"Ah, General, congratulations on your engagement. We all knew that it was only a matter of time."

It was the day after Link and Zelda had arrived back at Hyrule Castle, and now Link was briskly marching through the castle hallways to the training ground. When they returned the previous day, they joyfully announced the news of their engagement, and everyone was as thrilled as the couple were. But of course they would be thrilled, each and every single one of the staff working in the castle had been on the edge of their seats for the past four years, patiently waiting for the General to ask the question.

"Ah, thank you, Lieutenant Burlon." Link replied as a young man, probably a year or two older, joined him.

"Not any easy thing to do." Lieutenant Burlon sighed, "I should know..."

He was charming, and had soft, kind brown eyes, matched by his equally soft-looking brown hair.

"Oh, hey, Zelda and I met Malon during our trip." The General piped up, "I didn't realise that you were with someone."

"You met Malon, huh?" The Lieutenant smiled warmly, "I've been so busy lately, I haven't had any time to see her. I regret it dearly, but I'm sure she understands."

"Come on, Burlon." Link laughed, patting his companion on the back, "I'll give you a few days off, but on one condition: you become my first cousin-in-law once removed or whatever."

"Huh?"

"Yeah, uh, Malon and I figured out that we are related."

"Oh, nice." Lieutenant Burlon said, "But, I don't know... I don't know how you did it..."

"Just man up and ask her." Link declared proudly, "What could go wrong?"

They entered the training grounds, where many soldiers were milling about.

"Congratulations, General!" They exclaimed when Link neared them.

"Shut up, you lot, you're supposed to be standing at ease, awaiting your orders!" The General snapped, hiding a smile which was creeping up on his face.

**********

"Ok, and we need a ten tier cake. I am sure he was joking, but let us have one, anyway."

Zelda was hastily following the long strides of a stern-looking lady. The woman was tall and slim, and wore glasses upon her pointed nose. She was middle aged, and her hair was pulled into a tight bun.

"I'll see if I can have that done..." The woman mumbled, scribbling something in a notebook.

"And you must make sure that the food is top quality!" Zelda said, "You need to get the finest cooks in Hyrule!"

"Ok... Let's talk clothing."

"I-"

The Queen stopped. Clothing... Yes, she remembered.

"There is something, actually." She stated, before hurrying through the hallway and up a flight stairs.

"Your Majesty?" The wedding planner called out, slightly bewildered, before hurrying after her client.

Zelda burst into her bedroom, then went rifling through her drawers in a sudden burst of fever.

"Here!" She announced triumphantly, "Link can wear this. It will need some altering."

"Of course, I can have some dress makers-"

"No." The Queen interjected, "I would like to finish making this. I started it, and I want to finish it."

Surprisingly, a smile spread across the stone face of the wedding planner.

"Of course." She said again, "I can have everything prepared in two weeks, if that is when you want the wedding to be?"

"Yes." Zelda replied, "Absolutely."

"I will commence preparations straight away."

**********

"So, how has you day been?"

After a busy day, the Geneal and Queen finally had some free time, and were taking a nice evening stroll in the royal gardens. Zelda was especially grateful to the gardeners who had restored the gardens to such a wonderful state. Flowers were blossoming everywhere, some of them budding up for the night; others beginning to emit a faint glow.

"Busy." Link replied, "It's rather strange coming back to our normal routine."

"Yes, I spent the entire day with the wedding planner..."

"Oh, you did, did you?" Link asked curiously.

"Indeed. She says that she can get everything prepared in two weeks!"

"In two weeks, huh?"

Link nervously ran his fingers through his hair as he gazed at his fiancé.

"Zelda... Don't you think two weeks is a bit..."

"Rushed?" She finished, "We can push it back a few more-"

"No, it's not that... I just- I don't think- I don't know... I'm not ready?"

"Oh..."

Her face was slightly crest-fallen, but she mustered a smile regardless.

"That's fine, we'll just wait until you're ready-"

"I don't think I ever will be." Link whispered, turning away.

"What?" Zelda cried, "But... Link!"

She could see him shake his head. After everything, this is what it had come to. She felt foolish for getting excited about the prospect of marrying him. Stupidly foolish.

"Very well..." She muttered, quickly swiping away at the tear in her eye.

Just as she turned away, she heard a snort. Zelda pivoted on the spot to see tears brimming in Link's eyes, too, but they were tears of silent laughter. His face had gone red, and it looked as though he were choking on air.

"Payback!" He gasped, taking a deep breath, "See how it feels?"

He sat down on a nearby bench, and attempted to compose himself.

"That was awfully rotten of you!" Zelda exclaimed indignantly.

"Oh please!" He laughed, "You're one to talk."

"That was different!" She replied hotly, crossing her arms.

Link smirked as he plucked a Silent Princess from a nearby flower bed and got up, sidling towards Zelda, waving the flower under her nose.

"You know that I know that you know that you can't stay made at me for long." He smiled.

As she lifted up her gaze to look at the flower, her face dropped, then she stared at Link angrily.

"How could you!" She shouted, "You don't just go picking these flowers from the flower bed!"

"Oh geez, alright!"

"A lot of hard work goes into caring for them, and you just pluck them out like its no big deal!"

"Ok, I'm sorry..."

"Yes, you should be!" Zelda growled.

They both sat down on the bench, a bit of space between them. Link still had the Silent Princess in his hands, so he carefully leaned closer to Zelda, and tucked in behind her ear, tapping her nose playfully and he pulled away.

"So... Two weeks." He said, twiddling his thumbs.

"Yes."

"It's going to be great."

"Indeed."

He then shuffled closer.

"If it's in two weeks, we only have a week left to be together." He breathed in her ear, "We won't be able to see each other in the weeks preceding the wedding."

"Like that's going to stop us." Zelda chuckled, moving closer to Link.

"Well, you have to respect tradition..."

"You said that with a straight face."

"I said that with a straight face..."

Link dramatically stretched his arms, then wrapped them around her.

"But I can't possibly bear to spend a week without my wittle dwarling Zwelda boo."

"Awww, my darling Linky Pie will survive." She replied, wiggling his nose.

"Yeah, at least there won't be anyone nagging me." Link mumbled.

"Oh, only for a week..."

"Sadly."

Link's stomach rumbled, and he patted it merrily.

"Time to eat!" He announced.

"We just had dinner!" Zelda scolded.

"Time to eat again!"

"It was a very heavy meal, how are you not full?"

"Zelda, honey, when have I ever been full?" Link demanded.

"It's because you're stupidly fast." She grumbled, "You can burn it all off quickly."

"No, I don't go fast, you're all too slow."

"Whatever, go eat, I'm going up to my quarters."

"Bye bye, darling."

-------------

Honestly, I don't know how Zelda puts up with Link; I would be going insane by now. Hopefully I can get thing moving in the next few chapters.