Work Text:
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Prompt:
Rainy Days
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It was a shame, Zelda thought, that such a lovely day had to be to wasted on an event like this. It was a lovely morning in early summer: the sun shone brightly, unhindered by the odd fluffy white cloud that drifted lazily by. A pleasant breeze stirred the leaves and kept the sun’s warmth at a comfortable level.
Unfortunately, the company wasn’t half so pleasant. Zelda had taken advantage of the lovely weather to host a party in the palace gardens, in order to talk with her various nobles, officials and visiting diplomats in a more relaxed manner. Such meetings were important, a good way for Zelda to breed goodwill while keep abreast of the goings on and opinions of those with power both within and without Hyrule.
Sadly, the more casual atmosphere meant that certain people (single men, young or otherwise) felt it was the perfect time to approach her. Prince Ralf of Labrynna was just reluctantly moving off to speak with someone else, which was unfortunate. Of all her suitors, Prince Ralf was the most likeable; always respectful and earnest enough in his affections that Zelda felt a little bad for him. Her affections, after all, were quite fixed elsewhere.
Sadly, his departure left Zelda open. The Queen saw movement in her periphery, turned, and clenched her jaw to hold back a groan.
Councilman Cole was a particularly odious little man who had been determinedly pursuing her for years. He had never attempted anything untoward yet, but something about his words and the look in his beady little eyes never failed to make Zelda feel like a butterfly he wanted to pin to a card and hang on the wall.
Link hated him with a passion.
I suppose it’s for the best that he’s busy today. Zelda thought as Councilman Cole came to a stop in front of her. So Link won’t have to struggle with the temptation to send Cole flying.
She extended her hand, somehow managing to keep her face impassive as Cole bent over it for far longer than politely necessary. As always, however, he backed off the moment before the contact became unacceptably long, which kept him safe from retaliation.
Zelda gritted her teeth. She almost wished he would linger for a moment longer, so she’d be justified in blasting him into a wall.
“Your most incandescent majesty!” The man was saying, his voice gratingly sweeting, like bread soaked with far too much honey. “What a pleasure it is to see you again. I hope you have not been suffering too much in my absence.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I have been managing quite well.” Her word were chilled enough that it would send the average unpleasant noble bowing and skittering away.
Chancellor Cole, sadly, seemed to be made of sterner stuff. He took a small step closer. Zelda carefully eased back.
“Of course, of course, I should have expected that,” He was saying, his tone even more cloying than before. “As always you soldier on, despite the burden of bearing the crown alone.”
Zelda cast a desperate gaze around the garden, hoping that someone would come to the rescue—but Link wasn’t here today.
Someone save me from this situation. She cast a pleading gaze heavenward.
A raindrop landed on her nose, immediately followed by a flash of light and an ear-splitting boom.
Dark clouds instantly overtook the sun, and rain feel down like a curtain dropping suddenly, immediately drenching the entire garden.
Zelda smiled brilliantly at Councilman Cole and the drooping state of his once-impeccably crafted moustache. “We shall have to table this conversation for a later time, sir. I’ll let you know once there is an opening available for you.”
And then, she was darting off through the gardens, calling instructions to startled servants and guests. And then, before anyone could stop her and invite her in for tea and conversation, Zelda stepped through a side door into the castle. The lock clicked shut behind her, and Zelda took the moment to lean against the door and breathe.
The thick stone of the castle walls muffled the rumbles of thunder and rain, while the high ceiling of the hallway carried what sound there was through the air. The effect was like a blanket of rain and thunder wrapping softly about her, the rhythmic noise nearly soothing and calming as her own lullaby.
She let out a sigh, letting the stress and anxieties caused by the councilman and his ilk seep from her shoulders. Then Zelda picked up her skirts and ran to her tower bedroom.
She slipped through the door and found Link right where she expected him to be—seated comfortably on the windowsill, staring out at the rain and idly playing on his ocarina. The tune struck her as oddly familiar, though she couldn’t recall ever hearing it before. It almost sounded like it could be a song she knew played backwards, but this wasn’t the time to analyze music.
“Link!”
Link, who had doubtlessly been aware of her entrance but had been intent on his music, lowered the ocarina and grinned at the address—just in time to catch Zelda as she flung herself across the room and into his arms. His noise of surprise was immediately cut off as Zelda’s lips found his, her arms twining about his neck. Link didn’t stay surprised for long; the next moment he was returning Zelda’s sentiment with equal enthusiasm, hands hastily stuffing the ocarina in his pouch before reaching up to tug Zelda closer.
After a minute Zelda leaned, grinning up at him. “My hero.”
Link smirked, reaching up to snag one of her hands and bring it to his lips. He pressed a kiss against her knuckles and winked. “I live to serve, my queen.”
Zelda’s grin dissolved into laughter. She leaned against his chest, shifting so she could see his face. Link’s fingers intertwined with her own, his thumb stroking the back of her hand idly. Zelda sighed in contentment, snuggling just a bit deeper into his embrace.
“I thought you would be gone until tonight.” She said at last, gently arching one inquisitive eyebrow. “When did you return?”
A slight scowl pulled at Link’s brows. “Just in time to see that creepy little man try and weasel up to you again. Since I’m not allowed to punch him….” He paused, sending Zelda a hopeful look.
Zelda bit her lip to hide a smile. “No, Link, we can’t go about punching our subjects. It’s not what a good ruler does, you know.”
“it’s not like I’m the king yet, you know.”
“Yes, you are.” Zelda raised her other eyebrow. “We might not have held your official coronation yet, but by virtue of marrying into the royal family, you became royal yourself.” She poked him. “Besides, even if you weren’t king, that doesn’t mean you can go around punching people.”
“Aw.” Link shifted, tucking Zelda’s head underneath his chin. “Not even when it’s a rat in human form who keeps bothering my wife?”
Zelda chuckled softly. “I promise, the instant he slips up and crosses the line, you can punch him.”
“I don’t want him to cross the line at all.” Link grumbled, squeezing his wife protectively. He let out a sigh. “I suppose there’s nothing for it then. I better stick by you all the time and make sure nothing happens.” He smirked. “I can see a lot of thunderstorms in our future.”
The queen laughed. “Speaking of such things, how long will this storm last?”
“I put enough magic into it to make it last until after sunset.” Link said cheerfully. “No more Councilman Cole for you to deal with today.”
“Excellent. Though discretion is the better part of valor.” Zelda mused, shifting slightly in his arms, sliding her hands up his chest to her shoulders. “Perhaps you should make your resolution to stick by my side effective immediately.”
“Oh?” There was a grin in Link’s tone. “And what shall we do, stuck in a room all by ourselves on a rainy day?”
“Hmm.” Zelda pressed a kiss to his temple, murmuring softly in his ear. “I can think of a few things.”
“Your majesty,” Link said, turning his head and catching Zelda’s chin in one hand. “I like the way you think.”
And as the room was filled with the brilliant flash of lightning passing by, he kissed her.
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