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Midna's hands ran through her hair and Zelda let out a relieved sigh. She felt Midna's deft fingers scrape against her scalp as she braided Zelda's hair. “We're almost done, princess,” she muttered, leaning down and pressing a kiss to the shell of Zelda's ear. Her body warmed at the action and Hyrule's stoney princess managed a small smile.
“Midna, love.” A more masculine voice came from the bed. “When are you coming to sleep?” The Hero of Twilight was a handsome sight, if Zelda craved that kind of thing. In nothing but a pair of loose trousers and spread out over a plush, red blanket it was easy to see how toned his body was from his quest. She watched Midna's eyes trace over the planes of his bare chest, curiosity rising up within her. According to legend, the princess and the hero were always bound. If she believed the old tales, they loved each other. Zelda could not summon any love when she looked at the Ordonian boy sprawled out on her large, royal bed. She had always expected to marry for politics. She probably still would with the state Hyrule was in.
“I’ll be coming to bed soon,” Midna huffed to the hero. Link flopped back with a sigh. The edges of Midna's chastising tone were beyond fond. The bond between her and Link could never be replaced, Zelda knew that. She had been a part of Midna, felt how her heart had softened and yearned for the man she'd been traveling beside. It had been an interesting experience, to look at a man and feel that way. She touched her hand to her chest, a ghost of that affection still lingering in her chest. She knew it wasn't hers, but she also knew not to encroach on the bond between the two.
She had also felt Midna's anguish at her loss. Zelda was grateful Link had been there for his dear traveling companion when Zelda couldn't be. However, she intended to never make Midna feel that way again.
She stepped forward, placed her hands neatly in front of her. Zelda got up on her toes and pressed a kiss to Midna's lips. “Thank you for helping me with my hair.”
Midna smirked down at her, “Anytime, princess.”
Zelda never understood why she called her that. Midna wasn't any less royalty than she was.
Minda sauntered over to the bed. Zelda noticed how Link's eyes trace the curves of her body. Midna made sure to accentuate the sway of her hips as she moved, just to keep his attention. Not that it mattered, Zelda knew that boy was at Midna's beckoned call. She just loves the way he drooled over her like a dog with a bone. Disgusting. She found the ordeal rather ridiculous, but she'd never enjoyed a man's attention. It may have caused strife if her father were still alive, but Zant had taken care of that.
Zelda closed her eyes and gripped her vanity. Father. Soon she would be crowned the queen of Hyrule, as Midna would become the queen of the Twilight Realm. When she looked back at Midna, she was sitting on Link's lap and running her fingers through his messy, dark blonde hair. He was covering her face in kisses, hand on the small of her back. Zelda may have been jealous of the sight in the past, but now she knew just how much Midna and the hero cared for each other.
She had seen his devotion to her through Midna's own eyes. And she wanted nothing more than her fellow princess to be happy.
Still, it didn't change what Zelda knew she needed to propose. Link, as much as Midna loved him, was still lowborn. He had no kingdom or title to offer her. He was a hero, and no one would deny that didn't make him worthy of a princess’s hand. But Hyrule and the Twilight Realm had been ravaged by war. They needed more than a farm boy with no talent for governing as a savior now.
Zelda let Link and Midna have their moment before she went and sat down on the bed next to him. Link blinked at her, taking in her sullen demeanor instantly. “Your Highness?”
“Link, you are actively kissing my lover,” Zelda sighed, “I have told you that we are on a first name basis.”
The young man rubbed the back of his neck with a wince, “Sorry Your- Zelda.”
Midna wrapped her arms around the back of Link's neck and pressed a kiss to the top of his head, “Oh, let the poor boy have his propriety. You're going to break him, Zel.”
“Midna, nothing about what you do with that boy is proper,” Zelda replied with a roll of her eyes as she laid her hands on her lap.
Midna only flashed her an impish grin, her sharp teeth gleaming in the lowlight of the room. “I would be careful, princess. The same thing could be said about you.”
Zelda felt blood rush to her cheeks. She had to turn away and focus on the stone wall, trying to regain her composure. She soon cleared her throat, “Yes, well…” She smoothed her hair down over one shoulder, “What I wanted to discuss with you tonight is very official.”
“And what's that?” Midna asked, not moving from where she was situated on Link’s lap. The hero leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the underside of her jaw. Zelda pretended not to feel a twinge of jealousy at how easy it was for him to show her affection like that.
“I believe both our peoples should see that we are united. We need to pool our resources in order to make repairs after this devastating war. And we both have a responsibility to ensure these changes happen, so it's only logical we bare it together…” She stumbled over her words, not missing the flash of concern in Midna's eyes. She reached forward and cupped Zelda's cheek with one hand.
“Princess, what are you going on about?”
Zelda looked up into her deep orange eyes and whispered, “I think we should get married.”
“Excuse me?” Midna reeled back, Link placing a hand on her back and shoulder for support. His eyes were equally as wide as he stared at Zelda. Midna started to laugh. Each sound was a blade upon Zelda's skin. She looked at the hero, who was so open with Midna. Perhaps he would make a better king than she anticipated. “Zelda…” Midna's eyes softened when she saw the look on her face. She grabbed one of Zelda's hands.
“There is nothing I would rather do, than spend my life with you,” she promised. Zelda's breath hitched. “But have you really thought this through? You would be forever uniting the Twilight and Hyrule. Surely your subjects cannot be okay with that.”
“My subjects will learn to value their diligent and brilliant queen,” Zelda squeezed Midna's hand, “You are so devoted to your kingdom. There is no one else I would trust to rule Hyrule with me.”
Link cleared his throat, as if to remind them he was still there. Midna flicked him in the chest, “Quiet, Wolfie. The grown-ups are speaking.”
She turned back to Zelda, “Well, there's the matter of heirs-”
“Is that not what Link is for?” Zelda asked, “I am under the assumption he will father any children you have. They will be the heir to both Twilight and Hyrule.” She smiled, “The people love their hero, I'm sure they will love any child of his.”
“So, I'm marrying Midna as well?” Link asked, eyes wide with panic, “I'm not cute out for royalty, Your-”
“No, it's against Twili law,” Midna rolled her eyes, “Though I may be able to change it in time. I feel you'll be quite happy being a consort and looking pretty at my feet.”
“Can I have a throne?”
“Thrones are for royalty, Link.” Midna only grinned as Link let out a groan and flopped back on the bed.
“So?” Zelda couldn't quite keep the anticipation out of her voice.
“You've really thought this all over,” Midna smirked. She leaned forward and grabbed both of Zelda's cheeks with her hands, “Oh, princess.” Her face softened to a smile, “I will gladly marry you.”
Link let out a cheer from where he was laying on the bed.
Midna leaned forward and pressed a slow kiss to Zelda's lips. The princess of Hyrule leaned into it, feeling her heart flutter in her chest. Her and Midna were united, just like she'd always dreamed of.
Light and shadow melded together, leaving only the careful balance the two princesses had found between them. Between their queens and the hero who served them, Zelda knew that Hyrule and the Twilight Realm would enter an era of peace.
And she would finally find her happiness.