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Link looked up at the tall figure in front of him, he had zoned out after the words “my fiancée” had slipped out of Sidon’s mouth. He was talking about Lady Yona, the green Zora woman who Link had met earlier before coming to find the Prince. She, too, had used the words “my fiancée”, but to Link, it didn’t sound real. He thought he had misheard her. He really wished he had misheard her.
But when Sidon confirmed it to be true, the Hylian’s head began spinning. It didn’t make any sense. Link had never heard of this ‘Lady Yona’, yet supposedly she was the Prince’s childhood friend? The Hylian and the Zora Prince were close, hell, even Yona knew that they were “best friends”. Well, in truth, they were even more than that. Before The Upheaval (but after Calamity Ganon’s defeat), before everything went to shit for the second time, Link and Sidon’s relationship was not the most conventional (in terms of their two conflicting statuses). They were romantically involved with one another, though it was a secret relationship. The Hylian Hero would visit the Domain, an excuse veiled under the story that Link was visiting for business/Hyrule Kingdom reasons. When, in reality, it was to see his love. The Zora people just thought they were close friends, which seemed to evade any suspicion.
Being Zelda’s knight, Link didn’t have much free time, so whenever he did, he would immediately run to the Zora Prince’s side. However, when they were apart, they would write to each other constantly.
So, naturally, when Link had awoken after The Upheaval, after losing Zelda, after having his arm completely shattered, all the Hylian wanted was to see his love. The one he intended to spend the rest of his days with. So finding out that his love was engaged to another wasn’t an easy fact to face.
He didn’t understand, why had Sidon moved on? Was this his doing? Or was it something that Muzu or King Dorephan had set up? Surely the Prince didn’t move on that quick. How long had Link been gone for? Clearly long enough for his dearest friend, his boyfriend , to promise himself to another.
He snapped out of his spiralling when he felt large, gentle hands take him by the shoulders. “Link, please.. Say something..” Sidon muttered cautiously, staring into the Hylian’s eyes.
‘I don’t know what you want me to say, I don’t understand,’ Link signed, frankly too upset to talk. Before saying anything more, the Prince told the guards protecting Mipha’s Court to leave them alone for a while. He didn’t want them to overhear their conversation.
“I know, it’s.. Big news.. And I’m so sorry. It was.. Partially my idea..” Sidon sighed regrettably. The Hylian’s eyes widened, his eyebrows tilting downwards, but before Link could sign anything, the Prince continued, “Link. My father, well, he said it would be a good idea for me to marry someone. For the good of the Domain, he said that a king needs a.. Queen..” his eyes drifted to the floor, frowning sadly, “and so.. I agreed.. And I’ve known Lady Yona since I was a child.. I know her family are good Zora, and my father approved of the idea so..”
The Hylian shrugged Sidon’s hands off of his shoulders and took a few steps backwards, his face painted with betrayal, confusion and hurt. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, Link began to hyperventilate, he felt like he was going to throw up, or cry.
All the Hero knew was that he couldn’t look at Sidon. It stung too much. He began to walk away, he still couldn’t believe what he was hearing. As he was trying to walk away, he suddenly felt Sidon grab his arm, and he tried to hardest to squirm out of his grip (failing terribly). Link looked back at the Prince, who was on the verge of tears. “Link, my love, please.. Just listen to me-”
The Hylian was at a loss for words, ‘I can’t believe this, did our relationship mean nothing to you?’ he signed sharply, trying once more to free himself from the other’s hand.
“How could you say that? Of course it meant something to me! But I thought you were dead , Link! I thought I had lost you! When I heard that you and Princess Zelda went missing, I was devastated. My heart broke. I was angry at myself for not being there! And I’m still angry at myself, I mean, what ever happened to your arm? Why wasn’t I there for you?” Sidon was nearly yelling, tears flowed, “but even when I was grieving, I had a duty to my people. My father had asked me to keep moving forward, even when he knew how hard I was taking your “death”. And.. well.. I thought maybe.. Trying to love someone else would make it easier for me to move on..” those words stung Link more than any electric keese could.
‘But I’m here now. I’m alive, what does that mean for us now?’
“Link, I’m more than overjoyed that you’re not.. Dead.. my heart is fuller than ever! But I don’t know..” Sidon muttered, “I made a promise to the Domain, to Yona, to my father..” his grip softened on Link’s arm.
‘So.. are we just..’ Link hesitated, tears pricking at his eyes, ‘.. friends?’
“Oh, Link..” the Zora placed a hand on the Hylian’s cheek, stroking it carefully, preparing to wipe away any tears that escaped his big blue eyes, “I’m sorry.. If I had known you were alive, I can assure you that I would’ve never agreed to any of this.”
‘Please.. Just call it off.. You still have time to change your mind..’ the Hero begged, leaning into Sidon’s hand as a few tears began to travel down his face.
“What kind of King would I be if I just changed my mind so suddenly?” Sidon laughed softly and sadly, bound by his duty.
“You’d be a happy one,” Link’s voice finally came through, it was raw and weak.
He soon couldn’t take it, the Hylian’s expression, his body language, his hoarse, sad voice, it broke Sidon. He knew that he would never forgive himself for making his beloved feel this way.
The Prince stared at the other with soft eyes, he knew Link was right. But what was he supposed to tell his father? To tell Lady Yona? That his true soulmate was not actually dead and he and Link had been in a secret relationship for the last couple of years without his father’s knowledge? His heart wanted to run off with the Hylian, he wanted to leave everything behind and start fresh.
Sidon leaned closer, taking it slow, he wasn’t sure how Link would react. He knew what he was about to do was wrong , and not fair to Yona (though he was fairly certain that she had done worse behind his back, which he didn’t blame her for), but even so, his eyes lowered to the Hylian’s lips and then looked back up to his eyes. Waiting for his consent.
Link noticed, and before any more tears could fall from his eyes, the Hylian quickly closed the gap between them and kissed the Zora. It was desperate, passionate, full of emotions. Their physical intimacy was something Link missed, it used to be a comfort that reminded the Hylian that even with everything crumbling around him, Sidon was there. That the Zora Prince would always be there for him. Except this time, their kiss was different. It signified that this was the last time they could ever share this space together. It signified that Link wouldn’t be spending the rest of his days with the one he truly loved. Sidon held the Hylian close, as though if he loosened his grip even a little, Link would immediately slip away. He had tucked one arm around the Link's waist, while still keeping his other hand against his cheek. The blonde had wrapped his arms around the Zora’s neck. They held one another like it was the last time they would ever see each other, and in some ways, it was. Sure, they would still literally see each other, but their relationship wouldn’t be the same ever again. Sidon kissed Link in a way that he’d never kissed Yona before, and he probably never would kiss her in the same way. It was needy, yet soft, he’d always admired Link, and that admiration continued into their most intimate moments together - when it was just the two of them. He could never allow himself to disrespect the Hylian Hero in any way.
In between frantic kisses, Sidon carefully moved his mouth down to Link’s jaw, and the Hylian complied - though he felt guilty. “Please.. Stay.. my love,” the Prince whispered, sending shivers up the Hylian’s spine. The Goddess Hylia knew how much he wanted to, but he was a knight first, and his moral compass was starting to get the better of him. A soft whimper escaped Link’s lips, holding tighter onto the Zora. “Sidon, we both know.. That I.. can’t,” the Hero managed to whisper back, though it hurt to say it. Sidon’s grip tightened slightly on his waist, he so desperately wanted to worship the Hylian. It had been far too long, and now seemed to be his last chance to be with the Hero. Quiet whimpers left Links mouth, his body craved more. “I can’t..” he sighed once more, as he felt Sidon move down to his neck with gentle kisses. “You’re so beautiful..” the Zora purred against his neck, he wanted to keep Link here with him forever. He felt the Hylian melt under his kisses, more whimpers and sighs erupted, Link was always sensitive to compliments, praise and physical contact, and it made the Prince grin. Whilst Link knew he had to go, his body certainly wasn’t loosening his grip against his love. “Sidon, you can’t.. Do this to.. Yona..”
“I doubt she’d even care, my pearl..” the Zora breathed against the Hylian’s neck. The nicknames he used always made Link shiver, Sidon always knew how to make him feel loved. But he did eventually pull away, much to Link’s subconscious protest, “but, as always, you are right,” Sidon smiled sadly at the other, “it isn’t fair to disrespect her like this..”
The Prince let go of the Hero, “I’m sorry,” the Zora mumbled out, “I shouldn’t have even offered, it wasn’t right.” Link already missed his touch, his hand instinctively moved up to his own neck to remember the feeling, but also wondering if the Zora had left him anything. Sidon noticed Link’s quizzical touch, and shook his head, “don’t worry, my dearest, I didn’t mark you..” Though slightly disappointed, Link knew it was for the best. It would look rather suspicious if he returned to Lady Yona with bruising against his neck after visiting her fiancée.
“Are..” the Hylian started cautiously - a last ditch effort - “are you sure.. You want to go through with the marriage..? Wouldn’t your people respect you more for following your heart?” he didn’t have much optimism for Sidon’s answer. He was fiercely loyal to his duty and his people, and although it hurt him, Link knew he’d be a great king whether he was married to Lady Yona or not. Sidon was quiet for a while, thinking hard on how to word his response.
The Zora took the Hylian’s hands in his, “Link, in an ideal world, I’d be with you . You would be my choice, of course, but.. Listen to me, my love..” he frowned, “I have a duty to my people.. And.. as much as I hate to say it, I can’t.. marry someone who isn’t a Zora.. I need to continue the bloodline, and, well, I’m sure you can see the complications if I were to be with someone who isn’t a Zora..”
“But once you’re king surely you can change the law-”
“It doesn’t work like that, I’m afraid..”
“But-”
“Link! Please..” Sidon cut the Hero off, and sighed, “I’m sorry, I don’t like this any more than you do.. But there’s nothing I can do..”
Now Link definitely felt like he was going to throw up. Knowing that he couldn’t even be in the running for Sidon’s suitors. In this moment, he desperately wished to kiss the Zora Prince once more, though he knew it wasn’t a good idea, so he refrained. After what felt like hours of silence, Link finally spoke up again, “I think I need to be alone for a while,” the Hylian said solemnly, his stare was hollow and soulless.
“I understand..” the Prince responded sadly, stepping away from Link. The Hylian began to walk away, but before he got too far, the Zora Prince called out to him once more, “Link!” as the blonde turned to look at him, Sidon continued, “I just wanted to say again, I’m so glad you’re alive..”
Link didn’t respond, he just nodded his head and walked away from the love of his life.