The Romance Thread IV: The Debate Continues

Originally Posted by Blackfire667

Yes, Link and Zelda do belong together. But if they marry, someone's gonna be upset: he's no prince. How can this obstacle be overcome?

^ Does Zelda really need a man of Royal blood in order of being married with someone? Link is Hylian like Zelda. Unless the Royal Family follows strict rules on the future generations that they can only marry other people of royalty.

Link definately is no prince, but he is a hero that Zelda should class as being Royal in a way. He did save Hyrule and she would be happy for people to accept the fact that she has fallen in love with a man who saved everyone's lives.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

^ Does Zelda really need a man of Royal blood in order of being married with someone? Link is Hylian like Zelda. Unless the Royal Family follows strict rules on the future generations that they can only marry other people of royalty.

Link definately is no prince, but he is a hero that Zelda should class as being Royal in a way. He did save Hyrule and she would be happy for people to accept the fact that she has fallen in love with a man who saved everyone's lives.

I don't think the series has ever demonstrated that kind of formality, in that Zelda would be forced to marry nobility. Link is treated as her equal, dealing with even kings of Hyrule as well as rulers of the various tribes. I can't see his common blood then being thrown in his face if marriage to Zelda was on the table.
I agree in that comes down to Link being the kingdom's greatest hero. What people would not be happy to see him unite with their ruler? I don't think this would be lost on Zelda...his ability to hold the loyalty of for instance the Gorons and Zora would be massively useful.

Truthfully, the only ones I can see standing against a marriage between the two would be any corrupt nobility. But their motivations would likely be called into question in that case. Zelda still outranks them, and she'd likely not heed them.

As for Link himself...if someone approached him and asked him to marry Zelda for the good of the land, would he refuse? I don't think so. If he was already entangled romantically with another woman perhaps, but how often have we seen this at the end of a Zelda game? The other options are usually left vague or closed.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

^ Does Zelda really need a man of Royal blood in order of being married with someone? Link is Hylian like Zelda. Unless the Royal Family follows strict rules on the future generations that they can only marry other people of royalty.

Link definately is no prince, but he is a hero that Zelda should class as being Royal in a way. He did save Hyrule and she would be happy for people to accept the fact that she has fallen in love with a man who saved everyone's lives.

Well said, it doesn´t matter If the guy is royal or not. The true love is what really matters.

Originally Posted by gliderpilotgirl

I don't think the series has ever demonstrated that kind of formality, in that Zelda would be forced to marry nobility. Link is treated as her equal, dealing with even kings of Hyrule as well as rulers of the various tribes. I can't see his common blood then being thrown in his face if marriage to Zelda was on the table.
I agree in that comes down to Link being the kingdom's greatest hero. What people would not be happy to see him unite with their ruler? I don't think this would be lost on Zelda...his ability to hold the loyalty of for instance the Gorons and Zora would be massively useful.

Truthfully, the only ones I can see standing against a marriage between the two would be any corrupt nobility. But their motivations would likely be called into question in that case. Zelda still outranks them, and she'd likely not heed them.

As for Link himself...if someone approached him and asked him to marry Zelda for the good of the land, would he refuse? I don't think so. If he was already entangled romantically with another woman perhaps, but how often have we seen this at the end of a Zelda game? The other options are usually left vague or closed.

I should point out that for the most part of European history, marriages between members of royal families were less about love and more about finding a match of suitable rank and breeding and popping out children with them. Whether or not the couple were compatible was generally not considered, for that reason many kings and princes took mistresses while keeping their wife for breeding purposes.

Of course, it's hard to determine where Link fits in with real life examples, because Link is the sort of person who doesn't exist in real life. It reminds me of the quote, "it is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one; merit obtains one, fortune the other."

Originally Posted by Månegarm

I should point out that for the most part of European history, marriages between members of royal families were less about love and more about finding a match of suitable rank and breeding and popping out children with them. Whether or not the couple were compatible was generally not considered, for that reason many kings and princes took mistresses while keeping their wife for breeding purposes.

I know this: but this is where fantasy vs reality comes in. If it was reality, Link would likely never get within 100 ft of Zelda let alone be allowed to spend time with her. In that case, Ilia/Malon would absolutely win unless he chose to be single.

Originally Posted by Månegarm

Of course, it's hard to determine where Link fits in with real life examples, because Link is the sort of person who doesn't exist in real life. It reminds me of the quote, "it is more honorable to be raised to a throne than to be born to one; merit obtains one, fortune the other."

Exactly...Zelda is not real life. Bigger than life heroes, wise Princesses, magical elements, aquatic and rock people...reality would ruin it, IMO. Isn't that what TP brought to the table? More reality. Zelda was distant and formal, Link was a true village boy with a realistic village girl girlfriend.

The thing is, there's no real hard evidence in-game for a Link/Zelda pairing, or any other pairing. One could argue that their relationship is strictly platonic; a sort "I help you, you help me" sort of deal. Certainly that's the position I've seen many people take.

Saria: no

Malon: almost...

Ruto: DEFINITELY NOT!!!

Zelda: YESSS!!!

Link and zelda are perfect for each other, but in TP, Ilia is definitely Link's gal.

I like to think that no one in TP was Link's gal; he's a free man who wouldn't want the complications of a relationship. After Midna's sudden departure I can imagine he'd be rather put off by any thoughts of "romance" for some time.

I wonder how he'd explain it to someone like Ilia? "I'm sad because there's this woman I loved, who was the princess of another realm, who had to leave forever for the greater good of this world and hers. Oh, I turned into a wolf and she rode me around like a cowboy.

Yeah.

Originally Posted by Andrew/link

Saria: no

Malon: almost...

Ruto: DEFINITELY NOT!!!

Zelda: YESSS!!!

Link and zelda are perfect for each other, but in TP, Ilia is definitely Link's gal.

Then why is Link riding away from her at the end?? I'll tell you why. Link realizes that hooking up with a deformed looking girl like Illia could possibly end in having even more deformed looking children. In TP Midna or Zelda are better choices IMO. Mainly because Illia is left their at the end sad and confused as to why Link did not want to stay in Ordon with her. She should look in the mirror and accept Link is not attracted to that enormously deformed melon head of hers

Just throwing this out there...

The Hero's Shade is widely regarded to be OoT Link. Most people also seem to agree that he is an ancestor of the TP Link. So, this verifies that Oot Link had kiddos. That would have occured in the child timeline. At the point in time where Link reappears in the child timelline, the only potential love interests who would know him would be Saria, Malon, and Zelda.

As Link would be aware that he is not a kokiri, and therefore would continue to age, I doubt he would try to change the nature of his relationship with Saria.

Malon is probably the most likely candidate at this point, for obvious reasons.

Zelda, being royalty, would normally be off limits, but Link is the Hero of Time, so he's probably able to sit at the cool kids table, so maybe.HOWEVER. If TP Link is a direct descendent from ooT Link and Oot Zelda, that, at least in my rule book, bars TP Link and TP Zelda from having a relationship.

In any case, there was much more evidence for Midna, who left, and for Illia, who didn't leave. I just think a Link/Zelda pairing in TP would be both unlikely and icky.

I think arguments should stick to one game at a time. Saying "Link had kids with X in game Y, so he cannot be with Z in game A" is rather tenuous reasoning.

Originally Posted by Eiron

Just throwing this out there...

The Hero's Shade is widely regarded to be OoT Link. Most people also seem to agree that he is an ancestor of the TP Link. So, this verifies that Oot Link had kiddos. That would have occured in the child timeline. At the point in time where Link reappears in the child timelline, the only potential love interests who would know him would be Saria, Malon, and Zelda.

As Link would be aware that he is not a kokiri, and therefore would continue to age, I doubt he would try to change the nature of his relationship with Saria.

Malon is probably the most likely candidate at this point, for obvious reasons.

Zelda, being royalty, would normally be off limits, but Link is the Hero of Time, so he's probably able to sit at the cool kids table, so maybe.HOWEVER. If TP Link is a direct descendent from ooT Link and Oot Zelda, that, at least in my rule book, bars TP Link and TP Zelda from having a relationship.

In any case, there was much more evidence for Midna, who left, and for Illia, who didn't leave. I just think a Link/Zelda pairing in TP would be both unlikely and icky.

There is no evidence that Link did end up with Malon, Zelda or Ruto. It is purely up to our imaginations. It would quite strange if Link had children with Zelda in OoT. That would mean that both Link and Zelda are Royal in TP. However, this isn't the case.

And why do you think that Link and Zelda pairing up would be icky? I see no problems with the two together. In fact, I think most people would be happy to see the two people who helped protected everyone's lives will live together. At least when they stand side by side, the people of Hyrule would be completely save from evil and harm.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

There is no evidence that Link did end up with Malon, Zelda or Ruto. It is purely up to our imaginations. It would quite strange if Link had children with Zelda in OoT. That would mean that both Link and Zelda are Royal in TP. However, this isn't the case.

And why do you think that Link and Zelda pairing up would be icky? I see no problems with the two together. In fact, I think most people would be happy to see the two people who helped protected everyone's lives will live together. At least when they stand side by side, the people of Hyrule would be completely save from evil and harm.

Not necessarily. Say that the Hero of Time did end up with his Zelda: if they had two or more children only the oldest would continue the ruling line. The rest would likely become nobility as they went down the generations until pretty much no relation exists and we have commoners. Think about it this way..if you are 10th cousins with the current Queen, does that make you royalty normally? No. It's very possible TP Link's parents could have come from Castletown and been commoners through this factor.

But I agree with Manegarm: you can't use a possible relation to eliminate a relationship in a new incarnation. Too much time and space passes between games...hundreds of years. A relation is irrelevant at this point.

Originally Posted by Manegarm

The thing is, there's no real hard evidence in-game for a Link/Zelda pairing, or any other pairing. One could argue that their relationship is strictly platonic; a sort "I help you, you help me" sort of deal. Certainly that's the position I've seen many people take.

I'm well familiar with the strictly business angle that many fans use on Link and Zelda. With the exception of perhaps TP, I don't agree though. We don't need hard evidence to suspect a relationship, merely imagination to develop it. There's too many subtle hints and such for me to dismiss them generally as platonic.

Originally Posted by Månegarm

I think arguments should stick to one game at a time. Saying "Link had kids with X in game Y, so he cannot be with Z in game A" is rather tenuous reasoning.

You are absolutely correct. I was going for a process of elimination sorta thing, and added the Link/Zelda thing in as a possibility, not the main point.

I think what ended up happening is called circular reasoning, which as you said, should be avoided.

Originally Posted by Månegarm

I "I'm sad because there's this woman I loved, who was the princess of another realm, who had to leave forever for the greater good of this world and hers. Oh, I turned into a wolf and she rode me around like a cowboy.

That's funny XD !


Hey, since Link was a wolf for a time, do you think he retained any 'dog urges'? You know what I mean, right? Speaking of which, it'd be fun to play frizbe with wolf LInk XD.

You'd think if he were turned into a wolf he'd be SCREAMING IN TERROR for about an hour before doing anything.

He probably did have some sort of canine instincts, especially since he knows how to do things like walk on four legs and howl, things a human wouldn't be able to know.

Originally Posted by Månegarm

You'd think if he were turned into a wolf he'd be SCREAMING IN TERROR for about an hour before doing anything.

He probably did have some sort of canine instincts, especially since he knows how to do things like walk on four legs and howl, things a human wouldn't be able to know.

^ I don't think Link would have permanently learnt full canine instincts, since he was a human for all of his life until he became a wolf when he entered the Twilight Realm. And it must have been one heck of a strange experience for Link, since he was thrown into this new world of darkness and studdenly not able to stand on two legs.

Having those urges would be... Impossible in my opinion. And I don't think Link would have had those thoughts. If you were in the world of the Twilight with your friends and loved ones stolen and dark creatures around you with some strange creature on your back, would you have those urges?

Urges arent something you chose to have. And Link really didn't seem phased by the fact that he was four legged with a tail. Also, I'm not toally sure we're talking about the same urges...

Getting back on track, while I believe Zelda is the best woman for Link to choose, I'm afraid I still don't see any real evidence in the games to show that they love each other. I've heard many people argue (quite forcefully on occasion) that Link and Zelda's relationship has always been platonic. Here are some arguments for this position:

-Neither of them have ever shown any gestures towards each other that can interpreted in an exclusively romantic context (i.e. that cannot be attributed to friendship or respect). In TP, the "platonics" win hands-down, because there is ZERO evidence for any attraction between them in that game.

-In OoT, Link and Zelda spent most of their time together as children, who are not yet old enough to experience genuine romantic affection.

-They simply do not spend enough time together to develop any mutual attraction to each other.

Yeah OOT and even TP have very little evidence of Link having romantic feelings for anyone. I like the concept that both games kind of give you a fill in the blank feeling as to how Link would interract not just with females but just people/NPCs in general within the game. With that said, if you just go by what the games give you, Link to me seems to come off as this super shy and oversubmissive nice guy that seems way too unassertive to be in a romantic relationship of any kind unless the girl (Zelda, Malon, Midna or others) would make the first move. In the case of Malon and Midna it may be possible but with Zelda highly unlikely. I still like a LinkXZelda pairing but either Link has to become more assertive or Zelda would have to make the first move. Maybe a future Zelda game may shed light on this.