SORRY FOR MISSING YESTERDAY'S UPDATE! I had it all ready to publish Monday night, but I had a dream, woke up in the middle of the night, and I had to write it out. It was so much better than what I had done originally, and I am really happy with the way that it turned out. But anyway…

HERE WE ARE! The last chapter! I just want to take the time again to thank everyone so much for the awesome feedback, comments, and praise. I loved every minute of writing this story, and I'm glad you all enjoyed it so much, too. Hope you like the last installment, and I hope you think it's worth the extra day wait

~Alyssa

It was odd for the King to summon Zelda to his personal study in the middle of the day, especially without giving much prior notice, but she wasn't one to complain.

If it was something that couldn't wait until dinner, it must be incredibly exciting. Zelda loved surprises, and this was sure to be some kind present.

Between her conversation with Link the day before and this, she was practically floating when she left her rooms in the morning. Though he hadn't succeeded in breaking him, she had gotten something even more valuable-a confession. Or, as much of a confession as was proper.

Link enjoyed her company. He was playing the game, too. And, if his friends hadn't been joking when they teased him, he was falling for her.

The thought made her heart sputter.

But she wouldn't bank on teasing for confirmation on that one.

Still, there was a smile on her face as she skipped through the halls towards her father's study, not even pausing to greet the shaky new recruits at their post by the front door. She would take care of some other time; now, there were more important things that needed doing.

She greeted the men outside her father's door when she got there. These men were seasoned veterans-that she'd still been able to break, mind you-who knew all about her game. They usually looked annoyed with her, but on such a great day as today, even they seemed indulgent as they greeted her.

"Is my father alone? He asked to see me," she asked, and Karl, the one on the left, shifted to look at his partner.

"You can go in," he said.

Giving the soldier a funny look, she did as he said.

And she understood at once why the soldier hadn't answered her question directly. Because, while ready for her, her father wasn't alone.

He was with Link.

Perhaps this wasn't a present at all.

"What is this?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

After a long silence, neither of them moving, the King sucked in a breath. "Zelda," he began, in a very unfamiliar tone, "Your behavior as of late has been, ah, absolutely unacceptable for a girl of your age. I tolerated your antics when you were young, but you are to one day be queen, your men will not respect you if you are always acting the fool…"

Betrayal seeped into her heart as she glanced to Link, whose head was down. Had she read him wrong when she thought he enjoyed her advances? Had he come to her father to complain? Her face reddened as she thought about the idea of Link thinking her a fool, and her breath hitched in her throat.

"...and I've brought you here to have a discussion on how you might behave more properly."

She didn't remove her eyes from Link. "I would rather not have this conversation in the company present."

"This isn't a request, Zelda," her father said, sharp enough that she was cowled.

He never spoke to her this way.

Tears pricked at her eyes as she made the walk to the chair in front of her father's desk, and she sucked in a breath to steady herself. As horrible as she felt, she would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry. When she sat, she did so without a glance towards Link, resolving then that she would not look at him, would not acknowledge him, or how much he had hurt her with his-

Pffffffffffffffffffffffffrrrrrrrrrrrrt.

Zelda blinked. Once. Twice.

And the two men around her erupted into laughter.

Mortified, Zelda went crimson, shooting up from her seat as she whirled on the chair. There, barely concealed against the white of the armchair, was a deflated air cushion. Fury built inside her chest as she picked it up, but as she opened her mouth to scream, something stronger struck her.

Because intertwined with her father's familiar guffaw, there was a different laugh, low and smooth and hearty.

She looked to her right.

Link was smiling at her, and by the Goddesses, it was everything she had ever imagined it to be.

He was undoubtedly handsome when he was severe, but smiling, her breath was swept away. His grin transformed his face, changing him from a hardened warrior to a wonderful, incredible, noble man. The laugh lines around his eyes made her feel so warm, and when he met her gaze, the twinkling in his blue, blue eyes had never been so bright.

He was immediately forgiven for tricking her. She would have paid a much higher price than her dignity to see his smile.

Her father, on the other hand…

"Excuse us, my boy," he said once he had recovered, wiping a stray tear from his eye, "I would like a word alone with my daughter."

My boy? When had Link become so familiar with her father?

"Of course, your Majesty." Link stood, dipping into a bow.

"And congratulations again, Sir Cearneigh," the King said as he straightened, and Zelda's eyes nearly bulged from her head.

Sir Cearneigh?! When had he been knighted? Which order was he joining? Did he know his smile was enough to kill a woman? This was too much. Too much for her to handle all at once.

"Thank you, your Majesty," said Link. He turned to go, pausing to grin again at Zelda, and her heart sputtered. Eyes glimmering like he could hear it, he quickly bowed to her before taking his leave.

Goddesses, she felt faint.

"Zelda?"

The King's voice sounded very far away.

"Hm?" she managed.

"Are you with me, darling?"

She only blinked.

"Why don't you have a seat again?"

Yes. Seat. She inhaled, trying to center herself, as she picked up the cushion on her chair. Then she turned, pegging the deflated thing at her father.

"I can't believe you!"

He caught it easily, snorting a laugh. "Can't you?"

"How could you turn against me that way?"

"You wouldn't have stopped until you made him laugh, and he wasn't ever going to break. What could I do?"

She wrinkled her nose, crossing her arms. "I almost had him."

"You didn't, and I didn't want to have you resort to something drastic. I wouldn't change you for the world, dove, but it all does seem a bit silly. If all that seriousness bothers you so much, I can change the law."

Zelda only shook her head, flabbergasted at the suggestion. "Where would be the challenge in that?"

"Of course," the King snorted.

"Besides," she continued, "It doesn't bother me at all. Maybe if my personal guard were so grim, it would start to rub off, but all the other men are just funny."

"Fancy that you should bring that up." The King nodded to one of the chairs in front of his desk. She took a seat, folding her legs daintily underneath her. "I was just about to summon you about that very matter before your untimely interruption in front of Sir Cearneigh-"

"Yes, when did he get a promotion, because I-"

"I'm getting to that, child," he waved a hand, forging on. "I know it's tradition for the next in line to take that spot that's been empty, and for you to approve the choice, but after speaking with your Uncle Gustaf, we've agreed on the best man for the job."

Her eyes grew wide. "You're not serious."

The King smiled. "He's reporting to his post now. Why don't you go see for yourself?

xxx

Link might have had a head start, but she was fast.

Dignity thrown to hell, she tore through the halls after him. The people that she had greeted on her way over followed her with their eyes as she shot past, but there would be time for explanations later. When she caught sight of his back on her bedroom floor, she picked up her pace, desperate to catch up to him.

"Sir Cearneigh!" she called, and he turned immediately, so quickly that she nearly collided with him again.

He threw out his arms, stopping her short just as she stumbled, and once again, they were nose to nose.

This time, though, he returned her smile.

Melting. Goddesses, she was melting. That smile would never get old.

"It seems I'll have my work cut out for me keeping your safe," he quipped, righting and releasing her.

Though she mourned the feeling of his hands on her shoulders, she couldn't help but grin. "If it were easy, I would make it hard-"

He bowed his head to her, eyes sparkling with mirth. "Of course."

"-but perhaps I'll make an exception for you. After all, I've put you through an exceptionally hard time the last few months. But I couldn't help myself. I always knew the smile would be worth it."

That smile fell as he opened his mouth and closed it again, at a loss of what to say.

Good, she thought, smug. Now he knows how I feel.

But she was benevolent. She'd give him mercy. Or, on second thought...

"I thought you said a farting noise wouldn't work," she teased.

He snorted, shoulders shaking with laughter. "It wouldn't have worked on me," he said, "But on you...Farore above, it wasn't even the noise. It was the look on your face."

"You're a hateful man."

"A determined man," he corrected, "And also a little lost. What shall I fill up my time with now, but waiting for you to come to see me?"

Zelda could think of quite a few things, none of which were even remotely appropriate. She felt her cheeks flush.

"Well...I am your new charge. I order you now. So, I think I've decided I'm going to command you to laugh for me every day."

"A laugh every day?" he asked, sarcastically incredulous, "I couldn't possibly promise such a thing. I'm afraid it would become forced."

He gestured for her to continue down the hall, towards her bedroom, where the rest of her guard would meet him. And she was excited, ready for the men that cared about her most to meet the man that had fixated her for months. He'd fit right in, and she would see him every day.

Maybe the feelings that swirled in her heart when he looked her way would fade. Maybe she had ready him wrong, and the tenderness he saw in her eyes was only that of friendship. But if he would always be this close...that would be enough for her.

"Maybe not a laugh," she conceded, doing as he bid. "I suppose just a smile will do."

And as he followed her, he gave her just that.

Worth the wait?

THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE! Leave a word if you like the story, tell me which story I should focus my time on next, and hop on over to my tumblr at alyssawritesalot to request stuff, see more stuff, and anything else. Ta ta loves, see you soon!