Some people stared a little amazed as Zelda decided to sit on the floor, eating the right side of the pie. Link joined her on the left, while he looked at the possible next King of Hyrule.
Nekk, The Rito bird messenger was there. It was clear he didn't want to be.
Kaneli, The Rito bird leader, was also there.
Brigdo had been. He was dressed in more decent clothing than usual.
Hino was there too, but he was more interested in his papers than what was going on around him.
Prince Sidon had taken his spot. He didn't seem affected, good or bad.
King Dorephan took a spot.
What, Hagie? Link almost choked on his pie as he caught someone he'd missed before. The man from Tarry town who wanted to pay him to take on the dangerous area of Ancient Stalkers nearby. He wasn't the kindest soul Link had met. He was only there because he either paid to be or people thought fortune could restore Hyrule.
Symin was there, Purah's assistant. He looked more like Nekk, wondering why he was there. Purah probably, wanting to help protect Princess Zelda however she could too.
Then there were two more people Link had never even met. Most likely, Zelda hadn't either.
"This will probably be the last food we share together."
Link's attention was grabbed by Zelda's words.
"As much as I rebelled against you getting involved," she said, "I am glad you were here, Link." She shoved another piece in her mouth and chewed it before swallowing. "As long as you were safely here."
Link nodded and took his last piece of pie. He would go and stand on the far right as the process proceeded.
"Wait, I have something for you." She brought out a small wrapped cupcake. "It may seem senseless after the pie, but it's important you have it."
Link took the cupcake, although that was a little unlike her. Something strange.
"Be sure to keep the wrapper. Royal packaged it," she said. "Guess I better go get ready."
Royal packaged it? People couldn't throw away royal packaging? That seemed even stranger. Link went ahead and undid the packaging. He ate the small cupcake but saw something inside the packaging.
He looked toward Zelda, who avoided his gaze. She had written down a phrase at the bottom of it. It said Marriage Isn't What It Used To Be. At the top it had a half smudge of chocolate from the cupcake. Link ate it off and saw the word Royal. Royal marriage isn't what it used to be. She was trying to tell him something, without risking anyone overhearing.
"I suppose this might be a good time to meet the new King," Sidon offered to Link. "There are ten. Who do you think should be it?"
Link shrugged. Honestly, none of them. Link did as Prince Sidon recommended though. Maybe if he saw something wrong, he could sway the crowd.
Nekk insisted he wasn't interested, and neither was Hino.
Brigdo had been. "Oh yes, I would take very good care of her," he insisted. "She would be happy. I would never kill her." Then Link asked him a simple question and almost got the answer right away. "She'd be fine afterward, not in need of a Knight simply staying at the castle. Maybe after our first set of children. I mean, if I were to ever get the position."
Yeah, dismissed. Link moved toward Hagie which had the same kind of answer, except without any 'she would be happy' or 'I would never kill her'. He went with 'whatever was best for Hyrule of course'.
Symin was decent. He told Link he was there for Purah, because there were not many options for King that knew Zelda. He, in fact, hadn't met her yet. When Link asked what the future held for him, he seemed certain Link would be just fine to stay.
"Except for, I suppose, I mean you can't be around if, if I am?" Symin blushed. "I mean, you wouldn't want to be anyhow! People need privacy. You know? But if I weren't doing anything, then that would be fine," he teased Link. "In fact, you could be like a live-in nanny. In a way. Easier job, better pay. Guarding the next generation instead."
Link didn't even bother standing in front of him a second longer. The other ones were the Kings and the ones she never met.
King Dorephan was honest. "If I rule Hyrule, then I will leave Zora's Domain to Prince Sidon," he said. "Then when I am gone, he would inherit both kingdoms, turning them into one harmonious kingdom."
All traditions and rituals lost among Hylians. Kenali said something similar. Link asked him about his future as a knight.
"Sidon can watch her," King Dorephan said. "He is handy with his weapons, and there will be no need of disrupting your life further."
That wasn't what Link wanted to hear. He insisted to him that helping Zelda was not a disruption, but he was waved off again.
Link approached Sidon again. He asked him the same thing.
Sidon didn't answer at first. "I imagine a personal guard would be smart if she did become my wife," he admitted. "However, in the beginning, we are going to be coupling for little zoras constantly. You could be posted outside of her room. Or you could be guarding stables if we are out on royal duties," he answered with a grin. "What luck, Link! Stables aren't private, but if royalty took it over for the night, you could be guarding the entrance way to make sure no one intrudes on the conception of future royalty."
Link's mouth had dropped open and he shook his head, trying to get the image of that out of his head! He wouldn't be her guard, he would be an outlooker to make sure the King and Queen had time together to-to-to snoogle?!
Zelda wouldn't want that, it would be for the King! Yes, she was 100 something, but like him, they hadn't changed so much on the way they acted on the outside. She wasn't old and wise, she was stubborn and rebellious and it would be like, like just handing over a young Zelda to a stranger! Even if she knew them, there's no way she'd want-
"I thought you would look like that," Prince Sidon said, noticing his discontent. "You look like I just told you to tie Princess Zelda up and drop her off a cliff into a waterfall. You cannot stay with her after a King is proclaimed, Link."
Link looked out to the crowd, some of whom were smiling pleasantly at him. He had come to know many of them, he had traveled great distances, and some of them had too.
"I am sure everyone knows you and what you did for Hyrule. For the world," Prince Sidon offered. "The new King could choose anything. You have no control over whether you get to watch her, be lookout at a stable, or even become a pregnant Zelda's prison guard."
"Aye!" He knew that. Link knew it, but he didn't want to hear the words. Especially in Prince Sidon's cheerful manner.
"There's only one way to protect her, Champion," Sidon stated. "As I said. I am sure everyone knows you and what you did for Hyrule. If you ask me? That could be a good start for picking a King."
What?
"And only the King controls what happens in the oceans or private wading pools with a Queen?"
Wait. Link looked out at the crowd again. No one could abuse her, misuse her, or kill her. No one could dismiss him from duty.
The words of King Rhoam came back to him again.