Work Text:
Link slammed his maul down onto the stump, and two halves of a log fell to either side. He wiped his sweaty brow, hot even in the Midwinter cold, and a little flurry of snow swept about his feet as he popped the lid of his thermos open, drinking deeply. He liked Necludan Coffee, but it was pricey– though he found his occasional expensive tastes supplemented by gifts from a certain neighbor girl. Come to think of it, those gifts had become less frequent of late. He was back in town from H.A.C.K. for two weeks, and Far had immediately sent him out the back door to chop wood.
Light applause appeared behind him, and he turned to see two figures standing there. Aryll, in a huge pink winter coat and knitted hat, giggled and threw a snowball at him. He dropped the maul and reached up, letting his arm fall gently back as he caught the snowball and whipped it back at her. She shrieked, and the woman to her left scowled at him and dusted the sixteen year old off.
It was, of course, the neighbor girl in question. Zelda wore a long white coat and perfectly elegant boots- she thrived in winter aesthetically, and the shorter hairstyle she had adopted two years ago worked quite well with the outfit. “Seriously, Link? We just came to say hello.”
“Good to see you too, love.” He stepped towards her, but as he did, a snowball crashed into his face. He felt arms wrap around his neck, and she pecked him on the mouth. Aryll feigned retching.
“Oh, be quiet Aryll. We all know you’re all over that kid from Bridgeton.” Zelda gave Aryll a meaningful look and then stood up to kiss Link again. “Just like that, see? Not difficult.”
“I don’t have a crush on Kenyo,” Aryll said defensively. “We’re just friends.”
Link smiled. “Nobody to show who’s boss, then? No one to educate about the dangers of messing with my little sister?”
Aryll rolled her eyes. “Knight school made you all about honor and stuff, Link. You’re boring now.”
“Boring got you a snowball in the face.”
“Zelda got you a snowball in the face.”
Link glanced at Zelda for support, but she just pushed another handful of the powdery stuff into his face, which made Aryll collapse into hysterics. Link scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, spinning around.
“Stop it! Lemme go!” she managed between giggles, and Link eventually stopped spinning. Most of the snow was out of his face, though some was still stuck in his jacket collar and the fur of his hat. Setting her down, he picked up his thermos in one hand and maul in the other.
“Why don’t you drag this firewood to the shed, kikkert .” Link said, indicating a little sled piled with the wood he had been chopping. Aryll obliged, stacking up the remaining pieces of wood onto the sled and dragging it to the shed, all the while humming Fish in the Sky. Link was particularly fond of Marin Wind, who had written the song, and pointed at her as he and Zelda walked towards the side door of the cabin. “You know, she’s pretty great, even if she’s a little punk sometimes.”
“She is pretty great. You know, you should take notes, you might be as cool as her someday.” Zelda grinned, and Link took her hand, leading her beyond the door and off down a trail. “How’s Hack?”
Link lifted a low hanging branch over her head as they walked, ducking under it behind her. “Good. I’ve been doing well, can’t say a lot because of NDA but I can tell you that I’ll have more than a title coming out of there. Pay will be pretty good too, I might get to work in a more… unique division. Special Operations, Intelligence. That sort of thing. Once I graduate, of course, next year.”
“Are you really allowed to tell me even that much? Impa can’t even tell me when she’s graduating.” Zelda kicked a bit of snow off of her boot, and it rustled on top of old leaves. This was a very dry winter.
“Sort of. Just don’t mention it to anyone else, hey?”
“Sure.”
“So how’s political science?” Link tried to keep up with what Zelda was doing, but one letter a month could only let him know so much. As it was, he knew she was studying at Southander academy in Lurelin, which was on the coast, and that she had found an area where she did surprisingly well.”
“I’m really excited about next year, actually,” she said, her face lighting up. “See, I like the science aspect and all, but I transferred my focus to actually working in politics. I mean, I’m sure you’ve heard about the Council, right?”
The High Hyrulean Council had announced within the past few years that the nation would be making a return to the monarchy. They even more recently made it possible to register as a candidate. The wealthy were not permitted office, and the aim was to raise up a person who understood the people to rule over them. The elections for candidates to be chosen were being held next winter. Link had definitely heard. His new division was actually not strictly intelligence. They were the security detail for the new ruler. Nobody knew who would be running yet exactly, but he had his eyes set on a man named Ganondorf Dragmire. He was a strong man who came from money but had announced he was giving it all away to the people. He came from an extremely wealthy family, and had already begun announcing policies he would institute. Giving up wealth to run was allowed, but had to be done at least two years in advance of the elections. He had donated enough to follow the rules to H.A.C.K. before the deadline, and all of his policy announcements had been on his personal social media- not something limited by the rules which dictated when people could begin campaigning for the position.
“I’m familiar, yeah.”
Their walk slowed as Zelda talked animatedly. “The announcement came out, and I was going into political science, and of course, I was studying it, and it’s fascinating. You know what I learned researching the monarchy?”
Link grinned at her excitement. “What’s that?”
Her tone got serious. “I’m part of it.”
He turned to her. “Say what?”
“My mom never talked much about where we came from. They were dirt poor because nobody wanted royals around after the coup. My great grandparents a few generations back went to the mountains, where my mom grew up. She had no idea who she was, but a little bit of intense digging in some of the biggest libraries in the world can tell you a lot. I wanted to do a paper on where the royals were today, but other than like, Marin Wind, nobody has really used it for celebrity status.’
Link looked at her in shock. “That’s… really cool. Like that’s way cooler than my grandfather being a knight.”
“You know what that means, Link?”
“Hm?”
“Technically I’m Princess Zelda.”
“Oh, sure, your highness, is there anything I can do for you?”
She grinned, and then stopped and turned to him. “Vote for me.”
He stopped dead.
“I’m running.”
Link looked at her disbelievingly. “You’re running?”
“I’ve been studying politics. I run a ton of stuff at Southander. My professors think I can do it.”
“And beat Dragmire?” Dragmire was known to crush his competition, sometimes literally.
She looked at him. “You don’t think I can do it?”
He thought hard. She had basically run all of the school clubs she was a part of senior year of high school. She had founded two organizations at Southander and started a stationery business in Lurelin that, while tiny, was flourishing. Then again, Dragmire was the self made millionaire behind RED, a weapons manufacturer that he knew firsthand was top-notch stuff. The company was incredibly efficiently run, supposedly their profit margins were ridiculous, and the prices were good too. “I think you could lead, but the man is just more experienced, and he’s a brutal leader.”
Zelda nodded. “So… should I not run?”
“You should do what you want to do, and I’ll support you in it. I’ll be right there with you when it starts next year, but you have to understand it’s my duty to do what’s best for Hyrule.” He was toeing the line, he knew it, but duty was a strong sense in him. He knew she was smart– wise, really, beyond her years. Something had happened between their senior year of high school and the time he saw her first after H.A.C.K. had released him. She was a totally different person– still Zelda, but far wiser. She could do it, but Dragmire had experience. Dragmire also had some things Link hadn’t bothered to dig into too deep, but was now reminded of.
“Thanks. I’m going to run. Hopefully my royal blood doesn’t get out and ruin my rep, but I’d rather be running things than that crime lord.”
“He isn’t a crime lord, Zels, he’s a weapons manufacturer. The Agiy Clan has his weapons because we all do. Plus, the Knighthood gets access two years before any other clients. He’s a patriot, even if he does run a pretty profitable company.”
“Akkala, last year? When you wondered how they’d gotten those things that shot like… sep.. sen… sept…”
“Sentipimal Mass. He actually made an announcement about that about three months ago, there was a raid on a shipment that should’ve been impossible to rob. It’s still under investigation, but the Knighthood doesn’t have anything yet.” He stopped himself. “Come on Zels, you know I’ll vote for you, and I know you can do anything you set your mind to.”
She nodded, and he made a face. “Serious. I’m worried you’ll go up against Dragmire and you’ll waste a lot of time and resources trying to beat him. He’s a brutal business man, no reason he won’t be a brutal politician. But if you think you can win, I will absolutely stand by you.”
“Are you sure? You seem to think he’ll do better.”
“I haven’t heard you campaign yet, nor have I heard him. I think he has a lot of good ideas about the military, stuff I’m amazed a private citizen would think about or be able to learn. I think he’s a good leader. But you are too, and I know you. I trust you. You’re a tough lady, and you’re wicked smart. I was taken aback because I’m worried for you. He’s a dangerous person to be competing with– we have to keep a pretty close eye on him in the Knighthood because he’s basically more dangerous than any country we might declare a war on.”
“Oh.” Her demeanor sobered. “So, not a great idea to get in his way?”
Link shook his head. “Like I said, you can do it. One more year, love. One more year and I’ll be right there with you. One more year, and so many things. One more year…” He trailed off, and his inner pocket felt incredibly heavy. One more year.
“Seriously! When?”
“Probably before Midwinter’s Eve.”
“No, you need to have a set time, a set place, and a set everything. Otherwise you’ll chicken out.”
Link sighed. “Purah, I have made men twice my size beg for mercy with nothing but a well balanced stick. I’m not going to chicken out.”
Purah raised her eyebrows at him over her steaming coffee. “Can I see it?” she asked, leaving the argument to rest for a while.
He reached into his jacket pocket and produced the little box for the nineteenth time that week, flicking it across the table to her. She popped it open and gasped, then snapped it shut.
“No diamond?”
“She doesn’t like them, Purah.”
“Hmph. Everyone likes them. I want a ring with three diamonds in it when I get married.”
“How do you think he’ll feel about that?” Link reached out and took the box, removing the ring and turning it over in his hand. The make was simple, three golden strands braided together coming to a point and forming a tiny triforce whose top point extended from the edge of the ring just enough to create an irregularity. The wedding ring matched it, a small indentation designed to catch the triangles and complete them. It contained gemstones, but the engagement ring itself was simple gold– simple gold, Link thought as he remembered the price tag. Sure, it would’ve been nothing to Zelda if she had seen it a few years ago, but as far as either of them were concerned nowadays it was a lot of money.
“Did you talk to her dad?” Purah asked, and sipped her coffee as he clicked the ring back into the box and stowed it in his inner pocket.
“Yeah, it was a pretty short conversation.”
He wasn’t lying. He remembered every word clear as day.
“Hello, Link. Didn’t expect to see you around for another day or two, Zelda said you were coming on the eighteenth?”
“I got out early. She’s not home, is she?”
“No, she’s out somewhere with her friends catching up. Midwinter only just started.”
“Right. Could I um, ask you something?”
“Always. Like I told you, anything Harkinian Industries can offer you.”
“I um. I’m going to graduate next year, and I’ll be a member of the Hyrulean Knighthood. The pay isn’t ludicrous, but it’s enough.”
“That’s great to hear, son. I don’t mean to be rude, but why exactly are you telling me this?”
“Oh right. Well, you see– no. Hm.”
“Why don’t you step inside, Link. Have a seat.”
“Thanks. Zelda and I have been dating for just over four years now, and I’ve come to realize during my training at H.A.C.K. precisely how important it is to treasure and protect what you care about. I love her.”
“I’m glad. She’s quite fond of you yourself, Link.”
“Well, I just wanted to tell you that I’m planning on proposing to her before Midwinter ends. I know it's not really so much a thing anymore, but my dad always told me to talk to a girl’s father first.”
“Jakob is a wise man. Well, you’re absolutely right– it’s more of a formality than anything. Zelda’s her own person, but if it’s any encouragement, you have my blessing. I really appreciate you coming to talk with me.”
“Of course… Do you happen to know if her restaurant tastes have changed? We’ve kind of been making do with what we can get the past two years and I’m not sure where she actually really likes.”
“Isn’t that for you to figure out? You should talk to the Shades girls.”
“Right. Should’ve thought of that.”
“And if you harm a hair on her head, Mr. Greene, you’ll live to regret it.”
Rhoam Harkinian was a surprisingly kind man once you got past his awkward exterior. Zelda’s relationship with him had gotten a lot better since she had gone off to college, and apparently he and Far had met at a coffee shop downtown and struck up a friendship that lasted a month before they realized who the other was. Link had a sneaking suspicion that Far had known all along– there weren’t a ton of men named Harkinian walking around Hateno. Regardless, he had been pleasantly surprised by Rhoam’s chillness. He himself was still terrified, he realized, and so maybe Purah was right. He finished his coffee and set it down on the table.
“Well, I suppose I’ll just wait for the moment to present itself.”
“You’re a stubborn one. Impa complains about that, you know.”
Link’s mind changed gears rapidly. “She does? Do I not take correction well enough? She gave a whole speech about that to our unit after we botched a simulation for the third time a few months ago. I hope that wasn’t pointed at me…”
Purah laughed out loud. “I heard about that one actually. She said if she had left you alone to do it you could’ve, and she’s mostly upset with some guy named Groose.” Link scoffed. “You know him?”
“Yeah, sadly.”
“Well, you’ve got other battles to fight right now. Go get her.” Purah grinned at him and winked as she pushed her chair back from the table and stood. “I suppose I’ll be off, I have a software firm to manage.”
It was two days later when “the moment presented itself.” Link had taken Zelda to a nice restaurant, Lon Lon’s, where he was friends with the manager’s daughter. Malon was pretty chill, and Link had spent a while with her planning this evening. Purah was right, planning was useful, and while he supposed he would pop the question whenever it worked, he had certainly hoped it would be this night.
Malon had left the two of them with their drinks after clearing their plates. Zelda sat across from Link at a small table, wearing a grey dress that matched his green tweed nicely. Her hair was up in some elaborate bun he couldn’t wrap his mind around. He was dressed smartly, and had fully embraced Zelda’s taste for him wearing green. She liked uniforms, and many of his fashion choices ended up reflecting his armor these days.
Link felt the little box in his pocket again, and it was very heavy. Unbearably so. He reached into his jacket, and at that exact moment, Zelda sighed and put her head in her hands.
“What’s wrong, love?” Link stood, dropping the box back and walking over to her side. “You alright?”
“Mmm. Headache. I think it’s just the noise, not sure. I’ll be alright.” She forced a thin lipped smile.
“Let’s step out, it’s alright,” He said, and folded his card into a napkin, turning to Malon, who was watching carefully and tapping it. She nodded and snatched it up as they walked outside.
Link led Zelda to a bench, and she sat. He slipped his arm around her waist and squeezed it. “You alright, love?”
“Yeah, thanks. It’s just stiflingly hot in there. And loud.” She folded her bare arms, holding herself tightly.
“I’m sorry,” Link said, but she swatted his shoulder.
“You did nothing, stupid. I just happen to have a headache. Wish something would just work out for once, I’m too stressed about the campaign launch. I don’t think fundraising is going well.” She leaned into him, her hair falling apart as the pins were skewed out of place. She smelled of apples freshly picked- it was a perfume he didn’t recognize, but then again, he didn’t recognize a ton these days. She looked familiar there, like a girl he had known five years ago, sitting on his living room couch holding back tears, tired and exhausted.
That’s your moment. Wish something would just work out? That’s what she needs right now.
Link reached into his pocket again, but his hand lingered there. After a long moment, he removed it with no box, wrapped Zelda in his arms, and held her tightly. “You’re going to do great, and it’s all going to work out. Even if it doesn’t though, I’ll be there. I promise.”
“For everything?”
“Everything.” He smiled, and the box in his pocket got lighter.
“Thank you, forest boy.”
“Of course, Princess.”