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It's dangerous to go alone! Take this. ~Zelda, 1986
Link doesn't know, exactly, what day he entered the world. Not with certainty. He knew he had been born in summer. Monsters had killed his parents when he was seven, but before that, when his folks would wake him up with tickles to celebrated his birthday -complete with warm, honey-covered bread and new, hand-carved toys - it had always been in summer. Early summer, because the leaves had still been unfurling upon the trees, small and green.
But the exact day was lost to him - his mother's fairy kin that raised him didn't keep track of time in terms of days - they measured it by the seasons, and therefore considered him one year older every summer. That'd never bother him. In a childhood where survival was paramount, such things fell by the wayside in favor of finding food, shelter water - and when he was older, weapons. Even his own name has vanished, replaced with the nickname Hyrule to throw Ganon's monsters off his scent.
So the seasons came and went, with the feel of old companions - making him older, taller, faster, stronger. Gone were the days where his birth was something to celebrate with honey - most years it past without him knowing, too busy with rationing his water, or cauterizing his bleeding wounds.
Those days are over.
Summer had arrived swiftly this year, strong as a newborn colt, from the herds that had returned to their country's reviving fields.
Link watched it all from his chamber's open window; his right arm tucked behind his messy brown head, his left arm around the sleeping form of Aurora. His wife's redwood curls were spilled across his bare chest; kissed by the sun and a lifetime of scars.
It was his birthday. His fortieth birthday. Gods, forty.
He mouthed the word to himself, his grin disbelieving and amused in equal measure. Forty years...by some measures, that wasn't very old. By a Hero's standard, it was ancient.
(Holy goddess, he was older than Time, when the Chain had first met the Old Man...and yeah, he wasn't gonna think about that anymore. Or ever. Nope.)
He bit back a chuckle, hazel eyes dancing with summertime hues. Considering that he hadn't expected to live to be twenty...it was humbling. What had he done to earn this? A healing country, adventures that had spanned worlds, a Princess (now a Queen) for a bride, children -
He breathed, taking in the sweet smelling air, the scent of rain still strong from last night's drizzle. His broad hand, with his clever fingers, (and the outline of the Triforce on the back) began tracing circles on Aurora's shoulder, as she stirred, slowly awakening. She murmured, those rainy-hue eyes fluttering open, just as they had when he had woken her from her curse, all those years ago. When he had been a boy, not even as old as their eldest son. And she had been girl just budding into maidenhood.
The years had only added to her beauty, ripening her like a field beneath the sun. And the want of her - appeased again last night, but never gone - ached as she lifted herself upon her elbow, her chemise falling from her star-white shoulder, all white, save for the bloom of red where his teeth had been.
"Good morning, love," Aurora sighed softly, always so dozy in the morning, a side-effect from her curse. She leaned up, pressing a butterfly's kiss to his stubbled cheek. "Excited for your birthday?"
He caught her hand from its place on his chest, tugging it up to kiss her knuckles, the way Warriors had taught him to do, letting his mouth linger until his wife's breathe hitched.
"I would be mell idis-" He joked, "If you and Dawn would tell me what you ladies have planned?"
Aurora giggled and shook her head. "Ah, Ah, Ah. That would spoil the surprise."
"Aw, what the point of being King if my own wife can keep me out of the loop?" Link complained lightly, his fingers finding the curves of his wife's sides, tickling the tender flesh until she squealed with laughter. She tried to scurry away, but he caught her easily, his corded arms clasping her to him as he rolled her under him again, his face buried in her fire-fall of hair.
"L-L-Link!"
By the time they got up, Aurora had another red mark blooming on her skin.
*~*
"Late morning, my friends?" Dawn questioned them at breakfast, down in the solar. The corners of the abdicated Queen's eyes crinkled as she took in the state of her Era's King and Queen: Oh, at first sight, they looked perfectly put together, like two rulers of the Kingdom should: they were dressed in their day robes, finely made but comfortable, without the extra attire necessary for appearing in front of court.
But when one looked closer...well, apparently you could take the Fae-King out of the forest, but you couldn't take the forest out of the King. His sweet bride was proof of that. Specifically with how a little tell-tale mark was poking out from the neckline of her crimson cotta - her summer dress - despite the applied powder trying to covered it.
Aurora turned as red as the apple waffers being served to them. Link laughed so hard he snorted his coffee.
Impa groaned then tilted her head as the two Royal Princesses, ten-year-old Zelda Tatl and seven-year-old Arien Navi, came bounding down the staircase from the nursery, ready to join them.
"With those two and their brother we already have three true-blood heirs, you know," the old Sheikah noted drily, "You don't have to try and put me in an early grave with a fourth."
"Impa!" Dawn and Aurora both cried, though they couldn't say more as the Princesses came flying into the solar, leaping at their father in a flurry of nightgowns and beribboned brown and auburn curls.
"Papa, Papa!" they Chimed together, the gold in their clear eyes twinkling as the potted plants in the room suddenly perked up, flowering early. Link scooped them up with ease, the lightest and greatest of gifts his life had given him - the truest sign of their victory over the Prince of Darkness.
"Happy Birthday, Papa!" Little Zelda announced, grinning as broadly as her sire ever did - her dark curls falling over her eyes in the same manner as his own.
"Hap'py Birthday," Arien echoed, far more shyly than her sister. She was her mother's child, sweet and watchful and redheaded. Both girls had Aurora's rain-hue eyes.
"Well look at this, my ladies," Link announced in fake astonishment, turning with each of his daughters in his arms. He grinned and bounced them so they giggled. "Two Fairy Princesses came to me on my birthday!"
"How fortunate," Aurora remarked warmly, eyes soft at the sight.
Link's own became mischievous. "Maybe I should put them in a bottle."
"Bottle?!" the Princesses gasped, covering their mouths. "No bottles! They make us sleepy! We'll sleep through the party!"
Link raised his brows. "Oh there's a party míriath? Well that makes a difference."
He set his girls down, then knelt to their level, holing their gazes. "If you want to come, you have to be good all day and mind your tutors. Alright?"
Both Little Zelda and Arien nodded earnestly. "Yes Papa!"
Impa cleared her throat pointedly, clearly remembering an incident last week involving her hairbrush and a pot of honey. Link bit his cheek.
"And mind Impa," he added. Both his daughters pouted.
"...Do we have too?" Little Zelda groused, crossing her arms. Besides her, Arien fumbled to copy her sister's gesture.
Link eyed them a little more sternly.
"You know the answer to that, Little Fairies."
"O-kay..." Little Zelda sighed, accepting defeat. Then she perked up. "Is Big Brother coming home?"
"He should be," Dawn answered her goddaughter. "Gus' commander at the Knight's Academy said he left yesterday. He should be home by tonight."
Both girls squealed.
Dawn turned mildly to Link. "Gustaf has asked if it was alright that a few friends he made attend the party with him. Is that agreeable to you, Hero?"
"Course," Link said easily. "The more the merrier."
"Off to lessons now, sweethearts," Aurora coaxed, gesturing them out the solar oak doors. She rose to follow them, being the first of the girls' teachers.
Since Aurora had surrendered her right to rule to the gods, in return for their restored patronage, she only had the role of Queen Consort, and no official part in politics. She didn't mind -the Kingdom was well cared for under Link's leadership, and she was always there to advise him should he need it. Besides, as Queen Consort, it gave her more freedom to oversee both the court and her children's educations. And their well-beings. She was thankful for it - she knew first hand the dangers that could befall royal children when they were left unguarded.
Turning to Link, all this gratitude and more shined through her eyes as they beheld him; her Hero, her Husband. Who not only redeemed her life from the clutches of eternal sleep, but guarded it with his own, everyday after. Who held her hand as she tipped-toe into a new world. Who drew his sword with the Eight who shared his Spirit, to defend it.
And the words she had told him when she first woke up rang true, all over again.
You are a real Hero.
"I'll see you tonight, my love," she said, around the tightness in her throat.
"See you tonight," he answered, gentle as he always was with her.
*~*
They didn't reunite until the party was well underway. And oh, what a party it was. All the Kingdom was rejoicing: spontaneous songs and line dances were happening in the streets, the shops had closed for the day, and sweets were handed out to children. As the sun began to set, fireworks began to erupt in the sky in rings of colors.
In the courtyard of the castle, friends were gather here, throughout the gardens - Error, the Healing Ladies, his Fairy Kin. Friends, old and new, gathered like gems over forty years. His Uncle Tael and his Aunt Proxi were hovering around his delighted daughters, sprinkling magic in their hair.
He was honestly enjoying himself, meeting with everyone. Sure he had to be dressed a little fancier, but the cut of his tunic was still comfortable, the circlet on his brow winking atop his curls. And the green half-mantle hanging from his shoulder was reminisce of his Fae-wings that glinted in his shadow.
He had nothing on his wife, though. In the dark of the night, Aurora was the sun. Her gown was of crimson and gold like shimmering flame, her bare shoulders bright as candles. Her redwood curls had been swept up in bejeweled bands, a translucent golden veil falling down her back to her shoulders.
Link had no objections when his Queen took his hand, and began to tug him away from the festivities.
"No, no, no -" his Princess (Queen or not, she would always be his Princess) laughingly rebuffed him, when he gathered her against the garden wall, his mouth pressed to the slender curve of her neck. "Link, we're in public."
"We can be quiet," he argued, grinning, nuzzling her jaw. "After all, it is my birthday."
Aurora laughed even as she blushed, but lightly pushed against his chest. "Link, Gus is home. He wants you to meet his friends. We can finish this later."
He pulled back, eyes glowing at the mention of their firstborn. "Lead the way."
And she did, bringing through the halls of their home to the Sanctum.
"So," Link asked curiously. "Who did Gus bring?"
"Oh," Aurora smiled. "I think you might know them."
And he did. As well as he knew his own face. As well as he knew his own soul - split Eight ways between the Nine of them.
He laughed, a true Fae's laugh, seeing his eighteen-year-old-son, the spitting image of himself at that age, standing with the Chain. It was like walking into a memory.
"Surprised Sprite?" Legend smirked, walking over to clasp his brother's sword arm, before pulling him into an embrace.
"That's a word for it," Hyrule agreed, returning the hug before beaming at his brothers. They were all older (which meant that Time was ancient) and all bore the clear marks of having lived, long and well. "How are you here?"
"Oh please, Traveler," the Captain dismissed, the circlet on his brow identical to Hyrule's (it was likely the same one actually, considering that Warriors was married to his granddaughter. Who hadn't been born yet. Yeah. Not going there. Nope.) "You forget that Lana is an expert with time portals. We've been planing this with Queen Aurora for months."
Just when he thought he couldn't love her more.
"We wouldn't miss your birthday," Sky added warmly.
"We did have a little mishap, however," Four acknowledged. "And ended up at your son's academy instead of the castle."
"I think I nearly gave them a heart-attack," Prince Gustaf Jac of Hyrule crowed, hazel eyes glinting. "They thought I was you at first."
"Only for a moment," Wild protested.
Twilight nodded in agreement. "Ya' look a lot like yer old man at your age."
"And now he's the big 4-O,"Wind grinned. "Gods Rulie, you're old!"
Hyrule snorted. "You aren't far behind me Sailor, keep it up."
"We are all past the age of early youth," Time mediated calmly, and for none of them was that more true than for the Hero of Time - gray now liberally streaked his hair, the cares on his face deeper. But he still stood tall, still the leader, even after all these years. "However, there is still much life to live. I suggest we enjoy it. We do not know when we will meet again."
That sobered them all a little, looking at each other more deeply. The flow of time was always cruel, their lives like stones skipped across the clear surface. That all the more reason to enjoy what time they had.
Aurora came to his side, and Hyrule's arm wrapped around her, tucking her close.
"Come on," he Chimed. "We got a party going on."
*~*
"Damn Sprite," Legend said, quiet in his approval, later that night. The Hero of Legend was standing besides his successor, looking out from the marble patio over what he could see of Castle Town. And frankly, just the fact that there was a Castle Town was impressive. "You're not living in a hellscape anymore."
Hyrule snorted, summer eyes dancing. "What gave it away? The fact that the sky isn't red? That horses have returned? That we can afford to have this party without bankrupting the treasury?"
"Can I take all of the above?" Legend retorted. He shook his head, gaze soft. "Seriously Sprite...all you've done...its incredible. You're the only one of us who could've done it."
Hyrule ducked his head, and looked out to the party again. By now his daughters were reunited with his son, who was introducing them to the Chain. And gods help Twilight, cause his Little Fairies plainly had the Rancher wrapped around their pinky fingers already. Sky too for that matter - but he was always a puddle when it came to his descendants.
A reviving country. A home built with his own two hands. A Princess for his bride. His brothers. His children...
What had he done to earn any of this?
"I didn't do it alone, though," he reminded his predecessor. "A lot of folks joined in to make this happen."
"But you cleared the way," Legend retorted. "So take your bow, Sprite. Then prepare for the next act. Cause if this is what you could do so far, what gonna come in another forty years?"
Hyrule hummed, rubbing his chin as he smiled widely. "Not sure."
"It'll be dangerous," Legend remarked, smirking. "Going alone."
"I know," Hyrule looked out to his world, his family, his friends. "But I'll take this. All of it. And if the last four decades are any sign, its gonna be one heck of an adventure."