Happily Ever After...?
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"Happily Ever After...?", Chapter 1


Happily Ever After...?

By : Alexandra Spears


Chapter One

Due to a law King Harkinian chose to enforce stating that if Zelda wasn't married by the time she was eighteen, he could choose for her, Zelda was married to Link, the young man Harkinian had chosen.
Link was happy, as he loved Zelda and wanted to be with her. Zelda loved Link but she wasn't about to admit it. "I can see that boy cares for you more than anything," her father had explained when he explained his choice of a husband for her. "It doesn't matter that he's not royalty. Any child of yours is the next heir to the throne. Zelda, I know you care for him and it's easy to see that he cares deeply for you. I'm sure you'll learn to be happy with him."
Zelda didn't put up much of a fight at all, as she already knew Link. He wasn't like those snobby princes that came around asking for her hand in marriage. He'd defeated Ganon when they were seventeen (he was a month older than she) and Zelda had kept him around because one never knew who else might be after the Triforce.
"I'll meet you up in your room tonight," Link had whispered in her ear after they were married.
Zelda was up in her room now, dressed in her favorite long-sleeved pink nightgown. She was a little nervous. Surely Link would want to have sex with her, since tonight was their wedding night. She was still a virgin and she knew that he was too; at least he had morals, she thought.
Maybe he'd just want to sleep with her and that was it. She really did not want to be married to him--at least not right now. She'd wanted it to be on her terms.
There was a knock at her door. "Come in," she called.
Link came in, dressed in his regular clothes. "Hi, Zelda," he said, smiling a little. "Yeah, I know, this didn't go the way you wanted it...but I do love you, Zel. A lot." He closed the door behind him. He looked over at her. "I always did like that nightgown on you...."
Zelda self-consciously tugged on the nightgown's sleeves, knowing that they left her shoulders and some cleavage bare. "I suppose you want to have sex with me," she said softly.
"Well, yeah...but I'm not going to rush you," he said. "And I've heard that the first time hurts for a girl...I'll be really gentle with you, I promise. I am not going to just pounce on you and have my way with you and wind up hurting you. That's no way to start a relationship." He smiled. "You'll have the honor of being my first lover."
Zelda sat down on her bed. Link watched her carefully. He'd known her for close to three years, so he knew she was rather scared and nervous. "You just want to sleep?" he asked.
She nodded. "If it's all right."
Link took off his clothes, stripping down to his underpants. "I didn't bring my nightshirt," he explained as he crawled into bed next to her.
"That's all right," said Zelda.
They sat next to each other, Zelda listlessly picking at the blanket. "May I at least have a kiss good-night, Princess?" Link asked.
Zelda nodded, and Link gently took her face into his hands and caressed her lips with his. His tongue gently probed between her lips and she opened her mouth, allowing it inside. His hands caressed her neck and slid down to her shoulders, gently pushing the tops of the sleeves off her shoulders.
"Link--" Zelda murmured as his lips devoured her neck.
"I--I can't help it, Zelda...you look so sexy in this...and you're my wife now...just relax, sweetheart...."
"All right...just do it...," Zelda whispered. They were going to sooner or later, might as well get it over with, she was thinking.
"I want you to enjoy this too," Link said as he kissed along her jawline. "I'll go slow." His hands gently pushed the sleeves down further and his lips traced kisses along her collarbones. His mouth worked its way back up her neck and back to her mouth. Zelda returned his kisses as he eased her backward onto her pillows.

Zelda was awakened late the next morning by sunlight streaming in through the window. Her nude body was pressed up against Link's and his arms were still around her, and she remembered the night before. It had been wonderful. Link had done his best to please her.
She gently disentangled herself and sat up, the blankets covering her breasts. Next to her Link was still sleeping, and she couldn't help but think that he looked so cute, so precious, when he was asleep. She'd thought she'd regret being married to Link; she'd wanted to wait a while and be sure if she wanted to marry him, but now she was starting not to mind it.
Link opened his brown eyes and reached up for her. "Don't get up yet, Zelda," he mumbled. He gently pulled her back down next to him and wrapped his arms around her. "I slept so good last night...with you next to me...."
They shared a long, sweet kiss and Link rolled over on top of her. "Mmm...Link...," Zelda murmured as the kiss became more passionate and heated.
"I want to make love to you again, Zelda," Link whispered in her ear. "Will you let me?"
Zelda nodded.

That afternoon Zelda was sitting out in one of the courtyards at North Castle, lost in thought. Last night she'd lost her virginity to Link--and had taken his as well. She'd known that she had to be married by the age of eighteen.
It was amazing. Some of those princes who'd wanted to court her had actually been boorish. But Link, a peasant, had treated her so gently and lovingly.
He had a nice body too, she reflected. All the adventuring and practicing had done that. She closed her eyes, remembered the feel of his soft but strong hands on her body.
She couldn't really believe what she'd let him do to her this morning, though, in the bathtub. But it had felt so wonderful. He hadn't done it to shock her, but to give her pleasure--and he'd succeeded in pleasuring her.
"Zelda?"
Zelda saw a pair of orange-clad legs in front of her. She looked up, saw Link. "Link," she said, feeling herself blushing. He'd been her friend for three years and she still couldn't believe that she'd had sex with him.
"You know, you look really pretty when you blush," said Link as he sat down next to her.
"I--I just feel so confused, Link," Zelda murmured.
"About what--us?" asked Link as he scooted so he was sitting in front of her, facing her. He reached out and cupped the side of her face in his hand and stroked her temple with his thumb.
Zelda nodded. "I'm not sure what I feel," she said.

"Well, I do know that I love you very much," said Link as he took her hand. "I meant what I said...you're very precious to me. And it has nothing to do with your being a princess. Nothing whatsoever."
"I know," she whispered. "For a while I wasn't sure whether you just wanted a good time or what...but last night...it was incredible...it was like I could feel your love...."
"Of course I wanted a good time...and I got one...but I know what you're saying," said Link. "I wanted you to enjoy it too."
"I did enjoy it...very much," Zelda murmured quietly. "To be honest, I was wondering if you'd come out here to gloat."
Link shook his head. "I just wanted to spend some time with my pretty wife," he said. He opened his legs, patted the ground between his knees, inviting her to sit close to him.
Zelda scooted so she was sitting between his legs, her back to him. Link put his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Zelda...you look more beautiful to me since last night," he told her. "I feel so much closer to you...and I think I love you more than ever, if that's possible."
She leaned up against him and he clasped his hands in front of her navel. She placed her hands on his, feeling the wedding band on his left ring finger. She looked down at her own wedding and engagement rings; her birthday had been three months ago, and the day after that her father had basically ordered her to marry Link. She'd had three months to get used to the idea.
Link seemed to be happy, Zelda thought as he rubbed his cheek against hers. She felt closer to him too...like their bond was closer. She wondered if she was afraid of such a closeness to him, though.
"That was the best good-night kiss I'd ever had last night," Link whispered in her ear as he nibbled on it. His lips went down to her neck and he planted soft kisses there.
Zelda closed her eyes and leaned her head to one side, exposing more of her neck. Link smoothed her hair out of the way, brushing it to one side, and resumed kissing her neck, letting his tongue flicker over the skin. She could feel his hot breath on her neck and in her ear, and she could hear him moaning ever so softly as she felt his soft lips on her neck and ear.
"I enjoyed sleeping with you...I slept like a baby last night," Link told her as he rested his chin back on her shoulder. "Had such good dreams...."
"I did too," Zelda whispered.
Link squeezed her, but not too tightly, and rubbed his cheek against hers again. "That's good," he said. "I hope one day you'll be glad that you married me. I promise to be a good husband to you...and you know I'll always protect you."
Zelda gently released herself from his arms and turned and knelt facing him. He held out his hands, and she took them. When she looked into his eyes she saw not smugness over having finally had her, but rather love and adoration. "I guess I kind of misjudged you," she said after a long pause.
"Oh, I just enjoyed making you mad because it was fun," Link said in a teasing tone. "But seriously, I do love you and care about you. I guess I kind of went a bit overboard with the teasing."
"Link...remember that really romantic clearing you found? I--I'd like to go there tonight, with you," Zelda said. "After dinner...."
"Sounds good to me," said Link. He kissed the backs of her hands. He then stood up and gently pulled Zelda up with him.
Zelda wound her arms around his neck. Link wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a long, searching kiss. "I love you," he whispered as he leaned his forehead against hers, smiling at her.
"I love you too, Link," Zelda murmured.

"So, how are you two getting along?" King Harkinian asked at dinner.
"Just fine, Daddy," said Zelda. She looked across the table at Link, and he looked back and smiled at her.
"That's good," said Harkinian. "I know you two care for each other a lot and I was hoping, Zelda, that you'd admit it to yourself before you turned eighteen. Link is a hero--and a good man." He looked at the young man, who was almost like a son to him.
"Daddy--"
"Come on, Zelda, don't be stubborn," said Link. He reached across the table and held her hand, his thumb caressing her fingers. "It's not a case of I won, or your father won. Everyone wins."
Zelda looked at her husband, and her expression softened. "I guess you're right, Link," she conceded.
"We still on for our date?" Link asked.
Zelda smiled. "Yes."
"Date?" asked Harkinian.
"Link and I...well...we're going to this place he found a couple of years back," said Zelda, blushing furiously. Link watched her, amusement lurking in his warm brown eyes.
"A romantic night out," Link supplied helpfully.
"Oh. Oh, yes," said Harkinian. He held up his hands. "Don't let me stop you."

Link and Zelda made their way through the woods, using the moonlight to help them find their way. Link had a few blankets rolled under his arm, and he held on to her hand as he guided her through the woods.
Zelda felt a shiver of excitement run through her body as they reached the clearing. She almost felt as if she were doing something forbidden, being alone with a young man in the woods at night. She was still getting used to the fact that the young man was her husband now.
There was the familiar archway. A statue of Cupid on a pedestal was underneath the arch, and down at the bottom of a gentle slope was a stream.
Link spread out one of the blankets and they sat down together, looking at the stars. "See that really bright one up there?" Link asked. "I named it after you a long time ago, when we first met, when we were fifteen."
"That's so sweet, Link," said Zelda as he pulled her onto his lap. He opened his legs a little so her hps were between them, her legs draped over his right leg. She was in a sitting position, slightly reclined, her back supported by his left arm.
Link held her left cheek in his hand as he bent forward and kissed her lips softly. Zelda looked up at him and he smiled down at her as she kicked off her thigh-high brown boots. He kissed her again, letting his hand slide down past her shoulder, stopping just above her left breast, teasing her a little, wanting her to want his touch.
Zelda reached up, took his hand in hers, interlacing her fingers with his. She seemed overwhelmed by everything...romantic things like this, the clearing, helped her feel, well, romantic, and she was enjoying Link's kisses.
Link smiled slightly when Zelda laid his hand on her breast. "You really want this, don't you?" Link asked as his mouth went to her neck.
"Yes...," Zelda whispered.

Sometime later the young lovers were lying in each other's arms. He reached for one of the other blankets and covered them with it, and they looked up at the stars together.
"I saw a shooting star while we were making love," said Zelda as she laid her hand on his chest.
Link smiled and kissed her forehead.

After lying out there for a few hours, Link and Zelda decided that it was time to go home. "Have a good time, Zel?" Link asked her as they slowly got dressed.
"It was wonderful, Link." She looked pensive.
"I never thought you'd take the initiative like you did," Link smirked as he put his arm around her waist. "Well, not this soon in our marriage...."
Zelda smiled back at him. "I thought you might like it...and I do love you, Link. I never thought I'd enjoy sex with you...or with anyone for that matter. You were right...I'm too uptight."
"So I made it enjoyable for you?"
"Definitely...my hero."
"Well, I was hoping I'd know what to do...you're the first--and only--girl I've ever had sex with."
"I was wrong about a lot of things, Link. This past day, you've done nothing but show me that you do love me. You didn't just jump up and grope at me last night, which I appreciate. You proved to me that you love me by how you went about it."

"All I want from you, Zelda, is your love," said Link as they stood up.
Zelda smiled and cast a sidelong glance at him as he put his arm around her waist, the blankets under his arm. "Well, you have it, my hero."

Two weeks later, Zelda woke up feeling sick to her stomach. Beside her, Link was fast asleep. She suspected that she was pregnant, and she wondered how Link would take it, and what kind of father he would be.