll be with us”

Zelda whimpered. She was so very tired; she wasn’t sure how much more pushing she could do. As if Link had read her mind he spoke softly against her cheek “I know you tired, love. You’re so strong and we’ll soon get to meet our little girl. A few more pushes, can you do that for me?”. Zelda nodded, heaving out a massive breath as she could feel the tension of another contraction beginning.

“Zelda, I need you to give a nice big push with your next contraction” Impa urged. Zelda clenched Link’s hand once again as the contraction came over her. She strained and grunted so hard into the push that her whole face became red and heated and Link couldn’t help but be in awe of her strength. He didn’t think it was possible to love her more than he did right now in this moment.

Although the pregnancy wasn’t exactly planned, they both knew that they had wanted children together eventually. It was a given knowing that she was the reigning sovereign of Hyrule and it was expected of her to have an heir. As was tradition, there always had to be a Zelda successor, so as soon as they found out about the pregnancy everyone had begin called the baby Little Zel (they hadn’t officially decided on a name if they weren’t sticking with tradition, but it was better than called her an ‘it’ or ‘she’).

“Good girl, keep pushing!” Impa urged, the excitement rising in her tone “Her heads out! Continue your panting until you feel the need to push again.”

Link placed the hand that had been running up and down her arm to the side of her head, pushing lightly to encourage her to rest her head against his shoulder. He closed his eyes and run his hand through her hair, humming quietly in an attempt to try to sooth his wife. His wife! How did he end up so lucky? He thought absently.

“Link?” Zelda breathy voice broke through his thoughts

“Hmm?” He stopped his humming at the sound of her voice, opening his eyes to glance at her.

“Thank you for being here for me… for us” she says, placing one hand on her belly. He kissed her sweaty forehead and looked deeply into her eyes “There is no place in the entire world that I would rather be right now. Thank you for letting me be here for the birth of our girl – our daughter, Zelda.”

Her lips curled up in a brief smile and she hummed contentedly at his words before her face scrunched again as her next contraction overcame her.

“One more big push” Impa exclaimed and Zelda tensed her shoulders, sat up slightly and heaved.

“Hear that, Zel? One more big push and she’ll be with us” he was rubbing circles between her shoulder blades now, doing what little he could to somehow try and ease even a fraction of her pain.

“Keep pushin-“ Impa was interrupted as Zelda let out a noise between a shout and a wail. An ear-piercing cry broke out into the room as Little Zel took her first breaths of Hyrulian air.

“She’s here!” Link choked on a sob, catching Zelda in his arms as she flopped back on the bed, panting hard.

“She certainly is!” Impa grinned as she tended to the new born babe. She had checked her airway to ensure it is clear and listened to her strong heartbeat. “She’s a healthy, beautiful baby-“ she started as she began to wrap her up ready to present her to her parents when Impa noticed something… unexpected… “boy” she gasped out in surprise.

Impa placed the boy in his mothers arms who had tears flowing down her face and the biggest smile graced her features. She bundled the baby up looking lovingly down into his face and said in the most heart-warming voice “Hello my boy” she breathed out in a sort of laugh sob “hello ourboy” – she was looking at Link now who was freely crying and looking between both his son (his son! Hylia, he has a son!) and his wife. He placed his hand on top of the babies head, cupping it slightly and rubbing the fine, sand coloured hair there as Zelda leaned in towards him. He kissed Zelda’s head again and looked down at the bundle in her arms, awed and stunned. He was swept up in the feelings of love and pride in the strength of his wife growing this beautiful little life in her body and going through the pain of birthing. “Hello, son” he said in a breathy whisper.

---------

“What does this mean, Impa?” Zelda asked as she nursed her son, who apparently had the appetite of his father. Link was still sat beside her on the bed watching Zelda take to motherhood like a natural, completed besotted with his little family.

“I.. I’m not sure” Impa stood at the foot of the bed which had since been cleaned since the birth. “I plan on speaking with the elders and consulting some of our Sheikah texts to see if this has ever happened before in our history. I suspect not, something this significant would surely be common knowledge among us.”

Link glanced up at this “So you think that Zelda having a son is significant in the eyes of the goddess and not merely a matter of biology?”

“You know the legends as well as I, Link. You know that Hylia incarnate is always female as is the nature of maternal bloodlines” Zelda wasn’t looking at either him or Impa, she was fascinated watching her boy as he greedily suckled. She didn’t care either way that he way a boy, he was hers and she was so totally and utterly in love with him.

“Now that I know he is nursing properly I think it is time to take my leave and investigate this little miracle” Impa smiled warmly “it is also advisable that baby has skin on skin contact with his parents to help with bonding” She looked pointedly at Link “Both his parents”. She stepped towards the door before looking back at the little family “Oh, and your highness? I think you may need to consider a different name for him. Little Zel hardly seems to suit him, don’t you think?” She grinned and made her way out through the door, leaving both doting parents cooing over their new addition.

Once they were alone the little Hylian hiccupped softly, Zelda looked towards Link with pride in her eyes as he stared down at the boy and laughed lightly at the cute noises he was making. “I think it’s time this little one gets some bonding time with his father, don’t you?” She said as she shifted on the bed, cradling the baby gently and holding him out to Link. For a brief moment the baby wriggles at the change in position, stretching his limbs before snuggling up into the crook of Link’s arm. He yawns and one of his outstretched arms meets with Links hand, his tiny fingers curling around one of his fathers. Link choked on a sob as Zelda rests her head on his shoulder

“We need to name him”

“A significant name for a significant boy”

“What do you suggest?” He asks gently, her face falters at that. She has no idea. Neither does he.

“I.. I really don’t know. Any names I can think of are all girls names and that would be assuming we broke with tradition and didn’t use Zelda. Like Hope or Harmony – something that signifies the fact he was born after the calamity was vanquished.”

“You say something significant, right?” To which Zelda nods “What about ‘Rise’ as in surp-rise? After all he certainly is a surprise”. “Link please, be serious.” She looked at him with a raised brow.

“Okay, what about Finn. As in the end of the calamity?”

“No, he doesn’t look like a Finn”

“Miri like ‘Miracle’?”

“Nope”.

“Hmmm” Link ponders for a while, mummering to himself “He was born in a time of peace, where balance has been restored and tranquillity reigns –“ Link cuts himself short. “What about Quill? As in Tranquillity. That’s what his birth represents Afterall, tranquillity after a hard-won battle”

Zelda looks into the face of the child in his arms, sleeping peacefully nestled against his chest. “You know, I quite like it. It suits him. What do you think, Quill?” Zelda smiles after testing the name out loud and as if he was in agreement one of the babies cheeks scrunched up adorably, the edge of his mouth raising slightly as if he was smiling.

---------

Once Zelda and Quill had been given the all clear by the Doctors the new family were allowed to leave the infirmary and go back to their suite. Quill had been sleeping soundly in the bassinette that was placed by Zelda’s side of the bed which gave Zelda chance to rest herself. She was exhausted and sore, and as much as she wanted to keep just staring at her new son her body was struggling to stay awake. She fell asleep listening to Quills gentle breathing as Link was emptying the bags that they had taken with them to the infirmary when her labour had started. As he went to put something away in their bedroom, he noticed that Zelda had fallen asleep and stood leaning against the doorframe to just watch and take in the beautiful sight before him. While they slept Link showered to try and wake himself up a little. Zelda’s labour had been intense and long lasting, he has stayed up with her throughout it all and he was determined to let her rest while he took care of the both of them.

He came out of the bathroom with his hair down and messy from being towel dried, said towel draped over his shoulders to avoid getting his bare back soaked. He was wearing only his trousers as he busied himself around the room. He stopped what he was doing when he heard Quill start to stir and he seen Zelda’s face twitch slightly as if she was about to rouse from her sleep. Deciding she had had nowhere near enough rest yet Link picked Quill up from his basket and held him against his chest mumbling slightly as to not wake her.

“I’m here, little one” he said softly. “Mummy is resting right now and we need to be quiet to let her sleep, okay?”. He walked to the other side of the bed where he carefully lay down beside Zelda, his back propped against the pillows and his son resting against his chest. The boy calmed down upon contact with his father as Link patted his back soothingly. Quill burped then bunched his hands in the towel around Links shoulders who let out a small chuckle and began stroking his back softly. This repetitive and calming motion lulled both to sleep and it was Zelda that roused first, opening her eyes to the sight of Link and Quill snoozing together. It struck her then just how much like Link he is, he certainly had his hair and maybe his eyes. From the little glimpses Zelda had gotten his eyes looked like they may be blue but he had his mother’s nose and the same chubby cheeks that Zelda had had as a child.

She lay there in silence, enjoying the moment when a soft knock came at the door. Link roused from his nap and Quill stirred but didn’t awaken. “Come in” Zelda spoke softly but loud enough to be heard through the door, which opened as Impa popped her head around the door glancing around to look for the room occupants. “Your highness?” She questioned as Zelda rose from the bed wincing “I can come back at a more convenient time?” She said as she noticed Zelda emerging slowly and carefully from the bedroom

“Not at all Impa, please take a seat. I trust you are here having sought council with the elders?” Zelda lowered herself into one of the lounge chairs slowly, using the arm rests to support her before gesturing for Impa to take a seat at the chair opposite. Link, upon hearing Impa’s voice joined them in the lounge area, Quill’s head resting gently on his shoulder as his little legs were curled beneath him against his fathers chest. Link had draped the towel in such a way to cover most of his chest but was sure to leave the shoulder Quill was resting on exposed. He nodded and smiled warmly at Impa as he handed the baby to Zelda as he started fussing quietly. When he was settled in her arms Link glanced down at her lovingly and gave her a quick peck on the head and rubbed his knuckles softly against Quill’s cheek before heading back into the bedroom to retrieve a clean shirt.

Once he was fully dressed and had bought a tray of tea to the table between the two women, he took a seat next to Zelda as she slowly rocked the baby in her arms.

“As you both know I warped to Kakariko this afternoon to consult the ancient texts and speak with those much older and wiser than myself.” Impa began, her head tilted to one side as she watched the family in front of her fondly.

“Did you find anything of interest” Link piped up; his voice slightly hoarse from sleep.

Impa nodded, a small smile gracing her lips “I did.” To which Zelda looked up into Impa’s eyes and awaited what she had to say.

“So, as I suspected, have a male heir has never happened in the history of the royal family blessed by the goddess. I found an old passage in one of the very ancient tomes that we barely look at due to its fragile state. If I translated correctly, which according to the librarian I did, the passage spoke of a triangle that varies from the triforce in that it is more of mathematical equation rather than anything else. It speaks of forces that occur in nature and being able to calculate the distance, speed and time of an object which, apparently, if applied to the triforce gives us the answer to the calamities end.”

Zelda raised her eyebrow “but the calamity has been defeated in the past before, and still there has been no male heir born to the triforce of wisdom afterwards. So why now?”

“Because the equation has never been fully solved before” Impa says with a knowing smile. It wasn’t often that Zelda was slow on the uptake so Impa decided to continue, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen from the table in front of her in order to demonstrate what she means.

“If we place the triforce pieces in their usual positions with power at the top, wisdom bottom left and courage bottom right…” Impa draws the triforce as it has always been known “…and then we apply the mathematical formular gathered from the texts…” She draws a horizontal line below power then a vertical line between courage and wisdom “…we get the equation for defeating the calamity permanently.” She glances up at the two of them where she is perched on the end of her seat.

“I.. I’m sorry Impa but I don’t quite follow.” Zelda admitted honestly, to which Link was grateful as it meant he didn’t need to admit out loud that he too was confused - If Zelda wasn’t quite grasping it then he didn’t feel so stupid after all.

Impa wrote the equivalent formulae to accompany the triangle, also adding an ‘x’ between the vertical line. The equation read p = w x c. Zelda gasped slightly as she finally understood “Wait, so you’re saying that… that”

Impa nodding again “that’s exactly what I’m saying. The prophecy suggests that for the calamity to be beaten permanently, never to be reincarnated again then wisdom and courage need to combine. This has never happened before as previous incarnates of wisdom and courage have never been together in this way and certainly never producing offspring.”

Zelda looked to Link then, speaking softly almost in a trance “our son is a blessing from Hylia telling us that it’s over. And not just for this generation but for eternity!” Zelda’s eyes were misted up as she looked at Quill.

“In order to overcome the bane of power, wisdom and courage must combine not only in battle but also in surrender. The coming together of the two produces a force so great that not even malice incarnate can prevail.” Impa quoted from the text and gestured to the boy in Zelda’s arms.

---------

A few weeks later once Zelda had sufficiently recovered from birth and the new family had had some bonding time, the champions and the Sheikah scientists were invited to the castle for a private celebration of both the end of calamities and to introduce Quill to their friends before a formal announcement to the kingdom.

The gathering was held in a private pagoda in the castle courtyard near to the gardens with a spread of delicious foods to cater to everyone’s tastes. The group were sat together awaiting the arrival of the guest of honour. They stand when they see Zelda and Link approaching the table and as they get closer they could see Zelda’s eyes were already misty with tears of pride as she stood in front of all her most treasured friends, with Links left arm resting across her lower back and her son in her arms facing away from the group.

“Everyone” Zelda spoke in a soft but clear voice “Link and I are so very happy that you are here to join us. Your bravery and skill have proven vitally important to get where we are today, and as I know you are all aware the calamity is over and shall never plague this world again.” Everyone around her nodding and made small, gratifying sounds of approval. “It is now, in this time of great peace and tranquillity that I would like to introduce to our blessing and proof of our everlasting victory.” At this, Zelda jostled the boy in her arms carefully. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Quill!” Zelda beamed as she turned Quill in her arms so that he was facing her treasured allies and friends.

They arrived at the Calatian Royal Castle in an hour, just as Zelda had predicted. Her husband, King Link, and their son, Prince Kaleb were there to greet them.

“Oh, my son,” Zelda hugged Kaleb extra tight just because she could. “I missed you so much.”

“Mother,” Kaleb huffed. “I can’t breathe.”

“Oh hush,” she ruffed his hair which made him scowl. “Just let your mother give you a hug after we’ve been apart for a month.” Zelda briefly turned to Link sending him a smile and extending her hand so he could press a quick kiss to her knuckles. “How have preparations gone? Will everything be ready by next week?”

“Yes, everything has gone rather smoothly,” he replied, escorting his wife up the stairs and into the main entrance. “Preparations for the crowning are complete, everything for the ball is finished, and the only thing left is the cleaning of a few guest rooms. Speaking of which, when will your parents arrive?”

“Day after tomorrow,” Zelda answered as Caralynn and Kaleb raced past them down the hall. “We may need to separate them soon. Apparently Kaleb left a frog in Caralynn’s bed before you left.”

“I think we should have some father-daughter time then,” Link smiled as he slipped away to grab Caralynn. In turn, Zelda stepped forward to grab Kaleb.

It wasn’t until she had children of her own that Zelda truly appreciated the patience her own mother used when dealing with her. She loved her children, yes, and couldn’t imagine her life without them, but it was times like these that she felt like the Goddesses were really testing her.

***

Guests arrived from all across the Goddesses’ Realm to attend the anointing of Prince Kaleb as the Crown Prince of Calatia. There was more pomp surrounding the event than usual as many wanted to watch a son of Hyrule and Calatia be introduced to the life of public service and the full duties of the crown.

Of course, Zelda was worried out of her mind. She could have sworn there were less people attending her marriage to Link. She never wanted this kind of pressure on her sweet son.

“The only added anxiety I feel is from your worrying, Mother,” Kaleb said during breakfast the day before the ceremony. “I promise I’m fine. I promise everything will go perfectly. If anything you should be worried about Father forgetting his lines or Caralynn making a scene.”

“Being scolded by my own son,” Zelda lamented, ignoring the cries of protest from her husband and daughter. “What has the world come to? Alright, Kaleb, I promise not to pester you for the rest of the day and all of tomorrow.”

“I’ll hold you to your word,” Kaleb pointed his fork at her. “Not a peep for the next forty-eight hours.”

It was easier than Zelda thought. During their final dress rehearsal, Kaleb performed perfectly, easing all the worries she had.

“You’re going to do just fine, my son,” she pulled him into a hug. “Now don’t stay up too late, and don’t drive your father crazy.”

Zelda turned to Link, “And don’t drive your son crazy, either.”

After some final hugs with both Zelda and Caralynn, Link and Kaleb left to partake in a traditional night of seclusion. From the end of the dress rehearsal to the beginning of the crowning, it was tradition for the father and son to be alone and meet with no one. It was a time for the King to pass down wisdom to his heir and for the future Crown Prince to bare his anxieties to his father. The entire time was kept secret to all but the pair, and Zelda knew how important it would be to them both. Link told her once that the night before his own crowning held some of his greatest memories with his father.

The next morning was a rush of excitement, mainly spearheaded by Princess Zelda Caralynn. She was a whirlwind of energy, barely keeping still to let her hair be styled or her Bathory green dress to be properly laced up.

“My first official international ball,” the young princess smiled widely. “Will there be kids my age?”

“There should be,” Zelda smiled at her daughter through the mirror in front of them both. “Queen Hilda of Lorule has a daughter around your age. And of course several of your friends from both Hyrule and Calatia will be here.”

“Yay!” she cheered.

“I hope you practiced your dance steps,” Queen Mother Adalynn smiled from where she sat by the fire.

“Every chance I could,” Caralynn smiled brightly and twirled for her Grandmother just to prove her point. “Dance lessons are much more fun than my other tutoring.”

“Thought her tutoring has gone much better since Kaleb started taking all his lessons here in Calatia,” Zelda almost rolled her eyes, and Adalynn nodded knowingly.

“The joys of raising royal children,” the Queen Mother laughed.

“I truly don’t know how you did it with, Link.”

“Lots of patience and replacing paneling filled with arrow holes on the second floor gallery.”

“Bless you and your patience, Queen Mother,” Zelda placed a hand over her heart. “Now,” she turned to Caralynn, “which jewelry would you like to wear?”

“Could I wear the emerald set Grandmother Ada gave me last Goddess Day?”

“I think that’s a perfect choice,” Zelda reached for the delicate necklace and earrings her daughter selected and handed them to Adalynn so she could put them on her granddaughter. She carefully clasped the necklace on while Caralynn slipped the earrings into place.

“You look like a Princess,” Zelda smiled at her daughter as she twirled in front of the mirror.

“Thank you,” she smiled. “But I still think blue looks better.”

“That’s my girl.”

They waited in a second floor parlor with some of the other high profile guests until it was their turn to enter the Grand Hall. The Queen and Princess took their thrones on the dais behind the High Priest while the Queen Mother took her seat in the front row, and they waited for the entrance of the King and Prince.

Everyone stood when Link walked in with Kaleb at his side and the ceremony began.

“I, Link of House Bathory, present my son, Kaleb Jonathan, to the Goddesses above, all here in attendance, and all the subjects of my realm,” Link spoke to the High Priest.

“As the chosen representative of the Goddesses, I welcome you,” the High Priest nodded. “Is there anything you wish to declare to the Goddesses of old?”

“I wish to declare my intention to name my son as my heir and Crown Prince of the kingdom of Calatia.”

The High Priest began the ceremonial speech in Ancient Hylian. Zelda glanced over at Caralynn to see her daughter’s brow furrowed in concentration to hear and understand each word. After the High Priest was done, Kaleb knelt, and Link stepped forward to give the formal vows.

“With all the peoples of Calatia here as my witnesses,” he started, “I confirm you as my heir and the future King of Calatia.”

“I humbly accept this burden from you, my King,” Kaleb responded. “And I dutifully await the day to fulfill this promise.”

“The Goddesses will call for that day whenever they wish. Will you be ready, my son?” Link held out his hand.

“I will never be ready,” Kaleb grabbed his father’s hand with both of his. “But I will fulfill this duty to the best of my ability.”

Zelda thought she heard more weight in Kaleb’s words than during the dress rehearsal the night before, and she wondered if Link had told him how he renewed his own crowning vows with his father on King Clement’s deathbed.

Pages stepped forward, and Link handed Kaleb the ceremonial scepter and orb before placing a grandiose crown adorned in emeralds on his son’s head. The High Priest stepped forward again to perform the final part of the ceremony.

“In the name of the Golden Goddesses, I anoint you as the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Calatia,” the High Priest dipped his fingers into the anointing oil and drew a triangle on Kaleb’s forehead. “Rise and receive your people.”

Kaleb stood and turned to face the crowd, holding his head high despite the weight of the crown.

“I proclaim you Kaleb Jonathan of House Bathory, Crown Prince of Calatia,” the High Priest called out. “May the Goddesses bless you.”

“May the Goddesses bless you,” the crowd echoed back before breaking into applause and the occasional cheer from the younger guests and Caralynn.

***

Zelda smiled as she watched Caralynn and Kaleb dance as informally as they could along with the other young kids on the dance floor, knowing Adalynn was off somewhere shaking her head and laughing at the sight. Dinner was technically finished, but the plates and tables were still being cleared. The children and young adults had stormed the dance floor and starting partying while their parents stood and engaged in small talk.

“I’m glad we can give them such joy,” Zelda sighed.

“Feeling nostalgic now that they’re growing?” Link chuckled next to her.

“Of course,” Zelda shoved Link half-heartedly. “I was so worried about their childhood, raising them in two countries as we are.”

“And they have completely turned out fine,” he smiled. “Probably better than we were at that age.”

“Oh Goddesses,” she shook her head. “I almost can’t believe how much we’ve changed since we first met all those years ago.”

“Yes, if we had it your way, we wouldn’t even be married.”

“We might have if you weren’t so stubborn over my Sheik disguise.”

Link scoffed, “You know I love your Sheik disguise. It was the deception I was angry about.”

“Like you wouldn’t have done the same if you could,” Zelda laughed when Link didn’t have a quick reply.

They sat and watched as the kids were shepherded off the dance floor, and the ball was officially opened by Kaleb and one of the noble’s daughters that he adamantly told them he did not have a crush on (none of them believed him).

“Are you glad?” Link asked quietly. “That we stuck it out after everything we went through?”

Zelda thought back on the last few years. Their coronations and wedding, spending a whole year to just tour Hyrule and Calatia and visit every possible nook and cranny of each country, finding out she was pregnant and bickering with Link about the gender for months (all in good fun of course). It hadn’t been easy, traveling back and forth from Hyrule to Calatia every six months, but to see her and Link’s children grow and learn about both of their homelands had been worth it. She couldn’t imagine a happy life without them running around the castle. In fact she couldn’t imagine what her life would be like without Link beside her.

She touched her wedding ring. The sapphires of her engagement ring were accompanied by a band of emeralds now, reflecting the colors of the two houses she a part of. It didn’t matter that it had all started with a contract that Zelda had initially sought to be annulled. It didn’t matter that they had fought each other tooth and nail for almost two years after meeting one another. And it didn’t matter that it took both of them far too long to realize their true feelings for one another. What mattered was that they were together, they were happy, and each day was better than the one before.