Work Text:
The sun had long set by the time Zelda’s eyes had began to hurt. A stretch, revealing her back was as stiff as her pen hand, told her everything she needed to know, and she had finished the last report for the next day’s council meeting.
It had been another day of endless meetings and documents. Her days began just as the sun rose over the castle, and while many would have delegated the pile of papers on her desk, Zelda felt a sense of personal responsibility for fixing Hyrule after the Twilight Invasion. It was a workload that saw the newly crowned Queen of Hyrule working well past dinner for the third day in a row. So instead of enjoying a warm meal, Zelda had hastily eaten the lukewarm soup and bread a servant had set next to the stack of reports she had been pouring over. Reports that were decidedly worse company than the man she had hoped to join at dinner.
Sighing, Zelda ran the brush down her hair, trying not to feel too disappointed at, once again, missing time with her husband-to-be. As one of the few skilled generals in her weakened army, he had a workload almost as heavy as hers. A crown came with heavy responsibilities, she understood very well, but there were times Zelda wished that burden was lifted, even slightly. Perhaps after they were married, she could assign the reports to a councilor or two, freeing her to enjoy time alone with her husband. For now, her mind was happy to supply her with daydreams of escaping for a week alone with said future husband to occupy her mind.
A dull thud outside her window stirred her from her thoughts as a pair of boots landed on carpeted floor.
“I missed you at dinner.”
Zelda smiled as familiar light footsteps crossed her bedroom towards where she sat. Arms wrapped around her waist as she stood to meet Link, a matching smile brighten his face. The tension melting away, replaced with the familiar warmth that never failed to set her at ease.
“I had hoped to join you, but my workload was too demanding tonight. I’m sorry I missed you.”
“You know I always like slipping in to see you like this, no stuffy rules and I can do this when I want,” Link said, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
Giggling, Zelda twisted in his arms, trying to free herself from his grip. Link only tightened his hold, playfully swinging her off the floor. They continued their half-hearted struggle for a moment, enjoying the time they could spend as just another couple rather than the Queen and her fiancé.
A stifled yawn against Link’s shoulder brought them back to the hour. Silently, he set her back onto her chair and set aside her brush. Relaxing under his hands, Zelda allowed herself to enjoy as Link began to gently run his fingers through her hair. They may only get a few official moments together; she had come to relish these stolen moments when Link would slip into her room after dark. It reminded her of their early meetings after the Twilight Invasion, when he would sneak into her room to talk when neither was able to sleep. That was when Link began to comb and braid her hair, saying it reminded him of home where he would braid Beth’s hair in Ordon.
The only problem was how often she found herself awakened by Link settling her into bed after she had fallen asleep in her chair. He always made sure to snuff any remaining candles and hide any evidence of his visits before finally tucking her under the covers. Sometimes she had half a mind to pull him under the sheets with her. Instead of reading her mind and curling up beside her, Link would press a gentle kiss to her forehead before quietly slipping back out of her window.
For once Zelda wished she could throw propriety out the window, and under the careful attention to her hair she set her imagination to how she could manage it.
“Can you stay with me tonight?” she asked, thinking it only a thought as the relaxing feel of Link’s fingers at her scalp making her drowsy before he spoke an answer.
“Anything for my queen.”
His answer rumbled against her back. Zelda glanced over her shoulder, only to be met with a playful bow in the dim light.
“Wouldn’t they miss you in the barracks?” It was a lazy attempt to salvage the last thread of decorum they still maintained in their official courtship. Already, too many criticized her choice of suitor.
“They’ll miss me every night once we’re married,” Link said, flashing a smile at her, “and I can slip back before anyone wakes up.”
Zelda was attempting to think of an argument in her sleep addled mind when Link scooped her into his arms from the chair.
“Were you so bossy with Midna?” Zelda asked as she was set onto her bed.
“No, she bossed me around,” Link said as he began to remove his boots and outer garments, “and she would’ve told you that these rules are stupid anyway.”
“I suppose she would,” Zelda chuckled, “alright, you can stay. You don’t happen to snore, do you?”
“If I do, then you’re stuck with it for the night.” Link was already settling in beside her, having snuffed the candle at her bedside table.
His arms found her in the darkness, and their warmth brought Zelda’s drowsiness back with a force. It seemed that Link must have also been as tired as she was, his heavy breaths brushed her ear before they had finished adjusting themselves. Finding that she could no longer keep her eyes open, she sank into the warmth of the man beside her with a contented sigh. It was only a matter of minutes before she joined Link in sleep.
In the end, he did snore, but Zelda found that she had never slept better.