Finally, the formal event was over and Zelda allowed herself to be whisked away from the tiring night of politics. The rulers of each race and village, like Link, were unhappy with her Zelda's resumption of her traditional throne and the strained, yet polite, negotiations had worn her patience thin.
Though Link had been happy to return to duty as a royal guard and trusted confidant, his relationship with Zelda had become tense as he expressed his agreement with the rulers of Hyrule; the monarchy should be dissolved in favour of a council of representatives.
Walking through the gardens on the way back to her rooms, Zelda could feel his stare on the back of her neck.
"I know you don't agree with my ruling Hyrule, but you don't have to be so surly about it."
"Hm," came his non-committal response.
"I can't abandon the kingdom my father worked so hard to protect, even if he made my life a misery back then. I have to carry on his legacy, otherwise it was all for nothing."
She stopped walking and turned to face him. Link caught up and was standing close to her, the moon illuminated his tired and stern face as clear as day.
"Don't look at me like that, you know I have to rule so we can have peace in Hyrule."
His expression softened and he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her in a familiar hug. He'd grown a few inches since the calamity, now a fully grown soldier, and she took comfort in these moments when they could be just Link and Zelda, not the Hero and the Princess.
After a moment, she felt him stiffen, as though he had made up his mind about something.
"What's wrong?"
"Abdicate," he said.
"What?"
He raised a gloved hand to her chin, tilting her face towards his. A warm glow dusted his tanned cheeks as he repeated,
"Abdicate. Hyrule has ruled itself for a hundred years, it can take care of itself. Then... maybe..." his voice quivered and failed.
Her ears burning, her eyes flicked unwillingly from his eyes to his mouth. How desperately she wanted to live the life he was boldly offering to her, finally giving voice to the tension that had been building for months.
He was offering her a simple life among the people where they could simply be. No critical decisions, no complex political events more dangerous than a battleground, no treaties to write or prisoners to sentence.
It was impossible.
"Link. You know why I can't..."
She knew it would happen. It hurt just the same.
Disappointment and hurt flashed across his handsome face, before his eyes hardened as he slipped back into his role as the perfect soldier. He dropped his hand and stepped back to a respectable distance.
"Very well, Princess."
"Link I-"
"It's late, your highness. Let me escort you to your rooms."
Evan as a man of few words, he had never been this formal with her, despite her numerous protests. She knew at this moment, she'd lost him.
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